Disclaimer: I own nothing. Dude, I'm a college student. Slightly less poor than a high school student, but still broke. So yeah. Nothing. At all. I cannot lay claim to the epic amazingness that is Rurouni Kenshin, being that it is the property of Nobuhiro Watsuki-sama and various Japanese and American corporations with which I have no involvement. Used without permission and not for profit, etc.
Meditation
by misaoshiru
Ever since they got back from Tokyo, Misao has begun to meditate. Every day, almost without fail, she pops up at Aoshi's side, trying oh so hard to concentrate. But it seems futile. She fidgets constantly, sometimes even shouting out at inopportune moments or falling asleep sitting up. For whatever reason, however, she never stops coming.
Aoshi does nothing to stop her. For all intents and purposes, it's as if she isn't there, although there is that rare moment when he cracks an almost smile at one of her immature outbursts. To an onlooker, he is aware, it might look eccentric or even bizarre. But that's their relationship, in a nutshell. Eccentric. Bizarre.
This erratic behavior carries on for several months until Aoshi, finally overwhelmed with curiosity (though he remains in expression the picture of impassiveness), speaks. "Misao."
"Yes, Aoshi-sama?" she asks, trying (and failing) to sit still.
"It is plainly obvious that this is not something you enjoy."
"No! No, it's fine! Really, I love meditating! I couldn't meditate enough, really! Why, just the other day, I was telling Omasu - "
"Misao. Do not lie to me."
"But Aoshi-sama, I'm a ninja! Aren't ninjas supposed to...crap."
"So why, having established that you do not like meditating, do you always find the need to attempt it?"
"Do you not like meditating with me, Aoshi-sama?"
"I did not say that. Please answer the question, Misao."
Misao gives up on not fidgeting. "So I was worried you wouldn't like me if I didn't like the same things you did, okay? It's silly, yeah, but is it really such a big deal? I mean, really..."
"Misao."
"Huh?"
"You're fine the way you are."
"Ah..." Misao blushes. "You sure about that?"
"Yeah."
Daringly, Misao rests her head against Aoshi's shoulder, and he doesn't stop her. "Thanks, Aoshi-sama."