Disclaimer: I don't own RK.
Author: It is almost over. It is Sunday and Misao will leave in this chapter. There will be an epilogue-chapter next cutting loose ends and summing everything up. After that, it is all over.
...
That's what I would like to say. Unfortunately I will continue this with another fic in the future, but I may rest a little while before it. (That is unless enough people beg for more soon and I get inspired.) In that fic there'll be more A&M romance.
Chapter 11. When light invades darkness
The sun was rising. The golden beams of light would soon turn darkness into light. Misao had been awake for long. She had been unable to sleep since everything that had happened here during her stay swirled in her head in one big mess. Especially the events that had taken place last night.
Himiko really was pregnant and she would name her child after her. It really was an honour for her, unexpected one. It basically meant that during her journey she would go to Suzu to greet the new child. A child that would carry on the memory of Takahashi Mei with her name. A proof that she had once existed. In a strange way it was a relief to Misao.
She also had to go to meet Yoko and Keita. They had done so much for her, she would never forget it. They probably had a child by now also, maybe even two. Misao really wanted to see them both.
Being close to happy couples was never easy for her. It always reminded her of Aoshi she would probably never have. He had never showed anything even close to caring for her. Sure, she knew that he did indeed care for her. But not in the way she wanted him to. So, she would probably never marry, would never reach the happiness that Himiko, Sasha and probably Yoko also possessed. It was not a happy thought but she had learned to live with it.
She also wondered something. Why had she told Yahiko who she was? Maybe because she wanted there to be someone who knew her from before, knew her now and would know her in the future. In a way this was also her way of thanking him for all that he had done for her. Even though he himself did not know just how much he had done.
She knew that it had probably been a shock to him. He had spoken of Misao he knew to her many times. He truly missed her, just like everyone else probably also did. Misao hadn't known Yahiko for long, but they had been so like each other that building a friendship hadn't been hard.
Or the reason why she had told him could have been all the sake she had drunk down her throat.
Sake and the thoughts that run around in her kept her from falling asleep for long periods of time. So since she could not sleep well, she backed everything and cleaned the room. Her bag she placed in one of the corners. She would leave probably before others woke up. Himiko had promised to come and pay for her stay in the morning.
She was almost ready to leave, but before she could do so there was one more thing she would have to do.
Tenderly Misao drew her old uniform from her bag. No longer did leaving it here mean cutting ties, now it meant preserving them. Leaving her old self here with a promise that she would return. Of course they didn't know it. They probably never went to her room anyway so they wouldn't even know about it.
She stood up and walked out of her room to her another room. The fact that others weren't awake yet which suited her fine. She didn't want anyone to see her entering her old room. She walked quietly along the corridor to her room hugging the uniform close to her. She most certainly did not want them to see it because it had no been washed. Her blood still covered its front. She was lucky, no one came.
She opened the shoji carefully and as quietly as possible, then stepped inside. She closed the shoji as silently as she had opened it. Then she moved to her folded futon and kneeled. She sighed. She would leave her home again today. Last time she had left, Okina had thrown such a party. Her head had been aching from all sake she had drunk and she had been really tired. Now she was leaving again, but this time it would be a relief to others. She hugged the uniform close to her. It felt strange leaving it here, but it was her promise to return and so she laid it down.
She was just about to stand up, when she felt alarmed. Something was not right. She stayed on her knees breathing heavily. Someone was approaching. *Not to worry. They never come to this room, right?* She thought through all of her options, finding nothing reassuring. Someone stopped behind the door.
*Shit!* Misao leaped up and moved with amazing speed to one corner she hoped was dark. The one behind the door didn't move at all for a moment and then Misao heard the door open. And she recognized the ki. Aoshi. It was Aoshi. He had suppressed his ki and so made it hard to detect him. Misao's heart pounded in her chest. It was hopeless. He would see her and the uniform if he came in. There was no doubt about it.
"Who are you?" His cold voice pierced the silence. Misao gulped and stepped from the shadows. "Mei? What are you doing here?" He sounded even colder than before. Misao didn't know what to do or say. She could feel his eyes on her skin and felt restless. If he noticed her uniform... She would have to keep his attention on her.
"I made a mistake. I thought that this was my room. I am sorry." She walked to leave, fearing that her voice had revealed too much.
His hand blocked the only exit. "Then why did you hide?" He asked calmly.
Misao had predicted this question and so she knew what to answer. "An automatic reaction. I am sorry." She tried to push his hand away but it didn't move an inch.
"You promised to have a conversation with me. How about here and now?" That shocked Misao. If they would stay here he would most definitely see the uniform. And she hadn't yet found out a way to explain that. Saying that she knew nothing of it would not work against him. At least not well. He would stay suspicious and would not allow her to leave as she had planned.
She gulped. "I would prefer not. Let's go somewhere else. And besides Yahiko already knows everything you need to know and he'll tell you after I have left."
Only silence answered her words. She felt him move and the hand that had blocked her exit was gone. She almost sighed in relief. Now they would leave and he would not return here. She was safe.
Then she could hear him move deeper into the room. She had to stop him. "Shinomori-san, please. let's leave." To her great dislike her voice sounded scared even to her own ears. She was just about to repeat her words when he spoke. "What is that?"
Her words never left her mouth, her heart almost stopped. "What?"
Aoshi heard Mei speak. She was scared for some reason. She tried to hide it but from Aoshi it was nearly impossible mission. What was she afraid of? He knelt and looked more carefully at the object on the floor he had noticed from the door. His eyes widened slightly as he recognized it. It was Misao's uniform. But he knew that it hadn't been here before. Aoshi cleaned the room from dust almost weekly when others didn't notice and had never seen it. MEI! Of course! She had brought it here!
He took it from the floor and in the light of the rising sun he looked at it more carefully, now noticing something he had not seen before.
Blood.
The front of the uniform was covered with dried blood. It was old blood, Aoshi could see that immediately. But what did it mean? Was it Misao's? Or someone else's? The only one who knew the answers to his question was the woman standing behind him.
"Mei." He looked at her as he spoke and saw her wince. "Where did you get this?"
"What? I don't know what you're talking about." She spoke with a shaking voice. She was scared. Really scared. Aoshi stood up and walked to her. She backed a step. "You know very well what I am talking about. Where did you get this uniform from? Speak." His spoke calmly but angrily. Aoshi hardly ever allowed any emotion to invade his voice, but now he did so. Anger combined with the natural calmness made his voice much more threatening. His last word was almost a yell. Aoshi didn't usually rose his voice but now he was scared for Misao. Was this her blood? Was she dead? Captured? This woman before him knew something about her and he would find out what. One way or another.
The woman stayed quiet and took another step back. She was now standing in the corridor. Aoshi followed her with his eyes burning with cold fire. He extended his free hand and took a hold of her kimono's sleeve. "Speak." He hissed between his teeth.
Mei just shook her head. "I can't. I don't know what you are talking about." She sounded powerless and her voice was a sigh. "Uniform? What uniform? I can't see, remember that. What ever it is that has made you upset, please tell me so that I know. But not here or I am afraid that we'll wake the others." She sounded different. The fear had left and confidence returned. The change was sudden and surprising.
Mei turned and walked calmly to her room, but Aoshi noticed that she had her guard up all the time. She was ready to defend herself any minute would he attack her. Not being able to do anything besides following her, Aoshi walked forward to her room and closed the door behind him. They were alone now.
Mei walked to a pillow near the window and showed at another one with her hand. Indicating that Aoshi should sit down. He did as he was expected to and sat. He looked at the uniform again and then at the woman before him. Her black hair was tied back and an eye cover run over her face. He had never seen her without it. What did she hide behind it?
After they had sat still for a moment, both checking each other out, Mei spoke. "You wanted to talk?" She really sounded different from before. She had been frightened, but now it was as if it had never happened.
Aoshi nodded. He had many questions, but also a feeling that she would not answer to all of them. "I have some questions I would like to ask." Politeness was often the key.
"Shoot me. Not literally of course." Mei smiled a little.
Last time they had had a conversation like this, he had asked normal question. He had not wanted to show that he was suspicious of her. Now was another matter. She would leave soon and he had no time. He would have to go straight to the business. But first he would find out about the uniform.
"Do you know whose room is the one you were in?"
"I think I heard the name of the owner on my first day here. Something like Misao if I remember correctly." She seemed to think a moment before answering.
"You do. I clean that room weekly." That seemed to surprise Mei. At least she raised her eyebrow. "And when I went there last time this uniform was not there. Care to explain that."
She shook her head. "I can't since I don't know anything about it."
"Then why were you scared when I asked you about it?"
"Your ki was flaring. It was so strong and surprising that it scared me." Her voice was steady and sure. Nothing indicated towards her lying. She didn't seem nervous.
Aoshi was silent. Everything matched the way she had acted, but somehow he couldn't make himself believe her. Something in him protested and said that she knew more, but Aoshi knew that this was all she would say. At least now. So he changed the subject. "You are a ninja."
Mei shook her head. "No, I was a ninja years ago. But then again, you can't really stop being a ninja, now can you. I don't belong to any group anymore."
"Why not?" Aoshi asked his face unchanging. She could be lying.
Mei pursed her lips. "Personal question, but I'll answer to you what I can. Yahiko can tell you more after I have left." She sighed. "Something happened years ago. I got terribly wounded and decided to leave my clan and the life of a ninja. I keep myself in shape, but I don't live like a ninja anymore. I am a waitress actually."
"Where do you work?" It was an innocent question if you didn't connect it like Mei did.
"Don't you mean where do I live?" She didn't smile, but her voice mocked him. "In a little village quite far from here. The name? That I won't tell you."
Mei sighed as if she were tired even though life was pulsing like blood in her. "Listen, why don't you just quit this? I am not an yaminobu nor am I their spy."
Aoshi frowned. He had not expected this turn around. "Who told you that?
Mei shrugged. "Yahiko did. Don't be angry. Unlike you, he trusts me. Listen." Mei stood up and walked to the window. "I am not on your side nor I am on theirs. Would I be forced to pick a side, it would be yours since I hate Shimabara for reasons you can ask from Yahiko about after I have left."
Aoshi stood up also and walked to her. "Why not now?"
His question seemed to make Mei uncomfortable. "Because an endless amount of question will rise from it. But it'll prove that I am more on your side than on that monsters." Mei noticed that Aoshi was coming closer and stopped right behind her. She tried to ignore him standing so close to her and the feelings it aroused in her.
Aoshi knew that he would not get much out of her this way. He had to surprise her somehow and shaken her so that she would become careless. After their first conversation he had thought about it a lot and had finally found an answer. He didn't like it, but if she was a spy, she had been told about him. That meant that what he was going to do, would shock her since even the thought of doing so shocked him as well.
Mei was standing at the window. Without the blindfold one could have thought that she was looking at the town or at the sunrise. She sighed and turned to him. "Shinomori-san, I--" Was as far as she got.
Aoshi was already very close to her and with a lightning speed he took a hold of her wounding another hand around her waist and another to her hair and to the folds of her cover. Surprised and confused Mei didn't react fast enough. He pulled her up and pressed his lips against hers. Her lips were warm and soft and to his astonishment she took a hold of him and kissed him back. Even though Aoshi was doing this to get information, he couldn't help enjoying it or getting aroused of it. She felt wonderful against him. Her lips, her body, her warmth...
Then she seemed to understand what she was doing and pushed him away from her with a surprised gasp.
"Aoshi-sama!"
That one word, one name, stopped every movement in the room. Aoshi was staring at Mei in pure disbelief.
This voice! Aoshi knew this voice. Free from all boundaries this was Mei's true voice. As well as it was Misao's. He backed from the woman his eyes wide. This woman...
Misao had always addressed him with -sama. He could still remember most of those times. When he returned from Shishio's fortress she had came to him screaming his name. After that she had spoken to him countless times, trying to make him smile. She had said his name with a smile and with tears. Happiness and sadness, hate and love, there was no emotion that hadn't been at least once attached to his name. Now it was full of surprise, disbelief and confusion.
"You..." Aoshi could hear his own surprise. Shinomori Aoshi was a very intelligent person. He had sharp eyes and fast mind. He knew this and was respected because of it. How could he have been so blind?
"...Misao?" He spoke disbelieving even though he knew now that Mei was Misao. Suddenly everything made sense. Even though he hadn't consciously recognized her, a part of him had. His need to protect her had risen from that part of him.
"Misao? The girl who lived in the next room. What about her?" Her voice wavered as she hastily spoke already knowing it was useless but still trying to cover up her mistake.
"I should have... recognized you the moment I saw you." In a way he had. The part of him that had always cared for her, always protected her, had seen through her mask. His heart had known who she was even though his mind had not. Misao. And just now, he had kissed her.
Misao opened her mouth to protest again, but closed it without saying anything. He knew. She could practically feel his eyes on her skin.
"You're alive." He finally said breaking the silence.
"Humph, barely. You almost gave me a heart attack." Misao used her real voice now since hiding was no longer necessary.
"Why?" Aoshi sounded uncaring, cold to her ears. Nothing really had changed. What had she expected? That he would actually show some happiness? No ¨welcome back¨, just questions she didn't want to answer to. Misao was pissed.
"Why what? Why Takahashi Mei and not Makimachi Misao? Why the eye cover? Why, why and why? What? How? Endless stream of questions I don't want to answer to." She was furious and allowed it to influence her ki and to fill her whole being. It felt good to be angry, even if the object (and partial cause) was as unruffled as Aoshi.
"I have nothing to tell to you that Yahiko doesn't know. I'll leave now. I will say good bye to Yahiko and then I am gone. If you have questions, ask him. He knows Takahashi Mei better than anyone of you." She turned to leave, but suddenly stopped. This was the one man she had loved all of her life and whom she still loved with all she had. He deserved more than just few angry words. She didn't want to part with him like this. Misao sighed.
Still her back turned to him, she continued to speak. "I am sorry. I was rude, but all of this shocked me quite badly. As I said to you, Yahiko knows the current me and after I am gone, he'll tell you what I have gone trough. He will tell you about Takahashi Mei, not about Misao. I didn't want any of you to realize who I was. But for some reason I told to Yahiko last night and now you found out on your own. Both of you know now who I am. Please, don't tell to others. Yahiko has already promised that to me."
"I had no intentions of returning here before Himiko-san practically dragged me here. Now I am happy that I came. But I will leave again. That uniform I'll leave here is a promise. My promise to return here. I don't know when, but when I will, I won't leave again. Yes, the blood on the uniform is mine and I would prefer that you didn't wash it away until I have returned. Any questions you have, ask them from Yahiko. See you later, my dear Aoshi-sama. Please don't follow me. You can not stop me from leaving."
And with those words she left the room taking her bag and her cane with her. Aoshi allowed her to leave.
She walked straight to Yahiko's room. She would not leave before saying goodbye to him. She left her stuff near the door and following the sound him breathing she found him. She knelt beside him and nudged him with her arm carefully.
"Yahiko." She spoke with her normal voice, but got no return. "Yahiko." She said a little bit louder. "Mmmm." Was his answer. Misao sighed and smiled. "Yahiko. Thank you for all that you have done. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I'll leave now, but when I'll return, I will be back for good. I won't leave again. See you then, Yahiko."
Misao stood up. She wasn't sure if he had heard her or not but it was time for her to leave. She left Yahiko's room and closed the door quietly. Throwing her bag over her shoulder she walked down the stairs and straight to the main door. The cold air of the morning hit her skin but it was a welcome feeling. Her new journey would begin here. But now she knew that she would come back no matter what happened.
She walked down the stairs and the along the street out of the town. Aoshi watched her as she moved slowly away from the Aoiya from the window. But in his hand he held her promise of return and he knew that Misao would keep her promise. Once Misao had gotten so far that he could no longer see her, he walked to her real room and placed the uniform to the exact same place as she had less than half an hour ago.
She would return and he would be here waiting for her. He had waited for her to return for six years so that he could propose to her. He could wait a little longer. Shinomori Aoshi was a patient man.
End of chapter 11.
TBC in epilogue.
Whew. I did it (sorry that this was rather short). Only one chapter anymore.
Please tell me what you think.
Tiian
Author: It is almost over. It is Sunday and Misao will leave in this chapter. There will be an epilogue-chapter next cutting loose ends and summing everything up. After that, it is all over.
...
That's what I would like to say. Unfortunately I will continue this with another fic in the future, but I may rest a little while before it. (That is unless enough people beg for more soon and I get inspired.) In that fic there'll be more A&M romance.
Chapter 11. When light invades darkness
The sun was rising. The golden beams of light would soon turn darkness into light. Misao had been awake for long. She had been unable to sleep since everything that had happened here during her stay swirled in her head in one big mess. Especially the events that had taken place last night.
Himiko really was pregnant and she would name her child after her. It really was an honour for her, unexpected one. It basically meant that during her journey she would go to Suzu to greet the new child. A child that would carry on the memory of Takahashi Mei with her name. A proof that she had once existed. In a strange way it was a relief to Misao.
She also had to go to meet Yoko and Keita. They had done so much for her, she would never forget it. They probably had a child by now also, maybe even two. Misao really wanted to see them both.
Being close to happy couples was never easy for her. It always reminded her of Aoshi she would probably never have. He had never showed anything even close to caring for her. Sure, she knew that he did indeed care for her. But not in the way she wanted him to. So, she would probably never marry, would never reach the happiness that Himiko, Sasha and probably Yoko also possessed. It was not a happy thought but she had learned to live with it.
She also wondered something. Why had she told Yahiko who she was? Maybe because she wanted there to be someone who knew her from before, knew her now and would know her in the future. In a way this was also her way of thanking him for all that he had done for her. Even though he himself did not know just how much he had done.
She knew that it had probably been a shock to him. He had spoken of Misao he knew to her many times. He truly missed her, just like everyone else probably also did. Misao hadn't known Yahiko for long, but they had been so like each other that building a friendship hadn't been hard.
Or the reason why she had told him could have been all the sake she had drunk down her throat.
Sake and the thoughts that run around in her kept her from falling asleep for long periods of time. So since she could not sleep well, she backed everything and cleaned the room. Her bag she placed in one of the corners. She would leave probably before others woke up. Himiko had promised to come and pay for her stay in the morning.
She was almost ready to leave, but before she could do so there was one more thing she would have to do.
Tenderly Misao drew her old uniform from her bag. No longer did leaving it here mean cutting ties, now it meant preserving them. Leaving her old self here with a promise that she would return. Of course they didn't know it. They probably never went to her room anyway so they wouldn't even know about it.
She stood up and walked out of her room to her another room. The fact that others weren't awake yet which suited her fine. She didn't want anyone to see her entering her old room. She walked quietly along the corridor to her room hugging the uniform close to her. She most certainly did not want them to see it because it had no been washed. Her blood still covered its front. She was lucky, no one came.
She opened the shoji carefully and as quietly as possible, then stepped inside. She closed the shoji as silently as she had opened it. Then she moved to her folded futon and kneeled. She sighed. She would leave her home again today. Last time she had left, Okina had thrown such a party. Her head had been aching from all sake she had drunk and she had been really tired. Now she was leaving again, but this time it would be a relief to others. She hugged the uniform close to her. It felt strange leaving it here, but it was her promise to return and so she laid it down.
She was just about to stand up, when she felt alarmed. Something was not right. She stayed on her knees breathing heavily. Someone was approaching. *Not to worry. They never come to this room, right?* She thought through all of her options, finding nothing reassuring. Someone stopped behind the door.
*Shit!* Misao leaped up and moved with amazing speed to one corner she hoped was dark. The one behind the door didn't move at all for a moment and then Misao heard the door open. And she recognized the ki. Aoshi. It was Aoshi. He had suppressed his ki and so made it hard to detect him. Misao's heart pounded in her chest. It was hopeless. He would see her and the uniform if he came in. There was no doubt about it.
"Who are you?" His cold voice pierced the silence. Misao gulped and stepped from the shadows. "Mei? What are you doing here?" He sounded even colder than before. Misao didn't know what to do or say. She could feel his eyes on her skin and felt restless. If he noticed her uniform... She would have to keep his attention on her.
"I made a mistake. I thought that this was my room. I am sorry." She walked to leave, fearing that her voice had revealed too much.
His hand blocked the only exit. "Then why did you hide?" He asked calmly.
Misao had predicted this question and so she knew what to answer. "An automatic reaction. I am sorry." She tried to push his hand away but it didn't move an inch.
"You promised to have a conversation with me. How about here and now?" That shocked Misao. If they would stay here he would most definitely see the uniform. And she hadn't yet found out a way to explain that. Saying that she knew nothing of it would not work against him. At least not well. He would stay suspicious and would not allow her to leave as she had planned.
She gulped. "I would prefer not. Let's go somewhere else. And besides Yahiko already knows everything you need to know and he'll tell you after I have left."
Only silence answered her words. She felt him move and the hand that had blocked her exit was gone. She almost sighed in relief. Now they would leave and he would not return here. She was safe.
Then she could hear him move deeper into the room. She had to stop him. "Shinomori-san, please. let's leave." To her great dislike her voice sounded scared even to her own ears. She was just about to repeat her words when he spoke. "What is that?"
Her words never left her mouth, her heart almost stopped. "What?"
Aoshi heard Mei speak. She was scared for some reason. She tried to hide it but from Aoshi it was nearly impossible mission. What was she afraid of? He knelt and looked more carefully at the object on the floor he had noticed from the door. His eyes widened slightly as he recognized it. It was Misao's uniform. But he knew that it hadn't been here before. Aoshi cleaned the room from dust almost weekly when others didn't notice and had never seen it. MEI! Of course! She had brought it here!
He took it from the floor and in the light of the rising sun he looked at it more carefully, now noticing something he had not seen before.
Blood.
The front of the uniform was covered with dried blood. It was old blood, Aoshi could see that immediately. But what did it mean? Was it Misao's? Or someone else's? The only one who knew the answers to his question was the woman standing behind him.
"Mei." He looked at her as he spoke and saw her wince. "Where did you get this?"
"What? I don't know what you're talking about." She spoke with a shaking voice. She was scared. Really scared. Aoshi stood up and walked to her. She backed a step. "You know very well what I am talking about. Where did you get this uniform from? Speak." His spoke calmly but angrily. Aoshi hardly ever allowed any emotion to invade his voice, but now he did so. Anger combined with the natural calmness made his voice much more threatening. His last word was almost a yell. Aoshi didn't usually rose his voice but now he was scared for Misao. Was this her blood? Was she dead? Captured? This woman before him knew something about her and he would find out what. One way or another.
The woman stayed quiet and took another step back. She was now standing in the corridor. Aoshi followed her with his eyes burning with cold fire. He extended his free hand and took a hold of her kimono's sleeve. "Speak." He hissed between his teeth.
Mei just shook her head. "I can't. I don't know what you are talking about." She sounded powerless and her voice was a sigh. "Uniform? What uniform? I can't see, remember that. What ever it is that has made you upset, please tell me so that I know. But not here or I am afraid that we'll wake the others." She sounded different. The fear had left and confidence returned. The change was sudden and surprising.
Mei turned and walked calmly to her room, but Aoshi noticed that she had her guard up all the time. She was ready to defend herself any minute would he attack her. Not being able to do anything besides following her, Aoshi walked forward to her room and closed the door behind him. They were alone now.
Mei walked to a pillow near the window and showed at another one with her hand. Indicating that Aoshi should sit down. He did as he was expected to and sat. He looked at the uniform again and then at the woman before him. Her black hair was tied back and an eye cover run over her face. He had never seen her without it. What did she hide behind it?
After they had sat still for a moment, both checking each other out, Mei spoke. "You wanted to talk?" She really sounded different from before. She had been frightened, but now it was as if it had never happened.
Aoshi nodded. He had many questions, but also a feeling that she would not answer to all of them. "I have some questions I would like to ask." Politeness was often the key.
"Shoot me. Not literally of course." Mei smiled a little.
Last time they had had a conversation like this, he had asked normal question. He had not wanted to show that he was suspicious of her. Now was another matter. She would leave soon and he had no time. He would have to go straight to the business. But first he would find out about the uniform.
"Do you know whose room is the one you were in?"
"I think I heard the name of the owner on my first day here. Something like Misao if I remember correctly." She seemed to think a moment before answering.
"You do. I clean that room weekly." That seemed to surprise Mei. At least she raised her eyebrow. "And when I went there last time this uniform was not there. Care to explain that."
She shook her head. "I can't since I don't know anything about it."
"Then why were you scared when I asked you about it?"
"Your ki was flaring. It was so strong and surprising that it scared me." Her voice was steady and sure. Nothing indicated towards her lying. She didn't seem nervous.
Aoshi was silent. Everything matched the way she had acted, but somehow he couldn't make himself believe her. Something in him protested and said that she knew more, but Aoshi knew that this was all she would say. At least now. So he changed the subject. "You are a ninja."
Mei shook her head. "No, I was a ninja years ago. But then again, you can't really stop being a ninja, now can you. I don't belong to any group anymore."
"Why not?" Aoshi asked his face unchanging. She could be lying.
Mei pursed her lips. "Personal question, but I'll answer to you what I can. Yahiko can tell you more after I have left." She sighed. "Something happened years ago. I got terribly wounded and decided to leave my clan and the life of a ninja. I keep myself in shape, but I don't live like a ninja anymore. I am a waitress actually."
"Where do you work?" It was an innocent question if you didn't connect it like Mei did.
"Don't you mean where do I live?" She didn't smile, but her voice mocked him. "In a little village quite far from here. The name? That I won't tell you."
Mei sighed as if she were tired even though life was pulsing like blood in her. "Listen, why don't you just quit this? I am not an yaminobu nor am I their spy."
Aoshi frowned. He had not expected this turn around. "Who told you that?
Mei shrugged. "Yahiko did. Don't be angry. Unlike you, he trusts me. Listen." Mei stood up and walked to the window. "I am not on your side nor I am on theirs. Would I be forced to pick a side, it would be yours since I hate Shimabara for reasons you can ask from Yahiko about after I have left."
Aoshi stood up also and walked to her. "Why not now?"
His question seemed to make Mei uncomfortable. "Because an endless amount of question will rise from it. But it'll prove that I am more on your side than on that monsters." Mei noticed that Aoshi was coming closer and stopped right behind her. She tried to ignore him standing so close to her and the feelings it aroused in her.
Aoshi knew that he would not get much out of her this way. He had to surprise her somehow and shaken her so that she would become careless. After their first conversation he had thought about it a lot and had finally found an answer. He didn't like it, but if she was a spy, she had been told about him. That meant that what he was going to do, would shock her since even the thought of doing so shocked him as well.
Mei was standing at the window. Without the blindfold one could have thought that she was looking at the town or at the sunrise. She sighed and turned to him. "Shinomori-san, I--" Was as far as she got.
Aoshi was already very close to her and with a lightning speed he took a hold of her wounding another hand around her waist and another to her hair and to the folds of her cover. Surprised and confused Mei didn't react fast enough. He pulled her up and pressed his lips against hers. Her lips were warm and soft and to his astonishment she took a hold of him and kissed him back. Even though Aoshi was doing this to get information, he couldn't help enjoying it or getting aroused of it. She felt wonderful against him. Her lips, her body, her warmth...
Then she seemed to understand what she was doing and pushed him away from her with a surprised gasp.
"Aoshi-sama!"
That one word, one name, stopped every movement in the room. Aoshi was staring at Mei in pure disbelief.
This voice! Aoshi knew this voice. Free from all boundaries this was Mei's true voice. As well as it was Misao's. He backed from the woman his eyes wide. This woman...
Misao had always addressed him with -sama. He could still remember most of those times. When he returned from Shishio's fortress she had came to him screaming his name. After that she had spoken to him countless times, trying to make him smile. She had said his name with a smile and with tears. Happiness and sadness, hate and love, there was no emotion that hadn't been at least once attached to his name. Now it was full of surprise, disbelief and confusion.
"You..." Aoshi could hear his own surprise. Shinomori Aoshi was a very intelligent person. He had sharp eyes and fast mind. He knew this and was respected because of it. How could he have been so blind?
"...Misao?" He spoke disbelieving even though he knew now that Mei was Misao. Suddenly everything made sense. Even though he hadn't consciously recognized her, a part of him had. His need to protect her had risen from that part of him.
"Misao? The girl who lived in the next room. What about her?" Her voice wavered as she hastily spoke already knowing it was useless but still trying to cover up her mistake.
"I should have... recognized you the moment I saw you." In a way he had. The part of him that had always cared for her, always protected her, had seen through her mask. His heart had known who she was even though his mind had not. Misao. And just now, he had kissed her.
Misao opened her mouth to protest again, but closed it without saying anything. He knew. She could practically feel his eyes on her skin.
"You're alive." He finally said breaking the silence.
"Humph, barely. You almost gave me a heart attack." Misao used her real voice now since hiding was no longer necessary.
"Why?" Aoshi sounded uncaring, cold to her ears. Nothing really had changed. What had she expected? That he would actually show some happiness? No ¨welcome back¨, just questions she didn't want to answer to. Misao was pissed.
"Why what? Why Takahashi Mei and not Makimachi Misao? Why the eye cover? Why, why and why? What? How? Endless stream of questions I don't want to answer to." She was furious and allowed it to influence her ki and to fill her whole being. It felt good to be angry, even if the object (and partial cause) was as unruffled as Aoshi.
"I have nothing to tell to you that Yahiko doesn't know. I'll leave now. I will say good bye to Yahiko and then I am gone. If you have questions, ask him. He knows Takahashi Mei better than anyone of you." She turned to leave, but suddenly stopped. This was the one man she had loved all of her life and whom she still loved with all she had. He deserved more than just few angry words. She didn't want to part with him like this. Misao sighed.
Still her back turned to him, she continued to speak. "I am sorry. I was rude, but all of this shocked me quite badly. As I said to you, Yahiko knows the current me and after I am gone, he'll tell you what I have gone trough. He will tell you about Takahashi Mei, not about Misao. I didn't want any of you to realize who I was. But for some reason I told to Yahiko last night and now you found out on your own. Both of you know now who I am. Please, don't tell to others. Yahiko has already promised that to me."
"I had no intentions of returning here before Himiko-san practically dragged me here. Now I am happy that I came. But I will leave again. That uniform I'll leave here is a promise. My promise to return here. I don't know when, but when I will, I won't leave again. Yes, the blood on the uniform is mine and I would prefer that you didn't wash it away until I have returned. Any questions you have, ask them from Yahiko. See you later, my dear Aoshi-sama. Please don't follow me. You can not stop me from leaving."
And with those words she left the room taking her bag and her cane with her. Aoshi allowed her to leave.
She walked straight to Yahiko's room. She would not leave before saying goodbye to him. She left her stuff near the door and following the sound him breathing she found him. She knelt beside him and nudged him with her arm carefully.
"Yahiko." She spoke with her normal voice, but got no return. "Yahiko." She said a little bit louder. "Mmmm." Was his answer. Misao sighed and smiled. "Yahiko. Thank you for all that you have done. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I'll leave now, but when I'll return, I will be back for good. I won't leave again. See you then, Yahiko."
Misao stood up. She wasn't sure if he had heard her or not but it was time for her to leave. She left Yahiko's room and closed the door quietly. Throwing her bag over her shoulder she walked down the stairs and straight to the main door. The cold air of the morning hit her skin but it was a welcome feeling. Her new journey would begin here. But now she knew that she would come back no matter what happened.
She walked down the stairs and the along the street out of the town. Aoshi watched her as she moved slowly away from the Aoiya from the window. But in his hand he held her promise of return and he knew that Misao would keep her promise. Once Misao had gotten so far that he could no longer see her, he walked to her real room and placed the uniform to the exact same place as she had less than half an hour ago.
She would return and he would be here waiting for her. He had waited for her to return for six years so that he could propose to her. He could wait a little longer. Shinomori Aoshi was a patient man.
End of chapter 11.
TBC in epilogue.
Whew. I did it (sorry that this was rather short). Only one chapter anymore.
Please tell me what you think.
Tiian