Wildest Hearts
By:
Disclaimers: Standard disclaimers apply. Please don't sue, I'm a good kid!
Chapter 1- Chance Encounters
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'1, 2, 3' thought Misao as she twisted in the air, using her peripheral vision as she threw her kunais forcefully, hitting right in the target.
When she landed on her feet, she sprang into a backflip, releasing six more kunais. She regained her footing and leapt against the wall, using her momentum to attack the helpless dummy with more of her kunais.
"Ano, Misao-chan, Police Captain Cho is here to see you," interrupted Omasu hesitantly.
Panting, sweat beading her forehead, Misao stopped her training. She sighed. She knew she was pushing herself too hard lately but she couldn't help it. Her frustration with Aoshi was taking its toll. She felt so high-strung and helpless.
She hated feeling helpless.
She tried not to think about her conversation with Aoshi last week. Dammit, it hurt! She tried to pretend things were fine but really, it wasn't. She felt too hurt and devastated over Aoshi's flat out refusal of her love.
~ "Gomen Misao, I can't." ~
And with that he withdrew from her. He didn't say anything any more. The distance in his eyes was just too long for her to bridge.
She felt those stupid tears pricking her eyes and she drew a deep breath, aware of Omasu's concerned expression. She was their okashira, she can't just fall apart because of one man right?
"Right. Tell Cho I'll see him in a moment all right Omasu-san?" said Misao while flashing a smile. She kept her fake smile firmly plastered on her face until Omasu left. Her smile faded and ocean eyes grew dark as she prepared herself to face another challenge.
~ 'Oh well, at least work takes my mind off Aoshi' ~
*******
Aoshi meditated in the temple's soothing silence, trying very hard to clear his mind.
So far he was failing and Misao's hurt ocean blue eyes kept drifting in his mind, haunting him with its agonizing beauty. Her eyes seemed so scared and yet so courageous when she asked him to love her last week.
He refused. Why should he let himself love her, she was a pure, guileless child? She just needed time to grow out of her infatuation with him. She was only 19 for Kami-sama's sake!
::By 19, a lot of women have wedded and had kids::
"But she refuses to wear a kimono!" yelped Aoshi's inner voice.
:: You're just a sissy for holding back and not taking her offer::
"Offer?! It was more like she challenged me to love her!"
:: So what holds you back? Or are you only just scared? ::
"I'm not afraid dammit! I just want her to be sure and secure and safe and ready because I'm scared to death she'll only change her mind and I'll lose her. She's my angel you know."
:: So, what are you waiting for then?::
Aoshi opened his eyes, his mind seething with his internal confusion. He felt so helpless and he hated feeling helpless dammit!
He rolled his eyes knowing Misao's penchant for cursing has finally rubbed off on him. He stood up slowly, his mind still sorting out his thoughts. Only one thought remained even as he stretched, feeling his back muscles relax slightly.
What are you waiting for then?
***********************************************************
When Aoshi came in Aioya, he realized he would have to wait further. Okina informed him that Misao has left to do a little spying for Police Captain Cho. Well, not really spying, call it tactical surveillance.
Aoshi felt oddly deflated as he realized he wouldn't be able to talk with Misao then. None of his feelings showed on his face of course but Jiya knew him well enough to surmise the young man's feelings.
"She just took off Aoshi-sama. By nightfall you can catch her I think" informed Jiya smugly as he stroked his beard.
Aoshi nodded to show his gratitude and took off himself.
************************************************************
"Baka Aoshi-sama!" thought Misao even as she leapt from tree to tree. It was fast approaching dusk and she hasn't made a camp. Che, she was so preoccupied with her thoughts she has completely overlooked her location. As she stepped on a branch, she realized it wasn't strong enough to hold her weight.
Shimatta! Broken bones, what next?" thought Misao even as she hurtled down, careful not to scream. She couldn't handle obnoxious thieves with the way things are going.
The sensation of falling was pretty scary and Misao was reminded of the time whenever she would jump off trees and Aoshi would always be there to catch her.
"I'll never let you fall Misao..."
As it turns out he did and he wasn't there to catch her when she fell harder than ever. He never returned her love.
Misao closed her eyes expecting to feel the hard ground break her fall. Her eyes popped open in surprise when she fell against something-- ehem someone soft and warm who fell down with a crash from her weight.
************************************************************
Misao opened her eyes cautiously, the first lucid thought she had was "I'm alive" but then she realized her whereabouts.
She was actually sitting on someone else's head! Her thighs were straddling his neck and if the man turned-- if he turned---
"HENTAIIIIII!" shrieked Misao not getting up probably because she was too stunned but she was beating the guy up pretty marvelously.
She was in the middle of a thundering tirade about the perversity of men and taking advantage of young teenage, attractive girls. It was then when the young man's eyes stopped spinning and from his position, face down in the ground, still pinned by Misao's thighs, he said, his voice muffled, "Gomen ne Miss, but I swear I'll never come near you again if you'd kindly get off of me!"
Misao blushed as in she turned really, really red. She gave him a final smack at the back of his head and stood up shakily. He mumbled something like, "Women are such violent creatures," before he turned over.
Misao's eyes widened when she looked into that smiling familiar face, SETA SOUJIRO! Kami-sama, she'd be mincemeat if he decides to kill her! She gathered her courage, but there is no way he'd wipe me off the face of the Earth without a fight! She whipped out four kunais in each hand as she jumped backwards, watching him warily.
The smile never faded from his face in fact he looked downright amused. "Kora! You're Kenshin Himura's ninja friend right? You're the weasel girl Saitou kept calling when me and Himura were having a fight in that small village!" he said as he calmly sat up, wincing as he rubbed the back of his neck.
Misao said nothing as he stood up and brushed the dirt off his gi and hakama. Her hands tightened on her kunais when she saw him straighten his katana but he didn't seemed inclined to use it on her. Instead he just smiled and remarked, "Oh, no need to fear me, I saved your life remember?"
Three kunais swept by his head, hitting the tree behind him. In a low dangerous tone, Misao said, "You didn't save me. I saved myself by falling on top of you. You on the other hand, compromised me!"
Soujiro responded by scratching his head, "Now miss, I didn't take advantage of you, why would I, you're pretty violent?"
Sighing, Misao dropped her guard, something that Soujiro noted and appreciated. "Gomen. I was just so surprised when I found myself on top of you. Demo, I didn't do it on purpose!" she said scowling.
Surprisingly, Soujiro laughed. "I didn't say anything. All right let me introduce myself, I am Soujiro Seta --"
Misao finished his statement for him, "Juppon Gatana member, Shishio's right-hand man and protege. Did I happen to leave anything out? I am Mikimachi Misao okashira of the Oniwabanshuu," she said as she crossed her arms above her chest.
Not a flicker of emotion crossed Soujiro's face, it only showed the ever present smile. In many ways, Soujiro reminded Misao of Aoshi. And with that thought, Misao began scowling at him again.
"Misao-dono, I swear I have no intention of harming you so you can stop glaring at me now. And you did leave one thing out of your description of me..." said Soujiro.
Intrigued that she happened to overlook an information, Misao leaned closer and asked, "Oh yeah, what?"
His voice almost flat, he said as he spread his bedroll, " You forgot to attach former."
*************************************************************
Aoshi looked up as the moon slowly crept higher in the sky. He has pretty much figured out that Misao has been travelling through trees.
He was only a couple of mile away now and he could almost envision the weasel-smile on Misao's face when she sees him.
Well, not really a smile. He expects her to be a little mad at him for ignoring her. But hey, a guy can dream can't he?
Sudden campfire glowed in the distance. He smirked. Looks like Misao was pretty confident she could take care of intruders.
As he drew closer, he realized that there was someone talking. He paused, listening intently for the voices. Sure enough, there was one male voice, one female.
And that female voice belonged to Misao! His icy blue eyes glittered dangerously as he approached his prey. 'Who could that man be?' he thought.
He burst through the bushes in mere milliseconds and had both his kodachis drawn by the time he faced the two.
"Soujiro Seta?" he asked, still not lowering the kodachis as he watched the swordsman warily, his eyes tracking his every move.
Unfazed, Soujiro only smiled at Aoshi and with a polite bow he said, "Ah, Shinomori-san, how nice to see you again. I thought you would be indisposed already.
TBC
Author's Notes:
Gomen, gomen nasai minna-san. It's not usually my style to leave hangovers and I usually limit myself a fast-paced story. I don't know what came over me in this particular fic but I hope you would still like it.
I wanted to build a good story, Soujiro is such a fascinating character and I wanted to show the development of his role in this particular fic.
