True to Your Heart
By: Misumi Kanegawa
Chapter 9
"Every Friday- after school!" Kaoru groaned as the music teacher looked at her sternly.
"Kamiya- it's only for two Fridays…" The teacher replied as Kaoru clenched her hands into fists.
"But sir! I don't have time! I'm usually too busy- Can't you move it- like maybe on Saturday! I mean- the school's over anyway in the afternoon!" Kaoru pleaded.
"NO WAY KAMIYA!" Tomoe snapped, "I have my birthday planned this Saturday! And I don't want to spend half the day of my birthday in school!"
"Oro?"
"Hmm… Well, I guess we can move it to Saturday… I'm guessing that it will make you feel much more relaxed…" the teacher said as Tomoe scowled.
"But sir!"
"Yukishiro- School is much more important- and teaching your fellow classmates will give you merits for your high school record…" the teacher explained.
"But Sir!"
"Yukishiro-san- your party is at four in the evening, isn't it?" Aoshi asked as Misao giggled, "Music class will be perfect for Saturday…"
"Oro?"
"Yeah- well- I still don't want to come! It's going to ruin my day!" Tomoe argued as the teacher cleared his throat.
"Eherm… I've decided… that practices will be moved on Saturdays… 1 pm 'til 3 pm… in the music room… This is only for two Saturdays- is that clear?" the music teacher said as he turned his attention to the angry looking Tomoe, "Yukishiro- can't you just bear 2 hours of practice for two Saturdays? You can have another birthday party for all I care!"
"Humph… fine…" Tomoe said, crossing her arms, "But I'm going to regret all this-"
Cafeteria…
"Hey- I've just noticed something… Soujiro-san's been glancing at you for quite a while now," Misao whispered to Kaoru as both of them took a seat on an empty table.
"Jeeze Misao- Haven't I told you before- I DON'T CARE!" Kaoru snapped, munching on her onigiri.
"Fine- I won't talk about him anymore…" Misao said with a sigh, eating some of her spaghetti, "But I still need an explanation to why you came late to school today!"
Kaoru sighed as she drank some of her juice.
"I-um… I woke up late- we came to school late- I got sent to the clinic- got a yellow form- arrived in time for music… and… yeah… that's pretty much about it…" Kaoru explained, nibbling on her ham sandwich, "But why do you want to know so much?"
"Well- you know all those stinkin' guys of yours who love getting their butts kicked every morning just so they may see who's getting to go out with you on a date!" Misao exclaimed, "Well, those creeps thought I was hiding you and all- so they all went after me!"
"Oh…"
"OH! Is that all you can say!"
"Too bad…"
Misao sighed in annoyance as Kaoru blinked at her blankly.
"Those creeps chased me all around the school- when I bumped into- um… into…"
Misao blushed slightly as Kaoru raised a brow at her.
"You bumped into who?"
"Um… I, um… bumped into Aoshi… and Soujiro and Sano…" Misao said as she suddenly became dreamy eyed, "Ooh… I remember it so well!"
-Flashback-
"Ack- that punch was for you- you big idiot! Hope you felt that one!" Misao exclaimed over her as she ran to a corner.
All of a sudden, she bumped into someone and fell back to the ground. She looked up from her position and blushed.
"A-A-Aoshi-sama!" Misao stammered, as Aoshi extended a hand out to her, "H-Huh?"
"C'mon… get up…" he mumbled as Misao took his hand in hers while blushing.
Aoshi helped Misao to her feet as Misao brushed the dust away from her clothes. She sighed, looking around nervously. Aoshi raised a brow at her.
"Ms. Makimachi? Is there something wrong?" he asked as Soujiro and Sano walked up towards them.
"Hey itachii! Whatcha doin'?" Sano asked as they heard screams and yells coming from behind Misao.
"Ack! Thos guys are still after me! They're all crazy!" Misao cried in panic.
But to her surprise, someone walked up in front of her.
"I suggest you stand back a bit…" he mumbled as Misao silently obeyed him.
'Is Aoshi-sama… Is Aoshi-sama – he-he's protecting me! He's trying to protect me right now! AT THIS VERY MOMENT! OMG!' Misao thought, blushing furiously.
To her amazement, Sano handed both Aoshi and Soujiro a shinnai each.
"This is great! What better way to start the day- than to get join in a rumble!" Sano exclaimed, cracking his knuckles.
"Hey! Me too!" Soujiro demanded walking next to the two guys.
Misao gasped as the three guys charged at Misao's pursuers and started to beat them up.
'They're good!' Misao thought as she watched Aoshi hit two guys with one swing of his shinnai.
"HA! That was fun!" Sano exclaimed, punching his last opponent on the face.
"Really Sano-san?" Soujiro asked as Sano began laughing heartily at the groaning guys on the ground.
Aoshi sighed and walked up to Misao who was leaning against a tree.
"Did they hurt you?" he asked as Misao blushed.
"Iie… they didn't… I did manage to beat up 7 or so of them before… before I bumped into you guys... Arigato gozaimasu…" Misao said, bowing in thanks.
"Why were they after you though?" Soujiro asked as Misao sighed.
"Well… Kaoru-san didn't show up-so they thought I knew where she was… so they went after me…" Misao explained as Sano looked up at her in surprise.
"That's not possible! She always beats up these lazy bums…" Sano said, chuckling slightly, "I mean- Yahiko and Kenshin even made sure that girl would get to school on time- she woke up quite later than usual… the three of them should be here by now!"
"Why did you leave them anyway!" Misao complained, kicking Sano on the shins.
"ITE!"
"Oh… it's not that we left them Ms. Makimachi…" Soujiro said as Misao interrupted, "PLEASE! PLEASE! Stop it with the Ms. Makimachi stuff! Just call me Misao okay!"
"Call her Itachii instead…" Sano mumbled at Misao hit him on the head, "ITE!"
"Uh… right- so, anyway- we just went on ahead of them because we wanted to practice for the Martial Arts Club- the sign up is tomorrow…" Soujiro explained, "So we asked our gym teacher if we could borrow the school's shinnais… We were going back to the gym to return them before we found you…"
"Hey! You guys should've invited me too! I wanted to join that club too!" Misao said, crossing her arms and pouting, "Anyway- is Kenshin, Yahiko and Kaoru joining too?"
"We asked Kenshin and Yahiko already… but they both refused… and we didn't ask Jou-chan yet…" Sano said as Misao sighed.
"I'm guessing Yahiko's trying out for soccer club…" Misao said as Soujiro stepped closer to her.
Misao blushed as Soujiro scratched his head in embarrassment. Aoshi was eyeing them closely while Sano was tying his shoelaces.
"Um… M-Misao-chan… um… Do you think Ms. Kamiya would join the MA club too if we ask her?" Soujiro stammered as Misao blinked at him in bewilderment.
"Uh… not entirely sure… She's planning to join the photography club again this year…" Misao explained as Soujiro sighed, "But you can try asking her…"
RING!
"Oops! Time for class!" Sano exclaimed as the four of them ran towards the school building.
-End of Flashback-
Meanwhile…
"It was all busu's fault we got that stupid yellow form!" Yahiko complained, munching greedily on his hamburger.
"Yeah! And Misao had to do her usual fighting for her!" Sano exclaimed, gobbling up his fries, "Well- Me, Aoshi and Sou-chan helped her too- but anyway… it was fun… I get to beat up people as a morning exercise!"
"Sano-san? Aren't you supposed to be with Ms. Takani?" Soujiro asked as Sano shrugged.
"She said she wanted to do some girl bonding with her friends- something like that…" Sano sighed as Yahiko laughed.
"Yeah right- the only friend that kitsune has is that ice queen snob!" Yahiko exclaimed as Soujiro scowled.
"Hey- she's not as bad as you say she is…" Soujiro mumbled as both Yahiko and Sano stared at her in shock, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Are you okay?" Sano asked, quickly placing his hand on Soujiro's forehead, "You seem normal… Maybe you ate something bad!"
Soujiro sweat dropped.
"Yeah! Maybe it was the pudding he was eating just a moment ago!" Yahiko suggested as he and Sano peered closely at Soujiro.
Soujiro sweat dropped.
Aoshi just sipped his tea.
"Nothing's wrong with me!" Soujiro said as Yahiko and Sano just peered at him skeptically.
Aoshi looked up from his food and glanced at Kenshin.
Kenshin was staring out the window and at the tree next to it. He seemed to be in a daze. He seemed to be lost in his thoughts.
Kenshin's POV
I looked out the window and sighed. I could hear Sano and Yahiko bickering about something- but my mind just couldn't register anything they were saying…
I couldn't think of anything else…
But of last night…
'She was training with a sword- a sokabattou of all things!' I thought, 'Swords aren't really common around here… sokabattou's are much rarer than the usual katanas…'
I watched a tiny bird fly on the tree outside.
'And I thought… I was the only one who had one… Where did she get it? Where had she known of that kind of sword?' I asked myself, 'But it seems like she had it for a long time…'
I sighed as I felt someone, next to me, stand up.
'She's quite good in kenjutsu… I wonder what school she's studying for… some of her techniques seem quite similar…no- it couldn't be… my school is a very secret school- and I'm the only pupil sensei had- right?' I thought, shaking my head slightly, 'But she looked good in training clothes- she was wearing that blue hakama of hers and that white gi- it's a good thing she wraps bandages around her chest- or else-'
Suddenly, I felt my face redden. I shook my head furiously and stared down at my hands. What the heck was I thinking! Why did I think about that- I can never think such things- I shouldn't- I must not- This should not happen! THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN!
Normal POV
In the in the meantime…
"SO! Are you! Are you going to join the MA club!" Misao asked as Kaoru crossed her arms, "Are you going to join us! PLEASE?"
All of a sudden, Kaoru felt someone tap her on the shoulder.
"Wha-?" Kaoru said in surprise, turning to see Soujiro smiling down at her, "What the heck do you want Seta!"
"Please pardon my intrusion Kamiya-san," Soujiro said, blushing as Kaoru stared at him blankly, "But I was wondering- um- would you be interested in joining us in the MA club?"
"Us?" Kaoru asked as she heard Misao do a fake cough.
"Um… Kaoru- I told you about that a while ago… remember?" Misao mumbled as Kaoru sweat dropped.
"Really? I thought you were asking me to join the volleyball club?" Kaoru said as Misao sweat dropped.
"You better start cleaning your ears Kaoru- I told you-I'm joining the MA club!" Misao said, pouting slightly.
"Well- it's not my fault- I thought you were going to join the volleyball club? Remember- you told me last summer?" Kaoru asked as Misao shrugged.
"Hey- I changed my mind…" Misao mumbled, "Besides, there's still the volleyball varsity next year…"
Kaoru sighed as she stood up from her seat.
"I'm really sorry- but I don't think I want to join the MA Club…" Kaoru said as she walked past Soujiro.
"But wait-" Soujiro said, grabbing hold of Kaoru's wrist.
"Let go of me you pervert!" Kaoru exclaimed, pulling her hand out of Soujiro's grasp.
Soujiro quickly stepped away from her in surprise as Kaoru glared at him.
"But I'm not a pervert…" Soujiro said, frowning slightly, "I was just-"
"Save your breath- it's all your fault- you tried to grab me-" Kaoru snapped, blushing slightly in embarrassment.
"Listen- you're just like Yahiko- and Kenshin… both of you don't like to join-" Soujiro said pleadingly as Kaoru interrupted, "Please do NOT compare me with that-that- that stupid red-haired scar face!"
"Well… if you really don't want to join- you can just flunk yourself during the screening tomorrow… I mean… I might persuade Yahiko and Kenshin-"
"I told you- I do NOT want ANYTHING to do with that red-head freak!" Kaoru crossly said, crossing her arms in anger, "And I do NOT want to be beaten up by weaklings! I don't see why I want myself to get beaten up even if I don't want to join that stupid club!"
"But Kaoru…" Misao pleaded as Kaoru turned her back on both of them.
"I'm sorry- but YOU can NOT change my mind…" Kaoru snapped as she stormed away from them.
"So much for that…" Misao said, sighing as Soujiro sat down on the seat occupied earlier by Kaoru.
"Gomen Misao-chan…" Soujiro said sighing heavily.
"What are you talking about! There's nothing to be sorry for!" Misao said smiling at him, "You did your best anyway, right?"
Soujiro smiled back at her as he noticed someone walking towards them.
"Konnichiwa Himura-san," Soujiro said politely as Kenshin nodded.
"Listen… do you think there's a Band Club around here Misao-chan?" Kenshin asked as Misao blinked at him in confusion.
"Well… yeah… why?" Misao asked, getting up from her seat, "Don't tell me you're planning to join that club!"
"Uh… hai… That I will…" Kenshin replied as Misao raised a brow at him.
"But you're just studying it, right!" Misao exclaimed, "How are you going to manage that, neh Ken-san?"
"Oro? I just want to try out if it's okay…."
"Well… I hope you'll have fun…" Soujiro said, standing up from his seat too.
He faced Kenshin with a blank expression.
"Oro?"
To be continued…
(A/N: Ohayo Minna-san! Here's the next chapter! It's a bit long- but I hope you like it… Anyway- to those who are just new reading my story… REVIEW PLEASE! Thanks to everyone who gave me reviews for the last few chapters! I can't really believe a lot of people like my fic! I'm so happy! Ehehehe… anyway, that's all I can say for now! Hope you won't get mad at me if I start doing late updates! School's near- summer's almost OVER! Waah!
Anyway- I'll say this again- I hope you like this chapter!)
I'm answering again all your reviews! Though I seem to think I got fewer review for the last chapter… waah! Anyway… I'm still happy to be receiving reviews from you guys! You're the best! Ehehehehe… anyway, let's get started-
Reignashii – thanks for the review! Anyway- here's the next chappie- glad you liked the other chappie! I've got a lot of readers emailing me because I'm trying to pair Tomoe and Soujiro! I can't help it… when I wrote this story- I forgot who Shura was! But- I'm not done with the story yet… so… I'm sure I can still pair shura up with Soujiro… hehehe…
kik-ting – thanks for another review! wahahaha… the flute is evil-yes! I agree! But it's also fun doing it… I get to play rk theme songs with it… ehehehe… and yeah- hope those two survive their torture lessons… especially Kenshin… hehehe… anyway- I hope you liked the chappie!
allin656 – Sup? Thanks for the review! Shura is a bit of a problem cuz I haven't known about her when I first wrote this story- but hey-I will still put her in- so don't worry! Especially with all those SoujiroxShura fans! And you know our rurouni… always trying to be nice… specially to that someone out there… (Thinks of herself… suddenly, a bokken hits her on the head… Kaoru arrives and drags Kenshin away from misumi! Ah! NONONONO!) Hehehe… joke… I'm weird sometimes, so don't mind me… anyway…glad you liked the story so far! I'm still reading the translations… its quite cool actually… ehehehe… anyway, hope you liked this chapter!
Mademoiselle Anime – hey! Another review! Thanks! Ah! French! Wait… um… C'est tres bien means… uh… (consults French experts aka. My sis who knows more French than I do…) It's very good? Was that it? Waah! Sorry- not really good in French… gomen! But I'm studying! Anyway- glad you liked the chappie…well- I think that's what you said… anyway, tomoe is a student… didn't I say it before? Hmm… I better check my other chapters… gomen about that… anyway! I hope you like this chapter! And I promise! For my readers- I WILL LEARN FRENCH! OR die trying! (Um…die?) hehehe… joke…
NO NAME – hey! Glad you liked the chapter! And thanks for a new review! Anyway, yeah… I've noticed that too! Soujiro has finally showed some feelings! Goody! Anyway, tomoe and soujiro as a pair- maybe… hehehe… you'll just have to read the upcoming chapters to find out! Hehehe…. Anyway- Enishi? Yup… he'll be there alright… he's gonna kick some butt! But not yet… soon… hmm… how come I keep on giving away stuff on my story… oh well… anyway, hope you like this chapter!
rain angst – hey! Thanks for another review! You are so psychic! It's either that- or my story is just so predictable (Shrugs) oh well… maybe it's because I keep giving away do much on my fic… ehehehe… anyway- don't mind me… hope you like this chappie!
AmayaSaria – hahaha! We both hate it- especially if I have to go during winter! Ehehehe… anyway- thanks for another review! Glad you liked the last chapter… hehehe… And I thought all my chapter suck… anyway, hope you like this chapter too!
Kenjutsu Priestess – hey! Thanks for another review! It's okay- it doesn't matter if you're late or not- I'm just happy you reviewed me! I love all my reviews! Ehehehe! And I love all my reviewers! They're the best! Hehehe! Well- I hope you had a great time in spite of arriving at 1:00- so, who won the game? Ehehehe… sorry, I'm going from my fic to football… ehehehe… anyway, I hope you like this chapter!