Why do I hurt so much…? Misao awoke the next morning feeling rather stiff and sore. She felt as if she'd been run over by a train. What happened last night? Groaning, she pushed herself up into a sitting position. Her mind was like a thick fog; everything was jumbled together.

Then her gaze came to rest on the figure sleeping in the corner. Aoshi-sama…Had he slept sitting there all night? Was he really that worried? A light smile crossed her face. Everything will be okay…She climbed slowly out of bed and padded barefoot over to where he slept. Sinking down beside him, she rested her head on his shoulder.

"You've been putting yourself through hell over me, haven't you?" She said softly to the slumbering man, "You were so jealous. I saw the way you looked at him when he was around. You wished it was you I was with. You can deny it all you want, but…You can't fight that feeling any more, yet you're still afraid. I don't know why you're so scared." She brushed his hair back from his face, "I love you. I always have and I always will. So don't be scared."

Content to just sit there beside her beloved, she snuggled up against him, her long hair falling around the both of them. It was like this that she fell asleep, clutching his arm.

Aoshi awoke a little while later to find Misao asleep behind him, her breathing deep and even, a small smile played across her face. He smiled. She seems to be okay…I'm so relieved. He pulled back a lock of her hair, studying her face. She still looks so much like a child…I hope I'm not making a big mistake. But I guess it's too late for that…I do love her so.

Her eyes blinked open and he felt a rush of emotions for her. She looked so innocent and childlike. For a moment, a perplexed look crossed her face, then she smiled. "Aoshi-sama…" She hugged him, "Thank you."

He hugged her back, burying his face in her hair. "I was afraid I had lost you before you were even mine." He mumbled, "I was so afraid…"

She looked up, her eyes shinning with happiness. "I love you and I'm not going anywhere. I'm sorry I made you worry so much. I was angry with you on my birthday. You didn't even say anything to me at all and I was hurt. I wanted to make you jealous and I didn't know it would get so out of hand." She frowned, looking away, "It's my fault and I'm sorry."

"Hey," He gently turned her face back to his, "It's not your fault."

Her eyes met his and she stared at him, her heart pounding within her chest. Is he going to…? She swallowed. This is it. This is what I've been waiting for all these years.

"I…" He paused for a moment, "I didn't say anything to you on your birthday because I didn't know what to say. There was so much I wanted to tell you, but I didn't know how to do it. I'm still not sure what to say to you, so I suppose the best way to go would be to give you this."

He pulled the small birthday gift from his pocket and handed it to her. She held it in both hands, looking silently from the box to him. "Is this…?" Her voice wavered. The size of it, the shape of the package…It had to be…

A shaky smile crossed his face. "Open it." He was a nervous wreck as she looked at him a moment longer, then began to peel back the wrapping. Suppose she didn't like it? Suppose she didn't want it?? He didn't know what he would do then.

Her fingers trembled as she slid off the ribbon and tore away the brown paper. He couldn't have…Could he? He hasn't even ever told me he loves me, so why would he…? Thoughts rushed through her mind, heaping together and all joining to form the same conclusion: There's nothing else it can be.

After what seemed like an eternity, she lifted the lid from the box. What was inside…Her eyes filled with tears and she drew in a breath. "Oh, Aoshi…" She whispered. In all of her hopes and all of her dreams, she never would have expected this.

He wanted to marry her.

Inside the box, nestled in layers of tissue paper, was a ring. Not just any ring though; it could have been made just for her. A small sapphire set in a narrow silver band. Inscribed on the band "eien ni." Eternally. She lifted it gingerly from the wrappings and turned it over in her hand. Then she looked up at him.

"Do…do you like it?" He sounded almost sick with worry. She hadn't said anything. Was she pleased?

She stared at him a moment longer, her cerulean eyes wide in disbelief. Then she tackled him in a hug. "I love it!

Recovering from the force of her embrace, he smiled, feeling very relieved and happy. "I thought you might." Then his tone grew serious once more, "I was going to give it to you on your birthday. I wanted to apologize to you for everything I've put you through. I wanted to tell you I was proud of you. That I love you and would be honored to have you as my wife. I was going to ask you to marry me." He paused, "But then he showed up and did all those things that I couldn't and you didn't tell him that you didn't want him. I was angry. I was hurt. I lost my nerve. I should have told you everything then. I argued with you instead. I'm sorry."

She listened to all of this and her heart went out to him. He had never before seemed so vulnerable to her, never let his deepest feelings show. "I forgive you." She said softly, "I forgive you for everything if you forgive me."

"I forgive you." He smiled, smoothing back her hair. Their foreheads rested together and his ice blue eyes stared into hers. "I love you, Misao. I have loved you for the past two years. I was a coward that I couldn't tell you. Will you marry me?"

"Of course I will!" She laughed, "Was there ever any doubt in your mind? I've only loved you my whole life. You're the only man I could ever love. You are my heart's desire."

Her smile was so wonderful, her innocence so beautiful. He pulled her close to him, drawing her pretty face up to his. "Your heart's desire, am I?" He asked quietly. His mouth closed over hers; he kissed her softly, smoothly, passionately. Her lips had a wonderful honey taste. He never had imagined anything could be so terribly pleasing as kissing her.

As he drew back, she leaned in, deepening the kiss. She had been waiting all those years for him and, now that she had him, wasn't about to let him off so easily. His eyes widened in surprise. Where had she learned to kiss like that? He was her first and he knew it. So where had she…? Oh, who the hell cared? It didn't matter. She was practically in his lap, her arms around his neck and she was kissing him. Why was he wondering about something so stupid?

"I want to be with you for the rest of my life." She broke the kiss and drew back slightly, still gazing into his eyes, "I never want you to leave me again. Promise you won't ever go."

"Misao," He caressed her cheek with the back of his hand, "I don't think I can make that promise. Don't look at me like that." She was frowning slightly, her whole face had melted into a pout, "I don't want to make a promise that I can't keep. There will be times that I will have to leave you." He paused, a slow smile spreading across his face, "But I'll always come back to you. I love you."

She grinned, enjoying his touch. "You had better."

"I will." He drew her back up, kissing her again, "When I marry you, I'll make a promise to never abandon you." His lips roamed down towards her neck and she moaned with pleasure, "I'll promise you, and I am a man of my word."

"Oh, Aoshi…" She didn't know what else to say. He was so terribly romantic. "I love you so much…" She ran her fingers through his hair, pushing it from his cold eyes. "I was afraid last night. I was afraid of the things I imagined he would do to me. But now, I imagine myself doing the same things with you." She blushed furiously and he couldn't help but laugh.

"Maybe later on, Itachi. I want to make sure you're okay before I do anything like that with you." He kissed her cheek, marveling at how innocent she was. He wished to delay the inevitable, but knew it was only a matter of time. She had wanted him for most of her young life and he had come to covet her in the same way over the past two years. Now that the time had come, he didn't want to spoil her. He enjoyed her innocence so much.

"Oh, but Aoshi," She pouted seductively, "I want you now…"

He felt his throat constrict. He was burning for her. She still wore nothing but that gray silk and her hair tumbled around her shoulders, her cheeks slightly rosy. She was a picture of purity there in his arms and she was asking him to defile her. He swallowed, mulling over what to do. I really should wait…at least until our engagement is formal…But I can't…Oh, why is this so difficult?? You know why…Because you love her. You don't want her to ever suffer again…You don't want her to hurt. To hell with that!!

"I'll be gentle." He promised softly, easing her down among the bedding, "I won't hurt you. I swear on my life, I will never hurt you."

She simply nodded, her eyes wide with awe as he slid his shirt off. Her heart pounded wildly at the sight of his bare chest, battle scars and all. Battered and broken, he was beautiful to her. Her small fingers explored his chest as he kissed her, slid back the yukata to reveal her pale skin.

Her fingers tracing the path of his scar caused him to shiver. Chills ran up his spine and he could contain himself no longer. He kissed her desperately, an act which left them both breathless. It took him a moment to realize she was as frantic for him as he was for her. She was pulling him closer to him and he was afraid he would crush her, she was so tiny.

"I have climbed the highest mountains," She whispered, "I have run through the fields, only to be with you." She kissed him as she spoke, "I would chase you to the ends of the earth and beyond. I ask you now for one thing: all of your love."

"And I give it willingly to you." His mouth was by her ear and he kissed her hair, "I love you. You've been so good for my heart. You make me feel things I've never before felt, My Itachi. I love you; ai shiteru…"

"I love you too…I always have love-" Her voice caught in her throat and she gasped as they became one.

He looked down and his ice blue eyes met hers. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. There was no need for her to speak; her eyes said it all. He frowned slightly, drawing back from her. "I didn't…I didn't hurt you, did I, Itachi?"

She shook her head, a smile crossing her face. "No…You could never hurt me. You were wonderful; the way I always imagined." She sounded immensely pleased with herself. She stroked his cheek, still gazing into his eyes.

"You were wonderful too." He kissed her, then lay there with her snuggled in his arms. "You're an incredible woman. I love you so much."

She twisted around in his arms, her head rested on his bare chest. A cheerful smile played across her face and she placed her hand under her chin. "Thank you."

"For what?" He propped himself up to look her in the eye.

"For a wonderful birthday gift." She kissed him, "And I don't mean the ring. You gave me your heart and soul. I'll have to think of something just as wonderful to give you."

He smiled, brushing back her hair. "What could I possibly want that I don't already have, Itachi?"

"I'll think of something." She teased, kissing him again. Everything he said to her made her extremely happy. How dare he be so wonderful?

***

This chapter is sort of weak by my standards. Usually I write the best mush and fluff and limey stuff. Maybe I'm just burned out or maybe it's because I was trying to keep this PG, but it could have been a lot better.

I do have a good idea for an epilogue and a guest appearance by another RK character (try to guess who --And it's not Kenshin! Although he lives in my dorm…), so stay tune for the conclusion!!

Thank you all for your reviews. I waited until I hit 100 to post this chapter. I love you all.

-SC