Chapter 4- Morning Reality
Disclaimers: Standard RK disclaimers apply.
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Misao cracked an eye open. The sky was still softly tinged by pink as she nestled closer to Soujiro, feeling the chill air bite into her skin. 'Sugoi... Sou-chan is so warm..' she thought sleepily. When her thoughts penetrated her still slumbering brain, she almost had a heart attack when she realized what she was thinking and what she was doing.
"Oh no!" thought Misao as she realized that Soujiro was asleep, holding her against him and she, the famed okashira of Oniwabanshuu was snuggled against him like a kid! Carefully, so as not to wake Soujiro, she slowly lifted her cheek off his chest and turned slightly to move away.
She cringed when Soujiro only tightened his arms around her and said in a drowsy voice, "Where are you going Misao-dono?"
She peered suspiciously at his face in the dim light and saw that he was smiling slightly. He continued holding her despite her attempt to leave him. She felt her temper mounting and Soujiro seemed oblivious to the peril as he asked, "I didn't make a good enough bed for you? You slept against me so soundly last night I feared to move lest I wake you up."
A loud smack echoed around the woods disturbing the early morning serenity. Soujiro's yelp of pain clashed with Misao's exclamation. "Bakarayou! You perverted jerk! Shame on you taking advantage of an innocent, helpless girl!" exclaimed Misao as she stomped away angrily, her cheeks red.
Soujiro rolled on the cool ground, his eyes still spinning. Chibi-Yumi's were twirling on top of his head as he asked, "Innocent? Helpless?"
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Misao stomped away and headed for the stream so that she could freshen up a bit. As she was walking, she began loosening her braid. "Darn that Soujiro! I did not use him as my bed last night! ...I think," she muttered and felt guilty about hitting Soujiro. As she neared the stream, she heard splashing sounds and stealthily hid behind the bushes to see what is was.
"It could be a bear or--" thought Misao before her mind ceased functioning at the sight that greeted her. "Masaka..." she breathed and she screwed her eyes shut before opening them again, unable to resist.
She placed a hand against her mouth, first to still her squeals, secondly to make sure she wasn't drooling. "Oh my goodness...." Aoshi was stripped to the waist, splashing water against his chest. (author: wai! wai! *drool*)
Misao couldn't help herself, ever since she was a little girl, she has always been fascinated by Aoshi Shinomori! Everything he said and did, she adored and loved. When he was he okashira at the young age of 15, she was so amazed by him.
"Misao-- I know you're there," said Aoshi in a monotone. He didn't pause in his rituals but hurried it up a bit slightly. He knew that Misao had this habit of taking a bath every morning. She kept it since she was little, emulating his fastidiousness about cleanliness.
Her cheeks pink, Misao came out of the bushes, trying desperately not to stare at Aoshi's muscular back. " I was planning to freshen up this morning," said Misao in what she hoped was a nonchalant voice.
Aoshi thought that Misao's voice was squeaky, as if she was coming down with a cold. Unable to stem his concern, he turned to face her and saw that her braid was undone, her hair falling in silky waves around her. He was still looking at her hair when he heard her horrified gasp. Guiltily, he took his eyes off her hair and saw that she was staring at his scarred chest.
"A--a---Aoshi-sama... what have they done?" she asked in a tear-clogged voice. Misao couldn't help it. A multitude of scars criss-crossed all over his well-developed chest. Some scars were deep, some long and jagged. She saw him involuntarily touch a scar, as if re-affirming its presence. He bowed his head a little, hiding his remorse filled eyes.
"Kuso..." breathed Aoshi. He never intended to show Misao marks from his past. "No doubt that she is repulsed by the sight of so many scars," thought Aoshi bleakly. He turned his back and stood a little straighter, as if pride alone could carry him through this ordeal. He was still mulling over his scars when he felt Misao's small hand against his bare back.
He turned around so sharply, he nearly knocked Misao off her feet. He looked into Misao's sorrowful ocean eyes, almost overcome by the tender way she touched him. She traced a scar on his chest, her fingertips light and questing.
"His physical scars were nothing compared to the scars in his heart," thought Misao. As he drew in a deep breath, his chest expanded and suddenly, Misao threw her arms around him offering comfort, sympathy and most importantly... love.
Her tears came unbidden and they drenched Aoshi's chest. "Sumen-- sumen nasai... sumen nasai Aoshi-sama," said Misao as she cried. She didn't know if she was apologizing for failing to understand him or for being another one of his burdens.
Reluctantly, Aoshi wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on top of her head. He felt his own heart twisting painfully, at her tears and at her words. "Why are you apologizing Misao-chan?" he asked softly.
At his use of her old nickname, Misao felt fresh tears starting. "For-- being another burden," she whispered and stepped out of his arms abruptly. She gave him a sad smile and went back to where she came from.
Misao never looked back.
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Later that day as they headed for Misao's mission, Soujiro would occasionally give her quizzical looks. Misao kept silent that day so subdued that both men worried about her. They were only a few miles away from Misao's destination when they got attacked.
A hail of shuriken rained on their party from all sides.
Misao raised her bag, catching a lot of shuriken on it as she dove and evaded. She threw her bag away as more shuriken fell upon it, turning it into an oversized pincushion. As she rolled away, she was drawing out her kunais, throwing it at the attacker's general vicinity.
Soujiro rolled and with narrowed eyes, he stood and used his technique, shikuchi. He moved faster than the wind while Aoshi moved almost as fast, employing his ninja skills. Misao then quickly stood up and following her companions' example, she began moving from tree to tree rapidly, throwing her kunais as she suddenly hit an attacker. He fell down screaming a kunai embedded in his throat.
The other attackers fell down shortly, dead before they even hit the ground. Aoshi and Soujiro dropped down from tree shortly, their katanas sheathed in blood. Both men looked extremely dangerous that time and if Misao didn't trust them, she would have run like hell in the opposite direction.
She dropped down on the ground shortly and straightened as she looked at her destination with new eyes. "I thought Jiya said this would only be surveillance," muttered Misao as she readied her kunais. Aoshi stood beside her as he looked upon the partly hidden house with cold eyes.
"Misao, sometimes even a surveillance can become a form of attack," he said, his voice colder than the north wind. Misao winced upon hearing his voice. She knew that Aoshi hated battle, for the smell of blood would bring too many memories from the past that torments him. She lowered her eyes guiltily and felt a comforting hand on her shoulder.
Soujiro gave her a look that clearly stated, 'Don't worry about that,' and his perception of her was starkly comforting. Aoshi watched their silent exchange with pursed lips, displeasure clear in his eyes before turning away. Soujiro saw Aoshi's reaction and almost grinned in satisfaction.
"Minna, let's finish this job now," said Misao grimly as they advanced towards the house.
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Author's Notes:
Hao Minna-san!!! Geez, I must be on a roll today, I've been working on three ficcies. @_@ orororo.... C&C's are very much appreciated, I'm still not sure how the story will turn out but I'm working on it as I go along. Hey, who do you think should end up together, Soujiro-Misao or Aoshi-Misao? Ja! Email me at jaded_cutie@edsamail.com.ph.
