*pops in* LAAA LI HOOOO!!!! ^_______^v
Kyaaaa!! michan took so long to finish this desu! Ahh well.. :D Michan been busy w/ meanie slavedriver high school.. . For.. 3 years! ^_^v Michan now on her final year wai waiii!!! Then michan move on to slavedriver college uni! ^_^
Blah.. enough 'cuteness'.. *grins at Mr. Me*
Anyway, I'd like to thank everyone who was nice enough to post comments in here and all my other stories.. *beams* All your comments touched me very deeply.. *sniffu* meep x.x YOU GUYS ROCK!
My other story, Loneliness, will slowly be moving on from now. Seeing a few reactions and a bunch of comments.. even though it was published 3 years ago.. gosh! Ahh.. hehe ^^; So watch out for it ne? ^.-
Here is the last chapter of FM desu!
Disclaimer:
Standard Disclaimies aply ^^
Chapter 6B: A Fresh Begining
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Kenshin," Kaoru called as she jogged her way far away from the crowds and from the town, "Hayaku, ne! The fireworks are about to begin soon!"
People were everywhere laughing and enjoying themselves. The streets were crowded with stalls of every kind, from food, to clothing, to toys, to games... to just about anything you could imagine. The streets were lit up by hundreds of lanterns casting a bright yellow glow to the streets below. Women gossiped here and there and haggled over the salespeople for the latest fashion. Men showed their bravado with the manly games and everybody else stuffed themselves with all kinds of foods from one stall to another.
Kenshin caught up with his wife, "But where's Kenji?"
"Dada!"
Kenshin and Kaoru turned to the direction of the call and were relieved when they saw him in Misao's arms with Aoshi trailing behind them. "Here," Misao said carefully handing the toddler over to Kenshin and whispered, "He's a little afraid of Aoshi-sama." Kenshin smiled his usual smile at Misao and replied, "Domo arigato gozaimasu, Misao-dono."
The girl smiled cheerfully back at him and did an immitation of a salute, saying, "Dooitashimashite!" Kenji laughed and clapped his hands while Kaoru approached the younger girl with a warm smile and asked, "So Misao-chan, would you like to come with us and watch the fireworks? We're nearly at the center of town." Misao's eyes widened with disbelief and dumbfoundedness, "Why would you like to be at the center of town where it's overly bright and annoyingly noisy? I suggest we go some place more dark and quiet."
"Aa.." Aoshi replied as he came up behind the girl. He looked down at Misao as she turned to look up at him in surprise. He looked back at Kenshin and Kaoru and said, "I know a good place to watch the fireworks.." He placed a hand on Misao's shoulder, startling the girl even more, and said, "I'm sure Misao knows the way."
==================
"Aoshi-sama! Hayaku ne, I have a feeling it's about to start any second now!" Misao squealed in delight, sitting on the teen's shoulders as he hiked up the path to a hill.. their small, secret paradise. It was dark all around, and Aoshi didn't have much of a difficulty... After all, he was the best-trained ninja.. and the dim light of the town in the distance was helping him along the way. "Aa.." was all he said, but he also hid a smile as Misao contented herself by playing with his hair.
==================
"'Tousan, hayaku ne! It's going to start!! I know it!" Kenji said excitedly as he sat on his father's shoulders, tugging at his father's red locks.
Although it wasn't quite visible, Misao could almost feel Kenshin wince at the slight sting from all the tugging. She was amazed by the fact that this samurai, who would kill with a single swipe of his katana, was now reduced to a mere dog pet by his own son. She laughed openly at her secret thought and at Kenji's remark along with Kaoru who was behind her alongside Kenshin.
Aoshi made a sideways glance at the kimono-clad girl..-- no.. lady beside him. He wondered again if she remembered that they did the same thing years ago.. How she tugged at his hair a lot and how he often winced, yet bore it because it was her and not anyone else.
"We're here!" he heard her announce cheerfully and saw her skip through the short grass path, past a majestic sakura tree to a clear open spaced cliff overlooking the town in all its lighted wonder.
==================
"Wai!! We're finally here!" Misao clapped her tiny hands as Aoshi reached the cliff. She loved the view from where she was. It made the town look so tiny and distant.. just like a dream a person has and he's just looking at it from afar.
Aoshi lifted her off his shoulders and set her down on the grass. She was growing older everyday.. he realized as he absently sat down next to the girl, unconsciously shifting to adjust some room for Misao to sit on his lap. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close to himself.
It was then that he realized that he didn't want Misao to grow up. He wanted her to stay young.. innocent.. and free.
I will protect you, Misao... He swore to himself with more vindication as he saw her eyes light up in wonder when the first few fireworks were set off.
==================
"Waa! Kirei desu ne!" Kenji exclaimed happily as he wiggled in Kenshin's arms. Kaoru laughed and tapped her son's nose lightly mumbling something to him. Kenshin wrapped an arm around his wife and held her and his son close to himself.
Misao witnessed the scene before her as she stood beside the old sakura tree. Memories of her and Aoshi replaying through her mind's eye. She turned her head upwards to the sky lit with pretty reds, blues, yellows and greens of different designs.
"Kirei..." she mumbled to herself in wonder.. remembering all those times that Aoshi used to take her up here with him to watch the fireworks as a child. Often she remembered Hannya and the others were there. But most often it were only she and he at the cliff.. watching the magnificent display of colors light up the dark blue sky.
She felt a prescence behind her and turned her head around to see Aoshi looking out at the sky, flashes of color illuminating his face. She smiled up at him and turned back to face the sky, a small sigh escaping her lips.
"Misao, do you remember those times when I used to take you here, just the two of us?"
Misao smiled lightly, her gaze fixed upon the sky and mumbled, "Hai.. Those years were the best of my life.." She stilled when she felt his hand on her shoulder for the second time that night. She looked up at him to see that he was looking down at her. "I thought you forgot about them.." he said quietly.
"Iie, Aoshi-sama," she said softly, looking back out at the fireworks and at the family before her, "I've always treasured them deep in my heart." She felt his hand give a gentle squeeze of gratitude and relaxed when he placed his other hand on her other shoulder, pulling her back to him.
He looked down at the top of her head, noting that he had broken his promise, and his wish wasn't answered. He hadn't protected her.. he hurt her.. and because of what he had done, she was forced to grow up and take the responsibility of a person twice her age. But then again, he thought, she had grown to be a beautiful lady.. strong in spirit, mind and body.. and he was glad.
He then realized that the best years he ever lived in his 29 years of life were the years that he spent growing up with a child named Makimachi Misao. But she wasn't a child anymore.. he reminded himself. Memories are things to be treasured, not relived.. for they are old and nothing is ever the same as before.
The only thing constant in this world is change.
And that's why Aoshi was going to make fresh memories with a lady named Makimachi Misao.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
-OwaRi-
P.S.
I've posted this at my website.. http://geocities.com/nightmaster22 ...along with a few other stories.. XD This was done ages ago, actually.. *runs and hides from the angry mob of readers* x.x gomen!
Have a great day, everyone! *poofs to finishing Loneliness*
-michan
Kyaaaa!! michan took so long to finish this desu! Ahh well.. :D Michan been busy w/ meanie slavedriver high school.. . For.. 3 years! ^_^v Michan now on her final year wai waiii!!! Then michan move on to slavedriver college uni! ^_^
Blah.. enough 'cuteness'.. *grins at Mr. Me*
Anyway, I'd like to thank everyone who was nice enough to post comments in here and all my other stories.. *beams* All your comments touched me very deeply.. *sniffu* meep x.x YOU GUYS ROCK!
My other story, Loneliness, will slowly be moving on from now. Seeing a few reactions and a bunch of comments.. even though it was published 3 years ago.. gosh! Ahh.. hehe ^^; So watch out for it ne? ^.-
Here is the last chapter of FM desu!
Disclaimer:
Standard Disclaimies aply ^^
Chapter 6B: A Fresh Begining
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Kenshin," Kaoru called as she jogged her way far away from the crowds and from the town, "Hayaku, ne! The fireworks are about to begin soon!"
People were everywhere laughing and enjoying themselves. The streets were crowded with stalls of every kind, from food, to clothing, to toys, to games... to just about anything you could imagine. The streets were lit up by hundreds of lanterns casting a bright yellow glow to the streets below. Women gossiped here and there and haggled over the salespeople for the latest fashion. Men showed their bravado with the manly games and everybody else stuffed themselves with all kinds of foods from one stall to another.
Kenshin caught up with his wife, "But where's Kenji?"
"Dada!"
Kenshin and Kaoru turned to the direction of the call and were relieved when they saw him in Misao's arms with Aoshi trailing behind them. "Here," Misao said carefully handing the toddler over to Kenshin and whispered, "He's a little afraid of Aoshi-sama." Kenshin smiled his usual smile at Misao and replied, "Domo arigato gozaimasu, Misao-dono."
The girl smiled cheerfully back at him and did an immitation of a salute, saying, "Dooitashimashite!" Kenji laughed and clapped his hands while Kaoru approached the younger girl with a warm smile and asked, "So Misao-chan, would you like to come with us and watch the fireworks? We're nearly at the center of town." Misao's eyes widened with disbelief and dumbfoundedness, "Why would you like to be at the center of town where it's overly bright and annoyingly noisy? I suggest we go some place more dark and quiet."
"Aa.." Aoshi replied as he came up behind the girl. He looked down at Misao as she turned to look up at him in surprise. He looked back at Kenshin and Kaoru and said, "I know a good place to watch the fireworks.." He placed a hand on Misao's shoulder, startling the girl even more, and said, "I'm sure Misao knows the way."
==================
"Aoshi-sama! Hayaku ne, I have a feeling it's about to start any second now!" Misao squealed in delight, sitting on the teen's shoulders as he hiked up the path to a hill.. their small, secret paradise. It was dark all around, and Aoshi didn't have much of a difficulty... After all, he was the best-trained ninja.. and the dim light of the town in the distance was helping him along the way. "Aa.." was all he said, but he also hid a smile as Misao contented herself by playing with his hair.
==================
"'Tousan, hayaku ne! It's going to start!! I know it!" Kenji said excitedly as he sat on his father's shoulders, tugging at his father's red locks.
Although it wasn't quite visible, Misao could almost feel Kenshin wince at the slight sting from all the tugging. She was amazed by the fact that this samurai, who would kill with a single swipe of his katana, was now reduced to a mere dog pet by his own son. She laughed openly at her secret thought and at Kenji's remark along with Kaoru who was behind her alongside Kenshin.
Aoshi made a sideways glance at the kimono-clad girl..-- no.. lady beside him. He wondered again if she remembered that they did the same thing years ago.. How she tugged at his hair a lot and how he often winced, yet bore it because it was her and not anyone else.
"We're here!" he heard her announce cheerfully and saw her skip through the short grass path, past a majestic sakura tree to a clear open spaced cliff overlooking the town in all its lighted wonder.
==================
"Wai!! We're finally here!" Misao clapped her tiny hands as Aoshi reached the cliff. She loved the view from where she was. It made the town look so tiny and distant.. just like a dream a person has and he's just looking at it from afar.
Aoshi lifted her off his shoulders and set her down on the grass. She was growing older everyday.. he realized as he absently sat down next to the girl, unconsciously shifting to adjust some room for Misao to sit on his lap. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close to himself.
It was then that he realized that he didn't want Misao to grow up. He wanted her to stay young.. innocent.. and free.
I will protect you, Misao... He swore to himself with more vindication as he saw her eyes light up in wonder when the first few fireworks were set off.
==================
"Waa! Kirei desu ne!" Kenji exclaimed happily as he wiggled in Kenshin's arms. Kaoru laughed and tapped her son's nose lightly mumbling something to him. Kenshin wrapped an arm around his wife and held her and his son close to himself.
Misao witnessed the scene before her as she stood beside the old sakura tree. Memories of her and Aoshi replaying through her mind's eye. She turned her head upwards to the sky lit with pretty reds, blues, yellows and greens of different designs.
"Kirei..." she mumbled to herself in wonder.. remembering all those times that Aoshi used to take her up here with him to watch the fireworks as a child. Often she remembered Hannya and the others were there. But most often it were only she and he at the cliff.. watching the magnificent display of colors light up the dark blue sky.
She felt a prescence behind her and turned her head around to see Aoshi looking out at the sky, flashes of color illuminating his face. She smiled up at him and turned back to face the sky, a small sigh escaping her lips.
"Misao, do you remember those times when I used to take you here, just the two of us?"
Misao smiled lightly, her gaze fixed upon the sky and mumbled, "Hai.. Those years were the best of my life.." She stilled when she felt his hand on her shoulder for the second time that night. She looked up at him to see that he was looking down at her. "I thought you forgot about them.." he said quietly.
"Iie, Aoshi-sama," she said softly, looking back out at the fireworks and at the family before her, "I've always treasured them deep in my heart." She felt his hand give a gentle squeeze of gratitude and relaxed when he placed his other hand on her other shoulder, pulling her back to him.
He looked down at the top of her head, noting that he had broken his promise, and his wish wasn't answered. He hadn't protected her.. he hurt her.. and because of what he had done, she was forced to grow up and take the responsibility of a person twice her age. But then again, he thought, she had grown to be a beautiful lady.. strong in spirit, mind and body.. and he was glad.
He then realized that the best years he ever lived in his 29 years of life were the years that he spent growing up with a child named Makimachi Misao. But she wasn't a child anymore.. he reminded himself. Memories are things to be treasured, not relived.. for they are old and nothing is ever the same as before.
The only thing constant in this world is change.
And that's why Aoshi was going to make fresh memories with a lady named Makimachi Misao.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
-OwaRi-
P.S.
I've posted this at my website.. http://geocities.com/nightmaster22 ...along with a few other stories.. XD This was done ages ago, actually.. *runs and hides from the angry mob of readers* x.x gomen!
Have a great day, everyone! *poofs to finishing Loneliness*
-michan
