Fate Beckons

Chapter 18: Eienni(Forever)

Disclaimers apply

He stood under a tree in the garden, waiting for her under its shadow. A sakura tree, she guessed--they were all over the park. But that one was different, it seemed a little late in blooming. Its buds still had not opened into the splendid pale pink of its neighbours.

One thing was for sure though--the garden had enough sunshine to last through the darkest winter, if there was some way to store sunlight. Its only shadowy place was under the tree that Aoshi was standing under right at that moment--just enough shade to keep a person--or two--cool on a hot day.

He looked so lost, as if looking for someone...but not really looking at the same time. She wondered what he was thinking about--and what his reaction would be if she just happened to 'materialize' behind him and cover his eyes. Giggling at the idea,--would his eyes actually pop up like in the manga she loved reading? Would he 'oro' like her ex-coach Kenshin?--she slipped behind a nearby bush, intending to put her newest 'plan' into practice.

As he came closer into view, Misao noticed that his hair was a little longer than before. Apart from that, nothing else had changed, at least externally. He wore a black shirt with blue linings and black pants.

Just like Aoshi to wear black, she thought, clamping a hand over her mouth to stifle a giggle. I hope his heart hasn't changed...what did he ask me here for anyway? I know him--it's definitely not just to see the sakura...and why this place of all? Though it does look kind of familiar...but he doesn't want to break up, does he?

She quickly banished the very thought from her mind. This place was too beautiful for a breakup. Besides, he had been fiddling with something around his neck--the pendant?--the last time she had looked at him. He should still be looking at it now...she looked up to reassure herself...

And realised that he was gone.

"What the--?" the next thing she knew, a hand clamped over her mouth. Another strong, muscular arm wrapped itself around her waist and pulled her against a taut, firm frame.

"Don't think I don't know you what you were planning," a familiarly deep voice whispered. "Still as mischievous as ever, eh, Misao?" Dragging her into the garden, he let go and turned her around.

The love of his life was fuming at him, in her adorable way. Just like before...I hope her heart hasn't changed. Especially since I'm banking on it to get my answer.

"WHAT WERE YOU DOING YOU NEARLY SCARED ME TO DEATH!!!" She yelled so loudly that the chirping birds on the trees fluttered away out of fear. And was that an echo coming from the surrounding Hiei mountains?

His hand clamped over her mouth again. "Shh...the whole world's going to hear. They're the ones who are going to be scared to death...and you need to be more alert," he teased. She mock glared at him, but the corners of her lips turned up in a smile, and she followed what her heart had told her to do.

She flung herself into his arms, and he held her there in a tight embrace.

"I've really missed you..."

"So have I, my Mi-chan...so have I..." he smiled softly as he ran his fingers through her hair...just like before.

They stayed that way for a while before finally pulling apart. Then, she looked at him almost accusingly.

"So...what did you ask me here for? Aren't you supposed to be in Tokyo, studying?" That cute mock glare again--he was beginning to wonder how he could ever have resisted her.

"We-ell, a few months ago I came here for a short vacation..."

"And?"

"I saw this place and thought it was beautiful with all those flowers so..."

"So what?"

Aoshi took a deep breath. He wondered what her reaction would be--would she laugh, scream or cry?

"I thought this would be the best place to propose to you."

She stumbled back and stared at him disbelievingly. "Liar."

"I'm serious." He took a step forward. "Makimachi Misao, will you marry me? It doesn't have to be now but I still want to know."

"You're still a liar. A few months ago, it would have been winter. There wouldn't have been many flowers."

"Hey, that isn't the main point!" His eyes softened. "I'd really like you to think it over..." He took a deep breath. "I want to spend the rest of my life wi--"

He was abruptly interrupted when Misao giggled and gave him a quick, firm kiss on the lips.

"You don't have to be so serious! I heard that." Misao was almost bursting with delight, although she tried her best not to show too much of it. The very first time he had (sort of) proposed to her (if you call "I thought this would be the best place to propose to you" a proposal), she had already known what her answer would be. But she wasn't going to let him be satisfied so easily. Not with his so unromantic way of proposing!

He smiled. "Any answer?"

"You don't sound sincere enough! I'm not going to answer until I'm convinced you're serious about it." She turned, as if to walk away, but in actual fact it was to hide her face that had been twisted by her efforts trying to straighten it into a cold 'mask' that would hide her growing smile. [And I think that's just about the longest sentence I've ever written which even I can hardly make head or tail of.]

"Wait!" he called after her. She didn't look back--she was trying to hard not to laugh! He dashed after her--it took only a few strides due to his much longer legs. Grabbing her firmly but gently on the shoulders, he turned her around to face him.

Luckily for her (but not so much for him), she had managed to straighten her face in a sudden burst of self-control--a rather tough job for her.

"Look at me." She did--into those serious, intense greyish-blue eyes she had missed so much ever since their separation. Once, a few years ago, she had felt that they were cold and unfathomable, hiding many secrets in their depths. They now emitted love, warmth and last but not least, sincerity.

The next thing she knew, he was down on his knees.

"Remember the chain I gave you before I left Singapore?" he asked? She nodded, taking the pendant out from underneath her collar.

"Whenever I miss you, I look at it and it comforts me," she told him. He smiled.

"I told you that when our halves of the pendant come together again, we'll be together forever. I want that to happen--not now if you're not ready, but somewhere in the near future." He took a deep breath. "Makimachi Misao, will you marry me?"

He looked so serious that Misao forgot all about her plan to drag him around in circles before finally giving him an answer. She kneeled down so that she was on the same level as him, tears of happiness welling up in her eyes.

"Yes," she whispered, hugging him. "Yes, I will."

Overjoyed, he tilted her head up to him and lowered his lips to hers.Both felt as if they were on the peak of exhilaration as they liplocked, each not wanting to stop or let go.

Somehow, the pendants they were both wearing around their necks came together as they held each other closer. At that moment, a radiant light shone over the both of them...over the garden.

The late-blooming sakura tree glowed goldenly, suddenly blossoming into a rush of pale pink and white, emanating a sweet scent. A gentle gust of wind blew a shower of fresh petals down on the two lovers, sprinkling them with hope and blessing...

...Just like confetti sprinkled all over a bride on a wedding day.

It was as if earth had become heaven, just for them.

All of a sudden, Misao found herself pinned under Aoshi. They had gotten a little carried away, but that was not the first thing she noticed.

What she noticed was that the wind had parted the foliage of a nearby bush, revealing a stone with some Japanese characters carved on it.

"Look, Aoshi!" She pointed. He looked in the direction she indicated, and got up to explore further. She followed behind.

"There are three others." He brushed the dust off the stones.

"Hannya, Shikijou, Beshimi, Hyottoko. Meiji 11." He smiled. "That's where we buried them in our past lives, wasn't it?"

She nodded, remembering a dream. "And this is where we confessed our love for each other too...You know what, Aoshi? I felt their presences just now...maybe this is why."

"Somehow, I have a feeling all of just now's happenings were because of them," Aoshi grinned. "They were the ones who first brought me to my senses about my feelings for you. And they told me, in a dream, that I would find my happiness here...and so I have. The fact that we're together is partly due to them."

"Hannya, Shikijou, Beshimi, Hyottoko...they've always taken care of me, even in our past lives. I guess they're the ones who brought us together again."

"The next time we return here, I intend to bury a piece of each of them here...like the lighter that Hyottoko loved to play with so much, or Hannya's mask...just in memory. For now, may they rest in peace."

He stood up, and so did Misao. Walking arms around each other, they treaded out of the park, towards a new life of happiness.

Happiness that Fate intended for them.

tbc...

Actually, I'm also wondering what will happen if Aoshi and Misao went back into the forest where they were murdered in their past life, but never mind about that...or should I really write a chapter on that?