Disclaimers: I don't own them and never will.

A.n.: Aaaaaaaaaaaaah minna-san!!! I know I haven't written for a very long time!!! GOMEN NASAI!!!! I just finish my mid-year exams.... AAAAAAAAAhhhhhh!!! I have enough of it!!!! I'm free! Free at last!!! Free from bio and chem. and history and maths and lit. Free free free free FREE!!!! Hahahaha!! I can't believe I actually survived the last freaking three weeks!!! I was like cramming for everything and when I wasn't cramming, I was picturing Aoshi-sama telling me to meditate, to soothe my agitated soul. Okay okay enough. But it was really bad... I crammed for my literature till 2 in the morning and when my sister woke me up at 6 later, I got out of bed and screamed, " You speak to Casca, and to such a man That is no fleering tell-tale. Hold, my hand; Be factious for the redress of all these griefs, And I will set this foot of mine as far As who goes farthest." So maybe I studied Julius Caesar a bit too much. But I don't care cause I'm free FREE I TELL YOU!!! FREE!!!!!!! =^_^=



Parting, reuniting,

Leaving again,

Left waiting,

Still meeting,

Such is life.



The next day, Misao seeked permission from Kanjire to visit the Aoiya. She knocked on the office door apprehensively, entering with care.

"Ohayo my love, you wish to talk to me?" Kanjire said, flashing a boyish grin, narrowing his eyes as he saw her bandaged arms.

"Who did that? Was it one of the men?? Did they hurt you??" Kanjire said raising his voice, grabbing her arms roughly as Misao winced in pain, struggling in her awkward position.

"Tell me who did it!!!" Kanjire said, dangerously soft, his eyes glinting. Misao felt like strangling the man. He was the one who caused her arms to be in such a state and he was yelling at someone else.

"Tell me!! Why are you always like this??? WHY WON'T YOU TELL ME??? WHO DID IT? WHO????" Kanjire yelled shaking her, angered by Misao's silence.

"Alright, alright!! Stop it!!! They did it!! They did it!!" Misao cried, as her wounds opened, her blood staining the bandages. Kanjire's eyes softened, as he let go off Misao.

"Gomen nasai my love, I'll punish them." Kanjire said as he summoned the four men to his office and he got one of the geishas to change her bandages.

"Which one of them did it my love, tell me." Kanjire said as he ordered the men to line up against the wall, taking out his katana from the cupboard in the corner of his office. * I've to lie, he's going to kill one of them, I've to lie. * Misao thought in sickened realisation as she saw the gleam of Kanjire's blade.

"Uh... He has very round eyes, and a very... very flat nose. W-with long hair... tied and- and combed back." Misao lied, describing an imaginary man, not daring to look up and face Kanjire who was inspecting their tense faces.

"This one has round-oval shaped eyes, with a flat nose but he has short hair, he must have cut it to escape punishment." Kanjire commented staring at the man on the extreme left. Misao's head snapped up to stare at the man who was shaking in fear.

"Is he the one my love?" Kanjire said, stabbing his katana into the tatami mat, dangerously close to where Misao was sitting, pulling her close to him, staring straight into her eyes, evil reeked from his cold eyes and his emotionless face. Misao whimpered, before nodding shakily, bowing down, not daring to face the man, shutting her eyes to prevent the tears from falling. Kanjire dismissed the other men, detaining the other one.

"How dare you hurt my love." Kanjire said softly, pulling his sword out from the ground, the grey-blue shiny blade reflecting the horror painted on the man's face.

"I... I would ne..never do such a t-thing.... Ta-takuya- ssan..." The man said backing away, his eyes pleading Misao to say something.

"URUSAI!!! My love would never lie to me!!!" Kanjire said, his ki raged dangerously, making the man cower.

"I believe in an eye for an eye, you have wounded my love's arms, you shall pay with yours." Kanjire said calmly, pointing his katana at the unarmed man.

"Dame yo!! TAKUYA-SAN!!!! DAME YO!!!" The man screamed, as Misao covered her ears and closed her eyes. Kanjire raised his sword, cutting off the man's arms in one fluid stroke, blood spraying everywhere. * Oh Kami!! Oh Kami!!! Make this mad man stop!! Oh Kami-sama!! * Misao thought trying to shut out the man's screams of agony.

"Get out of my sight!! I don't want to see you again." Kanjire said, kicking the man out of the room.

"Daijoubu ka?" Kanjire asked Misao, gathering her into his arms.

"What was it that you were going to tell me again?" Kanjire said, grinning at Misao, pretending not to notice her severe shaking.

"I was w..wondering if I could go to town t..to buy a new kimono for to...tomorrow's arrangement?" Misao asked, not looking at Kanjire but at the trail of blood leading to the exit, that burnt a mental image in her mind.

"Of course, we want it to be special for Takana-san right?" Kanjire said, a lecherous look crossing his face for a fleeting second. Misao nodded, getting up from her position, edging away from Kanjire.

"I will go now, ja ne" Misao said, stepping around the puddles of crimson red blood, exiting the office, entering the outside world.





A few moments later....



"Demo Aoshi-san..." Okon began, only to be silenced by one look from Aoshi. Okon threw her hands up in the air in exasperation. She had been trying to convince Aoshi not to leave Kyoto for the past week, not to mention putting up with Okina's drunken fits, cooking for the Oniwabanshuu and cleaning the Aoiya. * If only Misao was here, then I wouldn't be worrying myself over some people. * Okon thought as she stared daggers at Aoshi's back, almost burning a hole in his uniform.

"Aoshi-san please listen to me. You can't leave just yet, I've been looking at the case Misao's has been working on, the one on Kanjire, I think you better look at it." Okon said, her face was a mixture of worry and concern as she waved the sheets of paper under his nose.

"I have nothing to do with this." Aoshi said, moving the paper away from his face, continuing to pack his bag.

"Demo Aoshi-san!" Okon started.

"Aoshi-san! Somone at the garden wants to speak to you... It's..." Shiro said, barging in on the conversation, his face pale as if he had seen a ghost. Aoshi nodded silently, heading towards the secluded garden of the Aoiya, the sakura orchard.

Aoshi stepped into the orchard, the fallen sakuras swirling at his feet, rustling softly under them. Under an aged sakura tree was an isolated figure, awaiting his arrival.

"You seeked my presence?" Aoshi asked, unsure of the person's next move. The person, a lady, who looked as if born from a samurai family, did not turn around but shifted her gaze from the roots of the tree, to the blooming flowers above.

"Miyako hanarete, Tabi no so hitori sabishiku, Kisha no mado, Namida kakushite, Ocha ocha ocha, Hitotsu chodai na." The lady said in a melancholic voice, tinged with slight sadness.

"Nice quote, but you still haven't told me why I am here." Aoshi said, the quote ringing in his head as he stared at the petite back of the lady.

"Don't you understand the quote Shinomori-san?" The lady asked, turning around to reveal a young girl the age of eighteen. Her face was painted a pale white; a weary mask that pained Aoshi more than the hideous mask Hannya wore. The mask hiding the face of Misao Makimachi.

* Oh Kami-sama, what has happened to her? * The tiny voice piped up.

"Aa" Aoshi said, answering both the questions. Misao walked towards him, the wind picking up and sweeping her kimono sleeves up, revealing her bandaged arms. Aoshi narrowed his eyes, the bandages were fresh, the scent of blood was present, and the wounds were new. His gaze lowered towards the hem of her kimono which had slight blood stains on it.

"Shinomori-san, may I know why you are leaving Kyoto?" Misao asked, not letting Aoshi ask her what happened. Aoshi lowered his eyes, finding no answer for her question.

"You haven't found your answer yet? You're still running away after all these years." Misao said bitterly.

"Misao, why are you here to see me? Does it have to do with the blood stains on your kimono and your bandaged arms?" Aoshi asked, shifting the attention away from him, ignoring her accusations. Misao fell silent. * Why do I want to see him? And why does he cares so much? * Misao thought to herself, unsure of her answer.

"I just wanted you to know that I am handing the title of Okashira to you Shinomori-san, for I am too caught up in the geisha world to deal myself with Oniwa matters. I would also like you to know that I will be leaving the Oniwabanshuu to do some soul-searching, please try to understand." Misao said quietly, thinking about her arrangement with Takana Juniichiro.

"Misao, I don't see what's so important in the geisha world that is worth more value than the Oniwabanshuu. If you can't take the responsibilities then you're not fit to be our Okashira. I don't know how anyone can dismiss their duties as and when they want. You really disappoint me." Aoshi said harshly, not understanding Misao's behaviour.

"Yes, I'm not fit to be your Okashira! Don't you know how dirty and stained I feel?? I'm not worthy of the title Shinomori-san, I'm such a disappointment. So PLEASE, just take the title and go!! Aren't you happy now? Isn't this what you always wanted? To be back in power??" Misao screamed, refusing to let the tears fall.

"THAT IS NOT WHAT I WANT!!!" Aoshi said, raising his voice, roughly grabbing her arms, lifting her easily off the ground.

"Itai!! Stop hurting me!! Stop it!! Don't you men have seen me suffer enough?? Stop it!! Stop it!! Stop it!!!" Misao screamed in pain as the wound reopened. Aoshi dropped her in sudden realisation. She hit the ground hard on her left shoulder, causing her to wince in pain. *Oh Kami, what have I done?? Haven't I hurt her enough already? What am I doing?? * Aoshi thought, his heart racing, his face still passive.

"Damn you Aoshi!! Don't you know why I came back?? Why can't you understand?? Damn you! Damn you, damn you, damn you.... damn you..." Misao said bitterly, dropping the pretence. Aoshi stared in shock at Misao's sudden outburst.

"Gomen nasai, I really have to go and get ready for tomorrow's trip, sumimasen." Aoshi said, getting up from his position. * Baka!! * The little voice screamed at the back of his head.

"Kami-sama!! What do I have to do to stop you from going? Don't you get it damn it??" Misao cried, pushing Aoshi onto the ground hard, pressing her lips against his. Aoshi looked at her in shock, feeling her soft lips against his, numbed all he could do was stare in disbelief. * Do something damn it!! * The voice shouted at him.

"...Misao...I..." Aoshi said, looking at her in shock, as she broke the kiss.

"Don't you get it Aoshi?" Misao asked in a small voice, not daring to look up.

"I have to go now, sumimasen." Aoshi said, leaving Misao in the orchard alone. * Sayonara. * The voice said sadly as Aoshi shut himself from the outside world again.



Japanese Translations:

Ohayo: Good morning

Urusai: Shut up

Kami: God

Ja ne: See you later

Itai: Ouch

Sumimasen: Excuse me

Baka: Idiot

Sayonara: Good bye

Translation for Misao's quote:

Miyako hanarete My lonely departure

Tabi no so hitori sabishiku From Kyoto

Kisha no mado Hiding tears

Namida kakushite At the train window,

Ocha ocha ocha Oh please, please,

Hitotsu chodai na Someone give me

A cup of tea.



A.n.:

Misao: Konnichiwa Minna-san!! It's been a long time since my last appearance ne? Blacksakura is busy celebrating cause she just finished her exams.

Blacksakura (in the background): WhoooooOOOOooo!!! WhooooOOOoooo!!! WhooooOOOOOooo!! ELEvaTION!!!

Misao: ^_^;; That's her favourite song now, she didn't log onto the net for three weeks!! THREE!! Let me give you an insight on what happened the past 6 days before her exams.



Day 1:

Misao: What are you going to do today?

Blacksakura: Study.

Misao: REALLY??

Blacksakura: Yesssssssss. Got a problem??

Misao: Nooooooo..... ^____^;;;;



Day 2:

Misao: Can we go onto the net?

Blacksakura: No.

Misao: Please?

Blacksakura: No.

Misao: For a short while?

Blacksakura: NO!!!!

Misao: You sure?

Blacksakura: NO!! NO!! NO!! NO!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Misao: ;__;

Blacksakura: I guess I could go on for a short while...

Misao: ......

Day 3:

Aoshi: You have to prepare yourself.

Blacksakura: ....

Aoshi: Meditation is the best remedy.

Blacksakura: .....

Aoshi: Breathe in....

Blacksakura: In...

Aoshi: And out....

Blacksakura: Out....

Aoshi: In...

Blacksakura: In...

Aoshi: Out...

Blacksakura: Out... (Starts to fidgit, butt getting numb)

Aoshi: In...

Blacksakura: IN!!! (Butt getting very numb)

Aoshi: Out....

Blacksakura: OUT!!! OUT!!! OUT!!! DAMN YOU PEOPLE I NEED TO STUDY!!!! GET OUT OF MY ROOM!!!!!

Aoshi: ....



Day 4:

Sano: I hope you didn't forget our bet.

Blacksakura: ....

Sano: You do remember it right?

Blacksakura: Yesssss.

Sano: Good.

Blacksakura: ....

Sano: Umm... since I'm here, can I borrow some cash?

Blacksakura: ARGH!!!!



Day 5:

Blacksakura: OH NO I'M GONNA FAIL!!! I'M GONNA FAIL!!! I'M GONNA FAIL!!! FAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIILLLLLLLLLLLLL!!! I'MGONNAFAIL!!!I'MGONNAFAIL!!!I'MGONNAFAIL!!!I'MAGONNAFAIL!!I'MGONNAFAI L!!I'MGONNAFAIL!!!!!!

* WHAM!! *

Yahiko: (Keeping his bokken) Calm down.

Blacksakura: o_Ox

The Day:

Misao: Good Luck!!!

Blacksakura: ^_^;;

Aoshi: Meditate to calm your soul.

Blacksakura: ^_^;;

Sano: Don't forget our bet!!

Blacksakura: -_-;;;

Misao: So please vote for Aoshi!!

Sano: No cheating!!!

Misao: Blacksakura say something!!!

Blacksakura: Will anybody save me???

Misao & Sano: KISAMA!!!