The beauty of the past is the absence of certain technologies... Although we love being able to chat anytime, anywhere and receive an immediate response, the "romantic" part of written messages was undoubtedly lost...
"Letters"
A year had passed when Shura had suggested that Kaoru maintain a correspondence with who would be her future husband.
"A letter?" Kaoru asks, somewhat unsure.
Shura nods while smiling widely.
"Just because it's an arranged marriage doesn't mean you can't get to know each other," the green-haired girl explains from her position on the floor; there are a lot of open books around her. "Think about it. It will be more bearable if you know each other at first and even better if you later become friends."
"Friends." The black-haired girl savors that word.
Both girls are in the drawing room; after their etiquette class ended, they had decided to stay in the room and play for a while. It's a hot day in July, and the rain the day before only raised the heat. The windows are open with the curtains drawn, and the air gently enters the room. Kaoru leaves the books on the small work desk, and her mind wanders a little to her friend's words.
"I guess it wouldn't be a bad idea," she finally agrees with a shy smile.
After the departure of General Himura and his company on their campaign to the North, Kaoru and her family had to stay a few more weeks before leaving back to their home in the East of the empire. Her introduction had been agreed to be delayed for two more years - a convenience considering her future engagement to the leader of the Himura clan - and she had, therefore, spent all that time in relative captivity.
"We must prevent the truth of your gift from being revealed before its time," her father had told her.
And although the senior members of the clan were already aware of the future commitment, they saw it as extremely important to keep the status of user of the youngest Kamiya a secret; it was still too early to reveal it without terrible consequences.
"We will take advantage of this time to look for another possible way out of that horrible commitment," Megumi had told her on the other hand, who continued to raise obstacles to her sister's marriage preparation.
"At least your future husband is not a middle-aged man." Shura says.
Kaoru is horrified.
"Although it is not so common anymore, it still happens," she reasons. "But regardless of the circumstances, I don't think my father would be so cruel."
Shura nods; there is a dreamy air in her eyes.
"You have to admit that General Himura is quite attractive," she says.
Kaoru is a little embarrassed; her cheeks have turned red. General Himura, no, Kenshin, she tells herself, is very likeable. He is attractive as her friend says. But it is obvious that this liking is innocent and perhaps a bit childish. It is every girl's dream of her dream prince, although in Kaoru's case it was more of a soldier; although she prefers it that way, she admits.
"But, do you think he will answer?" the black-haired questions insecurely.
Shura considers it.
"Well... it may be difficult for him considering that hi is in the middle of a war, but at least he should answer one as a courtesy, right?"
Kaoru pouts; she doesn't like the sound of that.
"I guess," she concedes reluctantly. And the next moment she prepares to write, she takes out a small packet of sheets tied in the center and takes a few, arranges them on the desk while taking out the ink and preparing the pen.
Shura looks at her with interest.
"Will you write to him right now?" She inquires.
"If I leave it for later, maybe I won't do it" Explains her friend.
Shura smiles.
"I'll leave you alone then," she tells her.
"You do not have to do it." Kaoru refutes somewhat embarrassed.
"Are you kidding? Someone has to make sure Megumi doesn't interrupt you." She explains, running towards the entrance, and then leaves with a wink before disappearing behind the door.
Kaoru is left alone.
"Haaa..." She sighs. "I have to grant her that she is right," she says to no one in particular, aware that if she engages in correspondence with her future husband, she must do so secretly from her sister...
...
Kaoru takes the pen and prepares to write. After several failed attempts at how to address her fiancé, she ends up calling him simply "Kenshin." She considers that given her age, barely nine years old, it justifies her omitting certain rules of etiquette, she tells herself.
And starts writing.
At first they are just questions, a sign of her curiosity about where he is, what he is doing, and who he is with... questions about what the North is like and how the campaign of recovering the fallen territory is going; if he is eating well and if he sleeps as he should. When she finishes she has filled a full page of questions. The girl frowns, but refuses to start again, and rather - on her second page - begins to tell how she is and what the weather is like at home.
In the end there are three pages that she rereads again and again until she is convinced that there is no turning back.
She smiles.
And her power smiles with her.
Her body shines surrounded by light that, at times, emerges in spheres, which dance around her, leaving trails of light in their wake. Only then does she realize that it has already become night.
"Kaoru! It's time for dinner!" Her sister's voice is heard outside the room, down the stairs.
"I'm coming!" Answers Kaoru right after sealing the letter.
...
It is a simple system based on magic and alchemy through which messages are sent. The letter is sent through one of these means, which is found in the cellar that belonged to her mother. Kaoru and Shura laugh as they send the letter.
After much debate, Kaoru decides it is best to be patient; considering that they are right in the middle of the time set for the campaign, she is aware that her first letters will have no response. And she does not want, on the other hand, to be overbearing. So, in the end, she decides to send a letter every two or three weeks and pray for a response.
...
There is a new shine in the eyes of the little girl who, far from being sad for not receiving a response to her first two letters, cannot help but count the days to write the next one.
There has also been news about General Himura's progress in his fight against the plague in the North. More than half of the territory has been recovered, and they would soon continue with a second campaign to end up sealing the edges. This is perhaps why Kaoru is not sad that she has not received a response yet.
"It's too soon" She tells herself. "Kenshin must focus on his mission." She remembers. "But I'm sure my letters must serve him well." She is convinced, therefore, that if it were the opposite, she would have already received a request not to communicate.
And since she hasn't, everything is well.
...
By the seventh month, however, Kaoru - small, innocent and immature as her age dictates - is no longer so sure she wants to continue writing without receiving a response.
And then the letters have become more sporadic, until months have passed without sending a single one.
She's upset. And the others around her notice it.
Especially when she trains, and explosions of light suddenly occur that end up turning into pearly fire.
Her bridal classes continue. But as she sighs disheartened, she begins to think that perhaps her sister Megumi is right. That age gap would end up always keeping them distant. Surely, a teenage boy like General Himura could have little interest in stories from a girl who was barely nine - almost ten - years old.
...
The last letter she sends to her fiancé is on the eve of her tenth birthday.
A simple page with a line that stands out above everything else written.
"Kenshin no baka"
Two years and one month have passed since General Himura's departure. The war against the plague has finally ended, and news of their victory and the resurgence of the northern country of Akai - his homeland - has reached the rest of the empire. In the capital, another season of celebrations is already expected in addition to the restoration of the Himura clan to the nobility.
Although they have not been the only changes that have occurred in the empire.
"It is worrying that the executions have returned," comments one of the members of the Senate, the leader of the aristocracy.
"It must be serious if even the opposition is worried," another member mockingly refutes, this time from the nobility.
The room is filled with the echos of the discussion.
Koishijiro remains serious, however, aware of the power that the second prince has grown through merit in political and military contests. Although far from the height of the now Duke Himura, it is worth noting the purity of his element, which already rivals that of the crown prince Shogo Amakuza.
"For now it will be better to focus on the next presentation ceremony," offers the representative of the temple, an older man with a kind expression. "Lord Koishijiro, your daughter will debut again this time, right?"
The aforementioned feels his heart squeeze for a moment.
"She will."
"Ah, and her element, has it already been declared?"
The brunette nods, hands clenched into fists.
"Everything seems to indicate that it will remain inclined towards the air.
The priest smiles.
"Thank the goddess," he exclaims with relief. "Heaven knows we need air users. Even more so given the situation of the princes."
The rest of the room nods. No one desires for more consuming fire.
In six more months, the presentation of elementary users would take place like every year, and at the same time, it would begin the season of events in the capital, which would undoubtedly open the doors to new engagements and future alliances.
The leader of the Kamiya prayed that by then, Himura Kenshin would have returned.
"Ah! This is life!" Sanosuke exclaimed while enjoying the hot water after months without being able to bathe properly.
"Make sure you clean yourself well" Aoshi tempts him, who had to endure sharing a tent with the chestnut throughout the entire campaign.
"I'm so comfortable right now that I'll ignore your cynicism," Sanosuke exclaimed from inside the shower.
"Who said I was being cynical?" The brunette growled.
They were back at the Himura clan's main mansion - which had been restored over the past year and was now shining as brightly as if not better than in its glory years -. They had given notice of their victory in the capital and were now giving themselves a well-deserved rest. However, after having shared space for just over two years, it had become normal for them to share the bathroom after their return.
Although, of course, Kenshin was still involved even then in working through the accumulated paperwork. After having a quick shower, he had headed towards the seating area at the entrance, where a low table was full of mail.
"Mou, Kenshin, you should stop that and relax," Sanosuke told him as he swam in the large pool of hot water.
"I still have pending things that can't wait, Sanosuke," the redhead told him.
"But now you have servants, why don't you ask your secretary to take care of the paperwork while you relax a little?"
Kenshin smiled.
"Because this is private paperwork, Sano," he told him.
Aoshi smiled lowly, while Sano looked at him confused.
Kenshin - wrapped in a silk robe - took the packet of envelopes and headed to his room, where ink and paper had already been laid out - under his orders - ready to start writing.
Behind his footsteps, specks of black shadow rose until they painted trails in the air and then vanished.
A/N: Comments?