Under the Cherry Tree
"Ayame-chan, Suzume-chan? What are you doing?" Mrs Shinomori spoke as she stepped onto the porch of their large house. Over seven months had passed since the ill fateful turn of events that occurred between Aoshi and Misao. Neither one of them went looking for each…or communicated with each other. The only way Mrs Shinomori actually found out about the entire ordeal was through Misao's mother, Misao having confessed everything to her. There families were very close and to hear such a story between two of their children was just sad. Mrs Shinomori had been shocked beyond belief and instantly tried ringing Aoshi's mobile number but received a disconnected signal. Finally she rung Saitou to ask him where Aoshi was, but became silent when her eldest son confirmed that Aoshi had moved to China and was unreachable. It was as though her eldest son was conspiring against her as though the affairs of her sons did not concern her. Mrs Shinomori had listened to Saitou's explanations and gave up trying to get a hold of Aoshi. Instead she prayed to the gods to reach any word of her son and one summer evening her pray was answered.
"We are waiting for Aoshi-niichan." Ayame-chan answered back as she sat on the steps alongside her younger sister. They wore flowery yukata's, the month being August and it was time to celebrate The Festival of the Dead. For the past week the two girls had helped their mum clean their home to welcome back the spirits of their ancestors. They would be heading to the gravesites of were their ancestors were buried really soon since Ayame and Suzume-chan held flowers, while their mother had gathered a basket together to offer vegetables, fruits and rice wine.
"Don't get your hopes up imoto-chan's." A male voice spoke up and moved into the light, looking down at the little girls with his golden stare.
"He promised he'd come Saitou-niichan like he said on the phone to kachan! He'll be here, we just need to wait a bit more." Ayame-chan reasoned as she glared up at her tall brother, her hands on hips as she stood up to make herself look more confident even though her eyes wavered slightly.
"You miss him too imoto-chan." Saitou spoke softly as he crouched down to her level and placed his hand on top of her head. She pouted cutely at him but turned when they heard the gate creak open. They watched Suzume-chan squeal lightly in happiness as she raced awkwardly over to the shadowed figure.
"Aoshi-niichan you came back!" She yelled happily, but stopped short when she noticed it to be her father as he moved into the light of the red lanterns that were hung in the front yard. Mrs Shinomori headed down the steps of the house when she heard Suzume-chan sniffle, she ready to cry her heart out because it wasn't her Aoshi-niichan.
"You'll never guess who I ran into on the way home Suzume-chan?" Mr Shinomori spoke and propped the gate open even further, another tall figure stood there bending slightly to place his bags on the ground and moved into the light.
"AOSHI-NIICHAN!" Suzume-chan yelled and ran into his embrace as he crouched down to pick her up. Aoshi hugged her desperately to him, his face titled into her neck and shoulder remembering what it was like to hold his sister once again.
"Why Aoshi-niichan, why did you leave Suzume-chan?" She babbled lightly while trying to hug him as hard as she could. He crouched down once more to pick up his other babbling sister as she too began sniffling and speaking to him.
"Me too Aoshi-niichan, why you leave Ayame-chan too…and kachan and tochan…and even Saitou-niichan? Aniki no baka!" She whispered into his ear loudly.
"Ayame-chan watch your mouth." Mrs Shinomori spoke in shock but her eyes watered as her son placed down his sisters and silently stepped towards her. He stood in front of her, she craning her head back, as he grew taller again. He looked a lot older then 21, but she had guessed that over the seven months he had been away he must have really matured in body and soul.
"Your face…you seem so…so relaxed, no tension on your shoulders anymore musuko." She uttered lightly coming up with her own assumption as to why her son seemed different. Mrs Shinomori watched as a small grin broke onto his lips when he nodded at her statement.
"Musuko!" Her voice cracked lightly as she stepped up on tiptoes to hug Aoshi tightly. Aoshi instantly wrapped his arms around his petite mother and placed his head against hers, eyes closing as he had missed his family very much, but knew his time alone had been what he needed.
He had painted over the months he's separated himself from everyone he knew in Japan, but he had also visited a local temple for peace and solace to try and search his soul for reasons, for explanations and what went down in Tokyo. Aoshi was relieved that he had found inner peace with himself and thought it best to head back to Kyoto like he promised his mother. He had finally rung her up one evening, probably morning over there and said he'd be coming home for the Obon Festival. He would discuss everything with her, of where he's been and what had been going on for the past seven months but knew there was also another reason as to why he was back. He had come back to take care of personal matters that had gone wrong months ago…he needed to confront the victim…and that victim was Misao.
"You've been gone from home to long Aoshi. How long will you be staying before you disappear once more?" His mother spoke, his entire family turning to gaze at him waiting for his answer. Aoshi glanced his eyes in the direction of his father, he already knowing the answer but finally turned to face them all and bowed formally voicing his answer.
"I came to apologise for causing everyone a lot of heartache and pain…and I hope I gain your forgiveness. As for my 'disappearing again' I have decided that Kyoto…is where I belong. I am home now." Aoshi rose from his bow and stared around the dully-lit front yard.
"KANSEI! Aoshi-niichan is back!" Ayame and Suzume-chan yelled, their hand's thrust in the air in doing so. Saitou watched comically as Suzume-chan lost her flowers, but she quickly gathered them up with the help of Ayame-chan.
"Good, good…now shall we be on our way?" Aoshi's father muttered breaking up the girls' cheers as they clasped his hands as they walked out of the front yard and down the street, their mother in stepping in rhythm with them. Aoshi slowly walked beside a very quiet Saitou, his hand snaking inside his yukata as he pulled out a cigarette and placed it between his lips.
"So what is the news from Tokyo Captain Saitou?" Aoshi spoke earning a snort from his brother.
"Why did you come back?" Saitou replied with a question of his own and lit up the cigarette as he gazed around at other families heading for the gravestones of their own ancestors, each wife caring a basket containing the offerings provided to them.
"I have…situations to take care of." Aoshi replied carefully as the both of them rounded a corner, but proceeded to walk a little faster as the rest of their family was waiting on them.
"I see…" Saitou muttered lightly, glancing over at Aoshi as he unconsciously bit his lower lip, deep in thought.
"You know, the last I heard about Misao, coming from Tokio's lips of course, was that she was dating some rich businessman." Saitou's eyes narrowed watching Aoshi's eyes flicker lightly. So he had come back to see her after all.
"That is good to hear." Aoshi replied trying to cover up the hurt that was slowly building inside his stomach and growing to reach his heart.
"You seem saddened ahou. You didn't think she'd wait for you to snap out of your immature ways did you?" He watched Aoshi jerk lightly, his gaze turning his way as he voiced his opinion loudly.
"Of course not!" Saitou watched as Aoshi lowered his gaze away from him and stared at the pavement once more.
"So you admit being immature, that is a start." Saitou spoke once more taking a puff of his cigarette and then stubbed it out, as they grew closer to the graveyard.
"If it helps, she is not with him anymore and at least once a week she rang Tokio to see if I had heard any word from you." Saitou continued onwards as Aoshi stopped to decipher his words. His long bangs concealed his eyes, but somewhere deep inside; a spark began to grow.
Could it be…?
"Ahou, you are falling behind." Saitou spoke as the Shinomori's entered the graveyard and headed for their ancestors. Aoshi had reached one of the gravesites of his ancestors and bent down to brush the stones and leaves away. He took some flowers from his little sisters and placed them around the gravestone, he sitting back on his shins as he observed his mother bring out the vegetables, fruits and rice wine as his family prayed and welcomed their ancestors' back to Earth.
* * * *
Once the rituals had been completed it was time to head for the vacant block which had been set up with a wooden tower and the distant sound of a taiko drummer had begun playing already. He stood atop the tower for everyone to listen to. Music was already being played as families from all over Kyoto began to gather to celebrate the festival in good fun and cheer.
As the Shinomori's grew closer to the large tower stalls had already been set up selling different foods and drinks and not to forget games booth's as well. Many people had already begun to enjoy and participate in the bonodori as they danced around the tower hoping to soothe the spirits of the dead during their visit back to Earth from the Spirit World.
Saitou and Aoshi stood off to the side watching their family join in the celebrations. Ayame and Suzume-chan tried prying Aoshi into dancing with them but he offered to get the girls some food and win them some prizes at the entertainment booths in which they couldn't resist. Aoshi had watched from afar as Tokio had run up to Saitou energetically pulling him into the bonodori…and surprisingly enough he seemed to mellow out and follow her with not as much force being placed on her behalf to drag him like she used to.
As Aoshi wondered around the food stalls, bonfires had been lit even though the summer in Kyoto was quite humid. Men and women chatted happily as the festivities continued on.
All heads rose above, a fireworks display had began, brilliant colours decorating the black sky. Aoshi had stood off to the side, his hands full with a couple of stuffed toys and not to mention food. If he forgot the food, there would be hell to pay.
* * * *
Aoshi finally continued on heading back to where he last saw Saitou and Tokio but noticed they were nowhere in sight. He could not locate them dancing the bonodori. Well he really couldn't see their forms in the crowd, but there were literally hundreds of people around anyway so it was hard to decipher where his family had gone.
As Aoshi's eyes roamed the vacant area now packed with hundreds of people coming to celebrate, his hand dropped the food and the small toys he'd won as his eyes caught sit of a very familiar young woman. She was dancing, moving gracefully alongside another woman and laughing all the while. Her ocean blue eyes sparkled happily as she enjoyed the festivities while her long blue-black hair swayed rhythmically to her movements, brushing her soft curvy form.
"M-Misao…" Her name escaped his lips in a rush. As though Misao had heard him utter her name over the taiko drummer, the music, the cheering and fireworks her eyes gazed in his direction, growing wide in surprise at seeing his tall lean form dressed in a plain black yukata staring her way.
Misao tried to break through the crowd to see whether he was real or her eyes had been deceiving her, but she had to go around the wooden tower once more. Misao finally broke only to rush over to see the fallen objects on the ground, but no Aoshi.
"H-He was here!" Misao muttered to herself and stood up quickly, her eyes scanning the hordes of people to look for his lean form. Her heart began beating wildly in her chest at the thought of him being back in Kyoto. She had promised herself not to think of him, not to worry and not to hope that she'd see him again…and yet that small glimpse began to bring all her hope back.
"Misao-chan are you okay?" Misao stood up, her eyes scanning the crowd, but all they fell on was Tokio's dark eyes.
"He's come back!" She uttered still very much in surprise, but watched as Tokio titled her head, her eyes showing confusion at not knowing what she was babbling about.
"Aoshi's back!" Misao spoke and looked down when she noticed Tokio held her hands comfortingly.
"Misao-chan, I thought we talked about this. You've got to get over him, he's not coming back do you hear me." Tokio was beginning to worry for her best friend.
"I love him!" Misao uttered loudly, her cheeks growing dark as bystanders turned to glance her way for a moment. Her blue eyes gazed into Tokio's fixed stare and Misao spoke once more.
"I'm sorry for yelling, but if you were me Tokio, what would you do? If this had happened to you and Saitou what would you have done? I know you Tokio; you'd still love him even if he hurt you…ignored you… If you had met Saitou when you were kids, you would never be able to forget him for he is always in your heart…in your thoughts."
"I worry for you Misao-chan, about you getting your hopes up that Aoshi will come back. I don't want you to be left alone for the rest of your life, wasting away at the thought that Aoshi will come back for you. He's not a child anymore, you both aren't and things change. You won't always get what you wish for Misao-chan."
"You don't think I know that? But I still love him Tokio-chan and that won't change at all. Whether my mother likes it or not, Aoshi took my heart without even realising it in the beginning. I can never forget him Tokio-chan. If anything happened to you and Saitou you wouldn't be with anyone because he took yours as well. I miss him Tokio-chan, I miss everything about him, even his stubborn and secretive ways and I just want to see his face, even if it is just for a single moment…never to happen again, I still want to see him."
"I'm glad to hear that, because the ahou is here." Tokio and Misao jerked in surprise as Saitou made his way towards them. Misao's eyes lit up in wonder, gazing up at Saitou wondering if what he said was true.
"He's come back to see you weasel-girl." Saitou watched as Misao raced off, trying desperately to locate his tall form from the crowd. You would think a tall man would stand out, but Misao was still relatively shorter then most women her age and it was hard trying to find him in a crowd.
"You shouldn't get her hopes up like that Saitou." Tokio replied softly.
"I was being serious. Aoshi has come back to ask for forgiveness. I know how much the ahou loves her…I saw it."
"Oh?" Tokio muttered almost intrigued as to how in seven hells he had pried that information out of his stubborn brother. She watched a small smirk cross his lips, as he stayed quiet on his behalf.
"What did you say?" Tokio spoke with her hands resting on her hips as she gazed up at her tall lover.
"Oh something about Misao and a businessman." He began walking, pulling Tokio with him as she looked up in shock at him.
"You…you lied to him? Misao hasn't ever been in contact with any businessman…she's never dated anyone…not since the whole Aoshi/Soujiro affair!" She spoke with a little amount of horror in her voice at the thought of Saitou pulling a stunt like that on his own brother.
"It was needed. You don't have to worry about them anymore Tokio-chan, they'll be fine on their own…they'll be fine together." He spoke and looked down at her as she clutched the top half of his deep blue yukata with both hands, stopping him from walking.
"Nani?" He muttered, bending his head slightly to catch her shy muffled voice of 'nothing'. He hadn't even realised he'd called her Tokio-chan in such an affectionate way which made her blush prettily in the dull light.
"Come on…" He voiced, his hand pressed between her shoulder blades as they moved on heading towards one of the many food stalls.
* * * *
For at least an hour Misao had walked up and down trying to search for any clues as to Aoshi's whereabouts. She smiled at people she knew, not wishing for them to see the confusion and sadness in her eyes. She saw him, he was here she was certain of it. Saitou even said he was back…back to see her! She felt a not so unpleasant warmth begin to caress her cheeks at that thought. He was coming to see her…
Misao found herself on the sidewalk of the street, her eyes turning back to look at the festivities continuing on into the night and for the next couple of days. Her head scanned the road, lined with red lanterns to guide the spirits, but still she had seen no sign of Aoshi. Had he taken one look at her and left again? Misao shock her head of that thought and sighed almost in defeat, her feet turning to head back towards the tower, but a tug in her heart did not allow her to walk back. Misao whipped her head around searching across the road to notice that this park was the very one that held the cherry tree Aoshi first took her too when they were children.
This tree…it felt like it was tugging at her heart, wanting her to visit it and so Misao picked up the material of her yukata and lightly ran across the deserted street, her shoes clacking as she did so. She stopped just before hitting the lush grass, looking down at it for a moment and then took off her shoes, dangling them in her left hand as she raced once more, the tugging in her heart growing stronger with each step.
"Aoshi…" Misao had mumbled lightly and pressed on, a smile growing on her lips as the tug in her heart grew bigger. Darkness grew as the red lanterns and the lights from the festival disappeared as Misao moved further into the park. She stopped short of the cherry tree, her eyes growing sad. She was the only one here. Misao had thought he'd be here, but it was only her and the tree…together…and yet alone.
The cool grass brushed Misao's small feet and ankles as she slowly stepped towards the old tree. She had dropped her shoes on the ground and stepped forward, her hand pressed against the trunk tenderly. Her eyes had closed, lost in her old memories of when her and Aoshi used to visit this tree, the place they first met, the time he told her he would be her bestest friend in the whole world.
From afar, unknown to Misao as she was too locked in her memory's, a tall figure stood in the darkness of the shadows, eyeing her off. He would have thought she would have felt his presence by now, but obviously her training had lacked over the months. As he stared upon her figure he remembered the ways things used to be…the ways things had turned out…and the way the both of them had parted ways…his doing of course.
Finally he got the guts and approached the unknown Misao, his feet stealthily carrying him closer to her form. She still had her long hair, flowing freely from her usual plait she always wore. It rested and swayed against her pert bottom, his eyes staring there for more then what Misao would have deemed comfortable if she had of known. She was still petite, but she had grown taller…not to mention filling out more either. He had remembered when she used to wear kimono's or yukata's to the festivals and they hid all her curves, but now as the seven months had passed, Misao had truly matured into a beautiful woman. Oh, she was beautiful before, but now…now she didn't seem so innocent…so fragile. She was the same Misao, but not the same Misao in some way.
Aoshi stopped in his tracks, drenched in moonlight and observed as Misao pressed both hands to the trunk of the cherry tree, her forehead resting between them, those emotional eyes of hers still closed off. As Aoshi's eyes took one last glimpse of her form, a small smirk crossed his lips as he noticed her bare feet. So one thing hadn't changed that was for sure…
"A lot of memories have happened thanks to this very sakura." He watched as Misao abruptly turned around, a soft gasp escaping her lips at seeing him before her. A cool breeze had picked up, swaying strips of her hair into her face, which Misao brought up her delicate hand and brushed the strands behind her ears. She wore a yukata, plain but elegant, complementing her curves and donned in golds and whites. The gold flickered in the moonlight as the leaves swayed letting the moonlight break through for just a moment more.
"H-Hai…" Aoshi had heard her almost inaudible squeak as an answer. She was hesitant…uncertain and most likely afraid…afraid that he would disappear Aoshi had presumed. Her eyes never left his, Aoshi's gaze quite intense as he looked down at the shocked Misao.
"Ones very memorable, others that stir from Tokyo and wish to be forgotten." He muttered once more and slowly began to walk towards the prone woman. Misao had began to fidget already, tucking strips of hair behind her ears or trying to straighten out her yukata when there weren't even any creases to begin with.
"You never change…" Aoshi whispered to himself. He observed as she parted her lips ready to speak but whatever it was she was going to say she could not. Aoshi had placed two of his fingers against her lips, relishing in their soft feel as he spoke his reason for quieting her.
"Don't say anything, can you not feel it?" His words were a mere whisper, but loud enough for Misao to understand.
"Feel it?" Misao had murmured her eyes glancing into Aoshi's stare, almost gulping at wanting to know what that look meant.
"What made you come here Misao? Did you feel it? The connection we seem to share with this very sakura?" Aoshi spoke again, his own hand pressed against the trunk of the tree as though in some way he was telling it he was here. Aoshi took a deep breath when he watched Misao do the same, her small, smoother hand brushing the bark lightly.
"A connection we share with the sakura…" Misao muttered to herself, trying to decipher through Aoshi's words, but she was unable to as he whispered once more, Misao hearing everything.
"A connection we have between each other…" Aoshi dropped his hand away from the trunk and turned to face Misao. Her eyes had grown wide just like they used to when he spoke such touching words. His words were sincere and truthful, his eyes boring into Misao's, telling her what he said was no lie. After all this time, his words still surprised her into speech impediment.
"N-Nani…" Was all she could come up with at the moment as Misao's throat seemed to block off her voice at the precise moment his words made sense inside her. She hadn't seen Aoshi for seven months! They had parted in a not so pleasant way, Misao heading for Kyoto and he back to China. As Misao stared up at him, he had grown taller…and yet it seemed like some sort of weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He looked…relaxed…and maybe even content! That was surprising to say the least. If Misao stood any closer she would still be shorter then him, but at least according to her calculations she could rest her head under his chin now and not just against his chest. Another breeze had picked up Misao's eyes wavering slightly as he drew a little closer, his musky smell making her feel slightly faint.
"Sometimes I thought we had more sad memories, more fights then any of our happier times together, but when I am here…at this sakura, I do not feel that way at all. As I stand here, looking at you now I remember what you said at the airport as you tried to explain once more what happened…and I was non-too nice. You were right you know, in the end, over everything we've been through Shinomori Aoshi could never forget Makimachi Misao." Aoshi peered down at Misao observing as she bent her head slightly a hand lifting up to brush away some tears from her right cheek. Aoshi gulped to get the lump out of his throat as he continued on.
"You had said through everything that has happened we still have a connection between each other…our hearts could not forget the person who had stolen them."
"A-Aoshi…" Misao muttered as she stepped a little closer, watching as his hand moved up to brush against the tree trunk once more. A smirk crossed his lips as his gaze returned to Misao.
"Memories have been formed here, but sometime we had to grow up and realise that everything couldn't be perfect. Childhood is very different from adulthood and yet we were both drawn back to where it all began. Our days together were born here…and ended in Tokyo. I…" Aoshi faltered slightly never having done all the talking before, but it was about time it was his turn anyway. His eyes were still on Misao; her emotional blue eyes never leaving his silently wondering were he was going with what he was saying.
"You what?" Misao spoke softly, almost breathlessly in anticipation. Aoshi was talking to her, in a tone she hadn't heard for a long time…one that was with ease with himself, with softness and care that related to being near her. Misao's heart began beating heavily in her chest as she awaited his words.
"I had finally grown the courage to contact my family about a month ago. I promised Ayame and Suzume-chan that I'd be here, to watch them dance the bonodori with mother. I had gone to win them prizes and buy them food when I saw you…through the hundreds of people that were dancing and celebrating my eyes had found yours. As I stared at you, laughing and smiling happily I had begun to wonder whether you had moved on…whether you had forgotten me…"
"IIE!" Misao yelled instantly, her mind pleading for her to explain more, but she refused. It was his turn to talk now. Misao felt the heat rise in her cheeks as Aoshi had tilted his head slightly, staring endlessly at her for what she had yelled. So now he knew, she had never forgotten him at all.
"I needed to see the sakura again, to see if…this is so stupid, I feel like an idiot." Aoshi muttered as he shook his head, almost kicking himself in the inside for being such a coward.
"Well, you are an idiot, but keep going anyway." Misao replied instantly and Aoshi caught the humour in her voice, saw the laughter sparkle in her eyes. How long had it been since he had seen that sparkle directed his way. Without even thinking he had bowed formally at Misao, startling the young woman as she stared at his bent form. His long bangs covered his eyes, much like they always did, but they had been closed tight, as though he was fighting some inner battle to decide on what to do at that very moment in time.
"I had secluded myself away, staying in a small village, never really leaving the place I had taken shelter in unless it was to buy some groceries. I still painted and sculptured, but mostly I visited the local temple to find solace and understanding in myself for what I had done to you. Saitou and Kenshin tried prying feelings out of me…feeling about you, but I was too stubborn to listen to them. I wasn't aware of feelings and emotions until I had met you and when I saw…well lets just say I broke completely and shut myself down, not sure on how to deal with life anymore. After much soul searching I finally had the guts to contact my family and I now return to Kyoto…for good. I came back to see how you were fairing Misao."
"Aoshi…I…" Misao was at a loss for words. Here Aoshi was, pouring his heart out to her and she stood there like an idiot, but then wasn't this what she had been waiting for? She stood there, looking down at his bowed form and her hand reached out almost ready to touch his shoulder, but she watched surprised as he spoke again, his voice cracking slightly, thick with emotion.
"My heart…it hurt…for what had happened, but I had let this happen and so I hated myself for hurting you for so long, but not without hating you as well. I hated seeing your tears, for what it did inside me. I was the cause of them and for that I shut myself away thinking it was best for you to laugh and be happy with someone else instead of being miserable with me…that is what I thought, what I felt was right…but now I… I came back because I couldn't forget about you…my heart wouldn't let me forget you Misao and as I found inner peace with myself I smiled as you were the one good solid person who had stuck by me through everything. I was stupid…and afraid, but I come back changed. I come back to ask if there was any part of you that could forgive me. I also hope that in time you, Makimachi Misao might want to think of becoming Shinomori Aoshi's friend once more…to watch the birth of new memories form under the cherry tree."
"You hurt me." Misao spoke the first thing that popped into her mind, biting her lip as she watched Aoshi's shoulders tense slightly at her words, as though she had struck him in the face…or stomach.
"You wouldn't let me explain, you confused the hell out of me and then seven months pass without a single word and now you're back expecting everything to be okay?" Misao's eyes had narrowed, anger beginning to rise in the pit of her stomach.
"No, I don't expect everything to be okay Misao, I just…I don't know really, I thought it time for me to do the apologising now and wait for when you would forgive me…if you would forgive me that is. I deserve nothing from you…for what I have done to you…" She observed as he rose to his full height, her eyes growing wide as she watched the wetness in his disappear as though it had never been there in the first place.
"I apologise for interfering in your life again, but I am glad you are doing well Misao. It was nice to see you again and I wish you luck in whatever you do with yourself. Goodbye Misao…" Misao watched in horror as he bowed once more and then turned around ready to head off into the darkness. He was leaving again?
"Tomodachi's…" Misao muttered to herself and snapped her head up, her eyes brimming with tears as Aoshi was already a couple of metres away from her.
"AOSHI!" Misao had yelled and watched as he had turned around to gaze at her, a look of surprise crossing his features as Misao dove into him, her arms wrapping around his upper chest, her head resting under his chin. She couldn't do it; not again…she couldn't let him go again. So they would be friends…to repair all the damage that had been down, to form new memories under their tree.
"Tomodachi's…I'd really like that Aoshi…I really would." Misao pulled away to look up at his surprised gaze, he standing very much like a statue, hands raised and everything! It was like he was going to hug her but never got the courage…or the chance to as she had pulled away from him. Misao couldn't help but giggle as she looked at the boyish grin that crossed his lips for several seconds. Oh, the teenage Aoshi was still within him all right…and that made Misao relax in comfort. She watched Aoshi brush his hand over the very branch they used to sit upon.
"Do you think it could still hold us?" Misao questioned and watched Aoshi shrug his shoulders.
"Let's find out together ne?"
* * * *
"Aoshi?" Misao had spoken after they shared a long silence together. They sat upon the branch looking up into the sky waiting for the next round of fireworks to begin.
"Yes?" He had replied almost inaudibly, his gaze not meeting hers.
"We'll be friends forever right?" She questioned him, her eyes focusing on his face, the moonlight flittering through the leaves to glow on his manly features.
"Mm…" Aoshi had muttered, his eyes closing as a breeze swept through the park, brushing his long bangs away from his eyes.
"What does that mean?" Misao questioned slightly annoyed now.
"Hush, watch the fireworks Misao." Aoshi responded softly.
"MOU!" Misao muttered in displease and her hands crossed over her breasts and she turned her head away, snubbing Aoshi, as though she were 12 or 13 years old again. A soft chuckle broke through the night and so did another loud 'mou', which was soon accompanied by a 'stop laughing at me' as well. As Aoshi grew silent, complying with Misao's wishes, he couldn't help but ponder on one thought and thought it best to voice it aloud and get it over and done with.
"Misao, what ever happened between you and that businessman?"
"What businessman?" Misao had replied instantly, her eyes never leaving the beautiful greens and blues exploding in the sky, as she never really thought what his entire question implied. Aoshi turned to look at her, observing as one leg was propped up on the branch while the other dangled freely, a small amount of skin breaking through from the split in her yukata. She had began to 'ah' and mutter 'wow' every now and then as bigger explosions and colours of fireworks broke through the midnight sky. Aoshi shook his head, a certain golden eyed man was going to die tomorrow that was for sure.
"Nevermind Misao, its nothing." Oh he would die painfully indeed.
The night drawled on, the Obon Festival very much in full swing now…and yet there were two more days of celebrations to go. The two companions sat side by side, resting on their branch under the cherry tree and basking in the comfortable silence that rested around them. A bond was sure to develop, just like it had in the past, but time was needed and there was plenty left for the two of them. Everything was as it should be…
Well…almost…
* * * *
The end!
* * * *
Authors Notes: *Clears her throat*
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Is anyone as excited as me? Its finished, caput! Completed, well almost, but still its over! *Falls back in her chair exhausted*
I think maybe Al-chan and Mara-san are the only ones that know how relieved I am at this being finished! LOL! It is such a relief. I have my epilogue left, which is pretty damn straight forward…cause look at the ending "well almost.." you didn't actually think I'd leave them like that did you? Shame on you if you did, you should know Noa by now!
*Holds up her Aoshi and Misao Forever flags* and her *Noa hates…and she repeats HATES angsty depressing endings which places her two favourite characters away from each other forever* flags up as well.
OH! A storm is brewing! SUGOI! RAIN! *YAY*
If I have gotten any information wrong with concerning the Obon Festival, I apologise, but its what the information on the paper said, so if its wrong, then its whoever wrote its fault, which in this case it as 'Anonymous' written on it. Spelling and grammar mistakes? Sure why the hell not! I'm on a roll! Hikaru-san! Arigatoo for the links through the AMML! ^_^
Anyway, I want to thank each and everyone for reading. There is to many to thank personally of course, but maybe at the "end end" I'll try and list a lot of people that have helped me get through this series.
Onward through the fog to reach the epilogue! You should see it in a couple of days, it depends how "energetic" I feel at writing it. Not to mention my summary of the other couples used in the story, but who knows I might just have two chapters after the epilogue for them, or I could place them in the epilogue after the "event" occurs…hmm, Noa's getting an idea now!
Well it's been real and until next time for the last instalment's…ARIGATOO GOZAIMASU MINNA-SAN!
(^_________^)