Under the Cherry Tree
(Okina Apartments - Tokyo)
"Ah Welcome home Aoshi-san. It has been awhile. Mrs. Himura came over many times wondering where you were. She has been most worried about you. So wh- Oh I do apologise, who are these wonderful little girls beside you Aoshi-san?" Ayame and Suzume-chan giggled but both where a little tired from the long train ride. Aoshi picked them up and placed them on the counter so they could say hello to Okina.
"My name's Ayame and this is my sister Suzume and we are Aoshi-niisan's sisters. Mummy said we could come to Tokyo to stay with him for a little while."
"Well I am glad to meet both of you. Let me help you with your bags." Okina spoke shaking their little hands and walked around the counter picking up a blue bag and a purple bag. Aoshi moved towards the lift carrying his sisters and Okina wasn't far behind.
"Oh and this came for you while you were away Aoshi. I forget the young woman's name, she's such a pretty young woman."
"Was it Megumi?" Aoshi questioned the elder man taking the envelope from him.
"Oh no. I know Megumi, she's been here many times and has a bit of a mouth on her, if you don't mind me saying. This young woman was beautiful, especially the colour of her eyes. They were as blue as the ocean."
"Misao…" Aoshi whispered absently as visions of her flashed through his mind.
"Yes that's it. I've only met her once before that is why my mind keeps slipping away, but I'll never forget those eyes. They betrayed her however…" Okina spoke stroking his beard as though coming to a realisation. Aoshi and Okina exited the elevator and began walking to Aoshi apartment.
"How so Okina?" Aoshi spoke emotionless as ever but inside he was quite intrigued at what the elderly man was talking about.
"Oh well it's not really my business to say but when she came here looking for you her eyes betrayed the way she was really feeling inside. You see her voice was happy and joyous but her eyes were sad and lonely. It seemed as though she was missing someone and she looked a little guilty too, almost frightened for some reason as well. I just…I don't really know but when I first saw her when she came looking for you she was so emotional, so delighted that she knew where to find you but a couple of days ago that had completely changed. Her eyes were slightly red indicating she had been crying, but I never brought it up thinking that would make her uncomfortable or embarrassed. Forgive my intrusion Aoshi-san." Okina finally ended noticing the uneasiness of the young man next to him. Aoshi opened his front door placing his sisters on the couch for a moment and walked to the door grabbing the bags and thanking Okina. He closed the door, locking it and walked to the couch noticing his sisters dead to the world. A smile replaced his frown from earlier and he picked them up taking them to his room. He took off their shoes and tucked them under the covers letting them have the bed to themselves. Aoshi turned the lights off, took off his own shoes and lay down on the couch throwing a blanket over his body. He fell asleep in a matter of minutes just like Ayame and Suzume-chan.
* * * *
"Aoshi-niisan? Aoshi-niisan we're hungry!" Ayame-chan's voice invaded Aoshi's sleep. He groaned loudly opening his eyes to see two pairs of brown ones starring down at him. He sat up rubbing the sleep out of his eyes and they climbed onto the coffee table to look up at him.
"Come on Aoshi-niisan when do we see Saitou-niisan and the man who will make us cookie's?" Aoshi chuckled at Ayame-chan's questions and stood up walking into his bedroom both his sisters' following his every move. He grabbed a set of clothes each for them and headed for the bathroom.
"Now you two are old enough to bathe by yourselves right?" Aoshi watched as Ayame and Suzume-chan nodded their heads together and Aoshi turned on the taps for the shower making sure it was warm enough and left the door slightly ajar. Since Aoshi's sisters where staying with him for awhile he unpacked their clothes and placed them in a spare draw at the bottom of the wooden chest of drawers.
"Aoshi-niisan we finished!" Ayame-chan had yelled, poking her head out the bathroom door and then ducking back inside. Aoshi stood up out of the bedroom and into the bathroom to see two very wet little girls.
"That was fast, why not wash your hair too?" Aoshi spoke noticing their hair was damp but not washed properly.
"We can't though." Ayame-chan spoke looking up at him.
"The shampoo's too high up." Suzume-chan pointed at the shampoo and conditioner sitting up on the rack over the shower nozzle. Aoshi chuckled softly once more grabbing them and squatted down making them move under the water to wet their hair more. He washed their hair and turned the taps off when they were finished. He wrapped them up in their large towels letting them dry themselves off and left them to get dressed. He walked out of the bathroom and into the lounge area placing 'My Neighbor Totoro' into the VCR so they could be entertained while he had his own shower.
"Oh that's our favourite!" Suzume-chan shouted excitedly. Aoshi smiled at his sisters sitting on the couch, still drying their hair but watching the movie intently. He moved off heading into the bathroom and closing the door behind him. He undressed throwing his dirty clothes into the basket as well as picking up his sisters and placing them in there as well. He stood under the shower nozzle letting the water run down his naked form. His eyes where closed, his inky black hair drenched and his long bangs falling over his eyes. Aoshi opened his eyes and descended to the tiled floor in the shower stall.
"Is this how you felt Misao? Confused…almost scared about not knowing how you wanted to show your feelings and whether or not you really should have spoken them out loud fearing it would ruin everything?" Aoshi mumbled to himself. The warm water cascaded down his well toned muscled back and over his shoulders. He sighed shaking his head, spraying water everywhere trying to rid himself of thoughts and questions. He stood up once more continuing with his shower.
* * * *
"Are you two ready to go? I'm getting hungry." Aoshi spoke coming out of the bathroom toweling his hair.
"We said that ages ago Aoshi-niisan!" Ayame-chan spoke exasperated as she turned off the video and television. She walked into the main bedroom grabbing her shoes as well as Suzume-chan's and walked towards Aoshi.
"I know but now we can really go this time." Aoshi looked down saying this and watched as they sat on the carpeted floor placing on their shoes. Ayame-chan was wearing denim jeans with a light pink shirt and a white bunny on the front pocket. She wore white sandals and placed on the matching denim jacket. Aoshi brushed her hair placing it in a simple ponytail with a white hair band. Ayame-chan had denim overalls that stopped at her ankles and a long sleeved light blue shirt underneath. She wore white sneakers and her hair was brushed and placed into her usual pigtails with white hair ties.
"Let's go see Saitou-niisan." Aoshi spoke and looked down at Ayame and Suzume-chan's excited face expressions. He opened the front door to see Kaoru poised to knock and holding Misao-chan on her right hip. Her eyes grew wide, glistening with unshed tears as she wrapped her free arm around Aoshi's neck hugging him.
"Oh my god Aoshi! I was so worried about you! You left no letter of you leaving and I thought the worst. It was like you disappeared! You made us all worry about you so much; even Saitou was clueless as to where you were! You are such an insensitive baka!" Kaoru spoke tearfully and soon stepped away brushing the tears off her cheeks. Aoshi picked Misao-chan up hugging her as her little arms wrapped around his neck as she missed her 'uncle' immensely. The two-year-old was babbling something Aoshi couldn't comprehend. He placed a hand on the back of Kaoru's head stepping forward and hugging her lightly while placing a kiss on her cheek.
"Chill Kaoru I'm okay. I just needed time for myself to think a few things through so I went home. I had a lot of stuff to think about and being here wasn't a good idea either. Besides I got the biggest surprise when I got home and found these two there." Aoshi let go stepping away and Kaoru looked down to see two curious pairs of chocolate brown eyes gazing up at her and Aoshi.
"Oh! They are so adorable!" Kaoru bent down and watched as they ducked behind Aoshi's legs feeling a little nervous at not knowing who this strange lady was.
"Hey imoto-chan's its okay. Kaoru is a really nice lady and a friend of mine. Her husband, Kenshin, is the one who'll make you cookies." Aoshi smiled and Kaoru giggled as their heads popped out looking over at Kaoru once more. They soon walked out standing in front of her holding hands and Suzume-chan spoke first.
"Will he really make us cookies Kaoru-san?"
"You bet he will and you can eat them with Misao-chan!" Aoshi bent down placing Misao-chan on her feet and brown eyes stared into blue.
"My name's Suzume and this is my sister Ayame. Do you want to be friends with us Misao-chan?"
"YEAH!" Misao-chan had shouted happily and then giggled with the other two girls. Aoshi stood up, as did Kaoru while picking Misao-chan up and placing her on her hip once more.
"How about you and your sister's come over for dinner tonight. I imagine you were going somewhere just now?"
"We're going to meet Saitou-niisan!" Suzume-chan and Ayame-chan spoke together. Kaoru looked up at Aoshi and spoke.
"Isn't he going to be totally shocked for the second time in his life?"
"Pretty much. He was really shocked when Tokio turned up but I can't wait to see his face expression when he knows he now has two bratty sisters to look after." Aoshi chuckled lightly at the small grumbling coming from his sisters as he called them bratty, but they knew he was just teasing them. Aoshi locked the door when everyone was out in the hallway. As soon as they reached the lobby they all greeted Okina and then left the building.
"Well Misao-chan and I are going shopping this morning. Did you want me to tell the others you are back or do you want to surprise them?"
"Hmm, what do you think you two?" Aoshi spoke looking down at his sisters. They scrunched their chubby faces up in thought and then spoke.
"Surprise them!" Aoshi nodded in agreement and soon he and Kaoru went their separate ways.
* * * *
(A Tokyo Park)
"WOW! This is gigantic!" Suzume-chan spoke looking around. Hundreds of Cherry Trees made up the park but where not in bloom as it was too early yet. The grass was lush green and different coloured flowers bloomed everywhere. There were swings and other general children's equipment around so kids could play on them. Park bench's and picnic tables were randomly scattered around. Young children sat on the benches waiting for their mothers to come back with some food. Aoshi soon noticed a tall thin man wearing a blue uniform and smoking his usual cigarettes. As always right by his side was a young woman happily chatting away and greeting small children as they ran passed. Aoshi crouched down slightly behind and in between his sisters and spoke in a hushed tone of voice.
"See that man in the blue, that's Saitou. The lady next to him is Tokio, she's really nice and another friend of mine, just like Kaoru. Why don't you run over and say hello to him?"
"He's really tall like Aoshi-niisan." Ayame-chan had whispered to her younger sister even though Aoshi could hear every word.
"And he looks really scary too." Suzume-chan pointed out as well.
"YYYYYAAAAAYYYYYYYYY!" The two girls had shouted while jumping up and down. Aoshi watched as they raced off heading towards the couple at full speed.
"SAITOU-NIISAN!" Aoshi stood up and began walking once more when he noticed Saitou freeze in his walking and watched as two small girls' latch onto his legs. Aoshi couldn't help but laugh as his brother was frozen in one spot, his eyes wider then normal and his cigarette slack and drooping from his mouth, as it was parted open in surprise. This was priceless and Aoshi was a disappointed he didn't have a camera handy. Tokio gasped in surprise noticing Aoshi and she raced over hugging him around the waist mumbling something about insensitive guys and that it must run in the family.
"Aoshi Shinomori were the bloody hell have you been?!?" Saitou spoke angrily looking over at his younger brother and then bent his head looking down at the little girls laughing happily while still cuddling his legs. Tokio moved away squatting to the ground and spoke.
"Hello, my name is Tokio. How do you know Saitou?" Ayame and Suzume-chan finally let go and Saitou gained his composure once more, throwing the cigarette in a nearby bin tray and lighting up another one.
"Saitou and Aoshi are our older brother's Tokio-san!"
"Nani?!?" Tokio and Saitou and spoken together utterly confused.
"That's right! Ayame and Suzume this is Saitou and Tokio." Saitou bent down placing his hands under their chins and turning their heads slightly as though examining them.
"Hmm two more brats to watch over huh?!?" Saitou had mumbled to himself but watched slightly shocked as two pairs of brown eyes now glistened with unshed tears as they looked up at him. He dropped his hands becoming uneasy but was saved by Tokio speaking.
"Don't listen to him you two. Saitou's just being a big meanie at the moment because he's a little upset that he didn't meet you earlier.
"That's no-" A glare from Tokio made Saitou stop himself from speaking any further and Ayame and Suzume-chan giggled happily once more, their supposed "sadness" forgotten.
"That's okay Tokio-san, we were just tricking him! We know he likes us already cause kachan and tochan said he would." Ayame-chan had spoken up smiling brightly as she looked into Saitou's angered face.
"Tricked by a nine and six year old, how humiliating." Aoshi spoke and Tokio began giggling loudly.
"Come on you two lets go play!" Tokio ran off with two excited little girls chasing after her. Saitou began walking towards a food stall and Aoshi fell in step with him. Quicker then Aoshi could react he was smacked over the back of the head by his older brother.
"SHIT! What the hell was that for?!?" Aoshi yelled rubbing the back of his head.
"For making the others worry about an idiot like you! I can't believe you didn't tell any of them where you were headed! You didn't even tell me! And I'm your brother! Che, I should have punched you instead!"
"Oh my god I think I'm going to die of shock. You mean to tell me you, THE Saitou Shinomori was worried about his brother?"
"Don't push your luck little brother!" Saitou spoke through gritted teeth. Aoshi shook his head and starred at the man behind the food stall who was waiting for them to order something.
"Um coffee, two chocolate milks and some muffins thanks." Aoshi spoke and turned his head to look at his brother who was lighting up yet another cigarette.
"Just coffee for me." The man nodded his head and Aoshi and Saitou sat down on a nearby bench to wait.
"So why did you disappear?"
"To think." Aoshi spoke taking a sip of the coffee that was brought over to the both of them.
"And thinking was impossible in Tokyo because why?"
"Because what I was thinking about were the people around me and I needed some peace and quiet. Besides I wanted to go home and so this made it final. I'm not apologising for leaving either. No one has a clue what is going on inside of me at the moment so give me a break Saitou."
"Don't burst a blood vessel Aoshi I'm trying to understand. Look we have our arguments and we have our fights but we are family no matter how much we try to deny it sometimes. Of course no one knows what you're going through because you don't tell anyone! Why not enlighten me on what's happening."
"Nothing much just thinking of Meg and myself and Sano and Misao as well. That's it really."
"That's it really? For Kami-sama's sake Aoshi! Give ME a break! You're being really absurd about all of this. Just dump the stuck up doctor woman and let Sano have her and go with Misao. How simple is that? There is your decision made up for you. Megumi and Sano are always happy around each other, well apart from the occasional bickering, and you and Misao were inseparable when growing up so why should things change now? Get off your ass and sort this stuff out instead of brooding on it. Che, it's not that difficult to make a decision when you observe all the facts in front of you." Saitou stood up dumping his unfinished cigarette into his untouched coffee and began walking off, his hands stuffed in his trouser pockets.
"Is it really that simple?" Aoshi mumbled to himself.
"Is what simple young man?" Aoshi looked up at the stall man beside him and shook his head grabbing the bag of muffins and the chocolate milks and began walking off going after Saitou.
"I'm going to work Tokio." Saitou mumbled while walking past her and the little girls.
"Bye Saitou-niisan!" They had yelled and he turned around giving them a small wave and kept going on his way.
"Tokio do you mind taking Ayame and Suzume to Kaoru's for me? I've got to sort a couple of things out this morning."
"But we want to go with you Aoshi-niisan!" Ayame-chan spoke sadly. He bent down placing his hand on her head and his other on Suzume-chan's cheek and spoke to them once more.
"I'll be there later but I need you to go with Tokio. She'll take you to Kaoru and Kenshin's place and he can make you some cookie's and you can play with Misao-chan and you'll be able to meet Misao too."
"REALLY NIISAN!?!" They both spoke loudly and rather excited now. Aoshi nodded his head and they ran over to Tokio grabbing her hands and spoke looking up at her.
"We want to go with Auntie Tokio now!" Aoshi smiled at this and stood up waving goodbye to the three of them. He watched as the three of them skipped further into the park heading for a taxi in the distance ahead of them and parked on the side of the road. Aoshi took a depth breath turning around and walking in another direction.
* * * *
Aoshi stood on one side of a busy street in Tokyo looking over at a building. He took a deep breath walking across the road when the cars stopped as a small traffic jam formed and opened the door to the 'Takani Medical Centre'.
"Good morning Shinomori-san. What a surprise it is to see you here." Mrs. Shige, the receptionist had spoken.
"It has been awhile Mrs. Shige. I was wandering if Megumi was in?" Aoshi politely spoke back.
"Yes she's having a coffee break, she doesn't have another patient until noon so you can steal her away." Aoshi nodded his head walking past her and into the staff room. Megumi was humming softly to herself and mixing her coffee. He was about to speak when Megumi turned around nearly dropping the cup of coffee but placed it on the table and raced over to hug him. Aoshi stroked her back calming her soft cries and he soon let go pulling Megumi away from him.
"Do you have a minute to spare Meg? I really need to talk to you." Megumi nodded her head and Aoshi moved over to the door closing and locking it so they wouldn't be interrupted. He sat down on the opposite side of the table to Megumi and began speaking.
"We can't keep going on like this Meg. I know you know what I'm going to say. The whole time I was away I wasn't sure if I could do this but Saitou made me realise, well practically forced the issue into my mind more clearly now and its time for me to speak how I feel. I can't give you the happiness you really deserve Meg because you seek it from another. Our relationship has…ended. You will always have a place in my heart that just belongs to you but I can't…we can't keep doing this anymore. We are hurting ourselves, but not just that we are hurting Sano." Aoshi leaned forward his fingers placed over Megumi's lips stopping her from saying anything and he soon let go speaking once more.
"Please let me finish. I have had so many thoughts running in my head for a long time now and I need to get them out. I do care for you Meg and I do love you but not the way you really want to be loved. You will always be treasured within me, as will the many moments we've shared together. I'd like to remain friends but if it's too difficult or if you feel uncomfortable I'll understand. We've been dodging this decision for a long time now, but now it is time to end this and move on. Meg I know the way you and Sano feel about each other and I'm not angry. I'm glad for the two of you and I wish you all the happiness together."
"H-How long have you known…about us?" Megumi whispered, her dark eyes starring over at Aoshi.
"A long time now, but I guess I never said anything because we were comfortable with each other even though it was evident you were involved with someone else, and that someone being Sano."
"I'm sorry for betraying our relationship Aoshi!" Megumi spoke with tears glistening in her eyes. Aoshi reached his hands over the table squeezing Megumi's and spoke once more.
"Don't be. Us being together made us feel safe. If something terrible happened between you and Sano you came to me for comfortable because I was always there to help you and I still will be. I know that both of us are afraid to part thinking that this relationship is all we'll know and learn from but that's not the way it will be. We shall take chances, you shall be with Sano the way he desperately wants to be with you and I'll get on with my life, as will the two of you. We'll always have each other, but we'll have others to comfort us when we feel sad and alone."
"Are you…going to be with Misao?" Megumi spoke quietly once more wiping her tears away from her cheeks.
"I don't know. There is so much I need to figure out that concern her. She is and will always be my best friend but I know I feel more for her then a best friend. I'm not sure what just at this moment but in time I will figure it out. First I need to apologise to her for being an asshole, yet again actually. I guess I have a knack for being an idiot, at least I can admit it though, not like Saitou."
"So everything is completely finished between us now?" Megumi spoke more clearly now her eyes not showing a trace of crying anymore. Aoshi nodded his head and stood up walking to the door.
"Aoshi? Let's be friends?" Aoshi's shoulders relaxed knowing that Megumi would be okay after he left. He walked back over to her and placed a kiss on her cheek and then left the room without saying another word. He waved goodbye to Mrs. Shige and exited the medical center. The tension in his back and shoulders lessened after speaking to Megumi and he began walking down the street but was stopped by a loud voice yelling at him.
"HEY YA BASTARD! 'BOUT TIME YOU RETURNED!" Aoshi chuckled lightly once more and turned to see Sano jogging up to him.
"You better go check on Megumi, she's a little upset. She'll need you to comfort her, like always." Sano had a confused face expression but waved to Aoshi and turned around walking back to the medical center to see Megumi. Aoshi sighed in relief his guard leaving him as he thought he was going to receive a punch from his friend for making them worry about him. He turned around thrusting his hands in his pockets and began weaving his way through the people that mingled on the street. Aoshi finally flagged down a cab and hopped in. He told the driver the address of where he wanted to go and the driver nodded and drove off.
"Two down, one to go." Aoshi had mumbled to himself while looking out the window. He noticed a large advertisement billboard, which had a picture of the ocean on it. He turned around looking out the back window as Okina's description of Misao's eyes floated in his mind. He sighed once more and rested his head on the back seat, closing his eyes and mumbled quietly to himself once more.
"Misao…"
* * * *
To be continued…
* * * *