Unexpected Revenge

By Sarun

CHAPTER THREE:

Promises

Author's Note: Some of the references I use in this chapter are from episode 89: To My Angel Misao, a Fetching from Kyoto. It was just such a cute episode I decided to use it.

Misao was returning from the store, the bag of vegetables hung over her shoulder. She smiled to herself, feeling a bit calmer after her encounter earlier. Maybe I was right after all…maybe Yone did take my warning seriously…

"Hey, Misao!" It was Omasu. "Took you awhile."

Misao smiled and shrugged. "Is Aoshi-sama home yet?"

"No, he hasn't come yet. He must still be at the temple."

"I'll go and get him." Misao frowned, recalling that Aoshi was usually back by this time. It wasn't like him to be late.

Hiding among high branches of a tree, Yone was able to watch Misao run down the road to the Zen temple from above. Yone made sure Misao was out of sight before she jumped down and headed for the Aoiya.

Upon arriving to the temple, she walked inside the usual room he meditated in, calling out: "Aoshi-sama…" but the room was empty.

That's strange…I would have seen him if he had already left….

She walked around the temple, checking in every room. But all the other rooms were empty as well.

Confused, she walked outside onto the balcony. A small open tin metal box lay tossed there. Curious, Misao bent down on one knee to examine it. Inside it were a few purple herbs tied together, one of which was still burning slightly.

'Wait…this isn't incense'. Misao picked it up. As she did, she began to feel slightly drowsy.

Her eyes snapped open in alarm. Reflexively, she dropped it to the ground and stomped her foot on it. The danger dawning on her, she cried out: "Aoshi!" and bolted out into the garden.

She found him. Out in the garden in the back of the temple, Aoshi lay motionless on the ground.

…Aoshi…no…he couldn't be…no…NO!

Misao ran over to him; she turned him over and held him in her arms; his face was pale and sweat-covered, eyes shut, his breathing was coming in short gasps as a line of blood trailed from his mouth

Misao felt herself start to panic. "Aoshi! What happened! Aoshi-Hold on-! Please don't die-just hold on-"

At the sound of her voice, Aoshi opened his eyes slowly, and only halfway. "M-Misao…" he gasped, and then he faded into unconsciousness once more.

Misao wanted to run for help, but she couldn't make herself leave Aoshi. She just held him against her; screaming for someone to help…

"Let go of him, Misao!" Okina was attempting to pry Misao away from Aoshi. Someone had heard Misao's cries for help and run to the Aoiya. Okina and the others had come running.

Kuro and Shiro placed Aoshi's arms over their shoulders and started carrying him back towards the Aoiya.

Meanwhile, Omasu and Ochika attempted to calm down Misao. Misao broke away from them and ran after the others to the Aoiya.

A while later…

The doctor stood up and walked out of the room. Okina stood up as well, following him outside. The doctor gave a heavy sigh before he addressed Okina.

"I'm sorry. It is clearly a case of poisoning, but I have no idea what to do about it. His heartbeat is completely off-rhythm." The doctor mumbled to Okina. "I have never seen symptoms like this. There's nothing I can do if I don't know the poison used. I'm sorry."

Both of them were speaking in low voices, but Misao heard every word. She clutched at her hands to stop them from shaking. She fought to hold her tears back as she removed the soaked towel on Aoshi's forehead.

Aoshi was running a high fever, and fading in and out of consciousness, his breathing heavy and labored. It looked like every breath he drew caused him pain. Every now and then he coughed up some blood.

As Misao soaked the towel in the iced water and placed it on his forehead again, Aoshi opened his eyes and looked directly at her.

"Aoshi…" Misao whispered. Her eyes stung as they began to fill with tears once again. She shut her eyes in an effort to make them go away.

At a feeling of slight pressure against her cheek, she opened her eyes again.

Aoshi had his hand up to her face, though it appeared to be taking all his strength to do so.

"Misao…Don't…I'm sorry" he breathed slowly "I…I…you" and then abruptly faded back into unconsciousness, his hand falling limply onto his chest.

Misao couldn't bear it. She ran outside, running until she tripped over a tree root and hit the ground. She sat up slowly. Hiding her face in her hands, she started sobbing.

Yone watched Misao from behind a tree trunk. Her arms were crossed, and she kicked at the dirt, trying to block out the sounds.

She finally slumped against the tree, her head in her hands. She couldn't take it anymore. That pain – she knew it all too well.

No! Aoshi had to die. If she gave in like this, her long – awaited vengeance would fail. But still...

She fingered the ends of her hair, thinking. So she didn't want Aoshi dead, her grudge was with Misao. There had to be a way…somehow.

Her old smirk came across her face. Why, it was already all planned out. Misao was already in a trap. Aoshi was dying – she, Yone, had the antidote – Misao would have to agree to her terms.

Misao sobbed silently. She moved her hand down to her arm, where she pinched a piece of her skin. It turned white as she pinched with her nails, and finally a crescent red, it dripped steadily onto the ground.

She tried to focus on that pain, to push aside her pain for Aoshi for even just one moment. The pain ebbed away, but returned in a matter of seconds.

She heard a faint rustling sound. Expecting Okina or Omasu, she turned her head away.

"I did say I was serious, Misao."

Misao's easy flew open at the sound of that voice. Looking up, she saw Yone standing a few feet away, smiling.

Misao felt rage seep through every inch of her. Yone. Yone had poisoned Aoshi! Why hadn't she figured it out right away? Furious at herself, she stood bolt upright and strode towards her, shaking with anger.

"You…you"

"That's right, Misao. I poisoned him." Yone answered callously, smirking.

"I'll kill you…" Misao sputtered

"Same words to you. But that won't have to be yet." With that, Yone pulled out a small bottle, held gingerly between her thumb and forefinger, deliberately over a flat stone near her feet.

"Aoshi won't die for another hour or two. And trust me, dying by that poison is not pretty. This antidote is the only thing that will stop the poison. And I will only give it to you if you follow my conditions."

Misao nodded her head slowly, her eyes fixed upon the small bottle. What else could she do? She wasn't going to let Aoshi die because of her.

"First, I want you to face me at exactly midnight tonight, at the cliffs to the northwest.

Second, you are not to tell anyone of this, especially your Oniwaban group. If you do tell or don't show up, I'll have to take out my rage on a couple people in this city and be done with it.

Do you promise to follow these conditions?"

Misao nodded once more. "I promise." She would face Yone. This had to end.

"Alright then." Yone tossed Misao the small bottle, which she caught. "Just make him drink the entire antidote and he will be fine."

Misao stood for a moment and glared with silent fury in Yone's direction, but began to step back towards the Aioya. After a few steps, she turned and ran as fast as she could.

Watching Misao run, Yone laughed. Looks like I was right, Misao.

Okina jumped as the door to Aoshi's room was opened suddenly. Misao stood in the doorway, panting.

"Here!" she handed him a small bottle. "This antidote will cure Aoshi."

"But, who gave-"Okina started

"Never mind, just give it to him!"

A few hours later…

"His fever's gone." Ochika announced, surprised.

Although he was still asleep, Aoshi's breathing had returned to normal shortly after he had taken the antidote, and the color had come back to his face.

"I think he will be fine now. He should stay in bed for a while, in any case." Omasu agreed.

Misao smiled, looking over at Aoshi. But the smile disappeared as soon as it had come. The guilt burned in her chest. Aoshi had nearly died because of her. And now she had to meet Yone at the cliffs at midnight, to fight like they promised.

They all left Aoshi's room silently, and shut the door behind them. As soon as they were gone, Aoshi opened his eyes and stared at the closed door.

So he had almost let it slip. In his daze, he had meant to tell her he loved her, that he had always loved her, but had hidden it. As always. Why? Even he wasn't sure.

He didn't deserve Misao. After all he'd done, after all the pain he'd caused. Why would she want him? Carefree antics aside – She was a strong, smart girl. And she was beautiful. Yes – beautiful. He knew the others teased her about still being a child. He had never been able to agree, hard as he tried.

He closed his eyes for a long moment. Ever since his conversation with Kenshin back in Tokyo, he hadn't been able to stop thinking about it.

"She's no longer a child, that she most definitely isn't."

Kenshin had been right.

Misao changed into her sleeping yukata. Might as well get some rest before midnight. Her thoughts turned to Aoshi, and a brief, disbelieving smile came to her face when she remembered what he had said. "I…you" She let her breath out slowly over that thought. Had he meant to say…? If the setting had been different, she probably would have interpreted it that way at once.

Misao felt a pang in her heart, Aoshi not knowing that she was responsible for his near death. She tried to fall asleep, but it was impossible.

Yone's taunts rang throughout her ears. "…Aoshi won't die for another hour or two…I poisoned him…My brother may have been a thief, but at least he never stole anyone's life…

She got out of bed, and after pacing around her room pointlessly for a few minutes, she decided to see how Aoshi was doing. She walked down the hall, and slid open the door to Aoshi's room.

Aoshi was lying awake; his eyes open and staring unseeingly at the ceiling. He glanced at the door when he heard it open, and saw the lone figure of Misao, watching him with worried eyes.

Misao smiled, seeing him awake already. She walked into the room, sliding the door shut behind her and kneeling by the side of his futon.

"Are you feeling alright, Aoshi-sama?"

"Yes." Aoshi answered her briefly.

Feeling a bit disappointed by the short response, she continued. "Do you need anything?"

"No." Aoshi hesitated before continuing, but decided he had to.

"Do you remember what I said to you before?"

Misao felt a twinge of fear. Was he going to say it didn't mean anything? Aoshi reached for her hand, curling his fingers around it. "I couldn't bring myself to say it, even then. And I nearly lost the chancefor good. The word I left out was love."

Aoshi closed his eyes again for a few moments. "When I was first poisoned at the temple, the first thing that I thought of was you. I couldn't stop."

Misao turned her face away abruptly, unable to look him in the eye. Aoshi was finally being open with her – but why now? With everything she was hiding from Aoshi at the moment…

He hesitated again, but remembered that he had nearly lost his chance with Misao that very afternoon. He couldn't risk that again.

Misao felt Aoshi reach for her. Keeping a firm yet gentle grip on her chin, he lowered her face to his. "I love you, Misao" he whispered.

Her heart was pounding rapidly. After countless nights of dreaming something like this would happen between them – she automatically ran her fingers through Aoshi's dark hair as she felt his breath on her neck.

Then she remembered with a fresh wave of guilt…Aoshi's poisoning…Yone… how she had agreed to fight her in what could be a death match in a matter of hours. And she was keeping it secret from everyone else.

As their lips were about to meet, Misao suddenly moved her head away, kissing Aoshi on the cheek briefly instead.

Aoshi froze. They had almost – why did she…? He looked to Misao. She had her head turned away again and her hands were clenched in her lap.

Aoshi turned his gaze away from her. After a few moments silence, Misao stood up and walked towards the door.

"Do you hate me, Misao?"

What?

Misao stopped; her hand on the door frame. She turned around slowly to face him. He still had his back turned to her, but she could tell he was listening.

Misao found her voice. "What do you mean? I don't hate you, Aoshi."

"Admit it if you wish. I understand."

"No!" She shot back. "Why would I hate you?" She realized the rashness of her question only after it had been said.

Aoshi sat up suddenly, his icy glare back in his eyes as he spoke.

"For everything, Misao. For making you suffer for so long. For daring to love you after all I've done and what I've become." He closed his eyes as he said this, placing a hand to his side in pain.

Misao shook her head. She had dark secrets of her own, she knew his feelings. "I love you, Aoshi…I know who you really are. I don't care who you became or what you did. All that matters is here now." She felt tears forming at the corner of her eyes and turned to wipe them away quickly.

She heard a grunt and the slight creak of the floor. Upon turning, she saw Aoshi rising to his feet, his breathing slow and hard. He took a step towards her, but lost his footing.

"No, Aoshi, don't move-" She rushed over, managing to catch him and ease him back to the floor.

Aoshi took several deep breaths, trying to clear his head. Misao held him, shaking with sudden fear and hidden anger. "You're not supposed to move yet! You were just-"

She was cut off by Aoshi capturing her mouth in a sudden kiss. Too stunned to move, she remained still as he wrapped his arms around her.

Aoshi tightened his grip on Misao, keeping his mouth firmly on hers. They broke apart after a few seconds more, both gasping for air.

Misao couldn't believe it – he had just kissed her. She was quite aware of their position - their arms around each other, their faces hardly an inch apart.

Aoshi brushed a strand of her hair back and tucked it behind her ear. He then ran his hand along her face; Misao felt his fingers tremble slightly as he touched her.

He removed the clasp at the end of her braid and began untying it, letting her long black hair fall loose. Running his fingers through her hair, he whispered: "Stay with me tonight."

Before she could answer, Aoshi's hand shifted from her hair to her shoulder to push open her yukata, baring her shoulder to him; Misao let out a soft moan as he gently kissed the warm skin.

He moved his mouth slightly, his tongue tracing the base of her neck. After a few seconds, he lifted his head from her neck and gazed into her eyes, waiting for her answer.

It's wrong; don't do this…her senses screamed out at her. But she couldn't make herself pull away from him again. No, she had to tell him the truth.

"What's wrong?" His voice broke her thoughts. He must have seen the fear in her eyes.

Turning her face to his, she wanted so badly to tell him everything - about Tsuna, the fight with Yone that night, how it was her fault that he had nearly died poisoned…

But as she stared into his eyes, the words died in her throat.

"N-Nothing, Aoshi."

He brushed the hair away from her eyes. "You promise?"

Clutching his hand in hers, Misao whispered back: "Promise."

Misao closed her eyes when she felt his hands stroking her back. She couldn't make herself pull away. As their lips met again, Aoshi pulled her down into bed with him.

As the kiss deepened, she slipped her hands under his robe and pressed them against his scarred chest, while he kept an arm around her waist and fumbled with the tied knot of her yukata.

Misao felt the front knot of her robe come loose as Aoshi pulled the fabric down her arms and off her body. Breaking the kiss abruptly, he moved down to her neck, tasting the soft skin.

Embedding her fingers in his soft black hair, Misao laid her head back onto the pillow, yielding willingly to desire, forgetting for once the night's uncertainties.

Misao opened her eyes slowly. She remained still, hesitant to move. Her head was resting against Aoshi's shoulder, listening to the sound of his heartbeat.

Fighting the urge to simply fall asleep beside him, she moved her head slightly to look behind her.

It's time. Misao glanced at the western clock that was hung at the far end of the room; 11:30. Everyone else in the Aoiya would be fast asleep by now.

Misao slowly pulled out of Aoshi's arms. She glanced at him to make sure he was still asleep. She brushed her hair out of her eyes and quietly pulled off the covers.

She rooted through their clothes on the floor for a moment to find her yukata. She put it on slowly, not in any real rush to leave.

When she had put it on, she looked back down at Aoshi. He was still asleep; the covers halfway up his bare chest.

A small ray of moonlight shone through a slit in the window, giving Aoshi's face and hair a silvery glow.

Misao felt a hard lump rise in her throat and tears sting at the corners of her eyes. She got to her knees and folded Aoshi's robe neatly, giving herself just a little more time in the room.

Why? Just after we finally know…Misao suppressed a sob, a few tears falling onto Aoshi's robe.

She placed his folded robe next to his futon, and got to her feet. As she left the room, she moved her fingers over her lips and down her arms, remembering the feel of Aoshi's kisses.

In her own room, she put on her ninja outfit and rebraided her hair. She took out a letter for everyone in the Aoiya to find in the morning. In it, she explained everything from Tsuna's death to Yone poisoning Aoshi, and their agreement to fight at midnight. She had left out the location and time, thinking it best in case the note was found before morning.

She folded the letter and placed it on the counter. Misao took a deep breath, and then left the Aoiya at a run.

Yone sat alone on the rocks by the cliffside. She glanced up at the sky. She glanced down at the river at the foot of the cliff. It would be quite a fall.

She took out a small pocket watch and looked at the time. 11:45. She tucked it away, and gazed at the moon, waiting.