Hey everyonez~!! So sorry that i didn't update durin the weekend... itz just cuz... i dunno... I HAV A LIFE~!! don't take it as an offence.... well anywayz... herez chapter four to "Bittersweet Romance". Hopez u likez it~!! It'z when Misao comes back stronger and colder to the Aoiya... Buh first~!! To introduce this new gurl?? We'll see who it is~!! Heehe...

Oo... Thanx foh all the reviewz~!! I'm soo happi~!! ^-^

One more thing to say... I wrote this chapter while listenin to "Goodbye to You".... It fits PERFECTLY~!! HOw?!?? It just does!!! It's so strange....

Disclaimer: Don't own Rurouni Kenshin.... *more tearz*

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Chapter Four: Return Home

= = At the Aoiya = =

Aoshi's POV

'As usual, I was meditating in the temple. I have decided to only meditate once week in this temple because it would be what Misao wanted. I am the new Okashira and I plan on expanding the Aoiya and many more things. But no matter how hard I try, I just cannot forget my Misao. If only she knew how much I loved her, than maybe she would not have left.... It was all my fault! How could she leave me? It has been almost two years, and I have realized that no one in the Aoiya have ever been the same. They all try to conceal it, but I can feel it... How can they put on fake smilez? Or even bear too when the angel who always puts smiles on everyone was Misao... Misao... Mi...'

Normal POV

"AOSHI-sama!! Good morning Aoshi-sama"

'Damn! Why is she always interrupting my thoughts....' Aoshi thought.

"Ohayo Hikaru." (A/N : Ahh... the new gurl... What a ______!! Trying to take Aoshi away from Misao!! That's wrong!!)

"Hikaru?"

"Yes Aoshi-sama?" she replied lifting her head up from pouring the tea.

"Can you please not call me that?"

"What? Why not? Are you not our Okashira?"

'Did she just say OUR?????' (A/N: Oo!! Aoshi's getting mad!)

"Forget it..." '*sigh*, I give up with Hikaru. No matter how much I tell her not to call me that, the same thing that Misao called me, she is not listening even a little bit.

"Aoshi-sama?"

"Yes Hikaru?" while trying to keep his mouth shut.

"Well, I was just wondering, I just wanted to umm.... Do this" and she quickly gave a hug to Aoshi.

"Thank you for letting me stay here."

"Ahhh.... no problem Hikaru." returning the hug lightly. (A/N: What the!?!?!? AOSHI!!! Sorry for making him so, different!! )

"Can you let go of me now?"

Unknown to Aoshi or Hikaru, Misao had just come back from her journey and had saw the whole hug. Misao realized that Hikaru was fairly pretty. She had long brown hair in two ponytails on the side. (A/N: Just imagine Suzume's hair but much longer.) And her eyes were beautiful hazelnut colored. She probably was just maybe a year younger than Misao but she was pretty tall, almost the same height as Misao but a little taller. Like, a centimeter taller. And her body was almost done developing.

'Is this Aoshi-sama's new girlfriend? I doubt it. Just look at Aoshi's response. Nope. She's not his girlfriend. Which means, I still have a chance with Aoshi-sama. *sigh* Just what happened while I was gone?' Misao questioned herself. 'Maybe I should just sneak in and everyone will be so surprised at me. At how I have grown and even how I have become so serious. That even I have hardly noticed. This will show to Aoshi-sama that I am not a little girl, and I think I'm going to use a different tactic to get him. Instead of making me go to him, why not play cold and him come to me?'

But just as she finished talking to herself, she heard a huge scream coming from the Aoiya! More like a very happy scream.

"MISAO!!! Oo!! Misao!!!" cried Okina.

"ehhhh...."

"Misao!! Your home again!!" cried everyone at the Aoiya at the same time.

'Did I just hear that Misao is home?' asked Aoshi as he quickly searched through the few trees. 'Ahhh... she is home!' as he cracked a small smile. He quickly raised from his position and went over to where Misao was.

'Damn.. just as I was getting closer to Aoshi-sama, that stupid girl has to show up again.' Hikaru thought to herself.

"Jiya! Can't breath!"

"O Misao, I am so happy that you are home." said Omasu.

"I'm glad to be home..." Misao said giving off a little smirk.

And that's when Aoshi realized that she had changed. Not once has she seen Misao smile like she used too. She now was more feminine. Much more, now stood, a women, not the childish little girl who was always smiling. Now, she hardly smiled.

"Okon? If you do not mind, could you kindly run a bath for me. I feel quite dirty."

"Yes, Misao. Of course!"

"Thank you" Misao replied in the same level of tone.

"Leave her alone old man!" as Okina kept holding Misao, like she would once more leave.

As Misao started to walk to the bathhouse, she quickly caught Aoshi's eyes. They stared into each other's eyes for a few seconds. And as soon as it started, it ended.

'What has happened to Misao? It seems as if she has turned into somebody else.'

Misao went into her room and closed the shoji.

'Good, everything is still in place' as she scanned her room.

Misao went to her bag and unpacked. As she opened her bag, she saw a small paper bag fall out.

"Huh? What is this?"

As Misao opened the bag, a little golden star necklace fell out.

"Whoa, this is really beautiful. As she touched the little star."

She looked into the bag and saw that they're was a note.

Dear Misao,
I thought that you would like this little necklace to wear. It was once with another pair of star on the same chain, but I took that star out and gave you the chain with only one star, so that you may remember. I will wear the other star and so, we will always be reminded of each other. This necklace is a special kind of gold, so becareeful with it. It will not rust or scratch, but the necklace itself is still very important. Take care Misao.

Love,
Li Akira

"Thank you Akira-san. I promise to wear it all the time." as Misao quickly put the necklace on.

"Misao?" asked Omasu. "Your bath is ready."

"Thank you Omasu."

"That is a beautiful necklace. Who gave it to you?"

"An old friend." she answered smiply.

"Well... will we be seeing you at dinner?"

"I don't quite think I would like to join everyone yet. Would you mind to bring a plate to my room?"

"O, okay then." a little surprised.

"Thank you. Now, I will go and take that bath now."

Misao quickly got up from the floor and went to take a bath. She brought with her one of those training kimono's that was very loose that we saw with Li Akira the first time. Misao had gotten use to wearing them and they looked pretty while you could still move freely like wearing her ninja outfit. Akira-san had gotten them for Misao while a little shopping spree. She thought that Misao needed to get used to it.

Remenicing, Misao went to take a bath.

"*sigh* Akira-san, we sure had great memories" smiling a little bit at them.

.:Flashback:.

"Good Misao, now make sure you do it faster! Perfect Misao!"

"Thank you Akira-san."

"Misao, I think that by the end of this week, you will be ready to go back to the Aoiya."

"Wh..at..." Misao stuttered a little.

"It has been almost two years, and as I have promised, you have mastered the Hino Katana Style Ryuu. I am proud of you."

"Thank you sensei."

"Now, let's make this last few days count. Shall we?"

"Hai!"

.:End of Flashback:.

"Sensei, thank you."

Misao got up and dry herself off. She put on the training kimono and decided to train a little before eating. And so, she went outside to play with the targets. Misao quickly took out kunai's and shot them at the target. All six hit the target.

Aoshi had just been passing by and he saw Misao and how quickly her skills have imporved greatly. He decided to stay and leaned on the door. While Misao took back the kunai's. And of course, she saw Aoshi, and decided to show Aoshi how well she has improved. And so, she took up all six kunai's, but threw five at the target and the sixth one went right next to Aoshi's head.

"Well well well, what are you doing here Aoshi-sama?"

"How have you become so good with the kunai's?"

"My sensei taught me." As she went closer to Aoshi.

"What else have you learned Misao?"

"What interest has it to do with you?" as Misao went to take back the kunai next to Aoshi's head.

"Nothing really. I would just like to know."

"Well... care to spar with me?"

"Fine."

"Alright, than let us use our real swords." and with that, Misao revealed her katana.

"Where did you get that?"

"I had to train with something? Didn't I?"

"Yes, I suppose. This should be fun." taking out his kodachi's.

"I suppose." Misao said smirking a little.

With that, Misao and Aoshi started to fight. Whenever Misao hit, Aoshi blocked, and viceversa. Both suddenly sensing another ki, they both noticed that Hikaru was watching the whole fight, but decided to keep going with the fight. Yet, Misao still have used her trade move with the katana. And decided against it. Both of the fighters knew that they could never hurt the other seriously but still kept going.

All of a sudden, Hikaru screamed out "whoa Aoshi! That is so great! Can you please teach me how to fight with kodachi's?"

But the two fighters kept ignoring her comment. Hikaru really didn't like Misao fighting with Aoshi because then, Aoshi would notice how much he really missed Misao and thus, spending more time with Misao rather than her. And so, Hikaru suddenly thought of something.

She lept into the fight and stared at Aoshi, and that's when the whole fight stop.

"Aoshi-sama!! Please teach me how to use the kodachi?"

"Well now Aoshi, I must admit that that was a nice fight. Too bad that this girl had to interrupt us. Well, maybe next time, we won't have any interruptions. I think I'm going to go in and eat some of my dinner. Sayanora."

And with that said, Misao retreated to her room.

"Hikaru! What did you do that for?"

"What?"

"Why did you disturb our fight?"

"Oo, I'm sorry. I just wanted you to teach me how to use the kodachi blades. Will you?"

Aoshi didn't answer that. He just walked away back into the Aoiya leaving Hikaru to stand by herself.

"Don't worry Aoshi-sama. I will succeed in beating Misao for you love." Hikaru said with a glint of mischevious in her eyes.

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Well!! Done with Chapter Four.... That took me a long time!! *Phew* Well, next time, we'll see how Hikaru is going to carry out her plan to win Aoshi's heart, by making Misao jealous. But Misao has a little plan of her own. And whats Aoshi's plan to win back Misao's heart? Or to break down the icy wall that Misao has created for herself?

This, and much more in the next chapter!! Or maybe I'll change a little of it!! Hehehehe.... Being the author rockz!!! I get to do anything I want with the characterz!! ^-^

Well.... thanx again for the people who gave me reviews for the previous chapters. I hope everyone likes this chapter!! R/R and I'll be so happy!! ^-^