Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin so chill. ^-^x
Icy Heaven – Chapter One – By Cherry Chibi
"Gramps!" Sixteen-year-old Misao sprinted and skidded through the halls of the Aoiya. It was a bright morning and the birds were singing cheerily, but there were things missing, or shall she say, people. She soon reached Okina's office room and slid open the shouji door. The window had been left open and papers were blown off the desk. "Demo… where could they have gone?" Misao entered the room and picked up the papers and messed up books. She placed them neatly on the desk and closed the window.
She sat on the chair and sighed. "There's no one in this building…" A few moments passed before she stood and walked quietly out of the room. Demo… Aoshi-sama is still here…Misao thought as she paced herself. Her heart was beating fast, threatening to pump its way out of her chest. She stopped in front of Aoshi's private room and listened. She could hear breathing as well as feel his ki faintly flowing in the air. Hontou?! Aoshi-sama is here?! Misao's head floated into the clouds.
After a couple of moments, Misao heard something shift from the other side of the door, she quickly decided to keep moving. I should make come breakfast.
* * * *
Aoshi was stirred from his meditation by a pigeon that had landed on the window ledge. He silently stood and walked over to the noisy thing and removed the message from its leg.
Aoshi-san,
The Oniwabanshuu and I have been asked to help in a small assignment by the police. Please take care of my little darling, Misao for me and be aware of our enemies.
Okina.
He sent the pigeon off. Aoshi folded the note and placed it on his desk. So that was the reason why everyone was gone. It couldn't have been a small assignment though, especially since a small assignment wouldn't require that much assistance of the Oniwabanshuu.
It must be the Tsunami group again… Aoshi thought as he slid open the shouji door and walking along the wooden halls. They have been causing problems for the Oniwabanshuu, especially since Okina strictly denied their leader, Shinji, of taking Misao. In a strange stirring feeling, Aoshi felt relieved, he couldn't explain why but it was just that. Probably it was because Misao had been growing up with him for many years and they had a unique friendship that didn't require much conversation.
* * * *
Misao waited for the water to boil over the fire. She sighed. Being alone at the Aoiya with Aoshi was something like a dream. This is my chance… I will try to find the real smile hidden in Aoshi-sama… I want to find it… how though? Misao's thoughts wandered off to different spaces in her mind as though they were slowly blocking off the holes in a brick wall. It had been a few months since she had seen Kaoru, Kenshin, Yahiko and the others in Kyoto and Megumi in Aizu. She wondered how they were doing.
She wondered where the Oniwabanshuu could've gone without mentioning a word to her. It isn't usual that everyone disappears like that… Unaware that for a short moment, she was being watched from behind.
* * * *
Aoshi stood at the doorway watching Misao for a few moments, when he wasn't sure whether he should tell her what was happening now or whether he should leave it for later. Suddenly, as quick as it came, it vanished. Aoshi had his hand prepared over the hilt of his kodachi. The strong ki had tainted the air and Misao had felt it too. She had dropped the porcelain bowl onto the floorboards where it smashed into jagged pieces. The strong ki was recognizable too. Shinji of the Tsunami.
* * * *
Misao took slow deep breaths. Shinji Udou was Jineh's younger brother and ever since Jineh had committed suicide, he had taken over, meaning that he was the next bloodthirsty manslayer. What really scared her though, was the fact that he had approached her before, questioning and persisting her. She knelt over to the floorboards to pick up the broken pieces but ended up kneeling on a few small sharp pieces. She gritted her teeth and knelt back. Blood seeped from the wounds.
She pulled her legs up close to her chest. "He's after me… he's going to get me…" Misao whispered. After Okina had warned Shinji to back off, Misao was approached by the man again and he had threatened her to be his or else he would do harm towards her loved ones.
"Stay around me."
"Huh?" Misao looked up teary-eyed and saw cold blue eyes. "Aoshi-sama…"
"I've been assigned to take watch over you. Get some bandages on those cuts." He said coldly while crouching down beside her. He wasn't going to let the man harm anyone in the Oniwabanshuu. He wasn't going to let anyone in the group die. Especially since he had seen his closest comrades die before him.
"H-hai, Aoshi-sama." Misao ignored the pain immediately and stood. She bowed politely to him before leaving the room quickly to tend to her cuts. Misao was always listening and doing whatever Aoshi wanted, well almost. Being around him was like winning a war. It was a precious moment and she wanted to remember every one of them.
After she had fixed herself, she returned and found the room clean with Aoshi sitting at the side near the left wall reading a book. "Eeto… Aoshi-sama, do you know Shinji Udou?"
"Hai."
Misao sat beside Aoshi quietly. "I'm afraid of him as a girl… demo… as a Oniwabanshuu member, I despise him." She took a handful of Aoshi's trench coat's sleeve to get his attention. "Aoshi-sama... doumo arigatou go zai masu." She smiled at him but he held his stern face.
I'll find his real smile. She thought to herself while she stood up to close the window a bit to stop the breeze blowing in. When she had reached the window, a rope whipped the air and wrapped itself around her neck in an instant.
Misao gripped the rope around her neck to help stop herself from suffocation. She saw a man with gleaming black eyes. "Remember what I told you little darling." He said in a tainted 'loving' manner. A metallic ring shocked through the atmosphere and the rope ended up with splintered ends. Aoshi removed the rope from Misao's neck and hushed her. He eyed out of the window but the man had disappeared.
Without any words, Aoshi placed a hand on Misao's shoulder and pulled her back from the window. He shut the windows. "From now on, remain in my sights." Aoshi said icily.
"Aoshi-sama, I can take care of myself," Misao said.
"You cannot defend yourself against him without realizing passed your fear as a girl." Aoshi replied.
Misao nodded slowly. "Hai. Gomen nasai Aoshi-sama."
Why did she always have to be so polite around him? Aoshi couldn't figure it out. He wasn't the Okashira anymore, well, according to the others anyway. But even if Misao had self proclaimed that she was the Okashira before, she acted as if he was. Sometimes he wondered if she was even strong enough to hold a position like that.
* * * *
AN: There's the start and hopefully I'll update again soon, that is if I get feedback. Well, ja mata! Hope you enjoyed this chapter! ^-^x
Until next time,
Cherry Chibi.