True to Your Heart

By: Misumi Kanegawa

Chapter 12

When her eyes finally adjusted to the darkness, she saw a group of people heading out of the bath house.

"Hmm? Oh…. It's those guys-" Kaoru mumbled idly to herself, "Seems like Everyone seems to be there except Himura…"

She rolled her eyes, placing her hands on her ears to keep away the horrible noise coming from below.

'Who the heck is making that stupid noise!'

To her surprise, she seemed to hear Sano's uncontrollable laughing- and immediately, the dreadful sounds stopped.

'Great- now all I can hear is the Rooster Head's weird laugh! Why can't anyone shut up and let me be?' Kaoru thought angrily as she lied down on her bed and covered her head with her pillow.

"HA! You call that music! I can't believe you want to join the band club with that noise of yours!" Sano laughed, "I heard it from some people a while ago- really Kenshin- what the heck are you thinking!"

All of a sudden, the person next to Sano kicked him on the shins.

"OW!"

"Shut up Sagara-" Aoshi mumbled as Sano glared at him.

"And when did you start having the energy to move you robotic iceman?" Sano growled at him, "You didn't have to hurt me you know! 'Jeeze, what's your problem!'"

"Well, you should try to practice in a brighter area- you're destroying your eyes you know…" Yahiko said as Kenshin looked up at him innocently.

"Really?" Kenshin asked as Sano sighed.

"Jeeze Kenshin- It's like you don't care about anything!" Sano complained, "How can you read with that small flashlight of yours!"

"Um… Well… don't worry, I'll be fine!" Kenshin said as Sano shrugged.

"Well, why don't you try practicing near the entrance of the bath house? There's light there anyway…" Soujiro suggested as Kenshin nodded.

"Thanks for your concern…" Kenshin said smiling as Sano rolled his eyes.

"I think sleep is better than playing cards…" Aoshi suggested as he entered the dorm.

"Agh! Why do you want to ruin my one-time chance of entertainment, robotic iceman!" Sano yelled, running after Aoshi.

"Sigh… I think sleep is better too… I'm off to sleep…" Soujiro said, bowing politely to Yahiko and Kenshin before heading back in the dorm.

"Yeah- well- I guess I'll go sleep too- I'm sure Sano would go playing on his gameboy now that only I and he would want to play cards…" Yahiko shrugged as he idly walked back in the dorm.

After a while, Kaoru heard footsteps down the hall. She yawned as she heard more foot steps and banging of doors.

"Hmm… I guess everyone's going to sleep already…" Kaoru mumbled to herself as she made her way to her closet.

She sighed as she listened for any more sounds down the hallway; but there were none.

"Might as well head for the bath house myself…"

Kaoru took out some lingerie, navy blue shorts and a plain white shirt. She then took her shampoo, conditioner, soap and a towel before opening the door to her room.

Kaoru sighed as she walked down to the first floor and out to the back yard. She walked towards the bath house, not noticing another person's presence- she was staring up at the stairs.

Once the roof of the bathroom entrance came to view, she stopped as she felt someone staring at her.

"Oro?"

"Huh?" Kaoru asked, staring at the person in front of her.

She widened her eyes in surprise, nearly dropping her things on the cemented floor.

"Y-You!" Kaoru hissed while blushing as he saw Kenshin in a white yukata.

"Oro? Kaoru-dono?" Kenshin asked as Kaoru quickly hid her things behind her.

"W-What the heck are you doing here!" she hissed as Kenshin began scratching his head, "Aren't you supposed to be sleeping or something!"

"I just came out from this bath, that I have…" Kenshin explained as Kaoru turned red, "I just had a break from practicing my flute…"

"I don't need to know your business in the bath house you baka!" Kaoru snapped at him, "And why the heck are you practicing you idiot? Do you know how horrible you sound! Why can't you just wait until the weekend for your music class! Jeeze!"

"Um… I just wanted to be part of the band club, that I do…" Kenshin mumbled honestly, looking down at the flute in his hands.

"Hmph- you'll never make it you know-" Kaoru said coldly, "Now, move out of the way- I want to use the bath house…"

"H-Hai!" Kenshin quickly answered as he to Kaoru as she slammed the bath house door behind her.

Kaoru's POV

"Ah… nothing like a hot bath…" I sighed, stepping into the bath. Just then, I heard some screechy sounds filling the air. I sighed and shook my head in disgust.

'Eh! He's at it again! The idiot… he'll never learn…' I thought as I ducked myself under the water.

After a few seconds, I poked my head out of the water and tried to catch my breath. I sighed as I continued to listen to the weird sounds filling the bath house.

'What's wrong with him? Can't he understand that he's a beginner who wants to try-out for band club!' I thought, splashing my face with water, 'I mean… why can't he just choose another club!'

'Shouldn't you go help him out?' a voice in my head asked.

'Why should I! I hate him…'

'But he did so much for you…'

'Like what! I owe that guy nothing…'

'Yeah right…' the voice in my head taunted me.

I scowled as another bad note filled the air.

'Ah jeeze… I'm gonna regret all this- stupid conscience….' I growled at myself.

"Hey, Himura! Can you hear me!" I called out to him.

All at once, the sounds from his flute stopped.

"Ah… gomen nasai Kaoru-dono… I- I didn't mean to bother you during your bath…" stuttered Kenshin's voice.

After a while of silence, I splashed my face with some water before asking, "Himura- are you still there?"

There was silence in the air. I slowly slid myself out of the hot bath as I heard a males' voice answer, "Hai…"

"Tell me Himura- What note were you playing?" I asked him as I tried to wipe the excess water off her hair.

"Um… D?" Came his answer.

I sighed as I slid on my clothes.

'Baka…'

Normal POV

Later…

"Oro?"

"Well! What are you gawking at me for- baka!" Kaoru asked, grabbing the flute from him.

"Oro?" Kenshin said in surprise as a slight blush appeared on his face.

"Hmph…" Kaoru grumbled, checking to see if there were any problems with Kenshin's flute.

"K-Kaoru-dono?"

"What!" Kaoru snapped, making Kenshin jump back in surprise, "Well- what're you doing! Don't just stand there! Get us some chairs to sit on!"

"Uh- H-Hai!" Kenshin said, quickly dashing into the males' side of the bath house to get some chairs.

"Just put them by the entrance, under the light, okay?" Kaoru instructed as Kenshin arranged their seats for them, "Well! Sit down! What're you waiting for! Christmas!"

At this remark, Kenshin quickly dropped down- unfortunately; he missed his chair and fell flat on his bottom.

Kaoru scrunched her face and tried her best to stifle her laughter.

"Ororororo…" Kenshin said, massaging his bottom.

Kaoru snickered softly as Kenshin looked up at her in surprise.

"Uh… here… let me help you up…" Kaoru mumbled, trying to control her laughter as she stretched out a hand to him.

"Uh… arigatou Kaoru-dono…" Kenshin said, taking her hand as she helped him to his feet.

Kenshin scratched his head in embarrassment as Kaoru laughed.

A smile curled up on Kenshin's face.

"It's really nice to see you smile like that Kaoru-dono…"

All at once, Kaoru stopped and blushed madly.

"Mou! Shut up!" Kaoru hissed, hitting Kenshin on the head.

Kenshin dropped back down on the floor, with swirly eyes on his face.

"Orororororo…"

"Oops… gomen…"

After a while, Kenshin finally sat down on his seat, massaging his throbbing head, while Kaoru sat down next to him.

"Um… Gomen, demo…" Kenshin said, looking up at Kaoru, "What are you doing?"

"Duh! What do you think I'm doing-Baka?" Kaoru said, rolling her eyes as she pushed the flute into his hands, "I'm going to teach you play that thing- it's my job anyway…"

"Oro? Demo… I thought you…"

"Just shut up already- can't you see I'm trying to be nice!" Kaoru snapped as she got the flute book from Kenshin's hands.

'Oro? Is this what she means by trying to be nice? Her attitude didn't seem to change though…'

"Now… do this scale of B flat before I hit you with this flute case of yours!" Kaoru commanded him as Kenshin sweat dropped in surprise.

"Oro!"

After a while…

"No! You played C! The note on that space is C! I told you to play E!" Kaoru said, shaking her head in annoyance.

"Gomen… I forgot, that I have…" Kenshin said apologetically.

"I'll say this one more time- You HAVE to remember- the spaces from down to up is F-A-C-E! Got it? And the Lines from down to up is E-G-B-D-F or Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge, get it now?" Kaoru explained as Kenshin nodded obediently, "Good- now, play E again…"

Kenshin played a good long sound as Kaoru sighed.

"Yeah- that's good… you just have to memorize those notes and fingerings and you'll be fine…" Kaoru said, turning the book to the next page, "Now… Let's go to this first solo piece here… Long Long Ago…"

"Oro! Demo… I'm not ready, that I am not!" Kenshin mumbled as Kaoru hit him on the head, "Oro!"

"If I say you're doing this- you're doing this, okay!" Kaoru snapped, "Besides, you know most of its notes already… and we can just check your mistakes out later…"

Kenshin nodded as he began playing the music piece.

Soon, he noticed Kaoru nodding off to sleep. Slowly, Kaoru unconsciously rested her head on Kenshin's shoulder. Kenshin stopped playing and looked at her in surprise. A blush creeped up on his face.

"Um… Kaoru-dono?"

"Ah… G-gomen…" Kaoru sleepily mumbled as she yawned, "I- I guess I'm a bit tired…"

"Ah… it's okay… that it is…" Kenshin replied softly.

"Um- oh jeeze… I didn't know- Sorry I did that!" Kaoru mumbled removing her head from his shoulder as Kenshin laid down his instrument.

"Hmm? Go on Himura…" Kaoru mumbled as she tried to rub the sleep off her eyes, "You were playing quite good…"

'Oro? Did she just compliment me?'

Kenshin looked at her kindly as he slowly shook his head.

"I couldn't have done this without you Kaoru-dono…" Kenshin replied smiling at her warmly as Kaoru turned to look at him sleepily, "But we should rest now, that we should we still have a big day tomorrow, that we do…"

Suddenly, everything was silent.

"Oro?" Kenshin turned to see Kaoru fast asleep on her chair, 'She's fast asleep… again…'

Kenshin sighed as he quickly disassembled his flute. As soon as he was done, he carried Kaoru bridal style back into her room.

4 am…

RING! RING! RING!

"Stupid alarm clock… shut up for a while will 'ya!" Kaoru grumbled, throwing the alarm clock on the floor.

Crash!

Suddenly, she bolted open her eyes.

"Agh! What have I done! My alarm clock! My beautiful alarm clock! NOOO! What have I done!" Kaoru said, panicking as she checked her watch, "Ah! I'm late for my practice!"

Quickly, she dressed herself in her training clothes. Then she grabbed her bokken and ran down to the backyard.

"Whew… what a relief…" Kaoru mumbled to herself as she lied down on the grass to rest, "Guess I'm done early…"

"Strange… I remember something…" Kaoru said to herself softly, turning her gaze from the stars to the bath house, "I remember… me- and Himura… we were practicing…"

Suddenly, Kaoru blushed as she furiously shook her head.

"Stop that! It must've been a dream…" Kaoru scolded herself, standing up and dusting herself off, "If it wasn't- the chairs should still be outside the bath house…"

Kaoru turned to look at the entrance of the bath house, but found no chairs.

"HA! I was right! My stupid mind was just playing tricks on me-" Kaoru said as she suddenly heard her stomach grumble loudly.

Kaoru twitched as she held unto her tummy.

"Ah jeeze… I'm soo hungry…"

She sighed as she checked her watch. 5:45…

"Hmm… maybe I should go to school early…" She told herself as she turned to face the balcony.

"Well… it's worth a shot…" Kaoru sighed to herself as she began to swiftly ran towards it.

When she was nearing the balcony, she did a spectacular high jump and caught the railings of the balcony just as she was about to fall back down!

"Hmm… that wasn't so bad… I better work on that a bit more…" Kaoru mumbled to herself as she climbed over the balcony rails.

She reached for the balcony entrance and quietly opened it. Suddenly, she stopped. She turned towards Kenshin's closed door and stared at it intently.

'But… what if it wasn't a dream?' she thought as she blushed, 'Ack… I shouldn't think like that…'

She sighed as her tummy growled once more.

"Ack… I'm starving…" she mumbled as she entered her room to get her things, "So hungry…"

Later, Kaoru slowly dragged herself down the stairs, clutching her groaning stomach.

"I- need-food…" Kaoru groaned to herself as she entered the dining room.

All of a sudden, she smelled something in the air that made her mouth water like crazy!

"What the- who's cooking? It smells good…"

She looked over the kitchen and opened her mouth in surprise.

"H-Himura?"

"Oro?" Kenshin said, looking up at her, "Kaoru-dono!"

"Stop calling me that!" Kaoru hissed, blushing madly.

"AH… gomen… I made some breakfast… would you like to have some?" Kenshin asked, smiling warmly at her.

Kaoru glared at him then hastily turned her back on him.

"No thanks- I don't want any of your stinking food!" Kaoru grumbled.

All of a sudden, her stomach growled.

Both Kenshin and Kaoru sweatdropped.

"Ano… I do think you're hungry Kaoru-dono, why not just try some- there's plenty more here, that there is…" Kenshin smiled as Kaoru blushed.

'Argh- I hate him- why the heck is he being so nice!'

"Fine- whatever- Just don't try to poison me with that food of yours…" Kaoru mumbled, turning around to face him.

She blush madly as Kenshin handed her a plate of omelet, bacon and eggs.

"Woah… this looks cute- It looks like a man with a hat on…" Kaoru giggled as Kenshin held out a chair for her.

"C'mon Kaoru-dono, it's nice to eat it while it's still hot…" Kenshin said as Kaoru sat down on the chair offered to her.

"Um… but how about you Himura?" Kaoru asked as she took a bit of her omelet, "Waah! Oishii!"

"Hahaha…"

"Eh? What's so funny Himura?"

"Um… Sorry to be rude Kaoru-dono… but this was the first time I heard you praise food…" Kenshin said smiling as Kaoru blushed.

"Sh-shut up Himura- I just happen to be hungry this morning" Kaoru mumbled, poking a bit of bacon in her mouth, "By the way- Since what time were you up?"

"Um… Around four I guess…"

'Eh!'

All of a sudden, Kaoru started to choke on her food.

"Oro! Kaoru-dono!" Kenshin exclaimed, quickly bringing her a glass of water.

Slowly, Kaoru drank the water offered to her- then sighed in relief.

"Are you okay Kaoru-dono?" Kenshin asked, looking at her in concern.

"H-Hai…" Kaoru mumbled, looking away from him, "I'm fine 'Does he know?'"

"Oh… okay then… let me just get you another glass of water…" Kenshin replied, getting her now emptied glass of water.

"Hey Himura…"

"Hai?"

"Did you… Did you see anyone- outside- when you woke up?" Kaoru asked shakily, peering up to see Kenshin's reaction.

"Why do you ask Kaoru-dono?" Kenshin asked, ignoring her stares as he filled her glass up with water.

"Well… nothing really… I was just wondering…" Kaoru mumbled, eating up the rest of her food, "so… did you see anything- or anybody?"

Kenshin looked straight at her eyes as he handed her her glass of water.

Kaoru gulped.

'Oh please Oh please- let this idiot say that he didn't see me!'

Kenshin noticed the fearfulness in her eyes.

He sighed as he quickly looked away from her.

"Iie Kaoru-dono- I didn't see anything or anybody when I woke up…" Kenshin replied softly as he took away Kaoru's now empty plate.

"Oh… okay…" Kaoru quickly said as she stood up from her seat, "Well- have to go- Thanks for the food"

Kenshin sighed as he watched Kaoru rush out of the dorm without daring to look back. He sighed again when he heard Sano and Yahiko upstairs, fighting over who'd use the washroom first.

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! )