Author's notes:  Starts out like another time to bring the OOC characters in! It's only the beginning! Aa…now its time to bring Aoshi's thoughts upon the situation.

Disclaimer: I don't own RK, nor the characters… I wish I did and steal all the cute guys in it ^_^;

Thoughts

"Dialogue"

A Vow

Chapter 2 : Dooshite..? (why)

He heard the soft movement of her footsteps, light as a feather that seemed to be dragging lead now.  Her slender body trembled while she carelessly picked up the tray and left the temple.  She was trembling, shaking, and what hit him the most was that he took a glimpse of the pain her eyes reflected upon his unwavering ones. Watching as the last bit of hope within her crumble within the mental images because she pined over him for so long.  He continued to stare out towards the door as she left, hearing her breath…heavy and choked. He was left to the solitary abode of the temple.

I'm doing the right thing,  Aoshi thought to himself one more time I am doing the right thing.

Truly, his feelings within himself  created some sort of void within his mind…he'd seen too much and what he did…what he did to Okina when he left the Oniwabanshuu…and Misao…it was unforgivable.  His promise to kill Battousai, now Himura Kenshin, and failed upon it.  Returning home…returning home and meeting Misao with open arms towards him made him awkward.  It was that still, he couldn't move on towards the future as he himself was a mere relic of the feudal era.  How could he keep up with her? He was aging and she was still the girl he took care of.

And the same girl who turned into a woman…and her energy was the sun which he would want to bask in.

She is already at the age to marry.  She  is so young and had so much to live out there…why must she be held back from him? It wasn't fair upon his part really. She will understand…once she will take him out of her life and she will marry someone else.  She will be happy.  She will be happy with someone else.

I'm doing the right thing. Aoshi felt a slight stir in his chest that made him frown I'm doing the right thing.

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How  come she didn't see it sooner?  Was she that dense to not know?  He still considered her as someone so young.  He really didn't have the same feelings for her as she did with him.  Rocking back and forth, she stayed on her bed after the temple. Her eyes were bloodshot from crying so much that the tear streams made a mark even when her body couldn't muster up anymore water. 

It hurts though….it hurts a lot.

She wanted to give up from her fantasy of her and Aoshi being together…She wanted to run away but her mind screamed no.  What kind of Okashira would she be??  Misao gasped as she thought of her status now…Okashira…she sniffled knowing the title.  She barely earned the title as Okashira…it was through birth.  She remembered when she was young she wanted to be a great leader like Aoshi one day…and one day mature so he could see her beyond that…maybe that was what she needed to do.

Acting on impulse she took out a bag and started to grab most of her stuff that would be essential for traveling, clothes that would last, her cloak, her money, paper and letters, and anything else.  Misao looked at her things packed and stared out at the window where she saw the sun meet the hills.  Tonight…tonight she will leave as the girl pampered and return as a leader work for respect.

to be continued

Well, how do you like it so far? I need comments..I know it's a little bad but I'm learning ^_^.