Hello! I actually thought this chapter would take longer than it has! Yesterday I just sat down, to start writing a page or two, and the whole chapter just came! This chapter is very important, I feel. I must WARN you that, thanks to this chapter, the rating has changed. It is nothing very long or very explicit (I've seen worst), but I feel I must warn you anyway. SO WATCH OUT! A SMALL LEMON UP AHEAD!

You'll also have to forgive any English errors I have, but this chapter hasn't been reviewed by my pre-reader.

Even through eternity

Chapter 8b

Aoshi gave Misao her katana and looked around, careful for someone who might follow them into the forest. Misao sandals made a small squashy sound when they walked over fallen leafs. He could also hear cars moving in a nearby road, which Aoshi took into account in case they had to run and meet up with his team. Just a few meters ahead he could hear laughter and voices from the people they were following and he knew that their carefree nature was making Misao extremely irritated.

"Stay calm, Misao." Aoshi thought about telling her to focus, but her face made him step back a bit. He kept forgetting she wasn't his Misao that he could say whatever it pleased him. This one fought back. The easiness in her pose when she carried her sword was a clear sign that she was used to fights with it.

After a while they were so into the forest that they couldn't feel the presence of the other Immortals inside the mansion. The only ones they could pick up were each other and those other five. Then they entered a clearing and they stopped. The laughter sound and the voices were gone. Everything stopped. Then the sound of grass being stepped on was heard behind them. When they turned around Timon stood there, looking at Misao with a smile to his face.

"If you're following us, I think you should stop here." He said, with laughter dancing in his voice. He looked closely at Misao. "Well, well! Misao, you did survive! I swear if Loraine hadn't shown me your picture running around that corpse in Kyoto, I would have never believe you had made it through all these years without being killed."

"If you want, I can show you how I did it, you freak." Answered Misao, gripping her katana.

"Freak? Me?" Timon asked with an innocent look. "My dear, I believe we all are freaks, in our way."

"How poetic, Timon." Misao scorned. "If you consider yourself and your team freak, go right ahead, I'm with you 100%. But I'm no freak." Aoshi could see the pure hatred in her eyes and her jaws were clenched. "Where is your ass-licker?"

"Who?"

"Diego, that asshole. Where is he? He must be reading himself to shot us, ne? You are all so brave, aren't you?" She hadn't even finished her sentence, when they heard movement at their left. Misao turned around to face Diego, while Aoshi continued to stare at Timon.

"I'm no coward, little girl." Diego said, with a voice covered with hate and scorn. It was obvious that man was full of himself and thought of Misao as a simple joke, no real treat.

"If you're not a coward, then I'm the king of Persia. And you're not just a coward, you're damn stupid! Couldn't even plan this by yourself. Had to go shine someone's boots. What a disgrace for the Spanish people." When Aoshi looked at Misao and Diego, trying to see what she was trying to do, he caught it all. Of course both of them couldn't fight and beat the whole team, so Misao was trying to provoke Diego into a man on man fight. His pride would be too severed for him to let anyone else interfere in the fight.

"How dare you? You were so scared of yourself, you left Japan and never set foot in it until now!" Diego yelled, while Timon rolled his eyes.

"Well, I don't see you in Spain either. So shut up. At least I can live by myself!" Misao answered, making a face. Aoshi, out of the corner of his eyes, saw a masked man enter the clearing.

"And what a shame you did, Misao." The masked man said. "All your hard work will be thrown out the window." He carried a sword at his side and with it made a sigh to Timon that he wanted no one to interfere. "So, Shinomori, you've been very quiet. I bet you think you'll be getting out of this one, ne? Well, guess what? There won't be any late night with Misao tonight." He said, with clear rage in his voice. Aoshi looked around and saw that everyone had disappeared, except Diego, who continued to glare at Misao like a spoilt brat, even if she hadn't said a thing and was just looking at the masked man.

"Who are you?" She asked. "You aren't any of those men inside."

Aoshi was distracted by the voice talking to him through his earplug. "We will be there as fast as we can, Boss." He heard Kayton say. When his attention was once again focused in the fight going on, Diego had moved closer to Misao, with his sword out and Misao was looking at him again. At the same time, the masked guy kept looking at him, as if trying to figure out something about him.

"You know something, Shinomori? You're not that great. You're just a skinny guy that can't speak a word." On the background Aoshi could hear Diego shouting something at Misao and lounging at her. He was a bit worried about her, but after watching some of her moves he understood that she was in complete control of the situation. Aoshi on the other hand was face to face with a man that apparently got his kicks out of insulting him.

"And just who might you be?" Aoshi finally asked. The other guy took his sword out of it sheath and snickered.

"I'm the man who will kill you tonight." Aoshi saw him pull out a huge sword that looked like the ones used by the Nordic barbarians. Then he jumped at him and Aoshi could only block him and move back a bit. The other guy's movements were clearly enraged and some of them were clearly illogic. The man wasn't even paying to what he was doing! But madmen usually have some kind of protection and this one was quite fast for someone his size, so he managed to deflect most of Aoshi's blows.

Diego, on the other hand, wasn't as lucky. Misao had already stabbed him trough the stomach and he was bleeding and panting as if they had started the fight over a century ago and not five minutes. Misao's only problem were her clothes. Aoshi had merely thought of impressing her and he had to admit he hadn't thought about fighting. She sometimes had problems when she tried bending or stretching her legs and the dress came in her way. But other than that she hadn't even broken in a sweat. Adrien had been a great master!

"You don't know how much I've wanted to kill you all these years." The masked man said. Aoshi thought it strange that he couldn't distinguish a man that, apparently, carried so much hate for him. His voice wasn't known to him either! While the man continued with his threats and cursing, Aoshi managed to stick the masked man's sword between a tree and his own sword and kick him in the stomach. The man fell on his knees, grabbing his injured stomach, and Aoshi would've been able to kill him, hadn't it been for a scream. A feminine scream.

When Aoshi turned around to look, he saw Diego had managed to cut Misao's face, but it was already healing itself. But Misao was extremely pissed! When Diego launched himself at her, she jumped left and knocked her katana hilt in his nape. As soon as Diego's head fell a bit forward, Aoshi saw Misao do a turn and bring her blade to it. A fraction of a second later, Diego's head was cut from his body. All of that had happened between seconds, but the injured man behind Aoshi didn't lose any of them and, after getting himself up, attacked Aoshi's back. Before Misao started to feel the Awakening, her eyes caught sight of Aoshi being injured in the back. The thought that he had been extremely stupid to turn his back at his enemy crossed her mind, but then she started to feel that electric current run through her entire body. All the hairs covering her body stood up and her eyes started rolling back. She didn't love that felling, like many Immortals did, because of what came before it. But that sense of power always left her amazed and overwhelmed.

She fell down when it stop and could faintly hear steps from someone running away from the clearing and then rushed steps, lots of them. Some of them she could distinguish: they were Aoshi's and he was moving slowly closer to her. She heard him fall on his knees near her and pick her head up.

"Misao, wake up." She could feel his hand caressing her face gently and trying to pick her pulse. She opened her eyes and saw his face directly above hers, looking her over with what appeared to be a proud look. "He never stood a chance, brave one." He told her, with a small smile.

"And… what crossed your mind to turn your back on that nut?" She asked, with a harsh voice. "That has got to be the stupidest thing I've ever seen you do." To her amazement he laughed and shrugged his shoulders. Misao looked away from his face, trying to figure out what had happened. There was no trail of that masked freak and Aoshi's team was running around, carrying the corps and the heads.

"Sarah killed that mulatto on her way here and you killed that Spanish guy." Aoshi said. "Other than that, they got away. I was pretty stupid! I could have killed that guy, but got distracted. He ran away when things got a bit wild."

Misao nodded and, with Aoshi's help, got up. She always felt a bit woozy after an Awakening. Antonio and Kayton were raping Diego's body in a black bag and Sarah was smoking a cigarette next to an already raped body. Aoshi led her out of the clearing and after five minutes they came to a road, where the limousine was waiting for them. A very tall and slender man was leaning against the hood, looking around.

"Monty, take us to the mansion. The rest of the team will take the truck. Tell them I want to see them tomorrow morning at the office." Aoshi said, while opening one of the doors to let Misao get in.

"Yes, Boss." Aoshi got inside after her and closed the door. She felt him sit next to her and inch closer and closer to her, but frankly she didn't give a damn. She was feeling cold and tired, as always. Aoshi must have sensed it, because he placed his right arm over her shoulders and pulled her closer. She was feeling so confused! Why was he holding her? Why was he caressing her and touching her that way? He had never been one for touches and sorts, so why was he acting as if he cared for her? As if he… loved her? And her head felt so heavy and sore! It was all so confusing. Maybe she had already fallen asleep and all those sweet feelings and Aoshi's touches were only part of one marvelous dream.

"Am I asleep, Aoshi?" She asked him, with a rough voice.

"No, sweet one. You're still in the car, going home after a brave fight. Just let Aoshi take care of you for now. You'll be in bed in an instance." Oh, it had to be a dream! He was acting so sweet and nice. Well he had been acting more or less like that over the last days and she had been feeling kind of guilty about the way she acted towards him, once in a while. Sometimes she had to force her brain to remind her why she felt so enraged towards him, or was supposed to feel. His eyes looking kindly at her, his hands moving over her skin… his mere presence set her off. And to think she had convinced herself that she didn't love him anymore. How could someone be so wrong? He had never been supplanted. As a matter of fact, she never believed herself to see his equal! She had meant to forget him, and believed it to be done. She had imagined herself indifferent, when she had only been angry.

She felt him clean the dry blood off her face and she knew… she had to make sure this time he wouldn't escape her. She knew a man like him was one in a million, especially today, and she was not going to let him go like the last time. Back then she had been a child and had given up after one battle without finishing the war. She smiled faintly. Round two was arriving and she was going to win it.

Misao placed her right arm around his neck and pulled him closer to her face. Her lips came near to his ear.

"Thank you, Aoshi-sama." It was the first time she called him that and she hoped he would notice it. By the tightening of his hold on her it appeared he did. His cheek touched hers and she felt him kiss it. He was shaking a bit.

"I've missed you so much, Misao." He said, with a passionate voice. "Your mere presence completes me." Aoshi had understood that the return of the 'sama' at the end of his name meant forgiveness and that she was his again. It needed no explanation, it was their knowledge of each other that made them understand without words.

Misao moved her head back a bit, as if daring him to kiss her. He accepted the dare and his lips came crashing upon her mouth with the fire that had been locked inside him for years now. She opened her mouth for him and felt his hot tongue enter it and run around inside it, taking his time, as if to know everything there. Misao's hand grabbed his hair and moved around, to feel its texture. At the same time, Aoshi's hands were caressing her bare back and nape. The feel of the diamond necklace around her soft skin didn't feel as good to Aoshi as it had some hours before. Now he just wanted to feel her skin all over her body, with nothing between them. Misao broke the kiss to breathe and then started kissing his neck and jaw line. He just let his head fall back and enjoy the feeling. He had her!

To them the trip lasted only five minutes, when Monty stopped the car and they looked around, trying to locate themselves. Aoshi looked at the front of the car and was relieved to see that the dark glass between them and Monty had been closed all the time. He had forgot all about it in the heat of Misao's kisses. Speaking of Misao… Aoshi looked at her and was amazed when he found her sleeping soundly at his side. She had been so tired that, when their kisses had ended, she had simply continued her dream night in dreams. She seamed pleased though, for she had a smile on her full lips. When Monty opened a door, Aoshi picked Misao in his arms and carried her inside.

He called a maid to dress her, after placing her over her bed, and left when she entered. He instructed the young girl not to wake Misao up and to cover her after she had been dressed. Aoshi walked to his living room and filled himself a cup of sake. He wanted to celebrate! After all that time regretting his actions and feeling lonely, Aoshi finally felt complete, with everything he wanted. He emptied the cup in one gulp and then move to his room. If asked he wouldn't be able to say when he fell asleep, because as soon as he hit the pillow his memory, mind and imagination mixed and he had a night fill with Misao dreams.

Misao woke up the next day with a soft touch in her face. Something smooth like velvet was moving around her face, daring her to opened her eyes. The previous night came rushing to her mind, but Misao couldn't tell reality from dreams, so she was reluctant to open her eyes.

"Wake up, Sleeping Beauty." That voice couldn't be mistaken for no other. Maybe some part of the previous night had been real, because Aoshi wouldn't just enter her room in the morning and wake her up like that, if something hadn't happened. Misao opened her eyes and smiled at him. He looked like a small kid waiting for Santa to come and open the presents, but he was waiting for her. He looked frankly happy, with a red rose in his hand and a smile in his face. "I was wondering how long would it take for you to wake up. The morning has been a total drag without you." Misao must've done a strange face, because Aoshi moved back a bit and became a bit pale. "What?" He asked, with a shaky voice.

"Nothing. It just that I'm not very sure if yesterday was real." She said, with an 'I'm sorry' look.

"Well, we kissed and when we got here you fell asleep in the car." He noticed her relieved look and a small blush covering her cheeks. "Why? Did you dream something that you'd like to add?" She couldn't help but laugh. "Well, if you wish for something more." Aoshi suggested, with raised eyebrows.

"Right now, I want to have breakfast." Aoshi smiled and moved away, only to return with a tray.

"Here it is, your Highness." After he set the tray over her legs, he gave her the rose and sat near her, just watching her eat. "So, did you sleep well?" He asked. Misao swallowed the orange juice and nodded. "What do you want to do today?"

"Didn't you have a meting at your office?" She asked.

"I already had it, Misao." He answered, with a smile. "Do you know what time it is?" She shook her head. "It's two o'clock in the afternoon. Are you always this tired after an Awakening?"

"Pretty much. But tonight was just to good to wake up." She teased.

"Oh, really? Even if it meant to wake up to this?" He asked, before kissing her. Once again the kiss was fill with yearning and love. His hand came resting below her breasts, to balance himself, and hers circled his neck, bringing him closer to her. This time she had no necklace, so Aoshi dropped small kissed down her neck, until he reach the hole at the base of it. Misao's head fell back and her hands dug themselves in his hair. One of her nightgown's straps had already fallen and Aoshi's lips went on kissing her shoulder. Misao knew she should stop him. Everything was just going so fast! But at that moment, she was merely a piece of feeling flesh and she couldn't even think rational, let along talk to tell him to stop. Her hand moved down his back and grabbed a handful of his black shirt. She felt him bite her shoulder and she groaned. "Hum… you taste nice." Aoshi murmured.

He moved closer, to place his other hand over her right shoulder, when the forgotten tray between the two of them fell and both of them had orange juice all over their clothes. Aoshi moved back and that was enough to awake Misao from whatever state she was. She pushed him back and got out of bed.

"Look, Aoshi, I really think we should that this a little slower, don't you?" Misao asked, looking out the window. It was a shiny day and outside the servants were brushing two or three horses.

"Is this to quick for you?" He asked, with an emotionless voice, like the old Aoshi.

"Yes, I do." She turned around and saw he was looking at her. "Do you find this normal?" She asked, already knowing that this would lead to the conversation she had been fearing since meeting him again, the 'why did you said no to me' conversation.

"This, what?" He asked.

"This! You say you don't love me, all those years ago, then you don't even care enough to talk to me after that. Then when we see each other again and I had a peachy life, you act all loving and nice to me and then we kiss out of the blue. And now you expect me to understand any of this?" She was practically screaming by the end. Aoshi got up and crossed the room, to lay his hands over her shoulders.

"Calm down, Misao. What is happening is very simple to understand. I have long ago decided that my attitude towards you was wrong, for two reasons. One, the mere way I acted was extremely heartless. Two, because I understood something, while you were gone, that I had no idea." He said with his calm voice.

"And that was?"

"I loved you. I love you and I'll always will. If back then the thought of living those years without you was unbearable, then living an eternity without you is heart shattering. Do you understand now?"

To say Misao was speechless, was an understatement. Her eyes were wide with wonder and her jaw was slightly hanging. She had NOT expected that answer, she always managed to expect the worst when it came to Aoshi. How was she to expect him to do a full blown declaration? Aoshi observed her face and couldn't help but smile at her circumstance.

"If you wish to go through this the slower way, it can be done. I understand." Aoshi caressed her face and took a lock of her hair in his fingers. "Now, go get ready. I think we'll like riding a bit, don't you? I know you ride well and the horses haven't been ride in a while."

"You are not in control of all this, you Czech fuck!" Timon's rough voice ran through the entire room. "If you ever feel the need to… what was it? Oh, yeah! Get even, go hit a pillow or something. Or arrange and plan your own gig and than ruin it, do you get that?"

Nicolai made a face, but nodded. The truth was that he didn't need no one telling him he had screwed up royally. He already knew and he hardly understood how he had managed to get out of that fight with his head. According to the plan, he was supposed to stay and wait in the van, but the thought of missing the death of those two was too much for him.

The only good thing out of it all was that none of them knew who he was. He could return to Tokyo and phone Saitoh everyday, pretending he was very worked up with the fact that Misao had been gone for days. Just the thought of them made his blood boil. He had never said to no one, apart from Timon, what made him hate them so much, especially Shinomori. It was a very old story… well, maybe not that old for Immortals.

Flashback…

It was the year 1899 and the Russian winter was starting to make his way inside Nicolai's bones. Even after living in Russia for eight years, Nicolai had never gotten used to the harsh winter of Saint Petersburg. His own country, that for some might seem cold, was the Caribbean Islands compared to Russia during winter. And for a man that was returning from a country like France, the difference was even greater!

Nicolai had been in Marseilles, in the south of France, for two months and a half, because of his title of duke. As a duke for Alexander III, Czar of Russia, he had been forced to go to France and negotiate a treaty with some politicians. Well, he shouldn't be complaining! He was, after all, returning two weeks earlier. He hadn't told anyone he was returning sooner, because he wanted to surprise his wife.

As an Immortal, Nicolai hadn't had many women through his long life, because he was afraid he would be heart broken when they died. He had promised himself that it he married it would be with an Immortal, but then he had met Polina, his current wife, and the duchess. She had amazed him with her clear blue eyes and golden, long hair. She was the kind of woman that got along with everyone and laughed a lot and she was extremely clever.

His carriage stopped outside his house and two of the servants that had traveled with him carried his suitcases, while the front door opened and the housekeeper came running outside.

"Oh, God! The Duke was only expected in two weeks!" She said, with a loud voice and a red face. Nicolai didn't like her much, but she had been Polina's maid and she had brought her along when she married.

"So what? Can't a come to my house when I want to?" He answered and moved inside, with the housekeeper close to his heels. He took his winter coat off and moved to his wife room.

"Where is the Duke going?" The irritating housekeeper asked.

"I'm going to see my wife. Do I have to explain anything to you?"

"N-no, sir." She said, with a pale face.

"Then shut up and stop following me." He turned around and restarted walking.

"The Duchess isn't home." The little woman said. Just when Nicolai was turning around, to ask where she could be, a loud scream was heard. He knew that voice, it was his wife's voice. By the ash color that came to the housekeeper's face he could very well guess what Polina was doing to scream like that. Nicolai ran up the stairs, while the screams got louder, and opened his wife's door, just in time to see her orgasm in another man's arms. Just when he opened the door and looked, he felt that sick feeling that another Immortal was close by. He saw his wife's lover look up and their eyes met. The man had strange oriental blue eyes and in a stupid thought Nicolai wondered how an oriental had such ice blue eyes.

Nicolai stood there, looking at his wife that hadn't yet recovered to fully understand that was going on and just laid there with her legs spread. The other man however, jumped off of her and looked from her to Nicolai. His eyes were almost closed when he asked Polina, with a perfect Russian even if it had accent:

"Who is this man, Duchess?" Nicolai would never forget that cold voice, that chess crisscrossed with scars and that he was face to face with another Immortal. Nicolai's cold blood returned to him.

"This man is her husband, the Duke. And who, may I ask, is the man that has been fucking my wife?" He asked, with pure hatred in his voice. Polina had finally returned to the land of the living and was now looking at the two men, with fear in her pretty face.

"You never told me you were married, duchess." The man said, with a cold voice, but Nicolai could see he was mad at his wife. Hell, who was he to stay mad at her? He was her true husband, not that oriental guy.

"I repeat myself, who are you?" Nicolai asked.

"I am Shinomori Aoshi and I come from Japan. I beg your pardon, but your… wife told me she was a widow." Aoshi said, while putting his clothes on. Polina jumped out of bed and faced her lover.

"Oh, please! You've been in the Russian court for a moth and a half and you say you didn't know I was married?!" She said, trying to clear her face and direct all of Nicolai's anger to Aoshi.

"I do not pay attention to little talk among rich and futile people." Aoshi walked around Polina and bowed to Nicolai that was still in a daze. "I'm sorry, but I truly did not know."

Nicolai had let him go, because he could clearly see that his wife had been to blame. When he heard the front door close, he couldn't help himself: he stepped closer to his wife and slapped her face, hard. Her face had been red, not only because of the slaps but also because of pure rage at being caught. So she did the last thing she should've done: she taunted.

"At least he can fuck me senseless! Not like you, that can't even satisfy a virgin. At least I've found what is like to screw a real man!"

Everything after those words was a blur to Nicolai. He could make out some images of him on top of her, with her screaming for help. But no one came for her. Nicolai knew he had raped her at least two or three times that afternoon. When he was over, he stood up.

"I hope that was enough for you, whore." Nicolai said, not even looking at her bloodied body. "I will be leaving tomorrow. I will take everything, except I will leave you this house, so you can receive your lovers."

And he had left the next day, never to set foot in Russia again.

End flashback

Nicolai's hands turned into fists and he felt his heart beat rapidly. He had changed his appearance completely after that one, if only to forget the man he had been. How he regretted not killing that son of a bitch! He had felt good about his choice not to for sometime, until another incident involving the man happened. And, even if it wasn't with his wife, it cut his self esteem a bit more.

Flashback

He had been in London for some months now and he felt like he had made the perfect choice. He was loving the town, it was a good place to escape all the fuss running around Europe, and he had met a great lady. She was truly a lady, Misao. He had always had a defense wall against Japanese people after the 'Polina affair', but she had simple disarmed him. They had become friends and after some weeks she had finally let him inside her room.

He was there now, looking at her talking about a book. She was dressed in a blue silk robe and had her hair loose. She looked good enough to eat. He moved a little closer to her and kissed her neck. She laughed a little.

"Nicolai, please! I'm trying to have a conversation here." She said, with an annoyed voice. But he kept kissing her and she eventually dropped the book and kissed him back, while his hands moved inside her robe. Good, she wasn't wearing anything under it. He opened his pants and placed her over his lap. On any other day he would've taken a bit more time warming her up, but he had been waiting for two hours now. He licked her left breast and pulled her to his erected pole. She arched her neck back and groaned. Nicolai was surprised, she was usually such a silent lover. It was rare for her to utter one groan before her orgasm. So he decided to do her real good that time. He grabbed her hips and shoved inside her with his full strength.

After five minutes Nicolai came and, just as he shoved inside her for the last time, Misao came. But what she said was what made his blood froze in his veins. She didn't say, actually, she screamed.

"AOSHI!" That was it. She screamed that man's name loud and clear.

End Flashback

What had enervated him was that she didn't even realize she had said another man's name. After that time she had said it again three times. Then the war started and Nicolai had used that excuse to get himself rid of her. He felt so humiliated! Like a used piece of meat. And it was always that man. He had been certain it was the same man when he had caught a very old photo of that same Japanese, with icy eyes and cool attitude. He had asked Misao who that man was, to have her blush like a idiot and utters, while taking the photo from his hands, "It was my first master, Aoshi-sama."

Oh, how he hated them! The both of them! He had sworn to himself he would kill at least one of them. So, when Diego, an old friend of his, called him telling him the plan, he had introduced Misao to them. He had been surprised when they told him they had turned had into an Immortal. Then he had connected Misao and had convinced her to return to Japan, so he could kill both of them.

And now he had failed!

Misao's day was going great! She had been riding with Aoshi for two hours, then they had stopped near a lake to kiss and hug a bit, and then they had returned. Now, after a cozy dinner, they were in his room, watching a British movie called Snatch, wrapped in his sheets. It couldn't get better!

She felt Aoshi's hand move down her leg and his lips kissing her forehead. She moved her eyes away from the large TV and kissed his hot lips. His hands caressed her body, while his tongue caressed her mouth. She was right, it couldn't get better! The kiss ended after they had ran out of breath and both smiled at each other. Inside that room, in that mansion, and surrounded by happiness and loved, nothing could go wrong.

"I love you, Misao."

"I love you too, Aoshi."

Well, I have so much to say about this chapter, let's see if I don't forget everything!

First thing: I don't know many sword moves, so my fights will be as small as they can, because I know long fights tend to annoy people and they just pass them.

Second thing: I know Aoshi may seem OOC, but the good thing about this story his that, because of all those years, I can pretty much do what I want with Aoshi. Don't get me wrong, I'll put him doing something ridiculous and completely OOC, because I love Aoshi's character and I know you don't wish to see him humiliated.

Third thing: All those flashbacks were necessary, yes. When I introduce Nicolai I had no intention of making him one of the bad guys. I was, quite frankly, just an excuse to get Misao in Japan again. And, since I may have confused some people in my last chapter I felt I needed to explain fully what were his reasons for such hatred. Even so, I feel he doesn't need to feel so bad about such little things! Geez…

Fourth thing: I will have to change the rating because of the second flashback, but I already intended to do a lemon chapter in the end. I understand you feel it is a crappy lemon, but I wanted you to understand that what is important there is the end and I wasn't all that motivated to write a lemon between Misao and a guy I can't stand (even if he is my creation). So, I hope you'll forgive my crappy lemon lines.

Fifth thing: IMPORTANT! This chapter hasn't been reviewed by my pre-reader, because she hasn't been in contact with me. I do hope nothing serious has happened to her. ::Please be well, Moon!:: So, if anyone would like to review my next chapters I would be extremely grateful. If so, please contact me in my e-mail.

I think I've said it all, so JA!

MaRiAnA