True to Your Heart
By: Misumi Kanegawa
Chapter 4
"After the practice dance… I sorta heard something from your conversation with Yahiko a while ago… about Seta-kun…" Misao said innocently as they got their food from the lunch lady.
Kaoru's eyes flamed in anger, but she didn't try to make eye contact with Misao.
"And- what exactly have you heard?" Kaoru asked calmly as they found an empty table, "I don't really want to give a damn-"
"No- listen… it's nothing really… just that…" Misao said, checking to see if anyone was listening, "He kept on looking at you- and…"
"I don't care-"
"But you didn't let me finish yet!"
"Who cares about that freakingly smiling guy-"
"Let me talk!"
"But you are already talking!"
"You're not listening!"
"Then what do you think I'm doing right now!"
"TALKING!"
"So?"
"Argh! I wanna tell you what he said!"
"That guy keeps on smiling- I don't think he can talk while he smiles-"
"That's not the point!"
"Seta's weird-"
"But-"
"Ooh… I found a dime!"
"HE SAID-"
"Hey! It's a US dime-"
"Who cares about a dime!"
"But it's a US dime!"
"Who'd bring a US dime here anyway!"
"The exchange rates are high right now… I wonder how much I'll get with this-"
"Stop it with that freaking dime and listen!"
"I'm gonna have money!-"
"SOUJIRO SAID YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL!"
Kaoru stopped and blushed, quickly pocketing the dime she found.
"So what!" she muttered as she occupied herself by eating some ramen.
"Well duh- isn't it obvious?" Misao said, her eyes widening in delight, "Seta-kun likes you Kaoru!"
"You just said that a while ago…" Kaoru grumbled, drinking her juice, "But what do I care? You know how I hate men-"
"But WHY do you HATE men?" Misao scowled at her, "You never told me WHY! I've known you for four years now- jeeze!"
Kaoru just sat there silently, staring at her half finished bowl of ramen.
"I mean- why don't you start changing that damn habit of yours will 'ya!" Misao said hotly as she devoured her sandwich hastily, "One of the most popular and hottest guys in school likes YOU!"
"And… so does a hundred others…" Kaoru grumbled, looking don at her shaking fists on her lap, "Listen- I told you- I hate men! I can't stand them! They're just a bunch of nasty-cheating- cruel- dishonest- jerks that are utterly disloyal- obnoxious- conceited- stupid- freeloading- moneymakers! I don't mean Yahiko because he knows I'll surely beat him up if he turns like that- but the rest-"
"Not all of them are like that-"Misao protested as Kaoru scowled.
"Well- most of them are! 99.9! Each one of them has some nasty thing to hide- you can't trust them!" Kaoru muttered grumpily as she crossed her arms, "And I've had enough of them –thank you very much."
"Jeeze Kaoru- what's with you! Not all of them are like that- is it like- something that happened to you in the past or what!" Misao exclaimed but stopped in surprise; Kaoru's eyes were getting watery.
'Oh damn- what did I say now!' Misao cursed herself as she saw Kaoru angrily stare at the table. "Kaoru… I-"
"10 YEARS ISN'T ENOUGH! DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH PAIN THAT IDIOT CAUSED ME! DO YOU THINK I'D FORGIVE THAT WORTHLESS BASTARD FOR WHAT HE DID TO ME- FOR WHAT HE DID TO US!" Kaoru screamed, pounding the table in frustration as she stood up from her seat, "THEY'RE ALL THE SAME- EVERYONE OF THEM! I HATE THEM ALL!"
Misao's face had gone pale. She had never seen her friend like this before. She could feel Kaoru trying to stop herself from going out of control. She was trying her best to stop the tears building up in her eyes from falling. A lot of people where staring at them now. Before either of them could say another word, a group of guys walked up to them.
"Hey Misao! Hey Kaoru!" Sano exclaimed as Kaoru shot him a death glare, "Woah! What's up with you? Your eyes are like- all puffy and red!"
"Leave me alone you Baka Rooster head!" Kaoru cried, punching Sano hard on the face and running out of the cafeteria.
"Ite- Ite- Ite!" Sano groaned as he massaged his now bleeding nose.
"Um… what happened 'She was crying…' What did you do?" Kenshin asked from behind Sano as he noticed Yahiko speeding after Kaoru, "Yahiko just left to go after her…"
"I don't know… I think it's my fault…" Misao said, pouting, "Why do I always have to blab stupid things out! 'Even if I have know clue what I said to make her- cry!'"
"Yeah… you and your big mouth always blab stupid things out every single day you know…-"
"Shut up Sano- or I might make your face look much more disoriented than it is!" Misao scowled as Aoshi stepped up to her.
"Makimachi-san, we came looking for Seta-san- might you have any chance of seeing him?" Aoshi asked as Misao blushed.
"Um… no… actually…" Misao stammered at the sight of Aoshi.
Sano just sighed.
"Well- we still have a bit of time left- why don't we go look for him?" Sano suggested while wiping his bloody nose with his handkerchief.
"NANI! Matte! We can't look for Seta! I haven't finished my lunch yet!" Misao protested when she suddenly stopped.
"Did someone say my name?"
Yahiko found Kaoru sitting down under a huge shady tree in the school's botanical garden. She was hunched on her knees, stifling her cries.
"Kaoru-nee?"
"What the heck do you want?" Kaoru mumbled angrily, wiping the tears trickling down her face, "I don't want you here…"
"Is there something wrong?" Yahiko asked, handing her his handkerchief.
"No" she replied, taking his handkerchief from him.
"You've closed your mind and heart from me years ago Kaoru- I know that- so I can't read what's on your mind-" Yahiko mumbled, sitting down next to her, "But you're my sis- and I know something's bothering you- so spit it out-"
Kaoru just sighed, looking away from him.
"I remember before…" Kaoru mumbled stiffly as she heard Yahiko sigh.
"Is that why you were screaming like that a while ago?" Yahiko asked as Kaoru slowly nodded.
"I remember that night Yahiko…" Kaoru cried, hugging her knees closer to her, "I can't forget it again- I can hear him- I can hear them- I can hear it-"
-Flashback-
"I love you more than life itself babe…"
"I knew it! I knew it!" a tall woman with long black hair cried as an old, nearly bald old man with gray hair slammed the receiver of the phone in a hurry, "I knew it all along! How could you!"
"Shut up woman! Stop talking nonsense!" the man exclaimed as he stormed his way past her.
"HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME- YOU TWO-TIMING LIAR!" the woman cried, grabbing hastily unto the old man's arm, "Who was it! Who was it! Tell me!"
"Get your filthy hands off me woman!" the man exclaimed, shoving his arm to the woman's chest, causing her to stumble to the ground, "Don't you dare touch me again!"
"Who was it! Was it Miyuki! Akane! Aya! Who! Who!" the woman cried, tears falling down her face.
"I told you to shut up! That was Hikari- but what the heck do you care about it!"
"How could you do this to me! I'M- YOUR- WIFE!" the woman cried, beating the man on the chest with her closed fists, "After all the things I've done for you!"
"You've done nothing for me you useless woman! Now be gone you baka worthless woman!"
"No! No! NO!" she cried as the man pushed her away from him again, letting her head hit the coffee table behind her.
"Stupid- I'll make it quick- Let's just hope you'll never feel this-" the old man sneered as he took out a pistol from his jacket pocket.
Unexpectedly, two six year old twins, a young girl with her black hair tied in a high ponytail, and a young boy with brown spiky hair, entered the living room.
"Okaa-san, Otou-san- we-" the younger looking Kaoru said when her eyes widened in shock.
Their feet were glued to the floor as their so-called father grinned an evil grin.
"DAME!" the twins cried, tears flowing down their faces.
BANG!
"OKAA-SAN!"
The twins ran to the side of their bloody mother, their clothes began to catch her blood which was now slowly spreading on the floor. They cried over their now dead mother, when they heard a click from behind them. The two kids turned to see their father, pointing the gun straight at them. Kaoru was too scared to move, her eyes were red with tears. She was turning pale at the sight of the gun in their father's hand.
"IIE!" Yahiko exclaimed hastily stepping in front of her sister with his hands stretched wide open, trying to shield his sister from their father. His eyes were still filled with tears.
"You two brats have seen too much!" the old man exclaimed as he tightened his grasp on the gun he was holding, "Such nosy little brats- Prepare to meet your mothers' fate-"
All of a sudden, a long shiny metal blade moved swiftly between them, hitting the pistol and cutting it in half.
"What the-"
The old nearly bald man dropped his broken gun in shock.
Suddenly, a strong arm grabbed the old man by the neck, throwing and pinning him over to a wall, choking him hard.
The twin's father frantically tried to get away from his attack.
"Uncle Hiko!" Kaoru cried as the tall black haired man with a muscular body snapped his eyes at them.
"Call the cops-" he barked angrily.
As the two kids ran to their kitchen for the phone, still crying over the whole incident. Hiko just glared daggers at the whimpering old man.
"How dare you! You worthless piece of shit! You even tried to kill the children!" Hiko exclaimed in rage as he threw the old man unto the floor.
He then released his hand that was choking his so-called relative and took out the katana from his sheath and pointed it at the old man.
"You're the one who's supposed to die- You're the one who's supposed to die after what you've done to my cousin!" he spat as the old man quivered in fear, "Fuck you- stupid old fart-head!"
"N-No! Y-You wouldn't!" the old man cried, holding unto Hiko's leg as he began to beg for mercy, "I-I didn't do anything!"
"Bastard! Let go of me! You worthless piece of scum!" Hiko angrily snapped as he kicked the man aside, "I can easily finish you off right here-right now…but I wouldn't…"
Suddenly, the sound of sirens filled the air. Hiko returned his sword to its sheath as he called out to the children, "Kaoru! Yahiko! Pack up some clothes and whatever else you want to bring- pack something light- Move!"
Little Kaoru and Yahiko came scurrying from the kitchen and up their bedrooms as the police charged in their home. Hiko just sneered at the twins' father and walked away.
"I can't believe it…" Kaoru cried, tears falling down her face again, "I can't believe- Otou-san would actually kill Okaa-san!"
"Shh- I can just hear them a bit…- Hmm…" Yahiko hissed, placing his ear by the door, "I think they're bringing Otou-san… to jail? He's under arrest!"
"Of course he's under arrest! Remember what Okaa-san taught us!" Kaoru snapped, trying to stop herself from crying, "Bad people go to jail- or get killed- then they all end up in hell!"
"Well- serves Otou-san right! He's the worst person in the world! He's so mean to us!" Yahiko agreed as he headed for his side of the room.
"Y-Yahiko-chan?"
"Nani Kaoru-san?" Yahiko asked, getting a small sports bag from under his bed, 'Hmm… I can't seem to read what's on her mind anymore…'
"What will happen to us?" his sister asked softly, getting some clothes from her closet, "Now that Otou-san's going to jail and- and- Okaa-san is… is-"
Suddenly, Kaoru started crying again. Yahiko looked up at her sadly and walked over to her. He took her in his arms and hugged her tightly.
"I dunno… C'mon- don't cry… I hate seeing you cry…" Yahiko whispered to her as Kaoru slowly pulled away from him, "And you're supposed to be the eldest!"
"Promise me something onii-chan…" Kaoru mumbled, wiping tears from her eyes.
Yahiko just blinked at her in confusion.
"Don't you dare turn like Otou-san-"
"Of course not! Why the heck would I want to beat the heck out of my own kid like he did to me!" Yahiko grumbled as Kaoru smiled slightly.
"Guys are dumb… except you…" Kaoru said as Yahiko smirked.
"Don't forget Uncle Hiko too…" Yahiko said as Kaoru nodded.
She sighed as she turned back to her sports bag.
"But I wish… I wish Otou-san was the one who died…" Kaoru grumbled angrily, tears forming in her eyes again, "Okaa-san shouldn't have died- She just shouldn't have!"
"Are you two ready?"
"Uncle Hiko! The two kids exclaimed in surprise as their tall, broad shouldered uncle entered their room with a sword fastened on his belt.
"What! Not done yet!" their uncle said as he sat down on Kaoru's bed.
He turned his attention to Kaoru who was trying to rub her tears away. He raised a brow at her and sighed.
"Haven't I told you- I hate people crying!" He said to her as Kaoru slowly nodded her head, "Then stop it- You're acting like a weakling. You're mother wouldn't like that-"
Kaoru quickly looked away from her uncle and hastily began packing. Their uncle sighed, taking a swig of his sake from his sake bottle.
"Well, hurry up! We have to go soon!"
"Where are we going Uncle Hiko?" Yahiko asked curiously. Their uncle sighed as he took another sip from his sake bottle.
"First of all- we have to bury your mom… then we're moving out of here-" "Why?" the two children asked in unison as Hiko sighed.
"Why? Do you want to remember this place! The place where your mother died? The place where your father almost killed you?" their uncle asked as the two shook their heads, "I thought so… It's best if we leave all this behind and start over… okay?"
"Hai…"
-End of Flashback-
Yahiko wrapped Kaoru in his arms as she dissolved into tears.
"Oh Yahiko…" Kaoru cried as Yahiko patted her gently on the back.
"Hey… don't worry Kaoru… Everything's gonna be fine…"
To be continued…
(A/N: Hey guys! Sorry for the wait… this chapter's a bit long… but… anyway; I'm just here to answer some reviews, ok? But I hope you liked this chapter… This is my second rk fic by the way… I'm just really an amateur… if you want to check out my first fic- the title is "To Draw A Sword" …. Thanks!)
Reignashii – Hey! Thanks again for the review! So happy! Thanks! Anyway, glad you liked the last chappie… here's the next chapter! I hope you liked it!
Kenjutsu Priestess – HEY! Thanks for the review! Um… you know… I never really thought about it… I guess it really is a mix with Ranma and Love Hina in it! Hehehe… Well, anyway, I hope you liked this chapter!
Kodora Fairy – Hey! Thanks for the review! Glad you liked my story so far! Hey- have a question- what's OOC? Or AU? Hehehe… I'm just really a beginner after all… hehehe… Hope you liked this chapter!
allin656 – Hey! Thanks for the review! Anyway… I hope you liked this chapter!