Title : The Love that Exceeds Social Rank

Settings : Bakumatsu era. Misao, 18 years old. Aoshi, 28 years old.

Warnings: Pretty huge amount of OOCness

Summary: A love story of a princess and her ninja.

-Aoshi's dream-

"Mom!, Dad!"

The five years old Aoshi sat beside his parents as he screamed in panic.

Beneath their lifeless bodies there was a huge pool of blood.

"Makimachi sama, it looks like Shinomori's son has survived"

A middle age man with long beard reported to the elder man beside him.

"Move aside, Okina. I'll check on them"

Makimachi kneeled down and checked the bodies. He shook his head horizontally.

Okina frowned.

"Come with us, boy" Makimachi ordered as he pulled Aoshi's right arm.

"I'm not going to leave my parents here!. I shall take my revenge!"

The boy shook off Makimachi's hand. Tears welled up in both of his eyes as his body shuddered in fear.

"I'm sorry to tell you this, boy. But, I don't think you are strong enough to fight those bandits who killed your parents now" Makimachi continued.

Aoshi bit his lower lip anxiously trying his best to hold back his tears.

"If you want to be strong then you should come with us. Okashira will train you to be the strongest ninja" Okina explained as he tapped the boy's shoulder.

Aoshi fell in silence.

"It's up to you to choose whether you want to be stronger or just stay here forever drown in despair" Okina continued.

"I want to be the stronger" Aoshi murmured.

Makimachi smiled together with Okina.

"Bring Shinomori and his wife outside. We shall build their graves so their souls can rest in peace" Makimachi commanded his comrades.

-End of dream-

Misao was kneeling beside the wounded Aoshi when she noticed that he muttered something between his harsh breaths.

"Mo..m….Da…d"

She gasped when she heard him calling his parents. She took his left hand and wrapped it with both of her hands as she stared at him. He had several cut bruises and heavy stress from lack of sleep has caused his body to suffer from a high fever. He has been unconscious for two days. Misao found him unconscious beside a river near Edo castle when she was taking a break from her teacher's boring lecture. She has been taking care of him at her room. After dipping a small piece of cloth into a bucket of ice water Misao turned around and found Aoshi gazing blankly at her.

"Thank God you're awake" she showed a relief smile.

"How long have I been unconscious?" he asked wearily.

"Two days. Anyway, I'll be back with something warm for you to eat"

"Wait"

Misao was about to rise up from her seat when Aoshi grabbed her right arm.

"I'm Shinomori Aoshi, twenty six years old. Who are you?" he asked.

"Tokugawa Misao, sixteen years old" she answered briefly

His eyes widened in shock when he heard her name.

"Your highness" he bowed politely at her.

"Please, off with the courtesy. Just call me Misao" the princess smiled gracefully.

"M-Misao" he stated awkwardly.

"Yes, Aoshi sama?" she replied.

He gave her a confused look after hearing his name being called in a honorific form.

"I've been taught to respect the elder since I was a child" she added.

He started to stare at her from head to toe. Her shoulder length royal blue locks was loosened and she was wearing a green silk kimono with white lilies pattern engraved on it. She looked much younger than her actual age.

"Your highness, we have brought the chicken porridge you ordered"

A lady approximately twenty years old dressed in casual kimono opened the shoji door and placed a tray in front of her.

"Thank you, Omasu san. I'll take care of him myself so you may leave"

Misao took the tray with her and walked away. Omasu bowed deeply at her princess before she closed the shoji door slowly.

She kneeled down beside Aoshi and scooped a healthy amount of the chicken soup before she brought it in front of his mouth. He clumsily took a gulp of it. She showed him a smile of satisfaction before starting a conversation with him.

"You were calling your parents in your sleep" she said.

"They died during a riot and I managed to survive because I was practicing martial art at the forest nearby" he explained.

"I'm sorry to hear that. You must've been terribly shock" she frowned.

"Yes, indeed. I was lucky that the leader of the organization, Makimachi sama adopted me" he continued.

"So, are you living with that Makimachi sama now?" she asked.

"No, he died from syphilis a year ago. I'm living with his comrade now" he added.

"I see"

Misao scooped the last amount of the chicken porridge as she continued feeding him.

"Are you sure that you don't want some guards to guide you home?" Misao questioned the tall guy in front of her.

"It' s not necessary" he replied as he adjusted his ninja uniform.

"Can we… meet each other again?" she asked nervously.

"Only if we're destined" he answered firmly.

"Please take this with you so you'll remember me"

Misao took her golden hair ornament and handed it to Aoshi. He received it and put it inside his front pocket.

"Thank you for your hospitality"

The ninja bowed politely at Misao before disappearing between branches of trees.

"Farewell" she muttered before she averted her glance to the crescent moon glowing at the night sky up above her.

She was sure enough that she has never met the ninja before. However, somehow deep inside her heart she noticed that she was familiar with his green blue eyes.

Meanwhile, Aoshi who managed to reach his home stopped at a ragged hut on the mountain. He opened the door and walked in. He was welcomed by Okina's arm crushing hug.

"Aoshi!, thank God you're back!" the man with silver beard beamed cheerfully.

"I'm sorry to have worried you, Okina. It seemed like I lost my consciousness and fell onto a river near Edo castle after the battle with those bandits"

Aoshi changed his uniform into a casual light brown robe and sat in front of the fireplace after pushing Okina away from him.

"So, Aoshi. Have you made up your mind about the arrange marriage with Sanosuke's younger sister?" Okina asked as he placed a cup of hot green tea in front o f Aoshi.

"I've told Sagara on my way here that I refuse the offer" Aoshi replied plainly.

"Aoshi, you're twenty six years old. My wife gave birth to my second kid when I was at your age" Okina rubbed his temple distressfully.

"I'm still on a journey searching for the fairest flower on earth"

The younger man claimed as he took the teapot and poured some amount of hot green tea into his teacup.

"You've been saying the same thing since three years ago"

Aoshi did not give any reply. He silently sipped his tea.

Okina let out a heavy sigh.

"If only the three of them didn't get killed in the riot I would have been able to see my grandchildren now. You and Makimachi sama's granddaughter are my precious treasures. Too bad I had to let her adopted by the Tokugawa clan"

The old man stared at the ceiling with glassy eyes.

Aoshi dropped his teacup to the floor.

"Aoshi?" Okina asked with a confounded tone.

"Sorry, I think I was just too tired" Aoshi murmured.

"Go get some sleep. You look as pale as a sheet" Okina concluded.

Aoshi nodded before he pulled the thin blanket to cover his body and started to recall the memory of his past. He was ten years old when Makimachi's wife gave birth to a baby girl. After the baby's parents died from the uncured disease, he was responsible to take care of her together with Okina. He changed her dipper, sang her some good night lullabies and so on so forth.

The baby girl was ten months old when a shogun from Tokugawa clan who accidentally saw her during his visit to the nearest Shinto Shrine said that he would like to adopt her. At that time, Aoshi was just finished selling some umbrellas he and Okina made for their extra income when he saw several guards standing in front of their hut. Okina was handing the baby girl to the shogun and he remembered that the baby cried out loud when he called her name.

He was finally convinced that the princess he met was the baby girl he took care of.

A week later

Aoshi just came back from fetching some fresh water from the nearest waterfall when he saw a girl wearing blue color summertime casual wear in front of his hut. He was about to greet her when she turned back facing him.

"Good morning, Aoshi sama" Misao saluted him.

"You're not supposed to come here" Aoshi replied coldly.

"I have the right to visit any place I want to" she poked out her tongue.

"Aoshi!, what took you so…."

Okina stopped talking when he was face to face with the stranger girl.

"Good morning" Misao bowed politely.

"Misao!" Okina rushed his way and grabbed both of her shoulders.

"Excuse me, Sir. Have we met before?"

She was fuddled with the old man's sudden action.

"My apologies, your highness. I shall explain everything to you inside the hut"

Okina bowed at the princess.

"No problem" Misao replied as she followed Okina to the hut.

Misao stared at the hut interiors from corner to corner. It was surprisingly neat despite the old furniture at the surroundings.

"Please forgive my rudeness. This is the best cushion we have in the house. In case you prefer a better cushion to rest your feet you can use Aoshi's lap" Okina grinned.

The old man was answered directly by a deathliest glare of Japan's scariest ninja boy, Shinomori Aoshi.

Misao chuckled before slowly resting her knees on the cushion.

"Are you ready?" Okina asked.

Misao nodded promptly.

The old ninja took a deep breath before he started to tell the whole story. It took him approximately an hour to finish the story.

"I see. So, the two of you were taking care of me when I was a baby"

Misao glanced at both men sitting in front of her.

"We are sorry that we could not prevent the death of your parents" Okina frowned.

"My parent's death was unavoidable and I believe even a famous doctor won't be able to cure them. Above all, I owe the two of you my life"

Misao placed her hands in front of her knees and bowed as deep as she could.

"Please raise up, your highness. It's an honor for both of us to be given a chance to take care of you"

Okina smiled as he helped Misao back to her sitting position.

"Thank you, Okina san" Misao said as both of her eyes welled up in tears.

"Aoshi" Okina called.

The twenty six years old ninja lost in his own thought was brought back forcefully to reality.

"Go get yourself a new casual summer wear and guide the princess around the town. You look like a beggar in that robe"

Okina commanded handed Aoshi some amount of money.

Aoshi gave Okina a look of doubt then averted his glance to Misao.

"Don't worry. No one outside the castle except you and Okina san know who I am" she winked.

"So, where do you want to go?" Aoshi asked lazily.

"The clothing store of course. You need to get a new summer wear" she answered.

"Okina told me to be your guide so you're the first priority here"

"Well, for your information my first priority is to get you a new summer wear" she summarized.

Aoshi held his breath when he realized that starting a debate with a stubborn princess isn't a good idea.

They entered the nearest clothing store and Misao noticed all girls blushed when they saw Aoshi. Some of them even drooled at him. She found it so funny that she ought to seal her mouth with both hands to prevent herself from laughing like a mad female hyena.

"Excuse me, Sir. Do you have any summer wear that fits the gentleman here?" Misao asked the middle aged shop owner politely.

"Sure. You'll find them there"

The owner pointed some summer wears at the corner of the shop.

"Thank you" Misao smiled before dragging Aoshi along with her.

She took a high budget black summer wear with a pair of golden dragon embroidered on it.

"I can't afford that" Aoshi protested after he counted the money Okina gave him.

"My treat" Misao replied with a glee as she showed her hand bag that full of gold.

"But…"

"Don't 'but' me, Aoshi sama. Go get change while I take care of the payment"

She pushed him into the changing room and ran toward the owner to pay the clothes.

In less than half an hour Aoshi came out from the changing room and he was rewarded with flying kisses from some geishas passing by the shop.

"You look awesome, boy!. Take these new wooden sleepers with you for free and I'll take care of your old ones"

The owner handed Aoshi a new pair of wooden sleeper and took the old ones away.

"Thank you, Sir" Aoshi said awkwardly.

"Let's go get some dumplings, Aoshi sama. Today is moon-viewing day"

Misao pulled Aoshi's right arm cheerfully.

"Hey, Shinomori!"

Aoshi turned to the caller and found a twenty years old guy with rooster-like hair style.

"Who is he?" Misao asked curiously.

"Sagara Sanosuke, my childhood friend" Aoshi answered.

"So, this chick is the reason why you refuse the offer of arrange marriage with my sister" Sanosuke said as he stared at Misao from head to toe.

"She has nothing to do with that" Aoshi replied promptly.

"I'm sure that you'll regret your decision in the future, mate. My sister is much prettier than that weasel chick of yours" Sanosuke claimed before he left the spot.

"What a rude guy" Misao grunted as she sent daggers to the rooster head's back by her look.

"You should go home before your father starts to worry and sends his troops to pick you up" Aoshi advised.

"I've commanded one of my servants to disguise so he won't notice"

Misao chewed her dumplings as she stared at the full moon above.

"Anyway, I didn't know that a princess is educated to climb a rooftop"

Aoshi replied before he stabbed his toothpick at the dumplings and brought it to his mouth.

"For your information, I learned climbing by myself and I hate to do girly things those teachers in the castle taught me" she stated.

"I can see that you're off with girly things from your clothes"

"Hey!, are you mocking me?" she placed a hand on her waist.

"Not at all" he responded calmly.

She let out a heavy sigh before started to stare secretly at the man sitting beside her. His long raven hair was tied neatly in a high pony tail and everything about his face was so perfect that she has no doubt God has spent an extra time while creating him.

If only he could smile more often, she thought.

"Aoshi sama" she called him after a while.

"What?"

"Do you believe in love at the first sight?"

Aoshi nearly chocked when he heard her words.

"Why are you asking that?" he asked back.

"Because, I think that I'm in love with you" she uttered with a low voice.

Some several of pink dots appeared on both of her cheeks.

Aoshi was dumbstruck that he couldn't give her any reply. He must admit that he noticed some kind of odd feeling at their first encounter. However, he has no idea whether it was love.

"Mind your social rank, princess. You can't get married with a commoners like me" he answered coldly.

"I'm an adopted princess, Aoshi sama. My actual social rank is a commoner" she fought back.

"I don't think the shogun will be happy when he found out" he continued.

"I have the right to decide my future" Misao claimed.

"I've been killing bandits since I was thirteen. Aren't you afraid of me?" he glared at her.

"My foster father has also killed people during the civil war and I'm not scared of him" she fought back.

"You deserve a better guy and the guy is definitely not me" he declared.

"Are you telling me that you don't see me as an adult woman since you were the one who took care of me when I was a newborn baby?" she raged as she rose up from her seat.

He was about to give his reply when all of sudden she lost her balance and fell from the roof.

"Misao!" he screamed out loud as he caught her on the wrist and embraced her.

However, his feet slipped from the roof causing him to fall along with her. Fortunately, both of them managed to fall on the soft grass with Misao on top of Aoshi.

Ice blue eyes stared at green blue eyes for a moment that seemed like eternity.

She leaned forward as she planted her lips gently on his. His eyes were remained opened since her kiss was out of his expectation. She broke the kiss and stood up with her back facing him. Still in a shock state, he slowly brought his body to a sitting position before tracing his lips with two fingers.

"See you again soon, Aoshi sama" Misao bid him farewell before she left the place.

Two days later

"I'm home" Misao said weakly when she reached her room.

Her body was sweaty since she was doing horseback riding around the castle for God knows how long that it was already dark when she realized.

"Welcome home, Misao sama" Ochika her servant greeted her with glee.

Misao grabbed the nearest wet towel and started to clean her face before she changed into her sleeping robe.

"Ochika san"

"Yes, Misao sama?"

"Do I sound like a total idiot if I told you that I've fallen in love at the first sight" Misao asked warily.

Ochika fell in silence for a while but soon her lips formed a happy smile on her face.

"So, that's the reason why you were staring blankly at the garden every night this whole week"

"What do you mean?" Misao raised an eyebrow.

"Misao sama, I've been taking care of you since you came to the castle. Although you are a cheerful girl sometimes I caught a glimpse of loneliness in your eyes. But now it seemed like you have found the missing pieces, haven't you?"

Ochika gently brushed the princess long hair and braided it neatly.

"What if he doesn't have the same feeling?" Misao frowned.

"I don't think any man will dare to ignore such a beautiful princess"

"But, I hate doing girly stuffs and I bet every man prefers a feminine girl"

"I don't think so. You just worry too much" Ochika smiled.

"Misao" a baritone voice echoed from the entrance door.

"F-Father?" Misao squeaked like a panic mouse.

"Can I come in?" the voice asked.

In a speed of light Ochika handed Misao a red coat to cover her sleeping robe.

"Yes, father" Misao replied after she managed to equip the coat on her.

The shoji door slid opened and the middle age shogun walked in. Misao and Ochika bowed as low as they could.

"I have come to introduce your new bodyguard"

"A bodyguard?" Misao asked confusedly as she stared at her father.

"Well, I've been hearing rumors that my tomboy daughter managed to explore the nearby city on her own" the shogun smirked.

Misao looked away to hide her guilty looking face.

"You may come in, boy"

"Yes, your majesty"

Misao doubted her ears when she heard the familiar voice. She turned her gaze to the entrance door and found a tall man dressed in ninja uniform staring straight back at her.

"A-Aoshi sama" she gawked.

"So, you know each other. That's surprising" the shogun continued.

"The princess took care of me when I was wounded, your majesty" Aoshi explained.

"I see. Ochika, let's give them some privacy so they can have some chit chat"

"Yes, your majesty" Ochika bowed before she followed him to the exit door.

Silence filled the air and it was Misao who broke it.

"So, would you tell me your motive of becoming my bodyguard?"

"Extra income" he answered shortly.

"Don't worry about that. You'll get a lot of them in no time" she replied with an irritated tone before she left the spot.

He caught her wrist and pinned her to the wall behind.

"How could you be so dense?" he murmured.

She was about to answer him when suddenly she felt something soft pressing her lips obsessively. She felt her legs weakened as if they were made from some sort of jelly.

"A-Aoshi…sama…" she uttered when he broke the kiss.

He slipped his hand inside the front pocket of his uniform and drew out a wooden hair ornament.

"For you" he said as he handed it to her.

"Thank you" she replied clumsily.

"That's the best I could afford. I'll get you a better one in the future" he summarized before he left her room.

Misao stared at the hair ornaments as she recalled what just happened. In contrast with his strong grip on her wrist, his kiss was a soft as a cotton candy.

"I want some more arrowroot cake, Aoshi sama"

Misao claimed childishly as she handed Aoshi the empty plate.

"That'll be your third plate"

Aoshi let out a big sigh before he stood up to get some more from the nearest tea shop.

Misao opened her hand bag and pulled out the hair ornament Aoshi gave her. She removed her previous hair ornament and was about to equip it when a crow took it away from her.

"Hey wait!" she said as she chased the bird.

The crow stopped at a tree branch and put the hair ornaments inside its nest before it flew away.

"If you think that a princess can't climb a tree then you're totally mistaken, Mister Crow"

Misao showed a huge grin before she started to climb the tree. Slowly she proceeded to the nest and grabbed her target. She was about to make her way back when the branch suddenly broke and she fell to the lake underneath. She got panicked since she doesn't know how to swim. She was about to drown when she felt a strong arm circling her waist and lifted her to the surface.

"Misao!, are you alright?"

She opened her eyes when she heard his voice. She nodded as she clung to his neck to keep her balance.

Aoshi rushed his way home and he was lucky that Okina was not in the house. He placed her on the floor and hastily opened the nearest cabinet in search of hot towel and some casual wear.

"Wear that before you catch a cold" he said as he handed her a grey bath robe with flower pattern.

He faced his back to her so she could change comfortably. Misao immediately changed her soaked kimono and put the bath robe on.

"I'm done" she said after a while.

"Please excuse me then"

Aoshi started to remove his clothes and Misao blushed when she caught the sight of his muscular chest that was full of bruises. She hastily averted her gaze to hide her blushing face.

"I'm sorry. I was just afraid to lose the hair ornament you gave me since it is my one and only treasure" she apologized.

"I believe that you have more valuable treasures in the castle"

Aoshi stated as he sat in front of her.

"Nothing could match the value of a gift from the person you love"

He was stunned by her words.

"Aoshi sama, I love you and I want you" she pleaded as she grabbed both of his arms.

"I'm a sinner, Misao. You'll regret your decision" he stated firmly.

"Then allow me to help you wash those sins away" she insisted.

"Once a sinner, forever a sinner. You can't change the fact"

"I believe that every one deserves a second chance to be a better person" she concluded.

Green blue eyes stared at ice blue eyes for a moment that seemed like ages.

"Misao…" he called her.

"Make me yours" she said before leaning to his chest.

He tilted her chin up before sealing her lips with his.

"Do you love me, Aoshi sama?" she re-confirmed after they broke the kiss.

"Aa" Aoshi replied before he moved forward to ravish her luscious lips again.

He finally realized that she was the fairest flower he has been searching for all the years.

Censored

The next morning Aoshi woke up when he heard the voice of people fighting outside.

"Misao, wake up" he whispered as he shook the girl who slept beside him.

"What is it?" she replied sleepily.

"Something bad is going on outside. We should leave this place in a hurry"

He handed her the kimono she wore the day before and grabbed his ninja uniform. Misao immediately get change and adjusted the length of her kimono so she could move easier. Aoshi's eyes widened in surprise when he saw her pulling out some kunais from her hand bag.

"Don't underestimate me, bodyguard. I'm a well trained princess" she smirked.

Aoshi smiled before he took out his sword and opened the front door.

"A princess and her ninja. What a coincidence"

A man covered in bandages with a long sword on his right hand showed an evil smile. Behind him there were approximately ten swordsmen on horse.

"Shishio Makoto!" Aoshi hissed.

"But, that evil man was supposed to be sentenced to death two years ago" Misao said.

"For your information I was sentenced to death, missy. However, it looks like the hell wasn't ready to accept me that I managed to escape from the prison though I have to deal with these burn injuries as the consequence" Shishio replied proudly.

"My father will get rid of you in no time" Misao glared at her opponent.

"Oh!, I forgot to tell you that your father is a dead man"

Shishio threw a grey silk kimono covered in blood to the ground.

"No…it…can't be…." Misao shuddered at the fact.

"Your old man was begging me on both knees to spare your life. How pathetic!"

Shishio laughed out loud.

"You're the one who's pathetic, Shishio. You've come to dig your own grave"

Okina who was dressed in dark blue ninja uniform walked toward the mummy-like man.

"Kashiwazaki Nenji, it's been a while since I challenged you on a duel" Shishio greeted the old man.

"Aoshi, bring the princess with you and run as far as you could" Okina commanded.

"But, what about you?" Aoshi protested.

"Don't underestimate the power of this old soldier, boy. Now leave!" Okina screamed out loud before he pulled out his tongfa and attacked Shishio.

Aoshi hastily pulled Misao's hand and ran as fast as he could toward the forest.

"Hold it right there!" said one of the swordsman as he threw some shurikens toward the couple.

Aoshi swung his sword causing the pieces of metal hitting the hard ground.

"Let me handle those swordsmen, Shinomori. It's a perfect way to get rid of boredom"

Sanosuke smirked as he clenched both of his fists.

"Thanks, Sagara!" Aoshi moved his gaze to his childhood friend.

"Never ming. Anyway, have a nice journey, weasel princess" the fighter winked at Misao.

Several years later

"Mom!, Dad!"

The five years old boy stormed into the living room.

"What's wrong, Haru?" Misao asked as she placed her cup of tea back to the table.

"I met two men on my way back from the clothes shop and they were asking about both of you"

The little Shinomori who looks just like his father reported.

"How did they look like?" Aoshi added.

"The one is an old man with silver beard and the other is a young man with rooster-like hairstyle"

Aoshi and Misao exchanged look at each other.

"Let's go and take a look"

Misao lifted Haru up before she ran to the exit door followed by Aoshi.

"Misao!, Aoshi!"

Aoshi let out a relief sigh while Misao shed her tears of happiness when they saw two figures of men waving their hands while calling their name.

The End

Author's Note: Phew!, that was long (^^;). This fanfic is completed at last (^o^)b. Thank you all for reading (^-^). I wouldn't have made it this far without your support (*^-^*). Critics, comments, grammar indication, suggestions, anything you want to tell me just click the review button and write'em there (^_-)b

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