Change of Heart
Chapter 4
The Map
Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin or any of them. Simple as that!
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AN: This is seriously going to be sad. Don't be mad. But, this is how it has to be… It's all planned inside my cruel little mind. ^_^ Read to find out…
Glossary:
Arigato- thank you
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A week went by with not as many troubles. Ever since Kenshin had given her that small gift of affection, she didn't care what people thought. She still of course didn't have the courage to stand up to Matoko and friends. Her wits would outwit Matoko but she was popular and basically undefeatable. She continued searching for Kenshin at the park almost everyday to thank him and clear his name…
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Kaoru woke up feeling perky and ready to face the day ahead of her, or what she thought would happen. She stretched and rubbed her sapphire eyes. She advanced to slip on her school clothes. She tied her hair up with her favorite indigo ribbon and went downstairs for breakfast. It smelled considerably good. Not that it was bad, just different. She appeared in the kitchen wide-eyed and ready. She bent down to sit at the table and waited patiently at the table for the meal to be served.
"Good morning!!" her mother greeted her warmly.
"Morning." Kaoru replied. She yawned and saw the steaming hot food being placed in front of her. She picked up her elaborate chopsticks and spooned the food in her mouth. The warm food made her think of bed. She felt a warm chill scatter across her body. She quickly shoved the food in her mouth and proceeded to excuse herself from the table.
She pranced upstairs to get her books. She slid her door open and bent over her chair to gather her books when she noticed and piece of paper fluttering slight on her desk. She walked over to glance at it. A small white rabbit looking creature was carefully drawn on the paper. She gasped, "What?? How did… How did this get out??" She snatched up the paper and pulled out any old drawer and stuffed it in there. She took a deep breath and thought over that morning. Images flashed throughout her mind. None ever recalled any sign of going near the desk.
She moved away from the desk and tried to drop the idea. She bent back over her chair to gather her books. Her mind kept on replaying that morning and last night. The paper was in the back of her mind since that morning. She shook her head and smiled. She was being silly. She just must have forgotten.
She set out to the kitchen to bid her parents good-bye. She kissed them both and headed out to school. The thought and kept on coming back into her mind. She tried drifting off into other thought but it all lead to a dead end. She had a bad feeling something bad was going to happen.
**
In class, things were the same. Matoko took her spiteful actions against Kaoru. Kaoru didn't particularly care anymore. She was too deep in thought with her gut acting up. She left 5th period to see Misao in the hall. She quickened her pace a bit. She didn't want to talk to anyone really. She felt her presence catching up with her. Giving in, she slowed down. Misao appeared at her side.
"Konichiwa!!" Misao stated as she grabbed Kaoru's shoulder. Kaoru spun to the side. What was she trying to do??
"Oh, hi." Kaoru acted casual.
"I was wondering if I could borrow your notes. I'm kinda behind in class, cause well because I have my reasons." She asked blushing a bit.
"Oh, my notes?? Sure! Meet me outside after school. I'll stand by the bushes. See you there??" she tried to shorten the conversation.
"Ummmm… sure, I guess." Misao agreed at the deal thrown at her.
"Ok, well, bye." Kaoru started to walk away.
Misao, being the peppy girl that she is, grabbed Kaoru's shoulder again, forcing her to stop. Kaoru spun around.
"Is there anything else??" Kaoru inquired, getting a bit irritated.
"Why do you keep walking away like that?? Am I annoying or something??" Misao insisted on knowing.
"Oh, well, you see… I just need to get to class." Kaoru lied terribly.
"You have plenty of time. Tell me!" Misao insisted.
"It's just I have something on my mind that I need to sort through, ok??" Kaoru made it as vague as possible.
"That's it?? What about??" Misao tried to pry deeper in Kaoru's business.
"Just something. I prefer not to discuss it. Can I go now??" Kaoru edged off.
Misao sighed. "Well, if you have to. See you after school!!" she giddily skipped off.
That was a bit odd. I better hurry to class!! Kaoru thought.
She rushed off in the back of the farther moving crowd…
**
Kaoru walked out of the school. She was at the front of the crowd, as usual. She wondered over to the bushes. She watched as groups of people passed, talking about one another's day. She lowered her head to keep her eyes from sight. Behind her, came a small rustle in the bushes. She snapped her head back, half expecting to see Misao. There was nothing in sight. She only hoped this wasn't another prank.
Then, another rustle came from behind. This time, a small 'psssssssst' was added with it. She once again looked back at the normal green bushes and saw nothing. She looked around at the few people still emerging from the school to see if they heard it.
"Come back here!!" the same small voice said again.
This time, Kaoru completely turned around and peeked behind the bushes. Horror struck her in the face. The little white rabbit type thing poke it's head from outside of the leafy bush.
"Ahhhhh… You found me!! Please step back here." The creature instructed.
Kaoru stepped back. She didn't want to see that crazy animals again.
"I insist you come back. I have something important to say! Oh, and I promise I won't hurt you…" the creature practically read her mind.
"Uh…ok…." Kaoru didn't know what to do. Looking back at the crowd, she quickly stepped over the bushes to a small opening. She set down her books and sat on her knees.
The creature leaped from the bush and stood in front of her. It became sharp and looked like it was a solider. "Message for Kamiya Kaoru. Since you have not been informed of your lands, you must find your way on your own. I will provide you with a map. Please come to us as soon as possible!" the creature recited. He snapped back into his regular self and pulled out a map from thin air.
"Here you are." He said as he held the map to her.
Kaoru, in such a state of shock, sat there with an alarmed look.
"Please take it!" the creature said, nervously.
She snapped back to reality and reached her hand out. Her fingers clasp the map. She felt a small sensation tingle through her body. The creature darted his eyes around.
"Do you have any further questions??" the animal asked.
"Oh, yes." Kaoru remembered her drawing. "Is your…well…kind called the Disbit??" she asked.
"Indeed it is! Where did you acquire this information?!" the creature inquired, surprised.
"Well, I drew a picture of the first time I saw you and the name Disbit just came to be…" she trailed off.
"So, you thought of it yourself?!?!?!?!" the Disbit began to get excited.
"H-hai…" Kaoru replied, a bit nervous at his reaction.
"This is excellent news! I must report this at once! Sorry, out of time now!! I'll be leaving now!" the Disbit ran a few feet away from her and disappeared.
She sat there wit the map still in hand. What was that?? This can't be happening!! Oh my! Misao. I wonder if she's still waiting!!
Suddenly, a face appeared over bush. "Kaoru-chan?? Is that you?!?"
"Misao??" Kaoru asked suspiciously.
"One and only! Watcha doin back there??" she cleared a few branches for a clearer view.
"Oh, I…" Kaoru saw the map in hand and stuffed it into her bag. "Just was looking around and found this place!" she nervously excused herself.
"Oh…ok." Misao wasn't that convinced, but she passed it. "Why don't you come on out??"
Kaoru got up from sitting and stepped over the bushes.
"So, can I have the notes??" Misao said, getting to the point of the meeting.
"Oh, well, of course!" Kaoru said smiling. She fished around in her bag and pulled out a huge wad a paper.
"DAMN!!!!" Misao stated, wide eyed. Each paper was delicately written and as neat as heck.
"Heh…I was kinda paying too much attention I guess." Kaoru blushed a bit.
"Really?" Misao said sarcastically. She carefully took the papers and added it to the pile she was carrying.
"Arigato!" Misao bowed her head.
"No problem!" Kaoru smiled at her.
"Wanna walk home together?!?! We could talk about school and stuff!!" Misao brought up the idea.
Kaoru, having her past gone down the drain, was cautious about who she talked to. "Well…..I guess." She wanted to try again.
"Let's go then!!" Misao turned to walk.
Kaoru couldn't believe she was actually doing this again. She knew what would happen. She reluctantly walked at the side of Misao.
**
They talked about school and at home, well Misao did. Kaoru didn't want to tell too much. She kind of liked being secret. But, she told Misao of her garden and how she had this screen room and such, nothing too personnel.
They came to the road where they had to part.
"We should do this more often!" Misao gave a wide smile.
"Hai!" Kaoru actually enjoyed listening to Misao's life.
The said their goodbyes and continued their separate ways. Kaoru had a feeling that she would become good friends with Misao. Her only hope was that it wouldn't become a huge disaster like her last time.
She reached her home within a matter of minutes. She walked inside and took off her shoes.
"Mother, Father!! I'm home!!" she called. No rustle came from the upstairs. She became instantly worried. Her parents always came to greet her. She dropped her books and hurried up the steps.
She looked at the floor. A trail of red liquid lead to her parent's room. Tears stung her eyes. This couldn't be happening!! She followed the trail. She would never go into her parents room but this was different. She slowly slid open the room. Her worst nightmare show before her eyes. Her parents' bodies were drenched in blood, sprawled on the floor.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!" Kaoru wailed. She continued to scream. It seemed to echo forever…
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Wow. Harsh. I know. It's the way it had to be… ;_; So sry. I was reading and I got inspired to write so I finished!! ^_^ It gets better as it goes on…
Notice: My chappies might take a while cause I started middle school and it's like @_@ right now. So be patient ppl!! Thx.
-s.w.i
