True to Your Heart
By: Misumi Kanegawa
Chapter 11
"Nyahahahaha! This I CAN'T believe! Nyahahahaha!" Sano howled in laughter as Yahiko chuckled, "Wonder what the ice queen did to Soujiro! I mean- she's not that kind of person-"
"Yup-She's mean- cold- insensitive-"
"Seem like a good pair for Aoshi, don't you think?" Yahiko asked as Sano laughed.
"Yeah! Both as cold as ice! Nyahahahaha!"
"I know- But I've heard rumors ya know…" Yahiko whispered to Sano, "Like- remember her ex-boyfriend?"
"Oh- yeah- I've heard it from the Kitsune… What was his name? Akira someone?" Sano asked as Yahiko shrugged.
"How should I know! I don't even know the guy!" Yahiko exclaimed as Sano sighed.
"Yeah- well- I don't really know him either-"
"Then why are you talking about him!"
"I dunno… I just fell like it…"
"Argh!"
"Besides- you brought it up!"
"Fine! Whatever!"
"Anyway- that Akira guy is supposed to be from a private school from nearby... I dunno- but Megumi said that he's filthy rich!" Sano explained, "I dunno when I heard this- but I think those two got into a fight and broke up-"
"What I'm wondering is- how did SHE get a boyfriend when SHE can't even smile properly!" Yahiko said as Sano laughed.
"Yeah! I mean- the smiling thing must be really alien to her- I don't even think the word SMILE is in her Vocabulary!"
"Yeah! And Soujiro always smiles- I don't know how the Ice Queen could take him!" Sano howled with laughter.
"Yup! Hey! You know! I'm guessing she placed some sort of mind control pill on that cake she gave Soujiro during recess time!" Yahiko snorted.
"Hmm... maybe- or it might just be seduction- that woman's such a flirt- she can get anyone to do as she pleases-" Sano shrugged.
"Maybe she bribed him with money! Hehehe... who would have thought Soujiro could be greedy with money! Hehehe..." Yahiko said as Sano chuckled.
"That'll be weird! Who'd think a guy like him could hide the fact that he's evil behind that smile of his?" Sano said as Yahiko nodded.
"Yeah- His smile is SO eerie!" Yahiko commented as Sano nodded in agreement.
"Yeah! It gives me the creeps sometimes- I don't even know WHY he's smiling! And I though there was a-"
"What are you talking about?"
Yahiko and Sano jumped up in their seats in surprise just to find Aoshi giving them his usual cold stare.
"Damn! Why can't you ever act normal and walk in the room noisily!" Sano snapped as Aoshi just ignored him, "BE like me for example! I'm as common as any other guy in the world! WE talk like real people!"
"And real people look like roosters?" Yahiko laughed as Sano hit him on the head.
"Where is Himura?" Aoshi asked as Sano rolled his eyes.
"The man of little words..." Sano sighed as he shrugged, "He's out at the yard- practicing that damn flute of his- If you ask me- he's REALLY bad at it!"
"Yeah! I agree with rooster head-" Yahiko said as Sano hit him on the head yet again.
"Stop calling me that! Shrimp!" Sano bellowed as Yahiko glared at him.
"Stop calling me Shrimp!" Yahiko exclaimed, kicking Sano on the shins.
"Ite! You brat!" Sano yelled when Aoshi sat down on a seat.
"Is this what Himura cooked?" Aoshi asked as he took some tempura to eat.
"Yeah- it's good as usual- we already ate- so eat your heart out-" Yahiko said as Sano hit him on the head, "Ite! What was that for! Rooster head!"
"Why is Himura playing music?" Aoshi asked as both Yahiko and Sano stopped and looked at him in confusion.
"Um... uh... I dunno- I just sorta heard this from Misao- when Kaoru made me walk her home-" Yahiko grumbled, crossing his hands in annoyance, "I mean- Misao can walk home all by herself! Why ask me to walk her home! She's not a child! But no! Kaoru goes on blabbing about something that might happen to her-"
"Ha! That girl can kick anyone's ass as long as you pissed her way too much- ha! Just call her itachii and WHAM! She goes off kicking you like a soccer ball!" Sano exclaimed as both he and Yahiko laughed.
"Anyway-I think- well... according to Misao- Kenshin's planning to join the Band Club..." Yahiko mumbled as Sano scratched his head in confusion.
"That's really weird you know- I mean- Kenshin's music sounds so weird- as if... well... it's like the sound of a car screeching to a halt! Well- yeah- you know what I mean..." Sano said.
"No! It's like the sound of a cat being thrown up at the wall!" Yahiko protested.
"No! Sounds like a car screeching!"
"No! Screeching of a cat!"
"Screeching of a car!"
"Screeching of a cat!"
"Car!"
"Cat!"
"CAR!"
"CAT!"
"CAR!"
"CAT!"
"I'm back..."
Yahiko and Sano jumped out of the way in surprise as Soujiro entered the kitchen. Aoshi just casually placing his empty dishes on the sink.
"Um... did I miss anything?" Soujiro asked in confusion as both Sano and Yahiko stared at him; their mouths were hanging open in shock, "Nani?"
"Soujiro-san?" Yahiko began as Soujiro scratched his head.
"Nani?"
"What's that?" Sano continued as he and Yahiko peered closer at Soujiro.
"Huh?"
"On your face?" Both Sano and Yahiko asked in unison.
To everyone's surprise, Aoshi handed Soujiro a small mirror.
Soujiro peered over at his reflection in the mirror- when he suddenly blushed.
"Uh oh..." Soujiro mumbled as he sweat dropped.
"Alright buster- Spill! What the heck happened here! What the heck did you two do together!" Sano demanded, shaking Soujiro roughly.
"Yeah! Yeah! What's with the lipstick!" Yahiko said slyly as Soujiro blushed madly.
"Um... I'd rather not talk about it..." Soujiro mumbled, looking away from them in embarrassment.
"Oh my- did you guys!" Sano and Yahiko asked in aghast as Soujiro hit them both on the head.
"We did not!" Soujiro protested.
"And I thought you liked my sister!" Yahiko exclaimed as Soujiro blushed red.
"Well- of course I do! B-But- Where is she though... I mean..." Soujiro stammered nervously as Yahiko sighed.
"She's still at the dojo we go to... I went home earlier than her- I was so dead tired after practice-" Yahiko mumbled, "She insisted on staying behind and practice- really! With what she's been doing to herself- no wonder she fainted this morning!"
"She fainted this morning!" Both Sano and Soujiro asked at the same time in surprise.
Aoshi just sighed.
"I'll go take my bath now..." Aoshi mumbled under his breath as he headed up to his room to get his clothes.
"Hey! Yeah! We can all go! Then Soujiro should tell us about his LITTLE secret!" Yahiko exclaimed, nudging Soujiro at his side.
Sano grinned evilly.
"But- But-" Soujiro stammered as Sano patted him on the back.
"Well smiley boy! See you at the bath house!" Sano said, laughing as he and Yahiko raced up to their rooms.
Soujiro sighed in defeat.
"Oh jeeze..."
"At last- I'm home-" Kaoru sighed as she headed for the kitchen.
She looked around the kitchen before sitting down on a seat.
"This is strange... I was expecting Sano and Yahiko to be lounging around in the kitchen and pigging out on the food..." Kaoru mumbled to herself as she stared hungrily at the food before her, "Oh gosh- I'm so hungry..."
Without another thought, she got some food and began eating it right on her seat.
"Okay! So tell us already Soujiro!" Sano begged as Aoshi splashed his face with some water.
"Well..." Soujiro mumbled reluctantly as a loud screechy sound was heard in the air.
"Agh! Why can't this bath house be sound proof!" Sano complained as Yahiko splashed some water at him, "Bweh! Hey! Bweh! Cut that out you brat!"
"Nyeh Nyeh!" Yahiko jeered as Sano tried to run after him around the hot water around them.
"I don't really get the two of you- why do you want to know what happened to me?" Soujiro asked as both Yahiko and Sano stopped in their tracks.
"They think you and Yukishiro did something unusual..." Aoshi mumbled as Soujiro blushed madly.
Suddenly, a screechy sound filled the air again.
"Agh! I'm gonna strangle Kenshin and break his damn flute into pieces if it's the last thing I'll do!" Sano growled as Yahiko tried to wade away from him.
"Why not just tell us?" Yahiko asked Soujiro as he sighed.
"Fine... I will..." Soujiro mumbled, splashing his face with water.
Another wrong tune filled the air...
-Flashback-
"Aw... you don't know how to play the flute?" Shura said innocently as she sat down next to Soujiro.
"Um... hai..." Soujiro stammered, blushing madly.
Tomoe fumed and grabbed unto Soujiro's arm. She pulled him closer to her, making Soujiro blush even more.
"Leave him alone! I'm his teacher! You're supposed to be doing math!" Tomoe snapped as Shura stuck her tongue out at her, "Just go into the kitchen and study will ya!"
"No way! You're right here! How am I supposed to know what to do with my math when you're not teaching me!" Shura protested, while doing the puppy dog pout.
Soujiro smiled at her as Tomoe fumed.
"Fine! But I'm teaching Seta-kun first!" Tomoe snapped as Soujiro scratched his head in embarrassment.
"Um... There really isn't much left to teach to me Tomoe-sama... I just need to know what those squiggly lines are and-"
"That's a rest Soujiro..." Tomoe explained, pointing out the rests in the school's music book, "The bar that hangs on the fourth line on the scale is a whole rest- making it four counts- the bar sitting on the third line is a half rest- making it two counts..."
"Yeah! And that squiggly thing that looks like a bracket is the quarter rest- it's only one count- then that one that looks like a 7 is called a-"
"What the heck do you think you're doing Shura!" Tomoe exclaimed in rage as Shura just smiled at her.
"I'm also teaching Seta-kun to read notes!" Shura replied as Soujiro turned to her in confusion.
"You know how to play the flute Shura-sama?" Soujiro asked politely as Shura giggled.
"Hai- It's really easy once you get to know all the fingerings..." Shura explained as Soujiro smiled.
"Really? Then do you mind telling me how to do this C#? It's in this scale on the other page..." Soujiro said as Shura smiled happily.
"Sure! It's-"
"Hold on- I was the one who was teaching him!" Tomoe retorted as Shura scowled.
"But he was asking ME to teach HIM!" Shura protested as Tomoe glared daggers at her.
"Um... really Shura-sama... Yukishiro-sama... I'm really fine- All I wanted to know was how to do the C#..." Soujiro said with a sweat dropped on his head.
"It's open-" Tomoe mumbled hastily as Soujiro looked at her in confusion.
"Um..."
"What she meant was- you don't have to press anything..." Shura explained as Soujiro scratched his head.
"Oh... okay... arigato Shura-sama..." Soujiro replied as he tried to play the not on his flute while the two ladies glared daggers at each other.
"Well- I think I'll have to stop here- I really think I have to go now..." Soujiro said, disassembling his flute.
The two ladies pouted.
"Aw... c'mon Seta-kun! We just met! Stay a while..." Shura pleaded, hugging him tightly.
Soujiro blushed red as Tomoe pushed Shura away from him.
"Oh c'mon Soujiro- I'll cook you dinner if you want!" Tomoe said sexily as she wrapped her arms around him.
Soujiro blushed even redder, noticing Shura crossing her arms and pouting.
"Um... well... okay... I guess I can stay... but I really think I'm just a bother..." Soujiro mumbled, trying to move away from Tomoe.
"Oh no you're not... you said you needed help too with your math right?" Tomoe said, edging closer to him.
Shura just watched the two of them while pouting.
"Um... I have a question though..." Soujiro mumbled, glancing over to Shura sitting next to him, "Um... how come- um... sorry if this is a personal question- but... how did you end up teaching Shura-san?"
"Nani?" Tomoe asked softly, stepping away from Soujiro.
Soujiro looked at her in bewilderment.
"Ooh! I can answer that! I can answer that!" Shura exclaimed happily, walking up next to Soujiro.
Tomoe glared at her.
"Tomoe–san signed up for this tutoring group in school to get volunteer time for her high school diploma..." Shura explained as Soujiro just stared at her dumbfounded, "You need 40 hours of community service to get the diploma..."
"Oh... so everyone needs to do it?" Soujiro asked as Tomoe sighed.
"Yeah- so now- I'm stuck with her..." Tomoe grumbled, rolling her eyes.
"Well- if you didn't want me so badly- why didn't you just give up with the tutoring stuff!" Shura snapped indignantly as Tomoe scowled.
"Uh... ladies... please... why don't we talk this over?" Soujiro asked, scratching his head in worry.
"Oh Soujiro... you're so sweet... I wish you were the one who I got as a tutor..." Shura said with a sigh, hugging Soujiro tightly.
Tomoe blushed madly at Shura's actions.
"I... um..." Soujiro stammered, blushing furiously.
"Come on Seta-kun... let's leave the ice queen..." Shura said sweetly, tugging Soujiro towards the door.
"No way! He was here with ME first!" Tomoe retorted as Shura stuck her tongue out at her.
"Um... I really like to stay Tomoe-san, but I really need to go... I..." Soujiro stammered, blushing redder, "I still... I still have homework to do..."
Tomoe scowled as Shura beamed.
"C'mon then Seta-kun! I wanna know where you live!" Shura said excitedly, opening the door to the mansion for him.
Soujiro sighed and bowed respectfully to Tomoe.
"I'm so sorry Tomoe-san... maybe some other time..." Soujiro said as Tomoe smiled weakly.
"Well... I really can't keep you here forever..." Tomoe said sweetly, walking over to Soujiro.
To Soujiro and Shura's surprise, Tomoe kissed him on the cheek.
Soujiro blushed as red as an apple.
Shura scowled and crossed her arms in irritation.
"I'll see you tomorrow Soujiro..." Tomoe said sexily to him.
"Let's go Seta-kun!" Shura said, trying to hide her annoyance, pulling the blushing Soujiro out the door.
"Bye koishii!" Tomoe said blowing a flying kiss at him as the mansion doors slammed behind their retreating figures.
"Oh... so you stay in this dorm?" Shura asked as Soujiro nodded.
"Ah... it's really nice in there... The people are quite friendly..." Soujiro mumbled, when he suddenly sweat dropped remembering Kaoru's anger at him, "Um... well... maybe not all of them..."
"Really? Who's the mean one?" Shura asked as Soujiro chuckled weakly.
"Oh... no one... never mind..." Soujiro said apologetically, scratching his head in embarrassment.
"Oh well... it's really none of my business anyway..." Shura said, smiling at him.
Soujiro blushed madly.
"Well... I have to go now... I hope to see you tomorrow Seta-kun!" Shura said as Soujiro smiled.
"Yeah... see you tomorrow..." Soujiro said shyly as Shura giggled.
All of a sudden, Soujiro widened his eyes in amazement as Shura gave him a quick kiss opposite of where Tomoe had kissed him earlier.
"Ah...um..." Soujiro stammered, looking quite baffled.
Shura giggled and waved good bye before running off.
-End of flashback-
A screechy high note filled the air.
"Agh! I dunno if Kenshin is getting worse or worser!" Yahiko complained, covering his ears as another high shrill note filled the air.
"Jeeze- you seem like a big hit with chicks..." Sano mumbled in disgust as Soujiro sighed.
"I dunno... Am I really?" Soujiro asked, looking confused as Sano rolled his eyes.
"You're a natural heart throb buddy..." Sano grinned, punching Soujiro playfully on the arm.
"Wait- does that mean- you don't like my sister anymore!" Yahiko asked hopefully as Soujiro raised a brow at him.
"No... I still like your sister... She's the most beautiful person I've ever met..." Soujiro said as Sano snorted.
"Yeah right- what are you comparing her with Sou-chan? A big fat rat?" Sano chuckled as Yahiko tried to muffle his laughter.
"NO! Of course not!" Soujiro said indignantly, when he suddenly heard the hot water splash.
The three of them looked up to see Aoshi standing up from the pool and wrapping a clean white towel around his waist.
"I would like to sit here and listen to you chat- but Himura is giving me a headache right about now..." Aoshi mumble, getting out of the bog wooden tub they were in.
"Hey! I'll go with you!" Yahiko exclaimed, reaching for a towel that was nearest him.
"Yeah! Count me in! Kenshin's the worst player I've ever heard!" Sano exclaimed as he waded towards the edge of the tub.
"Really Sano-san... the term is musician... not player..." Soujiro mumbled as Sano just shrugged.
"Yeah- Yeah- Whatever..." Sano grumbled as Yahiko stepped out of the tub, "C'mon- let's go play some cards inside..."
"Yeah! Sure thing!"
Kaoru's room...
"ARGH! That SOUND is driving me CRAZY!" Kaoru growled, slamming her hard bound Math book shut, "Damn it! Who the heck is making all that racket! I'm gonna strangle them if it's the last thing I-"
All of a sudden, she heard the shrill tunes stop. Kaoru raised a brow as she leaped to her feet. She cautiously walked towards her window, not daring to make a sound. She peeked outside, but couldn't make out anything because of the darkness...
To be continued...
(A/N: Ohayo Minna-san! Here's the next chapter- sorry for the long wait! I hope you like it... Though I know it really sucks- so sorry! I really can't think straight after a hard weeks work in school!Okay- I'm just asking one favor from you guys-REVIEW PLEASE! Thanks to everyone who gave me reviews for the last few chapters! )
Review time!
Kenjutsu Princess - Too bad your team lost- anyway- hope you liked this chapter!
allin656 - oh, kenshin and Yahiko? well- I didn't think Yahiko was good enough to join the MA- and kenshin- well- let's just say I've got other plans for him... Hiko won't appear yet- I always thought him as a party pooper... ehehehe
For Me To Know And You To Never Find Out- long name neh? really- I'm not really good at anything... even with cliffies...
kohaku- glad you liked it- wait... isn't kohaku from inuyasha? just asking...
AmayaSaria- here's the update! sorry for the long wait!
kik-ting- remembering... hmm... no... it's gonna be long before they find out... but hey- I'll make them fall in love even if it's the last thing I do! ehehehe... yeah I know, I'm corny... soujiro's such a heart throb- but I'll exchange him for kenshin anytime...ehehehe... kaoru is just too stubborn sometimes- can't see the difference between good and bad... ehehehe...
Reignashii- wahahaha... sou and shura or tomoe and sou? need your opinion...
erica6060- yup- kaoru has too much problems with boys... she really can't help it... she's been living with only guys all her life- maybe sometimes with haruka I guess... but what happened to haruka anyway?
rain angst- I'm already back in school too... it's destroying my brain... ehehehe... kaoru hates guys- but we still don't know why (Except me though... ehehehehe -Evil grin-)
NO NAME- oh yeah- completely forgot about enishi again... wait... I have to check when he's coming in- but I bet he's gonna cause a whole heck of troubles... ehehehe
TimeWarper- ok... but I can't explain why she's acting like that just yet... I want you guys to keep on guessing... ehehehe... I"m so evil sometimes...
Mademoiselle Anime- ah! bonjour! ehehehe... guess what-I didn't fail in my first quiz in french! yay! I'm so lucky...but I still think french is a bit too hard... lol... no offence kay?
LadyHimura- glad your enjoying it- I'm not- I have to think about this and all my studies! its destroying my brain! ah! but if you remove the studies part- I love writing this... ehehehehe...
Kodora Fairy- no no... I like my readers guessing! and you're so right! there will be conflict! Really- My stories are so predictable... sigh...
HAnnah Parker- glad you liked it! hope you like this too!
hime-san- thanks for the review! glad you liked the last chapter! Hope you like this one too- even if I think it sucks... sigh...