Fate Beckons

Chapter 12: Awakening

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"Aoshi...Aoshi!" He found himself standing in a garden, blooming flowers around him. Somehow, the place looked familiar...but it couldn't be in Singapore, could it? There were definitely no plum blossoms in any public garden...

The voice, too, was familiar. He turned around to see his four friends, smiling at him. He could not help but smile back.

"It's good to see you again, Aoshi," Hannya told him.

"Good to see you too, guys. But what's this place?" Aoshi looked around him, searching his mind for clues.

"You won't be able to find it in your present memories...it's all in your past life, Aoshi...someday you'll find this place again...when you're truly happy..."

"But I am happy now."

"Are you truly happy, Aoshi? Don't lie to yourself. You found happiness in your past life only through love and forgiveness. Do you have that now? Without forgiving yourself, you can't be truly happy." Shikijou looked sad.

"But I could have protected you guys from getting killed...I was too slow..."

"You can't control fate, Aoshi. I told you someone was waiting for you back home...your fate lies with her. Don't deny it, all these years she's always been on your mind. Whenever anyone mentioned her name, your eyes would suddenly soften. She's the one you need to protect now. Think it over," Hannya advised.

"You know how she feels about you now. Be true to your heart and you'll find true happiness. You found it once in your past life...it's up to you to find it again. For once, let your heart lead you, Aoshi. We'll always watch over the both of you." A mist slowly engulfed his surroundings, fading everything away.

Then, it was as if Aoshi was watching himself play his life out in a movie...only he wasn't sure if it was really himself. He wore a uniform(?) which was black with a dark blue lining, carrying two swords in one sheath--kodachi. It didn't take long for Aoshi to realize that the man was standing in the same surreal landscape that he had been in himself just a few moments before. And the young woman by his side...looked so much like Misao, except for the long braid.

"Aoshi-sama, I guess they'll be happier here ne? With the sunlight shining over them..."

"Yes, they'll be much happier than in that dark forest." He turned to face her, and the warmth and softness in his eyes showed his true love for the girl. "Just like I'm happier with your sunlight shining on me."

"Oh, Aoshi..." she practically flew into his arms, her eyes lighting up than never before.

"With you, I've learnt to forgive and put the past behind me...my heart can no longer stay in darkness. Arigatou Misao, and aishiteru."

A shower of petals suddenly rained around them. Misao broke from his embrace to look up, and her eyes widened in wonder.

"Look, Aoshi! It's a miracle, the flowers are blooming, although it's nearly winter!" It was true, the once nearly withering flowers were blooming into a rainbow of colours...just like the blossoming love between them.

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Dawn was just breaking, and if it were just like any other day, Misao would have hopped out of bed and be running around. But strangely, she seemed to be in no mood to do so.

Rubbing her eyes, she dragged herself to the bathroom to wash up. It didn't take long for her to notice the tell-tale red rims around her eyes. She had cried herself to sleep, for the second night in a row.

"Misao?" Her mother looked surprised to see her like that. "Why are your eyes so reddish?" All Misao wanted to do was to run to her mother and pour her heart out, like she used to when she was little and more...carefree and innocent. But it was different now, she was no longer a little girl and wanted to solve her problems by herself. Besides, her mother would probably just lecture her about falling in love when her O' levels were so near and blah blah blah...now was not the time.

"I slept really late last night...guess I drank too much coffee." Well, half a lie meant that it was still half true. Mrs. Makimachi did not look too convinced, but she nodded her head. "Try not to sleep too late. You need your full energy especially since this year is an important year."

Misao shuddered internally as she thought about the O' level exams, which were drawing nearer and nearer. Last year, she had still been more or less enjoying herself, all thought of the 'life-and-death' exams far away. This year, the impact was much more real--teachers were teaching faster than ever and people kept bringing it up. It made her...nervous to think of it, although it was months away.

It wasn't the only thing that made her nervous though. She had a competition that day, which was why she was awake so early on a weekend. Although it wasn't really a major national competition, her club was counting on her. It was her first inter-club as she had not been fast enough previously. With hard work, she had improved tremendously for her events. I wonder what Aoshi would think...

The thought of him sent a sharp stab of pain through her heart. The way he looked at her, she had almost thought that he did have some feelings for her. But he had denied it straight to her face. Yet, his actions contradicted his words...she still remembered his strong arms around her, holding her close to him, and the warmth and depth of his eyes as he looked at her.

Aoshi, were those your true feelings you were telling me, or are you just hiding the truth?

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Hours went by too fast. Even as Misao did lap after lap, turn after turn of warm ups, nothing could hush the nervous beating of her heart. Joking with Sanosuke, Megumi and Yahiko made her feel only a little better. Coach Kenshin tried to calm all of them down by giving them advice and reminding them that winning was not everything, the main thing was to outdo their personal best. That too worked but only to a certain extent--during a competition, no matter what a person thought before, winning became the utmost importance

She stood at the reporting stand, doing callisthenic warm ups again. Her parents were at the spectators' stand, chatting with some other parents, and Kaoru would be there anytime soon, as she had promised--after all, both her best friend and younger brother would be competing! She did not know if the Shinomoris would come, although she was pretty sure her parents had already told them about it. And Aoshi...after that incident, it was unlikely that he would turn up unless his mother knocked him out and dragged him along.

"Yo, Weasel Girl!!" Three voices called in unison before bursting into laughter. Misao turned her head to see Xiao Xun and two of her ex-school teammates who had graduated from school (seniors!), Omasu and Okon, waving at her. She smiled and waved back. "Hi! I thought you were never coming!" Then, she suddenly realised what they had just called her and her eyes narrowed.

"Don't you dare call me that again or I'll--!" She fisted her hands and punched the air in mock anger.

"Leng3 jing4 dian3 lah," [Chill out a little] Omasu grinned. "Don't be so ken chiong! [nervous, in a hurry]"

"Competitors for event number 6, 50 metres freestyle for Girls', please get ready," the commentator's voice announced.

"That's me, see you guys later," Misao called, jogging to the starting blocks and taking her place. She stripped away her jacket and secured her goggles and cap. Pressing her hands to her heart, she mouthed a silent prayer and stepped onto the starting block as the first 'Take your mark' whistle sounded.

Hurriedly, she threw a glance at the spectators' stand. Her parents, friends and the Shinomoris(!) minus Aoshi waved at her, setting her mind at ease, although she did hope Aoshi was there. Taking a deep breath, she shut all nervousness and fear out of her mind, throwing out the constant thought of "What if I false start and get DQed [disqualified]". She bent down and gripped the edge of the block.

The starting buzz sounded. As if she were jumping from a spring, Misao straightened her body and thrust herself through the air, stretching to go as far as possible. Then at the height of the thrust, she dropped her head in line with her body, her hands breaking into the water surface before her head followed.

Everything else happened in a blur. All Misao knew that she was going her full speed, stretching herself forward, reaching out for the end. The floor moved by in a blur, and she concentrated only on the staccato rhythm of her kicks and strokes. Then all of a sudden, her hand touched the wall. She stopped and looked around her.

The second swimmer pulled up a split second later. She had come in first. She could here her friends all cheering like crazy, and an overwhelming sense of elation filled her. It was the very first time she had come in first! But if only Aoshi were there, it would have been so much better...

Following the signal to clear the pool, Misao pulled herself out of the water. She had not realised how much her legs ached from all the strong kicking. Limping to the gallery where she had left her stuff, she did not see the puddle of water.

Her legs slipped out from under her, and she flailed about desperately, searching for a handle to hold on that was not there. She closed her eyes, bracing herself for the impact of the hard floor.....

Then a pair of strong arms caught hold of her, breaking her floor. "Mi-chan, you should watch where you're going," a familiarly low voice told her. She opened her eyes to meet intense, bluish grey ones, staring at her with seemingly ironic warmth and concern.

"Aoshi....." So he had come after all.

TBC.....

It's high time I change the name 'Xiao Xun' to a more familiar 'Kaoru", isn't it....? I'd better do it soon, many ppl have told me using "Xiao Xun" causes confusion.
Couldn't resist the swimming thing although I know I probably should have used martial arts instead. Keep the reviews coming in( don't want to sound like a nag, but I love reading comments).