~Standard Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin or Rurouni Kenshin
characters. This story was not written for sale or profit. Don't forget
to review.
A/N-Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed this story.
A Reason for Love
Chapter 4: Little bit of Love
~Soujiro quickly melted back into the crowd after the young girl spotted him. Aoshi was here at the train station, he contemplated, why did fate bring them together now? Somehow he managed to control his initial instinct, to walk toward Aoshi and bury himself into his strong, warm arms. He recognized the girl as the one who had been with Himura at the Shingatsu village. But what was she doing hanging onto Aoshi's sleeve, and what was she to him, a sister, a girlfriend, or maybe a lover?
Kamatari had made a point to tell him that Aoshi was not married but what if Aoshi had feelings for this small girl. What if they were to be married?
While walking to Kyoto he had gone over his feelings for Aoshi. Knowing that he had survived the fight with Shishio had lifted a weight from his heart. But now to see him with someone else and not know how Aoshi felt about him, that weight had returned threefold.
"Why the gloomy look?" Chiko whispered, suddenly standing next to him.
Startled, Soujiro quickly returned to his usual smile, shrugging his shoulders as he looked in her direction. Her clothes had changed drastically, for now she was dressed in western pants and an old cream colored long sleeve shirt that buttoned in the front. She was a complete mystery to him, always had been, and right now, all he wanted was to get the trade over with so he could be rid of her.
"Now that's the Sou-kun that I remember," she said, smiling coyly back at him. "Too much doom and gloom in the world, don't you think."
"Yes," he said, trying to sound as cheery as he looked. Hiding behind his smile still came easy to him and for now it would be best to get Chiko's problem out of the way, then he would decide how best to approach Aoshi.
"Here is the box. The directions will take you to an inn where we can meet afterwards. Find it as soon as you get to Tokyo, I have made arrangements for the room. Please I am begging you, this is my last chance to leave Japan," she said, giving him a small peck while handing him the box.
Soujiro took the box and without looking back, walked toward the train.
~Misao stepped onto the bottom step, grabbing the rail she pulled herself up the steps. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Omasu yelling from the crowd of people waiting to board the train.
"Misao, you forgot your bag," Omasu kept yelling, trying to get their attention.
"Aoshi-sama, my bag. I forgot my bag," Misao said pointing to Omasu, who was now holding her bag into the air so she could see it.
"You go find a seat, I'll retrieve your bag," Aoshi told her as he pushed back through the crowd to get to Omasu.
Nothing could deter Misao from getting them a seat. This was to be her vacation along with seeing her friends getting married. Setting the bag that she had remembered on the seat, she turned around and came face to face with Soujiro.
Holding a small box, the young man stood, waiting for her to move out of the aisle so that he could pass by her. Their eyes met as they both stood looking at each other.
"Excuse me," Soujiro softly said, inching forward intending to sit farther down the train car.
"Please sit with us?" she asked, sitting on the seat she had picked for her and Aoshi. Her curiosity needed to be sated with what had been going on in his world since he left the mountain. She had heard Sano tell the tale about the second fight between Himura and the young man standing in the aisle next to her. Now she wanted to know if he had indeed changed his life or was still on a destructive path. And she needed to know more about the look she had seen in his face before boarding the train.
"Please and I won't take no for an answer. I can be a very determined person when I decide it is necessary," Misao continued, pointing to the seat opposite her. As commanded, Soujiro settled himself on the seat she had pointed to.
While waiting for Aoshi to return, she looked closer at the young man now sitting across from her. He looked a bit thinner than she remembered and where before his clothes were impeccable, now there were places that had been torn and mended. But then, Himura had looked the same, the first time she had seen him. Must be the way of the rurouni, she dismissed that thinking from her mind and returned her thoughts back to finding out as much as she could, regarding his plans.
"Are you going to Tokyo?" Misao asked. As soon as the words left her mouth she realized how dumb the question was, where else was he to go when this train only went to Tokyo.
"Ah, yes I am sorry we have never been introduced," the young man politely said, nodding his head slightly, his ever present smile still in place.
"Misao Mackimachi," she stated a bit abruptly, a slight blush coloring her cheeks.
"Soujiro Seta and it is indeed a pleasure to see you again, Misao-san," he replied, nodding his head, keeping a tight hold of the box on his lap.
Doing her usual monologue, Misao talked about insignificant subjects to cover her nervousness until Aoshi could get back and give her the reassurance of his presence. But the young man just sat there listening to her, smiling and nodding his head in the appropriate places.
Aoshi soon appeared with the forgotten bag. Seeing Misao, he took his seat next to her before he realized that she was talking to someone, not just talking as she sometimes did.
Soujiro was prepared for Aoshi's arrival, so he just continued to smile and nod his head while Misao informed Aoshi that she had invited him to sit with them.
Looking over at Soujiro, Aoshi noticed the paleness of his face, and the condition of his clothes but there was something different about the young man. When their eyes met, Aoshi tried to look behind the smile but he could see nothing out of place, making him worry that much more.
Aoshi quietly listened to each question Misao asked, watching Soujiro intently, looking for some sign to tell him what was wrong. Soujiro would politely answer, giving detailed information then quietly wait for her next question. With each answer he would tell them more of his travels, including some of the people that he had encountered and how he had looked for answers to life's questions by observing other people and how he felt that he was making progress but figured that it would be a lifetime venture to get a complete answer.
Soujiro's smile was genuine when at last Misao relaxed indicating that she was content with the answers he had given her. Then, she turned her attention to gaze listlessly out the window humming a tune.
Placing the box between himself and the wall, Soujiro leaned against the side of the train and promptly fell asleep.
Aoshi watched Soujiro as he slept, fighting the impulse to sit next to him and hold the young man in his arms. He was pleased that Misao had asked all the right questions enabling him to find out what path Soujiro had taken after leaving Shishio.
With meditation, Aoshi had managed to push the memories of the young man far away enough so that he didn't have to deal with them but now, sitting across from him it was as if they had never parted. Aoshi knew that he didn't deserve any kindness from either one of the younger people sitting with him but his heart was directly linked to both.
But it wasn't until after they reached the end of the trip, that Aoshi realized Misao had managed to find out everything about Soujiro except why he was coming to Tokyo. And that was an oversight he, personally, would take care of in his own time.
~Upon reaching Tokyo, Soujiro went directly to the inn, checking into the room that had been in the directions. Being in the lower class part of town, it would be easy for them to come and go as they pleased, with no one noticing.
While waiting for evening, Soujiro decided to relax for a bit, he would pick up something to eat before meeting with Chiko's Uncle. The note she gave him stated that the meeting was to take place later in the evening and he didn't want to let the box out of his site until it was delivered into her Uncle's hands.
Laying on his futon, Soujiro dreamed of being held by two strong warm arms.
~The noise and gaiety of the coming event surrounded the dojo. With classes resuming, the student activity filled the surrounding area with various noises, making Aoshi wish that he had stayed in Kyoto. But one look at Misao and he knew that what ever he endured would be worth the smile that adorned her face.
So he sat quietly, enduring the noise, thinking about the young man who had shared the ride to Tokyo with them. The young man had grown some since they parted ways on the burning mountain.
Evening came with a whisper, and as the dojo fell silent, Aoshi tried to clear his mind so that he could relax before retiring for the night. But Soujiro's face kept coloring his mind and after many failed attempts, he finely gave up, silently leaving the dojo.
~For Kaoru and Misao the day had been filled with laughter and joking leaving no room for sullen or repressed feelings. Catching up on the latest news, they spent most of the day telling each other what couldn't be said in correspondence.
"Are you sure that you want to sleep in my room Misao-chan?" Kaoru asked, unrolling the spare futon so that Misao could sleep next to her.
"Yes, why will you attack me in the middle of the night or something?" the younger girl asked, striking a defense pose towards Kaoru then bursting into a fit of giggles at the though of fighting Kaoru off in the middle of the night.
Kaoru's eyes sparkled as she tried unsuccessfully to hold back her laughter.
"No, but they tell me that I snore really loud," Kaoru declared, grabbing a blanket and flinging it at Misao, "But I've never heard it."
Misao roared with laughter, trying to keep from falling as she caught the blanket. The more she tried to stop her laughing the harder she laughed until finely she gave up and fell to the futon, laughing until she started crying.
"Misao, what's wrong?" the older girl asked, reaching over to comfort her. She pushed the hair back from Misao's face then asked, "Its Aoshi, isn't it?"
"Yes," she sobbed, rubbing her eyes, leaning into the older girl, "I don't know what to do."
"Well first thing you need to do is dry the eyes or tomorrow you will look awful," she commented, holding Misao at arms length to look into her face, "then we need to talk."
Taking the hankie that Kaoru offered, Misao took her time drying her eyes so she could formulate what she wanted to say.
"Now, where do you want to begin?" Kaoru asked, sitting beside her.
"I'm sorry Kaoru. I don't want to ruin your wedding plans by bringing my problems to you,"
"You're my friend Misao and besides I would feel awful being so happy with you so miserable," she stated, forcing a small smile from Misao.
"I have loved Aoshi, since I can't remember when. You know that," Misao blushed, taking a deep breath.
"Yes, you have said that on few occasions," Kaoru said, trying to lighten the younger girls mood.
"In this last year, I have been taking on the responsibilities of the Okashira and my feelings for Aoshi have changed," Misao looked at Kaoru, tears filling her eyes.
"What," Kaoru said loudly, putting her hand to her mouth, "what are you saying, that you don't love him anymore?"
"No, it's nothing that simple. I still love him but it's different," Misao said lowering her head as the tears dripped onto her lap.
"Oh Misao, I don't know what to say," Kaoru said, taking the younger girl into her embrace.
"Kaoru... I love you," her muffled voice just loud enough for the older girl to hear.
"M... Mi... Mis... ao.." Kaoru stammered, trying to pull away from the younger girl, the total shock showing clearly on her face.
Misao looked at Kaoru's face while still trying to hold the embrace, but her laughter shook her small body so much that she had to let go of the older girl.
Pulling away, Kaoru opened her mouth to say something, when she noticed that Misao was laughing so hard that she was doubled over holding herself.
"That wasn't nice, Misao-chan," Kaoru scolded, then she too started laughing.
Misao finely calmed herself enough to sit up. Looking at Kaoru, she said, "Don't you see there are many different kinds of love? Where I do love you as a friend, I can't see myself having a romantic relationship with you. Course Himura would have something to say about that but..."
"Lets just leave that where it is and get back to you, ok?" Kaoru said with a slight edge to her voice.
"Ok, ok, but don't you see what I am trying to say? I love Aoshi-sama and I will always love him but..." her voice trailed off as she looked pleadingly at Kaoru, clenching her fists together in front of her.
"I think I understand. So what is the problem? From what I saw of Aoshi today, he seems to be the same as he was before," Kaoru said a thoughtful look on her face as she recalled her brief meeting with Aoshi earlier in the day.
"I'm afraid that he... that he might think... that I am... that I'm 'IN' love with him," Misao finished the sentence with a very heavy sigh.
"But I though that was what you wanted. All this time you have been talking about it, now are you getting scared when he may return your feelings?" Kaoru asked quietly.
"Well, yes and no. Oh, I am so confused. I love him enough to want him to be happy but not enough to want to spend the rest of my life living in a temple," Misao's frustration clearly coming through in her screechy voice.
"He won't live in the temple all his life, will he?" Kaoru asked thinking of a very old white haired Aoshi still sitting in the temple. Shaking her head to clear that thought she looked at Misao.
"No, he hasn't been near a temple all day, and he is now living at the Aoiya," Misao stated, letting herself fall to the futon she continued, "Kaoru I have always though that Aoshi was the only man for me. He was the center of my world. But now after I have been getting out and meeting people, there's a spectrum of men out there to choose from."
Kaoru smiled at the younger girl, "Misao you are growing up and taking a lot of responsibility. Are you sure about your feelings? I mean it could just be a phase that you are going through."
Propping herself up on her elbows, Misao glared at her friend, "No, I've given this a lot of though," then resumed her former position.
"I think that there is someone who loves him as much or more than I do," she whispered, putting her hands behind her head she sighed.
"How do you feel about that?" Kaoru asked, leaning over the smaller girl to see her face.
"Half of me feels jealous and the other half is relieved to know that someone will be with him," Misao pensively stated.
"Don't talk like that. You sound as if you believe Aoshi will be riding off into the sunset and never return,"
"I do think it's possible. And if that is his fate then I don't want him to stay with me just because of some sort of duty. He came back to me from the madness that surrounded him. But he is still lost and I can't help him. I have done everything that I can to pull him back, now it must be someone else who gives him a reason for love."
~ Soujiro woke to the sounds of two men arguing in the hall outside his door. His stomach was complaining again but one glance out the window at the growing shadows reminded him that he needed to be somewhere.
Grabbing the small box, he headed for the door.
TBC...
Don't forget to leave a review...
A/N-Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed this story.
A Reason for Love
Chapter 4: Little bit of Love
~Soujiro quickly melted back into the crowd after the young girl spotted him. Aoshi was here at the train station, he contemplated, why did fate bring them together now? Somehow he managed to control his initial instinct, to walk toward Aoshi and bury himself into his strong, warm arms. He recognized the girl as the one who had been with Himura at the Shingatsu village. But what was she doing hanging onto Aoshi's sleeve, and what was she to him, a sister, a girlfriend, or maybe a lover?
Kamatari had made a point to tell him that Aoshi was not married but what if Aoshi had feelings for this small girl. What if they were to be married?
While walking to Kyoto he had gone over his feelings for Aoshi. Knowing that he had survived the fight with Shishio had lifted a weight from his heart. But now to see him with someone else and not know how Aoshi felt about him, that weight had returned threefold.
"Why the gloomy look?" Chiko whispered, suddenly standing next to him.
Startled, Soujiro quickly returned to his usual smile, shrugging his shoulders as he looked in her direction. Her clothes had changed drastically, for now she was dressed in western pants and an old cream colored long sleeve shirt that buttoned in the front. She was a complete mystery to him, always had been, and right now, all he wanted was to get the trade over with so he could be rid of her.
"Now that's the Sou-kun that I remember," she said, smiling coyly back at him. "Too much doom and gloom in the world, don't you think."
"Yes," he said, trying to sound as cheery as he looked. Hiding behind his smile still came easy to him and for now it would be best to get Chiko's problem out of the way, then he would decide how best to approach Aoshi.
"Here is the box. The directions will take you to an inn where we can meet afterwards. Find it as soon as you get to Tokyo, I have made arrangements for the room. Please I am begging you, this is my last chance to leave Japan," she said, giving him a small peck while handing him the box.
Soujiro took the box and without looking back, walked toward the train.
~Misao stepped onto the bottom step, grabbing the rail she pulled herself up the steps. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Omasu yelling from the crowd of people waiting to board the train.
"Misao, you forgot your bag," Omasu kept yelling, trying to get their attention.
"Aoshi-sama, my bag. I forgot my bag," Misao said pointing to Omasu, who was now holding her bag into the air so she could see it.
"You go find a seat, I'll retrieve your bag," Aoshi told her as he pushed back through the crowd to get to Omasu.
Nothing could deter Misao from getting them a seat. This was to be her vacation along with seeing her friends getting married. Setting the bag that she had remembered on the seat, she turned around and came face to face with Soujiro.
Holding a small box, the young man stood, waiting for her to move out of the aisle so that he could pass by her. Their eyes met as they both stood looking at each other.
"Excuse me," Soujiro softly said, inching forward intending to sit farther down the train car.
"Please sit with us?" she asked, sitting on the seat she had picked for her and Aoshi. Her curiosity needed to be sated with what had been going on in his world since he left the mountain. She had heard Sano tell the tale about the second fight between Himura and the young man standing in the aisle next to her. Now she wanted to know if he had indeed changed his life or was still on a destructive path. And she needed to know more about the look she had seen in his face before boarding the train.
"Please and I won't take no for an answer. I can be a very determined person when I decide it is necessary," Misao continued, pointing to the seat opposite her. As commanded, Soujiro settled himself on the seat she had pointed to.
While waiting for Aoshi to return, she looked closer at the young man now sitting across from her. He looked a bit thinner than she remembered and where before his clothes were impeccable, now there were places that had been torn and mended. But then, Himura had looked the same, the first time she had seen him. Must be the way of the rurouni, she dismissed that thinking from her mind and returned her thoughts back to finding out as much as she could, regarding his plans.
"Are you going to Tokyo?" Misao asked. As soon as the words left her mouth she realized how dumb the question was, where else was he to go when this train only went to Tokyo.
"Ah, yes I am sorry we have never been introduced," the young man politely said, nodding his head slightly, his ever present smile still in place.
"Misao Mackimachi," she stated a bit abruptly, a slight blush coloring her cheeks.
"Soujiro Seta and it is indeed a pleasure to see you again, Misao-san," he replied, nodding his head, keeping a tight hold of the box on his lap.
Doing her usual monologue, Misao talked about insignificant subjects to cover her nervousness until Aoshi could get back and give her the reassurance of his presence. But the young man just sat there listening to her, smiling and nodding his head in the appropriate places.
Aoshi soon appeared with the forgotten bag. Seeing Misao, he took his seat next to her before he realized that she was talking to someone, not just talking as she sometimes did.
Soujiro was prepared for Aoshi's arrival, so he just continued to smile and nod his head while Misao informed Aoshi that she had invited him to sit with them.
Looking over at Soujiro, Aoshi noticed the paleness of his face, and the condition of his clothes but there was something different about the young man. When their eyes met, Aoshi tried to look behind the smile but he could see nothing out of place, making him worry that much more.
Aoshi quietly listened to each question Misao asked, watching Soujiro intently, looking for some sign to tell him what was wrong. Soujiro would politely answer, giving detailed information then quietly wait for her next question. With each answer he would tell them more of his travels, including some of the people that he had encountered and how he had looked for answers to life's questions by observing other people and how he felt that he was making progress but figured that it would be a lifetime venture to get a complete answer.
Soujiro's smile was genuine when at last Misao relaxed indicating that she was content with the answers he had given her. Then, she turned her attention to gaze listlessly out the window humming a tune.
Placing the box between himself and the wall, Soujiro leaned against the side of the train and promptly fell asleep.
Aoshi watched Soujiro as he slept, fighting the impulse to sit next to him and hold the young man in his arms. He was pleased that Misao had asked all the right questions enabling him to find out what path Soujiro had taken after leaving Shishio.
With meditation, Aoshi had managed to push the memories of the young man far away enough so that he didn't have to deal with them but now, sitting across from him it was as if they had never parted. Aoshi knew that he didn't deserve any kindness from either one of the younger people sitting with him but his heart was directly linked to both.
But it wasn't until after they reached the end of the trip, that Aoshi realized Misao had managed to find out everything about Soujiro except why he was coming to Tokyo. And that was an oversight he, personally, would take care of in his own time.
~Upon reaching Tokyo, Soujiro went directly to the inn, checking into the room that had been in the directions. Being in the lower class part of town, it would be easy for them to come and go as they pleased, with no one noticing.
While waiting for evening, Soujiro decided to relax for a bit, he would pick up something to eat before meeting with Chiko's Uncle. The note she gave him stated that the meeting was to take place later in the evening and he didn't want to let the box out of his site until it was delivered into her Uncle's hands.
Laying on his futon, Soujiro dreamed of being held by two strong warm arms.
~The noise and gaiety of the coming event surrounded the dojo. With classes resuming, the student activity filled the surrounding area with various noises, making Aoshi wish that he had stayed in Kyoto. But one look at Misao and he knew that what ever he endured would be worth the smile that adorned her face.
So he sat quietly, enduring the noise, thinking about the young man who had shared the ride to Tokyo with them. The young man had grown some since they parted ways on the burning mountain.
Evening came with a whisper, and as the dojo fell silent, Aoshi tried to clear his mind so that he could relax before retiring for the night. But Soujiro's face kept coloring his mind and after many failed attempts, he finely gave up, silently leaving the dojo.
~For Kaoru and Misao the day had been filled with laughter and joking leaving no room for sullen or repressed feelings. Catching up on the latest news, they spent most of the day telling each other what couldn't be said in correspondence.
"Are you sure that you want to sleep in my room Misao-chan?" Kaoru asked, unrolling the spare futon so that Misao could sleep next to her.
"Yes, why will you attack me in the middle of the night or something?" the younger girl asked, striking a defense pose towards Kaoru then bursting into a fit of giggles at the though of fighting Kaoru off in the middle of the night.
Kaoru's eyes sparkled as she tried unsuccessfully to hold back her laughter.
"No, but they tell me that I snore really loud," Kaoru declared, grabbing a blanket and flinging it at Misao, "But I've never heard it."
Misao roared with laughter, trying to keep from falling as she caught the blanket. The more she tried to stop her laughing the harder she laughed until finely she gave up and fell to the futon, laughing until she started crying.
"Misao, what's wrong?" the older girl asked, reaching over to comfort her. She pushed the hair back from Misao's face then asked, "Its Aoshi, isn't it?"
"Yes," she sobbed, rubbing her eyes, leaning into the older girl, "I don't know what to do."
"Well first thing you need to do is dry the eyes or tomorrow you will look awful," she commented, holding Misao at arms length to look into her face, "then we need to talk."
Taking the hankie that Kaoru offered, Misao took her time drying her eyes so she could formulate what she wanted to say.
"Now, where do you want to begin?" Kaoru asked, sitting beside her.
"I'm sorry Kaoru. I don't want to ruin your wedding plans by bringing my problems to you,"
"You're my friend Misao and besides I would feel awful being so happy with you so miserable," she stated, forcing a small smile from Misao.
"I have loved Aoshi, since I can't remember when. You know that," Misao blushed, taking a deep breath.
"Yes, you have said that on few occasions," Kaoru said, trying to lighten the younger girls mood.
"In this last year, I have been taking on the responsibilities of the Okashira and my feelings for Aoshi have changed," Misao looked at Kaoru, tears filling her eyes.
"What," Kaoru said loudly, putting her hand to her mouth, "what are you saying, that you don't love him anymore?"
"No, it's nothing that simple. I still love him but it's different," Misao said lowering her head as the tears dripped onto her lap.
"Oh Misao, I don't know what to say," Kaoru said, taking the younger girl into her embrace.
"Kaoru... I love you," her muffled voice just loud enough for the older girl to hear.
"M... Mi... Mis... ao.." Kaoru stammered, trying to pull away from the younger girl, the total shock showing clearly on her face.
Misao looked at Kaoru's face while still trying to hold the embrace, but her laughter shook her small body so much that she had to let go of the older girl.
Pulling away, Kaoru opened her mouth to say something, when she noticed that Misao was laughing so hard that she was doubled over holding herself.
"That wasn't nice, Misao-chan," Kaoru scolded, then she too started laughing.
Misao finely calmed herself enough to sit up. Looking at Kaoru, she said, "Don't you see there are many different kinds of love? Where I do love you as a friend, I can't see myself having a romantic relationship with you. Course Himura would have something to say about that but..."
"Lets just leave that where it is and get back to you, ok?" Kaoru said with a slight edge to her voice.
"Ok, ok, but don't you see what I am trying to say? I love Aoshi-sama and I will always love him but..." her voice trailed off as she looked pleadingly at Kaoru, clenching her fists together in front of her.
"I think I understand. So what is the problem? From what I saw of Aoshi today, he seems to be the same as he was before," Kaoru said a thoughtful look on her face as she recalled her brief meeting with Aoshi earlier in the day.
"I'm afraid that he... that he might think... that I am... that I'm 'IN' love with him," Misao finished the sentence with a very heavy sigh.
"But I though that was what you wanted. All this time you have been talking about it, now are you getting scared when he may return your feelings?" Kaoru asked quietly.
"Well, yes and no. Oh, I am so confused. I love him enough to want him to be happy but not enough to want to spend the rest of my life living in a temple," Misao's frustration clearly coming through in her screechy voice.
"He won't live in the temple all his life, will he?" Kaoru asked thinking of a very old white haired Aoshi still sitting in the temple. Shaking her head to clear that thought she looked at Misao.
"No, he hasn't been near a temple all day, and he is now living at the Aoiya," Misao stated, letting herself fall to the futon she continued, "Kaoru I have always though that Aoshi was the only man for me. He was the center of my world. But now after I have been getting out and meeting people, there's a spectrum of men out there to choose from."
Kaoru smiled at the younger girl, "Misao you are growing up and taking a lot of responsibility. Are you sure about your feelings? I mean it could just be a phase that you are going through."
Propping herself up on her elbows, Misao glared at her friend, "No, I've given this a lot of though," then resumed her former position.
"I think that there is someone who loves him as much or more than I do," she whispered, putting her hands behind her head she sighed.
"How do you feel about that?" Kaoru asked, leaning over the smaller girl to see her face.
"Half of me feels jealous and the other half is relieved to know that someone will be with him," Misao pensively stated.
"Don't talk like that. You sound as if you believe Aoshi will be riding off into the sunset and never return,"
"I do think it's possible. And if that is his fate then I don't want him to stay with me just because of some sort of duty. He came back to me from the madness that surrounded him. But he is still lost and I can't help him. I have done everything that I can to pull him back, now it must be someone else who gives him a reason for love."
~ Soujiro woke to the sounds of two men arguing in the hall outside his door. His stomach was complaining again but one glance out the window at the growing shadows reminded him that he needed to be somewhere.
Grabbing the small box, he headed for the door.
TBC...
Don't forget to leave a review...
