Standard disclaimers apply
***CHAPTER 8***
â??I just canâ??t believe it!â?? exclaimed Soujirou. â??Kaoru, Iâ??m lost for wordsâ?|how can I ever thank you?â??
Kaoru and Soujirou were closeted in their private refuge, the old nursery. Before them on the floor lay the twenty-one gold coins.
â??To think,â?? Soujirou went on, utterly bemused, â??you went alone at night to that haunted summer house. Why, anything could have happened to you!â??
Kaoru murmured, â??I must confess, there were moments when my heart seemed to stopâ?|but all was well in the end.â??
â??I wish you had told me what you were planning,â?? said Soujirou. â??I would never have permitted you to go alone. In fact, I would have insisted on fetching the gold myself, leaving you tucked up safe and warm in bed.â??
Kaoru giggled. â??But Sou, I donâ??t think you would look good in a kimono. And even if you had worn a long wig, to be sure it would have blown off in the breeze!â??
Soujirou girnned. â??You are probably right. But when I think what you enduredâ?|the risks you ran, my dearest sister, just for meâ?|I amâ?|well, words fail me.â??
â??Say nothing,â?? said Kaoru, pressing his hand warmly. â??I only want you to be happy. When do you think you will be able to leave?â??
Soujirouâ??s face lit up as he considered his plans. â??I have friends in Osaka who can arrange a fast passage for me. I will send a messenger to them posthaste, and with luck I will have all the arrangements completed within a week. Oh Kaoru, just imagine! This time next month I will be wearing my uniform, galloping into action against the French!â??
And you will not be alone, thought Kaoru, her thoughts straying sadly to a certain red-haired, cross-scarred man who would also shortly be fighting for his country.
Kaoru was sure her parentsâ?? suspicions must be aroused as, during the following week, an astounding change came over their younger son. Gone was the listless, melancholy expression. Instead he wore a permanent smile and strode about the Kamiya estate with a purposeful air, his shoulders back and his eyes full of bright expectation.
At last, Soujirouâ??s arrangements were completed. He planned to slip from the house as soon as his parents had retired and gallop through the night, changing horses along the way, reaching Osaka at dawn. He told Kaoru that by breakfast time, when his absence was discovered at the mansion, he would be on his way to Okinawaâ??and safe.
On the fateful night, he crept along to Kaoruâ??s room to bid her farewell. This time, Kaoru found it impossible to check her tears.
â??Oh, Sou,â?? she sobbed, clinging to him, â??I know it is best for you to go. But I will miss you so much!â??
â??And I will miss you too, sister dear,â?? he murmured. â??I know I can never repay you for what you have done for me.â??
â??Repay me by finding what you seek in life,â?? she told him, her eyes bright with tears. â??And by coming home safely.â??
He kissed her on both cheeks, then slipped swiftly from the room. Kaoru watched him from her window, the lone figure on a horse heading for Osaka, and freedom and the unknown beyond.
The furor the next morning was even worse than Kaoru had imagined. At breakfast, Chou, Saitouâ??s right-hand man, handed him a note which the servant had discovered in his room.
â??Gone to join the Army!â?? exploded Saitou. â??How dare he disobey me! The young scoundrel! I never heard of such a thing!â??
Kaoru rushed to support her mother, who was swaying dangerously in her chair. â??Chou, you must send a party to fetch him back, instantly,â?? Yumi murmured.
Saitouâ??s fist smashed onto the table. â??Too late. Too damned late! Heâ??s halfway across Japan by now! Itâ??s outrageous! Mark my word, if he ever dares show his face in this house again. Iâ??ll have him horsewhipped for his impudence. Disobeying my orders! Taking matters into his own handsâ?|â??
â??Come, Mama,â?? Kaoru whispered. â??Let me assist you into the garden. A breath of fresh air will revive you.â??
Yumi agreed, being only too happy to escape from the dining room, for her husband was bellowing so loudly he was causing all the breakfast crockery to rattle.
What was urgently needed, Kaoru realized, was a diversionâ??some fresh dramatic event to distract her father from Soujirouâ??s disobedience. Early that same afternoon, the diversion presented itself. But not in a form that was at all to Kaoruâ??s liking.
Shortly after their light luncheon, Yumi sought out her daughter in the music room, where she was practicing on the piano.
â??Run and change your dress, Kaoru. Mr. Amakusa has returned from Kyoto and come straight to talk to your father. Oh, Kaoru, it can only mean one thing!â??
Reluctantly, Kaoru changed into her new kimono and brushed her lovely hair until it shone. She was, she realized about to face the most difficult half-hour of her life.
â??So be it. But I may as well look presentable for my ordeal. And at least,â?? she thought, with wry good humor, â??what is to happen now will surely eclipse all Soujirouâ??s misdemeanors.â??
On entering the drawing room, she found Shogu Amakusa already there, engaged in conversation with her mother. Kaoru dipped him a brief curtsey and kept her eyes steadily on the floor. She doesnâ??t want to look at neither Shogu, who repulsed her, nor at her mother, who, she knew, was attempting to send significant signals across the room.
â??Kaoru,â?? said Yumi in an agitated voice, â??Mr. Amakusa has something to say to you. Iâ?|erâ?|I have to speak to one of the housemaids now. The brasses on the front door, you know, have not been polished properly these last three days. Iâ?|will be in the dining room should you need me.â??
Shogu wasted no time. No sooner were the drawing room doors closed behind Yumi then he advanced towards Kaoru, declaring, â??Miss Kamiya, your respected father has given me permission to talk to you. From the first time, I have made my intentions clear on the matter of finding myself a wife. Not just any girl will do, you understand. For the future Mrs. Amakusa I need a lady who will be a credit to me.â??
â??Naturally,â?? murmured Kaoru, wondering however she was going to manage to keep a straight face during this interview.
Shogu paced back and forth between the fireplace and the windows.
â??Miss Kamiya, the moment I set eyes on you, I was struckâ?|no, overcomeâ?|overwhelmed by your dazzling beauty. Yes, thatâ??s it, dazzling beauty. Andâ?|erâ?|your exquisite behavior andâ?|erâ?|your air ofâ?|of delicate breeding.â??
Shogu was rapidly becoming red in the face and seemed to be having difficulty with his breathing. Fair words and fine compliments, Kaoru thought, clearly did not trip easily from his lips. From beneath her modestly lowered eyes, she watched him struggle for the right words. Was he, perhaps, about to compare her to a rose?
â??You are like a flower!â?? he said triumphantly. â??A perfect summer rose, fresh with morning dew!â??
But Mr. Amakusa, she thought, biting back her laughter, I have no wish to bloom with you, in Shimabara.
Encouraged by her silence, he continued, â??Nothing would pleaseâ?|honor me more than if you would consent to become my wife.â??
Beads of perspiration were forming on his brow. He regarded Kaoru anxiously, wondering if he had said enough. As Kaoru remained silent, he went on, â??Of course, I realize that Shimabara sounds a long way away. But your family will be more than welcome for the occasional visit. Come now, what do you say?â??
Kaoru longed to tell him truthfully that this was the clumsiest and most unwished-for proposal she had ever had the misfortune to receive. But good manners dictated that she must give him a civil reply. With considerable difficulty, she composed herself and gained control of her voice.
â??Mr. Amakusa,â?? she said steadily, â??I am very honored that you chose me to be your wife. But Iâ??m afraid thatâ??s not possible.â??
Shogu let out a long exasperated sigh. â??Miss Kamiya, I know you to be a spirited, intelligent girl. That is why I selected you. Now, bearing all this in mind, may we not dispense with the formalities? I am aware that in polite circles it is considered proper for the young lady to demur, to reject the attentions of the suitor who in her secret heart she has every intention of accepting in the end. I came into this drawing room prepared, in all good faith, to make the flowery speech I felt that occasion demanded. But the time for games of this sort is now over. I should prefer you to speak to me plainly.â??
â??Very well,â?? said Kaoru, drawing a deep breath. â??If that is what you wish, Mr. Amakusa. But remember that youâ??ve only persuaded me to speak to you in such a frank manner. I regard you as one of the least appealing men I have ever met. Your manners, your bearing, your appearance and your character all disgust me. I will not marry you, and furthermore, I wish you gone from my sight!â??
His face was livid. His pale eyes bulged. In two strides he was beside her, gripping her arm. She tried to break free, but his fingers bit cruelly into her white skin.
â??So,â?? he breathed, â??you dare to say that I disgust you! Well, so be it. Iâ??m not marrying for love. That I freely admit. There are many other ladies in Kyoto who would do just as well as you. But I have already informed my friends in the capital that you are to be my bride. I have no intention of returning with my tail between my legs to announce that you have refused me.â??
Kaoru tossed her head. â??It seems you have no choice, Mr. Amakusa.â??
â??I would remind you that I have your fatherâ??s consent for this marriage,â?? hissed Shogu. â??I will return and speak to you again, by which time I shall hope to find you in a more amenable frame of mind.â??
With that he bowed, turned on his heel, and rushed from the room.
A few moments later Yumi bustled through the doors. â??Kaoru, whatever happened between you two? Why did Mr. Amakusa leave so abruptly?â??
â??Because I rejected his offer of marriage,â?? said Kaoru. She closed her eyes and waited for the parental storm to break.
By midafternoon, Kaoru is locked in her bedroom. There she would stay, her furious father decreed, until she saw sense and agreed to marry Shogu Amakusa. Saitou had even gone so far as to declare that Kaoru was to have only bread and water for nourishment, but the entire household knew that this was mere bluster and that Yumi herself would take up trays of food for her daughter.
It was such an ironical situation, reflected Kaoru as she arranged the cushions on her favorite windowseat. She had known that Shoguâ??s proposal would provide the necessary diversion to divert her fatherâ??s wrath from Soujirou. So far, so good. What she had not fully anticipated was the manner in which Soujirouâ??s disobedience would serve to exacerbate her fatherâ??s fury toward her and make her own situation more wretched.
Saitou had said that his parental authority was being seriously undermined. First Soujirou took matters into his own hands and joined the Army (though the gods only knew, Saitou muttered, how he had managed to finance his expedition) and now Kaoru was proving to be a rebellious, defiant girl by refusing an excellent suitor. It wouldnâ??t do. It wouldnâ??t do at all!
Hence his drastic action in confining Kaoru to her room. Before a tearful Yumi had locked the door, she had murmured, â??Kaoru dear, I see no possibility of your father relenting. Iâ??m afraid that you must make up your mind to marry Mr. Amakusaâ?|or all our lives will be unbearable.â??
Kaoru smiled now. Poor Mama. Papa would take a great deal of pacifying. The atmosphere downstairs would not be at all pleasant for some time to come.
But I simply cannot marry that dreadful man, thought Kaoru. I cannot commit my life, my future into his hands. It amazed her that her parents could not see what an undesirable person he was. Yet they are blinded, she thought, by his forthcoming title. My father wanted to have the legendary Battousai in our family.
And after all, they have not seen Shogu Amakusa in the light that I have. In company, his manners are perfectly acceptable. But when he and I have been alone together, there has been something malicious and menacing in his eyes. A change has come over him, which is hard to explain in words, but which makes my flesh creep.
There was a coarseness about Shogu Amakusa that repulsed Kaoruâ??especially when she compared him to Kenshin. Kenshin was everything a man should be. Strong, rugged, forceful, yet in his dealings with her he had always been gentle. Right from the beginning, when he had swept her into his arms and carried her off down the road, he had been the perfect gentleman.
On the lakeland island she had been totally at his mercy. He had expressed a desire to kiss herâ?|but he had not forced her. Kaoru had no doubt in her mind how Shogu Amakusa would have behaved in similar circumstances. Indeed, had he not given her evidence of his brutal, insensitive nature on that occasion near the river?
Kaoru had found it quite impossible to phrase for her parents the exact reasons for her dislike of Shogu Amakusa, for much of her loathing was based purely on feminine intuition. She sensed an evil about him. But what?
In her parentsâ?? eyes, what wrong had he done her? He had attempted to force her to kiss him, that was all. Hardly a serious crime, when all was said and done. From her parentsâ?? point of view, what was that single indiscretion when set against his position in society, his wealth, his total eligibility as a husband?
So what am I to do, murmured Kaoru, her head beginning to throb as she considered her position. Papa is unyielding in his decision. He is determined that I shall marry Shogu Amakusa. But I know that I will die in spirit if I am forced to become his bride.
It all seemed hopeless. Restlessly, Kaoru turned to plump up the windowseat cushions, conscious that something hard was jutting into her back. Feeling behind the velvet cushion, she remembered that she had hidden one of her novels there. Gazing on the title, her face brightened.
â??Of course!â?? she gasped, hugging the book to her. Why, the solution to her dilemma lay here, right in her very hands! For the book she held was the tale of Naruâ??s adventure as a female soldier.
Naturally, she could never attempt to emulate Naru and really become a soldier. But what was to prevent her from joining Kenshin when he went into the Army? The idea was not as foolish as it might seem. After all, Kaoru reasoned, many women followed their men into war. It was an accepted practice. Not, admittedly, a respectable acceptable practice, but Kaoru decided that a situation as desperate as this called for unorthodox methods to resolve it.
I love him, she thought fervently. He is the only man in the world with whom I wanted to be with. It is as if fate has driven us together. If Shogu Amakusa had not proposed, or my father been so adamant, I would never have dreamed of running away to be with Kenshin. Yet in the present circumstances, what other choice do I have? To stay here at the mansion and marry the man I hate? No, that can never be.
Kenshin has made me realize how intoxicating are the joys of freedom and adventure. And he would look after me, I know he would. I should take care not to be a burden to him. And how thrilling it would be!
Kaoruâ??s imagination soared as she thought of traveling in foreign lands, as the men rode into battle. She would become friendly with the other camp women, and they would spend their days preparing for the homecoming of their menâ?|and in the evenings there would be gatherings around the camp fires, and sing-songs, and endless glorious stories of their heroesâ?? victories at war.
After all, thought Kaoru, her eyes luminous with excitement, Soujirou has done it. And we are so alike. Why shouldnâ??t I be granted my freedom, too?
In the hours which followed, Kaoru could think of nothing to dissuade her from her plan. Or rather, she would allow no such discouraging thoughts to enter her mind. Kenshin had told her he could be found at the Omiya Inn on the Koriyama road She was in a frenzy of anticipation at the notion of seeing him againâ?|and setting off with him on this wonderful adventure.
At seven oâ??clock, Yumi unlocked the door and brought in a supper tray. â??I cannot stay longer, Kaoru. Your father would make my life unbearable if he knew I was here. Have you had no change of heart yet, my dear?â??
Kaoru shook her head. â??I am sorry, Mama.â??
â??You were always an obstinate girl when you took an idea into your head,â?? sighed Yumi. â??But this time, Kaoru, you will not get your own way. Your father is determined to see you married to Mr. Amakusa.â??
Kaoru was suddenly aware that this would be the last time she would see her mother forâ?|how long? Perhaps forever. After all, when her father learned of what she had done, he would doubtless refuse to acknowledge her as his daughter. She would be barred from the house and from social intercourse with her family.
The thought sent a chill through her bones. But then she imagined the alternativeâ??marriage to Shogu Amakusaâ??and the fire of resolve kindled her courage once more.
â??Dearest Mama,â?? she said, taking her motherâ??s hand, â??you know I love you, donâ??t you? And whatever I may doâ?|remember it is for the best, and not to cause you grief.â??
Yumi looked bewildered. â??Being cooped up in this stuffy room is doing you no good, Kaoru. You are babbling. You will end up crazy. Now eat your supper. There is sashimi, yakitori and some sweet biscuits. I had Cook make the yakitori specially for you, though your father will dismiss her if ever he finds out.â??
Kaoruâ??s eyes misted. â??You are kind Mama. Always trying to think well of me.â??
â??I will see you in the morning,â?? said her mother. â??And try to see sense, Kaoru.â??
The key scraped once more in the lock, and Kaoru could hear the rustle of silk as her mother walked away. Kaoru was in too much of a tumult to feel hungry, but she forced herself to eat the sashimi and sweets on the tray. After all, she reasoned, I have no idea when my next meal may be. And I will need all my strength in the hours after darkness.
She had plenty with which to occupy herself. First, there was the matter of joining the bedsheets, and tying one end to the strong oak bedpost. Kaoru had learned from her novels that a sheet-rope was one of the simplest ways of escaping from an upstairs room in a house.
With that completed, Kaoru turned her attention to the question of finance. She would undoubtedly need to take some money with her, both to pay for her everyday requirements and to buy her way out of any emergency that might arise.
But there lay the problem. She had no jewelry available, for Saitou insisted that all the family valuables be kept locked in the library safe. And although Kaoru was a rich woman in her own right, all her wealth was invested in stocks and shares carefully administered by her brother Aoshi.
Her father, naturally, paid all her bills. As she rarely went out into society, Kaoru had never before needed any money. Yet now she found herself sorely embarrassed on this situation.
How ridiculous, she thought, that Kaoru Kamiya doesnâ??t have a single yen she can lay her hands on! Yet waitâ?|I may not have a yenâ?|I have more than that. I have a gold piece!
Hurrying to her dressing room, she rummaged in the bottom drawer. There, hidden beneath a discarded nightdress, lay the shining gold coin which Kenshin had given her on that fateful night at Haruno Grange.
Swiftly, she tucked it securely into her kimono. Its cool hardness against her skin felt as reassuring as a lucky talisman. While she was in possession of Kenshinâ??s coin, she was sure no harm could befall her.
At last, she heard ten oâ??clock chime on the clock. She forced herself to wait another quarter of an hour, until her parents would be safely in their room. Then, she quickly change into her gi and hakama and put on her cloak, she crossed to the window and gently eased it open.
She flung out the knotted bedsheets, noting with relief that she had judged correctly, and they almost reached the ground. Taking a deep breath, Kaoru prepared to make her escape.
The worst part of the exercise, she discovered, was the very firstâ?|actually clambering out backwards from the window and gathering the courage to let the linen sheets take her weight. Grimly, she clung on, not daring to look down. The hem of her hakama ripped against the rough stone wall, while her knees and shins were badly scraped. But the sheets held, and gradually, moving hand over hand, she completed her descent.
At the bottom, she was trembling, but triumphant. The first stage was completed!
She wished she had been able to think of a way to remove the telltale sheet-rope, so her absence would not be discovered so early in the morning. All she could hope for was that Kenshin would take her away so swiftly that her father would have no hope of tracking them down.
There was no time to loose. Kaoru hurried around to the stables.
â??Hello, there, my friend,â?? she murmured to her mare. â??You must be becoming accustomed to me coming at this time of night, to ride you bareback under the stars.â??
Once again, the faithful mare sensed her mood and her needs. Within minutes, they were crossing the stableyard. Then Kaoru was on the horseâ??s back, heading toward the lane, following the same route taken by Soujirou when she had watched from her bedroom window and envied him his freedom.
But now, she thought exultantly, it is my turn!
As there was no moon, Kaoru decided against riding cross-country to Koriyama. Instead, she boldly elected to take the road. It had the advantage of being the more direct route, but at the same time she was fully conscious of all the attendant dangersâ?|the possibility of attack by highwaymen, brigands, rogues of all sorts who roamed the roads by night.
Yet because of the gold piece tucked safely in the waistband of her hakama, Kaoru felt safe. Nothing, she was sure, could adversely happen to her while Kenshinâ??s gold was hers. It would protect her as surely as he himself would guard her.
Miraculously, so it turned out, the only people she met on the road were two drunkards, weaving along, soused with sake. One attempted to bow as she rode past, but the effects of the drink caused him to totter, and his good-natured companion only just prevented him from falling into the ditch.
Nevertheless, Kaoru felt a profound sense of relief when she saw the lights of the Omiya Inn twinkling ahead of her. Although it was nearly midnight, the inn was teeming with life. Sounds of music and laughter echoed from the rooms. Dog yapped in the courtyard, and horses whinnied in their stalls.
Seeing her enter the courtyard of the inn, a groom ran out to take her horse. He gazed curiously at Kaoru. Despite her torn dress and bareback style of riding, she was clearly a lady. Yet arriving at this hour of the nightâ?|?
â??Shall I call the landlord, miss? Do you need food, or a room?â??
Kaoru said hastily, â??Please do not trouble yourself. Iâ??m looking for a friend.â??
He nodded and said no more. It was then that Kaoru realized that the Omiya Inn was not a totally respectable inn. The groom was trained not to ask questions. If ladies arrived on their own at midnight, looking for a â??friend,â?? then it was none of his businessâ?|unless someone paid him to divulge what he had witnessed. So he observed, and listened, but not asked.
Seeing his shifty eyes upon her, Kaoru tried to give the appearance of knowing perfectly well where she was going. She pushed open one of the side doors and found herself in a gloomy corridor, lit by spluttering mutton fat candles.
Where, she wondered, would she find Kenshin? She had hoped to come across him quietly, to save herself the trouble and embarrassment of asking the landlord and alerting his suspicions.
At the end of the corridor a door was ajar, and she heard the sound of female laughter. Drawn by the noise, Kaoru paused in the shadows, gazing into a room where two women lounged on wooden chairs.
From their appearance, Kaoru guessed that they were dancers. They were wearing colorful gypsy skirts, with tight-laced bodies in red and yellow. Their hair hung loose, tumbling over their bare shoulders, while their faces were vivid with rouge and paint.
One of the girls was massaging her bare feet. â??Oooh, I donâ??t think I can dance another step tonight.â??
Her friend downed her mug of sake and laughed, â??Iâ??ll bet you wonâ??t have too much more dancing to do, Tomoe. From the way that red-haired man was looking at you earlier on, heâ??ll have you off your feet and onto your back in no time.â??
Tomoe laughed coarsely. â??Oh yeah, heâ??s a devil, that Kenshin. But what a man!â??
Kaoru stood frozen in the doorway. How dared they talk of Kenshin, her Kenshin, in this common fashion?
â??Itâ??ll be even more fun when we follow the fellows into the Army,â?? said her companion, holding up a glass and applying blacking to her lashes. â??Just you and me, Tomoe, and all those dashing Army officers. What a time weâ??ll have.â??
Tomoe grinned. â??We wonâ??t be the only women, Megumi. Thereâ??ll be a camp full of us.â??
â??But weâ??ll be the only dancers,â?? argued Megumi, â??so weâ??ll attract most of the attentions.â??
â??Well, donâ??t go throwing yourself at Kenshin,â?? warned Tomoe. â??Heâ??s mine.â??
Megumi gave her a pert look. â??For the moment, perhaps. But I know men of his sort. They are never content with just one woman. Heâ??s a man with a healthy appetite. Heâ??ll never be satisfied with just the likes of you.â??
Tomoe stood up, her eyes flashing angrily. It was then that she noticed Kaoru, standing rooted to the spot in the doorway.
Kaoru turned to run, but Tomoe was too quick. Seizing her by the arm, she dragged her into the room.
â??Well, well,â?? she said grimly. â??And just who may you be?â??
AUTHORâ??S RAMBLINGS
Iâ??m tired of people always portraying Tomoe as an ice queen, the perfect lady. Since, some stories portrayed Kaoru as a whore, why not Tomoe for a change? THANKS AGAIN SO MUCH!!! To my avid readers and reviewers. Pls. wait for the next chapter. I wonder what will Kenshinâ??s reaction be when he sees his beloved Kaoru in a tavern? Hmmmmâ?|stay tunedâ?|same web siteâ?|same authorâ?|same fic. Ja!
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