Hiker…
(Day 2 - Evening)
It was already sunset and all the students had found certain areas of where they wished to camp for the night. Tokio led them to an actual campsite in the mountainous rainforest with toilets nearby making Kaoru sigh with happiness. At least now she wouldn't have to ask Megumi or Misao to come with her. She was afraid she'd be "eaten" by some sort of creature living in the forest. Misao had laughed, as did everyone else in the bivvie group when Kaoru spoke this to them.
A fire was burning brightly in the middle of the campsite; this being the only place possible to light a fire and a certain section was allocated for collecting dead branches and leaves. Lucky there was a small shelter in which branches had been placed underneath for the next occupants in the area, just in case it rained. It had rained, rather hard too but now the clouds were clearing leaving a breathtaking sunset. Many students sat or stood around the fire talking to each other. Two bivvie groups were preparing dinner that night and hungry students waited near the fire with their bowls ready.
Time passed Tokio blowing a whistle for many students who sat waiting under their bivvie tents and watched as everyone crowded around wanting hot food. As students sat round the fire once they received their serving of food they sat silently listening to Tokio speak.
"Every night we'll come together as a group to discuss what you thought of each day. Each of you may speak if you wish and tell the group what you think. It may range from doing the courses, to the communication and teamwork in the group. No one will take what you say to heart as you are sharing your opinion. If students have questions about the days ahead you may ask and Kenshin or I will be happy to answer them." Tokio glanced around the circle watching students huddle closer together to gather more warmth and nod there heads affirmatively.
"What about Misao-chan? Shouldn't she be here by now? It is getting late and I'm worried." Kaoru spoke, students turning to look her way then turned back around waiting for an explanation as well.
"Misao will be fine Kaoru. She is travelling with a very experienced hiker and there is nothing to be worried about." Tokio replied back.
"But…its been over two hours since we saw them last…" Kaoru muttered out once more, her eyes travelling behind her to look back down the darkened pathway.
"Kaoru-chan, Aoshi won't let anything happened to Misao-chan. They will be here soon; he's just probably helping her walk all the way here. She did have those tablets, which make you quite drowsy, and loosing blood like that is not good either, especially with Misao being as skinny as she is."
"Megumi is right Kaoru, Misao will need to have many stops as not to rise her temperature too much, Aoshi knows this, he is studying in medicine after all." Kenshin interjected as well. Kaoru nodded her head and Tokio began speaking once more wanting students to speak about their experience so far. Most of the guys began speaking up, each talking about how they had been waiting to go on this trip for many weeks and so far it had been excellent, besides the small incident where Misao injured herself.
"Does anyone else have anything to say?" Tokio spoke up when the students fell silent for a number of minutes each having a go at speaking about the walking, the ropes course and general things, like dinner, collecting firewood etc.
"I want to congratulate Kaoru-chan for being so brave." Students turned around to watch an extremely exhausted Misao walk closer to the campfire with Aoshi right beside her carrying her pack over his left shoulder while his right hand held her left arm holding her up.
"Misao-chan? How are you feeling?" Kaoru stood up walking towards her best friend. Misao gave her a tired smile; her eyes glancing up at Aoshi then back over to Kaoru as she placed her hands together clapping for her.
"Well done Kaoru-chan…I'm very proud of you." Kaoru looked behind her when she heard more clapping and saw that Kenshin was standing up and clapping for her as well. Kaoru blushed in embarrassment and watched as her close friends and the other students joined in as well. After a short amount of time the students fell silent once more watching as Misao staggered slightly but wouldn't fall over because of Aoshi.
"Would you like to sit down Misao-chan? Maybe eat something?" Kaoru spoke pointing at the pot of soup that had been made as well as the bread that would only last another couple of days in this weather.
"Iie Kaoru-chan…I think I'll just go to bed." Misao began walking off without Aoshi's help, having shooed his hand away muttering she could do this herself. She knew which bivvie tent was theirs, Sano having placed a green glow stick at the top once more.
"Kaoru? Will you tell us your experience of what you felt on the ropes course?" Tokio spoke getting her attention and then nodded her head at Aoshi silently telling him to make sure Misao was all right. Aoshi walked off, watching Misao's sneakers drag across the rainforest floor as she made it to the tent. Aoshi watched amused as Misao sank to her knees looking at the comfortable sleeping bags lying inside. She finally realised she didn't have her travelling pack but shrugged her shoulders and fell on the first two sleeping bags, her feet sticking out the opening of the tent.
Aoshi approached the bivvie tent, an amused smile crossing his lips as he crouched down looking into the tent to see Misao fast asleep on her friends' bags. He placed Misao's pack on the ground and took his off as well. The rain had stopped, letting Aoshi and Misao dry but Aoshi was still slightly damp as Misao would be and thought it best to get her off her friends sleeping bags or else she wouldn't be a very popular girl any longer. Aoshi moved inside, taking Misao's pack with him, making sure not to disturb her just yet. He opened Misao's bag and reached inside pulling out the sleeping bag and taking it out of its protective cover and unrolled it for Misao.
"Too noisy…" Aoshi heard Misao mumble as she heard Aoshi unzipping the bag. Aoshi's eyebrow rose, as her hearing was quite exceptional. Aoshi pulled Misao off the sleeping bags with little effort and sat her on her butt. Her tired eyes opened to stare at him, her cheeks brightening in colour at seeing Aoshi so close.
"Misao, you should change into warmer clothes and then get some rest." He watched as Misao nodded her head and her hands moved to the hem of her jumper pulling it off but Aoshi watched with slightly wide eyes as her hands grabbed her black skivvie as well, showing him some of her creamy flesh on her flat stomach.
Aoshi grabbed Misao's hands stopping her from removing her top. Confused blue eyes stared over at him as Misao lowered her hands and Aoshi mumbled an answer then moved out of the tent blocking the view from any students passing by.
"Let me leave the tent first."
After several minutes Aoshi dared to crouch down and have a look noticing Misao was already curled up in her sleeping bag, her face almost hidden but leaving a gap so she could breathe. Aoshi crawled over once more, placing a litre of water beside Misao. He wrote a quick note on some paper and placed it underneath so it wouldn't blow away and two energy bars to keep up her nutrients, knowing she'd probably wake up feeling hungry later on.
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Hours passed as Aoshi sat by the small fire as it had burnt down quite a bit but he made sure to keep enough wood on it so he could heat up his cold fingers and food. A notebook sat on one of his knees as he sat cross-legged close to the fire, the heat turning his cheeks a pale red from being so close.
Aoshi had been sitting at the fire for a number of hours as he quietly listened to Kenshin and Tokio talk about old times. The students had adjourned to their bivvie tents speaking softly to each other but all became quiet at about 11pm, every student sound asleep. Kenshin and Tokio had left half an hour later to sleep themselves.
As for Aoshi, it was about two in the morning and he was still up, fully awake and staring into the crackling fire. He was still wearing his black pants, having dried off quickly but replaced his damp black jacket with a deep blue long sleeved shirt and wore another two black shirts underneath, short sleeved top over the long sleeved one.
"What are you writing?" Came a soft voice to Aoshi's right. His head lifted up and turned to stare at a shivering Misao. Aoshi moved slightly to the left, his hand patting the blanket he sat on wanting Misao to sit beside him so she may have some of his warmth and the warmth of the fire.
"You do realise sitting near the fire would actually make you colder not warmer, because one side is always freezing right?" Misao spoke quietly but sat down anyone.
"Aa, of course, but it is too tempting to give up." Aoshi replied, his face turning to look down at Misao as she hugged her knees to her chest staring into the fire.
The only sound that moved through the campsite was the light snoring of a couple of male students, the breeze and the crackling of the fire as Aoshi tossed another branch onto it.
"So what are you writing about?" Misao asked again and sat up a bit to see if she could read any of it. She couldn't make out the words properly but his handwriting was very precise and sophisticated not a stroke out of place.
"Although I am hiking up here for a month I am doing research as well. I'm studying different plants I find up here for one of my subjects and collect the leaves so I may take it back to the lab in the university to test them." Misao's face was slightly tilted as she spoke once more.
"Is that all you write about, no other experiences while hiking? What about locating different caves or even waterfalls? Kenshin said you have been hiking for years so I would think you don't hike in the same area as you did the last time."
"I record everything in my travels all the way up to what I think of the people I meet along the way." Misao never spoke after that as the thought of Aoshi writing something about her sent a small tingle running up her spine. She was eager to find out what he thought of her but never spoke the question, becoming too shy.
"You really should get some more rest Misao." Aoshi spoke after a short moment.
"I…just got a little hungry that's all. I ate the energy bars you left me…thank you for that. I noticed the fire was still burning and when I noticed it was you I thought I'd come see what you were doing. Perhaps you should get some rest as well Aoshi…it is quite late." Misao spoke back, her eyes never moving from the flames of the fire. Aoshi made some sort of noise akin to being a small yes to Misao's statement and closed his notebook.
"Arigatoo Aoshi…" Misao whispered quickly but softly into his ear and kissed his check then got up racing back to the bivvie tent. That was a complete surprise for Aoshi and what Misao was grateful for was the fact he couldn't see her bright blush as she headed further into the darkness going back to her sleeping bag. Misao was shocked she had even shown her thanks so openly like that. She intended on saying thank you, but the small kiss on his cheek even took her by surprise. She'd never thanked some one like that before…well a stranger for that matter. Misao would have to calm down her rapidly beating heart before she saw Aoshi again tomorrow.
Aoshi gathered his things together, his senses still feeling Misao's chilled lips brush his cheek over and over again. It had been so innocent, so sweet but to Aoshi's horror it meant more then that to him. This young high school student was getting under his skin…so to speak. He could sit beside her and they wouldn't even have to talk and yet he felt comfortable...content even.
He'd even listen to her babble on about anything because she'd be talking to him after all.
Aoshi shook his head, throwing sand on the fire turning the campsite into darkness but the moon shone brightly amongst the clouds shedding light for him so he didn't have to turn on his torch. He made his way over to where Kenshin slept soundly and moved into the bivvie they shared and to his side lying down in his sleeping bag and zipping it up.
"You and Misao seem to be getting quite close Aoshi." Came Kenshin's muffled and tired voice.
"Shut up Himura before I truly embarrass you tomorrow in front of Kaoru." Silence filled the bivvie tent once more, Aoshi turned over on his side, his back to Kenshin as he mumbled once more falling asleep.
"That's better…"
Kenshin was wise to stay quiet knowing Aoshi had many tricks up his sleeves and what shocked Kenshin was the fact he'd only been a victim of about three of them a year ago. He'd never forget those days, especially when one of the situations was when he had an audience of his university friends and his old flame Tomoe. Kenshin wrapped himself up in his sleeping bag, his own back facing Aoshi's.
"I say give her your number when we finish helping Tokio with the courses." Kenshin heard Aoshi mumble.
"I don't know what you're talking about Aoshi." Kenshin replied turning over to face his best friend, whose back was still facing him.
"I'm not blind and neither is she Kenshin. She knows you'll be going soon and is probably thinking the same thing about giving you her number but she is young and a little shy… She is probably thinking you wouldn't want it because you are a university student who doesn't have an interest in a schoolgirl like her…"
"Do you think…she'd actually call me Aoshi?" Kenshin asked softly but Aoshi heard the hopefulness in his voice.
"Himura you are an idiot, but yes…Kaoru would call you."
"Arigatoo Aoshi…good night…" Kenshin didn't receive a reply, Aoshi having fallen asleep straight after he spoke those last words to him. Kenshin shock his head turning on his back looking up at the bivvie. Just listening to his best friend's words, Kenshin would give Kaoru his number, but he'd slip in Aoshi's for Kaoru to give to Misao knowing full well he'd never do anything like that. Kenshin shook his head…typical Aoshi so blind to see the way Misao stared at him…the way she blushed in his presence…what a moron… Little did Kenshin know, this is exactly what Aoshi was thinking about him too.
* * * *
To be continued…
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Authors Notes: Hi minna-san! Yeah its long awaited continuation of Hiker and gomen if you are waiting for Under the Cherry Tree…its coming okay! J Now just to clear some things up…when the story gets going, the chapters during the day will be noticeably longer then the ones at night…why? Well because lots of stuff happens during the day were as at night, its usually the talk around the camp fire for "x" amount of time and then students go off to do whatever…cook dinner, collect firewood etc. Most of the night will be split into sections going from the interaction between Aoshi/Misao, Sano/Megumi and Kenshin/Kaoru.
I feel sorry for poor Souzou who seems left out, so did anyone want to nominate a character for him…or shall I make up some shy cute girl just for him? Let me know what you think? I'll try and get UTCT out this week, but I'm having some difficulty getting up to one of the most dramatic parts in the story which I've already written…just need to get there first…
I've got to write more on Sano and Megumi, about the whole baby thing…especially since…he hasn't fainted from watching a birthing video yet! Trust me…not the greatest of videos especially when lunch was straight afterwards…
Anywho…I'll be off now…ja ne…and thanks for reading and reviewing.
.
"So…do you have a girlfriend Aoshi?" That was definitely not what Aoshi was thinking she was going to ask. Her cheeks were pinker having blurted out such a private question but Aoshi kept walking, his hand reaching up to brush his wet bangs away as he mumbled out…
"Iie…" Unknown to him though as he stared in the opposite direction, a secretive smile crossed Misao's lips, her shoulders relaxing at hearing him say that. He blue eyes glanced up at him through her wet bangs to get a profile look of him. Her heartbeat sped up, she had been wrong. He wasn't handsome…he was down right gorgeous! Misao's eyes glanced down once more and noticed the redness of Aoshi's right wrist. Misao remembering this from when her and Souzou weren't thinking properly and this is what had happened. Small blood marks where around his wrist, the thin skin being ripped off by the rope. Misao brought out her left hand, her fingers brushing over his wrist, Aoshi stopping in his walking to look down at her, his own heart speeding up at her soft caress.
"I'm sorry we acted so stupidly and this happened." Aoshi let out a shuddering breath as Misao's small hand clasped his larger one. Although she was blushing brightly now, her eyes never lifting up to met his she kept walking, her hand never letting go of his.
"I've had worse Misao…it is okay…and thank you…" Aoshi mumbled back, his face turning away in embarrassment. His jaw tightened when Misao's hand closed his more firmly now, making sure she wouldn't loose his. Both of them kept walking in silence now, both not knowing what to say. Misao becoming shy, still shocked at the way she openly clutched his hand to hers and as for Aoshi he was silently relishing the small touch from the young woman beside him.