This is just a little something I came up with on my home, one rainy afternoon. And yeah it was sort of based from a real experience (but it happened in a van and not a train).

Warning: just a little fluff during the first half of the story. For those who are looking for a little drama this fic is anything but that. So forgive me if I indulge myself on my girlish sentiments and nonsense. Just to warn you. This isn't my best fic but here it goes….

Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin or any of its characters

xxx

Unlikely sentiments

Outside, the skies were grey and the rain was splashing to the ground with big fat drops. The wind harshly whipped the trees swaying them from side to side. The green of the countryside was hardly visible from the gray light afforded by the clouds. The train sped through the country on the railroad, fighting past the raging storm.

Inside four friends were cooped up in a room which afforded them the privacy of letting them indulge on a well-deserved sleep. Different melodies of snores: a short wheezing sound from a small boy and a rather loud rattling sound from a certain rooster echoed across the room. The only other sound was coming from the rain pounding hard on the roof and spilling down the windows. The gray light from the window which filtered across the room created the gloomy atmosphere.

But a certain girl was oblivious to her surroundings, to the loud snores of her companions seated across. She was far too attentive to her companion sitting on her right. Far too aware of their shoulders touching and of his even breathing.

She watched his bangs partially let loose from his ponytail, cover his eyes, as his head slowly tilted to the side.

Up. Down. Lower to his left side.

Getting nearer and nearer to her right shoulder.

Oh dear! She didn't know how to react. Should she sit still as frigid as in ice block? Should she lay her hand on his head to pull him closer, so that he can lean on her shoulder? But what will he think when he woke up and realize he was leaning on her? Maybe he would think she was taking advantage of the situation. Maybe she was… but she didn't need to be that obvious.

Ever so slowly his tilting head fell on her right shoulder. And she was all too aware of the warmth of his body. Of his unique smell, a masculine scent with just a hint of pine and ginger. She was aware of the rise and fall of his chest as he drifted off to dreamland.

The train took a sharp turn to the right, making the red head next to her lean on her a just a bit more. His mouth was near her neck, and she could feel the small puffs of his hot breath ghost along her skin. Kaoru can only blush, imagining what it would be like if he actually kissed her neck.

She stopped. Since when had she started wishing on not-so-innocent thoughts about Kenshin? He was a gentleman and he deserved better that that.

The train was jolted by a rough trail on the rail road. For a while, the snores of the ingrates seated across her stopped, their sleep seemingly interrupted by the tremors of the train. Kenshin took a deep breath, mumbled a few sleepy words and pulled back from Kaoru. He turned and opened his slightly sleepy eyes on her.

Kaoru's heart began to pound. Oh my, what if he thinks I'm taking advantage of him? I would never be able to face him again. Well I could just pretend that he was just dreaming. Besides he only seems half awake. Please kami let him be half awake. Please?

As it turned out, she was right. He closed his eyes again and leaned against the window pane this time, far away from her.

She heaved a sigh. Half relieved and half disappointed at the same time. It was over too soon. She missed his warmth already.

The small boy began snoring again. This time louder the ever. Sano was leaning against the boy. The much taller man leaning on someone else so much smaller than him created a rather amusing picture. He'll get a stiff neck that way.

Serves him right! Kaoru thought, that's what he gets for secretly spiking my drink during the farewell party last night.

She sighed. At least they're still asleep, Kaoru mused. Maybe she can continue stealing glances at Kenshin's peaceful sleeping face.

He's so handsome… and his nose… I can't believe I haven't noticed it before… But he has a rather straight nose. Kaoru could not help but smile. She continued watching him. And she can't help but admire his very fine features. She also noticed something. He is graceful even in sleep.

She wondered how he can still retain that elegant pose. He was asleep while leaning against the window and yet his mouth isn't hanging open. She had seen lots of people with hanging mouths while sleeping in a sitting position. She only needed to look across her to prove her theory. Those two boys are certainly catching flies in their mouths that way. Yahiko was starting to drool in his sleep. Eeeww…

And besides she was guilty of this theory, Sano made sure to tease her about it.

How can his mouth defy gravity like that? Wasn't it some kind of rule that sleeping in an upright position causes the mouth to hang open? Why wasn't he snoring? He's almost thirty, being old means being entitled to snore, wasn't it? Yet this proves to be another one of Kenshin's many, many talents.

Kaoru took her gaze away from Kenshin and started to look at the two boys across from her. She suddenly felt sentimental. Here she was traveling with her adopted family. They came from seemingly different backgrounds and they are all so stubborn and short-tempered (maybe except Kenshin). And yet here they were, traveling together. Doing things together.

They were all so natural… together.

She couldn't be more thankful enough to Kami. She used to be so alone, and now she had friends, and they are all sleeping so peacefully. Yep, they are her boys. She suddenly felt a pride, one she hadn't felt since deciding to start practicing martial arts. She felt proud for being a part of something; of a group that she knew would always be there to protect her, just as she in turn would protect them.

Her eyes suddenly felt warm, and she couldn't help grinning as she wiped away the tears forming from the corner of her eyes. Because she was happy, finally happy after such a long time.

So caught up was Kaoru with her emotions that she didn't realize that one of her "boys" was awake.

Sano was looking at her, and suddenly they were staring at each other. She raised an eyebrow, and he smirked.

"I didn't know you are capable of being a girl sometimes Missy." He drawled.

"What are you talking about?" She whispered back not wanting to wake either Kenshin or Yahiko. She was too emotional at the moment, she wanted to have some privacy to let her emotions rein free.

"Besides the fact that you are crying like a raccoon, I've been awake for sometime and saw you ogling over you-know-who." Tilting his head pointing towards Kenshin's direction. And with that he shot her a triumphant smile. As if challenging her to deny what he just said.

"Wha-?! I did not- you didn't! I uhm, I was just…" She knew she was babbling and she couldn't think of anything to say. "I was just watching over the window, it's raining pretty hard. You know… Yeah!" She said a little awkwardly, trying desperately to defend herself.

She's going to deny what Sano has implied until she was blue. Even though she was caught. Big time!

"Haha you make such a poor liar! Oh well if you say so…" A glint of amusement in his eyes, told her he was not entirely convinced.

The jackass! Kaoru thought. "Don't be loud they are still asleep" She whispered back. She hmphed, crossed her arms and turned her face away. Pretending that she didn't care, if Sano knew the truth.

Sano only smirked. Convinced as he was that a certain red head is not that deep into sleep. He mused. Maybe I should pull that stunt on Megumi. Hehe. Kenshin you're an idiot but you sure are brilliant sometimes. Ouch! My neck feels stiff. Oh well, all the more reason to visit a certain fox.

And for a short while, Sano was trying to massage his neck. He did a little exercise.

Slightly face left, hold still count 20 seconds. Take deep breaths.

Slightly face right, hold still, count 20 seconds. Take deep breaths…

Kaoru was looking at him with a questioning look. She started to giggle silently over how stupid Sano looked.

"What?" He yelled annoyed. Suddenly he had an idea, "Stop laughing or I will tell….." He whispered in a sing-song voice, warningly. She stopped giggling.

Kaoru clenched her fists, trying to control her temper. She seriously considered giving him a whack in the head. But she didn't want to wake Kenshin from his slumber. So she kept her thoughts to herself. As Sano continued his exercise in a fruitless attempt to cure his stiff neck, Kaoru continued glaring at him. When they were interrupted by a slight giggling…

"Aw please… stop….Tsubame….too much… Tsubame… that tickles…" Yahiko mumbled incoherently during his sleep. A smile etched on his dreamy face.

Kaoru and Sano stopped, looked at the slumbering Yahiko, and burst out laughing trying to stifle their noises as best they could.

Sano's stiff neck worsened in pain as he laughed. His hand immediately shot to his neck trying to massage the area. Kaoru laughed all the more, covering her mouth to prevent from waking Kenshin, but to no avail.

"Ouch. Sheesh this hurts!" attempting to move slightly "Ow!" Sano winced in pain. His head was stuck facing to the right and he couldn't move, because doing so increased the pain.

With the exception of Yahiko's snores and mumbling, Sano's howls of pain and Kaoru's suppressed laughter, the usual "silence" continued throughout the rest of the journey.

xxx

And in the corner, a certain someone could only listen to the slight usual bantering. Aware of the events that transpired. With eyes still closed, and ears sensitive to each sound, he forced to hold back a smile.

Pretending to sleep did have its perks.

xxx

Finished at last. I started this story two weeks ago, and I have only finished it now. I know right? It was just a short one. I honestly didn't know how to end it and had doubts whether I should continue but I don't like leaving things unfinished. So here it is, it's not my best, but at least it's finished. I know this isn't much of a plot. Anyways tell me what you think. I actually didn't mention a specific timeframe, so it would be up to you to conclude which era this was in.

ACK! I know this fic isn't any good! Confusing? Boring? Corny? Sappy? Not a good read? Tell me what you think, so I can save myself from future embarrassment. Until then!

I would also like to thank all of those who reviewed my first story especially Flaming Amber and Abubi-chan who gave such wonderful constructive criticism. I originally intended To Let Go to be a long shot, however, I am not confident about my writing skills so I shortened it. I'm actually considering making a series of prequel one-shots about it. What do you think?