Title: A New Beginning
Rated: PG-13 (Violence & Language)
Author: charismatic angel
Email: charismatic_angel@msn.com
Chapter Date: July 10, 2003
All the stuff you do not want to read but I have to say:
* sighs * I do not own Rurouni Kenshin. Someone else owns the rights and characters to this series. You know the rest…(Please don't sue me)
Chapter 20:
Misao slowly awoke and felt as if someone stuffed her head with cotton. Her eyelids felt heavy as she fought to open them. She struggled to get up and became frightened when she wasn't able to move.
'What is wrong with me? Why can't I move?' she thought to herself.
She remembered one last thing before she blacked out.
'Aoshi…He was here…I saw him…I must have been dreaming…but why did it seem so real? Why would he want to see me after all these years?'
Misao tried to speak but nothing came out. Her voice stuck in her throat and began to panic. Hot tears escaped her eyes, she felt so helpless.
Aoshi was sitting not too far away when he heard her movements. He could see she was struggling to regain consciousness. She had awakened sooner than he expected but it didn't surprise him, it was Misao of course. She was a fighter and when she got up, there'd probably be hell to pay.
He moved closer to see that she was crying. A deep feeling of guilt washed over him as he watched thrash about. His cold eyes slightly warmed as they turned a deep blue.
He didn't want to hurt her. Hell, he didn't want to see her, not after what he did to her and now he was furthering the pain he caused Misao.
Aoshi sat down on the coffee table next to her and gently wiped the tears away from her eyes with his hand.
Surprised by the sudden feeling of someone touching her, Misao let out a high-pitched scream.
Immediately, Aoshi removed his hand and his eyes turned the same hardened glare, he was used to.
With all the strength she had, Misao fought to get up. Slowly but surely she was able to get into a sitting position. No way in hell was she going to go down without a fight.
She fully opened her eyes and tried to focus them. Everything was a blur. Gradually the blurriness went away as she came face to face with the man she thought was only a dream.
"Aoshi!" she spit out.
Aoshi didn't move or show any expression. He looked upon her with his cold vacant eyes. "Don't move." He spoke.
Not listening, Misao started to get up balancing herself with the couch. Her moves were shaky, but she was eventually able to stand up.
She tried to stand up as straight as possible, showing her defiance. Her legs began to wobble, as the weight seemed too much for them to hold. She swayed back and forth before falling back onto the couch.
"What did you do to me you son of a bitch?!" she yelled.
"I told you not to move." He said icily.
She glared daggers at him.
"I suggest you listen to me from now on." He calmly said.
"Why the hell should I listen to you? You show up on my doorstep after all of these years and then you drug me! You've got another thing coming, if I am going to take orders from you." She spat.
He slanted his eyes even more than what they already were.
"Misao, if you know what's good for you, shut up and listen."
She stared at him with wide eyes as he began to continue.
"You are coming with me to New York so we can bring back your friend. I expect your full cooperation." He coolly said.
Misao's eyes almost bugged out of their sockets. "How do you know where she is? Who gave you this information?!" she blurted out.
"You did."
"I would never tell you where she was!" she yelled.
"You didn't have to. I read your email."
Misao's cheeks turned red. 'How could this have happened? Why is Aoshi looking for her!'
"What do you want with her?" Misao growled
"I am not here to answer your questions." He snapped.
"Your with Enishi…..aren't you?!" she gave a sarcastic laugh, "When did you get so low as to work for that bastard?"
Aoshi was getting tired of her comments. He removed himself from the coffee table and turned his back on her.
"TELL ME!" she screamed, "Tell me why you became such a COWARD!"
He simply walked away and ignored her.
Misao was sick and tired of him. Tired of all the nights she sat awake worrying about him, wondering if he'd ever return, wondering if he'd ever love her back. No more would she ponder over Aoshi Shinomori like a love sick littler girl. He had his chance and now it's gone!
With all the strength she could muster, Misao attempted to get up again. Aoshi heard her movements.
"Don't." he said.
"I am not listening to you!" she screamed
She got on her feet and slowly stumbled towards him. He turned around, expecting her to fall at any moment, but he was wrong.
Misao stood in a fighting stance ready to face him.
"What are you doing?" he asked
"I am not going to let you hurt my friend without a fight!"
"Don't be stupid? He said.
"Turn around!" she ordered
"I am not going to fight you." He calmly said.
"TURN AROUND…COWARD!" she yelled.
The last word hit him like a dagger to the heart. He stood still listening to his heart beating in his ears.
Without warning, Misao let out a scream and attacked him from behind. She punched and kicked him as hard she could.
Aoshi turned around, the long dark bangs shadowing his eyes.
Misao, used all the energy she had throwing everything she had at him. She moved fast, for someone in her condition.
She wasn't fast enough though; Aoshi blocked every punch and kick she threw at him with little effort. Misao was furious, she wouldn't let him get away with this.
"Stop trying to fight me, it's useless." He stated
"I will never stop fighting you! Never!" she retorted.
In one swift move Aoshi squatted down and moved his leg under her. Misao, was knocked off balance and started to fall to the floor. Before she could fall, Aoshi caught her in one arm.
Her heart was raced as she looked into his eyes. For a moment it looked as if he was showing concern for her but the look vanished and was replaced by his hardened eyes.
Misao breathed hard and was tired from all the energy she used.
"I'm sorry Kaoru. I tried to fight him…but I won't give up…I promise!' Misao thought to herself.
Aoshi picked up Misao's little body and carried her over to the kitchen table. He pulled out a chair and set her in it.
"Have you learned your lesson?" he said coolly
Misao gave him a defiant glare, which meant she wouldn't give up easily. As soon as she got her energy back, she'd fight him again, he knew it.
Aoshi moved to the kitchen and started looking through her cupboards.
"Hey! Just what do you think you're doing?" she asked.
"Making something to eat." He replied
"You can't cook!" she yelled.
"Says who." He said as more of a statement than a question.
For once in her life, Misao wasn't sure what to say.
Aoshi busied himself in the kitchen while Misao sat in her chair. She decided to take it easy and save her strength because as soon as she got it back, he'd get what was coming to him.
She watched every one of his moves with the utmost fascination.
"The cold hearted Aoshi can cook!' she thought to herself.
She found it a little humorous that he was still wearing his long trench coat.
'Doesn't he ever take that thing off?'
He was fooling around with the stove trying to turn the burner on.
Misao laughed to herself, 'I'd like to see him try to light it…that burner always gives me problems.'
He was about ready to give up, when at last the burner lit up with a big "whoof." The flame came out at a high level and caught the sleeve of his jacket.
Immediately, the flame started to travel up his sleeve.
Misao screamed, "Aoshi, your sleeve is on fire!"
Aoshi pulled his arm back in one swift motion and grabbed towel that lay near by. He patted his arm with the towel, trying to extinguish the fire.
Misao noticed how he didn't flinch or yell. He kept the same hardened expression, giving no impression that he was panicked. She found it strange how he could keep up his cold exterior while his arm was on fire.
The last of the flames flickered out as he swatted his arm one last time. The sleeve of his jacket was seared black. Misao could smell burning cloth and flesh in the air.
A look of concern washed over her face as she bolted out of her chair and ran towards Aoshi.
He was holding his arm in his other hand examining the burn. She saw that his skin was red and fleshy looking.
She reached out towards his injured arm and said, "Aoshi you're hurt!" her voice was full of concern.
He pulled back his arm so she couldn't touch it.
"I'm alright, Misao." He said a little too calmly for her taste.
"No you're not!" she shot back.
Misao grabbed his arm and made him show it to her. He let Misao have her way and willingly gave her his arm. She winced when she saw the freshly burned skin. She felt bad for not saying anything about the defective burner. Unlinke Aoshi, Misao showed remorse.
"It's not that bad but you will need to put something on it." She said.
Misao went to the refrigerator and pulled out some ice and wrapped it in a clean towel.
"Here, put this on." She said, handing him the ice.
He took it from her and gently laid it on his burn. Aoshi closed his eyes as the pain flooded his head. Misao knew Aoshi closed his eyes because he didn't want her to see he was in pain.
"I should have told you about the burner." She whispered.
"What." He replied.
"It's my fault you are hurt…even though you may deserve it, I still feel bad that I didn't tell you it was defective." Misao said, with a guilty expression.
"Aa" he said.
"The fact that I feel bad doesn't mean I won't fight you. I am not going to let you hurt Kaoru." She stated.
"If I don't do it, someone else will. The next person won't be as lenient."
"hpmf" "I am not going to with you. If you are so smart do it yourself, but be warned she'll know your coming before you get there because I'll tell her!" Misao spat
"Enough of these games. I will do whatever it takes to complete this mission even if it means I have to kill you. Do you understand?" he said harshly.
"Go ahead, kill me." She challenged.
Aoshi took his good arm and placed his hand around her thin neck. He applied pressure, stopping the airflow.
Misao choked and her eyes widened.
"Don't encourage me." He said, bearing his cold blue eyes into hers.
He let go of her neck as she coughed for air. She touched her neck where his hand had once been, still feeling the effects as if it were still there.
"You promised….you promised my father that you'd take care of me!…LIAR!" she yelled, trying to get a rise out of him.
It wasn't working; he was devoid of all emotion.
Anger flared her every being as she brought back her hand and slapped him across face. Aoshi merely stood there with the same expression and then turned his back on her as he walked away.
"If you care about your friend, then don't think about leaving. I am sure Enishi wouldn't care if she was brought back dead, rather than alive." He stated
Aoshi ripped the phone cords from the wall and threw her monitor on the floor.
Misao cringed as she watched him trash her house.
"You'd be smart not to warn her…we'll find her sooner or later." He said with a cold tone.
Misao gulped knowing he wasn't lying. She just had to figure out a way to tell Kaoru, no matter what the cost!
End of Chapter 20
So how was that for a chapter? Do you think Aoshi will stand by his word and kill Misao if she doesn't cooperate? Anything is possible in this fic….so you'll just have to read and find out ;)
I would like to give a big thank you to Valeria for giving me the idea to burn Aoshi. She thought it would be funny to see his reaction (if he had one). Valeria is a very talented artist and her anime drawings are awesome! I wouldn't be surprised if she got a job drawing manga's in the future ;)
Well I am off for the weekend. I should be updating on Sunday. I thought it would be nice if I were to update before I left. Hope you are enjoying this fic because I sure am!
Your responses have all been wonderful. I have a l separate folder for the reviews so I can look at them for inspiration. Your comments are that special to me, so thank you!
Once again, thank you for reading and I hope you have a great weekend!
~*Charismatic Angel*~