And now for Chapter 2! Reviewers (and you know who you are ) have told me they've never really been into the Aoshi/Misao pairing, and that I might be the one to convince them! O.o The pressure..... So, huggles and cookies to all reviewers! o
Disclaimer: None of the Rurouni Kenshin characters are mine... TT
Chapter 2- Breaking Away
'The weather's cleared up fast,' Misao thought as she ran through the streets.
The sun was now shining brightly, all traces of the dreary morning weather gone. Puddles pocked the road, the sun glittering on their muddy surfaces, looking deceptively shallow to unwary passerby.
Misao hurried on, suddenly feeling self-conscious of her wet clothing in the city, the city full of watching eyes. She wasn't worried about being beaten or raped, with her ninja training she could defeat any man in this city, except for maybe Okina, and definitely not Aoshi. But she had never worn very tight clothing, short maybe, but never tight. The feeling of the fabric clinging to her skin felt uncomfortable, like a pair of shoes that had never been worn and needed time to form to their owners feet.
With a sigh she remembered the lecture that was sure to greet her when she entered the restaurant. .
Slowing to a steady walk despite her discomfort, Misao watched as Kyoto seemed to come alive after the rain. Children poked their heads out of doorways, anxious to play in the inviting puddles, while mothers chided them on getting sick and muddying their clothes. Merchants eyed the sky as they would a distasteful neighbor, and set their wares out, still cautious if the weather decided to take another turn. All the people that had hidden from the cloudburst now appeared, like the flowers after a spring shower.
The image that thought brought to mind made Misao smile. She could see a wet field, where people were unfurling their leaves, their faces in place of the flowers. And in one big bunch were the Oniwabanshuu. But one flower had strayed from the bouquet. It was Aoshi's flower.
This thought sobered her at the same time it strengthened her resolve.
"Fine! See if I care that you stray from the bouquet!" she exclaimed out loud.
Several people nearby gave her odd looks, and she started to walk faster, blushing at her outburst.
'I'd better get to the Aoiya before I make a complete idiot of myself. That unexpected meeting with Aoshi-sama has thrown me off balance.' She thought, seeing the top of the Aoiya on the other side of the block.
Turning the corner, she ran the rest of the way, entering through the back door she had left through. As she had expected, Omasu was there, but to her surprise she wasn't alone. Okon, the woman in the rain she had helped, and her children, were all there.
They all looked up when she entered. The woman smiled and her children gave shy waves, while Omasu stared at her with a look that showed she understood about her generosity, but still wasn't happy about it. Okon looked her up and down, taking in her soaked hair and clothing, and the flushed glow of her face before nodding at her.
"You'd better go get changed, Misao. Don't want to get sick do you?"
Misao smiled gratefully and bounded up the stairs to her room. Once there she took off her saturated clothes, leaving them in a soggy pile. Omasu had anticipated her not using or abandoning the umbrella and had set a fresh outfit for her on her futon.
"Thank you, Omasu." She murmured, dressing quickly.
Running her fingers through the wet hair not restrained by her braid, she went to the window, opening it to let the rain fresh air fill the room. She set her elbows on the window sill, resting chin in hands as she looked out on the now alive city.
Deciding to lose herself from the world for awhile, Misao sat in the window, her back against the side of the window, one leg tucked under her and the other dangling along the outer edge of the building. She closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of the warmth of the sunlight and listening to the murmur of the city.
Aoshi walked quietly through the city, staying in the shadows and avoiding the numerous people. He tried not to be out while it was busy. There were too many people, their voices interrupting his thoughts and rasping inside his brain. The peace of the shrine, or the forest, where he could think without outside noises interfering, were the places he preferred to be.
Slipping through the darker alleys and backstreets, a silent, unseen shadow, Aoshi made his way to the Aoiya. He stopped, gazing at the second story window. His features remained as neutral as ever, but his thoughts were in a whirl, all the earlier peace he had felt quickly forgotten.
There sat Misao, perched on the edge of the windowsill, looking as if she could fall off at any moment. Her eyes were closed, and an unfelt breeze swept strands of hair across her gentled visage. She looked angelic to him, and he felt annoyed that anyone else saw her during such a moment.
With a cool deliberation he walked the short distance across the street, causing a small group of boys who were staring up at Misao to scatter, his stern glance frightening them off. He opened the door to the restaurant and headed straight for the stairs.
Okon and Omasu, who had left the kitchen to serve the diners, exchanged knowing glances before returning to their work.
Climbing the stairs without the floorboards so much as creaking, Aoshi made his way directly to Misao's room. Opening the door without hesitation, he stepped inside and shut it behind him, flinching inwardly when it creaked.
"Misao," he called quietly, keeping his inner turmoil from showing in his voice.
She didn't respond, but he knew she had heard him. He could tell from her breathing she was still awake, and very aware of his presence, even though her head was turned away from him.
"I know you're listening, Misao. Get out of the window. You're on display for everyone to see."
Unseen to Aoshi, Misao opened her eyes, tears starting to threaten.
'He doesn't even care. He makes it sound as if I'm just an annoyance that has to be taken care of. Well I'm not going to give him the satisfaction of obedience. I'm Okashira, and I don't have to take orders from him anymore. In fact, I don't care about him like that any longer. He's just another member of the Oniwabanshuu. I must treat him as such.....'
Finally giving in to her frustration at Aoshi's complete and utter lack of emotions toward her or anyone else, Misao vowed to not let him have so much control over emotions, and to treat him as she did the others. She closed her eyes stubbornly and choked back the tears, making sure any evidence of their almost-existence was gone from her face.
"Misao."
He was getting irritated at being ignored. Misao never ignored him. She was always happy to see him, always eager to please him anyway she could, even though she knew he'd never thank her out loud. For her to ignore him was unheard of.... And it upset him.
"Misao. Get out of the window." he repeated, hardening his voice.
When she still refused to answer him, he did something he'd never do in another situation. He let impulse dictate his actions.
Crossing the room in several quick, long-legged strides, he stood at the window, facing her with his arms crossed. He remained like that, motionless, watching her silently.
'If I move, I'm going to do something I'll regret later,' he thought, flexing his arm muscles unconsciously to keep reaching out and grabbing her.
'I can feel his eyes on me..... That's what I want.... What I wanted, wasn't it?' Misao fought the urge to shift under the intensity of his gaze. 'I can't let him affect me like this anymore....'
Steeling herself, Misao opened her eyes and stared at the man across from her with all the ice she could muster.
"Who gave you the right to enter my room without permission? Much less to come in here and start ordering me around?"
Her questions nearly made him retreat in shock. This wasn't like Misao at all. She seemed like a completely different person. Instead of her usual warmth and cheeriness, she was staring at him coldly, her smile replaced with a serious expression that did not fit her.
Finding himself completely unable to respond, he backed of the room, keeping his eyes locked with hers. With a soft click the door was shut, cutting off their eyecontact.
His back and shoulders rigid, Aoshi's permanent facade cracked, and he strode quickly to his own room, afraid he might lash out if he met anyone on the way. Meanwhile, Misao was sitting on the floor beneath her window, sobbing with her face in hands as she thought of the way Aoshi had looked at her.
"That can't be good..."
Omasu looked at Okon and nodded. They had watched, with the tops of their heads poking out of the stairwell, the former Okashira back out of Misao's room and rapidly move toward his own.
"And we thought something good was going to happen...."
They both nodded dejectedly.
"What are you two doing?! There are diners that need to be served!"
The women jumped at the voice below them, nearly falling off their precarious perch on the stairs.
"Sorry, Okina!"
The old man watched the two young women scramble off to assume their roles as waitresses, before looking knowingly up to the second floor. He shook his head and went to find someone else to pester, leaving the two people upstairs to figure out their own problems.
I'm so sorry this isn't a very good chapter! The rush of the holidays and all.; I know this is tad weird for an Aoshi/Misao, but I wanted to try something a little different. It will most likely get mushy towards the end, so rest easy romance lovers! And have a Merry Christmas everyone! gives cookies and candycanes to reviewers
(P.S.- I know the characters are OOC..... )
Disclaimer: None of the Rurouni Kenshin characters are mine... TT
Chapter 2- Breaking Away
'The weather's cleared up fast,' Misao thought as she ran through the streets.
The sun was now shining brightly, all traces of the dreary morning weather gone. Puddles pocked the road, the sun glittering on their muddy surfaces, looking deceptively shallow to unwary passerby.
Misao hurried on, suddenly feeling self-conscious of her wet clothing in the city, the city full of watching eyes. She wasn't worried about being beaten or raped, with her ninja training she could defeat any man in this city, except for maybe Okina, and definitely not Aoshi. But she had never worn very tight clothing, short maybe, but never tight. The feeling of the fabric clinging to her skin felt uncomfortable, like a pair of shoes that had never been worn and needed time to form to their owners feet.
With a sigh she remembered the lecture that was sure to greet her when she entered the restaurant. .
Slowing to a steady walk despite her discomfort, Misao watched as Kyoto seemed to come alive after the rain. Children poked their heads out of doorways, anxious to play in the inviting puddles, while mothers chided them on getting sick and muddying their clothes. Merchants eyed the sky as they would a distasteful neighbor, and set their wares out, still cautious if the weather decided to take another turn. All the people that had hidden from the cloudburst now appeared, like the flowers after a spring shower.
The image that thought brought to mind made Misao smile. She could see a wet field, where people were unfurling their leaves, their faces in place of the flowers. And in one big bunch were the Oniwabanshuu. But one flower had strayed from the bouquet. It was Aoshi's flower.
This thought sobered her at the same time it strengthened her resolve.
"Fine! See if I care that you stray from the bouquet!" she exclaimed out loud.
Several people nearby gave her odd looks, and she started to walk faster, blushing at her outburst.
'I'd better get to the Aoiya before I make a complete idiot of myself. That unexpected meeting with Aoshi-sama has thrown me off balance.' She thought, seeing the top of the Aoiya on the other side of the block.
Turning the corner, she ran the rest of the way, entering through the back door she had left through. As she had expected, Omasu was there, but to her surprise she wasn't alone. Okon, the woman in the rain she had helped, and her children, were all there.
They all looked up when she entered. The woman smiled and her children gave shy waves, while Omasu stared at her with a look that showed she understood about her generosity, but still wasn't happy about it. Okon looked her up and down, taking in her soaked hair and clothing, and the flushed glow of her face before nodding at her.
"You'd better go get changed, Misao. Don't want to get sick do you?"
Misao smiled gratefully and bounded up the stairs to her room. Once there she took off her saturated clothes, leaving them in a soggy pile. Omasu had anticipated her not using or abandoning the umbrella and had set a fresh outfit for her on her futon.
"Thank you, Omasu." She murmured, dressing quickly.
Running her fingers through the wet hair not restrained by her braid, she went to the window, opening it to let the rain fresh air fill the room. She set her elbows on the window sill, resting chin in hands as she looked out on the now alive city.
Deciding to lose herself from the world for awhile, Misao sat in the window, her back against the side of the window, one leg tucked under her and the other dangling along the outer edge of the building. She closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of the warmth of the sunlight and listening to the murmur of the city.
Aoshi walked quietly through the city, staying in the shadows and avoiding the numerous people. He tried not to be out while it was busy. There were too many people, their voices interrupting his thoughts and rasping inside his brain. The peace of the shrine, or the forest, where he could think without outside noises interfering, were the places he preferred to be.
Slipping through the darker alleys and backstreets, a silent, unseen shadow, Aoshi made his way to the Aoiya. He stopped, gazing at the second story window. His features remained as neutral as ever, but his thoughts were in a whirl, all the earlier peace he had felt quickly forgotten.
There sat Misao, perched on the edge of the windowsill, looking as if she could fall off at any moment. Her eyes were closed, and an unfelt breeze swept strands of hair across her gentled visage. She looked angelic to him, and he felt annoyed that anyone else saw her during such a moment.
With a cool deliberation he walked the short distance across the street, causing a small group of boys who were staring up at Misao to scatter, his stern glance frightening them off. He opened the door to the restaurant and headed straight for the stairs.
Okon and Omasu, who had left the kitchen to serve the diners, exchanged knowing glances before returning to their work.
Climbing the stairs without the floorboards so much as creaking, Aoshi made his way directly to Misao's room. Opening the door without hesitation, he stepped inside and shut it behind him, flinching inwardly when it creaked.
"Misao," he called quietly, keeping his inner turmoil from showing in his voice.
She didn't respond, but he knew she had heard him. He could tell from her breathing she was still awake, and very aware of his presence, even though her head was turned away from him.
"I know you're listening, Misao. Get out of the window. You're on display for everyone to see."
Unseen to Aoshi, Misao opened her eyes, tears starting to threaten.
'He doesn't even care. He makes it sound as if I'm just an annoyance that has to be taken care of. Well I'm not going to give him the satisfaction of obedience. I'm Okashira, and I don't have to take orders from him anymore. In fact, I don't care about him like that any longer. He's just another member of the Oniwabanshuu. I must treat him as such.....'
Finally giving in to her frustration at Aoshi's complete and utter lack of emotions toward her or anyone else, Misao vowed to not let him have so much control over emotions, and to treat him as she did the others. She closed her eyes stubbornly and choked back the tears, making sure any evidence of their almost-existence was gone from her face.
"Misao."
He was getting irritated at being ignored. Misao never ignored him. She was always happy to see him, always eager to please him anyway she could, even though she knew he'd never thank her out loud. For her to ignore him was unheard of.... And it upset him.
"Misao. Get out of the window." he repeated, hardening his voice.
When she still refused to answer him, he did something he'd never do in another situation. He let impulse dictate his actions.
Crossing the room in several quick, long-legged strides, he stood at the window, facing her with his arms crossed. He remained like that, motionless, watching her silently.
'If I move, I'm going to do something I'll regret later,' he thought, flexing his arm muscles unconsciously to keep reaching out and grabbing her.
'I can feel his eyes on me..... That's what I want.... What I wanted, wasn't it?' Misao fought the urge to shift under the intensity of his gaze. 'I can't let him affect me like this anymore....'
Steeling herself, Misao opened her eyes and stared at the man across from her with all the ice she could muster.
"Who gave you the right to enter my room without permission? Much less to come in here and start ordering me around?"
Her questions nearly made him retreat in shock. This wasn't like Misao at all. She seemed like a completely different person. Instead of her usual warmth and cheeriness, she was staring at him coldly, her smile replaced with a serious expression that did not fit her.
Finding himself completely unable to respond, he backed of the room, keeping his eyes locked with hers. With a soft click the door was shut, cutting off their eyecontact.
His back and shoulders rigid, Aoshi's permanent facade cracked, and he strode quickly to his own room, afraid he might lash out if he met anyone on the way. Meanwhile, Misao was sitting on the floor beneath her window, sobbing with her face in hands as she thought of the way Aoshi had looked at her.
"That can't be good..."
Omasu looked at Okon and nodded. They had watched, with the tops of their heads poking out of the stairwell, the former Okashira back out of Misao's room and rapidly move toward his own.
"And we thought something good was going to happen...."
They both nodded dejectedly.
"What are you two doing?! There are diners that need to be served!"
The women jumped at the voice below them, nearly falling off their precarious perch on the stairs.
"Sorry, Okina!"
The old man watched the two young women scramble off to assume their roles as waitresses, before looking knowingly up to the second floor. He shook his head and went to find someone else to pester, leaving the two people upstairs to figure out their own problems.
I'm so sorry this isn't a very good chapter! The rush of the holidays and all.; I know this is tad weird for an Aoshi/Misao, but I wanted to try something a little different. It will most likely get mushy towards the end, so rest easy romance lovers! And have a Merry Christmas everyone! gives cookies and candycanes to reviewers
(P.S.- I know the characters are OOC..... )