My Other Me
by MaH
Chapter 1- Destined Meetings I: Misunderstandings
Heat. That was all Yuffie
could feel. A growing heat over her body, surrounded by nothing. The nothingness
didn't even have a color. It was just, there. The last thing she remembered was
fighting Sephiroth. When the white light appeared, Sephiroth was defeated. Yet,
the hot light also engulfed her. But not only her- he was there... Vincent!
Her thoughts quickly turned to Vincent. He was standing right there with her
when Sephiroth was beat. He must have been swallowed up by the emptiness as
well. If she could feel tears, Yuffie knew they would be flowing as well. Yet,
in the nothingness what would there to be to feel?
It was then that the
nothingness began to blur into a haze. Slowly a pattern appeared. Yuffie turned
to where Vincent should have been, but he was gone! Yuffie could feel her body
again, and the breeze against it as she fell-
She felt all the air go out
of her body as she fell quickly downward as the earth seemed to open up and
swallow her. She let out a small scream and closed her eyes awaiting the
inevitable death that would surely come.
She heard a sudden loud crash as something broke underneath her falling figure... and found herself hit something soft. She moved her hand around feeling the area around her, and yelped when her hand came across someone's nose.
Aoshi looked up quietly from his meditation.
"Yes?"
"Aoshi-sama?" Misao's voice was hesitant.
"Nande?" Aoshi was confused about Misao's sudden shyness.
"Aoshi-sama, I brought you your tea." Misao walked over to him
quietly.
For a moment, Aoshi froze. Every morning she came to his room, and every morning
he had to force the feeling of just taking her in his arms. Every morning, he
had to deny his true feelings. "Arigato." he said flatly, trying not
to even make eye contact with her.
Misao felt a sudden painful tug at her heart at his cold words. She tried to
look him in the eyes, but he wouldn't let her. Confused and hurt, Misao placed
the tray down. "That's all. If you don't need anything else, I'll be going
now."
Misao hoped that he would ask her to stay, but he never did. What would make
today any different?
Aoshi turned to see Misao leaving his room. NO! He screamed in his head.
Don't let her leave! Oh Gods, he just wanted her to- "stay." he
muttered softly.
Misao's eyes perked up. She paused and then turned back to see Aoshi now looking
at her. "What?" she spoke meekly, praying that she just didn't dream
up what she had just heard.
Aoshi repeated his words again, this time using a louder tone. "Stay and
have tea with me."
NANI?! Misao's mind screamed surprise, but she didn't complain. She sat
herself across from Aoshi and began to pour the tea for the both of them. Misao
handed Aoshi his tea carefully, accidentally brushing her hands against his. A
blush formed on her face and Aoshi found himself wanting to grab her hand and
pull her to him, but he resisted the urge and just nodded. Misao took her own
cup in hand and began to sip quietly. The silence that overhung them was
beginning to make Misao edgy. "Aoshi-sama..."
"We never seem to talk anymore, Misao." Aoshi finally spoke,
in-between sips. "I-" he voice cracked. "Never mind."
Misao shuffled her feet beneath her, shifting her weight around. What should she say to that? Of course they never spoke anymore! He was avoiding her dammit!
"Aoshi-sama..." Misao stood up, accidentally knocking over the tea tray. "Gomen nasai! I'll go get something to clean it up!" Misao ran out of the room, glad to get away from the tension.
Aoshi watched her leave, finally letting out the breath he had been holding.
Why couldn't he just... he sighed again,
knowing his protective barriers would never allow him to show any emotion like
that towards Misao.
Suddenly a bright light filled the temple room, and Aoshi shielded his eyes from
it.
He heard a loud scream and felt something land in his lap....not just something...a warm body- a warm female's body. He heard a groan and opened his eyes to see the light had vanished. Something hit his nose and he looked down surprised.
"Ack!" Yuffie screamed, her face in complete shock. "Where- Who-"
Aoshi just blinked, his icy blue eyes
intimidated her.
"Aoshi-sama, one of the monks gave me this to-" Misao stopped in
horror to see Aoshi cradling a girl in his arms.
"Misao?" Aoshi questioned, his voice
full of worry.
Misao observed the two for only a second, until she sped out of the temple and
out into the wide open, tears drowning her eyes. "He didn't want to see me
anymore... that's what he wanted to tell me... that jerk!"
Yuffie quickly scrambled out of the strangers grip, jumping to the other side of the room and landing in a cat stance. "Who the hell are you?"
"Where am I?!" She questioned, arming
herself with her Conformer.
Calmly, Aoshi stood, rising well above her. Yuffie shifted around, uneasy now,
and ready to run.
"Stay back!" She shouted, backing up.
Aoshi remained calm and continued to walk
towards her. He had to calm her down and get the weapon away from her hands.
"Stay back!" Yuffie cried again, fear gripping her heart as the tall
stranger came closer. She closed her eyes and threw the Conformer at him.
Opening her eyes again, she was surprised to see the man holding her weapon
studying it.
"Hey! Give that back!" Yuffie threw a kick and punch at him, in which
he easily dodged. Who is this guy?!
"This is a very good weapon." He muttered as he continued to study it.
Aoshi's eyes caught sight of small orbs and studied them. One of them caught his
eyes as it glowed like... Fire. he thought and suddenly a flame burst
out.
"Hey! Don't play with that!" Yuffie screeched as she tried to get her
weapon back.
Yuffie kicked him again, and then quickly made a grab for her weapon. This time, Aoshi lightly threw the strange girl to the ground. He looked down to her, "Are you a majo?"
Brushing herself, Yuffie stood tall, looking Aoshi directly into his eyes, "No I'm not a witch! What the hell would make you think I'm a witch?!"
"Your weapon throws fire." he replied
simply.
"You don't talk much do you?" She retorted. "Can I please have my
weapon back now?"
Aoshi shrugged and gave the weapon back.
"Thanks I guess." Yuffie muttered, putting the Conformer away.
Aoshi watched the girl. She was obviously ninja, but of what clan? Speaking of
female ninjas...MISAO!!!
He had forgotten about her. Did she see the girl in his lap? No! Misao!
Aoshi began to leave in search of her, but stopped when Yuffie grabbed his
arm. "Matte! Where am I? Who are you? And how the hell do I get out of
here?"
"Kyoto, Shinomori Aoshi, and I don't know. Now let me go." Aoshi
gently pulled her off of him.
"Where are you going?! Hey!! Wait!!" Yuffie yelled as she ran after
him. "Don't you even want to know my name?!"
Aoshi did not reply and continued to run out of the temple.
"I'm Yuffie Kisagari! Hey! Wait up!" Yuffie raced after him quickly.