True Feelings

A/N: Hello all readers. I hope all are having a great time in the world of fan fiction. This is my new fan fiction which popped up in my head few months back at one midnight and since then I have been working on it. The setting is Japan, somewhere in Kyoto prefecture. The time will be just few years ahead of present time... um at first I thought it would be maybe around ten to twenty years ahead but now as my work progressed I decided to pick a specific year and that would be 2043 from where the story will begin. However, please do not expect anything super futuristic like space or Mars or alien or too much use of super technology and computers only because I said the time will be ahead. I just needed to follow an exact calendar so that I don't lose track of time of the story. So please read it imagining the contemporary world, maybe little advanced and changed. The time will be ahead or unspecific so that it will not contradict with real-time and original history. And oh! ... How can I forget? Since this is an alternative universe story, please be aware of out of characters. Please don't complain about any specific character by saying s/he's not like that in the manga or anime. But if there is anything about any character you don't like, you can always make your negative comments.

Disclaimer: The characters belong to Nobuhiro Watsuki's masterpiece Rurouni Kenshin.

Summary: Kaoru is a high school student. One morning her best friend told her that the heartthrob of Japan has a crush on her. How will she react?

Story Type: Alternative Universe

Chapter 1

One morning in a high school...

Kaoru heard the voice of her best friend, Misao, who was running towards her from the entrance of the locker room when she was closing the door of her shoe locker after changing her shoes.

"Kaoru-chan! Kaoru-chan!" Misao was panting.

"Come down Misao-chan. Breath." Kaoru gently patted Misao's left arm with her right hand while holding her schoolbag with left.

Misao pushed Kaoru to the farthest corner of the room and spoke in low voice as if she was going to share something secret.

"Guess what!" She was overjoyed with some exciting news.

"Umm... What?" Kaoru pretended to guess then smiled raising an eyebrow. It's Misao's usual behavior. Misao always spoke to her like that when she wanted to tell her some exciting news about her boyfriend, about her dates with him and his presents.

"Himura." Misao whispered.

"Himura what?" Since Misao spoke in a low voice, Kaoru did the same.

Misao grabbed her friend's both hands after hanging her schoolbag across her right shoulder and started to take tiny jumps in excitement as she spoke, "Himura has a crush on you." with a big smile and big eyes.

"Yeah. In your wildest dream." Kaoru rolled her eyes with a smirk.

"No. Kao-chan. It's not. Wait a minute." Misao went to her locker, quickly changed her shoes and went back to the corner where Kaoru was standing.

"Remember the cosmos valley we invaded during our summer camp?"

"Yes." Sure she remembered. The senior students of their school had that camp only four months back during the first week of their summer vacation.

"He was there."

"So?" Kaoru shrugged her shoulders.

"So?! Just 'so'?" Misao sighed. "Kao-chan! You're supposed to ask 'oh really!' or 'Oh my god! What was he doing there?'. Not just 'So?'."

"Oh yeah! I only learned to speak this morning and so I didn't know what to say when I'm not bothered by the news of a celebrity was somewhere around the same place where I was at the same time."

"Kao-chan."

"What?" Kaoru smiled again.

"It sounded really stupid."

"Really? Wonderful." Kaoru again rolled her eyes and gave a grin.

"And rude. You're forgetting the fact that Aoshi-sama is one of them and a friend of Himura and..."

"Oh yeah! I should ask your Aoshi-sama to smack Kenshin on his head with his guitar."

"Kaoru-chan! How could you say such thing?!"

"Well, I'm sorry. I really don't wanna know any other boy's crush or whatever. I'm done."

"He's not any other boy. He's The Himura. Himura Kenshin: The heartthrob of Japan!"

"Yes. I know that. And so does the world."

"And he has a crush on you." Misao tried to put emphasis on every word to make Kaoru understand the importance of this news.

"I don't care. Let's go to class." Kaoru shrugged her shoulders and was about to leave but Misao stopped her.

"You haven't heard the rest of the story yet. First listen and then decide."

"Okay." Kaoru sighed. "Tell me your story."

The senior students of Kaikyo Haisukuuru had a summer camp in a village to learn about the ways of village life. There was a small valley covered with cosmos flowers caught the attention of some students and so they went up there to take photographs. Unknown to all those kids, a pop icon of the country was taking a stroll around that valley at that time.

It was Himura Kenshin who is an actor, a singer, a songwriter and a super model. He is also a member of the most popular boy band named Niji Ryuu owned by a production house name The Dragon's Heart.

That day he was visiting that place to select a shooting spot for an upcoming new television drama along with the Director and few crews. After finalizing everything he wanted to take a walk and look around. The spot was just two miles away from the valley where the kids were enjoying the view of nature. When he was walking, he didn't realize for how long he's been walking or how far he came.

Anyway, when he came closer to that valley, he saw the boys and girls chatting and taking photographs. From their uniform he could easily tell that they were from Misao's high school. He knew Misao through Shinomori Aoshi who is his friend and another member of Niji Ryuu. He noticed Misao and her friends but decided not to go up there to say "hello" as he did not want to catch anyone's attention. So, he simply went back to his shooting spot. However, a specific girl caught his attention who was chatting with Misao. He assumed she was a close friend of Misao. He kept on wondering whether he should ask Aoshi about that girl or not for next four months. Then when the boys along with few other close friends had a drinking party last weekend, everyone asked why he has been spacing out these days. It was not like him. They could tell he had something in his mind. And so, they forced him to tell them what it was. So Kenshin had to tell them about the girl who stole his heart and he does not know who she was. The only thing he knew about her was that she was a friend of Misao and went to same school. He wanted to ask Aoshi if he had any idea who she was but always thought it would be inappropriate. Nevertheless, from the description Aoshi easily identified that girl as Kamiya Kaoru whom he met several times at Misao's home.

Well, Aoshi happened to be a student of Misao's grandfather Kashiwazaki Nenji who is a Grandmaster of martial arts. He often visited his Shishou in his leisure time from whom he mastered martial arts and even wielding sword at the age of just twelve. For which he is now a popular action hero in Japan's film industry. However, we can say visiting his Shishou was an excuse as he actually wanted to visit Makimachi Misao whom he adored since she was little. She was left in care of her grandfather after the death of her parents since she was only four. At that time, Aoshi was eight years old, a promising student of his Shishou. He had other friends among his Shishou's students but he enjoyed spending little time with little Misao when they had break from practice. Similarly, Misao was also fond of him. As they grew up, when his admiration and her fondness turned into love, none could tell.

Misao and Kaoru became friends from the first day of their middle school. Kamiya Kaoru was always a sweet girl whom Misao always introduced to everyone as her best friend. Ever since they became friends, they visited each others home a number of times and sometimes even stayed overnight. And that was how Aoshi met Kaoru. He liked her. But, like a younger sister. So, Aoshi told Kenshin what he knew about Kaoru. Then Kenshin asked Aoshi if he could actually tell Misao about it as he liked to be introduced to her friend.

"Last night I had a long chat with Aoshi-sama. He told me about Himura then. Himura was visiting that place for a shooting. I mean he was taking a break from the shooting on his upcoming new TV drama, you know, the most talked one, which is based on a legendary swordsman..."

"Of Tokugawa era. Yes I know. You told me before."

"Yes and... where was I? Yes. He was taking a walk. He saw me but didn't come up to chat as other students were there too. He saw you chatting with me and since then he could not get you out of his mind."

"And who told you this? Aoshi-sama?"

"Of course!" Misao laughed and clapped her hands in excitement.

"And you decided he has a crush on me?"

"I didn't decide anything. It's too obvious."

"Only because he said he couldn't get me out of his mind doesn't mean that he has a crush or whatever."

"It is a crush."

"Very funny Misao-chan "

"No. it's not!" Misao protested. "Why do you think it's funny?"

"I can understand someone else from their friend circle telling you something like that but Aoshi-san?" Yes, Kaoru doesn't call Shinomori Aoshi, Aoshi-sama. She used the honorific 'sama' earlier intentionally to tease Misao. "It has to be funny and 'unbelievable'." Kaoru raised her hands and quoted the word 'unbelievable' with her index and third fingers in the air.

Misao smiled and pull out her cell phone from her skirt's pocket, "Well, if you don't want to believe me I can call Aoshi-sama right now and you can ask him yourself."

"Misao-chan, you'll only bother Aoshi-san by making this call and asking this crazy question." Kaoru stopped her from calling.

"IT'S NOT CRAZY. IT'S TRUE. I WILL CALL..." Misao yelled and was about to dial the number but Kaoru snatched the phone from her hand. At this Misao started to hit the ground with her legs like a stubborn five-year-old kid. At this everyone who was there turned their attentions towards them.

"Mi-i-sa-o-o!" Kaoru whispered to her friend with teeth grinding to make her friend realize the curiosity of other students.

"Oooh!". Misao was getting impatient and started to jump and about to cry. "Why won't you believe me?"

Kaoru just turned to the onlookers and bowed slightly with a smile plastered on her face.

"We apologize. It's nothing serious. Just do your own things." At this other students turned back to their own chatting and started to leave the hall and Misao calmed down.

Then she went back to the topic they were chattering about but she was speaking in a low tone like before.

Kaoru gave Misao her charming smile. "You dream about Aoshi-san every night. So he must have told you something that you wanted to hear in your dream and after waking up you decided it's real."

"That's ridiculous. Aoshi-sama didn't say anything about Himura in my dream."

"Aw! I'm sorry Misao-chan." Kaoru gave an innocent smile. "What did he tell you then in your dream?" She was planning to change the topic and motivate Misao to talk about Aoshi instead.

"Why should I tell you that?!" Misao blushed.

So she did have a dream on Aoshi-san last night. How adorable. Thought Kaoru.

"It's okay sweetheart, you don't need to say anything." Kaoru gave Misao a wink.

"You're trying to change the topic." Misao became red with annoyance.

Kaoru sighed. "I don't care even if it's true. I don't have any interest. Besides, I know his history." Kaoru explains.

"You just know what everyone else knows. What's the problem to say only 'hi' to him? He won't eat you alive." Misao was getting frustrated.

"Misao-chan, I'm really fed up with all these boys. What do they take me for? A celeb?"

"Well, I guess you're too pretty to miss the eyes of any young man who's single." Misao joked but it's not a lie.

Kaoru was genuinely beautiful. Her alluring fair skin and perfect curves could grab attention of a pervert man. (Hey! Don't get me wrong. Kenshin is not a pervert.) Her sparkling blue eyes, sweet and innocent smile or laughter could catch attention of anyone who knew how to appreciate true beauty. (Kenshin just knew how to appreciate true beauty, that's all.) Her friends often told her to become a model but she never showed any interests. She had more interest in creative works such as composing music, writing songs and painting.

"Ggrrr! Shut up Misao." Now Kaoru was annoyed. It irritates her when someone makes such comments about her appearance.

"I'm sorry. It was a bad joke". Misao gave grin as she was happy to get her revenge.

"Yeap. Keep that in mind."

"So. Where was I? Yes. He asked Aoshi-sama to tell me to introduce you to him."

"So cheesy. Do you really expect me to jump in the air in excitement and talk to him after hearing that?"

"How is it cheesy?

"He knows you. He could ask you himself instead of asking Aoshi-san."

"He doesn't have my phone number. But I did ask Aoshi-sama similar question and he said he thought it would be impolite. Besides, he needs to be careful as he's not a regular guy."

"Exactly my point. He's a celeb. And celebs don't have any privacy."

"That's wrong. Aoshi-sama does have his privacy."

"They can have only if they keep a clean profile. Kenshin always have paparazzi or stalker or crazy fans following him around everywhere he goes. And it seems he's not bothered by it."

"Don't you think if he was like that for real then he could just come towards us to chat since he knows me?"

"I... I really don't know. Maybe that's because there was no reporters around."

"You're wrong. If he was like that, he would just come to us to chat as almost every student has cell phone and everyone has accounts in SNS which is much easier way to get publicity."

"Whatever." Kaoru rolled her eyes again.

Come on Kao-chan. Just once."

"He's... he's not my type."

"For kami's sake Kaoru-chan! How do you know he's not your type without even meeting him?"

"I don't have time."

"Sure you do. Kaoru-chan, I'd understand if you are already dating someone but you're not."

"I don't trust him."

"Why?"

"I... I don't know. I don't have interest."

"You know you might not ever get a chance to meet someone like Himura, and you might end up regretting all your life for that. Just give yourself a chance. You can trust him. Trust me."

"You're too stubborn Misao."

"So, does it mean you're agreeing to meet him?" Misao asked with a big happy smile.

Kaoru stared at her friend for few seconds.

"No."

Misao sighed with disappointment.

"Can we just finish this discussion? The bell will ring at any moment. I'm leaving." Kaoru looked at the clock hanging on the wall of that hall and reminded Misao about the class. They had only three minutes. The other students have already left the hall. There were just two of them... or at least that was what they thought. So they started to walk towards the stares.

"Why you don't wanna trust him? Be honest."

"He's a womanizer."

"He's not!"

"He is."

"Why are you talking like a tabloid reporter?"

"I'm not talking like a tabloid reporter. He's a celeb and keeps on changing his girlfriend one after another."

"How does changing girlfriend make him a womanizer? He only dated them. Everyone dates these days."

"He's a celeb and I don't trust them."

"You're forgetting that Aoshi-sama is also one of them." Misao pouted.

"Well, accept the fact Misao-chan. Not everyone is like Aoshi-san. He's different."

"Of course and he's very special."

"So you shouldn't feel upset when I criticize a celebrity. I'm sorry if I still sound rude."

"He's Aoshi-sama's one of the closest friends too."

"Close friend but not best. And a womanizer too!"

"Damn it Kaoru-chan! They've been friends since high school and by closest, I meant best."

"That still doesn't change him into a good person. I really don't understand why Aoshi-san sees him as a friend."

"Kaoru-chan!" Misao growled and showed Kaoru a fist. "I'm gonna kill you someday if you ever speak of Aoshi-sama like that."

"Okay. Okay. I'm sorry. I take back what I just said."

By now they reached to the floor of their class and so they stopped chatting about this topic.

When they were taking their seats, Misao whispered to Kaoru, "We still need to talk. And we'll talk about this during lunch break."

"Fine." Kaoru just sighed. There was no way she was going to lose. She'll have to think about some genuine reasons which will convince Misao why she doesn't want to date 'The heartthrob of Japan'.

Misao however wasn't going to give up until Kaoru agrees to meet Himura. Though Aoshi-sama never told her to convince Kaoru to meet Himura at any cost, and only told her about Himura's crush and interest to meet Kaoru-chan, she was doing this for her own interest. She doesn't want to lose Aoshi-sama to Kaoru-chan. She trusts her Aoshi-sama completely, but there is no guarantee that Kaoru-chan will never fall for her Aoshi-sama. She'll let Kaoru-chan pass only if she can convince her with evidence that she's actually seeing someone else.

TBC

A/N

I thought to name the band Niji Ryuu first, and then changed it to Ishin as I did not want to keep seven members in that band. But again changed my mind thinking Ishin would not be the right choice as I choose the TV drama on the end of Tokugawa Era where Ishin Shishi played a major role to establish the Meiji government. So, I changed it back to Niji Ryuu, since it's not necessary that the band must have seven members because of the word niji which means rainbow. It can also mean the colors or beauty of rainbow or how it is used as a positive term in many places such as peace or gay rights or simply a part of celebration of something. And yeah, yeah. It's my name too. Cheesy. Right?

Anyways, Based on my research, summer vacation for Japan's high school starts on July 21 and ends on August 28 when the second half of the first semester begins.

And October 11 is the beginning of the second semester, therefore, this is the second semester of high school seniors.

The usual temperature of July is 22 to 31 degree Celsius which is 71 to 88 degree Fahrenheit.

November temperature is 5 to 17 degree Celsius which is 41 to 62 degree Fahrenheit. November is Autumn.