IN PREVIOUS CHAPTER "SHOUJIRO PROTECTS MISAO": It was Akiyo's evil plan's failure that caused the stars to change and Okita's star was switched from Shoujiro's to Aoshi's. And Koshisho's star was switched from Aoshi's to Shoujiro's causing Misao to fall in love with Aoshi rather than with Shoujiro. Kenshin explains to Akiyo that the accursed heaven is in fact the true heaven of love. Meanwhile Shoujiro led Aoshi to a garden with wild flowers where they came face to face with Misao and Misao only responses to Shoujiro's presence.

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A WARRIOR'S DESTINY…

A LONG JOURNEY OF LOVE…

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By

DOADA

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Chapter Seven…

MISAO'S DECISION…

"As they got closer and closer to Misao, she grew brighter and brighter. As Misao saw them approach she only responded to Shoujiro's presence.

Shoujiro gets even closer to her and bended to be face to face distance from her. Misao looked into Shoujiro's eyes as he spoke, "The one you are waiting for is here" Misao's eyes widened as she heard those words and turned her head to look towards Aoshi.

She stood up and walked closer to Aoshi, now face to face with each other Misao's face brought up a sad expression as she does not recognize him. She hides her face in her hands and runs away from Aoshi into the mansion, trails of tears could be seen escaping their prison. Aoshi just stood there reacting to nothing.

Shoujiro approached Aoshi and said, "I expected her to react that way" to which Aoshi didn't respond either.

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Several days have passed, Aoshi and Misao had seen each other many times in these days but neither of them said a word to the other. "How long is this going to continue?" Sannosuke questioned 'I had enough of this… I am going to put an end to this' he decided.

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Sanosuke began to search for Misao whom he found in the same garden where Shoujiro revealed the truth about Aoshi to her. She was petting a rabbit again and Sanosuke went to her and as she responded, he sat next to her and asked, "Why aren't you talking to your Lord Aoshi? Don't you want to go back home?"

"I don't know what you are talking about?" was her answer.

"You still don't remember Aoshi or anyone?" Sanosuke asked quite shocked.

Misao got up from the bench and took Sanosuke's hand and began to force him to follow her. Sanosuke didn't resist and soon they were in front of Misao's bedroom. Misao opened the door to her room and pulled Sanosuke in.

Sanosuke was shocked to see her room it was nothing like what he has expected it to be.

Paintings, lots and lots of paintings, paintings of Aoshi in all shapes and forms.

"There hasn't been a day that I haven't seen that face but I don't know why I see them" Misao said quietly. 'So her memories weren't completely lost' Sanosuke thought and as the thought crossed over again he smiled.

Sanosuke walked out of the room and went directly to Aoshi. He dragged Aoshi just like Misao did to him to her room.

Aoshi was stunned to see all the paintings of him in the room. Misao was shocked to see Aoshi. "She hasn't forgotten about you yet" Sanosuke said to Aoshi and exited the room leaving them alone.

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After a while Aoshi came to the opening where Saito, Kenshin, Akiyo and Sanosuke along with Shoujiro sat sipping some tea and joined them. "Let's go back!!!" Aoshi said shocking the others. "What?" Saito asked. "Let's go back!!!" Aoshi repeated. "What about Miss Misao?" Kenshin asked kind of worried. "She's coming with us" Aoshi replied "I am kind of lost here. Mind filling me in" Saito asked Aoshi, who only said, "Misao has made her decision"

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End Of Chapter…

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Author's Note: Thank you for reading and the next chapter "Back to Kyoto" will be posted soon and it's the final chapter. Please review.