Reasons
How do I love thee, let me count the ways...
First and foremost, I like Kaoru as a character because she seems so real. She's the type of character a lot of girls can relate to. Second, I like her because of her kindness. She's so nice to everyone and she always looks at a person's good side, instead of dwelling on the negative side. If only some people were like her... Third, I like her because she's not some helpless anime girl that always needs rescuing (like some girls [read: Miaka] I know). She can fight her own battles but still she can play the damsel in distress when the situation calls for it. She's a good fighter and what more, she actually fights fully clothed, in a kimono no less! Fourth, I like her because despite her seemingly hard exterior, she's a real softie at heart. She's not afraid to show her real emotions and cries whenever she feels like it. I'm a firm believer that tears does not necessarily mean weakness. Quite the opposite, I think that crying could mean strength and courage. It just means that you're not afraid to show the whole world your vulnerabilities and insecurities. And you should know that opening up to another person (much more the whole world) and dropping all pretensions (of being tough, invulnerable etc.) requires a great deal of courage. And Kaoru was courageous enough to wear her heart on her sleeve. Fifth, I like her because she's very smart. Although sometimes she lets her emotions rule over reason, no one can accuse her of being stupid and ditzy.
Lastly, I like her for the very reasons a lot of people hate her for: she cries a lot, she hits people, she's insecure, she's tomboyish, she has a fierce temper, she's a bad cook, etc. You might find it hard to believe but her "negative" characteristics are her traits that endear her most to me. It's because those are the very things that make her seem so REAL!