Neko_no_miko presents ~ A Rurouni Kenshin Fan fiction
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The Passage Of Time: Chapter Two
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A soft rustling of the wind through the small growth of bamboo leaves woke
Aoshi up. His eyes shut the blinding shaft of light from the wooden slate
windows as he laid face up. Quietness ensured for some time when he turned
his head slowly towards the empty futon that was neatly folded at the far
end of the room.
The onslaught of last night's incident finally settling in, Aoshi realized
the awkward situation that was waiting back at Aoiya. Misao's cold attitude
the night before had been expected by him when he arrived at such a decision.
however, no amount of self preparation seemed enough when the inevitable
happened. He moved to fold the bedding materials up in liquid grace and was
done in less than a couple of minutes.
'I will rest in the shrine for this afternoon.' Aoshi decided as his mind
unwillingly drifted off to wonder if Misao had returned to Aoiya.
"Daijoubu, Misao is the strong for age. She will get over it when he
realized that the feelings she had were mere infatuation."
'What about your own emotions? Were they simply brotherly caring on your
part?'
He postponed the need to face such thoughts and dread of meeting Misao in
the future as he sat down to begin meditating. 'Coward,' his sub-conciousness
scolded.
"Tadaima," muttered the youngest member of the Oniiwabanshuu, Misao.
Omasu sticked her head out to call out an "Okaerii nasai" when a sudden slam
of door followed by a shadow breezing passed her.
"Misao, you got all of us worried for not returning home last night. You
deserved punishment for such act." Okina squeezed the small framed girl in
his famous bear hug.
A tiny gasp from Misao's tortured lungs came out. "Jiiya, can't breathe."
With a last hug from the old man, Okina finally released her.
A short time was allowed for the girl to catch her breath before Okina
poked the side of her ribs with a lecherous grin. "Misao, did anything
happen between you and your beloved Aoshi-sama last night?"
The whole group of Omitsu were gathering around in great interest. Misao's
face took on a dark expression for a few heartbeats before going back to
normal. "Nothing happened," she gave an unusually bright smile and turned to
retreat in the safe recess of her room.
Misao threw herself onto the welcoming futon and snuggled into the covers.
The smile retained for the benefit of her adoptive family fell away. It was
then did she allow the plain heartbreak and sorrow to show. Hot tears came
spilling out as she wept the ones that were held back since last night. She
cupped her face in her palms as each heart wrenching sob shook her entire
body.
Memories of Aoshi-sama playing with her, teaching her how to read and write
and the patience and tenderness on his normally expressionless face,
surfaced like a cruel tsunami wave that hit on without mercy. Misao wanted
to throw the objects in her room, with violence practically screaming to be
let out, but the fear of letting Jiiya and the rest to find out the reason
for such irrational actions curbed the strong desire.
(The Shin Aoiya, Kyoto)
The stifling heat that night was rather unbearable. After a satisfying
dinner, everyone gathered out in the porch. Omasu and Ochika were playing
with a packet of handmade fire-crackers while the males were cheering Okina,
waving his fans in a drunkard stupor.
Misao sat in a corner of the sitting room, eyes staring vacantly into space
as she chewed a slice of ripe watermelon. Every encouragement from the
boisterous bunch met with a listless smile. To make up for the tension, the
rest of them tried to compensate by being more energetic in the games than
usual.
"Misao-chan, o genki desu ka?" Ochika made an effort to include Misao in the
activity. Glassy sea foam eyes looked up into a concerned brown as she nodded
in affirmation. "Hora, play the fire-crackers with us." Attempts to drag the
pale faced teenager failed miserably. Ochika had no choice but to leave the
girl's side and continued in her lighting up of fireworks, keeping a careful
eye on her.
"Omasu, what do you think has happened to give such an expression on
Misao-chan?" Ochika whispered.
A slight peek was taken from the corner of Omasu's eye before she turned back
to mumble, "I don't know. We've never seen Misao-chan so depressed before.
I'll bet it has something to do with Aoshi-sama." A nod of agreement from
Ochika expressed similar suspicion. The uneasiness was weighing heavily in
the atmosphere as they decided to observe Misao and Aoshi for a little
longer.
Navy blue sky with countless stars hung high as the entire Oniiwabanshuu
retired for the night. Misao tossed and turned for a few hours and finally
gave up the attempts to sleep. She slipped on a pair of straw slippers as her
footsteps pattered soundlessly on the wooden floor.
Soft shuffling of a man's footsteps were picked upon by Misao's exceptionally
trained hearing as the back entrance of the Aoiya was slid open. Misao stood
in the shadows with her kunais poised to attack. As soon as a figure was
illuminated by the weak moonlight, the ninja girl threw them in a blinding
speed.
Obviously, the speed of the weapons were not fast enough as the stranger
intercepted the flying objects with extreme grace. Misao tried to retaliate
but the supposed assailant caught both her fist and right leg in time.
"Who are you?" Misao hissed. "I'll for the others if you don't let go of me
right now."
A sharply featured face was visible at last when the person stepped into the
light.
"Aoshi-sama," Misao gasped out, limbs still in the ex-okashiira's grasp.
A fleeting emotion crossed his slate blue eyes as he heard the way Misao
addressed him. "Aa."
The previous night's incident came flooding back to her as Aoshi gently set
the girl down.
"Gomen nasai, Shinomorii-san" Misao straightened and hid the mixed feelings
upon seeing him again.
The dreaded name gave his heart a weird twist as he stepped into the dark
inn. He padded up to his room trying to avoid the confrontation that brewed.
Misao followed into his room without a word as he shut the door to his
bedroom before he spun to face the tearful girl.
"Nanda?" Aoshi questioned. Misao tried to bring the distance between them to
a smaller gap, but he backed away as she took every tiny step towards him.
A frustrated Misao was on the verge of yelling out her thoughts when she
restrained herself.
'Another sign of her growing up.' A part of Aoshi noted objectively. Had
Misao been younger, she would have reacted first while not sparing any
thoughts on the consequences.
"Shinomorii-san," the formal address from Misao's lips were beginning to
grate his ears. "I just want to clarify the matters further. After that,
rest assured I'll be of no nuisance at all."
The sentence was so ironic to Aoshi's ears that he nearly laughed out loud.
'Nuisance? You are not the nuisance here. I am the trouble to you.'
However, the reply came out in his deep baritone coldly, "What is it?"
The tone and manner seemed to slap her in the face as her voice trembled.
"What have I done to make you dislike me so? Tell me what is it that made
you treat me in this manner. You never spoken this way to me before!"
"Leave me alone!" The harsh words spilled out. "Don't you get it? I'm tired
of your meddling in my affairs!"
Misao choked out, tears flowing freely, "Did you ever like me as a woman?
Even just a little?"
"No."
"I understand," Misao's legs felt like rubber as she tried to support her
weight. She slowly retraced her steps to the door. "Sayonara, Aoshi-sama."
The farewell was a sword to the heart as his face remained blank until the
paper door slid close. It was then, did he allow the anguish hidden from
the moment the cruel exchange started to show.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(end of part two)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------------------------------------------------------
============================================================================
The Passage Of Time: Chapter Two
============================================================================
A soft rustling of the wind through the small growth of bamboo leaves woke
Aoshi up. His eyes shut the blinding shaft of light from the wooden slate
windows as he laid face up. Quietness ensured for some time when he turned
his head slowly towards the empty futon that was neatly folded at the far
end of the room.
The onslaught of last night's incident finally settling in, Aoshi realized
the awkward situation that was waiting back at Aoiya. Misao's cold attitude
the night before had been expected by him when he arrived at such a decision.
however, no amount of self preparation seemed enough when the inevitable
happened. He moved to fold the bedding materials up in liquid grace and was
done in less than a couple of minutes.
'I will rest in the shrine for this afternoon.' Aoshi decided as his mind
unwillingly drifted off to wonder if Misao had returned to Aoiya.
"Daijoubu, Misao is the strong for age. She will get over it when he
realized that the feelings she had were mere infatuation."
'What about your own emotions? Were they simply brotherly caring on your
part?'
He postponed the need to face such thoughts and dread of meeting Misao in
the future as he sat down to begin meditating. 'Coward,' his sub-conciousness
scolded.
"Tadaima," muttered the youngest member of the Oniiwabanshuu, Misao.
Omasu sticked her head out to call out an "Okaerii nasai" when a sudden slam
of door followed by a shadow breezing passed her.
"Misao, you got all of us worried for not returning home last night. You
deserved punishment for such act." Okina squeezed the small framed girl in
his famous bear hug.
A tiny gasp from Misao's tortured lungs came out. "Jiiya, can't breathe."
With a last hug from the old man, Okina finally released her.
A short time was allowed for the girl to catch her breath before Okina
poked the side of her ribs with a lecherous grin. "Misao, did anything
happen between you and your beloved Aoshi-sama last night?"
The whole group of Omitsu were gathering around in great interest. Misao's
face took on a dark expression for a few heartbeats before going back to
normal. "Nothing happened," she gave an unusually bright smile and turned to
retreat in the safe recess of her room.
Misao threw herself onto the welcoming futon and snuggled into the covers.
The smile retained for the benefit of her adoptive family fell away. It was
then did she allow the plain heartbreak and sorrow to show. Hot tears came
spilling out as she wept the ones that were held back since last night. She
cupped her face in her palms as each heart wrenching sob shook her entire
body.
Memories of Aoshi-sama playing with her, teaching her how to read and write
and the patience and tenderness on his normally expressionless face,
surfaced like a cruel tsunami wave that hit on without mercy. Misao wanted
to throw the objects in her room, with violence practically screaming to be
let out, but the fear of letting Jiiya and the rest to find out the reason
for such irrational actions curbed the strong desire.
(The Shin Aoiya, Kyoto)
The stifling heat that night was rather unbearable. After a satisfying
dinner, everyone gathered out in the porch. Omasu and Ochika were playing
with a packet of handmade fire-crackers while the males were cheering Okina,
waving his fans in a drunkard stupor.
Misao sat in a corner of the sitting room, eyes staring vacantly into space
as she chewed a slice of ripe watermelon. Every encouragement from the
boisterous bunch met with a listless smile. To make up for the tension, the
rest of them tried to compensate by being more energetic in the games than
usual.
"Misao-chan, o genki desu ka?" Ochika made an effort to include Misao in the
activity. Glassy sea foam eyes looked up into a concerned brown as she nodded
in affirmation. "Hora, play the fire-crackers with us." Attempts to drag the
pale faced teenager failed miserably. Ochika had no choice but to leave the
girl's side and continued in her lighting up of fireworks, keeping a careful
eye on her.
"Omasu, what do you think has happened to give such an expression on
Misao-chan?" Ochika whispered.
A slight peek was taken from the corner of Omasu's eye before she turned back
to mumble, "I don't know. We've never seen Misao-chan so depressed before.
I'll bet it has something to do with Aoshi-sama." A nod of agreement from
Ochika expressed similar suspicion. The uneasiness was weighing heavily in
the atmosphere as they decided to observe Misao and Aoshi for a little
longer.
Navy blue sky with countless stars hung high as the entire Oniiwabanshuu
retired for the night. Misao tossed and turned for a few hours and finally
gave up the attempts to sleep. She slipped on a pair of straw slippers as her
footsteps pattered soundlessly on the wooden floor.
Soft shuffling of a man's footsteps were picked upon by Misao's exceptionally
trained hearing as the back entrance of the Aoiya was slid open. Misao stood
in the shadows with her kunais poised to attack. As soon as a figure was
illuminated by the weak moonlight, the ninja girl threw them in a blinding
speed.
Obviously, the speed of the weapons were not fast enough as the stranger
intercepted the flying objects with extreme grace. Misao tried to retaliate
but the supposed assailant caught both her fist and right leg in time.
"Who are you?" Misao hissed. "I'll for the others if you don't let go of me
right now."
A sharply featured face was visible at last when the person stepped into the
light.
"Aoshi-sama," Misao gasped out, limbs still in the ex-okashiira's grasp.
A fleeting emotion crossed his slate blue eyes as he heard the way Misao
addressed him. "Aa."
The previous night's incident came flooding back to her as Aoshi gently set
the girl down.
"Gomen nasai, Shinomorii-san" Misao straightened and hid the mixed feelings
upon seeing him again.
The dreaded name gave his heart a weird twist as he stepped into the dark
inn. He padded up to his room trying to avoid the confrontation that brewed.
Misao followed into his room without a word as he shut the door to his
bedroom before he spun to face the tearful girl.
"Nanda?" Aoshi questioned. Misao tried to bring the distance between them to
a smaller gap, but he backed away as she took every tiny step towards him.
A frustrated Misao was on the verge of yelling out her thoughts when she
restrained herself.
'Another sign of her growing up.' A part of Aoshi noted objectively. Had
Misao been younger, she would have reacted first while not sparing any
thoughts on the consequences.
"Shinomorii-san," the formal address from Misao's lips were beginning to
grate his ears. "I just want to clarify the matters further. After that,
rest assured I'll be of no nuisance at all."
The sentence was so ironic to Aoshi's ears that he nearly laughed out loud.
'Nuisance? You are not the nuisance here. I am the trouble to you.'
However, the reply came out in his deep baritone coldly, "What is it?"
The tone and manner seemed to slap her in the face as her voice trembled.
"What have I done to make you dislike me so? Tell me what is it that made
you treat me in this manner. You never spoken this way to me before!"
"Leave me alone!" The harsh words spilled out. "Don't you get it? I'm tired
of your meddling in my affairs!"
Misao choked out, tears flowing freely, "Did you ever like me as a woman?
Even just a little?"
"No."
"I understand," Misao's legs felt like rubber as she tried to support her
weight. She slowly retraced her steps to the door. "Sayonara, Aoshi-sama."
The farewell was a sword to the heart as his face remained blank until the
paper door slid close. It was then, did he allow the anguish hidden from
the moment the cruel exchange started to show.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(end of part two)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~