Disclaimer: Don't own Rurouni Kenshin or 'The Scientist' by Coldplay.

Author's Notes: When I wrote the last line, I was like; 'I'm finished with the chapter? Whaaa?' I thought I was gonna add more, but then I realized the end to this chapter was great. I need to save the rest of my inspriation for the next chappie!! Hope ya'll like it!! Pure A/M fluff and sap, although they don't get sappy together, it's a reflection about their feelings. I take it no one likes Yoriko? I don't either, but I need her to play a key role to the plot. As always, read, review, and enjoy!!

Come up to meet ya, tell you I'm sorry
You don't know how lovely you are
I had to find you, tell you I need ya
And tell you I set you apart

Misao slowly began walking away from the Aoiya with her heart wounded. To her surprise, someone had seen her.

"Misao?!" Okina shouted with disbelief. Misao paused where she was and wondered if she should turn around.

Everyone had looked up to see where Okina was looking at. They saw a woman with a long braid standing right in front of the Aoiya. The woman turned around and they all gasped with shock. It was indeed their Misao-chan, but something about her was different. She looked the same, yet she held herself differently. Her eyes held no innocent glow nor did her cheery grin adorn her usually happy expression.

Aoshi quickly broke from the hug with Yoriko. He stared at Misao with a mixture of a amazement, relief, and joy. Misao was finally home. Everyone began rushing towards her to hug her and welcome her home, but Aoshi held back. He noticed that he couldn't recognize her ki anymore. It was as if she was hiding it for some reason.

As Aoshi coolly walked up to her, everyone gave them some privacy to speak alone. They returned to the Aoiya and Misao and Aoshi looked at each other in silence.

"Welcome home, Misao." Aoshi looked down into her passive face. He wanted to he was sorry, that he tried to find her and that he never meant those cruel things he said to her. He longed to tell her how lovely she was and how it brought light to his hear. He wished to tell her that she was an angel compared to everyone else, but his fear of corrupting her held him back.

"Hai, Aoshi-sama." Misao answered somewhat sadly, "I'm home."

Yoriko watched the two with jealousy. Right when things were starting to get between her and Aoshi, the Weasel Girl decided to come home and play all sweet and innocent. She angrily stomped inside the Aoiya and Misao and Aoshi followed.

Okina was planning a large celebration for Misao's return. He wanted to invite everyone they knew, so that meant that Kenshin and all their friends in Tokyo would be coming, includig Saitoh. Okon and Omasu begged to invite Hiko and Okina gladly accepted. Everyone was in a joyful mood except for Misao.

While the others were planning on the preparations for the party, Misao just stood in the doorway, looking unsure of what to do next. Spending almost a year in the secluded dojo with just herself and Tenshi caused her to forget how social people were. She was curious about who the new girl was, the one who was hugging Aoshi earlier. The girl was beautiful, Misao thought right off bat, but she while her outer appearence held innocence, Misao could see the darkness that lurked behind her eyes.

Tell me your secrets, and nurse me your questions
Oh lets go back to the start
Running in circles, coming in tails
Heads on a science apart

Aoshi caught the brooding look on Misao's face. He wondered where she had been while she was away and what sort of secrets she harbored deep in her soul. Something was amiss with her, and Aoshi realized what it was. The energetic girl he once knew wasn't bouncing around and asking him questions and celebrating her return. No, instead she was standing in the doorway with a serious look on her face and calmness that floated around her.

Omasu noticed Misao's wondering look at Yoriko and smiled,

"Misao-chan, this Kaioh Yoriko, she's our new member to the Aoiya and Oniwabanshu."

"Konnichiwa, Makimachi-san!" Yoriko plastered a fake smile on her face. Misao saw through the masked cheerfulness and stared darkly at the new girl. Yoriko was very pretty. She had midnight eyes and wavy chestnut brown hair that would have tumbled way beyond her shoulders if she didn't keep it back in a tight ponytail.

"Kaioh-san." Misao nodded in her own way of greeting. Everyone blinked at Misao's unusual coldness and shared the same questioning look. Aoshi recognized that wherever Misao was during her year of journey, she had learned many things and has been through many hardships. He wished that he could start over, and not have said those cruel words to Misao.

"Is it alright if I retire to my room for the day?" Misao asked.

"Would you like to take a bath first?" Okon offered. Misao thought about it for a moment and nodded.

"Yes, that would be nice."

"I'll prepare the water for you." Omasu smiled.

"In the mean time, why don't you get your thing settled, my little Misao-chan!" Okina gave her one of his bear hugs. Misao's eyes widened as she felt her air supply being cut off.

"J-Jiya!" Misao gasped for breath. Okina let go with a sheepish smile.

"We've just missed you so much." he looked at her fondly. Misao nodded and showed a ghost of her wide grin and went to her room.

As Misao entered her room, she examined the contents. For the most part, it had been left untouched, but kept clean. Misao sat down on her futon and opened her traveling bag. It was mostly things she had taken with her when she left and a few trinkets from Tenshi. After ten minutes of unpacking, she found a long black cloak with the emblem of her pendent, just like in her dream. Perplexed, Misao continued to dig deeper into the bag and found a new ninja outfit. It was a crimson red with a black dragon eating its tail.

'How did this get here?' Misao thought curiously to herself. Then she remembered a time when Tenshi stole away to her room while she was practicing outside. Tenshi was holding a mysterious package, but Misao gave no thought to it.

A soft smile crept upon her features and she brushed her hand over the special clothing her teacher had given her.

"How is it, that even where you're gone, you're watching over me?" Misao whispered to herself. The quiet moment was interrupted by Yoriko marching in and said,

"You're bath is ready, Makimachi-san." Misao looked at her and put away her new ninja uniform and cloak and went to the bathhouse.

Nobody said it was easy
It's such a shame for us to part
Nobody said it was easy
No one ever said it would be this hard
Oh take me back to the start

Aoshi sat in his room and contemplating Misao's new personality. She seemed much more detached and cold. It looked like she was slowly turning into him. It frightened him that Misao could be like this. He had caused her this and now he would try to bring her back.

'Are you trying to prove your mature enough for me, Misao?'

It was time for him to let down his walls, and help Misao. Aoshi didn't want her to be like him, dark, cold, and distant. He wanted the spirited girl he once knew. He would show her that he wasn't unemotional and that he did have some feelings for her. It would take time and if only he hadn't said those cruel things to her things would have been much easier, but then again, nobody said it was going to be easy in the first place.

Misao relaxed her sore and tense muscles as she bathed in the warm water. She felt totally at peace and wondered if this was how Tenshi felt, the way your heart and mind was so calm and not even your greatest worries terrified you. Yet, no matter how serene she was, she still went over today's events.

Seeing Aoshi and Yoriko (A/N: Yoriko, the wannabe Misao! Sorry, had to add that!) in that warm embrace pained her. Was Aoshi in love with her? Was this the girl who had the key to open his heart? Misao wanted so much to hate Yoriko, but the peaceful part of her, the part Tenshi nurtured and brought out, told her that if Aoshi was happy with the new girl, then so be it. It wasn't her right or choice to destroy his happiness, no matter how much excruciating pain it caused her.

But if Yoriko and Aoshi weren't serious, then it meant that she still had a chance. Yoriko would only be competition and Misao knew that somewhere deep in his heart, Aoshi loved her in some way. It was her job to find out what kind of love was it. Did he love her like a sister or for the woman she was? Misao would find out and she would win him back. It seemed a lot harder to show her feelings now, no matter what her teacher told her. She was safer if she hid her feelings, she wouldn't get hurt.

'But you have to take the chance.' her mind scolded.

And Misao would, not matter how hard it was, she would take the chance. In the war for love, nothing was ever easy.

I was just guessing at numbers and figures
Pulling the puzzles apart
Questions of science, science and progress
Do not speak as loud as my heart

After she had taken a bath, Misao took a nap. When she woke up, it was late at night and everyone had gone to sleep. Quietly, she padded outside to sit on a bench and look at the night sky.

The stars twinkled and glittered with hope and love. It lightened her mood as her thoughts returned to the time when she tried everything to get to Aoshi's heart. She had tried meditating with him, and being more lady-like, and even dressing in kimono and wearing make-up. None of those attempts worked. Misao was just guessing and trying to figure out the puzzle of Aoshi.

Now she realized, that the way to get to his heart, was just to be her. Well, as much she could be since she had changed over the last year. It would take work on both sides to admit their feelings, but Misao was resolved for that time to come.

And tell me you love me, come back and haunt me
Oh and I rush to the start
Running in circles, chasing tails
Coming back as we are

She longed to hear him say those three words, the words that would make her heart sing with joy and swoon with ecstasy. He had haunted her with those words while she was away for training, had she haunted him? Did he miss her, think about her the whole time she had been gone? Or was he to busy with Yoriko to notice?

It was not the time for petty feelings. Misao would strive towards her happiness, and her happiness was Aoshi. If he truly did love her then it would be wonderful and she would be is sheer bliss, but if his heart laid with Yoriko, then she would still be happy as long as he was.

Misao could feel the power in the air. It was almost time. All the doors of time were going to close and the window to the beginning was going to shatter open. The cycle was near through and rebirth was creeping near. No more running in circles, or chasing a time that is over. It was almost time to return to what we once were, but it would come at different times for different people. In the end, they would all come to together and their differences and uniqueness would bring harmony to the their lives.

Nobody said it was easy
Oh it's such a shame for us to part
Nobody said it was easy
No one ever said it would be so hard
I'm going back to the start

Misao returned to her room, but paused right in front of Aoshi's room. She sighed as she lightly leaned on the door and felt the heaviness in her heart. She knew full well that he was awake on the other side, sensing her presence, but she didn't care. She needed to stop being afraid and let her true colors show.

Aoshi leaned on the other side and felt Misao's presence leaning against him. There was no more room for his fear of destroying her future. If she still loved him, and believed that she could rescue him from his inner darkness, then he would gladly allow her to do so.

In a world of light and darkness, everyone need a angel, and for Aoshi and Misao, their angels was each other.

Author's Notes:

DarkFairy: *sniffs* How sweet!! Looks like you don't got a chance, Yoriko!! *smirk*

Yoriko: You can't do that!! Aoshi-sama's mine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Sound familiar, Noa? Heehee, j/k)

Misao: Stay away from my Aoshi!! *throws kunai at Yoriko*

Anywayz, I hope you all like it!! It's better than the last chapter, I hope!! Does anyone miss Tenshi?? Did ya'll even like her? *makes a sad chibi face* Tell me what you think about Yoriko and Tenshi!! Oh, and suggest a song!! I'm in dire need and if I don't have a song, I can't write a chapter!! BTW, I have 20,121 words on my novel!!

Ja ne! =^.^=

K-chan: You don't have to cry anymore!! Misao's home!!

Crystal: Am I updating fast enough for you now? LOL My novel's coming along pretty well.

Aku-sama: Our fave Weasel Girl is in the heart of our hottie Icicle!! Don't worry!!

Len: Tsk-tsk, don't threaten the writer or the write won't be able to write anymore!! Misao's not being tortured anymore, hust enlightened!

Kmye-chan: Of course I'm not replacing our Misao-chan!! Aoshi and Misao forever!! *chants to self* Happy ending, happy ending, happy ending...

Fizzyz Angel: Aoshi and Misao will be together!! I hope you like how they go over their feelings for each other!!

Noa: Angst, I hate it too, but every fic needs it!! Misao's gonna be brave, don't worry!!

CardMisstress Sakura: I'm gonna give Aoshi back!!

*Hugs and kisses to all my lovely reviewers!!*