Prologue

By Crystal Snowflakes

Author's Notes: Like 'The Difference Between Rain and Tears', this story is being revised. The storyline for this story should remain the same... Descriptions will be added and perhaps more touching scenes... I haven't really thought about it yet, but please, enjoy :)

Last thing. Before, it was in first person, in Misao's point of view. I have changed it to third person simply because I find it much easier to write in third person. Sometimes, it's hard to explain others' emotions if it's first person because the protagonist doesn't necessarily know... So... once again, please enjoy.

Disclaimers: Rurouni Kenshin belongs to Nobuhiro Watsuki.

A year since the incident with Yukishiro Enishi... Two and a half years since Shishio Makoto... And yet...

Makimachi Misao, the Okashira of the Oniwabanshuu clan, stomped on her two feet childishly as endless strings of profanities escaped from her mouth. "Stupid Aoshi-sama... Baka." She muttered and kicked her neatly folded futon. She growled furiously as she sat down on the floor and started slamming her fists against the ground.

It's been two bloody years! Why the heck is he still meditating in that stupid temple anyways?

She was so sick of bringing him tea... She was so sick of sitting beside him everyday and not receiving any gratitude at all... She was so sick of acting happy and cheerful... She was so sick of him and so sick of waiting.

Perhaps he just doesn't know what I feel about him... Perhaps he doesn't know that I love him... But then again, that's a load of crap... Everyone knows... It's been so obvious... Too obvious... So obvious that perhaps even that flambé bacon in hell knows.

Misao snarled nastily. He probably thinks I'm too young, too innocent... Or maybe he's not worthy of me... It's probably Himura's influence too, but even then, he's worse than Himura. At least he talks to Kaoru-san... And since the confrontation with Yukishiro, he's been more open with Kaoru-san... Aoshi-sama doesn't even talk to me...

Slightly calmer, she closed her eyes, letting out a breath. Men are so dense.

When she opened her eyes, fury once again radiated from them. But then again, he didn't say the usual greeting when I gave him tea... He told me to give up. Of all things... Of course, I had to act all innocent and act as if I had no idea what he was talking about... But I did. He wanted me to give up on him... And it hurt.

Now, more pained than angry, she closed her eyes as she felt her eyes tingle. She took a deep breath as she hoped tears would not fall out... I'm happy... Everyone else seems to think I'm perfectly fine and happy... Why can't I? Dammit... I don't want to cry... Aoshi-sama would only like me less if I cried. Crying were for the weak, and I wasn't weak. Weaknesses were not for people who were mature, and I wanted to be mature for my Aoshi-sama...

But I've tried, haven't I? For years, I've tried to be mature... And look where I am now... I'm sad and alone in my room... Nobody cares... As she shook her head, she opened her eyes, watching the leaves swirl down... It was October and winter was approaching quickly.

Different shades of brown and red leaves twirled downward, landing softly on the ground, then blown away wherever the wind desires... And suddenly, a leaf landed in front of her kneeling form.

Slowly, she picked it up, mesmerized... Her face breaks into a smile as comprehension dawns on her. I know what I should do... If Aoshi-sama doesn't like me, I'll move on... I believe that someday, that sometime, someone will love me for who I am... Even if that doesn't happen, I'll try to forget him. Staying here will do nothing to help me forget him. I need to try... It might not be possible, and it is quite childish... But... It's worth a shot...

...And if not, I can always live a rurouni's life, like Himura.

Her mind set, she wiped the remaining tears off her face and grabbed a sac. She stuffed an extra set of warm clothes and her Oniwabanshuu uniform as well as her saved up money. Glancing at her closet, a folded up kimono sat in the corner... Hesitantly, she grabbed it. She had promised Omasu and Okon that she would wear it one day... It had been her eighteenth birthday's gift. Misao burrowed her head into the kimono and breathed into it, smelling its fresh scent, another smile coming to her lips...

I promise... When I return, I will wear this. I will show you all that I have changed... I will show you all that I am no longer the young girl that you have all taken care of. By the time I return, I will be a grown woman...

Laying the kimono at the bottom of the sac, I laid the clothing and the money and a pair of shoes.

...I will no longer be the child that is following and trailing after Aoshi-sama. I will be dependant... And plus, you never know... I might find myself a man like Himura... And perhaps, fall in love with him, get married... Have children...

I will visit them, when I'm different, changed...

Grabbing a piece of paper, she started writing...

Mina-san,

Gomen nasai... I know this is quite abrupt, and I myself haven't had such an idea until today... But... I will not regret. This is my decision... Perhaps it's not the best solution. I know it seems like I'm running away like a coward, but... It's the best answer I can come up with. I want to go out and see the world a bit more... I want to live a different life... So, don't come looking for me, all right? You probably won't find me, and if you do, I'll be pretty mad... I promise, I'll be careful... I just want to go around Japan like Himura.

I'll be back, I promise... Just wait for me, ne? I'll see you all soon!

-Makimachi Misao

She looked around the room one last time, her face displaying her sentimental state... Slowly, she placed the letter on top of the once again folded futon, where it could easily be seen. Opening the shoji that leads to the streets, she smiles back at her room one last time before jumping out onto the streets. She studied the weather, and decides to head towards the way the wind is blowing...

With her sac, she ran away, her burdens suddenly off her shoulder, her braid swaying behind her, trailing her silently.

With a smile on her face, she left the place that she had considered her home for over eighteen years and ventured into the unknown.

Author's Notes: Ah, enjoy... Next update should be soon... :)

-Crystal Snowflakes

Thursday, March 24, 2005

Attention reviewers: If you are about to leave a review, thank you. Or a critique, that's good as well... As a matter of fact, I love critiques. But if you're about to leave a review that says 'you suck' or some useless stuff like that, please go away. Especially if you write 'you suck', leave an email so I can know why my fic sucks so that I can email you (no, I will not spam your email account or do anything offensive, seeing that I only want to know why it sucks). Please do not be a total asshole and leave a flame without an email like a coward. If you are about to say 'aoshi is better than soujiro and you are bashing him!', just do us all a favor and shut up. I love Aoshi as a character, but I just like the pairing with Soujiro and Misao more than Aoshi and Misao. I like Aoshi and Misao as well, seeing that some of my favorite fics star that pairing.

And just to let you all know, I hate flamers and flames because they are utterly useless to the reader.

Thank you for your cooperation and attention. If I sound harsh, please forgive me, because I'm just really irritated by the amount of idiotic flames I get.