Chapter 1:
Misao laid in her bed as she had been for the past month since her world came crashing down. He had cheated on me, she thought to herself in the darkness. How could he when I literally gave him everything.
She rolled over to see the shattered frame on the floor where she had thrown it days before. Sighing she got up and began cleaning up the broken shards of glass and placing them in the wastepaper basket by her desk. She stopped when she saw the picture that had once been encased in the frame. "Aoshi," she said gently as her hands gently traced his face. "how could you?"
Going back to her bed and looking up at the ceiling, all she could do is think about him. She had met Aoshi 10 years ago when she was 14, but they hadn't started dating until she was 17 and he 19. They had been to a bonfire thrown by their mutual friend Karou and they both had their guitars with them. The rest of the night they bonded over their love of music and big dreams. He had kissed her passionately good night and called her the next day. They were inseparable after that and their relationship had been intense and passionate. After she graduated from high school they moved in together, taking odd jobs while they both chased their dreams of being a singer/song writer. They rarely fought and would often spend time alone with each other jamming with her on guitar and he on piano. Their life had been perfect and Misao was never so happy.
Then Karou ended up getting engaged to Aoshi's friend Kenshin and Misao's brother Sano got married to his girlfriend, Megumi and had Misao's niece, Mika. Soon Misao began to question Aoshi about marriage and moving forward, but Aoshi always said that he enjoyed things the way they were. So they began fighting with Misao saying that at 26 Aoshi should be able to committee to her after dating for 7 years. Misao never thought anything was wrong as they would make up in the best way possible and then be back to normal.
One night Aoshi, decided to go out with his friends, while Misao opted for a night out with Karou and Megumi. That was when she came across the scene that literally destroyed her.
Flash back:
"Hey Misao, since that Aoshi's car?" asked Karou.
Misao turned to see an old station wagon parked in front of the club they were at with a "Music or Die" sticker n the side of the window. "Yea, it looks like it." She said scratching her head. "Oh, I know, I left my sweatshirt in the back, if it's his my sweatshirt will be in it, but I don't know why he would be here. She hates dancing."
They walked over to investigate when suddenly Misao stopped at the sight she saw through the window.
Aoshi, the love of her life, was naked from the waist down, on top of another woman who was almost all naked. "Aoshi?" she squeaked. She wanted to disappear and pretend like she didn't see anything, but as soon as Megumi and Karou saw what she saw it was chaos.
"Why that no good, dirty…" Megumi stomped over to the car's trunk and lifted the latch. "Aoshi Shinoromi! How dare you!"
Aoshi froze and slowly looked up to see two pissed off women and one sobbing woman in the form of his girlfriend. They were frozen there staring at each other while the woman beneath him, obviously drunk began kissing his neck. Finally, he spoke, "Misao, I can explain…"
Karou didn't wait and slapped her hard across the face, while dragging the girl out of the car by her hair. "Get out of here slut! This man is taken." The woman began to dress quickly and run away, but then turned to spit out, "Hey! He told me he was single." Turning towards Misao she smirked. " Don't blame me sweetie if your man is unhappy." Karou shot her death glares as the woman finished her tyraid by yelling, "Aoshi sweetie, I gave you my number tonight, so call me when you want another round."
Misao couldn't stop the tears or raise her eyes up from the ground. She heard Megumi and Karou yell obsinitities to Aoshi. When she saw a pair of men's shoes in front of her she looked up at the apologetic face of Aoshi. "Misao, I'm so sorry. I don't know what came over me. I had some alcohol tonight and you know I normally don't drink, but I was so upset over our silly argument. That I…" Misao punched him with all her might. Aoshi rubbed his cheek, stunned. "Silly argument? Is that what you told that whore? It wasn't a silly argument Aoshi! It was an argument about our future and why you don't want to marry me, but I guess I got my answer huh?" Aoshi tried to deny it, but Misao didn't want to hear it. "We're done! I'm leaving. I am never going back to your apartment again. I hate you Aoshi! Seven years of my life for what? You to run around on me? Go to hell!"
She ran away as fast as she could and only stopped when she felt Karou and Megumi grab her and force her into a huge hug.
End of Flashback
Now, a month later, she was living with her brother and hadn't spoken to Aoshi since. Megumi and Sano went to get her stuff a few days later, but when Aoshi showed up to try and convince them to get her to talk to him, Sano went crazy and punched him a few times, before Megumi forced him to stop. Every day Aoshi would call her, text her, write her letters and show up at the house, but Misao never listened, saw him or read anything, what could he possibly say.
There was a knock on the door and Sano came in holding little Mika. "Hey weasel," he said gently putting Mika on her bed. Misao made a face at her brother's nickname for her as her niece curled up into her for a snuggle. "Listen you're job called and asked if you'd come in an hour early, since Tae had to go home early. Poor thing is sick as a dog."
"Yes, that's not a problem. What else am I going to do?" she said with a slight tone, getting out of the bed with her niece draped around her neck.
"Mis," he said affectionately, taking his daughter from her. "You haven't played in a month. I know Aoshi hurt you and then I hurt Aoshi for hurting you, but don't let him ruin you You aren't alone, you have us and Megumi and Okina. We love you and I swear the right guy will come along."
Misao sighed and huggedthe side of his body where he niece wasn't, "I've been in love with him since I was 14 Sano! I can't just turn it off. I'm still in love with him now, even though he hurt me so bad. What do I do in that regard?"
Sano chuckled and tilted her head up for her to look at him, "You be that stubborn Sagara that mom and dad raised. You be stubborn as all hell and make him miserable" He paused. "You know you still have that opportunity to go to California for a year. What better time than now?"
Misao nodded, she hadn't forgotten. Before the Aoshi incident, she got a call from an old school friend Soujiro Seta, who was a roadie for a production company and he told her that there was a job waiting for her there whenever she was ready to play for a living. She would be part of the band for various artists' tours and it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. She originally wasn't going to take it, because of Aoshi, but once the situation happened she didn't hesitate and had taken the position the day before after ironing out some conditions with the company and some thought.
"Yea I know Sano, I Was going to wait to tell you until Megumi came home, but I took the job. I leave next month."
"I'm proud of you Mis," he said kissing the top of her head like her did when she was a child. "We'll make sure to face time you while you're out there and if we can we'll visit you. Plus you'll be back for Karou's wedding next year so it will be a good time."
Misao nodded and she made her way to the bathroom to begin getting ready, but stopped and turn towards her brother, "For what it's worth roosterhead, I'm glad you're my brother and I love you guys like crazy!"
Sano smiled as she nodded and headed out, "It's worth a lot Misao, just like you! Don't forget that."
