Change of Heart

Chapter 2

The Meeting

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Disclaimer: Well, I don't own Rurouni Kenshin. I do not own Battousai. I don't own Fruits Basket either… But, that has nothing to do with this.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

AN: This chapter, I hope, will be a little more interesting. The meeting could mean one of two things… well, I wouldn't want to tell you know would I?? You'll just have to wait.

This takes place before the Meiji (sp?) Era. You'll get as the story as it goes along. When I sit at table, it means they sit on the floor and sleep on futons and stuff.

Fruits Basket!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! KyoKyoKyoKyoKyoKyo-kkkuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnnnnn is so cute. I have three anime guys that are really cute now! Arima, Kenshin, and Kyo. All VERY cute. (^-^)^

Changin a few separators:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ = intro after a chapter section (you'll see in story)

** = a little while later

Glossary:

Furo- Japanese bathtub

Maki- It's a roll of Japanese rice wrapped in flattened seaweed and stuffed with any filling (raw fish, lobster, crab, etc.)

Hai- Yes. (You people should know that)

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Kaoru woke the next morning to smell breakfast cooking in the air. She stood up and stretched. She rubbed her eyes and walked into the kitchen to see what was cooking.

"Good morning sweet heart!" her mother's voice rang.

"Morning." Kaoru groggily greeted her.

"Better wake up soon. We have a lot of unpacking to do!" her mother warned her.

Kaoru merely nodded her head and went to sit at the table. Her mother set the steaming food on the table. Kaoru hastily ate, awake now. She really wanted to start unpacking.

"Mother! When can I get started unpacking??" Kaoru asked as she stood up from the table.

"Get washed up and then you can start." Her mother reasoned as she cleared dishes.

Kaoru rushed out to the bathhouse with a fresh set of clothes. She jumped into the furo. The lukewarm water hit her naked body in a small wave. She sunk in and let the water relax her muscles. AN: I wish I could take a bath like everyday. Damn shower.

After a soothing few minutes, she quickly washed up. She carefully placed her yellow and orange kimono on. She quickly filed out and went to find her mother.

"My, aren't you quick!" her mother smiled. Kaoru let out a small laugh and rushed up to her room.

She gazed at the boxes and furniture scattered around the room and sighed. She walked silently over to some boxes and began to stack them in the middle of her room. She decided to move furniture, or what she could, before getting the other things out.

She rearranged her bed and dresser and various other things around. She stood in her doorway and observed the position.

Kaoru assembled and observed a few times. She finally found the perfect display. Her bed in the right hand corner and other things carefully placed around the room. She began to unpack various books and clothes and put them in their rightful places.

She finished in the early that evening. Of, course she took a few breaks. She moved things into her other room and made herself cozy in that small room. She plopped down on a cushion on the floor. She stood by her door and gazed at the room. It looked like home. Kaoru crept down the stairs, trying not to creak. She appeared in the kitchen to see if dinner was ready.

"Mother!" Kaoru called from behind.

"Wha?!? Oh, Kaoru. It's you. What is it dear?" she moved turned swiftly to see who it was.

"I finished cleaning my room. The boxes are piled in the hall. Oh, and what's for dinner?" she let out I one breath.

"You finished?! You've got to let me see! We're having Maki for dinner." Her mother replied.

"Oooooo… Yay! My favorite. I'll let you see my room after dinner." Kaoru compromised.

Kaoru slipped off to find where her father went. She found him fiddling with furniture.

"Finish your room??" her father inquired, feeling her presence.

"Yes, I have. What are you doing?" she asked as he concentrated.

"I was just fixing some things that got damaged in the move." He answered.

"Ok. Well, I guess I'll head up to my room." She snuck off up to the second level.

Kaoru slid open the door to her pale yellow room and felt the sun hit her face. A cool breeze swept through the room. She head to the middle of the room. She placed herself in the middle, letting the sun bathe her. AN: In the sun room She sat in silence for a few minutes, feeling the warmth on her skin. She was in deep thought. Embarrassing moments of the past kept on popping into her head. She tried to push them out. The laughter and humility burned in her cheeks. Even though they were long ago, they still smoldered deep inside of her.

Tearing away from the thought of tears, she whipped up from her spot and began to survey the room. She pushed a few things around and felt a tear escape from her eye. She hung her head in shame, mind still flashing painful memories. She pushed back the tears and forcefully took her furniture and spread it around her room.

"Kaoru! Dinner's ready!" her father called from the stairs.

Giving a sigh of relief, she headed downstairs. Feeling her stomach grumble, she thought more and more about the Maki. She quietly sat down at the table. There was a disturbed silence at the table. Kaoru ate politely, feeling a bit lonely in the world. AN: Wait, there's more. A lot more…

-------------------------------------*-------------------------------------------

Kaoru enjoyed her new house and couldn't wait to start school. She was able to go to the market and buy an assortment of seeds for the garden in the back. Being in the middle of July, there was some time left to plant.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kaoru went out on one hot July day with her seeds in one hand and hoe in the other. She trudged out through the over grown grass to the dirt patch. She bent down and began to pull weeds. The heat was high but she could stand it. She began a long day of gardening.

**

She hoed and planted and watered just when the temperature began to drop. AN: Means evening is coming She stood up from her hard day at work, wanting to see the plants sprout then.

She saw a rustle in a nearby bush. At first she thought nothing of it. Then it was louder. The bush shook. She stared intently at the bush. A small, furry creature fell from the leaves. Kaoru stepped back, jaw dropped. It was a creature she had never seen before.

"Ahem… Excuse me for my abrupt entrance." The creature bowed. "I have an urgent message."

Kaoru almost felt like saying oro, which she had no preference of knowing. Instead breathlessly stating, "Who… What?? Is this a joke??"

"No, it is quite the reality. Now, your message. You MUST return to the kingdom. It is in grave danger. Seeing you are old enough, you must return." The creature threw at her.

Kaoru was nearly knocked off her feet. Kingdom?? Old enough?? Danger?? He must have the wrong person.

Kaoru stood in astonishment. She crouched down and reached out. Her fingers touched the white furry body. She snapped them away. It wasn't a hallucination! She must be going mad!

"Are… are you real??" she squeaked.

"I am quite real for you information!" the animal snapped back.

Regaining her confidence that she wasn't mad, she asked, "What kingdom??"

"What kingdom?!?!" the creature looked dumbfounded. "Oh, you must not have been told, well…" the animal touched its chin. "Well, the only way is to…" he muttered on to himself.

"Ahem!" Kaoru fake coughed. The creature looked up. "Ummm… what is your name." she politely asked.

The creature looked up at the lowering sun. "I'm sorry, I must leave. It's getting awfully late." The creature turned his back to her.

"Wait!" she cried, but it was too late. The creature took a few running steps and disappeared thin air.

Kaoru pinched herself. She looked around. She stood in the same place next to her freshly planted garden. She shook her head and continued to clean up her many tools. But, the thought of the small white animal with one drooping ear was heavy in her mind.

What is this kingdom?? Who am I?? The thoughts lingered in her mind.

**

She went inside for dinner. She ate quietly at the table. She dazedly stared at the wood and thought about the white creature had said. She thought about saying but they might think she made it up and act as if she was a baby.

"My, you're strangely quite today! Everything alright?" her mother tried to make eye contact. "Kaoru…"

"Huh?? What??" she snapped out of her trance and looked up and the two concerned faces. "Oh, I was just thinking about some things." She said.

"Anything you need to tell us??" her father inquired.

"Oh, no. Just things about the garden and my room." She partly lied.

"Ok…" they still kept concerned faces.

Kaoru ate the rest of her dinner and proceeded to her room. She pulled out some paper and a pencil and began to sketch. She was quite a good artist. A pair of ears formed and a small body was shaped. The feet, arms, eyes, mouth, and nose were next to come. She completed her drawing in ink. She held it afar and gazed at it.

"Disbit." She mumbled to herself. The name came to her in an instant. She questioned herself but thought it was appropriate. She put the drawing down on her desk and stared. It was so delicately draw. It looked almost life like. Suddenly, the door slid open. Quiet footsteps approached and leaned over her shoulder.

"What's that??" a rough voice came.

"Oh… It's just a made up creature." She fibbed.

"Well, it looked so real! You really should become an artist." Her father stated.

Kaoru nervously chuckled and tucked the paper in the nearest drawer. She tried to find an escape from the situation.

"Umm... What are you doing here??" she tried to get his mind off the drawing.

"Oh, just here to check on you!" he kindly replied.

She knew he was trying to see what was wrong. "Well, I'm fine. You can go!" she ushered him out.

"Well, ok!" he tried to say as he was literally pushed out of her room. She slid the door shut and planted herself on the wall. She slid down and placed her head in her hands. Her mind zipped with ideas and worries. What would become of her?? Would she see that small white, rabbit thing again??

________________________________________________________________________________

R/R… ^(^_^)^

Sorry took long. I wanted to make 2&3 one chapter but it turned out too long so I had to split. Then, my da** (xcuse the language) cable went out cause of a storm, I mean, isn't it under ground and stuff?? How can it go out!?!?! So, it took a while^^; I'll publish 3 too. ^_^ Hope you liked this one!!

-s.w.i