From: RuriHari@aol.com I'm procrastinating my homework. ^^;; so while I procrastinated I worked on a bit more of For the Sake of Hope. Finally! Chapter 4 is out in three parts (the last two are shorter pieces). I realized while writting I had ignored a large part of the storyline (ooops bad Ruri!) so Chapter 5 is coming soon but for now enjoy chapter 4. So with that I'll skip the disclaimer (standard disclaimers apply) and go straight for the story, notes at the bottom. Ch 4: Birthday Presents Part 1: Aoiya Nozomi’s eyes took a little adjusting to the interior of the Aoiya as she entered. “Happy Birthday Nozomi-chan!” Nozomi smiled, “Thank you Eri-chan.” “Come over here!” she called. Nozomi made her way to the booth that she was sitting at. In another booth Okina was dancing on the table and singing. “Looks like the party started with out me.” Nozomi said with a smile. “He’s been on that table for a good hour now.” Eri said with a giggle. Eri set out a two packages, one wrapped in cloth, the other in paper. “The cloth one is from my parents. The other is from me.” she said with a smile. Nozomi unwrapped the cloth one and lifted the wooden lid. Underneath, tucked in hay was a tea set made with Hiko’s trademark delicate handiwork. “Its lovely!” she said. “Okaa-san said it was never too early to start a trousseau.” “Ehhhh, how thoughtful of her.” Nozomi said. Eri smiled again, “Which is why I have my gift.” Nozomi unwrapped Eri’s and looked up, “Its great!” she held up the chocolate. “I know you like it so-ooof!” “Thank you Eri-chan!” Nozomi exclaimed hugging her childhood friend. “You’re welcome.” Eri said surprised. “Actually... I have a question for you...” “Go on.” “Do you have any feelings for Shinobu?” Nozomi blinked at Eri. The question had come out of nowhere. Could it be that Eri... “For Shinobu? He’s just a friend, I don’t think I could feel that way for him.” she looked slyly at Eri, “Why? Is there someone we know that likes him?” Eri let out a laugh and waved her hands infront of her, “Oh no! Just wondering ahh... lots of girls are talking about how handsome he is and I was just curious because you have been spending a lot of time with him...” by this time her ears had turned pink. Nozomi smile to herself. She never knew Eri had feelings for a boy. She was such a wild child since the day she was born. Since she lived in such a liberal household, her manners were more straighforward than any other girl. Eri was also a loud person, that would fight with the boys. She was also one of the better kendo students in Kyoto who was known for her speed. It was a rarity to see her in a kimono, most of the time she ran around in a gi and hakama her hair flying behind her in two braids. Nozomi almost envied the fact that Eri was allowed to learn. Which was odd considering her father was a potter and her mother owned a sake business. Eri’s gift in kendo seemed almost out of place. She looked at Eri though new eyes and realized that Eri was growing up as well. She was almost fourteen after all. “Ahhh what a pity, I could have put in a good word for her.” Nozomi said. “A pity indeed.” Eri said solemnly. She played with the edge of one of the sleeves of her kimono. Nozomo wondered what Sakura-san had told her to convince her to wear it, let alone to have her beautiful jet black hair in anything but those two braids. Today, she had it pulled back with combs. She wondered if it had anything to do with Eri’s sudden interest in Shinobu. “If you want to know, I spent a lot of time with Shinobu because he was my sparring partner.” “Sparring?” she said. Nozomi nodded with a gleam in her eyes, “I learned from Okina and Shinobu would spar with me.” Eri covered her mouth, “But why in secret?” she asked. Nozomi nodded, “I wanted it to be a gift.” Eri smiled, “Ahh I see.” “So you see nothing is going on between us.” she smiled secretly at Eri. “I’ll put in a good word for you.” Eri’s ears turned pink again. Misao poked her head in, “Nozomi-chan, we’re ready we can start if you want.” Nozomi’s eyes lit up, “Alright!” “Maaaa maaa why am I blindfolded?” Kenshin asked as Misao led him through the Aoiya. “Its a surprise.” Misao said mysteriously. He could hear a door being slid open and then Misao whisper. “Okay.” “Sit here,” she said, she let his feet touch a cushion on the floor. Kenshin obligingly sat down. Meanwhile he could hear feet running into position. “Himura-san, have some tea.” Eri’s voice said as she pressed a cup into his hands. Kenshin took the cup, “Thank you, what service." “OK!” Nozomi called. “Nozomi-chan what are you doing?” he asked. There was a short pause and then she said, “Its a surprise oto-chan! Promise me you won’t say a thing until I finish.” Kenshin chuckled, it had been a while since Nozomi had made a surprise such a big deal. “Hai.” he said. “Misao take the blindfold off.” Nozomi said. It took a few moments to adjust his eyes to the light. As his eyesight cleared he froze. “Kaoru?” he whispered. Misao glanced sharply at Kenshin. He looked stunned. She looked at Nozomi who had started sparring with Shinobu. It made sense. Nozomi was dressed in a white gi, black hakama, and had her hair in a braid. Dressed that way she almost looked like her mother. Nozomi was happy. ‘Watch oto-chan!’she thought, ‘This is for you. Look at what I learned.’ she deflected Shinobu’s next attack. ‘No, no, no, no, this can’t be happening.’ Kenshin thought, horrified. ‘Nozomi how could you? I asked you not to learn kendo.’ the exhibition seemed to stretch forever. ‘Stop! Stop!’ he wanted to say. The more he watched the more Nozomi turned into Kaoru. Crash! The tea cup slipped from his hand just as Nozomi knocked Shinobu’s bokken out of his hands. She flashed a smile at Shinobu as she bowed to him. Shinobu did the same, he was breathing hard. She turned to her father, “Oto-cha-” she stopped. His head was bowed. Nozomi bit her lower lip. ‘Look Oto-chan! Aren’t you proud of me?’ she had that line prepared. This wasn’t going the way she planned! “I’m sorry.” he said dully, “Excuse me.” he left the room. She had never seen her father like this. He looked half sad and half angry. Nozomi turned to Misao, “Misao... I... I... what did I... I don’t understand!” she said. Misao looked at Nozomi sadly, “Its just that today is a very special day for your father Nozomi-chan.” she took Nozomi in her arms and said, “And what you just did reminded him so much of your mother, I’m sure he’s in shock.” “Maybe this is why he told me never to learn kendo.” Nozomi said softly. “Himura Nozomi.” Misao said angrily. “Hai Misao?” Nozomi asked slowly looking at Misao with a guilty face. “Why didn’t you tell me you weren’t allowed to learn kendo?” Misao asked sternly. “I... I... I... I wanted it to be a secret so that I could surprise oto-chan!” Nozomi exclaimed. “Now he’s angry at me!” “He has reason to be angry and he has reason not to be” Misao said. “I should have told you Nozomi-chan. I should have told you about your mother and your father when they were together. No wonder Jiya refused to teach you.” “Because he knew that otochan would get angry?” Nozomi asked. Misao nodded. “Go,” she whispered, “go get dressed in the kimono your father gave you.” she kissed Nozomi’s forehead, “Stop crying its not going to solve anything right now.” Nozomi nodded and ran to her room to change. Eri went with her to keep her company. Moments later Nozomi was dressed in the kimono and her hair was braided and tied with a ribbon. She was sitting next to Misao and Aoshi. They heard footsteps and the sound of throat being cleared. “Nozomi-chan.” Nozomi turned to see her father. He still looked sad. Kenshin looked at his daughter, she had changed back to a kimono. He sighed, he was furious at her for learning kendo. ‘Admit it,’ his mind told him, ‘you were avoiding the inevitable, you knew that she’d learn eventually.’ he even realized that she was talented. On the other hand, he was mad at himself for not telling her about her mother and the past. ‘You were always good at trying to run away from the past.’ he told himself. “Nozomi-chan, I forgot to tell you.” he said. Nozomi held her breath, here came the punishment. But what her father said next floored her. “I’m taking you to Tokyo for your birthday.” he said. Part 2: Tranquillity “You’ve improved Ryu.” Yahiko said as Ryu wiped the sweat off his forehead. Ryu lifted his face from the cloth and grinned, “That’s good. I was afraid that I forgot the Kamiya Kashin Ryuu while I was away.” “Ahh, studying abroad.” “Yes I want to be a doctor just like my okaa-san.” Ryu said. Yahiko nodded, “At least you aren’t going to follow your oto-san’s path.” Ryu chuckled, “Okaa-san keeps reminding me about his gambling ways.” “He eats as much as his oto-san though.” Ryu and Yahiko turned to see Sano leaning against the open door of the dojo. “Oto-san!” Ryu exclaimed. “Did I stay out too long?” Sano grinned, “You know how okaa-san gets worried. She’s worried you’ll turn out like me. So she sent me to go find you.” “Yahiko.” Tsubame said as she appeared next to Sano. “I got a letter from Himura-san.” Yahiko rushed to Tsubame’s side and opened the letter. His eyes scanned the letter and then let out a yell. Tsubame made him quiet down. “Shhhh remember there’s a baby asleep.” “I’m sorry I can’t help it.” Yahiko exclaimed, “Kenshin is coming back to Tokyo. He’s bringing Nozomi-chan with him.” “Nozomi-chan?” Ryu asked. “His daughter. Her mother was the last master in the Kamiya Kashin Ryuu.” Yahiko said. Sano looked up towards the sky scratching his chin, “Nozomi-chan should be sixteen. Megumi has her gift ready to send as always.” “Sagara-san.” Tsubame said, “Invite Megumi-san over for dinner. It has been a while since she came. We can celebrate Himura-san’s return together.” Sano grinned, “I can’t turn down your cooking Tsubame.” “He can’t turn down anyone’s cooking.” Yahiko said on the side, “Not even Kaoru’s.” Sano smiled, “I’ll be back.” Part 3: Aoshi Nozomi watched as her father remained silent for the entire length of the train trip. She was so excited, she had never been on a train before. She vaguely remembered coming to Kyoto on boat. Her father was silent on that trip too. “Nozomi sit still.” Misao said. “Look at how everything seems to fly by Misao!” Nozomi exclaimed. Aoshi closed his book, the train swayed too much for him to read. “You’ll need glasses if you keep reading like that.” Misao warned. Aoshi smiled faintly at Misao. Misao blushed, Aoshi rarely smiled, even after almost twenty years of marriage Aoshi’s smiles were treasures to Misao. “Nozomi sit still.” Misao repeated. “Mou!” Nozomi exclaimed. “I can’t, I’m so excited.” Misao sighed and stood up, “Let’s go walk around the train, ne?” Nozomi stood up quickly. “Hai.” she followed Misao chattering non-stop. Aoshi turned to Kenshin who was sitting next to him. “You’ve been silent.” Kenshin looked down, “Nozomi seems so happy.” he said. “I wonder if I am doing the right thing.” “I ask myself the same thing when I watch Shinobu train or just grow up.” Aoshi said. “You have Misao to help you raise him.” “That doesn’t make you any less of a parent Himura.” “Nozomi deserves to know about her mother.” “You keep talking about Kaoru as if she was someone else.” Aoshi said. “Its the only way I can deal with it.” Kenshin said. “I think this trip isn’t just for Nozomi.” Aoshi said. “I think its for you too, you need to learn to say her name again.” “I do.” Kenshin said. “Not around Nozomi.” Aoshi said. Before Kenshin could reply Misao and Nozomi returned chattering about what Nozomi was going to do when they arrived in Tokyo. “Oto-chan!” Nozomi exclaimed, “I can see the station coming up!” notes: Aha! I managed to work Eri into the story ^^ and added a better transition for Nozomi’s birthday party at the Aoiya. I had added new stuff to the old stuff so I hope the difference isn’t that obvious ^^; comments and flames and any random comments are always welcome Rurichan- back to procrastinating-err studying I mean. --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ---------------------------- Congratulations to MSers_Online. Our latest ONElist of the Week. For full story and to submit yours, go to Click Here ------------------------------------------------------------------------