Here's chappie 3!  I thought the flashbacks were becoming a bit disruptive to the flow of the story, so Misao will let it all out here.  Hope you enjoy!

Lost Love

Chapter 3

Aoshi started to boil water for tea and drew some cool water from the well so everyone would have something to drink.  As he stood watching the water, waiting for it to boil, Okon came in to gather some snacks.  "Aoshi-san, do you think this is a good idea?"

Aoshi turned to Okon, expression blank.  "What do you mean?"

Okon looked down.  "Well, everything just happened.  Misao really hasn't had time to heal yet.  Wouldn't talking about it just make her sadder?"

"No.  It's hard to explain, but talking about it helps.  Misao has been in so much pain these past couple of days, but is reluctant to show it.  Maybe if she recounts her life with Soujiro to all of us, it will alleviate some of her pain.  Also, it will help her remember the good times she had with him and instead of mourning his death she may feel like she should be thankful she was with him."

Okon nodded.  "It makes sense.  I'm just worried about her, that's all."

She picked up the tray of sweets and made her way back into the sitting room.

Aoshi put all of the beverages on his tray and sighed.  I just don't know if I can handle it.  Hearing about how great her relationship with Soujiro was is going to hurt.  I know it will.  Not only that, but I'll have to hear about how I lost her.  I'm sure of it.

As he entered the living room, he frowned at Misao.  She sat propped against the wall, chewing her bottom lip.  "Misao, are you sure you want to do this?  You don't have to."

Misao opened her closed eyes slowly.  "It's going to hurt, but if it may help, I'm all for it."  She forced a tiny smile and closed her eyes again, waiting for everyone to be settled.

Okina placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.  "We're ready when you are, Misao."

She took a few deep breaths before opening her eyes.  "Well, of course the first time I saw Sou-chan, was when he was still with Shishio.  He was getting ready to fight Himura.  We were in so much danger at the time. 

But I remember thinking how cute he was."  Misao stopped and giggled.  Her family smiled slightly at the sound.  It was less than her usual joyful ones, but it was a start.

Misao continued.  "Of course at the time, it was just a passing thought.  I was still in love with my beloved Aoshi-sama after all."  She gave a teasing smile to the stoic man and he let one eyebrow quirk slightly, the only bit of emotion he was willing to share with the others.

"But then when he came to the Aoiya, I remember being so angry that he was here.  And confused.  What would Shishio's former right hand man want at our restaurant?  Shishio was gone.  But as he got ready to leave, I saw so much loneliness and sadness in his eyes.  I had to stop him from going.  I felt so sorry for him.  Himura had told me all about how he discovered Shishio had raised Soujiro to be this puppet of sorts.  He held the strings and taught Soujiro how to dance for him.  When I asked him to stay, he looked so surprised.  And then that bright, real smile came to his face and he was beautiful.  I knew in that instant, it was the right thing to do.

"I know the next few days were tense.  All of us on guard, watching his every move.  I tried not to do it, tried to make him feel at home, but it was so hard to not be suspicious of him.  I just couldn't get the memories of the Jupongatana out of my head.  But, he was patient with us.  He moved slowly so he wouldn't startle us, took the effort to make noise so he wouldn't sneak up on anybody.  It was very sweet on his part.  I think the day I finally started to relax around him was a week into his stay. 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Soujiro sat out in the garden, sipping some water and gazing at the clouds overhead.  Misao walked out, hands clasped behind her back.  "Hey.  You look too moody.  It's a pretty day, you should be happier."

Soujiro turned and tried to smile at her, but it faltered.  "I'm sorry.  It's just that I've been burdening you guys for the past week.  I feel like I should be going, but at the same time, I don't want to wander anymore.  I want a place to stay, to call home."

Misao smiled slightly at him.  "Then stay.  Make this your home.  You haven't been a burden at all.  You've helped out in the restaurant, you've helped me improve my reflexes by training with me, you're more than welcome here, Soujiro."

Soujiro stared at the ground, contemplating his decision.  "I do like it here."  He looked up and smiled at Misao.  "If you say I won't be a

burden, then I'll stay."

Misao returned his bright smile with one of her own and skipped back toward the Aoiya.  She stopped and turned as Soujiro's voice called to her.

"Misao, I would really like to get to know you better.  Would you like to go for a walk with me later this evening?"

Misao stopped herself from gaping at him.  Is he asking me for a date?  What do I say?  I don't want to offend him, but I love Aoshi-sama!  Wait, Misao.  You're getting ahead of yourself.  He just wants to get to know me better.  He said so himself.  I don't see how it would hurt anything.

She offered him a slight smile.  "I'd love to, Soujiro.  Is after dinner okay?"

Soujiro nodded.  "After dinner it is."

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Misao looked at her family as she paused in her story.  "So much changed during that walk.  I wasn't afraid of him anymore.  He told me all about his life as a member of the Jupongatana and how he was worried about the police finding him.  Sure, he was a child that Shishio molded into what he had become, but he had still assassinated a high ranking official.  There were sure to be repercussions for that."

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Soujiro turned sad eyes to Misao as they sat near the river.  "I just want to say now, that if I do get arrested, I had fun staying with you and your family.  It was nice to have that stability, if only for a short time."

Misao smacked his arm lightly.  "Don't get all mushy on me, Seta.  Just go to the police and see if you can work a deal with them.  They gave all the other members government jobs.  Why wouldn't it be the same for you?"

The young man sighed.  "The rest of them either didn't kill anyone of importance to the government, or only killed police officers.  I know it sounds harsh to put it that way, but it's how the government thinks.  I killed Okubo!  I'm sure they wouldn't let that go so lightly.  I was Shishio's right hand man.  They're sure to make an example of me."

Misao furrowed her eyebrows and began to speak, almost to herself.  "Maybe not."  She raised her gaze from the ground to look at him.  "Jiya has the ear of the officials here and I'm sure Himura has friends in high

places.  Perhaps they could help out and talk them into giving you a job instead of sentencing you."

Soujiro began to think about it.  "It's only a maybe, but that's certainly better than hiding and worrying.  I'll go as soon as you send word to Himura."

Misao smiled brightly and nodded her head.  "It's settled then."

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

She smiled in remembrance.  "He was so happy the day Saitou showed up on our doorstep offering him a job.  I was less than pleased and told him he'd have his hands full working with Mibu's Wolf, but he was just happy he wasn't going to be executed."  Misao scowled slightly.  "Of course, sometimes I think I'd rather be executed than work with Hajime Saitou."

Aoshi held back his snort.  The old Misao is still in there.  We just have to lure her out.

"Things started to change drastically over the next few weeks."

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Misao waved as Soujiro left for work.  "You have money for lunch, right?"

Soujiro rolled his eyes at Misao as he looked over his shoulder at her.  "Yes, dear.  I have money."

Misao blushed at his teasing.  "I was just making sure, Soujiro!  Don't be a jerk!"

She stormed back into the Aoiya and huffed as she made breakfast for the rest of the occupants.  She had begun to rise earlier than the others, getting up at the same time as Soujiro.  She told him it was so she could make breakfast for everyone else, but in all honesty, she wanted to make sure Soujiro got off to work well fed.  The swordsman had a bad habit of neglecting his own stomach.

Aoshi entered the kitchen and sat at the table, a stiff nod as his greeting.  Misao brought over his rice and tea.  "Your usual, sir."  She gave him a playful smile and made her way back to the counter to get his soup.  As she set it down in front of him, he spoke to her. 

"You've been up early these past two weeks."  He took a sip of soup and

raised one eyebrow.  "Especially on days Soujiro goes to work."

Misao coughed uncomfortably.  "He doesn't eat properly if he gets up alone.  Plus, it's always nice to have someone see you off in the morning."

 Misao didn't realize Okon was in the kitchen until she heard her gasp.  "Misao!  Do you have a crush on Soujiro?!"

Misao turned to Okon with wide eyes and mouth gaping.  "No!  Of course not!  I just worry about him, that's all."

Okon smirked and let it go.  "If you say so, Misao."

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Misao and Soujiro took walks together, prepared meals together, stayed up late talking together.  They were nearly inseparable. 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Misao smiled at her family.  "Do you know how difficult it is to be in love with two people?"

Aoshi steeled himself.  Here it goes.  Time to find out how I lost her.

"I still loved Aoshi, undoubtedly.  But, Soujiro returned my affections and Aoshi didn't.  That makes a huge difference.  Of course, I didn't realize how I felt about Soujiro until he'd been here for seven months.  Being together all that time brought us close to each other.  I knew he was important to me, but I didn't know how important until he was offered a position in Tokyo."

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Soujiro trudged home with a heavy burden.  He saw Misao sweeping the walkway and smiled slightly at her. 

Misao paused in her sweeping to tease the young man.  "What?  No big smile?  I only get a little one?"

Soujiro took Misao gently by the hand and led her to the bench in the Aoiya's garden.  "Misao, I need to discuss something with you.  I know we're best friends and that's why I want your opinion."

Misao waited patiently.  "Go ahead, Sou-chan.  You can tell me anything."

Soujiro took a deep breath.  "Well, today I was offered a promotion at work."

Misao opened her mouth to congratulate him, but he put a finger on her mouth.  "If I accept, I'll have to go to Tokyo."

Misao nodded.  "For how long?"

"It's not for training, Misao.  I would move there permanently."

Misao chewed her bottom lip.  She didn't want him to go, but who was she to stop him.  "Well, it's your call.  You're the one who would be affected by this."

Soujiro blinked at her.  "You have no feelings on this?"

Misao looked him in the eye.  She knew she had to tell him to go.  It was for his own benefit.  That promotion would be great for him.  She couldn't hold him back selfishly.  "I think you should go."

Soujiro let out a half-chuckle that held no humor.  "So, that's how you feel."

Misao was getting confused.  She looked expectantly at Soujiro for an explanation.  "Did I say something wrong?"

"No, not at all.  Just forget it."  Soujiro rose to go inside.

"No, wait!  What did you mean by that?!"  Misao's temper rose at Soujiro's obvious anger at her.

"You don't care if I leave!  I'm in love with you and you're so busy fawning over a man that doesn't notice you to see what's right in front of you!"  Soujiro continued into the house, leaving Misao in stunned silence.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

"It was then it hit me.  I really had been blind to everything but Aoshi-sama.  Soujiro was always attentive and wonderful and there for me.  And I was always too busy worrying about Aoshi to return the favor to Sou-chan, but he never held it against me.

"I thought about it all night.  Did I love Soujiro in return?  I was fond of him, yes.  But was it love?  And then I wondered how life would be without him around and I couldn't bear the thought of it.  When he woke up the next morning, I confronted him."

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Soujiro padded into the kitchen softly.  "Good morning, Misao."

Misao blushed lightly and brought his breakfast over to him.  She sat next to him while he ate.  "I thought about what you said last night."

Soujiro put down his chopsticks and looked at her.  "And?"

"I don't want you to go.  I started to wonder if I felt about you, the way you said you felt about me.  The thought of living without you, is like living without air.  I couldn't do it.  I think I'm in love with you, too."

Soujiro began to smile, but kept from doing so.  "What about Aoshi?"

Misao sighed.  "I can't lie to you.  I still love Aoshi.  But, it's different from how I feel for you.  It's a deep-rooted fondness.  A family love, I guess.  For you, it's this all-consuming emotion that was confusing me, so I ignored it and focused on Aoshi.  I'm sorry.  It was just scary to stop believing what I had believed for so long."

Soujiro smiled at her.  "So you love me and not Aoshi?"

Misao cocked her head to the side.  "I just said I love him too."

Soujiro shook his head.  "I mean in the woman loves a man way."

Misao smiled slowly as she nodded.  Soujiro bolted up from the table and grabbed Misao in a hug, spinning her around the kitchen as they giggled together.  He set her down and kissed her hand as he grew serious.  "I promise you, I'll sweep you off your feet and you'll forget any romantic feelings for Aoshi!"

Misao giggled.  "You sure about that?"

"I'll court you and we'll have the best time and I'll be a perfect gentleman!  You'll see!"  He waved as he ran out the door for work.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Misao sighed as she paused in her story.  "It sounds corny when I tell the story, but it was so wonderful when it was happening.  It was like everything became clear in one amazing moment."  She stood up to stretch.  "I think I need a break.  My back's starting to hurt from all this sitting."

Aoshi stood up as well.  "Want to continue after lunch?"

Misao looked up to answer him and saw sadness in his eyes.  "Aoshi, don't feel bad about pushing me away back then.  If you hadn't, who knows where we'd all be right now?  Everything happens for a reason.  Despite how I hurt back then, you made up for it after I married Soujiro.  You were and still are my best friend, and that makes you infinitely precious to me."  She squeezed his hand and he answered with a squeeze of his own.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^

A/N: Sorry about not updating for so long!  For some reason, I couldn't log on to ff.net.  Anyway, Misao continues her story next chapter.  This one was getting too long.  Hope you enjoyed and please leave a review!  Hugs & Kisses!