Hiker…

(Day 4 - Evening 6pm)

Aoshi had been silently watching Misao whom was walking up ahead with a laughing Sano, Souzou and Kurohato. He knew Misao didn't know he heard her cry and although she'd deny everything, he knew it was because of him and what he spoke about Tokio and then earlier today he was completely rude to her. Fear had welled up in Aoshi that morning at what Misao spoke. It was the truth, the simple truth he so stubbornly refused to believe and yet once it was thrust into his face, into his ears and brain he had lashed out becoming a complete asshole. He'd been an asshole to the one person who seemed to know the ins and outs of him just by watching him…just by being around him. How could Misao, a teenager for that matter, know what he was like? How could she judge his personality when they'd only met three days ago? How could she? How could she see straight through his icy exterior and see the shy being underneath…the sadness seeping through every pore in his body at being rejected one too many times. He was a difficult man to be around, but there where those who could stand to be around him. Yes they were few and far between, but Aoshi had found another one…one who was a very feisty and outgoing young teenager.

Aoshi blinked a few times, his eyes focusing on the distant figures of the students he and Kenshin had been 'assigned to' as they helped Tokio in her 9 day adventure with them. Aoshi began picking up his pace as he moved quietly but swiftly up the small track on the hill, he raising his hand to block the bright sunshine.

"It's not like you to fall behind." Aoshi looked over at the figure standing on the small bath and he began walking past her, not wanting to speak with her at the moment.

"You can't hide away from me forever Aoshi."

"Says who Tokio?" Aoshi snapped back, his hands moving into his trouser pockets, as he became distant and arrogant.

"You act like such a child Aoshi." Tokio turned to stare up into his emotionless face and sighed before standing in front of him not allowing him to pass her at any moment.

"Get out of my way." Aoshi spoke, his eyes staring over at the sunset, never wanting to look into her dark eyes.

"What the hell do you want me to say? What the hell do you want me to do? Do you want an apology Aoshi? Do you want me to get on my hands and knees and beg for forgiveness? I'm hurting as well you bastard!" Tokio yelled, her hand coming up and slapping across Aoshi's left cheek. Her dark eyes grew wide in shock at what she had done and she opened her mouth trying to apologise but couldn't.

"A-Aoshi…I…" Her eyes were wide with surprise at herself and because of Aoshi's green-blue eyes staring down into hers. How they held so much sadness and frustration. She knew he wanted to let it out…let everything go, but this was Aoshi after all. He was never so open to anyone…not even Kenshin and he was his best friend!

"Don't you dare…don't you dare touch me again…ever…" Aoshi voiced softly as he began walking off, brushing straight passed Tokio and began racing for the campsite the student's would be setting up. Tokio watched his form begin to fade, as the night grew darker. Clearly by the happy yells the other year 10 group had just met up with hers.

Tokio had never seen so many emotions flitter across Aoshi's face at the same time…and to think she had made them appear before her…with a hard slap against his cheek. Anger had flashed through his eyes for a split second and Tokio knew that if she were anyone else he would have bunched back, but because it was she, Aoshi did nothing…except run away from her once again.

* * * *

Aoshi lightly puffed as he came into the area were the students mingled happily telling each other what they had been through so far. Aoshi scanned the area finally making out where Kenshin sat watching the students while starting another conversation with Kaoru. Aoshi couldn't help but feel a bit of happiness for his best friend. A lot of people thought Kenshin was strange, having his red hair and violet eyes and his almost feminie physique and speech, but Aoshi just realised he was different and someone very important to him…his best friend after all.

Aoshi watched as Kenshin waved at him telling him to come over and he did just that but not taking off his pack nor sitting down either. Aoshi took a deep breath having made a decision while he raced to get here faster and he was ready to voice it allowed to Kenshin…that is until another emotionless and cold voice registered in his ears.

"Shinomori?" Aoshi turned around, his eyes widening slightly, but he thanked the gods for his long bangs as he stared silently at Hajime Saitou…Tokio's husband. Aoshi could feel the tension rise in Kenshin as he watched the two of them silently. He was probably praying to the gods that there wasn't going to be any conflict between them like last time.

Aoshi set his jaw watching as Hajime mockingly looked him up and down as though judging his appearance after all these years and then flicked his cigarette into the fire.

"Still like a statue I see…" Aoshi heard Hajime mumble as though wanting to provoke something within him, but Aoshi stubbornly held his ground. If it weren't for the fact they had an audience then Aoshi would gladly give Hajime a piece of his mind…or rather his fists.

"What no 'its so wonderful to see you Hajime'?" He spoke mockingly and dryly once more. He glanced his golden yes over at Aoshi knowing he was trying to hold back his anger, still be pent up at he and Tokio getting together and then marrying as well. Saitou was eager to make him feel more uncomfortable, wanting desperately to see the 'icicle' break apart but left it at that and walked away not saying anything more. He decided to blame it on Tokio and the students. He had heard the students begin to greet his wife and he walked off to see her as well. Aoshi watched as Tokio smiled up at her husband and hugged him, not wanting to get too personal with an audience such as 15 and 16 year olds. Aoshi observed as Tokio's dark eyes drifted towards his blue-green ones, but he turned away at precisely the right time.

"Aoshi come sit down with us." Kaoru spoke, breaking into his thoughts, but he shook his head negatively.

"That won't be necessary. I've got to get back to my research studies after all. Kenshin will still be here though, so keep him company."

"Oro?" Kenshin replied in confusion as he stared up at his taller friend. He watched as Aoshi shook his head and spoke once more before walking away to go find Megumi and say goodbye.

"Saitou-san will need your help, whereas I can do this on my own. Besides you sill have to give 'you know who' your 'you know what'." Aoshi had watched an embarrassed blush cross his friend's cheeks even though none of the students had a clue as to what he was referring too.

Aoshi moved towards some bivvie tents and found the one with the green glowstick. He crouched down ready to ask his question but sat frozen as he stared over at Misao's sleeping face. She was curled up in her sleeping bag, small wisps of hair fluttered against her parted mouth, catching at the corner and staying put. Aoshi moved in, this time having no trouble, as Sano, Kaoru, Megumi and Souzou hadn't layed out their sleeping bags yet. Aoshi moved closer to Misao, his slightly chilled hand brushing the wisps of hair away from her sweet angelic face.

"Gomen ne Misao…for being so rude to you…" Aoshi muttered to himself, his only answer from Misao was a soft sigh as she dug deeper into her sleeping bag. Aoshi couldn't help but smile down at her and shook his head muttering his last words before leaving the tent and walking off in another direction, heading away from the campsite.

"No matter what…you still pretty cute, even when your mad at me…"

"Leaving without saying goodbye?" Aoshi turned to stare at Tokio whom was by herself, probably asking Hajime to sit down and chat with Kenshin for a while. A long silence broke out and Tokio finally took a deep breath breaking it.

"I'm sorry for hurting you Aoshi." She watched Aoshi raise his hand silently telling her to stop.

"It's my fault…but at least this meeting between Hajime and myself doesn't end bloody this time." He watched Tokio nod her head in agreement and she spoke once more staring over at Aoshi.

"I didn't know how much it hurt you to see Hajime and myself together but you must understand, we could never be together Aoshi. I never loved you the way you hoped…"

"You mean the way I loved you correct? I wasn't what you were looking for right?" Aoshi replied and his eyes frowned when Tokio nodded her head affirmatively. So now he had been told…been truthfully told that the Tokio he loves…loved was never to be his…never to be with him. Hajime was lucky…damn lucky in fact and Aoshi cursed the gods for giving that prick HIS Tokio! Aoshi shook his head of those thoughts once more. Tokio was never his to begin with. He was completely diluted…in a fantasy world thinking that everything would be perfect…everything he wished for…demanded in life would come true…and so easily as well.

"Goodbye Tokio." Aoshi spoke, watching Tokio's eyes widen in surprise. The soft tone in his voice meant goodbye…forever. Aoshi had changed over the years, Tokio knew that, but now she knew that once his heart finally let go of her…it would do so forever…leaving his past in the past…at least that is what she hoped for him.

Tokio took a deep breath knowing this was the last time she and Aoshi would see each other. After this it was no more. She knew if they both saw each other in the street, Aoshi would move across to the other side of the road. True he would be acting almost childish and stupid, but he wasn't ready to forgive her…wasn't ready for the full impact she had made in his life just yet. Someday soon, he'd have to face his fears and let love shine once again…

"Do me a favour Tokio, say goodbye to Meg-chan for me…I could not find her, but I suspect she is with Sano…" Aoshi had requested, his back turned to the elder petite woman.

"What about Misao?" Tokio watched as Aoshi literally relaxed his tense shoulders hearing Misao's name as though it brought him peace.

"She was sleeping. I didn't have the heart to wake her, but I think she knows now…why I am distant, why I feel reluctant to open up and even if she doesn't…well then it is forever a mystery to her which one day she might be able to solve." Tokio watched Aoshi walk off, his hand moving to his back pocket as he pulled out a small torch, not wanting to trip over any obstacles in his way as he kept moving heading down the mountain.

"Has that baka left already?" Tokio turned around glaring at her husband, he not giving the supposed death glare a second glance.

"I'm sure everything will be fine for Aoshi. I hope so anyway." Tokio replied walking towards her husband.

"Why would I care?" Hajime replied in an almost bored tone of voice as they began walking back towards the campfire the students sat at and listened to some story Kenshin told them. Tokio elbowed her husband in the ribs and replied instantly knowing that Hajime didn't have a response to her statement because it was true.

"Both of you cannot forget you grew up together. We all went to the same school and adored the same instructor who taught us about adventuring. You and Aoshi acted like brothers to each other. If you needed help Aoshi helped you know matter what the consequences and it was the same for Aoshi as well. You were both there for each other and you cannot forget something like that. All the good times you guys had together are forever in you heart and minds, never letting you forget that once upon a time the two of you were like family to each other…blood brothers you had promised each other if I remember correctly." They had walked passed the bivvie tent Misao had been sleeping in, only she wasn't sleeping at all and wasn't even in the tent for that matter.

Misao had heard Aoshi's apology and that small confession about calling her cute made her blush at that very moment as she hid nearby and heard he and Tokio-san's conversation. She felt a little guilty for listening in, but her heart clenched at the thought of Aoshi and Tokio-san's husband once being the so-called 'blood brothers' as Tokio-san put it. They had acted like family once…but because of the weirdness between the three of them…friendships had been lost…forever.

"Aoshi…gomen ne for not seeing all of your pain…" Misao spoke softly looking off in the direction he had walked. Misao held back her tears not wanting to cry. She had known this mysterious man for only 4 days and yet she would not forget any moment they had shared together, even the fights…

Aoshi was forever embedded secretly into Misao's heart…for the rest of her life. Aoshi had given her more courage, more power to stand up and be known. Secretly she had hoped he would stay longer, but alas fate did not go her way and she had listened to his soft apology as a goodbye…as a small whisper that he too would not forget her either. That part was the inner message she read in his soft, deep and slightly regretful voice.

"Kami-sama, please let us meet again…" Misao whispered to herself and then bowed her head and turned around heading for the campfire ready to help cook the huge feast which had been promised to all students.

* * * *

To be continued…

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Author's Notes: Hey minna…this chapter is so depressing. Not the plot just the whole lot of it. I hate it, this not turning out the way I wanted but it'll have to do for now. Kuso! How pathetic!

Well good news, err sorta is that Chapter 32 for Under the Cherry Tree is coming along nicely. I finally finished the second last chapter for my incomplete Inuyasha ficcie so I am happy about that, but nothing else as been written yet. Word is busy as hell…so your lucky I'm still writing like this… Anywho…I have no other projects up my sleeves so time (when there is some to spare) will be spent on my incomplete stuff.