Author's Notes: Hey people! Just thought I'd let you know I'm changing my ideas around. Misao and Sano are not going to have a romantic link after all…hmm…that's all I'm saying cos…I'll give it away then…(Just in case there was anyone hoping for Misao & Sano together…well…not going to happen…it shall be Misao and…)

Under the Cherry Tree

(Days pass… Thursday, 6pm)

Three figures sat on a bridge, watching the trains come in and the sun set pass the horizon. A man, a woman and a small child wrapped in the man's embrace. It was a cool evening, the sense that winter was fast approaching. The woman wore long pants and a coat over her top. Her blue-black hair placed in its usual braid. The man however was dressed more formally, a button down grey shirt, dress trousers and jacket. They had been sitting there for a number of hours catching up on latest news of what has been happening or happened in the last four years.

"I thought Misao-chan insisted on coming to see the sunset and yet she's fallen asleep." Misao questioned in a soft voice looking down at the two-year-old wrapped snugly in Aoshi's arms.

"She loves sunsets and watching the trains come in. We usually play this game of picking a train and we'd talk about where we were going that day. Actually it was cute the way she came up with so many different ideas. I would have thought she'd be repeating herself but she always managed to make something up, just so it was different everytime we were together. Misao-chan is so full of energy but when sunset comes around her energy seems drained and she can't keep her eyes open long enough to see all the reds, oranges and yellows in the sky."

"Or she just loves being snuggled up close to her favourite Oji. The nights are getting cooler after all." Misao reasoned looking up at him. She watched as Aoshi had mouthed something, a slight frown crossing his lips for a split moment and then he was back to being his usual self. Misao's eyebrow raised as he opened up the pack he had been carrying all-day and brought out a wrapped up item in black tissue paper. Her eyes widened when he turned his upper body around to face her, making sure to do it slowly as not to disturb Misao-chan and then placed the parcel on Misao's lap, her hands cradling it from falling off.

"I don't think you can see through the paper Misao." Aoshi mentioned in an almost sarcastic tone of voice. A small smile crept over her lips and she finally ripped open the tissue paper gasping at what was inside. It was a neatly folded deep blue/purple scarf, no trace of any rips and no perfume smell either.

"My scarf…" Misao whispered. She watched as Aoshi's hand came into her view, picking up the scarf and wrapping it around his own neck. A hint of a smile was forming on his lips, but not quite a smile that Misao could see or detect on his hardened features.

"You mean my scarf. I thought you said your favourite things were to stay together?" Aoshi questioned again his voice not showing any emotion. Misao's eyes had widened hearing him say that. An embarrassed blush crept over her cheeks and she bent her head and noticed another scarf inside. It was like hers but the colour of Aoshi's mysterious eyes. Misao looked up and watched as Aoshi moved closer, his free hand pulling up the new scarf and he placed it around her neck. Misao observed as he stopped fidgeting around with it and she glanced her eyes up into his 'hair' protected ones once more.

"I had been given this as a gift from my family as well Misao. That colour is one of my favourites. It's…a gift…and another apology about what happened to your scarf. This is my favourite as well, but now I give it to you. Will you accept it Misao?"

"H-Hai…" Misao had stammered out almost breathlessly. She watched as Aoshi turned his head away, looking over at the last rays of light from the sun and he spoke to her once more.

"I wore your scarf every winter Misao. I even took it with me to China and all the places we travelled throughout Japan. It was my link to you as though you were around me all the time. Megumi asked me about it one day and I said it was my gift from my best friend and no one was to wear it but me. She thought I was joking but when she saw the seriousness of my face she knew she wasn't allowed to touch it. It was yours and then you gave it to me, so it became ours and no one else's. When she came to the training hall that day I was just as shocked as you. I never thought she'd do that and I was completely outraged. I don't even know the reason behind her doing that in the first place. Perhaps she wanted to piss me off or force some emotion from me and she succeeded. This was ours and someone else had violated it. I felt ashamed as though it was my entire fault because I didn't take better care of it. I guess I'm trying to say sorry again, for not caring about it like I should have, like I promised I would. Can you…forgive me Misao? I know it hurt you to see someone else wearing it, another female for that matter but I swear I never wanted anyone to touch it but me and you."

"I…I can forgive you Aoshi. I guess I was acting childish after all. I mean it's just a scarf and your scarf now so you can do whatever you want to it, bu-" Aoshi had placed his fingers over Misao's lips stopping her from continuing.

"No Misao…its ours and you had every right to be angry but it won't happen again and I thank you for forgiving me."

"ANATA!" Misao observed as Aoshi pulled a face at hearing that. It was none other then Megumi searching for him.

"You do not like that name Aoshi?" Misao had spoken looking at her best friend. His shoulders were tense his face scrunched up in annoyance and Misao placed a small smile on her lips moving closer, her hand cupping his cheek. Aoshi's eyes snapped open at the warm contact of a soft hand cupping his cheek and stared into ocean blue eyes that were coming closer towards his face. He soon felt hot breath flow over his ear as Misao softly spoke to him.

"Oh poor Aoshi being called anata by a beautiful, but rather rude woman. Perhaps it's best if you find someone else to call you anata." Misao's small smile widened as Aoshi's shoulder's tensed even more when she said darling to him.

"Am I interrupting something?" A very angry voice had spoken. Misao pulled away from Aoshi letting her hand fall from his cheek. Megumi stood under the streetlight dressed very elegantly in a black form fitting dress with a maroon shall across her shoulders. Her hair was placed in a loose braid, her eyes narrowing at the scene in front of her. Misao ignored the older woman and grabbed the sleeping Misao-chan from Aoshi and moved her lips closer kissing his cheek and whispered to him once more.

"Having a pleasant evening anata." Misao got off the railing and began walking in the other direction, the blue-green scarf flapping in the breeze. Unknown to her Aoshi stared at her retreating form a lop-sided grin forming on his lips. He knew she was going to tease him non-stop about that one word now. He turned around loosing the grin and got off walking towards Megumi as they headed for the restaurant. Unknown to those two Misao turned around to face their retreating forms, a light pink showing on her cheeks at the close contact she had with Aoshi. However her eyes showed a completely different story. Sad, lonely and hurt eyes watched the two of them walk away and he could hear the faint sound of Megumi's voice chatting happily to Aoshi. Unshed tears glistened in her eyes as she bowed her head moving further into the darkness of the park holding Misao-chan close as the wind picked up blowing a cold breeze throughout the city.

* * * *

Misao groaned awake at the constant knocking coming from her front door. She had walked all the way to Kenshin and Kaoru's and then all the way back to the hotel room. Once she had arrived she had thrown her clothes off and fallen straight to sleep. Misao sat up in the bed fishing around for a shirt and placed it on. It was big and baggy and fell past her butt so she didn't have to worry about underwear as of yet. One sleeve drooped over her shoulder as well. The knocking was getting louder and Misao spoke annoyingly.

"I'm coming geez!" Misao opened the door and her eyes widened as she looked directly into a clothed chest. Her head jerked up seeing Aoshi, his eyebrow raised at her state of dress, looking down at her. Misao stepped back moving into the room further and mumbled out her reply.

"It's only you. Do you have any idea how early it is Aoshi?" Aoshi walked in silently closing the door and Misao got back into the bed throwing the covers over her head.

"Misao its 11 in the morning. I thought we could get in some practice, maybe I can help you with a few things." He tried reasoning with her and moved around the bed to sit down in a chair looking over at the small lump under the bed covers. Misao's back was to him and Aoshi looked around at the messy hotel room. It wasn't fancy as Misao probably spent all her money coming to Tokyo to look for him. Aoshi got up and silently cleaned up some of Misao's chunk off the floor. His eyebrow rose again as he came across a couple of garments lying on the floor. He picked them up noticing them to be a pair of black underwear and a blue bra. Aoshi's head turned towards the covers as Misao pulled the sheets back and her eyes glanced over at him as she spoke.

"What are you…ACK!" Misao flew out of the bed her hand stretched out wanting to grab the items Aoshi held in his right hand but she misjudged everything and fell onto the floor. Aoshi lightly chuckled looking at her crumbled form at his feet, one of her legs tangled in the bed sheets. Misao pushed herself up on her hands shaking her head, her cheeks turning red in embarrassment at her clumsiness. Aoshi placed her lingerie on the bed and bent down placing his hands under her armpits and picked her up easily and placed her back on the bed.

"You were never a morning person Misao." Aoshi reasoned with Misao at witnessing her clumsiness and squatted down to look at her. Her head was bowed, her cheeks a faint pink now, most of her embarrassment controlled but not all of it. Misao watched as Aoshi's hand came into view as though he were ready to turn her head up to face him but she swatted it away and got up, grabbing her bag and walking into the bathroom slamming the door closed. She sat on the toilet seat looking at the closed door wandering if he'd storm in asking what her problem was. Misao got up turning on the shower and took her top off and sat on the tiled floor, wrapping her arms around her legs and placing her chin on her knees. Her shoulders began to shake indicating the first signs of her crying and she soon wept silently into her knees. She didn't know why she started, but maybe it was because of Aoshi. Didn't he know how she felt about him, how she always felt when it came to him? Aoshi was smart but when it came to feelings and trying to comprehend them he was so stupid and clueless. She had tried her hardest to show her feelings and she had even called him anata. Misao shook her head knowing full well she was making a statement and joking knowing how much he hated that one word. She wasn't showing him her feelings after all. She was too shy, too scared that he'd reject her because she wasn't as beautiful as Megumi or as elegant either. Misao closed her eyes tightly thinking of that and her hand had fisted and she thrust it towards the nearest think but came in contact with warm but wet skin. Her eyes snapped open, her head jerking up to see a hand covered hers stopping it from smashing into the glass. Misao gulped and turned her head to see Aoshi staring at her. He was so close that Misao could see concern flashing in his blue-green eyes. Aoshi stood up turning the taps off and wrapped her large towel over her naked form. He could only see her slender legs, which were wrapped up against her upper body, as her long hair fell around her and the tiled floor blocking everything else off. Misao clutched at the towel, holding it closed and Aoshi stood up taking Misao with him. He stepped out of the shower stall slightly damp from some of the water spraying him and Misao followed her head bent down as she looked at her small feet. Misao felt as her hair was being pulled away from her body and being placed over the towel. Aoshi's hand cupped her chin tilting it up so he could look at her and those usually bright blue eyes were red and puffy from crying. Misao blinked up at him as his hands cupped her cheeks brushing away the last lot of tears.

"Misao, tell me what's wrong?" His voice was soft but Misao heard the concern in his masculine voice. Her bottom lip quivered slightly as he stepped closer, his hands still cupping her face lovingly, his thumbs stroking her soft skin. Perhaps he did care for her more then a best friend. With that thought in mind Misao moved closer, placing her head against his chest and cried softly not being able to tell him her true thoughts. Aoshi had let go of Misao's face as he looked down at her. He knew it had something to do with him. Her crying these days always had something to do with him. He softly sighed feeling guilty once more and wrapped his arms around her shoulders holding her close, his chin resting against the top of her head.

"Gomen nasai Misao." Aoshi had whispered into her hair placing a soft kiss on her head.

"W-Why do you say that?" Misao whispered her reply her cries softening as she only hiccupped occasionally.

"Everytime you cry, it has something to do with me. I don't know what but I know half is my fault. I hate seeing you this way Misao."

"And you don't think its because she wants to get closer to you and split us apart?" Misao had stiffened hearing Megumi say that. Aoshi let go stepping away to face Megumi and he spoke back replying to her question.

"She would never do that. I know Misao and that's not her way. If she had feelings for me other then friends she would have told me ages ago. What are you doing here anyway? Did you follow me? To spy on us?" Aoshi's voice rose in annoyance and anger. Misao stared at his back and opened her mouth to speak but Megumi interrupted once more.

"It's been four years you idiot! Do you not think she has changed, become bolder, more tenacious and not caring who will get hurt in the process if she continued going after the one thing she cannot have because he's with someone else."

"Misao is not like that! She'd never do such a thing to anyone. Tell her Misao, tell her we are just friends and you feel nothing else for me." Misao's eyes were wide hearing Aoshi say this. What was she to do about that? Could she deny her feelings for him or blurt them out ruining their rekindled friendship forever. Misao watched as Aoshi turned around, his eyes burning into hers as he spoke once more.

"Tell her." Misao clutched the towel tightly, her eyes glancing over at a smug Megumi. She knew what was coming but Misao closed her eyes off to both of them stepping backwards away from Aoshi.

"Misao…tell her…" His voice was a slight whisper and Misao opened her eyes, tears falling down her cheeks and took a deep breath shaking her head.

"I-I can't…" She had stammered out in a soft voice.

"Why not?" Aoshi spoke back as he had heard those two soft words that could ruin everything between them.

"Because she loves you baka! I would have thought you'd figure it out by now! This little girl is in love with you anata! She's probably been that way ever since you met and yet you have been totally blind because you feel nothing for her. Can't you see she is trying to split us apart and wants you all to herself? Why I bet the naïve little girl has thought of many ways she wants to be with you and only you, maybe even in her dreams as well."

"SHUT UP!" Misao yelled at Megumi. Misao stepped away from them and crouched down on the floor, her head resting against the wall. What was she to say to Aoshi? Misao knew he stared at her wanting to know if Megumi's assumptions were true.

"I told you anata! I knew I was right about this girl! She's trying to steal you away from me! Can't you open your eyes to see what she's doing to us?" Misao fisted her hand grabbing the toilet spray and throwing it across the room, as it hit the wall beside Megumi. She shrieked surprised and Misao's head snapped up looking over at her.

"You are wrong Megumi! I would never steal him away and make him mine and break someone's heart in the process. Aoshi is right; I am not like that. I would never do that to anyone not even you, you BITCH! Get the fuck out of my room before I get up and throw you out myself!" Misao's voice was edged with venom, her red eyes full of anger and pain. Misao watched as Megumi raced from the room. Her eyes stared at Aoshi's shoes, not wanting to move any higher and she let out another sob as she watched his feet turn away as he walked out of the bathroom closing the door behind him.

* * * *

"Oh Misao I'm so sorry." Kaoru spoke concern and sadness in her voice as Misao had finished telling her the event of what happened earlier on that day. She now sat on Kaoru's bed, leaning against Kaoru's shoulder as she had wrapped her arms around the upset young woman.

"Why don't you come stay with us? I'd love to have some company in the house and Misao-chan would love to have you around." Misao nodded her head silently at Kaoru's suggestion and she soon let go of the older woman, brushing her hands over her face getting rid of the tears once more.

"How about you take a nice bath and Misao-chan and I will drive down and pick up your stuff for you?"

"Thank you Kaoru." Misao stood up handing her the room key and headed for the bathroom, closing the door silently behind her.

* * * *

After a relaxing bath Misao stepped out and headed downstairs, a towel wrapped around her dry body. She had no clean clothes and sat down in a lounge chair waiting for Kaoru and Misao-chan to return. She was flipping through the channels on the television when she heard the front door open and close. Misao got up a smile on her face and began speaking heading for the main entrance area.

"Thank goodness. I was getting sick of walking around in this tow-" Misao halted in her speaking as she looked at Kenshin and, her face paled slightly, as right beside him was Aoshi.

"Ah good afternoon Misao. Kaoru rang me and told me you would be staying with us now." Misao folded her arms over herself, trying to look a bit modest and spoke back to Kenshin never once looking at Aoshi.

"Yes, I thank the both of you for letting me stay and I've decided to get a job so I can pay you board." Kenshin clearly had no clue at the tension between Aoshi and Misao and he spoke once more heading upstairs.

"I'll just get you those books Aoshi." Misao's eyes turned towards Aoshi to see he was leaning against the wall, his arms folded and his head cast away not wanting to look over at her. She turned away walking towards the lounge room, the air suddenly feeling cold.

"Why?" Misao froze at that one word Aoshi had uttered. She couldn't say anything to that. Why could mean a lot of things and she waited longer for him to elaborate on what he meant.

"Why did you hide feelings from me?" Misao turned around facing him. He wasn't leaning against the wall anymore as he stood in the middle of the main entrance.

"We both are never good at showing feelings. When we were growing up together it was easy; we were never apart, except on school nights as we were not allowed to sleep over each others houses. Four years is a long time and times have changed, we have changed. Nothing is simple anymore; nothing can ever be the same as it was when we were younger. You of all people should know we would never be as close to each other as we were back then."

"You are not answering my question." Aoshi spoke in a serious tone of voice as though he ignored everything Misao had said moments ago.

"You are wrong. I have shown my feelings to you many times, you have just been blind, like Megumi said, but I would never force myself upon you to try and win you over. I know you don't want me to have feelings like that towards you because you are scared of feeling the same way. You showing emotions are hard in itself and you loving someone is even harder. Megumi and I both know that you don't love her, you even said it when we were walking to your apartment that night. I know you care for her and I hope one day I'll have a place in your heart just for me and no one else like she has. My coming here was good and bad. I finally faced up to my own fear of telling you that I…I love you. I know I'll be rejected but at least I have spoken my feelings towards you. I'm sorry for making you feel awkward around me, but I wanted to tell you a long time ago but was too shy, too scarred, just like now. I'm sorry again. Goodnight Aoshi Shinomori…" Misao swiftly walked past him and raced up the stairs to head for the spare room.

Aoshi stood in the middle of the room, his eyes never leaving her retreating form until she turned the corner moving out of sight. He turned around, forgetting about the books Kenshin were getting him and left the house walking down the streets and heading for the freeway. Misao was right, he had no clue about love and hearing someone say that they loved him scared him to death. Why would she love him? He did not think he was special, so why should anyone else think this? He couldn't offer much but his silent stares, his quiet to rare speaking and just his love for martial arts. What good was there in someone like that? He had no college background and hardly any money. All he ever wanted was to master the art. Was he even capable of loving anyone?

Aoshi stood in the middle of the highway, random cars beeping at him for being there but he looked around seeing the city further away and turned in the direction of Kenshin's house. Misao would be up in their spare room weeping at what she had revealed to him and because he said nothing in return. Aoshi sat on the island in the middle of the highway looking up into the overcast sky. He imagined the silhouette of his mother looking down at him with a small smile on her face and he whispered his question but bowed his head at not receiving a reply to the latest ordeal happening in his life.

"Mother…what must I do?"

* * * *

To be continued…

* * * *