Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin so chill. ^-^x
Icy Heaven – Chapter Two – By Cherry Chibi
"I'll have you…"
"Iie. I'll fight you!"
"What's the use little darling? Without Aoshi-sama?"
"Shut up!"
Footsteps woke Misao from her disturbing nightmare. She sat upright panting. It was just a dream. Aoshi-sama is still here… She glanced at the shouji door as it slid open. He must have gone out during the night to get something… "Ao-," Immediately, Misao's breath was caught in her throat. The intruder had gripped her throat tightly.
"You will come with me."
I didn't have the Oniwabanshuu teach me for nothing! Misao flipped over an kicked the man in the side before kicking him again on the head. His grip loosened and she pushed it off her neck. Tsunami member had burned himself on the candle flame that was flickering not very far away. He gripped his arm with a frustrated growl.
She gathered herself onto her feet and sprinted out of the room and slammed the shouji door shut. It was dark there was a candle light flickering on the walls. Aoshi-sama must be there… Misao thought as she pushed harder to run there. Her limbs were pulsing with adrenaline and she heard metallic clashes grow louder and louder.
Misao pulled out a handful of her kunai and skid to a halt at the door that lead towards the outside. She slid open the door and froze. She watched as Aoshi slashed his opponent's chest without difficulty. Silence was restored at that moment. He looked up at her and then threw a kodachi blade at her. She quickly dodged it and a small amount of blood splattered onto her yukata. She turned around and saw another man pinned to the wall.
Aoshi pulled the kodachi out of the corpse and wall, wiped the blade clean and sheathed it.
"I'll help get rid of the bodies." Misao said hoarsely.
"I'll do it."
A while later, after everything that was required to be done was accomplished, Misao had decided to go to take a bath, even if it was late at night. Misao shivered from the cold. She coughed a couple of times. Maybe it hadn't been a very good idea to take a bath at this time of night. She made her way from the bathhouse to her room. Aoshi was walking behind her quietly. He had accompanied her and kept watch for another attack. "Aoshi-sama, when are Gramps and the others going to come back?" She turned her head so that she could see him clearly.
"Okina-san didn't say when." Aoshi replied. He removed his white coat and handed it to Misao. She reluctantly accepted and wrapped it over her shoulders, pleased with the warm feeling embracing her.
Aoshi raised his senses. He didn't want to have another attack and hoped that he would be able to rest a bit. Misao sensed Aoshi's faint tired ki. When they had reached her room, she stepped back. "Aoshi-sama, get some rest." Aoshi looked as if he was about to retaliate. "This is an order from your… Okashira." Aoshi was taken aback. Misao had said it with a sense of trueness of a leader. "Aoshi-sama, get some rest now."
Later when Aoshi had finally gone into a light sleep in his room. Misao silently entered his room and sat beside his futon. She pulled her knees close to her chest. Closing her eyes she hugged the coat that Aoshi had given to her before for extra warmth. He's turning back to normal I guess… Misao thought, At least he isn't a cold killer…She gazed at Aoshi's resting face and smiled. He still looks serious when he sleeps.
She thought about the day's events. What he said to me… it's true. If I can't realize pass my fears as a girl then I can never be a strong true leader. If I can't do something like that then I can never be strong enough to hold the pain and suffering of Aoshi-sama and the others. She squeezed herself tighter. Kaoru-chan had told me…
~*~
"I'm glad that you have found Aoshi-san." Kaoru said. She and Misao were seated in a private room at the dojo.
"Thank you Kaoru-chan. I just hope that one day…"
"I know." Kaoru cut in. "Listen Misao-chan, it takes rain and shine to make a rainbow." She looked seriously at Misao, "Never give up on him." Misao nodded.
"I know. That's why I will always wait for him." Misao said.
~*~
It takes rain and shine to make a rainbow… Misao smiled to herself while she undid her braid. She tilted her head back and her hair flowed over her shoulders. Late morning light flooded through the cracks of the window shutters. I will have to keep going and keep trying. There's nothing that can stop me. She was determined more than ever. "I will find your true smile."
Aoshi stirred from his sleep by a smell and sound. He sat upright and found Misao sitting nearby resting her head on her knees. So he did smell the aroma of the mountain flowers. Did he sleep that well? He usually had to meditate into rest and that was as deep as he would go.
"Morning Aoshi-sama." She smiled at him, "For once you sleep from night until near afternoon."
"What are you doing in here?"
"Watching out for you. After all, you are watching over me." Misao replied. "I don't think Tsunami will come for a while." She stood. "You were right yesterday, about my fears. I thought about it. Soshite, I realized that I'm not a girl. I'm Okashira and I should be giving an example to my comrades no matter what age. Doumo Arigatou Aoshi-sama." She bowed to him before leaving the room.
Suddenly she seems to have grown over night, Aoshi thought. He slid out of the futon and folded up the blankets and the mattress. He changed from his yukata to his usual clothing of black pants and top. He picked up his white coat that had been folded neatly and laid on the floor.
* * * *
Early next morning…
Something has gotten into her mind… Aoshi thought as Misao placed a bowl of rice in front of him. She's serving late breakfast and… wearing a kimono? Misao knelt and straightened the blue material that had a few white embroidered flowers, there were a couple of slits on the sides for easy movement.
"*Itadaki masu." Misao said. She and Aoshi picked up their chopsticks.
(* Term used before eating.)
It was one of the first times Aoshi had tasted Misao's cooking and he was surprised that it had tasted good. He realized that for some odd reason, Misao had made an effort to 'dress up' as well as become more feminine. It wasn't annoying but it felt awkward.
"Something wrong Aoshi-sama?" Misao asked with a smile. Good thing I kept the kimono that the other women gave me… She knew that Aoshi was confused about her sudden change but it was fun to play around and confuse Aoshi-sama.
"Iie. Nothing's wrong Mis…"
"It's Okashira." Misao interjected. She smiled nicely. It must have been very awkward to have to call another person 'Okashira'. Not to mention it felt even weirder to tell someone who was the Okashira to call her that. However, there shouldn't be any exceptions unless that person was Okina since he is her closest 'family'.
"Nothing is wrong Okashira." Aoshi repeated. Besides the fact that you are wearing something that I thought you hated and doing things that you usually avoided. He continued eating silently.
* * * *
AN: There's the next chapter! Thanks everyone for your reviews! ^o^ I'm glad that everyone who's reviewed has like this so far! Sorry if this was a bad chapter. I have a blocked/runny nose, a swollen eyelid (don't know why) and I've just lost my voice. -
Unique-Starfish: Thanks! I've updated as soon as I could. Hope you enjoyed it!
TrappedXDarkness: Well, I do like to make my first chapters interesting. ^-^x Something that my English teacher has always told me to do. *remembers teacher saying* "You must introduce and get into the plotline straight away! It must have some form of action to make the reader interested!" *returns to reality* Lol. Thanks for your comments!
myREEN n' RAAYneer: Thanks for reading and reviewing! And no worries, I'll continue this fic until the finish.
Widowmaker: ^o^ Thank you for your feedback! I was really encouraged (I'm always encouraged every time I read my reviews) But your review was one of the very few that comment on my style of writing. ^-^ Hope that this chapter wasn't too bad, I'm having trouble concentrating 'cos I'm sick. Anywayz, thanks!
Charmed: Hey! Thanks for reviewing! ^-^ Hope you liked this chapter! Sorry for the long, long wait.
VolleyGurly: Updated as soon as I can. Hope you liked it! Thanks for reading!
Jesse the Wolf Demon: Thanks! I'm a fan of Aoshi/Misao couplings too so I hope you have fun reading as much as I do writing ^o^
Nee-chan: Hi! Well, sorry that I haven't update any of my fics lately but I've been on holidays. Tomorrow I'm heading west to Perth and I wouldn't be able to get on the net much. Anyway, I updated today!!! ^-^ Thanks for reviewing!
BubblyBoo: Thanks for reviewing! ^-^ Hope that you liked this chapter!
Airmed: Thanks for your review!!! *scratches head* You know how you said that you thought that my first chapter was kinda confusing? Can you point out he problem spots for me? Don't worry, I won't bite your head off. Just feel free to tell me any problems. ^-^
Well, is that everyone? I think so... Just as a warning, I always say Thank You to everyone as well as apolgise a hell of a lot. (I think that it will get annoying. Tell me when it does.)
Alright, I'll update as soon as I can! Remember I'm open to suggestions!
Until next time…
~ Cherry Chibi