CHAPTER FIVE

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Kenshin whatsoever!

A/N: this chapter will be like an interlude. It's in Kenshin's point of view, in first person (something I'm way better at doing than like third person, which I've been doing for the other chapters of this fic!). It's like a repeat of the last chapter, just in his view, just so you guys know. Enjoy!

I woke up the next morning with the sun, as I always did. I did my morning stretches and went to take my shower.

I took about twenty minutes to get all dressed and putting my hair up. When I looked at the time, it was only 6:17. I sighed. I wouldn't need to be at Kaoru's house for awhile still, considering the fact that it was a weekend.

I decided to use this time to sketch. My real passion was to be an artist, not any doctoral occupations my uncle has decided for me.

I was not even paying attention to my drawing; I was just putting lines together, drawing circles, shading in, etc. I finally decided to look at what I drew, and saw a picture of Kaoru (a/n: wow, cheesy, huh? oh well!).

It was astonishing that I could draw this solemn, silent girl. I usually had to study an object for hours on ends before I could actually draw it this perfect. I'd known Kaoru not even that long, yet I was able to draw her without my own knowledge.

I looked at my picture, smiling. I would give this to Kaoru, I decided. I would color this and make it as perfect as possible, and I'd give it to her.

And, hopefully, she'd accept it.

…………………………

I arrived at Kaoru's house at around ten. My picture of Kaoru was not yet done, so I couldn't give it to her yet.

Kaoru's aunt ushered my inside the house, a smile present on her face. Now that I thought about it, her aunt always had a smile on her face, I wonder why.

"Morning, Kenshin," Kaoru's father said to me when I reached the kitchen.

"Good morning, Mr. Kamiya!" I greeted, "Uh, is Kaoru awake yet?"

"Kaoru? No, she's not awake yet. She'll be awake soon, hopefully!" her aunt chirped. I nodded in understanding.

It was a good thing that I brought the picture of Kaoru with me, I knew Kaoru wouldn't be awake yet, so I'd brought it with me. I realized that I didn't even bring my coloring utensils with me.

"Uh, Ms. Kamiya, do you guys have any colored pencils that I may use?" I asked.

"Oh, yes, we do, dear. I'll go get them," her aunt said, walking out of the room. She came back in a few minutes later, a box of coloring utensils in her hands. She set the box next to my drawing

"Thank you," I thanked, and got working on my picture.

…………………………

"Kaoru's birthday is coming up, are you giving that to her?" her aunt asked.

"Hmm?" I asked. I hadn't really been paying attention to what was going on around me, so I was a bit surprised.

"Kaoru's birthday. It's on Monday, are you giving that to her? It's a beautifully drawn picture," her aunt repeated.

"Yeah? She never told me it was her birthday. I s'pose I'll give it to her then, yes," I decided.

Then, I heard Kaoru come down the stairs, so I put the drawing back in my folder. Kaoru greeted her aunt and father, but not me.

"Hey Kaoru! You finally decided to wake up!" I said with a grin. She glared at me and walked out of the kitchen out to the back. I sighed inwardly.

After about a minute after Kaoru went out back, I followed her.

"Hey, you never acknowledged me!" I told her. She looked at me and nodded her head a bit. Okay, so that was a start.

"Do you want to do anything today? Wanna go out and eat some place? Let's go see a movie or something," I asked. I remembered that today Misao and everyone else were going to being watching movies all day; maybe I could convince Kaoru to go. She didn't give a response of any kind.

"Fine then, let's just do whatever," I decided. I took Kaoru's hand in mine and dragged her out of her house.

…………………………

Okay, so Kaoru obviously did not want to see the movie, I could tell. She had this look in her eye when I looked back at her.

"It's okay with you, right?" I asked her. So, I really hadn't asked if she wanted to go see the movie with everyone, I just assumed she'd probably want to go. She shook her head however.

"Why not? I dragged you the whole way here. Come on Kaoru! Please? You don't want me to carry you to the car, do you?" I told her, a sly grin making way on my face.

"Hey, what's taking you guys so long?" Megumi asked, head popping out from the front door. Megumi eyes us for a second, and I could almost see the wheels turning in her head.

"Oh, Kaoru, you want some quality time with Kenshin, don't you?" she joked, "But, I don't think Ken would want to be bothered with the likes of you. He would rather be with someone like me. Why don't you go with the others to see the movie, and Ken and I will have our time together. Right, Kenshin?" She latched her arms onto my right arm.

I looked at her confused. I thought she had eyes on Sanosuke, not me. I gulped and gave her a nervous smile.

"Uh…" I started. How was I to answer this? Kaoru then walked past Megumi and I, walking out the door, completely ignoring Megumi's other comments.

…………………………

Kaoru's house was the first place had stopped at to see if she was present. After I found out that she wasn't there, I went to multiple places, though it was pointless because I couldn't find her.

I then remembered the park I took her to, and decided to take a chance.

And there I found Kaoru, sitting on a swing. This had been the last place I would have thought she would have gone to. I quickly came up to Kaoru, out of breath because I'd been running around all afternoon basically.

"Took pant forever pant to find pant you pant," I panted. I was bent over, hands clutching my knees, and knew my appearance must not have been very presentable right then.

"Thought you were at your house or something. I found out you weren't there, so I looked everywhere. Couldn't find you anywhere, then I remembered that I brought you here yesterday," I explained to her, though, most was probably buried under all the heavy breathing that was being done by me.

Suddenly, I saw something: an emotion on Kaoru's face. She started smiling, a small smile at first, but it quickly became a huge smile, lighting her whole face with happiness. I stopped panting to look at her.

What had caused her to smile that real smile of hers?

………………………

I was so shocked by her words; Kaoru didn't trust me. At the swing just yesterday, she had said she trusted me, now she said she didn't. I wonder if she did trust me or not.

I decided not to pursue her retreating form. I probably was an annoying ass anyway. It isn't my fault either; I can't help but keep on talking. It's just the way I am.

I walked home slowly, thinking of the day's events. Maybe I should have just gone to see the movie with the gang, though I didn't want to leave Kaoru alone.

Kaoru's smiling face popped into my mind. She looked really different with the smile. Her eyes had looked so happy, the first emotion I've ever seen from her eyes so clearly. I decided there and then, when I was walking home, that I would make Kaoru happy, no matter what.

………………………

I worked on her picture the remainder of the weekend. I stayed up late fixing the picture, making sure it was perfect. Kaoru probably would not accept it, but I would still make it for her.

I found out her birthday was on the third of this month (a/n: month being April right now), being only a few days away.

I looked at the time. 3:28. Her birthday was tomorrow, well actually today, since it had been April third for three hours and twenty-eight minutes now.

I looked at the picture now. It was perfect. It resembled Kaoru a lot.

I smiled, happy that I had finished her gift.

I wrapped it up and left it in a safe place. I changed into my night wear, and went to bed.

……………………

"Shit, shit, shit. I'm going to be late. Shit," I cursed. Because of my late night, I woke up later than usual, and if I didn't hurry, I was going to be late catching up to Kaoru. I wanted to give her the gift before school started.

I was ready in record time, though I still probably missed Kaoru by about a few minutes. Luckily, when I came out of my house, I saw just coming out of her house.

I smiled. So, she was running late too, huh?

"Kaoru! Hold up!" I shouted. There was no pause in her steps. I then remembered what she said on Saturday (I forgot because I was in such a hurry).

This was going to be harder than I thought it would be, if she was ignoring me and all. I walked about five feet behind her, a nervousness coming over me. Then, I glanced at her present in my hand. I had to give this to her at least.

I walked quickly to close the distance between us. I started walking next to her.

"Hey, Kaoru," I said to her. She spared me no glance.

"Why don't you trust me anyways? I don't really get that," I asked. Okay, so this was not the conversation I planned between me and her right now, but I was curious.

We reached the school then, and Kaoru walked even faster, hoping to lose me in the crowds of students, I suppose.

I caught her wrist and she stopped, but didn't glance back at me.

"Please tell me why you don't trust me," I pleaded. Okay, how was I to bring the birthday present up, now. Sheesh, idiot me. But, I really, really wanted to know.

She still did not glance back.

I sighed to myself, knowing she probably wouldn't ever answer.

I put her present in her hand I was holding.

"Happy birthday, Kaoru," I told her. I let go of her wrist and walked past her.

A/N: heh. Okay, so this chapter was a bit longer than an interlude should be, but oh well. IMPORTANT: FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DIDN'T READ MY A/N IN THE LAST CHAPTER, TOMOE AND ENISHI HAVE BEEN TAKEN OUT OF MY FIC FOR THE TIME BEING, BUT STILL WILL REAAPEAR, BUT NOT FOR A FEW MORE CHAPTERS, AT LEAST! ALSO, I KNOW KAORU'S B-DAY IS NOT IN APRIL, BUT JUNE, BUT I DECIDED TO CHANGE IT, SO DON'T WRITE RESPONSES SAYING I MESSED HER B-DAY UP AND ALL:D Heh. No one made any acknowledgements to that, so I thought some of you guys might not have read my a/n. heh. I understand though if you don't want to read them however. I write about nonsense, which I will be doing right about now.

Ohmigoshies! I got my report card yesterday, and I was frickin happy (the only reason this chapter is any good is b/c I'm happy that I got my report card with good grades)! I did not fail any finals, and my lowest final grade was a b (got 2 b's in fitness/wellness and german, but the rest were A's! even honors bio! Thank thy lord!) and my gpa is still a 4.0 (phew thought my gpa would have dropped)! Aha ha ha. Okay, I was going to rant some more about something, but I forgot now…

Oh, this chapter might be a bit messed up, because I had only 4 hours of sleep and I really don't know where my story is going. I think I'll edit this frickin' sad chapter like ASAP (even before I put up chapter six…hmm…) because it is really bad and like not really comprehensible. Aha ha ha.

Okay, I was also going to say something, but I forgot what it was. It was important, I remember, but I can't remember what it was, oh well!

Oh, looky, looky! These are pictures I drew! Aha ha ha. yeah, the first one is just a chibi me! Aha ha ha. very cute, I think. The second one is Kaoru. I don't think its from a scene in my fic, but I've been meaning to draw a scene from the fic. What scene do you guys want me to draw? Aha ha ha. I'll just ask you guys' opinions! Aha ha. and the last one is Kenshin. It might look familiar. Aha ha ha. Remember the episode before the Kyoto arc in the anime, with the pirate Shura? Yeah, at like the end of the last of the three episodes, there's a picture of Kenshin smiling with the ocean and sunset as a background, and I drew the picture from that. Yeah, I usually have to look at pictures to draw (not a really original person..heh…). And I did not just trace it. Just so you guys know. Hopefully these pictures are okay! (okay, they don't really look like the original pictures I drew, but oh well. You can find the original pictures I began with- with no things fixed and all…just as it was when I scanned it- at: Kaoru: http/i6. /albums/ y205/ twb-skittles/ kawaii20meeh/ 49d39bf0.jpg Kenshin: http/i6. /albums/ y205/ twb-skittles/ kawaii20meeh/ 791ead35.jpg )

This is chibi me: http/i6. /albums/ y205/ twb-skittles/ kawaii20meeh/ chibinaneed.jpg. is Kaoru: http/i6. /albums/ y205/ twb-skittles/ kawaii20meeh/ 73dd61e3.jpg This is Kenshin: http/i6. /albums/ y205/ twb-skittles/ kawaii20meeh/ kawaiikenshin3.jpg . I hope you guys liked this sad chapter. I'll have chapter six posted next week, hopefully! n.n

NO SPACES FOR THE URLS LISTED ABOVE! YOU'LL HAVE TO DELETE THE SPACES IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE PICTURES!

(about 20 minutes later now….mmm…had to go eat my much needed dinner! Aha ha ha)

Now, I remember what I was going to say! Shit, just lost it. Gosh…okay…I was writing the reviewer response to Aldailyn, then I remembered…then I forgot. Then I tried to read over what I wrote for her response to see if it rung any bells (b/c it was as I was writing her response and something I wrote in it made me remember)…and now I can't remember what I was going to frickin' write. It was something about Kenshin, I remember that. Shit. Shit. It was something important…I know it. Shit. If I remember, I'll put it down. sigh oh well.

REVIEWERS:

Kate: aha ha ha, dumbhead, you actually reviewed. Aha ha ha. Gosh, Katie, you are so…aha ha ha. Funny. Yeah, I'll explain what this frick thing is about…aha ha ha. Next time I IM you that is. Dude, I don't even know if you'll actually read this, but oh well. I'll probably just end up emailing this chapter to you…aha ha ha (you know, I forgot to give this to Josh to edit...sigh, poor me) thanks for the review…meanie.

Aldailyn: thanks! Yeah, the reason she got all cold is because of that. Don't worry, I'll expand on that a bit in the next chapter…hopefully, if my pathetically forgetful mind doesn't forget that is. Thanks for the review!

Neko-Yuff16: sorry, I didn't update sooner (gosh…I hate finals…)! Heh. You're funny (no, not in a mean way). Aha ha ha. Thanks for the review.

Coke-48-Kenshin: wow! You were crying. Heh. Sorry, I didn't think I made it that sad. Heh. well, thanks for the review (was it that sad…hmm…thinks)

serlgee: glad you liked the Megumi teasing thing! Aha ha ha. It just sorta happened. Aha ha ha. thanks for reviewing!

Lynn-Minmay: thanks! Aha ha ha. glad you like it that much! Heh…

star: aha ha ha. there must've been something wrong. Aha ha ha. your review appeared 3 times. Aha ha ha. sorry Kaoru is such a meanie, don't worry, she'll get nicer. I think I'm well rested too, btw. Aha ha ha. Not. Gosh. Out of school and I still get like zilch hours of sleep. Heh… thanks for the review

Woven Bamboo Pattern: thanks for the review!

ALSO: aha ha ha. I found out that 10 people have my story on their favorites list, and ironically, not even half of those people review. Aha ha ha. But, I have to say to those people that I'm flattered my story made it onto your list. Aha ha ha. Didn't think it was that good to be put on their favorites. Aha ha ha. heh. thanks for putting me on your list (gosh, I sound so stupid, but I just wanted to acknowledge that…heh…)

Thanks to all the reviewers again:D