THE REAL AOSHI AND MISAO STORY
Chapter Two
Exactly eight years later, I remember seeing a beautiful woman enter the Aoiya. I was upstairs but I could see her from my window.
I remember the beautiful purple kimono she wore and the green obi tied around her waist. But who was this mystery woman? I kept having a feeling that I knew her from somewhere but I couldn't quite remember.
At the risk of seeming too eager I decided to stay put in my room. I'm sure that Okina would call me down if he needed anything.
The former okashira retired and settled in the location only known to Okina and myself. It's not like I asked to be the okashira, but I didn't turn away the offer either. It was destiny I suppose.
I tried to keep my mind occupied with my reading but I realized that I really wanted to see who that woman was. So my curiosity got the best of me. I went to the back room of the restaurant. This was the private entertaining area of the whole establishment.
"Aoshi." I knew that Okina had spotted me right away. "Come on in and join us. I was just speaking to our guest." I furrowed my brow and pretended to not know, "Guest?" He nodded, "Yes our guest. Please come in." I stepped into the room and saw who was sitting next to him.
It was her.
The girl that I saw enter the Aoiya earlier. I wasn't sure what to do next. Something in the back of my mind kept telling me that this girl was very important but I wasn't quite sure how or why. Okina gestured for me to sit down. I sat down and tried to look at the girl once more but she turned away blushing slightly. I had to admit that she was a very beautiful woman with that pretty tint on her cheeks. I saw Okina smile in the corner of my eye.
"As I was saying to Misao, it's about time that you and her got married already." Misao blushed deeper this time. I remained calm. So it was her, the woman that I was promised to. I mean sure she was beautiful but I didn't know anything about her, except for that time that I met her eight years ago.
I remember that day quite clearly. She taught me to be young again.
Misao looked at me and spoke, "Aoshi…sama I've just turned sixteen, I'm ready to be married to you. That's if you don't want to marry me then I …" Okina cut her off, "No, Aoshi would be pleased to marry such a fine lady such as yourself. Right Aoshi?"
It's not like I would have much of a choice. But I think secretly I wanted this to happen, maybe I won't be alone anymore. I could share my life with someone that I don't love. But I am confident that I'll learn to care for her.
"Right. Tomorrow we shall get married. Okina please have Okon and Omasu assist Misao in anyway that she needs." With that said I left the room. I knew that I was probably being rude to my future wife but she must understand that I'm a ninja and I don't take well to company. I went back to the room and sat at the window watching the sunset.
I wonder what they are doing now. There isn't a day I haven't thought about them. It's all my fault I shouldn't have left them alone. But they left me. Perhaps they have died? No, I couldn't live with myself if they did. But I'm the one to blame. Why did I stay? I stayed because they left me behind. They always joked about it saying that I have a little wife to return to and that I couldn't die in battle, they would always say that making a woman wait was a sin. But leaving your comrades when they need you is a sin. I suppose duty calls and I can't be a ninja first this time, this time I have to be an honorable man.
During my musing I heard a slight tap on the floor. "Come in." I turned around and say her, "Misao what is it?" She smiled slightly and blushed looking away. "Uhh…I was just wondering if you wanted to take a walk to get more tofu. I mean Okon has asked me to get more and…" I cut her off, yeah I know it was rude but she tends to run on. "Ok Misao. Let's go." She snapped her fingers and said, "YOSH!"
I heard her footsteps run down the hall. I guess I would wait outside for her.
She slide open the front door and walked towards me. I noticed that she wasn't carrying a bucket but I guess that didn't bother me that much. This must be an excuse to talk to me before the wedding. It is a bit sudden… I remained silent.
"Aoshi-sama, I was wondering do you ummm…" I stopped walking and looked directly at her. She was nervous and blushed again. "Just say it." I said roughly. She straightened herself up and spoke up again, "Do you really really want to marry me?" I was shocked and kept on walking, leaving her behind. She ran up to me, stopped me by blocking my path, "Misao, I promised to marry you eight years ago. I didn't change my mind then and I'm not going to change my mind now."
Besides it's not like I have a choice anyway.
Misao looked relieved, "Ok I understand." We both kept on walking. I noticed that she was really small compared to me. She stood up to my chest only. I looked at her through the corner of my eye. Misao looked pretty bored.
I guess in many ways she's like that eight year old little girl that I met years ago. I didn't know what to say. But at the same time I felt that I need to say something to her. How bout, 'You don't have to marry me if you don't want to.' No, that's no good, she doesn't have a choice at this either. How about, 'Why didn't you bring a bucket for the tofu?' No, that would be rude to say anything about that. Well then I was stumped, I didn't know what to say. This wasn't like me to start conversation. Hmph. Forget it then.
We walked alone the market in silence and when we reached the tofu shop. She stopped dead in her tracks, "Oh no I forgot to bring the bucket. Ahhh stupid stupid!" She hit her head a few times. I didn't know why she making a big deal out of this. I mean it was only tofu. Women sure do act strange…
She spoke again, "How am I going to be a good wife if I can't even remember to bring that damn bucket!" I think that remark was to herself so I pretended not to hear it. "Misao…" I took her by the shoulder to get her attention, I looked straight into her eyes. "Everything is going to be all right. Now let's get back ok?" She nodded. I let her go and then started to walk towards the Aoiya.
She was behind me. I looked back but only to find that she was right next to me. Usually when I walk with someone I always tend to leave them behind but not her. She kept up, oh that wasn't important now.
TBC
M.LEE