by

Everlasting

by: Reiko-chan

Standard Disclaimers Apply

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 4: Memories that Last

Under the light of the silver moon, Mikki walked leisurely from her house to the next street, stopping in front of a familiar gate. She rang the doorbell once, and in a few seconds, Tony appeared at the door.

"Hi Tony," Mikki waved a hand at him. Tony replied with his usual grin, and went to the gate to let her in.

"What brings you here Mikki?" he asked, his voice, set in a single tone and level.

"Well, you asked me if you could borrow my CD," Mikki replied, showing him a CD. "So, here. I brought it for you." The two went inside Tony's home, and sat on the sofa. Then, down the staircase came his mom, who greeted Mikki very warmly.

"Mikki dear!" she smiled. "It's been a long time since we saw each other. How are you?"

"I'm fine Mrs. Simmons," she replied, returnng the smile. "I was just busy with school exams that's why I wasn't able to drop by."

"Well, at least you're preparing for college," Mrs. Simmons remarked, looking at her son. "Tony, I'm off to the grocery. I'll be back in an hour. See you guys." Tony stood up and waved at his mom.

"Bye mom," he said as she closed the door.

"Feed your guest," she called from behind the door. Mikki and Tony heard the car start at the garage, and in a little while, the car, with Tony's mom, was gone.

"Sit down," he pointed to the sofa. Mikki obeyed, and sat down, taking the remote from beside her. Tony went to the bar and looked into the shelves. "What do you want to eat?"

"Hmm, me?" Mikki held her chin as she thought. "Popcorn would be fine." Tony looked into one of the shelves and found some easy to make popcorn. He took it, removed it from the plastic and heated it in the microwave.

"Popcorn it is then," he announced. The popcorn started popping and the bag grew bigger by the minute. Mikki was just watching a program she and Tony enjoyed ever since they were kids. "Mikki, can you play the disc?" Mikki nodded and went to the CD player beside the tv. She turned it on with the remote and played the CD. Pretty soon, they were listening to a disc with all of Mikki's favorite songs. The popcorn was ready then. Tony poured it into a bowl and set it on the bar table. Mikki took a seat opposite Tony and they started eating. There were no other sounds to be heard, except the radio and Mikki's voice singing along. Tony remained quiet, just sitting down and eating some popcorn.

"Hey Tony, you're so quiet," Mikki frowned, noticing his serious face. "What's gotten into you?" Tony shook his head.

"It's nothing. I was just thinking," Tony replied, standing and going to the fridge. "What do you want to drink?"

"I'll just get it for myself," Mikki returned. "What were you thinking of?"

"Well... nothing really. It's just that it's been a long time since you went to my house like this," Tony replied. "It's either you were always with Kate and Meg, or you were studying for exams."

"Well you didn't want to hang out with my friends," Mikki pouted, her head resting on her hands. "I introduced you to the men, and it seems you're only talking with Kevin. You never mind Sean."

"Sean has the brain of a chicken," was Tony's reply. Mikki started laughing. "What?"

"A brain of a chicken," Mikki repeated laughing. "Good one Tony." Tony just looked at her for a while as she laughed. There was something very warm about her laughter... something very familiar. For a brief second, he saw a man in his late twenties playing with a little girl no more than eight. The girl was laughing, and the man was smiling as he gave her a paper crane... Funny though. The man looked a lot like him.

"Hey, snap out of it," Mikki snapped a finger in front of his face. When Tony blinked his eyes from the surprise, Mikki sighed. "For a moment there I thought you were lost."

"What do you mean?" Tony asked.

"Well, you were just staring into space. I tried calling your name but you wouldn't hear me," she explained, her eyes full of concern. "Is something bothering you?" Tony was quiet at first. It took a moment before he could reply.

"No. It's nothing. I was just..."

"Thinking?" Mikki finished for him. "God Tony, you've been thinking too much lately." Mikki shook her head and went to the fridge to get some juice. She thought about his weird actions as she poured some into her glass. "You want some?" Tony just shook his head. What is he thinking? she thought. Something is bothering him and I want to know what... Maybe he's been having a dream... That's why he just stared into space a while ago... The way Kate does sometimes...

"Are you sick?" Mikki asked him, returning to her seat. Tony shook his head. "Have you been having strange dreams?" This immediately caught his attention. He looked at her queerly.

"Have you?" Mikki repeated her question, watching his brows curl in wonder and surprise.

"Why do you ask?" he said.

"I asked you a question first," she firmly replied. "Answer me first before I answer you. That's just proper." Tony's eyes widened in surprise from the way she acted. Sure, he was two years older than her, and much more mature, but this girl before him seemed too mature for her age. She never acted that way. Only if she was serious would she reply in such a manner. Something told Tony that he could never hide the truth from this girl. She knew him very well. "Well, are you going to answer me Tony?" Realizing he had to say something to shut her up, he replied the truth.

"Yes," he spoke. "I have been having strange dreams."

Finally, he told me.

"There. See how easy it is? Now I can answer your question," Mikki tossed her braid to her back. "You've been staring into space more often lately, as if you've been having a vision or a dream. Sometimes... I do too. That's why I was concerned."

"You do?" Mikki nodded in reply.

"Sometimes... I dream that I'm a little girl with a grandfather and a guardian, both wearing traditional Japanese costumes. They raised me within a group of ninjas, and I became one myself. My guardian was ten years older than me. His name was... Aoshi... I believe. I respected and admired him so much. That respect and admiration turned into love when I got older."

"Aoshi..." Tony repeated in a silent whisper.

"I remember them calling me... Misao..."

Misao....

*********

"Aoshi-sama! Aoshi-sama! Let's play!" cried a little Misao, pulling his garments. Aoshi obligingly consented to the little girl's wish, smiling at her as she dragged him to the gardens. Misao laughed gaily, jumping up and down in childish happiness. Aoshi's smile never faded, his eyes twinkling as he saw the little girl run around with the other members of the Oniwabanshu in a game of tag.

********

"Tony," Mikki called his name softly. "You're doing it again... You've been mumbling names." Tony looked at her questioning eyes. They were filled with doubt, surprise, shock, and many more emotions, all crammed into one dainty eye. He remembered those eyes... he had seen them before. Once... upon... a dream...

********

Misao stood in the doorway, unable to move from shock. Her eyes widened, tears brimming as she saw the sight of Okina, sprawled on the floor, drenched in his own blood. A few inches away from him was Aoshi, her Aoshi, who had a katana in his hand, blood dripping from it.

"Jiya!" she rushed to the old man's side, trying to find out if he still breathed. She turned to Aoshi with frantic eyes, who had just reached the door, ready to leave. "Why Aoshi-sama? Why?! Aoshi-sama!!" Aoshi stopped for a moment, looking at her from the corner of his eye. Then, he left.

********

"Aoshi..." Mikki whispered the name softly. "I remember so many memories... some bittersweet ones... some happy ones. It was all part of the life I had with him." She turned to face Tony, who was still absorbed in his thoughts. She just stared at him for a few moments, before finally deciding to leave. Tony must've read her mind, for once she stood up, she felt a hand grasp her arm, not wanting her to leave.

"Stay," was all Tony could say. His voice had become husky from all the minutes of silence. Mikki was so surprised, she obeyed him. She sat down, her eyes never leaving his.

In his mind were a series of memories flashing before him just like a movie. All of those scenes, he saw Aoshi, feeling the pain he felt. He began to remember everything... the people whom he had cared for, the deeds he had done, the tears that mingled with blood, the grief and sorrow he felt... All were coming back to him in a surge of emotions. It was quite a lot for him to bear, but he managed to pull through. He managed to look Mikki straight in the eye, and tell her what he felt.

"I'm sorry Mikki," he whispered softly. "For all those times I hurt you... for all those times I neglected you." Mikki got more puzzled.

"What the..."

Tony continued speaking. "I remember now. I remember everything. I remember who I am, I remember what I am..." Mikki pressed a figner on his lips, stopping him from speaking.

"Was," she corrected. "That was the past. This is the present, not the past. Whoever or whatever you were in the past, that doesn't make any difference for now is the present." Tony smiled at her words, and took her hand in his. Mikki smiled too, placing her other hand over his.

"Thank you," Tony whispered. "Thank you for loving me."

"My pleasure," was all Mikki had to say, as she leaned forward and pressed a light kiss on his lips. "I love you."

"I love you too," Tony responded. Misao-mine. As if she heard his thought, she beamed happily and planted another soft kiss on his lips. Tony was too surprised at her actions that he forgot for a brief second about the world. Mikki pulled away, blushing. Suddenly, Mikki turned to the radio.

"My favorite song!" she cried out, pressing her hands together close to her chest. She started singing to it as Tony just watched her, listening to her voice. Then, they heard the car come in, realizing that they had been talking for an hour. Through the door came Mrs. Simmons, smiling at the two behind the groceries she carried.

"I hope you guys had a nice time," Mrs. Simmons said, placing her groceries on the bar table.

"We did!" Mikki responded in her usual cheerful manner. "No need to worry."

"But I think your mom has reason to," Tony told her. "It's getting late you'd better go home." Mikki turned to the clock above them, and gasped.

"It is getting late! I had better go home! I was just supposed to drop the CD!" Mikki cried out, rushing to the door. "Thanks a lot for everything! See you tomorrow!" And with that, she was gone. Tony just smiled at her. His mom, noticing his peculiar behavior, teased her son.

"I think something else happened here Tony," she winked. "Would you mind telling me?"

"Not at all mom," he replied. "In fact I'd be happy to."

"I'm glad," was his mom's reply as she went to him and hugged her son. "I'm glad."

Author's notes:
So, as you see, this chapter is dedicated to all Aoshi and Misao fans. I hope you liked chapter 4. All I have to do is work on the Sano and Megumi part. (sigh). I've always had a hard time imagining some WAFF between the two of them, and I feel like I've ran out of ideas... I think I'd better add some fighting part in their WAFF since they always fight anyway... Well... hey! I got a better idea which I won't tell you! It's going to be something very different from all the rest! Hehehe. So, onto the next chapter everyone!