Disclaimers: Recognise it? Well it isn't mine, so sod off!
A.n: Heh, sorrie for the last chapter, it was rather short compared to the others i guess. Well i didn't really wanted to elaborate too much on it... anyway, erm... hope you like this one.
There is a burning need in all of them to come to terms with themselves. To accept, perhaps, that the one he loves is not precisely who he thought he was. Or perhaps he is exactly who he thought he was, and this is where the acceptance lies. Perhaps it is the need to accept the truth about themselves, rather than about others. The truth about who they truly love, and who they only thought they loved. Or the truth about who they are, and who they think they are. The truth about what they were, and who they can become. No truth is universal. Acceptance would be different for each of them, if they can find it within their hearts. -----
"Misao..." Aoshi breathed out staring at her ebony lashes that dusted her face before he leaned in and his lips met Misao's. Misao's arms quickly went around Aoshi's body and pulled the two closer together. Aoshi pried her lips open and gently forced his tongue inside her mouth. Misao moaned slightly and responded with equal passion. Groaning softly, Aoshi pressed even further, wanting to get all he could before Misao could wake from her shock. Slowing Aoshi removed his hands and gently cupping her face, holding her and never letting go.
Wanting her, touching her, tasting her....
Suddenly, Misao vanished from his arms, in shock; Aoshi stared in to the empty darkness, searching. Unable to find her, he started to run, in inane hope that somehow he would stumble across her. Collapsing on the floor, he gasped for well needed air. Laughter, soft laughter travelled to his ears.
"You can't have her anymore." The voice said, giggling in a child-like manner.
"Why not?" Aoshi demanded at the unseen voice, challenging it to reveal itself.
"'Cause you lost her, you didn't want her, you hurt her." The voice taunted.
"No, I can't lose, I cannot lose"
"You just did and now I want my prize"
"No you can't have her, you can never have her. She is mine, she is mine, you can never have her. NEVER!!"
"Never?" The voice smirked, " You cannot threaten me, you just lost and you know how the rules goes."
The voice seemed to smile wider with glee, the voice curls and gives a creepy reply. "You should be fortunate, it is not your life we are playing for."
"You cannot have her!" Aoshi shouted one more time. The voice "rolled his eyes" to hear such a thing, talk about sore losers. Misao's body appears on the floor, her hair covering her face, her eyes closed as if in deep sleep. A figure appears next to her.
"My prize" the figure almost hiss as he bends down to pick up the body.
"No!" shouts Aoshi as he spring forward at the figure, wanting desperately to grab the body but only fail. The figure shifts to the side to avoid the attack as Aoshi drops onto the hard floor, flat on his face.
"What a shame, you could have broken your nose, do be careful next time" with that the figure held the body tightly in his hands and walked in the depth of darkness.
"No come back!!" Aoshi shouts as he tries to get up.
"You can't do this" He stretches his hand outwards, wanted to grab the figure.
"I already did," the cold voice echoes throughout the darkness, "You played my game, with that you play by my rules and you lost by my rules. That is how it goes."
"You can't do this, nobody defies me!"
"I just did," the voice echo darkly.
"No come back, a... rematch, no don't leave , I will give you anything ...no!" Aoshi struggles to get up.
" MISAO!!!!"
-----
Aoshi woke up with a jolt. He opened his eyes as cold sweat crawls down his sun-beaten skin, his hair tousle and panting heavily. Slowly he sits up, as his dream still plagues in his mind. The dream of a game, a game that plays for a life, a life that is not of his own but somebody that he...loves. He would always lose the game and the prize will never be his. Cursing, he raked his long elegant fingers shakily through his hair. Getting up from his position, he strode over to the nearby stream to dunk his head into the cool water. Staring into the fire as droplets of water streaked down his face and off the tip of his nose he cursed again.
He had fallen for Misao, and had fallen deep.
---
He glared at the stack of neatly folded papers that rested on his belongings. How it got there, he didn't know, but he could pretty much suspect who shoved it into his bag of belongings. He knew that the paper contained information on Takuya Kanjire, and he * definitely * knew that the information involved Misao which would result in him running all the way back to Kyoto in such a manner that he would have beaten Sanosuke's record of being the biggest baka in Japan.
Misao....
Images of the petite ninja girl played in his mind.
Like her slender legs and her toned arms.
Like the perfectly carved face...
Eyelids that shaded beautiful sapphire eyes.
The slightly upturned nose.
And lips...lips that had a weird rosy red tinge to them.
On a mouth that would look perfect on a consort.
* ARGH! * Aoshi screamed mentally. * I DO NOT like her. People will use her to get to me and she will be hurt. I MUST NOT like her. I DON'T! *
* Then why are you dreaming about her, thinking about her, afraid to lose her, wanting to kiss her... * a voice piped up.
* Go away. * Aoshi thought bitterly. * I don't like her, I practically raised her, I see her nothing more than my own daughter.... right? *
* Suure you do. Although I have heard that denial IS the first step to love. * The voice in his head smirked.
"Shut up, shut up." Aoshi muttered darkly to himself as he gave the stack of papers a glare so intense, it was amazing it hadn't spontaneously combust.
* I don't like her, and to prove it to you, I'll get rid off the papers, I wouldn't even read it. I don't need to worry of such * trivial * matters. * Aoshi thought maniacally as he took the papers with every intention to throw it into the flames of the campfire.
*Oh yes...... Be a man, take the easy way out... *
"Shut up......." Aoshi gritted, slowly lowering the papers into the flames.
"I won't do that if I were you."
Aoshi stopped in mid-action, cursing himself for not noticing the other person's presence. Turning around, his eyes narrowed, confirming his suspicion of the person.
"How long have you been here Saitou?" Aoshi asked icily, it was amazing that his campfire had not froze, his fingers clenched the stack of papers tightly.
"Oh, long enough to know about your feelings for the weasel." Saitou said casually, noting the flash in Shinomori's eyes as he mentioned the ninja girl's nickname.
"I don't like her." Aoshi stated.
"Yes, of course you don't, but do care to explain that." Saitou said calmly, pointing at Aoshi's arousal. Aoshi glared at the Mibu Wolf, a barely noticeable blush tingeing his cheeks.
"Leave."
"Oh, but don't you want to hear what I have to say?"
"It can't be that important if you aren't going to tell it to me immediately."
"Of course, the safety of the weasel isn't that important to me, yes, ...I believe you are right Shinomori, I have just absolutely wasted my time coming here, and there I was thinking maybe I could get you to get rid of that criminal Takuya for me, after all he is a serial killer, a corrupt merchant and an illegal slave buyer, but I guess I'll just have to delay this case until I have more time."
* Sadistic bastard * Aoshi thought as shot Saitou a dark glare. Saitou noticed this and his eyes flashed, his lips pulling back into a smirk.
"And how do I know that you are not lying?" Aoshi asked tentatively.
"Shinomori, how the hell do you think I got all this information?" Saitou said, sending a look of contempt towards Aoshi.
"You have a spy in the teahouse?"
"Very clever! Give the man a prize!" Saitou said sarcastically. "Really, Shinomori, after years of being Okashira one would have thought you would have acquired a brain. Seriously, I can't believe you haven't sent one of your own spies in to check on Takuya."
Aoshi gritted his teeth, his nails digging into his palms, one would have thought he never ever meditated in his entire life. However, his rage was slightly understandable, considering the fact that his intelligence was insulted twice. * I can almost understand Sanosuke's attempts to crush this cockroach of a man. * Aoshi mused.
"Well, I must leave now, my very busy schedule demands attention, by the way Shinomori, I suggest you pay Takuya a visit soon. It seems that the weasel has got into trouble she can't handle." Saitou said, his tone serious for once.
Aoshi nodded, not bothering to acknowledge Saitou's departure, turning his attention back to the fire and the slightly crumpled stack of paper. A look of confusion flitted across his face, then it vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
* I don't like her right? I mean, it's crazy, I couldn't possibly like her.... I'm suppose to have my emotions under control. *
* Then can someone explain why I have been dreaming about her for the five nights since my departure, why when I close my eyes all I see are those lips that I want to kiss senseless, why I feel like jumping up and running to save her? *
* I can't like her, the consequences would endanger the both of us. * Aoshi tried to reason with himself. Shifting his gaze from the fire, his eyes flitted to the stack of paper. The innocent, pure white sheets of paper seemed to burn a hole right through him.
* AOSHI!!!!!!! *
Aoshi jolted, he almost thought he could hear Misao scream for him. And then, the dream of the game flooded into his mind, the colour draining from his face, he glanced down at the sheets of paper before cursing.
"Fuck the consequences."
Aoshi was going back to Kyoto.
^^ Whee!! Finally finished! I just bought Meteora and it rocks!! Everyone should get it!! Linkin Park rules!!!! Thank you for all the reviews!! I really appreciate them ^_^x anyway thinking of a plot for my next story after i finish this one... (which will be soon) i hope... but first, Aoshi to the rescue, tadaaaaaa!! AOSHI SUPER-MORI!!
A.n: Heh, sorrie for the last chapter, it was rather short compared to the others i guess. Well i didn't really wanted to elaborate too much on it... anyway, erm... hope you like this one.
There is a burning need in all of them to come to terms with themselves. To accept, perhaps, that the one he loves is not precisely who he thought he was. Or perhaps he is exactly who he thought he was, and this is where the acceptance lies. Perhaps it is the need to accept the truth about themselves, rather than about others. The truth about who they truly love, and who they only thought they loved. Or the truth about who they are, and who they think they are. The truth about what they were, and who they can become. No truth is universal. Acceptance would be different for each of them, if they can find it within their hearts. -----
"Misao..." Aoshi breathed out staring at her ebony lashes that dusted her face before he leaned in and his lips met Misao's. Misao's arms quickly went around Aoshi's body and pulled the two closer together. Aoshi pried her lips open and gently forced his tongue inside her mouth. Misao moaned slightly and responded with equal passion. Groaning softly, Aoshi pressed even further, wanting to get all he could before Misao could wake from her shock. Slowing Aoshi removed his hands and gently cupping her face, holding her and never letting go.
Wanting her, touching her, tasting her....
Suddenly, Misao vanished from his arms, in shock; Aoshi stared in to the empty darkness, searching. Unable to find her, he started to run, in inane hope that somehow he would stumble across her. Collapsing on the floor, he gasped for well needed air. Laughter, soft laughter travelled to his ears.
"You can't have her anymore." The voice said, giggling in a child-like manner.
"Why not?" Aoshi demanded at the unseen voice, challenging it to reveal itself.
"'Cause you lost her, you didn't want her, you hurt her." The voice taunted.
"No, I can't lose, I cannot lose"
"You just did and now I want my prize"
"No you can't have her, you can never have her. She is mine, she is mine, you can never have her. NEVER!!"
"Never?" The voice smirked, " You cannot threaten me, you just lost and you know how the rules goes."
The voice seemed to smile wider with glee, the voice curls and gives a creepy reply. "You should be fortunate, it is not your life we are playing for."
"You cannot have her!" Aoshi shouted one more time. The voice "rolled his eyes" to hear such a thing, talk about sore losers. Misao's body appears on the floor, her hair covering her face, her eyes closed as if in deep sleep. A figure appears next to her.
"My prize" the figure almost hiss as he bends down to pick up the body.
"No!" shouts Aoshi as he spring forward at the figure, wanting desperately to grab the body but only fail. The figure shifts to the side to avoid the attack as Aoshi drops onto the hard floor, flat on his face.
"What a shame, you could have broken your nose, do be careful next time" with that the figure held the body tightly in his hands and walked in the depth of darkness.
"No come back!!" Aoshi shouts as he tries to get up.
"You can't do this" He stretches his hand outwards, wanted to grab the figure.
"I already did," the cold voice echoes throughout the darkness, "You played my game, with that you play by my rules and you lost by my rules. That is how it goes."
"You can't do this, nobody defies me!"
"I just did," the voice echo darkly.
"No come back, a... rematch, no don't leave , I will give you anything ...no!" Aoshi struggles to get up.
" MISAO!!!!"
-----
Aoshi woke up with a jolt. He opened his eyes as cold sweat crawls down his sun-beaten skin, his hair tousle and panting heavily. Slowly he sits up, as his dream still plagues in his mind. The dream of a game, a game that plays for a life, a life that is not of his own but somebody that he...loves. He would always lose the game and the prize will never be his. Cursing, he raked his long elegant fingers shakily through his hair. Getting up from his position, he strode over to the nearby stream to dunk his head into the cool water. Staring into the fire as droplets of water streaked down his face and off the tip of his nose he cursed again.
He had fallen for Misao, and had fallen deep.
---
He glared at the stack of neatly folded papers that rested on his belongings. How it got there, he didn't know, but he could pretty much suspect who shoved it into his bag of belongings. He knew that the paper contained information on Takuya Kanjire, and he * definitely * knew that the information involved Misao which would result in him running all the way back to Kyoto in such a manner that he would have beaten Sanosuke's record of being the biggest baka in Japan.
Misao....
Images of the petite ninja girl played in his mind.
Like her slender legs and her toned arms.
Like the perfectly carved face...
Eyelids that shaded beautiful sapphire eyes.
The slightly upturned nose.
And lips...lips that had a weird rosy red tinge to them.
On a mouth that would look perfect on a consort.
* ARGH! * Aoshi screamed mentally. * I DO NOT like her. People will use her to get to me and she will be hurt. I MUST NOT like her. I DON'T! *
* Then why are you dreaming about her, thinking about her, afraid to lose her, wanting to kiss her... * a voice piped up.
* Go away. * Aoshi thought bitterly. * I don't like her, I practically raised her, I see her nothing more than my own daughter.... right? *
* Suure you do. Although I have heard that denial IS the first step to love. * The voice in his head smirked.
"Shut up, shut up." Aoshi muttered darkly to himself as he gave the stack of papers a glare so intense, it was amazing it hadn't spontaneously combust.
* I don't like her, and to prove it to you, I'll get rid off the papers, I wouldn't even read it. I don't need to worry of such * trivial * matters. * Aoshi thought maniacally as he took the papers with every intention to throw it into the flames of the campfire.
*Oh yes...... Be a man, take the easy way out... *
"Shut up......." Aoshi gritted, slowly lowering the papers into the flames.
"I won't do that if I were you."
Aoshi stopped in mid-action, cursing himself for not noticing the other person's presence. Turning around, his eyes narrowed, confirming his suspicion of the person.
"How long have you been here Saitou?" Aoshi asked icily, it was amazing that his campfire had not froze, his fingers clenched the stack of papers tightly.
"Oh, long enough to know about your feelings for the weasel." Saitou said casually, noting the flash in Shinomori's eyes as he mentioned the ninja girl's nickname.
"I don't like her." Aoshi stated.
"Yes, of course you don't, but do care to explain that." Saitou said calmly, pointing at Aoshi's arousal. Aoshi glared at the Mibu Wolf, a barely noticeable blush tingeing his cheeks.
"Leave."
"Oh, but don't you want to hear what I have to say?"
"It can't be that important if you aren't going to tell it to me immediately."
"Of course, the safety of the weasel isn't that important to me, yes, ...I believe you are right Shinomori, I have just absolutely wasted my time coming here, and there I was thinking maybe I could get you to get rid of that criminal Takuya for me, after all he is a serial killer, a corrupt merchant and an illegal slave buyer, but I guess I'll just have to delay this case until I have more time."
* Sadistic bastard * Aoshi thought as shot Saitou a dark glare. Saitou noticed this and his eyes flashed, his lips pulling back into a smirk.
"And how do I know that you are not lying?" Aoshi asked tentatively.
"Shinomori, how the hell do you think I got all this information?" Saitou said, sending a look of contempt towards Aoshi.
"You have a spy in the teahouse?"
"Very clever! Give the man a prize!" Saitou said sarcastically. "Really, Shinomori, after years of being Okashira one would have thought you would have acquired a brain. Seriously, I can't believe you haven't sent one of your own spies in to check on Takuya."
Aoshi gritted his teeth, his nails digging into his palms, one would have thought he never ever meditated in his entire life. However, his rage was slightly understandable, considering the fact that his intelligence was insulted twice. * I can almost understand Sanosuke's attempts to crush this cockroach of a man. * Aoshi mused.
"Well, I must leave now, my very busy schedule demands attention, by the way Shinomori, I suggest you pay Takuya a visit soon. It seems that the weasel has got into trouble she can't handle." Saitou said, his tone serious for once.
Aoshi nodded, not bothering to acknowledge Saitou's departure, turning his attention back to the fire and the slightly crumpled stack of paper. A look of confusion flitted across his face, then it vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
* I don't like her right? I mean, it's crazy, I couldn't possibly like her.... I'm suppose to have my emotions under control. *
* Then can someone explain why I have been dreaming about her for the five nights since my departure, why when I close my eyes all I see are those lips that I want to kiss senseless, why I feel like jumping up and running to save her? *
* I can't like her, the consequences would endanger the both of us. * Aoshi tried to reason with himself. Shifting his gaze from the fire, his eyes flitted to the stack of paper. The innocent, pure white sheets of paper seemed to burn a hole right through him.
* AOSHI!!!!!!! *
Aoshi jolted, he almost thought he could hear Misao scream for him. And then, the dream of the game flooded into his mind, the colour draining from his face, he glanced down at the sheets of paper before cursing.
"Fuck the consequences."
Aoshi was going back to Kyoto.
^^ Whee!! Finally finished! I just bought Meteora and it rocks!! Everyone should get it!! Linkin Park rules!!!! Thank you for all the reviews!! I really appreciate them ^_^x anyway thinking of a plot for my next story after i finish this one... (which will be soon) i hope... but first, Aoshi to the rescue, tadaaaaaa!! AOSHI SUPER-MORI!!