Winter's Chill
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The Stand-off:
"Well, well, well, little miss onmitsu what will you do now." He toyed with the kuni and before Misao could squirm around enough to get her leg in a position to knee him; the kuni was at her throat. "Is that anyway to treat your savior?" he asked and pushed the kuni against her skin. Misao felt the cold blade bite at her throat but no blood was drawn.
"What do you want?" Misao growled. Enishi eased the blade away from her throat but left it close enough to remain a threat. "not to kill you, as you seem to want to do to me." He responded.
"I find that hard to believe after what you did to Kenshin and Kaoru." Misao shot back, angry at her helplessness. Enishi's smooth features twitched at the name of his enemy.
"Battousai." He murmured more to himself than to Misao. Enishi's eyes looked passed Misao, as his mind returned to that time on the island. For a moment, Misao was caught staring at Enishi. His turquoise eyes flashed a myriad of emotion and Misao was strangely drawn to him. Sure he had done wrong but whom that she knew, respected, and even loved could say they were sin free and regretted none of their actions. Suddenly his hands released her. His eyes once again looked at Misao and not through her. Misao felt her heart fill with pity and she was ready to forgive him until he spoke.
"You were that bratty little ninja girl that tagged along with Battousai." He stated and turning on his heel headed back to the fire. Any remorse or twinge of sadness Misao had harbored for him disappeared in that moment. Misao's hands itched for more kuni to pummel into his head. She stomped her foot and prepared to launch into a full and well practiced recount of how she was NOT bratty nor was she a *little* girl anymore. However her tirade was stopped before she even drew enough breath to start.
Enishi reached the futon and after using a long stick to stir some life back into the fire began to shake out the blanket. After he had gotten off all the dirt possible in a few shakes, he settled himself cross-legged on the futon and wrapped the blanket cape-like around him. Misao stood in awe and awaited some response. However Enishi did not even so much as turn to look at her. Misao felt her anger boil over. Who did he think he was stealing *her* futon and blanket. In a huff, she stormed over to the futon and stood right next to Enishi. Inhaling sharply she fixed him with her best Aoshi-sama death glare. He seemed immune and did not stir or even speak to her. Misao huffed again but Enishi kept his eyes trained on the fire. After a few minutes, he put his hands out towards the flames and turned them back and forth as if to warm them better.
Until this point Misao's constant movement about the room and her anger had kept her warm. Enishi's taunting move to warm his hands only served as a poignant reminder of how cold she had become. Now as she stood near the fire with one side bathed in semi-warmth and the other exposed to the chilling air in the shack she shivered and ran her hands along her arms. If only my feet could do the same for my legs she thought as another icy blast of air hit her making even the hair on her head stand on end. It was cold but Misao was not going to lose this battle of wills. She would wait until Enishi could no longer stand her suffering and relinquished her rightful place on the futon.
Time ticked by and Misao continued to stare at Enishi hoping he would cave. She had given up glaring it took much more energy than it was worth. She just studied Enishi. His hair was as white as the snow outside and stood in spiky peaks all about his head. Misao wonder briefly how it would feel to touch them. Would they be hard or soft and fluffy? His face was amazingly dark, a rich brown shade that reminded Misao of tea much like his scent. Another blast of air interrupted her thoughts and she realized the situation in the hut was becoming much like her earlier experience in the snow. The feeling in her toes was fading as was that of her fingers. Finally she decided to use words to elicit the desired response.
"You know a gentleman would let the lady use the futon and blanket! Especially, seeing as how she nearly froze to death in the snow!" Misao pointed out looking down at Enishi. He remained facing the fire.
"Ladies, do not throw kuni and attempt to kill the rescuer from said snowy death." He replied and stretched before repositioning the blanket. Misao was ready to throttle him. But she settled for just imagining her hands twisting tighter and tighter around his neck while his face turned purple and his eyes bugged out.
The light that managed to penetrate the one grimy window in the room was quickly dying. The night came early and fast in the winter and as the sun fell so did the temperature. Misao's toes were white and prickly and painful when she moved them. "I can do this, I can beat him, it's not really that cold" she repeated in her mind but with each second it was harder and harder to believe and soon her thoughts were vocalized in soft whisper that made puffs of white breath appear as she mouthed the words. Enishi stole a glance and almost laughed at how comical she looked scrunched up and chanting to herself. He did feel bad making her stand there and he wondered how much longer she would remain before giving in.
He did not have to wonder long as suddenly Misao plopped down on edge of the futon and curled her exposed legs underneath her. She sat as close to the edge and as far away from Enishi as she could. She looked determinedly into the fire then shivered and raised her hands to rub the cold from arms but dropped them quickly fearful of losing more pride than she already had.
The corners of Enishi's mouth curled up and he could not help but admire the girl's determination. "You know it is awfully warm in this blanket." he said while watching her. For a moment she remained staring at the fire, he could see her struggle with how to respond. Her usually smooth pale brow furrowed in thought and her fingers clenching at the corner of the futon.
"Yeah, I remember. But someone stole it from me." She finally retorted her ocean blue eyes flashing in challenge for a moment but, she could not maintain the anger. She was cold and tired from all the stress and standing earlier. The line in her shoulder's drooped and she sighed resignedly. "But what do I care, you can keep it, baka" Even her final insult lacked any conviction. She turned back to the fire and stretched out her hands to the warmth.
"How about a truce?" Enishi ventured realizing she would not give in. "You don't throw anymore kuni at me and I will share the blanket." He watched her intently. Slowly she turned to him and looked him in the eyes. Her blue orbs doubtful but as she searched his face until she realized that he truly meant what he said. A truce and maybe a chance to become friends and survive the night in this godforsaken shack, she smiled wearily and moved to sit beside him.
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Tada! Another chapter. Thanks again for reading and please continue to review!
Misao Mei Mei: Thanks, I will do my best to keep it interesting
Firuze Khan: I am trying to keep it PG so nothing that serious just intimidation
Fiery Shadow: Thanks, I'll add another tally to the M/E list. ^_^
Look for more updates soon as I have more free time, yea!! ~Merrow