Winter's Chill
Hey guys!
This is my first RK fanfic and hopefully I will finish it. Unfortunately, this story like many before it just popped into my head as a random isolated scene and I have attempted to build a story around it. However there is no over-arching theme, plot, or lack there of, so any suggestions are welcomed. I also welcome any suggestions for places were I have made grammar errors, as to this day I am doomed to failure in English classes. Thanks and enjoy!
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*Winter's Chill *
Tragedy Strikes:
How tragic, a beautiful young girl to die at the tender age of 17 from a broken heart. For years she loved unrequited and slowly bled inwardly until one day her heart was brutally wrenched from her chest and held before her eyes as it beat it last. Sighing dramatically Misao wiped a non-existent tear from her eye and congratulated herself on a fitting end to the story of her life and love of Aoshi.
A cold wind blew through the trees making the few remaining leaves tremble on their branches and fall. Yes, the cold bitter weather was a perfect fit for Misao's mood and would add emphasis to her tragic death. For death she was sure would soon befall her after the mortal wound her heart had received that afternoon.
*flashback*
Misao walked slowly caring a tray of steaming hot tea to the temple. The cold winter air bit into her hands and soon they were numb. She was certain that even if the tray fell she would not feel it unless she tripped over it. So she walked slowly keeping one eye on the tray and another on the path ahead. She let out a sigh of relief as the temple came into view. One at a time slowly she ascended the steps of the temple to Aoshi's usual room. Her attention was absorbed in the careful delivery of the tray so she failed to notice the sound of voices emanating from Aoshi's usually silent room until she was about to slide back the door.
A silvery peel of laughter assaulted her ears and she paused, frozen in place by the unfamiliar sound. It was followed by a familiar deep and usually sullen voice rumbling a response eliciting another small giggle and then a sound that broke upon Misao's ears like a piercing blast of thunder. That same sullen voice went from a conversational rumble, to a sound Misao had worked fruitless years to elicit, a laugh. It was only a small chuckle but the sound was music to her ears. Forgetting the tray, her manners, and the other voice, Misao pulled back the door. The tea tray and accessories fell to the floor shattering and splashing scalding water up across her legs, but the pain was dulled by the sight that met her eyes. Thrown from the heights of heaven down into deepest despair, Aoshi was indeed smiling and laughing but the object of these much sought after gifts was not the cheery ninja who brought him tea each day.
Nested up beside her beloved Aoshi-sama was a beautiful woman that was everything Misao felt she lacked. Her hair was silken ebony pulled back into a simple but elegant bun with a few stray strands elegantly framing her perfect porcelain white face. Her large hazel eyes reflecting gold in the light and a tiny red mouth turned up in a demure smile. One of her small white hands peeked from beneath her ocean blue kimono sleeve and rested lightly on Aoshi's thigh. She was beautiful, womanly but above all she had made her Aoshi-sama smile. Misao stood a moment agape at the scene. The two had been interrupted by the crash and now turned to the small ninja in the doorway. Neither made an attempt to move or explain the situation. The woman did not even move her hand and Aoshi's smile was gone replaced by his usual icy gaze as he turned to Misao.
A scream leapt to her throat but only silence came out. Without another thought she ran. Down the well worn temple hall floor out the door and any direction that took her away from that sight and any other people, tears streamed down her face as she ran. Finally, breathless from choking sobs she fell to her knees and vented her anguish to the surrounding trees.
*end flash back*
And so spent from crying Misao wandered about in the forest contemplating death and the image of Aoshi and that woman that had been burned into her mind. Another chilling wind blew and Misao began to realize that it was getting colder and her tea-soaked leg wraps were far from warming. She wrapped her arms around her to try and hold in what little heat she could. Stopping in a clearing, she looked about to get her bearings. In her head long rush from the temple she had neglected to pay any attention to where she was going. Unfortunately, despite the season allowing for increased visibility in the forest she had no idea where she had run to. Another icy wind and tiny flakes of white began to fall. What a way to go, frozen to death by the winter cold and Aoshi-sama's icicle stare. Misao turned her head to the sky and let the cool snow kisses melt on her eyes and cheeks then roll down her face just as her tears had earlier.
Misao concentrated on the feel of the snowflakes and the soft tinkling sound they made as they hit the dried leaves of autumn. Misao had no idea how long she stood in this manner but by this time she had lost all feeling in her fingers and toes and her leg wraps were frozen stiff as if to hold her there to the spot so winter could finish freezing her through.
While an icy winter death had seemed the perfect revenge in her earlier melodramatic state. Now Misao was not so sure. She would not get to see their remorse if she was dead and then that wench that was all over her Aoshi-sama would win. She again felt the spark of life that had been dimmed however her body was too cold and tired. She sunk to her knees and the leaf and snow strewn forest floor was bitter cold but still soft and inviting. Misao wanted to get up and leave, there must be a near by house or town but her body would not listen. The ground came up to her pulled her close, refusing to let her go. Misao curled into a ball and shivered. The last thing she remembered was the white of the snow piling up about her before her eyes closed and she fell unresisting into darkness.
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I considered ending it here and just making it a short but sad story however my brain found a new thread to work on so onward it goes and where it will end nobody knows. (^_^)v
~Merrow