I don't own Rurouni Kenshin.
Fragmented Dreams
Chapter 6
Misao stumbled away from a shocked Aoshi, the hurt evident in both their eyes. Misao ran as hard as she could, pulling her kimono up at the same time. She ran from the street, from her problems, and from him. She couldn't take anymore of this. She ran all the way to the rows of sakura trees and fell to her knees in the soft grass, sobbing. The night sky was moonless and stars twinkled above in countless shapes and patterns as Misao's uncontrollable cries rang out in the deafening silence.
~*~
Aoshi stood rooted to his spot where he had spoken with Misao. He could barely think and his mind was in chaos. 'What just happened…?' he thought. 'I…I have been away too long. Too far from my Misao…'
He shook his head as if ridding himself of these thoughts and strode quickly into the general direction of Misao, which was also the direction of the Aoiya. The initial shock and hurt of rejection had never occurred to him and… he did not know it would hurt this much…
He didn't know where else Misao would have run off to, so he walked straight into the Aoiya.
~*~
Kuro and Shiro were helping Okina in the entrance room after they had kicked out the brown-haired man that had come earlier. Aoshi burst into the restaurant, quickly grabbing the attention of all three men.
"Okina," Aoshi said, "Where is Misao?" Aoshi's austere expression was enough to silence anyone and Kuro and Shiro could only stare wide-eyed at the frigid gleam in Aoshi's eyes as he interrogated the elder man. Okina had always found Aoshi laconic attitude unnerving, but didn't show it. His straightforward question was no exception either.
"A-Aoshi-san?" Kuro said, stuttering, amazed at Aoshi's sudden appearance in the Aoiya after over a year. Aoshi paid no heed to him as he looked directly at Okina.
"Misao is not here. She left a few minutes ago." Okina returned the ex-okashira's gaze and replied shortly in a clear voice, his face impassive and stony. Kuro and Shiro continued to stare, the rudeness forgotten and their mouths hanging open.
Without a word Aoshi exited the Aoiya as Okon and Omasu entered the room, unsure if their eyes betrayed them.
~*~
Misao slowly arose from her torpor, exhausted from crying and running and dazed and confused at where she was. After a few minutes, she collected herself and frowned. Aoshi had come back… Misao sat up and looked around until her eyes had adjusted to the darkness and realized that she was in the sakura grove.
Misao laid back down on the long, damp grass and hugged herself. It was summer, but she felt cold all of a sudden. The trees seemed to loom over her and the pitch-black sky was unwelcoming to her intrusion. She began to cry again, sniffing at first but soon the sobs wracked her body. She trembled and hugged herself harder, wishing for her Aoshi-sama to comfort her like he used to…
~*~
As Aoshi walked briskly away from the Aoiya, he tried to make sense of the turmoil within him. 'Where could she be this late?' Aoshi thought, getting distraught but not showing it. He began walking faster unconsciously; looking down every street he walked by, not realizing where he was going. He reached the end of the main street he was walking down and came out to a grassy meadow he knew so well.
~*~
Misao had fallen asleep again. She woke abruptly and sat up. She felt calmer than she had been feeling, but felt she could soon be on the edge of hysterics. She breathed slowly, trying to meditate, but failed horribly. She felt so much remorse and regret – she couldn't forget his shocked face when she slapped his hand away. Misao looked around again at the flowerless trees and laid back down, not wanting to go back to the Aoiya. She knew that everyone would worry, but she couldn't bring herself to leave. She sighed and shut her eyes, feeling another deluge of tears coming.
~*~
Aoshi laid on a soft incline in the grass, staring at the sky. In the depths of his heart, he could feel a great loneliness settle in… a loneliness that could only be remedied by the one he loved. 'I never should have left… I should have stayed…' he thought bitterly and sadly. He closed his eyes and softly whispered, "I'm sorry… Misao-hime…"
~*~
Misao slept a dreamless sleep as three pairs of eyes gleamed at her evilly, lurking threateningly in the gloom.
A/N: Ok… that was short. Oh wait… that first thing I said should have been "Ooo, cliffhanger!" Hehe, sorry (again!), but I don't think my chapters will get longer anytime soon. -_- Sorry for the switching around and stuff and taking a while to update as well… But anyway, wow! My reviewers are all so great! I got some encouraging reviews and I want to thank everyone… even though some of the reviews weren't for that latest chapter, thanks! OK, so here goes… thanks to Panda, Sweet-Innocence, Deathblade, chris, white cherry blossom, MiraiGirl (several times=), Mohaki, nae-chan, Anime-Angel-Goddess, Queen of Shadows, Nanakilover/Brukaoru (why thank you for putting my story on your favorite stories list!), and Jamyz. You all gave me such nice reviews… thanks very much!