I don't own Rurouni Kenshin.
" " Characters talking
** Characters thoughts.
Chapter 9: Calm after the Storm.
Misao came out of her bedroom, after she was calm, but mainly because she was hungry. Aoshi didn't want to make her angrier then she was, so he sat in the livingroom until she came out again.
"Are you feeling any better?" he asks
"No" said Misao.
"Do you want to eat something?" Aoshi asks
"Yes" she said
"Do you want to order Pizza?" he ask "or Chinese."
"No. I think Nancy left some Chick Noodles in the fridge" she said "would you like some"
"Is sound good. Do you want my help?" he said.
"I can do it my self" she said. And Aoshi could see in her eyes, that she was getting angry again.
"Im not saying you can't Misao." He said and smiles at her.
Misao wanted the day to be over, his present was making her very uncomfortable. Or maybe was that she was afraid, that something may happen between them, if he stays any longer. After eating Misao fell sleep in the sofa and Aoshi when back to work in his laptop. When she woke up, she felt the pain in her ribs and she took a deep breath and started to get up from the sofa. Aoshi on the other side of the livingroom he notices how slow she was moving, *she is in pain* he thought. He could feel the anger building up inside of him, *how could he do something so brutal* he though.
"I can tell you feel better" he said
"Yes I do feel better" she said. "What do mean you by "I can tell?"
He walks to where she was and he reaches to touch her face.. "Well you have more color in face." He said.
"Im going to my bedroom to fix my self up." She said moving from him as fasts she could.
When she came out of her bedroom Aoshi ask her if she wanted to eat something.
"I though you were going back to your apartment?" she said.
"Well, you though wrong." He said
"I feeling a lot better, you can go now if you want to" she said.
"No." he said.
"What do you mean by NO!.?" she said.
It means that I have no intention to leave you here alone" he said
"we have talk about this.... she didn't get to finish when Aoshi spoke again.
"And if you want to talk about it again, we will." He said.
"I don't have to go anywhere until tomorrow, and that door wont open an less I opened." She said
"That, doesn't change anything." He said
"You can't stay here." She said."
"Why not Misao?" You have an extra bedroom. Right?" he said.
*because probably I couldn't get any sleep knowing that you are in the next bedroom* she though
"An less, You want to share your bed with me." The irony in his voice was evident to Misao.
"Like that's ever going to happen" she said. "Alright then, the extra bedroom is at the end of the hall way. Im going to sleep."
"But you just got up." He said.
"Yeah, well just talking to you made me feel tired again." She said and walks to her bedroom.
Aoshi in the other hand, had a victory smile in his face, he really didn't think Misao would give up that easily. Later he went to the bedroom and Misao took a long hot bath and went back to sleep.
Misao runs, but she couldn't advance or she couldn't find a safe place either. It was dark, she didn't know where she was, all that she could tell was, that she was surrounded by trees and the grass was wet. Suddenly she had an image of Bryan attacking her. She trips and fell onto the ground, but she didn't feel any pain. She got up and started running away from him. Then like magic all the trees disappear and her surrounding change completely. The grass change, this time it was soft, she looks to the right side and she saw a house, it was estranged how she was able to find a place to hide from Bryan, it was like something or someone was offering to protect her from harm.
She runs to the house as fast as she could, and when she finally reaches the house, she open the door and she got in. but when she was about to close the door, Bryan push the door open. Misao scream and she push with all of her strength, but it wasn't enough Bryan was a lot stronger then her. She turns around and started running up the stairs, looking for a room to hide from him. He caught her, and grabs her by the shoulders before she could get into any room. All she could do was scream, when he was about to hit her, the scene fade it again and she funds her self in her bedroom, woken by a soft voice. The one holding her by her shoulder was not Bryan, but someone else.
*Aoshi? What's he doing here.?* she though
"You were having a nightmare." He said and Misao started crying, she could help it, even when she tries so hard not to cry since the incident. Aoshi put his arms around her and hold her until she was calm. "Would you like some water.?"
"Yes, please." She said. Aoshi went to get her a glass of water from the kitchen.
"Do you want to talk about it.?" he ask when he came back to the room.. And he looks at her straight in her eyes, then he look at her lips.
"No, I don't think I do." She says while sobbing
With his hand he touches the injury in her arm.
"Did he hit you often?" he ask setting beside her.
"Is it important?" she ask
"Yes, it is." He said. He raises his hand to touch the injury she had close to her mouth.
"I think. You better go now." She said.
"Do you want me to go.?" he ask and he lean to kiss her injury close to her mouth, eventually he move to her lips. And Misao felt something inside her crumble. At the moment all he was touching was her lips, but she felt lost and she wanted more, she wanted him, and all that he could give her. Reason was not an option anymore, and the consequences didn't matter either. He was able to destroy any defenses' she build around her, but not only her defenses but also he was able to destroy her will. He broke the kiss and he looks at her, he got up and stood beside her bed. Her first instinct was to throw him out of her room. But what was the use? He had already won. Slowly she raises her hands and felt him take them. The inner surfaces of her finger touching his thumbs caressing her knuckles and she heard him say:
"You have beautiful hands, so delicate and yet strong."
How could he do this to her? To resist him was not longer possible. She obeys his gentle pressure and she rose from her bed. Stepping to the floor to stand before him , her hands still held by his. Then he let go one of her hands, raising his, to push her hair from the side of her face. He runs his finger through her hair. Misao stood there trembling, unable to stop him, not wanting to.
He untied her rope, slid it from her shoulders and fell onto the floor. She saw in his eyes desire, admiration, even wonders in his eyes as he looked at her, and something else she was not sure about. Strangely she felt no embarrassment. He looks down at her, then he bends to kissed her, again surprising her. The kiss was gentle and his mouth was soft against hers. In a moment he raises his head from her, releasing her hair and she saw the line of his lips widen into a slight smile and he said.
"You are softer even than a imagine." "Much softer" he whispered at her ear, and move to see her face.
Slowly leaning his face onto hers, his mouth touching her lips gently against her tender surfaces. Then he raises his head and soft voice he said to her. "There is no one sweeter then you." and the kiss resumed gently at first, then firmer, deeper, their bodies coming together, and being clutched by arms, hands eager for the task. She heard him moan and felt sinking herself as well. Then she broke the kiss and ask him.
"Do we really want this beginning.?"
Aoshi looks at her for a moment and he smiles at her.
"Yes" how can he said no.
"Yes" she said. Then he try to find her mouth with his. She tries to resist him.
"Aoshi I've never......his mouth cover her and she couldn't say anything more. When he broke the kiss, Misao looked up him for a moment longer, breathing heavily. Then she pulled him down to her, her arms around him, holding him tight, she said, "I want it so Aoshi." She really wanted to tell him that she was afraid, that she he was the first to make her feel so extraordinary, and he was the first in every way, but she couldn't, and the only thing she could do was kisses him and gave her self to him.
"I know, I know" he said gently touching her face.
*do you really know? Or you think you know.?* she though and smile at him.
Nothing in his whole life had prepared him for her. Not all his years of bachelorhood, his occasional adventures with women. He was stunned, bewildered, then overwhelmed, carried with her beyond all reason and reserve, all thinking and knowing, even beyond sensation. Misao was like no other he had ever been with. She was like primeval force of natural unleashed, convulsive, almost volcanic.
Misao lay in his arms finally, spent, deliciously drowsy, her hand gently caressing his chest.
"You have a nice body" she said not believing she had said it.
He laughed. "Not as nice as yours"
Her hand went lower, down to his stomach. "Your skin is soft too." She said
"Not as soft as yours" he said extending his arm full across her, wanting to feel every bit of her skin. He lean his face onto her, and kissed her softly, he looks at her for a moment with amazement with wonder. Misao smile and said.
"I try to tell you." She said and she smiles at him. "But you wouldn't listen"
"So. Now is you who read minds.?" he said
"No Just yours. Because I know what you were thinking." She said
Aoshi put his arms around her and kiss the top of her head. Later both fell sleep.
It was early that morning when Misao woke up, she tries to move, but she couldn't, something was not letting her, rather someone. Then she remembers everything, the nightmare, the screams, and Aoshi, she remembers everything so clear..
"Don't move." He said.
Misao couldn't move when she heard his voice, and she stops breathing when he moves his hand to her waist and the other one to her shoulder.
"I have to get up. Please" she said.
Aoshi kissed her shoulder and then he moves to her neck. "Stay for a bit long."
"What happen last night.....
"A mistake? He said with a laugh
She close her eyes not answering. To her everything was a wonderful and she couldn't blame him for seducing her. She wanted him as much he wanted her. She turns around to see him.
"No" she said. And she notices how his lips curve into a smile.
"I love your honesty" he said.
"But...it can't happen again" she said
"I don't see why not" he said
"It just can't." He said and he kisses her shoulder.
"Mmm. No? He said.
Misao felt the heat in her veins. "Stop" she said with a pleading voice, but she new it was strong enough for him to stop.
He leaned his face into her and kissed her with all his passion. This time she was even sweeter, slower, less urgent, it was fill tender caresses, love words repeated, exquisite exploration drawn out and refined and shared.
They embrace each other for a moment. Both were adult, they didn't have any other relations, at least not her, and Aoshi would he have anybody waiting for him.? Would he be playing with her emotions, not to mention her heart as well.?
"No" he said touching her chin, forcing her to look at him. "No" he repeated
"No. What?" she said.
"I have a lot of female friends but I have never promise them anything." he said. And kiss her softly
"Im amazed how you can read minds." She said.
"Yours is not so hard to read." He said and he got up and went to the bathroom.
Misao had to come back to reality. Soon she needed to go to work, and what would happen with Aoshi? Would he go back home? Would he leave? She felt a pain in her hearth, just thinking that he would leave and she was not going to see him again made her heart ached. Aoshi came back to the room, he could see what she was thinking, he could clear any doubt she had, but to clear her regrets was another thing. He could see how she looks at him when he got close to the bed. *what is he going to do?* she though. Once again he surprises her. He took the cover from her and lift her in his arms.
"What are you doing.?" she ask
"We are going to take a bath?" he said and he stops her from saying anything with a kiss.
Just been with him in the water was wonderful, she knew she had to stop it, but she could bring her self to do so.
*how many days would they have.?" two, three..... she wanted to believe everything was one night stand, other wise would be stupid to think differently. Beside her life was already organized. She had her own business, her own apartment, friends, family. What else could she want? She wanted someone that she could trust, she wanted someone to protect her, she wanted someone she could laugh with, to hold but most important to love, but most she wanted someone to have family with., and she didn't want anybody, she wanted the men setting with her in the bathtub.
"Misao?"
"Oh! My God! It must be really late I have to go to the flower market" she said and she got up.
Aoshi holds her by the waist and Misao scream, when he set her back in the tub.
"I have to go" she said.
"No?" he said "you don't have to go any where."
"Aoshi" she said letting out a deep breath when he kisses her neck.
"Mmm. One more hour. Please. One more that all Im asking." He said.
It was about eight o'clock when both got in Aoshi's car, she set next to him. Minutes later they arrive at the Flower Shop. Misao got out the car and lean into window and she said. "Have a great day." she was going to kiss him in the chick but Aoshi move his head and he captures her lips. The kiss was deepened by Misao when she put one hand behind his head. When she let go she was lightly blushing. She said goodbye and when inside the store. Aoshi could see, she was feeling better, her eyes were no longer dark with fear, instead he saw calm and peace, and that's what he wanted for Misao, peace and calm, with a little bit of happiness.
Misao walks inside the Flower Shop, and before she could say Good Morning her sister scold her for been there.
"You shouldn't be here" Omasu protested "at lease not so early" then she looks at Misao for a moment "you look different" and she smiles.
Misao walks to the counter and set her purse on top.
"Im fine" she said
"Fine?, You look magnificent" Omasu clearly understood why Misoa looks so magnificent after all she was a women.
"A good night of sleep, can make miracles." she said.
"A night of love can make miracles too." said Omasu mischievously. "Ah ha! You turning red like a cherry tomato" It *Has to be Aoshi, that man was surprisingly good, he was able to destroy the wall Misao build around her to protect her self from getting hurt again, but if his playing with her feeling and her heart, I'll kill him.* she though. "well are you going to tell me.?"
"No." said Misao
"Spoil sport" she said "by the way, how are your injuries?"
"They'll disappear in a few days." said Misao
"More like one or two weeks. Shiro sent his personal body guards. They secured the Store and the surroundings."
"It that really necessary?" she ask.
"Ahh! Misao of course is necessary." She said
*Shiro had right to send the body guards to protect them. Specially Omasu, after all she was pregnant.
"Should we start working?" Misoa ask and Omasu only nod.
Aoshi called her at midmorning and in the afternoon, with just hearing his voice, made Misoa turn red and Omasu would laugh at her sister, she may be twenty-one but she still blushes like a fifteen year old.
During the day Misao couldn't stop thinking about Aoshi and what had happen between them. She had no regrets, whatever their lovemaking had meant for Aoshi and she was sure it had meant something, she had no regrets. She had heard from Bryan, not like she really wanted to hear from him. Probably his lawyer and the police had told him about the consequences if he bother her again. She curse her self for getting involve with a maniac like him. *How could she be so stupid?* se though.
Aoshi arrive at the Shop when it was time to close, and Misao heart skip a bit when she saw him come in.
He kiss her soft in her lips and ask her.
"How was your day.? A lot of work?"
"Yes. We had more orders then usually." said Misao
"And how are you doing.?" he ask
"Fine" she said. And he smile.
"Do you want to go eat?" he ask
"You don't have to do this." she said
"Invite you to dinner.?" he ask
"No, what I mean, is that you don't have to play the role of bodyguard." she said.
"Are you going to start again with the same thing.?"
"I don't want you to fell obligate just because we....
"We slept together.?
It not that they had slept together. It was that the night before, she had never been with someone, and she didn't want him to feel like he was obligated to her in anyway..
"So, do you want to start again.?" he said.
She sigh. "I suppose I do."
"Alright, then drive and we'll talk about during dinner." he said.
The restaurant had a nice view, soon would be night and the moon would came out. Their table was in front of the window, they order and when they were alone he said.
"Lets talk," he said looking at her. "My interest in you is personal and had nothing to do with been obligated just because you are Shiro's sister-in-law or because we slept together, or because I want to protect you from your exboyfriend. What do we had last night.? Just sex, without feeling anything for each other.?
"No" she said
The waiter brought their food and he fill their glasses. And they say thank you.
"I want to be with you. In your apartment or my, I don't care where" he said.
Misao's mouth was dry, she took a drink of water and before she could answer he spoke again.
"You think Im playing with you, using you and having a little bit a fun.?" he ask
*God! Help, he been to straight forward I wonder if his this way when his making business.* she though
"Which of the three Misao? Or you think all of them?" he ask
"I don't know. Whatever it is we don't have time to find out." she said. Almost shouting.
"No?" he said.
"Your life is in Japan, my is here in New York." she said and close her eyes for a second. "We can't have a relationship at lest not normal."
"Defined, normal relation.?" he ask
"You'll come to New York every time you have business to attend, I'll have to take a week vacations during the year just go see you, or perhaps would meet half way, and then what?"- She couldn't stop talking.- "would have sex and then we would say good bye at the airport with a kiss, I'll check my calender and your check your to see when we would be able to see each other again. Then you'll go back to Japan and I'll come back to New York. I hardly call that a normal relation." she said sarcasm in her voice.
There was complete silence for a moment which made Misao more nervous.
"Are you done?" he said.
"Yes" said Misao taking the fork and started to eat the food hadn't any favor to her right at that moment and she had to control her hand from shaking. She only had to look at Aoshi to know, after they had together , she'll never be the same but she didn't have the least intention to tell him that.
After dinner they order Te to drink but the conversation was for from over.
"I haven't Thank you" she said
"For what?" he said.
*for rescuing me from Bryan, for leaving everything and coming back to New York to see if I was alright.* she though.
"For making sure I OK," she said " is was kind fo you."
"Kind?"I don't thing you use the right word." he said.
"I hope my problems didn't interfere with your business" she said
"How Kind of you to worry" he said and laugh. "Im going back to Nevada to finish what I have left undone."
*I have to ask him.* she thought. "Are you coming back to New York?"
"Yes. I'll be back Saturday, and I'll be leaving Sunday night." he said
They only have two more days and he'll go back to Japan, to know he would be in her life after Sunday anymore cause her a great pain in her heart. Aoshi could read her expression, she did care about him, she just wasn't ready to admitted to him.
*That she know how beautiful she is? And how easy is to read her thoughts?* he thought
"Are you done?" he ask making sign for the waiter and paid for their check. Then he took her by her hand and walk out of the restaurant. "Where should a take you? Your apartment or my?"
"My, I need to get up at four thirty, I have to go to the Flower Market. And I need to get some sleep."
"Then will go to sleep" he said.
"I don't think.....
"We have talk about this. And if you really don't want to share your bed with me all you have to do is say so" he said.
Misao open her mouth but nothing came out, saying no to him would be saying no to her as well.
They got to Misao apartment, her cat welcome them, she feed and gave her water, then she said.
"Im going to take a shower"
Minutes later she was under the shower, just feeling the hot water made her feel comfortable. Suddenly she scream when the door of the shower open, and Aoshi got in with her. She didn't have time to say anything. He took her by her face and kiss her. A kiss that went straight to her heart.
"You shouldn't be here." she said
Aoshi leaned his face and he kiss her again, she lost track of the time, all she could feel was the heat from the kiss. When he broke the kiss, she rested her head in his chest, and he put his arm around her. she felt like nothing could touch her or hurt her. Then she pull away and she try to get out of the shower.
"Stay a little longer" he said. "Then I'll take you to bed. To sleep I promise."
Minutes later both had put on a ropes, Misao got in to bed and Aoshi follow her. He kissed her eyelids, her checks, then her mouth, his tongue parting her lips as he pull her close, and Misao felt her own passion rising.
"I though you say we were going to sleep." she said with a mischievously smile.
"We will" he said and kiss her again. And they kiss again drinking deeply of each other, and she carefully guided him into her, gasping with delight when their bodies joined. Afterward they lay in each other's arms until the alarm when off.
"Stay in bed" said Misao when she saw him get up.
"I'll make the te. While you get ready" he said.
While drinking the te, Misao couldn't stop looking at him, he wasn't wearing a shirt, his skin was creamy, and soft and his body was magnificent.
"Is there a problem.?" he ask
*how she fallen in love so quickly?* she thought. "I have to go"
"You haven't answer my question." he said.
*how can I tell you that Im going to miss you?. Or that my heart would be broken when you leave?.* she tough
"Thank you, for been here with me." she said and she saw her lips curve into a smile.
"I'll take to your car. Do you have a extra key to your apartment.? He ask
Misoa gave him the key so he can get in later. She got in the car and Aoshi kissed her gently and say good-bye.
I hope you like this chapter,
and I hope it not to much for you to handle. (Smile)
Thank you Hikaru for your nice review I hope you like this chapter. And good luck
with your story. I love the complete chapter 9.
Chapter 10: Aoshi proposal.
