Title: To lead, or to follow?

Summary: In the band 'Along Those Lines' a power struggle has begun. The band isn't big enough for its two lead singers, so who will get the lime light and who will be left in the dark? Rivalry turns to love. AxM with KK, TS, and MS.

In this fiction the Rurouni Kenshin characters are in a band. Here's how it goes.

Kenshin Himura-

Title: Lead guitar player

Age: 18

Senior

Aoshi's ONLY friend in school other then the rest of the band

Kaoru Kamiya-

Title: guitar

Age: 17

Junior

Misao's half sister explains the dif last names

Sanosuke Sagara-

Title: drums

Age: 17 and ½ cuz that counts

Junior

He's not related to anyone

Hajime Saito-

Title: bass

Age: 19 but still in high school

Senior

Him either

Aoshi Shinomori-

Title: co-lead singer

Age: 18

Senior

Tokio's cousin

Misao Makimachi-

Title: co-lead singer

Age: 16 nearly 17

Junior

Kaoru's half sister explains the dif last names

Tokio Fujita-

Title: band manager

Age: 18

Senior

Cousin to Aoshi

Megumi Takani-

Title: groupie

Age: 18

Senior

Misao and Kaoru's cousin

Yahiko Kamiya-

Title: annoying little bro to Kaoru and Misao.

Age: 14

Freshman

He is only there to make everyone else mad. Me and my friends refer to him and Hiro from Fruits Basket the devil children

AND FINALLY………..

Hiko Seijuro-

Title: Loud obnoxious neighbor

Age: 43

Hiko is cool so I thought neighbor who hates the band and constantly calls the police on them!

A/N: Hey I'm updating whooo! Here is chapter two. I know that the songs that I put in this fan fiction are random, but I just out in what I am listening to! On with the story. It is mostly flashbacks cuz that's just how I think up stories! any questions ask me!

Oh and story guide

"I am Kenshin"-said.

'I love Kenshin'-Thoughts.

I love Aoshi – Author's comments!

----------------------------------------------------Previously---------------

"Argg you perv! Go to hell!" Tokio said while being lead away from Hiko by a fuming Saito. 'Its ok its ok' thought Saito. 'I am just worried about the upcoming gig. Misao and Aoshi are still fighting.'

The next week would be interesting.

--------------------------------------------------Story-----------------------------

Chapter two: Auditions, Merry-Go-Rounds, and Ice Cream

Kenshin, Kaoru, Tokio, and Saito were sitting in a small downtown café called: The Kyoto Bean. They had been there for hours just talking about earlier that day.

"I can not believe that he called the police on us!" Tokio hissed at the other innocent band members. She stood up on the table and shook her fists in the air.

Kenshin sweat dropped at her childish action and said," Tokio, I don't think over reacting will solve any of our problems. Why don't you come down from there?" Kenshin held his hand up to a near hysterical Tokio. She looked down at Kenshin and smiled.

"This reminds me of a year ago. Except in my place was Misao and instead of you it was Aoshi. That was the day after we first became a band!" Tokio said with a far away look in her eyes.

"Yeah I remember that day like I remember yesterday. Misao said that she and Aoshi talked for hours until he mentioned Saito's remarks (you will understand later). Then dictator Misao came out in full force. I became your girlfriend that day also." Said Kaoru staring at a blushing Kenshin. Saito looked at the others in disgust.

"Ok I know that a flashback is coming, but could we just not be so mushy about it?' Saito said in a disgusted voice.

Flashback

Tokio stepped up onto a crate infront of the growing crowd. Lifting her hands to her face Tokio took a deep breath and screamed.

"FORM THREE LINES FOR AUDITIONS. THE FIRST ONE IS FOR DRUMS, THE SECOND LINE IS FOR GUITARS, AND THE THIRD LINE IS FOR SINGERS." The crowd looked at Tokio as if they didn't understand. Sighing Tokio got down from the crate and hung up three signs on three tables that said: Drums, Guitar, and Singer.

She sat at the table marked 'Singer' and said, "Make a line in front of the table who's sign is what you auditioning for. MOVE NOW!" Tokio watched in satisfaction as the crowd scattered like bugs. She smiled over to Megumi who was setting up a table with the sign of: Drummer on it. She was to audition the drummers. Tokio glanced to her right where Saito was already sitting at the table labeled: Guitarist. He was to audition guitarists. And she would look for the singer.

Misao glanced at the tall brooding man standing to her left. He hadn't moved since Tokio had first spoken. Misao glanced Tokio who was wincing at the current contestant's singing, and back to Aoshi.

"Shouldn't we get in line? I personally don't want to piss Tokio off!" Misao said cheerily. Aoshi merely stared at her in answer. 'She is right. Tokio mad would not be fun to watch.' Aoshi thought. He reached down and took Misao's hand. Misao's eyes widened as she was pulled into the line for singers. 'He touched me. His is STILL touching me.' Misao thought in a daze.

Aoshi glanced down at Misao. He could not believe that she was being silent. She to his surprise was not looking at him. Following her gaze Aoshi saw a shocking sight. His large tan hand in Misao's small pale one, they were holding hands. Aoshi quickly pulled away.

'I was touching her. I was blushing! I can NOT let her affect me.' Aoshi thought in fury. Though Aoshi was raging on the inside on the outside he showed no emotion. about a half an hour later...

"Next!" Tokio yelled.

"I SAID NEXT! THAT MEANS YOU MAKIMACHI!" Tokio screeched.

"Well I guess that that's me!" Misao said to Aoshi. Aoshi stoically watched her run to Tokio and start her audition. He readied his ears for god awful singing. Misao glanced at Tokio, who nodded, and began singing a Capella…….

Sometimes we get second chances
And sometimes we never make it past the first
It really makes you wonder why some things happen when they do
It really makes me wonder why it wasn't me instead of you

And when you say
It doesn't matter well it does
And all it takes
Is a mistake to eat your words
Just one more time I think I'll drive on home tonight

Misao paused for a second to take a deep breath.

Sometimes we never see the warning
And the voice in your head tells you not to go
It really makes me wonder why some things happen when they do
It really makes me wonder why it wasn't me instead of you

And when you say
It doesn't matter well it does
And all it takes
Is a mistake to eat your words
Just one more time I think I'll drive on home tonight

And when you look its gone its too late to turn around
And it's another day facing yourself and the things that you've done

And when you say
It doesn't matter well it does
And all it takes
Is a mistake to eat your words
Just one more time I think I'll drive on home tonight

Misao closed her eyes when she finished. She knew that she had done well. If Aoshi couldn't sing then she was going to win. Opening her eyes Misao saw a shocked Aoshi staring at her. 'Though he could have a voice of an angel. It would certainly match his face.' Misao giggled at her thoughts and walked past Aoshi with a sense of accomplishment.

Aoshi's eyes were huge by the time Misao was done. 'She can sing really well! She could beat me. I might not win this place.' Aoshi thought. He and Misao were the last two to audition, and he thought that he had it in the bag. He hadn't expected Misao to be able to sing.

--------------------At the same time in the guitarist line------------------

Kaoru listened to Tokio's screams with a look of amusement on her face. That was until she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Kaoru screamed while she spun around whacking her attacker in the face. After not feeling her attacker move Kaoru slowly opened her eyes. The sight she was met with made he blush. Her hand had slapped Kenshin in the face and now was resting on his cheek. Jumping back Kaoru blushed deeper if that was even possible. Kenshin's eyes swirled and he seemed to sway while saying "Oro oro oro."

"Kenshin! I am so Sorry! I was in La La Land, I wasn't paying attention! I am….."

"It is alright Miss Kaoru. I am unharmed, that I am." Kenshin said while rubbing his now red cheek.

"Your okay?" Kaoru said asked. Kenshin smiled and nodded.

'She looks so relived. I think that I would like to get to know her better that I would.' Kenshin thought as he watched Kaoru rub the back of her head uncomfortably.

"Miss Kaoru?"

"Yes, Kenshin what is it."

"I think that we should line up to audition." Kenshin said while gesturing towards a long line of people waiting to audition. Kaoru smiled at Kenshin and got in line.

"Do you think that either of us will make it?" Asked Kaoru. Kenshin blinked in surprise, he had not been expecting Kaoru to speak. He glanced up Kenshin is shorter! at her and smiled slightly. She was nervously wringing her hands, and tugging on her bottom lip with her teeth.

"It will be okay, Miss Kaoru. You will be chosen, you have a musician's spirit. And as for me I am an okay guitarist, so we shall see." Kenshin said. Kaoru looked down into his violet eyes and was comforted. Kenshin turned around to listen to the auditions. Kaoru stared at his back deep in thought. She couldn't help but admire his butt. He was muscled and his tight black jeans did not leave much for her imagination. Kaoru looked farther up kenshin's backside till she saw his gorgeous red hair.

'Oh crap! I'm falling for him! Oh god Misao is going to laugh so hard. She will call him a girly man and try to see if he is really a guy! I am so dead.' In her mind she saw a chibi Misao pulling down chibi oro'ing Kenshin's pants. 'My poor Kenshin! Wait 'my' Kenshin? Oh now I am going all possessive! I think I am feeling faint.' Kaoru thought.

Hearing ragged breathing Kenshin turned around and saw a very funny sight. Kaoru's face was bright red and her hands where wind milling around her body. She looked like a drowning red pig. When she started to hop on one foot Kenshin could not hold his laughter in any longer.

Kaoru was silently freaking out about her 'likening' Kenshin when she heard deep masculine laughing. Opening her eyes she saw kenshin laughing his ass off in front of her. For a few seconds she merely stared at him wondering what was so funny. Suddenly she figured it out. He was laughing at her. Kaoru gritted her teeth and fumed until she heard Kenshin starting to laugh harder. Pulling out her bokken from seemingly nowhere Kaoru attacked.

One moment Kenshin was laughing at Kaoru's actions and then next he was on the ground with a lump on his head. Kenshin looked up form his place on the ground to see his attacker, what he saw was a very very pissed off Kaoru.

"ORO… What was that for Miss Kaoru?" Kenshin asked while he got off the ground rubbing his head. Kaoru merely glared at him and stalked up to where the end of the line had moved to. Kenshin stilled had no idea what he had done. 'This must be the wrong time of the month.' Kenshin thought as he followed Kaoru. 'Oh well, at least the line is nearly gone. Soon I will be able to audition.'

--------------------At the same Time in the drummer's line--------------

"Well Megitsune I'm first, so watch out. By the way why are you the judge?" Sano asked. Megumi sighed and rubbed her temples. 'This is going to be a very long day. Hmmm, His shirt shows his chest. He has nice muscles. I would like to…What am I thinking? This is SANO. I can not think of Sanosuke Sagara like that!'

Sanosuke watched Megumi rub the bridge of her nose and smiled. 'She so digs me! I knew that if I unbuttoned the top buttons of my shirt that she would like me better.'

"Sanosuke I am a judge because Tokio asked me to be one a few minutes ago. Her original judge couldn't make it. She trusts me."

"Really. So you can just choose me now cuz you know how good I am with these things." Sano said while spinning his drum sticks in his hand. "You have heard me practice before."

"HEY THAT'S NOT FAIR! THERE SHOULD BE NO 'FAVORITES'!" screamed an irate boy that was next in line.

"Oh don't worry! I won't play favorites, so keep you prepubescent pants on. Oh and zip up your fly, no one wants to see your ninja turtles under-roos." Megumi said in a cool calm voice. Sano on the other hand was pointing and laughing at the now crying boy.

"You so got told! Oh and the way that you blushed! Classic. Megitsune you're a genius."

"I would normally say thank you but that would only be accepting your complement. That I won't do. Sanosuke begin!" Megumi said while staring at her nails. Sano snarled at Megumi but did as he was told. Sano walked over to the drum kit and sat down.

"Well Fox what do you want me to play?"

Megumi pointed at a sheet of music taped to one of the drum's parts and said. "That."

"Oh, Okay!" Sano said. Turning his full attention to the sheet music, he nodded every now and then. Finishing he looked up at Megumi and smirked.

"Piece'o'cake." He said, and with that he began. The music started as a slow easy pace and then started to get more complicated and fast. All the contestant's eyes got wide. The line of drummers started to look around at each other with looks of fear. Their common thought was 'I am not that good! He is so going to get the spot!' Slowly the line of people started to collectively walk away. No one wanted to make a fool of them selves against this superior skill. After Sano finished he looked up to see no line and a dazed Megumi.

"Well since I seem to be the only candidate I guess that I win!" Sano's voice drew Megumi out of her daze. She looked left then right trying to see another contestant. Seeing none Megumi steeled herself for Sano's ego.

"I guess that you are the new drummer for Along Those Lines." Rooster's face lit up and he stared jumping up and down like an overactive child.

"I rock! I made all those sissies's run like the babies they are!"

"Whatever you say Rooster." Megumi muttered in defeat. A very long day indeed.

-----------------------------------Singers-------------------------------------

"Aoshi you're the last one so come on up and show us your stuff." Aoshi glanced at Misao; she was sitting next to Tokio watching the tall man walk up to the table. He couldn't wait to see her face once he showed her that he too could sing well. Taking a deep breath Aoshi began…..

why can you read me like no one else?
I hide behind these words
but I'm coming out
I wish I kept them behind my tongue
I hide behind these words
but I'm coming out

put your hand between
an aching head and an aching world
we'll make them so jealous
we'll make them hate us
an aching head and an aching world
we'll make them so jealous
we'll make them so jealous

all the ways you make my stomach turn
and all the long drives
with my friends blur
and I wish I kept them inside my mind
I hide behind these words

and think of all the places
where you've been lost
and then found...out
in between my sheets
in between the rights and the wrongs

put your hand between
an aching head and an aching world
we'll make them so jealous
we'll make them hate us
aching head and an aching world
think of all the places
where you've been lost and found...out

Tokio whistled as the last notes of Aoshi's song faded into the air. Misao smiled, 'Yep! He sang like an angel.' Tokio was smiling when she walked up to Aoshi and shook his hand.

'I guess I'll be going. He was so good, he will be chosen for sure.' With that thought Misao started to walk away.

"Aoshi! You were great! I knew you could sing, but wow!"

"Thank you Tokio. I appreciate it, but don't you need to pick the winner?" Aoshi asked an excited Tokio.

"No not till the other auditions are done. However, I think that I will choose both you and Misao. You both were amazing. Imagine the duets and the harmony! It would be unorthodox but that's ok! Where is Misao?" Tokio said while searching around her. Aoshi spotted the petite girl making her way to the guitar auditions and started to followed her. He left a very confuse Tokio in his wake.

'No need for me to be here. I wouldn't want to be pitied.' Misao thought, no hearing Aoshi and Tokio's conversation. As she got closer to where the guitar audition line was she saw that Kaoru was about to audition. She smiled as her friend got her game face on. Kaoru was funny to watch. When she thought no one was looking Kaoru would start muttering to herself and figure her air-guitar. Misao was about to call out a wish of good luck to Kaoru when Misao heard a lone strain of a guitar. Misao smiled as she listened to a complicated melody of a guitar that was being played by a truly talented musician. When silence met her ears Misao turned her head toward the individual playing the guitar.

"IT WAS YOU RED?" Misao yelled. Upon hearing the yell Kenshin Himura looked up from where he was putting the guitar away. Blinking Kenshin pointed at himself and mouthed 'Me?' Misao groaned and yelled back…

"YES YOU! WHERE DID YOU LEARN TO PLAY LIKE THAT? I KNOW GOOD MUSIC WHEN I HEAR IT!" Kenshin looked mortified at Misao's last yell. Misao blinked and then looked around. For the second time that day Misao found herself being stared at. Misao blushed and practically ran to where Kenshin was standing. Kenshin watched curiously as Misao attempted to mime a guitar and himself.

'She has to be crazy. But it is funny.' Kenshin thought with a smile. Kenshin then turned his attention away from the frantic Weasel to Kaoru who was about to start her guitar piece. Kenshin watched as she nodded in time, her fingers flying over the strings. She made the guitar sing like a bird and her music seemed to lift his heart. She was good.

Saito merely smirked when Kaoru stopped playing. He couldn't wait to nettle her. He had uncharacteristically been quiet till now. He had been waiting for his prey. He was the wolf and Kaoru was the rabbit.

"So Raccoon girl, "Saito drawled. "I can tell you haven't practiced much. You were nearly as bad as that Weasel's singing. I think that you should never pick up a guitar ever again, let alone show your raccoon face to the world. OH and you fly is open. Nice underwear, but you need to start shopping in the girls section. I would never want me and my bass," He gestured to his black bass behind him. "To be degraded by your caliber of music." By the end of the speech Kaoru looked ready to kill, Kenshin was all out glaring at Saito with amber eyes, and Misao was being held back by a stoic Aoshi.

"OH LET ME AT THAT BASTARD! HE NEEDS HIS ASS KICKED! I CAN SING MY MOM………….she ………told...me." Misao trailed off at the end. Aoshi looked down at the Weasel with confused eyes. 'What about her mother?' Aoshi however never got the chance to ask Misao what she meant.

(crash, Boom, and sounds of screams)

Saito never had a chance. Really the moment he dissed an already nervous Kaoru, he was dead. What happened? Here's what happened.

"Saito I don't think you should make fun of Kaoru that I don't." said Kenshin in a cold sharp tone. Saito sneered at the nearly angry Kenshin, no one noticed Kaoru slowly walking up to Saito with her bokken out. Before anyone had a chance to react Kaoru was behind Saito and was beating the crap out of his bass.

All Kenshin, Saito, Misao, Aoshi, and everyone else could do was watch. Pieces of the bass flew everywhere, Saito's amber eyes widened with shock. He had thought that Kaoru would have attacked him……..Not his bass…………His beloved bass. Kaoru however wasn't finished, when the bass was in pieces she then ran at Saito's new civic parked not five feet away. It was only when she was a foot from his car did Saito react. Jumping up he scooped the angry Raccoon into his arms and tossed her into Kenshin's waiting arms.

Kaoru didn't struggle when she felt Kenshin's wrap around her. His embrace seemed to cool the red hot Kaoru. The crowed glanced between a now sober Kaoru, and a fuming Saito.

"You bitch…………you'll regret that. I am never going to let you into the band. NEVER!" Saito said with a snarl. He was about to start off on a new speech when a voice cut through the air.

"HAJIME! Stop scaring the potential band members! I don't care if she killed your bass or your pride, leave her alone. Got it?"

When Tokio was met with no resistance she continued. "Now ATTENTION EVERYONE! (The Academy Is…) I have the results for the auditions! If you don't like how we judged then GET THE HELL OUTT'A HERE! Okay here goes, Drummer: Sagara Sanosuke, by default. (Megumi rolled her eyes) Now there was a tie for guitarist, so we will have a lead guitar and a secondary guitar, k! Lead guitar: Himura Kenshin. Secondary Guitar: By MY choice , Tokio paused and glared at a fuming Saito, Kamiya Kaoru. (Kenshin and Kaoru smiled like idiots and gave high fives to each other) And finally the hardest choice………………Singer: Shinomori Aoshi…………………………………………………"

Before Tokio could continue Misao was walking toward home. Misao did not want to hear the sympathy she was sure was going to come. As she past a park, Misao decided to go play in her favorite of all parks. Misao walked up to an old peeling painted merry-go-round and got on. She made her way to the center and laid in the middle.

The one thing she loved about merry-go-rounds was the fact that no matter how fast you spun you could still sit in the middle and stare at the passing clouds. Misao let out a frightened yelp when she felt the merry-go-round start to move. Leaping up Misao came face to face with Aoshi Shinomori. The LAST man on earth she wanted to see right then.

"What do you want?" Misao asked, but it sounded like she was accusing him.

"I wanted to talk with you. Tokio was upset that you left so early."

"Yeah, well I don't take being let down well. Going to gloat now?"

"I do not do things like that, besides I have no reason to. I did not win the spot of singer, well at least not alone." Misao gave him a questioning look but waved him on. "I am the singer for the band, but so are you. We are co-singers."

A loud Whoop echoed in the park. Aoshi found his arms full of a petite braided girl. Misao was so happy she forgot her misery and her shyness. Misao kissed a shocked Aoshi on the mouth for a second and then took his hand and pulled him out of the park. After following Misao for a time, Aoshi asked where they were going.

"To this great little ice cream shop just down this road." Sure enough a few seconds later a small ice cream shop appeared at the end of the street. The sign above the door said "THE SCREAM! It's my favorite ice cream shop!" proclaimed Misao as she pulled Aoshi inside. Telling Aoshi what she wanted and giving him money, Misao went to find a table. When Aoshi returned with a vanilla cone and a triple berry sherbet cone, Misao was nowhere to be seen.

"Misao?' Aoshi hesitantly called. Then just to scare the crap out of Aoshi Misao jumped up from where she was hiding under a booth and yelled 'BOO!'. Aoshi did not jump or make any outward sign that he was scared. He merely handed Misao her cone and sat at one of the two person tables. Misao joined him shortly.

"I am glad that you got the singer part, but I am glad I did too." Misao said honestly. "You are an awesome singer."

"As are you." Aoshi said with a smile in his eyes. Misao noticed the smiling eyes and gave him a HUGE grin back. 'She kissed me with that mouth. My first real kiss.' HAHAHAHA Aoshi's first kiss! Aoshi thought with a lick of his ice cream.

The two bonded over ice cream, friends for life…………….well until something came between them.

Ah the perils of young love……………………………………………………

End Flashback

"Well I have got to go. Homework you know. Stupid Chem. class is going to kill me." Kaoru complained as she and Kenshin got up and moved towards the door.

"Bye Kenny, by Kaow!" Tokio said, she earned two sets of glares for this. Tokio smiled at her couple friends and they left. Finally Tokio turned to the lone wolf.

"You really pissed Misao off that time. You don't make fun of her singing. It was her mother's final gift. You knew what that meant to Misao." Tokio said in reference to his comment on Misao's singing at the audition last year. Saito's smirk left.

"hn. We really need to find out what is going on between Aoshi and Misao to stop it before it rips the band apart." Saito said while playing with Tokio's long black hair.

"I think it was the love that tore them apart."

TBC

A/n: Hope it made sense! I tend to suck on the sec. chapters so the next chapter will be better I PROMISE! I'm tired so night! REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!