Hey, just a message from yours truly. I really want to thank everyone who reviewed especially EcstasyOfSesshoumaru that one really got me going! Uh, I forgot the whole I don't own RK so just as a heads up I don't own anything...much. Later and really really thank you all for the reviews- Alatre
Chapter 2
After the awkward silence in the limo ride Misao found herself once again in her sanctuary. Granted it wasn't the silent temple that Aoshi-sama loved so much and it wasn't the dojo they had spent so many years training in. No, Misao's sanctuary was loud, rowdy, energetic, and in constant motion...quite like herself.
"Sooo...this is what you did to the old place eh Misao," Hyottoko asked as if to break the silence they had found themselves in. Although it was obvious that she had fixed up their old resturant into a bar with pounding music and flashing lights, Misao found herself thankful for the pathetic attempt at conversation.
" Don't let Misao take all the credit, this baby didn't look quite as interesting when she first started out. Young, innocent, and confused Misao-chan wouldn't have stood a chance if it hadn't been for myself and a group of her friends." Kaoru was being rather dramatic. Though Misao had been young she was working her way up and had she not been bothered by Shishio who was out to get her from the moment she turned down his younger brother-in-law, Soujiro, she would have made it fine. But events led her straight into trouble as she later realised they always did and she wound up meeting one Kaoru Kamiya, con-woman extrodinare.
"As I recall, it was this young, innocent, confused girl that saved your ass from getting chewed up and spit out by the likes of Yumi Komagata. And, had it not been for YOU the place wouldn't have been ransacked needing the replacements that make it so interesting! Besides, who are you too call me young I am older than you." At the end of this little rant she saw that Kaoru had not backed down indeed she had just given Kaoru the ammunition she needed.
"You may be older Misao-nee, but that is only in years. We must remember that you have the body of a twelve year old. While I have the bodacious curves of a woman."
This banter was being watched with amusement from the men. All except Aoshi, who remembered that twelve year old body very well. He could remember, being Aoshi, exactly when it was he started noticing Misao and though he knew she noticed him just as much he never would have let anything come of it...then. Now, was an entirely different story the girl that he had left behind had blossomed into the beautiful feisty woman he knew she would. And he realised once again with a sinking sensation that his Misao-chan, would most likely never return.
FLASH BACK
They had been in a hard workout. They could each read each other so easily by now. Misao had grown into her body so her jabs and blows were each done with a determined precision Aoshi admired. He told himself the admiration was of the skill her body possesed instead of they way her sweat dripped off her porcelain skin or her eyes shining like two beautiful pools of sapphire lit from within by a blinding fire.
The thoughts running through his head were confusing him to the point of mistake but he simply could not help himself it was as if she had just been uncovered to him a secret he had never heard right in front of him begging to be known. Oh an he did want to know, everything about her the beauty and mystery that was Makimachi Misao.
Misao, having been entranced by the god-like figure that was Aoshi for so long was used to his sculpted physique and therefore while he was distracted watching her she faked a punch and went straight for a leg sweep. Knocking the god, in her own words, flat on his gorgeous ass.
She had been surprised when she felt his gaze turn more into a caress. One could accuse her of blushing but she would never admit to it blaming it instead on the physical exertion of keeping up with Aoshi-sama. As she reached down to help him up, their hands connected releasing a jolt that went straight to her stomach and she was sure from the look in his eyes he felt it as well.
Their eyes held each other for a long while until various shouts and screams were heard outside. Aoshi pulled her to the floor and using the momentum swung himself up. He ran outside and locked her in knowing what was happening was not meant for her eyes. As he ran her heard her angered yells and then her broken cries but he could not return to her so he blocked them out. His men came from seemingly no where having heard the commotion as well.
As they ran into the house they saw Mr. Makimachi holding his wifes body as he bled his life's blood onto her lifeless body. He sent the men out to search for the assasins knowing all the while they would not be found. His sensei looked up at him with dying blue eyes and whispered his final words.
"Don't let them take her...don't let them get my Misao." With that as his death rattle he fell to his wife's side their bodies entwined in death.
He felt her ki before she entered the room. However, he stuck to the spot did not go to keep her out of the room as he should have instead he simply stood, cold and aloof, as he heard her startled gasp. He felt the vibrations as her knees fell from under her and she hit the ground deep sobs coming from inside of her. Then staring at her parents blank faces and mutilated bodies she screamed and screamed all rational thought left her. His eyes slid shut and he turned though facing her not looking at her crumpled form on the ground.
"Ao...Aoshi-sa...sama?" she asked still gasping for breath. He however did not look at her. He did not turn around as he exited didn't even say good-bye. That had been the last straw for her tortured mind. His coldness, not seeming to care for her pain. She stood then her face bone white the tears had stopped and would never again return. She would become stronger something Aoshi would never turn away from. But in order to gain her own strength she had to leave that which kept her safe. She found some paper in her father's desk stepping aound their bodies and the blood pool slowly seeping outwards. As she stared at the paper the words formed in her head they were short and to the point.
' I am leaving. Don't bother looking for me. I must first find myself.' -MM
That was the last time Misao or Aoshi would meet in a long time.
End Flash back
While Aoshi had been deep in thought he never saw the actions taking place in the "real" world. The banter had ended with neither side truly winning and a red headed man had entered the scene. The man couldn't have been taller than 5'7 and he had long red hair tied in a pony tail at the base of his neck. If the man had not such a powerful and distinctly male aura Aoshi would have thought him to be a woman. He heard Misao call Himura and instantly the information sent a shockwave to his brain. Himura Kenshin, age thirty, assasin known as the Battousai since leaving a peacful life undercover somewhere. Of course he had to find himself mingled with Misao the girl could never stay away from danger but from the mild mannered smile and the way Misao hugged him he could see no hostility in the ever wary ex-assasin.
As Himura looked up it was obvious the recognition between the two was mutual. Kenshin, having been the one to find Misao as she wandered aimlessly through the streets after her parents murder working up a fever in the cold rain. He had taken her to her destination and somehow wound up staying and found himself compassionate to the lost child in the woman she was. He felt like an older brother to her and because of his brotherly feelings grew worried when the men who had turned her life apart returned. The stress of worry for the sometimes childlike sometimes all to mature Misao had grown into a weight that sat heavy on his shoulders and added to the pain in Kaoru's eyes as her ankle twisted was something that caused the poor man to snap, after all no one was perfect.
He of course realised that Kaoru herself had feelings for him and though it was mutual he was hesitant to bring her into his life. Though it seemed that she was determined to stay apart of his heart forevermore. He decided to have a talk with her about their wants and maybe the desire he felt for the dark haired con woman would simmer enough for him to keep control of himself.
"Kaoru-dono, may I please have a word?" he asked.
"You just took a couple." Kaoru replied still hurt at his actions toward her, or lack of action. His purple eyes were swirling with flecks of frustration at her obvious denial of his request. Things may have gotten a bit more intense had Misao not taken advantade of the open elevator to the storage room to push Kaoru and Kenshin in together, Kenshin having sensed her movements had to remember to thank her one day.
"Dammit MISAO! When I get my..."
"Think of it as a chance to cool down," she grinned," Or maybe a chance to warm up." Her eyes then traveled to the pit where sweaty bodies were pressed together and men were buying women drinks at the bar. She ever wary let her eyes travel each and every customer before returning to her ...guests.
"I had your rooms situated, I am sure you can recall where everything is. The only part of the building I changed was the bar and my room everythingelse is in its place." As she said this her eyes returned to scoping out her bar.
"Looking for someone Misao?" Hannya asked a hint of amusement in his voice as her once again saw how like his Okashira she had become.
She looked towards him as if to anwser but then her eyes shifted and she looked behind him.
"Kama-chan," she said softly, almost guiltily. She seemed like a child caught with her hand in a cookie jar.
Kamatari looked at Misao in a slightly patronizing way and said in a tone to match it, "You won't find him here Misao. The bouncers do there jobs well and he knows he isn't welcome. Besides he went running with his tail between his legs he needs a chance to regroup. You are SAFE here Misao always remember that." Then he swept downstairs, more regally than someone should be able to in tight leather.
After his speech the men were stuck looking at Misao trying to decipher what exactly it was she was safe from. However, they didn't have a chance to ask as she herself disappeared into the shadows, but Aoshi decided he would not let her get away so easily.
Ok, so it is sort of a B.S chapter but it only took me about an hour so...yah. You get more information than conversation and another one of my writing traits came out hah. oops. Next Chapter: A little more history, a little Kenshin Kaoru (what do they do in that storage room?) and some rooster on the grill. See Ya! - Alatre.
ChineseDragonKeeper: Hope I got you a little more insight on why Kenshin was the way he was I know this chapter didn't have much but it was just to keep the interest! Thanks so much for the review!
Mandella-sama: Hope this chapter keeps you happy for a little while!
Oyuki: thanks for the review sorry this chapter couldn't come out sooner!
fantasy4luvr: Hope you enjoyed it!
EcstasyOfSesshoumaru: THANK YOU! hah your review got me motivated to do this chapter so hope you aren't as intrested in killing me anymore or else I will never figure out how to finish this...