Makimachi Misao was sixteen, turning 17 within the hour. Okina and the other Oniwabanshuu were hustling to prepare the perfect surprise party for the self-proclaimed leader of the gang of ninja's, although they had very little success in keeping it a "secret". Misao knew, and all she did was smile and act as if nothing happened. As if her birthday meant so little to her.
She was aging, and with age comes wisdom. They say that experience is the best teacher. Misao was the best student. Birthdays were celebrated in the normal fashion; eating, drinking and the like. But experience taught her something else. Birthdays aren't always the best day of your life.
Birthdays weren't as special when the family wasn't complete.
Misao sat there, smiling and laughing with the other's. Merrily drinking small portions of sake, eating delicacies reserved only for this time of year... And most of all, admiring each and every member of the Oniwabanshuu. Okina, depite his age and lechery, was a refined man of great skill. She held him in the highest respect, maybe surpassing Kenshin himself. Okon and Omasu, two of her closest female friends, were also two of the best people she knew of. Both were completely fun to be with, both were beautiful, and both were her comrades. She's come so far with them that they were practically sisters. Then there was Shiroju and Kuroju. Two fine ninja's, complete gentlemen, and of course, trusted friends.
And then there was Shinomori, the leader.
He was the one that meant the most to her. He meant so much to her... Perhaps, even more so than her actual parents. More so than her closest friends.
She knew she was in love. She knew that this feeling of burning inside her was because of him. It was all because of hher love for him that she's been here. Training, serving, accompanying.... She did this all just to be able to be with him. It was madness, the way she would go after him. But madness may be all she had, and madness was never a sin.
But in the meanwhile, she would drink and make merry. Passing the time away, hoping against hope that Aoshi would finally come to her birthday celebration.
He never did. He never has.
Misao was also Experience's most stubborn student.
Hours passed, and the Aoiya was closed. The party was over, and all that was left was the clean-up. Every year, she would be saddened by the fact that Aoshi was never there for her. And every year, she would cry late at night, after the celebrations. She could not bear this kind of rejection. Misao walked out of the Aoiya, and on to Kyoto's streets. She would walk far, and to the kind of place that Himura would oftentimes go to when he wanted to be alone.
It was a riverbank, where the fireflies would gather; glittering like teardrops by the full moon. She sat down, in a place closest to the river, where she would look at the moon's crystal clear reflection on the still, glass-like water.
"Aoshi-sama... Do you remember how we used to sit for long hours just staring at the stars?" She would say to herself, hoping that someone would answer. Naturally, no one did. She pointed out one weak, quivering finger to the stars above, tears slowly forming in the edges of her eyes.
"Do you remember when you promised to be with me forever? How you said that you would never, ever hurt me?" Those gentle tears that slowly slid from her eyes started falling, like they did every birthday. She would always ask the same question every year... And every year, there was no answer.
"Aoshi-sama... Aoshi-sama... Aoshi... Ao...shi..." Her voice died down as her sobbing took her over. She was hurting herself even more by thinking of him. But that was all that she could do. Think of him. Dream of him. The same man that was her reason for living, was also the same man that could be her reason for dying. All it would take was one small movement and her Kunai would find a soft place to rest somewhere on her body.
But as experience taught her: "Dying, is only the way to a much bigger problem." She would never raise her hand to harm herself... Never.
"Aoshi-sama. Stars are so far away, and yet we wish to reach them. Maybe the same would go for you." Try to reach something that you can't get and what will be your reward? Misao knew all too well... She was Experience's best student after all.
The end...?
Ramblings:
1)Umm... Comments? I guess it's nice but... Please! Any suggestions people? I'm also thinking of a part two, this time, on Aoshi's part but I don't want it to turn out as bad as this... -_-
2) All comments and Constructive Criticisms will be appreciated! Email me @
Tru_blu_FY@angelfire.com
