A/N: Here we are, that long anticipated chapter 8. Only a few more chapters to go folks, so get prepared for the plot to start getting juicy. Oh, so everyone knows, my other Aoshi/Misao fic that I've been co-writing with Jazz the Wolf Demon--entitled Safer on the Outside--has it's first chapter up. I hope you guys would consider giving it a read. I want to thank everyone who has reviewed for this story, I'm really happy that everyone likes it!

Disclaimer: No, *sigh* I don't own Rurouni Kenshin or anything remotely as cool as Aoshi or Misao. I don't own anything by The Who either, just so you know.

Riffs and Canvas

Chapter 8: Behind Blue Eyes

Aoshi woke up first the next morning. Normally a late riser, Aoshi surprised himself when by normal school hours he was wide away, laying on the couch. He grabbed the remote and checked the TV station. Sure enough, block letters declared the day void of school, so he happy turned off the set and pulled the blanket over himself for more warmth. That's when he noticed that he wasn't alone on the couch.

At first, he had thought that Misao and him were in an adverse position, but it was rather innocent. The recliner couch was rather large, so there was just enough room for them to sleep side by side without him going over the edge. He was, however, a little disturbed by the way she slept.

She didn't snore, or toss and turn. She hardly spoke out, and when she did it was barely above a whisper. What was disturbing to Aoshi--who had seen many people in his old neighborhood sleep in a similar way--was that she curled into a rather tight ball. It wasn't for warmth, like he used to do when he was a child, because the added heat of the two blankets, the great furnace heating system, and the addition of his own body heat was enough to keep them both comfortable. She did it for safety. As of warding off some distant enemy by becoming as small as she could.

The thought bothered him more and more as he watched her, unable to fall back into sleep. Misao's long black hair fell across her shoulders like an extra layer of warmth, making her look younger than she was. Driven by some protective impulse, Aoshi tucked the blanket around her carefully. He didn't want to risk waking her, yet adversely hoped that she would wake in the process and uncurl from her current state. Aoshi couldn't explain why it bothered him so much. He just didn't like the thought that even though he was right beside her, Misao was afraid of something.

The adverse side of him won out as lashes fluttered over green eyes, and Misao focused on his face as she yawned loudly. She uncurled slowly and alternately moved closer to him. "Cold," she muttered, but the sound was muffled from sleepiness.

"There's no school," Aoshi said, running a hand through her hair and moving from her face.

"Good," she agreed.

"Are you always this talkative in the morning?" he asked with a half smile.

"No," Misao said with a smile. He returned it, only to lean down the small distance between them and place a chaste kiss in her lips. When he pulled back, Misao yawned again and stretched. "Breakfast," she muttered, sitting up. He followed as she dazedly scrambled out of the blankets and padded bare-foot into the kitchen.

He watched with interest as she, as per her routine, filled the coffee pot and set it on for her father's morning cup. Then she went into the fridge, pulling out four eggs, the milk, and the butter. With fluid motions and technique that could be done with her eyes closed, Misao prepared scrambled eggs and toast.

It was half-way through the eggs that she remembered her father wasn't home. Misao turned to look at the boy leaning against the counter a few feet away, black bangs hanging in his eyes in a messy but adorable way, dressed in sweats a size too big. He looked at her with a light smile, as if waiting until she remembered him.

"Sorry," she said lamely, with a blush. "I'm not a morning person."

"I'm not much of one either," he agreed. "What are you making?"

"Eggs and toast…like every morning. Do you want something else? I could make you anything you like," she said, trying to sound domestic because it kept her from being nervous.

"Anything with liquor," he teased.

Misao rolled her eyes and went back to her eggs. In the end he ate what she made for him anyway, and it was really good. Misao drank the coffee--she was never allowed too when he father was around but she had developed a like for the strong drink. Aoshi had tea, a drink for all occasions.

They ate in a comfortable silence, glancing up at each other every now and then in an almost secretive way. There was no one in the house apart from them, but it was still rather necessary, to add excitement to mundane lives as they thought. After breakfast, they took turned using the shower. Misao washed Aoshi clothes so they would be ready for him to wear again. Of course, while he was in the shower, she was on the phone with Soujiro. He was shocked at her blatant disregard of rules, amazed at her and Aoshi's behavior, and then happily mocking her about it when she hung up. Boys, go figure. That was when, despite the three feet of snow outside of her door, Misao and Aoshi journeyed back to the Aoyia.

It was as he had left it, vacant of all life save Okina. He also noted that the old man--though wearing his normally cheeriness--was still angry with him. In all the time he had known his grandfather--the majority of his life--Aoshi had never known the man to hold a grudge, or to stay angry quite this long. It left him feeling a little torn. Why was Okina so against his being with Misao?

"My pretty Misao, what a pleasant surprise!" Okina said as he smiled at the girl. "You haven't been by to visit me in days."

"Sorry Gramps," Misao said with a smile. "Snow and school have kept me on my toes."

"That's all right then. As long as it isn't a boy." That statement seemed directed at Aoshi, on who his eyes now rested. The teenager bristled a little, but forced himself to be calm, to remain neutral.

Misao sensed a sudden tension in the air between grandfather and grandson. Had she missed something? Or was Okina none-to-subtlety telling Aoshi to stay away from her? Or was it the other way around? "Sorry about last night Gramps," Misao suddenly interrupted their staring contest. "It was totally my fault."

"You can't control the weather, Misao," Okina said calmly.

"I know, but I practically forced him to come over so that we could finish our studying for the test. Then it was snowing and…I'm just sorry Gramps. I know you're probably pissed."

Okina smiled genuinely then. He knew that, whatever the reasons, she wouldn't want any bad blood between him and Aoshi if it had anything to do with her. Misao was a very kind hearted girl, after all. It was one of the things she had gotten from her mother. And, for the most part, from her father.

"I'm not angry Misao," he assured her. He met the apprehensive eyes of his grandson and smiled apologetically. Aoshi returned it. It did not go unnoticed by Misao, who was happily accepting her role as mediator. She was struck in that moment, a pain to her heart, at just how familiar this scene seemed to be. It was such a family thing, fights salved and arguments mended…such things that happened in the most close-knit and loving of families.

That was when she started to get afraid. Not because of the growing hunger inside of her to latch on to this place of domesticity and warmth, but because things like this never happened to someone like her. Misao was not a creature who was meant for happiness. She was meant for despair, for longing and torment. If there was one thing in her life that she knew, Misao knew that all her good fortune had died with her mother.

She was aware now, her senses tingling. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end and she recognized the feeling lingering over her body. Someone was watching her. The unmistakable feeling of eyes probing into the back of her head hit Misao in the chest harder than one of her father's blows. There was someone following her. She was being watched, and that meant that her father could not be far behind. Home. She had to get home. She had to make believe that nothing had happened, that everything was as it should be. Misao had to escape.

"Misao?" someone asked. She quickly looked up to find both Aoshi and Okina watching her closely. Misao smiled, albeit weakly.

"I have to go," she said. Her voice was hoarse, but then she cleared it and continued. "I should get back. I have a ton of things to do."

"Misao, what's wrong?" Aoshi asked, grabbing her hand when she turned to leave. He turned her to face him, blue eyes pinning her with an intense gaze that was searching for answers. She suddenly understood that he knew as well, or at least knew enough from her reaction. Aoshi could read her better than anyone else, which was something that would cause them both a lot of grief if she didn't get out of there.

"I just have to go," Misao said, freeing her hand and making for the door. Aoshi was about to go after her, but Okina stopped him with a hand to his shoulder.

"Let her go, lad," he said with a frown. His eyes watched Misao escape into the snow. "Let her be."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Misao ran as fast as her feet could take her through the streets, always aware that eyes were on her. No longer was she feeling that happy-go-luckiness that came when she had walked the very same path hand in hand with Aoshi less than an hour before. When he was vacant from her side, she felt horribly alone. Worst of all, she was getting used to it. Used to having him around her.

Misao shook her head as she ran faster. All her life, the only person besides her family that had ever remained constant in her life had been Soujiro. Her dearest and only friend. She had known him forever. And it was true to say that they were almost brother and sister. Soujiro had no living family, he was the only surviving member of a fatal car accident when he and Misao were ten. There was a time when Sae Makimachi had wanted to adopt Soujiro into their family, but Misao's father had forbidden it. As it was, Soujiro was taken in by Omasu, one of the waitresses at the Aoyia.

Her father had never approved of her friendship with Soujiro, but he was the one thing that she would never listen to her father about. Soujiro had risked life and limb for her and she was willing to do the same. They may not have been blood, but they were the closest thing either of them had ever had to a real sibling.

Now, Misao was risking her heart to a stranger. A boy who knew nothing of her past, and only some of her present. Somehow, somewhere along the way, Misao had begun to see him as part of her future. That was what scared her the most because falling in love was one thing, but depending on someone else was something else entirely. Eventually, he would leave to go back to the life he had always wanted. Misao would be free of her father and go to art school.

There was no future there. Her mind went over this again and again. That logical, rational Misao was telling her that a little pain now was best in the long run because he would just end up more trouble than he was worth in the end. It was that spirited, passionate Misao that was screaming from her heart, saying to hold on to something good in this hellish existence. There was no reason that he had walked into her in that hallways. There was no logic behind his appearance in that study room at the library. It just happened.

Falling in love with him also just happened.

Out of breath and heartsick, Misao reached her house and exhaled deeply when no car was in the driveway apart from her truck. He wasn't back yet. She was safe for the moment. Misao walked inside the house, feeling the warmth wash over her frozen hands and face. The warmth settled in her bones, knowing she had narrowly escaped her greatest fear. At least, that was what she thought.

"Hello Misao," a causal voice said from the doorway into the next room.

There was no warning of his presence. Misao froze in her motion, snow dripping from her boots, breath caught in her throat, like a deer in headlights. Her green eyes turned to meet the eyes of her father, and she saw nothing in them but a burning rage.

"Dad…" Misao breathed, hating the very word.

"You surprised me. I thought better of you, Misao," he said, rendering her speechless. She only blinked at him openly, frightened at what he was going to do but entranced by what he would say. "I had thought it would be Soujiro that I'd find you with, but here it turns out to be someone else entirely."

"His name is Aoshi," Misao felt herself say, without even realizing she was intending to speak. "He's Okina's grandson."

"Quiet," Makimachi yelled, slapping her across the side of the face. "You'll speak when I tell you to speak, no sooner." Misao kept her head to the side for a long moment before turning it back. "So," he said, face only a few inches from hers. "You're sleeping with Okina's bastard grandson, eh? Not surprising."

Misao had to bite down on her tongue from loosing a sudden string of curses from deep in her gut. She had taken so many years of abuse from this man. So long had she suffered silently under his control. But no more would she listen to him speak about the people she loved, about Okina and Soujiro, about Aoshi. That faithful reckless abandon that Misao had embraced so fully as of late was surging in her.

Makimachi had seemed to have lost interest in her sudden, turning swiftly away and stalking toward the living room. "Jineh," he said with a sigh. "Take care of this for me."

"With pleasure, sir," said another voice from the shadows. Misao whirled to see the leering face of her father's favorite guard staring down at her with a smile of pure delight. Misao's heart was in her throat as she ran toward the kitchen.

Her boots, still snowy, skid across the tile floor and she fell hard. That's when Jineh descended upon her, grabbing her by the front of her jacket and hauling her to her feet. The first blow was struck across her face, deflecting off of her left cheekbone and striking her eye hard. Misao knew a bruise would form almost immediately. After that, he struck her heard in the gut, knocking the wind from her as she crumbled in a heap to the ground.

"I love this job," Jineh said with a wide smile. "I never get tired to hitting such a soft little body. You bruise so easily." He laughed suddenly, landing a kick in her side. Misao cried out. She had bitten through the skin of her bottom lip in an attempt to keep silent and the salty blood filled her mouth, spilling in to the white tile.

"Go to hell," she swore as he took his leg back for another blow. That was when something inside Misao snapped. Something that had been winding inside of her for years but had only just come to the surface. Looking up in those cloudy eyes, the result of so many years of drug abuse, Misao heard a terrible scream fill her ears that she didn't realize until a moment later that it was her own.

The training Okina had drilled into her at the Aoyia came flooding into her limbs. Misao rolled to her side, flipping from her back to her feet in a fluid motion that left Jineh blinking. Misao had always laid still, taken the abuse, but this time, she was fighting back.

Jineh attempted to grab her again, but Misao twisted out of his grasp, slamming her heel firmly into his foot. A yelp of startled pain erupted from the man as he limped back a step. Misao took this brief opportunity to look around the kitchen for something to fend him off. Jineh recovered and was coming back at her, backing Misao into the counter. Her hands groped behind her, searching for something. Anything.

"You're such a soft one," he mused, looking down at her face. "I always thought you were such an empty-headed fool. But there is some fight in you after all." He smiled, looming closer. "Come on, let's see how feisty you can get." He licked his lips, so close.

Misao's hand closed around the handle of a small fillet knife. Quickly, she pulled it out and sliced Jineh across the cheek. Blood splattered, dripping down his shirt. He cried, covering the open wound with both his hands as he looked bewilder at her. Misao held the blood knife in front of her like a lifeline. "You'll never touch me again!" she shrieked. "Never!"

After that was said, she turned to run for the backdoor. Jineh, with one final fierce cry of retribution lunged at her, grabbing one hand around her upper arm, and the other grabbing her long braid. Misao struggled, but he pulled harder down on her hair, exposing her thin, beautiful throat. Breath caught in her lungs, angry tears falling from her eyes, blood still leaking from her pierced lip, Misao look the knife in her hand and sawed.

In the space of a breath, Jineh's hand fell from her head, only holding a handful of braided black hair. Misao had freed herself from his hand and bolted from the door. He gave chase, but when he caught her, Misao was in her truck, doors locked, shoving the keys into the ignition. Her father was at the front door, screaming at her to stop, but Misao backed the truck from the driveway and gunned the engine down the street.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"No one knows what it's like, to be the bad man, to be the sad man, behind blue eyes."

Okina had disappeared into his office once more, telling Aoshi to stay out of trouble. That was it. He was left to his own device. Part of him, the instinct driven part, had him pacing around the Aoyia like a caged animal again. He was worried, and he never worried. He always let what was going to come, come. But now he was worried for someone else. He was worried for Misao, who had taken off so suddenly with eyes so full of fear.

He had called Hannya and they had talked briefly--he had to go out and help the others shovel sidewalks for spare cash. It was something they did every winter. Aoshi was once more swamped with homesickness. When he had hung up with his friend, he had gone for his music, but found his muse had escaped him. She had run from his mind the same way she had run from the Aoyia. Instead of playing his guitar, he dug a cd out of his guitar bag. Misao had loaned it to him, saying that the first track on the disc reminded her of him. He popped it into his player and listened quietly in his room.

"An' no one knows what it's like, to be hated, to be faded, to telling only lies. But my dreams, they aren't as empty as my conscience seems to be. I have hours, only lonely. My love is vengeance that's never free. No one knows what it's like to feel these feelings like I do. And I blame you.

"No one bites back as hard on their anger. None of my pain an' woe can show through. But my dreams, they aren't as empty as my conscience seems to be. I have hours, only lonely. My love is vengeance that's never free. No one knows what it's like, to be mistreated, to be defeated, behind blue eyes.

"And no one knows how to say that they're sorry, and don't worry. I'm not telling lies. But my dreams, they aren't as empty as my conscience seems to be. I have hours, only lonely. My love is vengeance that's never free. No one knows what it's like to be the bad man, to be the sad man, behind blue eyes.

"In the close, all the gray, I'll stay if you go away. Concrete, tall as the sky, Movement passing me by. And you blush, what a rush. A reminisce, cold crush, next door, ear to the wall. All the tension, wait for the call, I wish I wish, I wish it was all that easy."

He listened to the song a few times, liking the sound of it. It made him smile slightly, and thought it would be fun to learn how to play the song. That way, he could play if for Misao. He knew she'd like that.

In between listening to riff changes and memorizing lyrics, Aoshi got thirsty and headed downstairs to the kitchen to grab himself a drink before going back to work. That's when he heard the muffled sound coming from the back of the restaurant. All the lights were dark, but he noticed a puddle of melting snow on the inside mat. He felt around in the dark for the light switches on the wall, and when he flicked them on, he saw someone in the farthest corner of the room, huddled over in one of the booths.

"Misao?" he whispered, having a sinking feeling in his gut that it was her. The closer he got, the more he realized that his intuition had been correct. Her coat was thrown aside and her boots lay melting on the floor. Her head was bowed over her knees where they were hugged to her chest in a vain attempt to muffle her sobs.

She didn't look up as he neared her, but she stiffened as he stood before her. "I come here," she said in a small muffled voice that he had to strain to hear. "When it's dark, and no one can see me."

"Why?" Aoshi asked, matching his voice in pitch and softness as he settled on the booth next to her. She still refused to look at him, to lift her head from her arms.

"Because I'm safe here," she said with another sob that seemed to come from the very center of her being.

"Misao," he breathed, laying a hand gently on her arm. That's when he noticed her hair. Silky black hair that once fell all the way down her back was now just at a jagged line across her shoulders.

She looked up at him then. Her left eye was dark and swollen, but not so much that she couldn't see from it. Her face was puffy from her crying, and there was blood all over her mouth, staining the front of her shirt and even smeared across her cheek. Aoshi had seen wounds like this after a heavy brawl, but Misao was not a kid from a street gang. There was no one that she would fight, not like this.

There was only one person he could thin of that could have done this to her, and that was her father. The pieces fell into place now. Misao's hesitation and her fear, her reluctance. He should have seen it long ago, and Aoshi mentally berated himself for it. In his growing anger at her father and herself, Aoshi darkened and Misao flinched away from him.

Immediately, Aoshi was regretful. He reached out slowly, as if touching a wounded animal, and he brushed the loose hair from her face. With a gentle touch, he raised her face so he could meet her eyes. "Come on," he said softly. "Let's clean you up."

Misao nodded her consent. Aoshi slid out of the booth and then reached over. Before she could protest, Aoshi had picked up Misao bridal-style and carried her over to the counter. He set her down and went to the bathroom to get a first-aid kit. Along the way, he stopped for Okina. It was going to be a long night.

"No one knows what it's like, to be the bad man, to be the sad man, behind blue eyes."

A/N: Okay, here is chapter 8. 9 will be out on Friday cuz I'll be busy the rest of the week! Thanks for reading! Time for reviewer response--and please remember to check out my new co-written story, Safer On The Outside!

Mariana-chan: Lol, I'm glad I can help! I write fast because I have no life! Writing is my life, so writing makes me happy. I'm not happy unless I'm writing…I'm a sad little person. But I get such a thrill from it!

Silver Miko: Okina will explain next chapter! You'll find out all he has to say. I'm glad you liked it!

Len: Everyone envies Misao snuggling with Aoshi. I live my fantasy of snuggling him vicariously through Misao, lol. A lot of what you need to know will be revealed next chapter, so hold tight!

Namiko-Daughter of Sekhmet: I'm happy that you did! Thanks for the review!

Tiian: One never gets big rewards with big risks, you much admit. You see some of my plot devices, but the true saving will be revealed later on. As to who saves her--you'll have to wait to find out. Actually, they have never met before. There are many ties to their pasts, something that gives them common ground and a little air of 'destiny' but no, they have never met before. I have time because I have no job *sigh* and I have no life. Inspiration comes and goes though.

Allin656: Okina explains all in the next chapter, haha! Closeness is getting there, they are bonding a lot. Omens stick out, and the truth comes out next chapter. Climax in chapter 10! Get ready for it!

Susan: I'm happy you approve, lol. I hope you like this chapter too.

Darkmoon0829: I like that they have some common ties, it gives them that sort of 'meant to be' air, don't you think? Well, anyway, I'm glad you like the chapter!

Tamakia'gss: I like angst--at least once I know there is going to be a happy ending which there always are in my stories. But fluff is fun to read, but very hard for me to write! Lol, you're ominous feeling will get a kick out of the next chapter, I promise!

Misao Mei Mei: Yes, it is creepy, but that is supposed to be creepy. Yes, snuggly is fun, hehe. I'm glad you like the interaction because I enjoy it.

Flyinangel777: Lol, I'm glad you like suspense. The truth will come out in the next chapter! Yes, I write fast…I have no life *sigh*. YAY, a fellow Soujiro lover! I LOVE Soujiro too. He's so adorable! If you like Soujiro--I'm plugging my work here--you should read my story Renegade, it's a Soujiro love story, lol.

_baka_child_: Eep! Lol, I'm sorry, I like cliffies. Yes, there is more gossip in the next chapter. Yes, more Soujiro teasing. *huggles teddy bear* Thanks!

SeaBreeze: Sorry for the wait, I hope you like this one! I have no life *shrugs* what else can I do but write? Don't worry, I can wait. I'm really interested in seeing your work though, I bet it'll be great!

Kaze Kittty: I'm grateful you read this story, and very happy you like it too! Here's the next chapter, hope you like.

Miz: Lol, they haven't used the word yet, but I think so. So do I, it's so romantic. There will be a lot of truth-telling tomorrow done in chapter 9, so be ready! My collaberation has begun--Safer On The Outside--chapter 2 is already done and ready to be sent to the beta, so be ready for another update soon!

Roses in bloom: Lol, yes, they are. Here is the update, drama abound to come soon!

Shin-chan: No, he's not crazy, just stressed and worried. There will be a lot of truth telling in the next chapter, and a couple confrontation. Be prepared!