From my dreams.
Prologue.
_______
The sunlight poured through the cracks of the wooden window frame and the wall, illuminating the room. Various articles of clothing littered the room, a pink sash, a blue ninja uniform...a plain yukata. Strands of loose, long blue hair mingled with the relatively shorter glossy black hair. A groan interrupted the silence. The creator of the sound sits up, his eyes searching for answers. They narrow on the sleeping figure snuggled up to his chest. His large hands tangle in the long hair of the sleeper as he struggles to his feet.
" Masaka...what have I done?"
A hot red blush crept up to his usually pale skin as his eyes fell on the nakedness of the sleeper. His heart raced as he searched the room for his clothes, rapidly securing them on his body. He would have to leave soon...he shouldn't have done it that night. He should have waited.
_______
" MISAO-CHAN!!!!"
Misao awoke with a start, sitting up from her futon. She shivered as she felt a light breeze blow on her bare skin.
Bare skin?
" Misao!!! Are you awake? He's here!"
She panicked as she could hear the caller's footsteps approach. She cringed as she saw her scattered clothes. Quickly, she got up from the futon and quickly latched the door shut.
" Misao! This isn't like you. Donashiro-san is downstairs."
" Kaede? Tell him to wait! I'm still dressing!"
Okon gave a few more tugs at the door before finally giving up.
" Fine. But you hurry up ok?"
Misao heaved a sigh of relief as she heard Okon's retreating footsteps. She looked down at her feet, noticing the remains of her chest binding in pieces. He had been rather...impatient. Her cheeks burned as she remembered the events of last night, wondering what she would say when she saw him that morning. She hurriedly started to put on her clothes, starting with the binding. She smiled happily, breathing in the scent of sandalwood incense, which still lingered on her skin from the night before.
" Misao!"
" Coming!"
Misao rapidly finished getting dressed and fixed up her futon. As she braided her hair, she made a mental note to change the sheets. She raced out of her room and down the stairs, eager to see her good friend.
" Eto...Misao-chan. You may not enter."
" Nani!?"
Okon stopped her before she entered Okina's sitting room. She could see the shadows of Okina and Donashiro seated inside.
" It is Okina's order. Now come on, eat some breakfast. No doubt you'll be bouncing off the walls again flirting with Donashiro-kun."
" I do NOT flirt with him! We're just friends!!"
Okon tipped her head to one side, a look of confusion on her face.
" Honto?"
" Hai."
" Whatever...just go eat your breakfast now."
Misao began to walk towards the kitchen before stopping, remembering she had to ask Okon something.
" Okon. Where's Aoshi-sama?"
Okon turned around, the look of confusion still on her face.
" He's not here."
" You mean he's at the temple?"
Okon shook her head, frowning at Misao.
" I thought you knew Misao-chan. He left this morning..."
" How long is he going to be gone for? He's just doing a little shopping or something right?"
Misao's heart skipped a beat as her mind raced.
" I don't think he'll be back for a long time..."
That was all Misao wanted to hear. Her eyes filled with tears as her chest squeezed tightly. She ran from Okon, wanting to pretend that she hadn't heard her words.
" for a business trip...Matte Misao! What's wrong??"
The fast beating of her heart drowned out any other voices in her head, Okon's words not reaching her.
_____
" Thank you for stopping by Donashiro-san. What would you like to talk about?"
Okina sat opposite the handsome young man. His lightly coloured hair shone brightly in the sunlight streaming through the open window.
" Please Kashiwazaki-sama, I would like to request something from you."
Okina's eyes widened at the formal addressing, wondering what Donashiro Kaede really wanted.
" What would you want from me?"
A red blush spread across his cheeks as he rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment.
" Ano...About Misao-chan."
" Yes?"
" I would like to marry her."
Okina raised an eyebrow. He would tell this man the same thing the other dozen suitors had heard.
" For your clan's sake or for your own?"
" ...Though it would be good for my clan, I want Misao as my wife...I ...I lo..."
Okina saw the obvious discomfort in Donashiro's body language.
" If she agrees, then I sanction this marriage."
Donashiro rose from his seat, grabbing Okina's hands and pumped them up and down with his own.
" oh thank you!"
" Mind you, remember I said if she agrees."
" She'll agree won't she? We're good friends."
Now it was Okina's turn to sit rather uncomfortably.
" As much as she likes you as a friend Donashiro, I cannot assure you of success. If you are such a good friend, then you should know about..."
" Yes I know."
" Then go and ask. It can't hurt."
Donashiro bowed, leaving the room. Okina stroked his beard and looked out the window. This rejecting the suitor routine was getting old. ____
Donashiro walked around the Aoiya, searching for Misao. He now had only one thing on his mind. While he had the permission to he would surely ask, and succeed.
Donashiro stepped out into the Aoiya's garden, calling Misao's name.
" ...Kaede-kun?"
Donashiro's tall figure turned sharply, his warm brown eyes spotting Misao sitting against the far wall of the building.
" Ne Misao-chan...why are you sitting there?"
He hurried over, noticing the tears and Misao's red eyes.
" Why are you crying?"
He bent down to comfort her, wondering what could make such a genki ninja become so sad. He hugged her, feeling such contact was necessary to comfort her. Misao welcomed him, crying over his shoulder.
" Doushita no Misao?"
" He...he left me. How could he?"
" Who would leave such a pretty girl like you?"
" Aoshi-sama...he left this morning."
Misao clung tighter, her chest heaving in effort to inhale enough oxygen to supply her loud sobs. Donashiro was at a crossroad. He could comfort her, tell her what she wanted to hear about Aoshi, the information he knew. Or...
" Don't worry Misao-chan. Even if Aoshi abandoned you...I'll always be here for you."
" He...he abandoned me?"
" Yes. He did." He said firmly, pulling away from Misao to look at her teary face. " Misao...the reason I'm here today..."
" ...yes?" Misao asked, sniffling.
" I wanted to ask if you would have me."
" Have you?"
" Marry me?"
Misao's wide blue eyes stared into his brown ones. Her heart was so confused...she didn't know what to say. Suddenly, Donashiro's coffee coloured eyes turned blue, his light coloured hair replaced with dark.
" Aoshi-sama...why? You said you would love me..."
Her mind raced as she remembered all the times he had pushed her away, never smiling, never caring.
" Misao...Aoshi doesn't care about you. He left you...I love you."
Donashiro's words only echoed the horrible truth in her mind. Donashiro's warm smiles and twinkling brown eyes invaded her mind, encouraging her, loving her.
Misao stared into her friend's pleading brown eyes. Her mind cleared for a split second, allowing her to make her decision. She wanted to make her decision before she could go back on it. It was the right decision...right?
" Will you marry me? Please Misao?"
" I...I will."
Misao's firm tone made Donashiro hug her tightly to his chest. But the relief she had expected to come afterwards did not arrive. The tightness in her chest remained.
Misao, over Donashiro's shoulder, held her hand up to her nose, breathing in Aoshi's scent, still lingering on her skin.
Misao let her hand fall to the side, hugging Donashiro tighter.
" Good bye Aoshi-sama." She whispered.
***********
Author's note: Neeeeee don't kill me! Reading over this, it seems like the beginning of RHW all over again. :( However, I assure you that its different in more ways than one ( however angst angst ANGST ahead!!!). I haven't had a chance to ask my prereaders to preread so there may be some mistakes I haven't been able to catch myself. Although this is just a prologue, I hope that I got my point across. If you wanted to belt Misao's head in for not listening to Okon ( like I did when I wrote it), then I got my point across. Just to explain the plot line a little bit more ( so you guys can't accuse me of recyling old material...of which I am kinda doing...KINDA), I'll say that in this fic, Misao actually marries Donashiro Kaede. Aoshi does not come back to stop the wedding in any shape, size or form. Hiko nor the Kenshingumi come to stop it. So Misao does marry Donashiro. Going along with the trend of knocking Misao up, she becomes pregnant. The differences of RHW and From my Dreams is that Donashiro is not the clan leader. I'll leave it at that for now, don't want to spoil the plot. *rubs hands together* prepare for LOADS of Misao torture!
Prologue.
_______
The sunlight poured through the cracks of the wooden window frame and the wall, illuminating the room. Various articles of clothing littered the room, a pink sash, a blue ninja uniform...a plain yukata. Strands of loose, long blue hair mingled with the relatively shorter glossy black hair. A groan interrupted the silence. The creator of the sound sits up, his eyes searching for answers. They narrow on the sleeping figure snuggled up to his chest. His large hands tangle in the long hair of the sleeper as he struggles to his feet.
" Masaka...what have I done?"
A hot red blush crept up to his usually pale skin as his eyes fell on the nakedness of the sleeper. His heart raced as he searched the room for his clothes, rapidly securing them on his body. He would have to leave soon...he shouldn't have done it that night. He should have waited.
_______
" MISAO-CHAN!!!!"
Misao awoke with a start, sitting up from her futon. She shivered as she felt a light breeze blow on her bare skin.
Bare skin?
" Misao!!! Are you awake? He's here!"
She panicked as she could hear the caller's footsteps approach. She cringed as she saw her scattered clothes. Quickly, she got up from the futon and quickly latched the door shut.
" Misao! This isn't like you. Donashiro-san is downstairs."
" Kaede? Tell him to wait! I'm still dressing!"
Okon gave a few more tugs at the door before finally giving up.
" Fine. But you hurry up ok?"
Misao heaved a sigh of relief as she heard Okon's retreating footsteps. She looked down at her feet, noticing the remains of her chest binding in pieces. He had been rather...impatient. Her cheeks burned as she remembered the events of last night, wondering what she would say when she saw him that morning. She hurriedly started to put on her clothes, starting with the binding. She smiled happily, breathing in the scent of sandalwood incense, which still lingered on her skin from the night before.
" Misao!"
" Coming!"
Misao rapidly finished getting dressed and fixed up her futon. As she braided her hair, she made a mental note to change the sheets. She raced out of her room and down the stairs, eager to see her good friend.
" Eto...Misao-chan. You may not enter."
" Nani!?"
Okon stopped her before she entered Okina's sitting room. She could see the shadows of Okina and Donashiro seated inside.
" It is Okina's order. Now come on, eat some breakfast. No doubt you'll be bouncing off the walls again flirting with Donashiro-kun."
" I do NOT flirt with him! We're just friends!!"
Okon tipped her head to one side, a look of confusion on her face.
" Honto?"
" Hai."
" Whatever...just go eat your breakfast now."
Misao began to walk towards the kitchen before stopping, remembering she had to ask Okon something.
" Okon. Where's Aoshi-sama?"
Okon turned around, the look of confusion still on her face.
" He's not here."
" You mean he's at the temple?"
Okon shook her head, frowning at Misao.
" I thought you knew Misao-chan. He left this morning..."
" How long is he going to be gone for? He's just doing a little shopping or something right?"
Misao's heart skipped a beat as her mind raced.
" I don't think he'll be back for a long time..."
That was all Misao wanted to hear. Her eyes filled with tears as her chest squeezed tightly. She ran from Okon, wanting to pretend that she hadn't heard her words.
" for a business trip...Matte Misao! What's wrong??"
The fast beating of her heart drowned out any other voices in her head, Okon's words not reaching her.
_____
" Thank you for stopping by Donashiro-san. What would you like to talk about?"
Okina sat opposite the handsome young man. His lightly coloured hair shone brightly in the sunlight streaming through the open window.
" Please Kashiwazaki-sama, I would like to request something from you."
Okina's eyes widened at the formal addressing, wondering what Donashiro Kaede really wanted.
" What would you want from me?"
A red blush spread across his cheeks as he rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment.
" Ano...About Misao-chan."
" Yes?"
" I would like to marry her."
Okina raised an eyebrow. He would tell this man the same thing the other dozen suitors had heard.
" For your clan's sake or for your own?"
" ...Though it would be good for my clan, I want Misao as my wife...I ...I lo..."
Okina saw the obvious discomfort in Donashiro's body language.
" If she agrees, then I sanction this marriage."
Donashiro rose from his seat, grabbing Okina's hands and pumped them up and down with his own.
" oh thank you!"
" Mind you, remember I said if she agrees."
" She'll agree won't she? We're good friends."
Now it was Okina's turn to sit rather uncomfortably.
" As much as she likes you as a friend Donashiro, I cannot assure you of success. If you are such a good friend, then you should know about..."
" Yes I know."
" Then go and ask. It can't hurt."
Donashiro bowed, leaving the room. Okina stroked his beard and looked out the window. This rejecting the suitor routine was getting old. ____
Donashiro walked around the Aoiya, searching for Misao. He now had only one thing on his mind. While he had the permission to he would surely ask, and succeed.
Donashiro stepped out into the Aoiya's garden, calling Misao's name.
" ...Kaede-kun?"
Donashiro's tall figure turned sharply, his warm brown eyes spotting Misao sitting against the far wall of the building.
" Ne Misao-chan...why are you sitting there?"
He hurried over, noticing the tears and Misao's red eyes.
" Why are you crying?"
He bent down to comfort her, wondering what could make such a genki ninja become so sad. He hugged her, feeling such contact was necessary to comfort her. Misao welcomed him, crying over his shoulder.
" Doushita no Misao?"
" He...he left me. How could he?"
" Who would leave such a pretty girl like you?"
" Aoshi-sama...he left this morning."
Misao clung tighter, her chest heaving in effort to inhale enough oxygen to supply her loud sobs. Donashiro was at a crossroad. He could comfort her, tell her what she wanted to hear about Aoshi, the information he knew. Or...
" Don't worry Misao-chan. Even if Aoshi abandoned you...I'll always be here for you."
" He...he abandoned me?"
" Yes. He did." He said firmly, pulling away from Misao to look at her teary face. " Misao...the reason I'm here today..."
" ...yes?" Misao asked, sniffling.
" I wanted to ask if you would have me."
" Have you?"
" Marry me?"
Misao's wide blue eyes stared into his brown ones. Her heart was so confused...she didn't know what to say. Suddenly, Donashiro's coffee coloured eyes turned blue, his light coloured hair replaced with dark.
" Aoshi-sama...why? You said you would love me..."
Her mind raced as she remembered all the times he had pushed her away, never smiling, never caring.
" Misao...Aoshi doesn't care about you. He left you...I love you."
Donashiro's words only echoed the horrible truth in her mind. Donashiro's warm smiles and twinkling brown eyes invaded her mind, encouraging her, loving her.
Misao stared into her friend's pleading brown eyes. Her mind cleared for a split second, allowing her to make her decision. She wanted to make her decision before she could go back on it. It was the right decision...right?
" Will you marry me? Please Misao?"
" I...I will."
Misao's firm tone made Donashiro hug her tightly to his chest. But the relief she had expected to come afterwards did not arrive. The tightness in her chest remained.
Misao, over Donashiro's shoulder, held her hand up to her nose, breathing in Aoshi's scent, still lingering on her skin.
Misao let her hand fall to the side, hugging Donashiro tighter.
" Good bye Aoshi-sama." She whispered.
***********
Author's note: Neeeeee don't kill me! Reading over this, it seems like the beginning of RHW all over again. :( However, I assure you that its different in more ways than one ( however angst angst ANGST ahead!!!). I haven't had a chance to ask my prereaders to preread so there may be some mistakes I haven't been able to catch myself. Although this is just a prologue, I hope that I got my point across. If you wanted to belt Misao's head in for not listening to Okon ( like I did when I wrote it), then I got my point across. Just to explain the plot line a little bit more ( so you guys can't accuse me of recyling old material...of which I am kinda doing...KINDA), I'll say that in this fic, Misao actually marries Donashiro Kaede. Aoshi does not come back to stop the wedding in any shape, size or form. Hiko nor the Kenshingumi come to stop it. So Misao does marry Donashiro. Going along with the trend of knocking Misao up, she becomes pregnant. The differences of RHW and From my Dreams is that Donashiro is not the clan leader. I'll leave it at that for now, don't want to spoil the plot. *rubs hands together* prepare for LOADS of Misao torture!