I do not own Rurouni Kenshin.
Fragmented DreamsChapter 8
Misao awoke in her own bed the following afternoon, breathing hard and surprised. She could remember last night's event vividly and shivered, thinking of what could have happened, had Aoshi-sama not come…
She sat up and looked around the room in a slight state of shock, wondering why no one had come to wake her. Misao hugged herself, remembering even further, hearing the harsh words she has spat out to Aoshi. After a year… a whole year and all she could say were words aimed to hurt him. She began to cry, softly at first, but her sobs soon overcame her and she began to tremble, crying uncontrollably. She did not however, notice the shadow sitting outside her door…
~*~
Aoshi was aroused from his fitful sleep by Misao's harsh sobs, breaking through the stony silence of the Aoiya. Everyone had been shocked when he arrived back, carrying the sleeping Misao in his arms. They did not ask any questions, although he was sure that that was all they wanted to do. He had gently laid Misao down in her bed, sending in Okon to undress her and help her. Once she had finished she had quickly exited the room, while Aoshi had made himself comfortable on the wooden floor right outside Misao's door.
Aoshi did not know where everyone had gone to, but he was sure they were staying out of his way purposefully. He stood up, pushing himself off the ground slowly, then stretched his aching muscles from the cold night on the floor. It was evident that Misao was getting dressed, but Aoshi wanted to talk to her immediately. But the feelings of rejection and dread couldn't help but surface themselves… the cold tone she had when she looked him in the eye and refused his love. He closed his eyes, willing himself to stand his ground and talk to the woman he loved.
Minutes later, the shoji door slowly slid open. Misao sniffled and she stepped over the doorframe. Aoshi stood directly to her right, but she did not appear to see him. Misao slid the door shut and gasped when she saw Aoshi. His piercing look forced her to gaze away uncertainly—her previous courage somehow vanished.
"Misao." She looked up slightly, only to find Aoshi staring right at her. She looked away immediately and did not answer.
Aoshi frowned when she did not respond and repeated, "Misao," but this time he allowed it to sound inquisitive and slightly, ever so slightly, concerned.
She did not look up at him but softly replied, "Hai?"
"Would you like to speak with the others?" Aoshi found that his tongue was tied and he couldn't boldly say again what he had said last night.
Misao nodded. Aoshi waited for her to approach the kitchen first, walking closely, almost protectively, behind her. Misao entered the kitchen wordlessly, glancing quickly at the faces of all the Oniwaban.
"Misao-chan! Are you ok? Are you hurt? What happened?" A flood of questions came as expected, while the women hugged Misao in a tight embrace. Aoshi slipped out of the kitchen, a tight feeling in his throat making it difficult for him to breathe. He couldn't help but feel responsible, not just for the previous night, but for everything terrible that had ever happened to Misao…
He walked into Okina's garden, jumping off of the porch and eying the verdant shoots critically. Okina had made it even more beautiful—if that was possible—and the bright flowers hurt his eyes in the blazing afternoon sunlight. He felt so tired, so inexplicably tired, tired of everything that had gone wrong. The moment something had changed, he had felt suffocated and needed a way out. He ran away like a coward, leaving behind a girl to deal with it all. What kind of man am I? The question stood out in his mind brazenly, making him feel ashamed.
He wandered through the garden, gently touching some plants' leaves, brushing his fingertips against the lively, healthy flowers, blossoms that resembled someone in a way…
No matter what Aoshi thought of, his thoughts always ending up circling back to Misao, her youthful vitality, her happy face, her cheerful smile, and then to some of the not-so-childish traits… Her beautiful ebony locks, her wide eyes, her perfect figure… Aoshi paused and unknowingly closed his eyes, trying to envision the woman he constantly thought of, his Misao…
He wandered back to the porch and sat down resignedly, imagining only a cold, unfeeling man that had striking blue eyes walking away from a beautiful woman that was crying. He closed his eyes again, but this time in pain and hurt. He could not do anything and felt so helpless…
Only one word escaped his lips as he sat in the cool shade of the Aoiya. "Misao," he said softly in a pained voice, whispering her name to the wind. Aoshi suddenly sensed someone else's presence and would have sharply turned around, but someone's arms encircled him from behind, clasping their hands on his chest as they kneeled behind him, and resting their head on his shoulder. Aoshi dropped his arms to his side and froze, sitting stiffly.
"Hai, Aoshi-sama?" Misao whispered into his ear, her warm breath making the hair on his nape stand on end.
"Misao…" Aoshi said in a strangled voice, finding his throat once constricted but with a different emotion. His arms found life again as he reached up, grasping Misao's hands in his own. "I… I'm so sorry…" he choked out brokenly, suddenly feeling very vulnerable.
Misao's face was close to his ear as she said in a soft voice, "As am I." Aoshi could feel her tears slipping from her cheek to his shirt, spotting it with blotches that spread out. She sniffed and hugged Aoshi tighter, keeping him wrapped up in her embrace.
AN: Umm, how was it? Yeah, I know it sounds like the end of the story, but I dunno. I still want to write some more. I've been kinda busy due to school, but I really needed a break, so I sat down and started writing, but it was completely different than what I had planned. -_- So, I hope everyone liked this chappie and I'll try to update as soon as I can! Thanks to: Jaded Ayumi, chris37, the hitokiri battousai himura, Ice Demoness, Airen2, ThiMonkey, M.S Arashi Sumeragi, Valese, kenshin'sgrl, MiraiGurl, Nanakilover/Brukaoru, nobody, Sakura Star, Misao-The-Weasel, and BlackIce29
Please review!