A Blind Love With A Kick Start

Chapter 1

Aoshi sighed quietly as he looked at the sky from where he sat in the temple. The past few weeks had been like this, all dark and dreary like his mood had been for the last two years.

Two years he thought as he looked to the sky, two years since that fight with Himura and Shishio.

He sighed again and went back to his meditation. Every day he followed the same routine; get up, have breakfast with the others, come to the temple to meditate, eat dinner with the others, then go to bed. Every day without fail he would follow this routine and everything just blurred together, one day into another.

Aoshi barley turned his head at the sound of the door sliding open and the soft clink of the tea set. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Misao kneel and pour the tea for him and herself.

"Aoshi-sama," she said quietly as she held a cup of tea out to him, her eyes down cast at the floor.

All he did was nod as he took the tea from her hands. He raised the tea to his lips and sipped it, noting that it was perfectly made as always. Aoshi turned to her as he placed the empty cup on the tray next to hers.

Misao sighed and collected the tea items, having not once looked Aoshi in the eye like she usually did and he noticed though didn't say anything.

When Misao reached the door she slid it open and paused. In a voice that could barley be heard she whispered, "Adiosu, Aoshi-sama".

This instantly caught his attention as she slid the door closed behind her. Misao never says good bye when she leaves.

The more Aoshi thought about this, the more concerned and upset he became. Having decided that he would talk to her after dinner he went back to his meditations, but his mind always returned to Misao, no matter how he tried to forget her.

Misao walked away from the temple, sad and depressed. Every day she took tea to Aoshi and every day he said only a few words or nothing at all. She was tired of this and longed for him to say Something.

It's been so long and he barley speaks to me, or to anyone else for that matter. I worry about him but I can't wait around for him to make up his mind.

She sighed and went back into the Aoiya with the tea tray in hand. Looking over her shoulder at the temple for a moment, Misao made up her mind and went inside.

The next day was just like the last as Aoshi sat in the temple meditating. Though it was still early the sun was shining brightly and the temperature was rising.

It's going to be another hot day he thought. Aoshi glanced to the clock and looked back outside.

Almost 10:30, and Misao hasn't come yet. His mind began wondering back to what she had said yesterday when she left.

"Adiosu, Aoshi-sama ", why did she say that, and why hasn't she come yet?

An hour passed, then two, and she still didn't come. His concentration was broken and he stood, pacing the room. At about 1 p.m. Okina came with a lunch try for him. The sound of footsteps had made Aoshi hopeful, but his hope fell to earth like broken glass when he saw it was Okina.

"Oh? And what makes you look more miserable than usual?" Okina asked as he set the tray on the floor.

"Where is Misao?" Aoshi nearly demanded. In his worried state, all his emotional masks were falling off.

"Ah, Misao left yesterday on a trip. I believe she was headed north for some alone time"

Aoshi went to the window and looked out over the garden, lost in thought. Why didn't she tell me, why did she seem so sad? It doesn't make sense, nothing upsets Misao. With a frown Aoshi ignored his lunch and Okina's questions as he left the temple, returning to his room at the Aoiya.

I need to figure this all out Misao thought to herself as she walked down the long road to the northern mountain temple. The air was cold and crisp, signaling an approaching snow storm.

Misao reached the temple as the first few white, fluffy flakes began to fall. Che! Now I'm gonna be stuck here for awhile, oh well, now I'll have plenty of time to myself.

Misao entered the temple and instantly knew she had the place to herself. She picked out a room and left her things there, heading for the peace and quiet of the main chapel. Taking a seat in front of the statue she lit some incense and closed her eyes, beginning to pray and meditate.

Little did Misao know that someone else was heading for that very temple. Someone she would never suspect but someone she knew.

Chi! Where did this damn snow storm come from? It was clear just a little while ago. The person smiled ruefully to themselves. If only my baka deshi was here, I could blame this all on him. Ahh well, I had to come anyway, it was long overdue for this trip. I just hope I don't see anyone I know, humpf, they would be laughing to see me here for such a silly reason.

He pulled his white cape closer around himself and pressed onward, the temple just in sight. Under his arm he carried a small package and a jug of sake. Holding the items tightly against his side he pushed on until he reached the temple steps. With one free hand he pushed open the door to the main chapel……