Chapter XXVI – Runaway.
I don't own Ruroni Kenshin characters, ok? (Although I wish to death I could own Aoshi...) I am not making money with them. And you already know all the craziness and the works...
OBS: The sentences into quotation marks refer to the characters speech. (You also know this, right???? Larissa no baka!)
XxXxXxXx
Megumi was panting heavily into the clinic room. To be far from him, she decided to go to the anteroom and let the clinic room locked.
"You stupid woman!!!"
She was really angry with herself. Her promise was almost gone. Almost.
"Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!!!"
She heard the absolute silence. Trying to avoid that piercing silence, she started pulling and pushing furniture, throwing things on the floor, dealing with paper. Only to make a very big noise and be far away from his silence. When there was nothing left to be thrown and she was in the middle of a big mess, she sat on a corner of the anteroom and pulled her knees very close to her body. She put both hands on her ears. She didn't want to hear him. She didn't want to hear his silence. She didn't want to hear her own voice telling she loved him; telling she wanted him so much. Telling it was very easy for him to hurt her again and again as much as it pleased him. Telling she was afraid and weak against those blue eyes.
Megumi shut her eyes and narrowed them to the most. She had a painful and anguished semblance.
"Oh, Kami-sama... it's so hard. It's going to be so hard if he remains here!"
When she managed to open her eyes, she saw she was in complete darkness. For a moment, she panicked.
"Where would the lantern be?"
She searched for it in the dark, her hands touching everything around. She was crawling in the dark, hitting her body on the messed things on the floor. Finally, she found it and lit it.
Megumi's dark eyes gazed the messy anteroom. As messed up as her own thoughts, her own feelings. The silence was filled with the chirping of insects and the steps on the streets.
She had a whole room to fix again. It would surely take long. She smiled when she thought of that. It'd surely keep her much time away from him.
XxX
It was already dark. Aoshi's eyes roamed on the room. There were hours she was locked there and he didn't dare to call her or enter the clinic room. First, she was making much noise. Now, everything was calm. He wondered if she had fallen asleep inside. Or maybe she could have fainted.
"Should I break in?"
"Should I break in?"
He was sat on the bed, torso bowed, his elbows on his knees, his hands pending. There was a lantern lit. The smell of new clean bedclothes was in the air. He felt he was waiting for something. Something. What? Someone. Who? A reason. Why? Here. Now.
He pulled his watch. 8:40. She was taking long. His eyes looked all around again. He threw his body against the soft mattress. It seemed to enfold his body carefully. He stretched his hand and touched a clean yukata he had taken for her. The bath he had prepared was just cold in the bathtub now.
The tea should have already turned to ice. So should have the food. His fingers closed when he touched the thin fabric. It had now many wrinkles around his fingers. He gently pulled it near. It smelled good. Just like her. His eyes were once again focused on an imaginary spot on the ceiling. Everything around bore nighttime darkness.
Aoshi tried to understand what took place that afternoon. The way they were both pushed to each other. Instinctively. The way they were playing that game. The way he felt. The way she smirked and the hot light into her eyes. They way she ran from him when he touched her.
And he remembered more. Her words to Kaoru-san would not leave his mind. The happy look and smile he saw on her face when she got near that cradle. And the way she drank wine, for sure. Takani Megumi.
He had been lost into his thoughts. He pulled his watch again and got pretty amused to see it was already almost 10 pm. Her yukata still lingered under his fingers. He stood up and stretched the bedclothes. Then, he walked silently to the clinic room.
XxX
After organizing the mess, Megumi felt very tired. The lantern was fading to an orange light. She was not hungry but she knew she needed a bath. But she'd have to see him and she didn't want that. She was truly running away from him.
"What if I spend the night here in the clinic?"
That was a serious possibility. She went to the same corner she had been before. She sat there once again but this time her legs were stretched for she let the tie of her kimono looser. Her fingers brushed her black hair carefully.
It was so silent. So silent. And her eyes were getting heavy. She tried to fight sleep but everything was getting heavier very quickly. In no time, her eyes were downcast and she was breathing slowly. The light of the lantern extinguished.
XxX
Aoshi knocked on the clinic room and waited. No answer from inside.
"Megumi."
There was only silence.
"Megumi. Just tell me if you're ok."
"..."
He tried to open the door. It was locked. He knocked with more strength and called her louder.
"Megumi. Are you ok?"
No reply.
He looked around.
Finally, he turned to the door and said:
"You give me no choice but to break in there."
Still, she didn't answer.
He took some distance and threw his shoulder against the door. It opened.
Aoshi found himself in the middle of complete darkness. With a lantern on his hands, he saw Megumi was not in t he clinic room.
"I can't believe she left." he shook his head.
But the anteroom door was also closed, not locked though. He opened it and it was also dark. But he saw a figure sat by the corner of the room. It was Megumi. He walked slowly to her, the lantern on his hands. He bent and saw her eyes were closed.
"What if she fainted again?" his heart started beating faster.
He stretched his hand under her chin and lifted it. Normal breath, normal body temperature.
"Maybe she just fell asleep. I'm going to take her to bed."
Before taking her in his arms, Aoshi lit the lanterns around. Only then, he returned to her and got her in his arms.
Her face was livid and beautiful although a brow was furrowed. Her kimono tie was loose and he was careful not to let it get looser and open.
He walked with her in his arms and placed her on the bed. That kimono would be too uncomfortable for her to sleep and he decided to wake her up at least to change her clothes. He wouldn't do that. He was ashamed.
"Megumi." He called and shook her slightly.
"Megumi, wake up." he continued shaking her.
After repeating the process three times, he saw her dark eyes opening little by little right before his own eyes.
Getting conscious, Megumi saw she was with him. She widened her eyes.
"A... Aoshi-san!" she almost jumped.
"Calm down." He said patiently. "I just woke you up for you to change your clothes."
She looked around.
"Where am I?"
"At your own room."
She looked down and saw she was not in the futon but in the bed she had seen that same afternoon.
"Oh, they already delivered it."
Aoshi nodded.
She moved her body back, going far from Aoshi's arms. She was a bit dizzy.
"I... I... need to... take a bath."
"Aren't you hungry?"
"No!" she said quickly. She couldn't even thing of food.
Megumi tried to leave the bed but her legs seemed to go weaker. Aoshi held her arm.
"Wait. I had already prepared your bath but it's very cold now. I'll heat up water again."
"Thank you."
He slid his body out of the bed and went outside the room.
"Damn." She thought. "I should have stayed at the clinic room..."
She heard him dealing with water.
"But why on Earth did he have to take me out of there?"
Megumi looked around and saw a clean sleeping yukata. He had probably taken it for her.
Her mind was blank. She was just looking at her feet, holding the white yukata. Some minutes later, Aoshi showed up by the door.
"I'm done."
She thanked him and entered the bathroom.
Megumi dove her body in the hot water.
"Hum... relaxing!" she smiled while dropping some oil essence into the water.
It should be late, but she didn't mind washing her hair. It was so good to be into the bathtub. Surely, it was one of her favorite things. She kept her body immersed into the water until it ran cold. Then, she got the clean towel and dried her body, dressed the white sleeping yukata and opened the bathroom door.
She walked slowly to the bedroom and noticed Aoshi was in the kitchen drinking tea, most probably. She brushed her hair and rubbed the towel on it, trying to make it drier.
Suddenly, a taste came to her mouth and she felt an extremely big will of having it. Idly, she let the towel alone and rushed to the kitchen. Aoshi opened his eyes because of her presence. But she didn't look at him. Her hands went to the cupboard, she seemed to be looking for something really eagerly.
"Do you want some tea?" Aoshi asked coolly.
She didn't turn his head to him.
"Tea?"she laughed her kitsune laugh and shook her head vigorously making the black strands dance. "No way!"
"Water?"
She smirked without looking at him.
Suddenly, his eyes could not believe that.
"Sake!!!" she had a big grin on her face.
Megumi came and sat near him, pouring sake into the cup.
"I won't offer you cause I know you don't drink."
She drank it at once and filled it again.
Aoshi raised his brows in amusement.
"But I see you do."
She grinned and had another cup. The taste was nice and she had craved for it.
"And it's too much."
He didn't know what was going on with her. She had given up on the cup and was chugging right out of the bottle.
That made him the most amused he could be. He never thought he'd live to see Megumi, a fine mannered woman doing that. It would perfectly fit Sagara or Hiko but not her.
In a quick move, Aoshi stood up and got the bottle out of her hands.
She blinked many times to make sure the bottle had really disappeared. Looking at her side, she saw Aoshi holding the bottle. His face bore cold hardened features.
"Hum.... Aoshi-sama... very bad boy you are..." she said in a rather childish voice.
"Enough, Megumi. You already had alcoholic beverage today."
"Hum..." she moaned and sighed.
He didn't mind her begging look at him.
"No. It's time to go to sleep or you will start looking like a hermit we all know."
She frowned.
"Are you thinking you're dealing with Misao?" she immediately raised a brow in defy.
He kept himself cool.
"I know I am not. I am dealing with a stubborn doctor. Misao knows how to take orders better that you do."
"Who's stubborn here, uh? And here there is no Oniwabanshuu for you to give orders."
It was his turn to raise his brown and look coldly at her.
"Humph! Leave me be, Aoshi!" she tried to reach out for the bottle.
"I'll leave you be forever when you're healthy and in conditions to stand up for yourself. And that's not the case now, so I'll watch over you as I promised."
Megumi first groaned and Aoshi was expecting any sort of attack or fight back.
She rose to her feet and crossed her arms on the chest.
"Oi, oi..."Megumi sighed. "Right, Okashira. As you wish, Okashira..." she said with an angry tone.
Megumi walked angrily to her room.
Aoshi found himself thinking if he should throw that bottle away or just keep it in its place again. He decided to put it right on place for it was completely empty. After that, he put out the light and walked to the meditation room. He dressed his sleeping yukata and was going to close the door, but he decided to peer outside instead.
Megumi's room was had lights on and the door was closed. Aoshi imagined she could be doing something out of her character again. Without an excuse, he opened the door and she found her sat on the mattress. She didn't turn her face to look at him.
Aoshi realized she was very blushed.
"Won't you dry your hair?"
"No." she answered abruptly.
He came in the room and got the towel. He placed himself behind her and started rubbing the towel on her head.
"Hey! What are you doing?"
"I am drying your hair, of course."
"Okashira..."she said in an annoyed way.
She sighed. But it didn't bother him. Sometimes he'd brush his hands against her cheek and feel they were really hot. Some minutes later, he realized she had her eyes closed.
He shook his own head and he could almost laugh on the scene if he had that much humor inside.
Her body was swinging back and forth and it only didn't fall on the bed because he was right behind her. But she totally lost control of it and she fell against him. He had his arms up, he didn't know what to do. Her hair was almost dry, so she decided to lie her down and cover her.
Carefully, he laid her down, arranging the pillows to make her comfortable. Then, he pulled the blanket to cover half of her body. Aoshi lingered some seconds there, standing right beside her. Her face was pink and warm.
"Sake..." he sighed.
He had turned around and stepped forth to leave the room when something stopped him. He looked behind and saw her eyes were half opened, her hand grabbing hold of his wrist.
"Where are you going?"
"To the meditation room."
She frowned without letting go of his wrist.
"I know I shouldn't but..." she thought to herself, her heart pumping strong.
He was standing still, looking down at her.
"Stay with here with me."
He closed his eyes and sighed.
She leaned herself against the head of the bed. She didn't release him.
"Megumi, I don't think it's..."
"Don't think. Just stay. Please." She tightened her grip.
He could easily put her apart and twist her frail arm but he let himself be caught. Slowly, he went down to the bed and lied beside her.
Aoshi felt the inebriating smell of her dark hair. One lock was just going his direction.
Megumi smiled and laid her dark eyes on his blue ones until she fell asleep. Smiling.
XxXxXxXxXx
It was only four thirty a.m. but Misao was already up. In fact, she hadn't managed to get to sleep not even a second. She was sat on her futon in upright position just looking to the clock.
It was already the eighth day of spring. Her Aoshi-sama would be arriving soon.
She had already checked his room many times to check if everything was in order and she had already made everybody at Aoiya crazy for asking thousand times where they had kept Aoshi-sama's favorite teacup and the works.
The girl rose to her feet once again and checked on her braid for the tenth time in less than one hour. It was bound. Everything was in place. Her big jade eyes were vividly running the walls of her room. The train was supposed to arrive at seven am. Two hours and a half of deep agony ahead. But she'd have a whole day and many more of pure delight, so it was worthwhile.
The clock was ticking on lazily. Misao eyes were very wide. Her fingers were tapping her legs and she didn't know what to do anymore. She could not eat, she was so nervous her stomach could not accept food at all. Misao walked from one side to the other, her long braid swinging, arms folded behind her back, fingers twisting each other.
Omasu twisted on her futon furiously. She tossed and turned, put her hands on her ears but she couldn't sleep also. Misao 's steps were annoying her in such a way. After struggling her will of killing the girl, she decided to leave bed and go to Misao's room. She glanced Okon who, on the other hands, was sleeping like a stone. Omasu walked to Misao's room and opened the door. The girl didn't notice her presence and continued stepping heavily.
"What the hell is this at this time, Misao?"
Distractedly, Misao eyed Omasu on the doorway.
"Uh? What?"
"This coming and going of yours! It's been hours I am trying to sleep but I simply can't!"
"Oh, Omasu, so join me! I can't sleep either!"
Omasu fumed.
"But I can't sleep because of YOU!!! Would you please be a good child and rest your head to sleep this last hours of dawn?"
Misao smiled timidly.
"I am sorry, but I can't sleep! I tried hard enough." She eyed the clock. Fifteen to six. "Aoshi-sama is coming today on the first train. He's going to arrive at seven o'clock."
Omasu sighed and rolled her eyes.
"Oh, Kami, give me strength..."
Misao was once again eyeing the list she had written on things she should check before Aoshi's arrival.
"He didn't mention the time he'd arrive, Misao."
"I know. But I went to the train station and got their times. I've memorized everything. If he's not arriving now, he'd be here tomorrow afternoon."
"And the date?"
"Well, it's one week since he wrote his letter saying he'd not take longer than that. So, it's surely today!"
Omasu gave up. It was impossible to make her sleep again. She lazily went down the stairs.
Misao had already taken her bath long hours ago and was totally dressed on her obi suit, just waiting.
Tick tack, tick tack, tick tack. Her eyes followed the clock movements. Six and a half. She beamed out of her room. She was going down the stairs carefully. She didn't mean to wake anybody up. She wanted to go for him alone. When she was tiptoeing the last step with a very relieved face, she saw Okina materialize right in front of her eyes.
"GRAAAAAAAAAMPS!!!!!! What's this? I almost had a heart attack!"
His face was serious.
"Were you trying to sneak out?"
She shook her head vehemently.
"No! I was just going to the train station. Aoshi-sama is arriving!" she walked to the door.
"Wait! You're not going alone!"
Misao was annoyed.
"Why, gamps?"
"Because it's too dangerous for a child to walk alone the streets this time."
She fumed.
"Graaamps, I am not a child and I am Oniwabanshuu!"
Okina waved his hands.
"Whatever. You're not going alone."
She sighed.
"Kuro!" Okina called.
"Yes!" he showed up immediately as though he knew Okina would call him.
"Take Misao to the train station."
Misao was whining.
Okina narrowed his eyes.
Omasu showed up looking very tired.
"Omasu..." Misao whined with begging eyes.
"No, Misao, I won't interfere."
"Humph! At least check if..."
"Everything's ok, Misao. You've already checked them a thousand times!" she said impatiently.
Shaking her head in annoyance, Misao left the Aoiya, Kuro was right behind her.
XxX
Megumi suddenly woke up. She sat on the bed and breathed heavily. She looked down realizing she had been lying on the brand new bed. Her nostrils were filled by the smell of citric and wood fragrance. She looked to her side.
Aoshi.
She jumped from the bed in a very abrupt move. In a glance, she felt s sharp pain on her wrists. A thin scream escaped her lips. Aoshi had been woken up by her move and, in defense, he stroke. His hands were around her wrists and he had made her bow back and fall right under his body. He was over her and she was totally immobilized.
When he saw she was no enemy, he immediately released her wrists.
"I am awfully sorry."
She took her wrists very close to her eyes. They were red and aching.
"No problem."
It was not the first time such a thing happened. Aoshi used to be aware even in his sleep. Once he almost cut her neck with his kidachi. Luckily, his swords were not around this time.
She looked at him and blushed. Only then he realized he had been over her. Immediately, he left that position and sat on the bed.
Her head was hurting like hell.
"What are you doing here, Aoshi-san? Weren't you supposed to be at the meditation room?"
He looked surprised.
"You asked me to stay, don't you remember?"
There was panic into her eyes.
"Oh, no, I don't remember! Oh, Kami, did I really ask you to stay?"
He nodded.
Her eyes ran over the bed. At least they were dressed. It made her a bit relieved. Her head was throbbing violently. She took her hand to her forehead and gritted her teeth.
Noticing her painful semblance, Aoshi asked:
"Are you feeling pain?"
"Headache... strong headache."
"Hangover."
She shot him with her dark eyes and furrowed eyebrows.
"What???"
"Don't tell me you don't remember your alcohol orgy from yester night."
She really fell in despair.
"Orgy???"
He nodded.
"Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!!! What did I do?" she thought to herself.
"We didn't...did we?" her look was desperate and anguished.
"No. Don't worry." He said calmly.
Megumi clasped her hands together.
"Thanks God!" she thought.
Aoshi saw she was thanking heaven and thought it was very strange. He raised one bow, his blue eyes with a teasing shine. He'd play her game.
"But what if we did?"
She turned his head to him. Her dark eyes were wide.
"You told me we didn't."
"But you don't remember anything, do you?"
"No." she was visibly uncomfortable.
"Well, so you really can't tell. What if I am lying?"
She raised one brow to him and narrowed her dark eyes, her hand was still on her head.
"You wouldn't play with such."
"Well, actually. But..."
"But what? Did I behave bad???" she was exasperated.
He left the bed and walked to the door.
"But you shouldn't drink that much. That's all."
Aoshi went on the hallway and Megumi threw her body against the mattress. She was relieved. She should really policy herself not to drink anymore. It was a close call and her head was just exploding. She turned her back to the door, grabbed Aoshi's pillow and hid her face deep into it.
"By the way... since when has he been teasing?" she thought to herself.
XxXx
Oh, I got SOOOOOOOOOOO happy with your last review, Leila! Imagine a girl with an absolutely wide smile right in front of the computer. It was me! I got happy and flattered by each word you wrote! I think I never got so happy in reading a review. I appreciate A LOT you liked this chapter and that you thought it was well written. So it gives me power to improve and try to make things better so that you'll enjoy! They went for the western bed... but nothing dangerous happened. :p
This is me very happy, spending fireworks...