Maybe I'll train with Misao today, I think. I have not done so in a while. In my tea, a tea-leaf floats upright. It means good luck. Not that I believe in such things. But… I think I'll need all the luck I can get today, what with Seta and all.
I walk down the engawa, pulling my hair back and sliding my gloves on. Outside the door I stop, sensing something slightly… Off. I can hear the hollow sound of bamboo against bamboo, kiai and occasional laughs. It's Seta and Misao, I realize. Then there's a clack, an 'oof!' kind of a surprised squeak on Misao's part, a low laugh on Seta's and a soft thump. And then a nervous giggle from Misao and Seta's voice. "I'm not sure which one of us won here, Misao-chan." Misao-chan? Such familiarity. Unacceptable.
"O-oh, S-Soujiro-kun! That's not playing fair!"
That's when I slide open the door – and regret it deeply.
Misao's laying on her back, her shinai pressed against Seta's neck as he, over top of her, has his shinai against her chest. Misao has a slight blush on her cheeks and he's laughing a little. I don't think I've emphasized this enough; over top of her. Provocatively. His knees are on either side of her hips and his arm is bracing himself against the floor near her shoulder. I am ready to put my fist though the wall. Or through Seta's smirking face. The second option sounds better.
As I open the door they stop looking deeply into each other's eyes and giggling and turn to look at me, slightly guiltily. Before either of them can move I take my gloves off. "Pardon the interruption." Before I wipe all expression off my face I must have looked enraged, for Seta stops smiling and the two of them disengage from their… Positioning. Not allowing them time to say anything I slide the door shut sharply. "Please continue." I say. Damn, I must seem bitter. I fucking am bitter! Fuck this shit! Sending a few flowers isn't going to do anything. An annoyed growl escapes from my throat.
I go up to my room and change from my shozoku to a casual yukata. I do not go to lunch. Instead, I pass by the table where all of them sit – all except for Misao, I notice. Okina asks me where I'm going. "City." I say. "Unfinished business." He looks at me askance and Okon and Omasu exchange looks. I ignore them and leave.
The city has too many people and they all manage to annoy me, one way or another. Some are too loud, others too well-dressed, others still too meek-looking. People try selling things to me, but when they meet my eyes I glare at them. I know I am behaving like a child. Irrationally and immaturely. But I can't help wanting to punch things. The flower-seller from yesterday hails me. "Yo, Nii-san! Ya gonna buy some more flowers for that woman?"
"Who told you there was a woman?" I glare at him.
He shrugs. "In the Western language of flowers red tulips mean a confession of love."
I curse. That's too obvious. I should have chosen a different color. Wait. She doesn't even know they're from me. It doesn't matter. Speaking of which… "How much is everything?" I ask.
The flower-seller gives me a look. "You wanna make a bouquet with one of each flower in it? That'd make for an interesting bouquet but-"
"Everything." I repeat. "All the flowers you have on that cart. How much?" I am annoyed at having repeat myself, but the look on the man's face is priceless.
"That woman must be something." He mutters and names a price.
Oh, she is. She really is. Instead I say nothing.
***00***00***00***
I return to the Aoiya just before dinner-time, having made all the necessary preparations. As I take moderate mouthfuls of stew, I can feel Misao's gaze occasionally flicking to me over the edge of her bowl. After dinner, she approaches me. "Aoshi-sama… Can I… Talk to you?"
We step out into the garden. "What is it?"
"W-we were just training!" she says. "Soujiro-kun's not that kind of guy… I don't know how well you guys know each other from before, but he's almost like Himura now, and-"
I try to look very calm and mild. I probably fail, but I shake my head slightly. "Do not feel as if you have to explain yourself, Misao. I'm sure Seta is…" I try not to grind my teeth together. "…Very kind to you."
Misao looks at me and I have a feeling that what I just said was not, in fact, the thing to say. "Well he is." She says sharply, then turns, running outside. "Really kind!"
But as she steps towards the gates, I can hear a gasp. I feel smug. She runs back to me, looking a lot less angry than five seconds ago. "Look at this! Aoshi-sama!" I do my best not to smirk. She points and I look proudly at my handiwork. A pyramid of bouquets and a large sign. 'To Misao'.
"Oh." I say. "Who could have possibly done this." I say flatly.
"Who indeed, Aoshi-san?" It's Seta, wandering in from town. "Goodness, it would seem that this admirer is trying to knock out all of his competition, right, Misao-chan?" And he winks. At Misao. The nerve of this guy.
Misao giggles, meeting his eyes. It seems my plan has backfired. "To make space for all these bouquets in your room, you'll have to throw out the old ones." I say stiffly and turn.
I can hear the two of them talking. "Misao-chan, do you want me to help you carry all these to your room?" He just wants to be in Misao's room. Pervert.
"Aw, thanks, Soujiro-kun! I'm sure I won't have to throw out your flowers – I'll make space." Tomorrow I'm buying more. Then those goddamn white lilies will be thrown onto the street and trampled under the hooves of horses.
"How considerate, Misao-chan!" I can hear Seta exclaim. "Here, let me take that for you." She can carry them perfectly well by herself. They're flowers – not bricks.
"Oh no, really I can do it myself." Another giggle. "Well, if you insist." I want to destroy something. This backfired so badly.