Title: Okaeri

Authoress: lil kagome

Summary: Deathe is inevitable, but what happens when deathe is given before it is time. Misao isn't able to give up... and yet she already has.

Warning's: No warnings are present at this time. But I heed a warning, this is rated T and has some strong laungauge and some situations insinuated not suitable for children under the age of thirteen. Of course I can turn no reader away, but I am obligated to warn you.

Couplings: AxM and some mild KxK, also might add in some SxM.

Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin… If I did I wouldn't be writing this fic. So why don't you e-mail me if you own it… I'd 'love' to buy it from you. lol Lawyers… Don't sue me!

A/N: I just started this out of boredom so please no send flames... if you do wish to flame me... do it politely please.

Chapter title: Black as my color

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Okaeri: I

Black as my color

Darkness covered the forest around us, hiding all that may have loomed near our hiding spot. A whimper escaped my lips as once more I felt around for my kunai, but to no avail. I closed my eyes and strained to hear any movement around me.

'Snap'

The sound sent shivers down my spine and I held my breathe in a desperate attempt to not be found. My heart stopped as a hand was placed on my shoulder. I imagined the cold dead hand of a stiff, but when I turned I found only the much colder gaze of Aoshi.

I let out a long breath and brought my hand to my chest. "Kami! You scared me Aoshi-sama!" My voice was weak as I got to my feet.

"Gomen nasai. We must hurry though, the hitokiri are fast aproaching!" I nodded, my mind numb with fear. "Misao-chan!" Omasu rang out from her spot on the ground. Her eyes seemed trans-fixed on somthing behind myself and Aoshi. "Aoshi-sama, look out!" Her voice hung eriely in the air.

I heard the clashing of metal upon metal, and faintly I saw the glint of Aoshi's kodachi's. "Get out of here!" Aoshi screamed as the sound of thunder broke my trance. I shook my head slowly, but at the firm pull of Omasu's hand I reluctantly took a step back. 'What if he doesn't come back this time?' The thought was lost as lightning lit up the clearing.

"Come on Misao-chan!" Once more Omasu whimpered and I turned stopping only for a brief moment before sprinting off, pulling a very frightened Omasu behind me. I halted as I heard a crack which could not possibly have been from the thunder.

"Well, well, it seems we've found ourselves a distraction." There were grumbles of aproval from many of the men surrounding the area. "Leave us be!" Omasu yelled in desperation. "Gomen, I just can't do that, you see. Boss told us to capture the one known as Misao and bring her as bait for 'Shinomori'." I growled at his lack of formalities. How dare he even say Aoshi's name!

My hand grabbed onto Omasu in a re-assuring grasp. She nodded and backed away. "Hey, where're you goin'?" The tallest of the men asked as Omasu fled the scene. "You want me correct?" I watched as they nodded, and I smirked. "You'll have to catch me first." I did a backflip turning directiona and heading the oposite way.

My heart raced as I made it to the edge of the river. Where was I to go now? "So the chase come to an end." A stout man proclaimed and fear started to settle into my bones. He stood before me in a matter of seconds, looking me up and down. "I'm sure the boss wouldn't mind if I had a little fun before bringing yer' on in." My head raced with possibilities as he stepped closer. Too close!

I looked around me but found nothing in my reach. He reached out his hand touching my cheek with a hand as cold as ice. "Don't touch her!" My head darted to the direction of the voice.

Aoshi! My heart sang at this realization, and I found myself wanting to jump in joy, but unfortunately the narrow bank wouldn't permit that. "Ah! So this is the formidable Aoshi?" A young man probably around twenty-two replied not too far from where I stood.

He was a rather un-even man; one shoulder seemingly higher than the other. His cold black eyes bore into my soul as he looked me up and down. His hair was spiked and messy, falling wherever it landed upon hs head. "Toshi-sama, I beleive you were just escourting our little friend here to the HQ." He said gesturing to me.

"No, I beleive he was just going to let her go, or i'd kill him!" Came the thick, booming, deep, voice of Aoshi. I could hardly see as Aoshi came charging at the younger man. "You'll die!" Screamed a woman I only had just noticed off in the distance. My heart raced at the thought of Aoshi dieing.

The clashing of kodachi to blade made my heart shudder in fear. Even as the man before me fell, and even as Aoshi asked me if I was injured I did not move. I saw the eyes of the woman, her eyes glowing as a cat's often does. I saw the flicker of a grin, the lone tear, and I heard the snap of the bow. Even as it raced for me I was held fast.

My eyes grew wide as Aoshi jumped in front of me falling into the river with a large splash. "No!" My heart felt as if it were going to burst open at any second. The woman simply cackled as she advanced toward me. "'Tis a shame really... He was a cute one." She said and my fists balled instantly. Before I could make another move the woman fell.

Her eyes became big, her mouth gaped in confusion. As she took her last breath I screamed. I screamed out the name of somone who just moments before saved my life. I called... Called for Aoshi. The only answer I recieved was the bloody water, and one lone kodachi.

My head hung low as I sat up in my-just seconds before-bed. It was the past yes... But that past haunted my life with every shadow therefore granted upon me. My life had come to such a quick stop as we lost the one known as Aoshi. No tears have took shelter in my eyes since before that fateful night. back then I could cry... Back then I had a reason to... A reason to feel.

I shifted, standing up as I straightened my yakuta. My heart was lost since that night... And forever it shall be. I changed quickly, wanting to get an early start on all the work I was going to do today. I took two steps out of my room and then...

'Bam!'

Kamiya Kaoru almost ran me over! "Oh... Sorry Misao! Have you seen Kenshin-sama today?" I shook my head and she nodded in acknowledgement huffing as she walked down the small hall. It was now six months after the 'incident'. As Sanoske likes to call it. Six very long, very hurtful months.

I sighed as I once more came before the stone. The stone that represented a life... and a deathe. "How long has it been?" I sqeaked out my small voice quivering as I kneeled before a rock... A rock that somehow brought me a world of pain.

Jiya-or rather Okina- had offered we not put it where I would see it every day, but I would not hear of such a thing. He deserved to be in a place of honor... Now he had that. I ran my hand across the cold stone wanting to somehow feel a remnant of his warmth. Somehow get a glimpse of that smile.

I looked down at the kodachi riding on my hip. I had never had the the heart to put it up. After all it was a good weapon. My head spun as I looked at this monument, a shrine to my once, and forever more love. "Time seems to have just slipped away."

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My eyes stared blankly at the paper I was supposed to be studying. Was this what my life had come to? I was now the Okashira of the Oniwaban-shu... Was that not what I wanted? My eyes scanned over the report again and I couldn't help but to sigh. I looked around the room I now called my office. It was painted purely in black, covering the once happy times this room had held.

I looked down at my clothes, they were black as well... Some would say it was because of my being a ninja, but I knew... I knew all too well that it was my way of crying for him. I had to turn into a stoic shell of the person I was just to go on... And yet this was my only remembrance of him. I felt the sting of a tear behind my eye but it quickly went away and I sighed once more.

"Black as my color I swear i'll never forget you Aoshi-sama!" She said her voice trembling with the sadness only few could detect. Just as the sun began to set along the horizon she turned to look out the window, slowly watching as day became night, and memories once more filled her mind.

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A/N: hope you all liked my first chapter... and you know what... if you want to make me write faster and be happy... R&R