Lately I've had lots of ideas for this story, sadly, with my poor health, I haven't been able to write anything other than on paper (I got a bronchial infection, and I've been bedridden for almost 3 weeks T_T I still have a cough and difficulty breathing...) but oh well I hope now that I can get better soon with God's help, and I will update as best I can in the meantime.
Disclaimer: You know the drill.
"Promisse"
The sky burst into colorful flowers. Or the most correct thing would be to say that the sky lit up with fireworks, but for Kaoru, the first description sounded much better.
"How much longer will I have to wait?" The girl questioned.
Finally, after months of debate between the nobility and the aristocracy, the path to be followed for the enterprise of recovering and raising the North had been decided. It had not been easy, after all, the members of the previous Himura clan had been scattered throughout the empire after the fall of the clan, so it had been difficult to reunite the main families that had served it. On the other hand, there was the question of the squad of knights that would join the ranks of the Northern army, a group that had already been eradicated. And although General Himura had his own battalion after the war, it was not nearly enough for the required number of a noble clan.
"I want to go home..." The little girl whispered.
During the commotion, Kaoru had been trapped - like a bird in a cage - in the middle of everything, and, at the same time, forgotten like an old doll. And although that was to some extent a relief for her sister, Megumi - who did not stop trying to hide her from her future husband - Kaoru knew that it was only a matter of time before her father called Kenshin to sign the contract nuptial agreement. Although the redhead had tried to arrange a meeting before, it was no secret to the minor that her father had been denying such a meeting.
"It's all part of the plan." Her father had told her.
She, however, had looked at him without understanding a word. If he had already decided - and if he himself had sent the proposal - why delay it now? But, upon discovering all the changes and arrangements regarding the Himura clan that came later, it kind of clarified part of the minor's doubts. She supposed that after all, her father wouldn't give her to anyone less than a duke. But it was annoying having to stay in the capital during the festivities and the performance season.
Six months had passed since then, and the time for the Northern recovery enterprise had been set at two years. General Himura, along with his guard and company, would leave in two more weeks, but she had not yet had her meeting...
...
Fireworks rose again and exploded high in the sky. Kenshin, however, kept his attention away from it. In front of him, the youngest of the Kamiyas remained sitting at the edge of the queen's garden, where that party was currently taking place, the commemorative closing of a successful season of presentations in the capital. She no longer wore ceremonial garments, although her clothes were still elegant and regal to a certain extent, they were much simpler in comparison, and it was easy, therefore, to notice how small she was.
The redhead then gathered his courage and advanced to where the little girl was resting.
"Without a doubt it is a beautiful spectacle." He suddenly blurted out, startling his partner.
"Ah!"
Kaoru looked at him surprised; she felt to some extent that she had conjured him with her previous line of thought. General Himura, who was barely a boy, was once again dressed in his lounge clothes, with his characteristic red and gold colors. The minor remembered the rules of etiquette late and almost fell trying to get up in a hurry from the bench where she was resting.
"Don't get up, don't worry..." Kenshin told her hurriedly, a little embarrassed.
Kaoru barely managed to hear him before slipping off the bench. She settled back down then, feeling embarrassed, her cheeks turning red.
Kenshin cleared his throat to try to get her attention.
"It's the second time we've met, formally I mean, and I would like to be able to exchange words with you if possible," he said with evident consideration.
The brunette, for her part, didn't really know what to say, but she could conclude a truth in his closeness.
"Have you spoken to my father?" She inquired.
He nodded.
"I did it."
Kaoru looked away, embarrassed again.
"I see." She murmured.
"Although we have not agreed to anything yet." He hastened to complete.
That caught the attention of the youngest, who knew how much hope her father had put into that wedding proposal.
"Is it because of my age?" She questioned, fearing that perhaps he was going to reject her.
The boy, for his part, smiled understandingly.
"No. Not really. -He told her. -Regardless of your age, I would have sought your approval first."
"My approval?" She asked confused. "But it is my duty."
The young man's smile dissolved then, Kaoru did not miss a detail of the range of emotions that were marked on the redhead's face.
"I wish it weren't like that." He confessed.
More fire flowers then burst into the sky, the cheers and music began to increase in volume, and soon, a crowd gathered in the dance area set up in the courtyard to begin the dance.
In the silence that enveloped them both, Kaoru took the opportunity to observe him. Despite the rumors, he did not seem like someone bloodthirsty, much less cruel. If the memory of their interaction of powers had left her a memento, it had undoubtedly been a kind of warmth; a comfortable feeling that made her feel at peace. No matter how much Megumi continued to debate, Kaoru became more and more convinced that this union had to be made, even if she didn't fully understand it.
"It's a transaction," she said finally, attracting Kenshin's attention again, who looked at her with some surprise. "An arrangement that will save us both. Or at least that's what my father says."
Kenshin swallowed hard, unable to say anything to refute that. That was the world they lived in after all... dreaming of achieving something more, and especially from someone so small, was basically an impossibility.
But...
"But..." Kaoru echoed his thought then, surprising him again "If you talked to my father, I know you know it -she told him- and even if not, after the interaction of our powers, I know you understand it. For me, now, there is no better partner. And if you don't take me now, someone else will... just not as good as you."
A heartbeat.
"How do you know I'll be good?" He questioned, his heart in a thread.
She smiled at him.
The general's eyes widened in amazement; that smile was shining. Kaoru offered him her hand, and Kenshin took it instantly. In a second surprise his power and hers resurfaced in a kind of small bubble. His power of darkness was a kind of black light, while her power of light had become a pearly light. They danced around each other and then burst into specks of black and white.
"Then it was true," Kenshin murmured, "you are a light user."
"Will you accept me then?" She questioned.
Kenshin looked at her. He really looked at her. From the shape of her face, the contour of her nose, her cheeks, her lips, and the dark blue tone of her eyes... and in her he recognized something of himself.
"It's a promise," he answered, smiling.
She smiled until she showed her teeth.
"Then hug me," she asked, as she wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned towards him.
Kenshin hugged her and picked her up in time, scooping her up before she could fall. That scene was undoubtedly still tender and too far from aspiring to be anything more, but for now it would be fine, he told himself. Fate had wanted two original users to meet, and although they were still walking at a distance, they would undoubtedly meet soon.
'For now, I can only protect you.' He thought to himself. "Shall we dance now, princess?" he asked smiling.
Kaoru saw fit to blush.
"Just don't go throwing me," she threatened.
He laughed heartily, then adjusting his grip on her.
"I'll do my best."
...
The music surrounded them as soon as they immersed themselves with the rest of the people in the dance. Faced with such a scene, no one could suspect anything yet; it was a tender scene that looked like two family members enjoying a game.
For now, it was fine.
Kaoru said goodbye with a kiss on the cheek when the dance ended. That gesture touched her partner, who let her go with a smile. The little girl's escort knight had gone for her to escort her back to her father.
"Aoshi" The general called.
The aforementioned seemed to materialize from the shadows.
"Send my response to leader Kamiya. In two years, I will sign the marriage agreement."
"Understood."
...
Back in his rooms, sitting at his desk, the redhead dedicated himself to reliving the memory of his power combined with that of the young Kamiya, looking at the hand where the trace of that light still remained. Kenshin understood the gravity of a light user being born, because even if the emperor himself did not want to admit it, the mere existence of this light could lead to a war.
"For now, I can only protect her" He declared in the middle of the darkness.
A/N: Comments?