La Fleure qui est Belle
Chapter 5
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The usual warning and
disclaimer applies, see chapter one.
Chapter Five
weeks, Jean began to arrive home later and later each evening.
why, even though the man was warm, and jovial most of the time.
suspicions. But, he told himself, that’s
ridiculous! Jean wouldn’t eve do
that! So, at present, he was sitting in
the library, listening to Kaoru play the piano when the clock struck eleven;
Jean still hadn’t come home.
chord, and sat back. Her entire body was
tense from playing, but it was a good kind of tension; she hadn’t been lost in
a piece of music since…well, since she was young.
he was watching the street. Where in the
world, he wondered, was Jean? The next
morning, Kaoru woke fairly early, however, Jean never had come home during the
night. She’s pretty certain she knows
why, as well, and Kenshin’s still sitting in the same chair he occupied the
night before. His eyes were red from
both crying and lack of sleep, and he was plotting murder.
worried. “He probably fell asleep at
work, Mr. Himura.”
his hands. “Please…innocent until proven
guilty, right?” Kenshin’s jaw tightened,
and trembled the slightest bit. His
response was a sharp nod before he slumped back in the chair again.
answered, with a wave of his hand.
some tea.”
voice. Kaoru sighed, and rang for one,
which was when Kenshin saw Jean coming down the street, looking just a bit
rumpled. His mind immediately leapt to
the worst possible conclusion, and he decided to wait for Jean to find him,
which he did a few minutes later. When
he entered the library, Jean went over to Kenshin and rested his head on his
knee. Kenshin didn’t touch him. “Where
were you?”
if he’d just woken up. “I had to stay
late, and was so tired that I fell asleep.
I’m sorry, love.”
cold for the first time since meeting Jean.
“Next time, send someone and let me know.
“I will.”
Kaoru entered the library with a few scores in her lands, and sat in one
corner, mulling over which one to lean.
Kenshin stood as she entered.
office and tell them that I’m not going to be in today?”
following. Exhaustion had caught up with
him, and he was going to bed. Kaoru sent
the note, and went back to her music studies, and Jean sat and read.
then woke up and wondered where Jean was, because that was his reaction upon
waking and not finding Jean in bed at his side.
He got out of bed, changed, and went to look for him, finding him to
still be in the library, listening to Kaoru play.
and following Kenshin from the library.
hard on you recently.” Jean nodded.
that entire time… “I’d hoped that you
would tell me when things like this came up.
That way, I would know not to sit up for hours, waiting for you, and
worrying myself sick.”
while.”
love…”
throat, pulling Kenshin closer. “What
time is the opera?”
and made him blush, and let Kenshin lead him to the bed.
bits and pieces of their conversation.
She hoped the piano wouldn’t disturb them, but, with the amount of noise
they were making it was fairly likely that they wouldn’t even be able to hear
it.
wasn’t home for dinner. Kaoru sighed
just as a maid came up with a message, which Kaoru handed to Kenshin.
hate to do this to you, but I’ve been asked to stay
again. Please, don’t worry about
me. I may
to stay overnight again, but I’ll try not to.
love you,
towards the door. “I’m going out.”
smiling. “I’ll see you in the
morning.” He put on his coat and left,
heading directly to Jean’s workplace, and stood across the street, watching.
Shadows moved across the drawn curtains, but that was about all that there was
to be seen, and the doors were locked.
Meanwhile, Kaoru fell asleep after a rather angry session at the
piano. The instrument in no way deserved
the abuse, but she was both angry at Jean for what he was most likely doing to
his lover, and angry at herself for not being able to comfort Kenshin.
watching the curtained windows. He could
see papers being flung, and then the shadows moved away, but he did not.
rather irritated; he stormed down the street towards Kenshin’s flat.
over his eyes, and Kenshin entered the flat a few minutes later, having followed
Jean, just a bit shakily.
“You’re home.”
about to let Jean read that in his expression.
He changed into his nightclothes and sat down on the bed, only to be
pulled into Jean’s arms. “What did you
have to do that kept you this late?”
it!”
Kenshin thought, and kissed Jean’s hands.
Jean smiled, and turned so that Kenshin was beneath him.
touch his face. “I love you.”
the bed hitting the wall, and, pulling the blankets up over her head, closed
her eyes again.
that he was required to leave the country on business matters.
after kissing Kenshin. As the carriage
sped away, he was glad that Kenshin couldn’t see his face.
Kenshin would have committed homicide.
people pass by from her vantage point in the library window a few days
later. Standing, she made her way over
to the piano, and sat as Kenshin entered the library.
give him an encouraging smile before beginning to play.
Kaoru. Every instinct I have says that
he’s cheating on me.”
feeling, only much stronger than Kenshin’s probably was, because she was an
outside observer of the relationship. “I
really don’t know what to say…”
He collapsed into one of the chairs.
forbid, you found out that he was, indeed, cheating on you?”
Though, I’d probably just cry and make him leave.”
cheating on you, you’re too good for him.”
to playing. Kenshin read the first page,
the reviews, the list of art showing, and the flipped to the society page where
he went completely still. There was an
enormous headline that read: “Playboy Plays More: Jean du Lac spotted in London
hotel with his Lover.” The name
mentioned was not Kenshin’s. He folded
the paper calmly, a bit too calmly, and stood.
Jean was due to return any day.