Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin so chill. ^-^x

Icy Heaven – Chapter Three – By Cherry Chibi

Aoshi was interrupted from his meditation. Misao had nudged his sleeve gently. "Aoshi-sama… why don't we go outside for a walk ne? It's getting boring here…" She knew that she couldn't leave the building due to the threat and because of her rising mission to find Aoshi's smile, she didn't want to make him angry in any way. "It's really nice outside."

 "Hai, I suppose." He stood and Misao hopped up smiling. He followed her out of the room silently while she skipped along the halls cheerily; humming a song all the way. When they had reached outside, Misao stretched her arms and reached for the sky.

 "See Aoshi-sama! It's a beautiful day! How can you stay inside everyday?" Misao asked, she turned her head and smiled before dropping her arms. Her behaviour mixed with her image wearing a kimono truly was an unusual sight. "Which path shall we walk Aoshi-sama? Shall we go along the forest path or the garden path?"

He looked at her with a cold, stern expression as he always does. She wanted to go for a walk so why is she asking me? However way she chose would have been fine with him. Although he would like to go to the forest path since he had grown to find the attractiveness and peacefulness of the place.

 "Well Aoshi-sama?" Misao was waiting patiently for his reply.

 "…Okashira, it is your decision." Aoshi replied finally.

 "Alright, we can take your favourite path." Misao said, "The forest path." She started with haste and hummed a song. Aoshi pondered at the thought of how she knew what his favourite was. He followed her with smooth steps.

He's not talking enough! Misao thought, He is always so quiet… how can I make him talk more? I've never seen him laugh or even smile… except for when I was really little, but that was when Hannya and the others were here! But if the legendary Battousai can be softened then surely Aoshi can too! So… She wondered for a while and no idea came to mind. She wanted to throw a tantrum but that idea didn't seem to work for the moment either. I know he likes to go on the forest path… what else does he like?

 "Aoshi-sama, how long has it been since you've been to a tea house?" Misao questioned, "For non-business purposes." There was so much time for her but it seemed to be not enough. Oh how was she going to progress from here?

 "Awhile."

 "How long ago?"

 "About a few weeks."

 "How about we go to one tonight?" Misao asked, "Since there is a lot of time and doing nothing is surely not a good idea ne?" She waited for Aoshi's reply. If I don't figure out a way to make him talk more… I'm going to be the one who looks like a spoilt brat. She thought.

He nodded his reply. She's asking me a lot, Aoshi thought, Probably she's doing this to try and ignore what should be her concern. When he had snapped out of his thoughts, he realized that Misao wasn't by his side anymore. He looked ahead, she wasn't there, he looked behind, no one. He stopped in his tracks and tried to pick up her ki.

 "Why did you stop?" Misao asked, she landed on the ground holding in her hands a small bunch of violet flowers. While Aoshi was lost in though, she had jumped up onto a tree branch to pick the flowers.

Aoshi was taken aback by Misao's question. He counted up the times that they had both been on the walks and how many times Misao had disappeared from sight for short moments, and not once, did he ever stop, he counted the times when he had gotten slightly concerned for her when she went off somewhere but he had always kept walking. There's always a first time for everything.

Maybe I am getting to him…Misao thought with a bit of hope, I guess that it will take time. A lot of time.

* * * *

Aoshi-san,

Tsunami are causing more problems than expected. Take care of Misao.

Okina-san.

* * * *

A month had passed and there hadn't been any sign of any one from the Oniwabanshuu and Misao was worrying. She couldn't stand how it was now so quiet around the area. She hadn't received any messages from her Gramps or anyone. It wasn't right. She was the Okashira and they should have been informing her. She paced in her room. At least Aoshi is talking to me a bit more… All this time surely is giving me the opportunity so why should I be so down? Iie, I won't be… The others will come back. They are strong and I know that.

She was wearing her kimono. During the time, she had gotten to like wearing the dress and had taken out of the bottom of her closet a few more outfits. There was a knock on her shouji door followed by the sliding of wood against wood.

Aoshi entered. He was holding a book by his side.

 "Is there something wrong Aoshi-sama?" Misao asked.

 "Iie, I thought that you were being too quiet this morning and decided to check." Aoshi replied coolly. To Misao's disappointment, there wasn't much change in him this morning.

 "What book are you reading Aoshi-sama?" Misao walked up to Aoshi and had a look at the book's cover. As usual, it was a book about Japanese history. "Aoshi-sama… have you ever read any other books beside ones like these?"

 "Not to my memory." Aoshi replied.

Misao gaped at him. "Not even when you were a child ne? You didn't read any fairy tale books?" She was surprised. "You didn't read any about characters like about the rabbit on the moon?"

 "Most fairy tales were told to me." Aoshi said briefly. "I don't need to read any."

 "Why is that?"

 "You wouldn't know what it was like during the times of war." Aoshi said. She was slightly disturbed by the comment. That was true. She wouldn't know. But she could imagine.

Aoshi knew that it wasn't easy for her to deal with all of the problems that were arising now but he didn't know what to do about it. It was only the two of them at the Aoiya. "Sometimes I wonder why I go instead of Okina-san to this assignment." Aoshi said suddenly, Misao listened straight away. "At least if Okina-san remained, it would have been easier for you to deal with the time."

 "It wouldn't have made any difference." Misao said, "If it was just me and Gramps, I would've went searching for you like I did last time." She recalled all of her experiences. How dreadful it had felt when she had found someone who had seen Aoshi but said that he had left town. It had felt so horrible when she realized that she had just missed him that she remembered the smell of her salty tears. But, when she had gone to stop Okina and Aoshi's fight, what he had said to her hurt far more than anything than she had ever felt.

 "Don't ever dare to show your face to me again."

Nevertheless, she still waited for him. "Aoshi-sama, if I had gone away and asked you not to follow, would you have waited for my return or gone with me?"

 "I would do as Okashira wishes." Aoshi said.

I would have wished for you to wait for my return for your safety but at the same time, I would have wished for you to come with me. Misao thought, So it really is your choice for that Aoshi-sama.

"What would you do?"

Did she sense a bit of emotion in those words? Or was it just her imagination? Misao smiled and replied. "I would have gone with you… Even if you had asked me not to follow." There was a long silence between them.

After, they were both snapped out of their silence when their senses picked up a coming object. "Okashira, move." Aoshi pulled her a step towards him. An arrow pierced through the open window, skimmed passed Aoshi's arm and pierced into the wall, where Misao had been standing. Aoshi looked at the minor cut on his arm.

A piece of paper clung onto the arrow and Misao ripped the white dusty note from the arrow as well as pulling the object out of the wall and throwing it out the window.

I'm taking by force.

 "This man makes no sense." Misao said while shaking her head. "That's what he's been trying to do all along. But why would he disappear for so long and suddenly come back by sending a note? It's suspicious…" She was threw the note away and looked at her hands. 'What's this?' Her hands were covered with white powder. It had no smell and looked more like dust so she pushed the thought aside and wiped her hands on the material of her kimono.

"I suggest that you start wearing your old clothing." Aoshi said after placing a hand over her shoulder and leading her out of the room.

Misao felt the warmth emitting from his hand that was on her shoulder and a part of her wished that there would be meaning behind his gesture. Her heart saddened, knowing that the feeling that had built up during the past to now, is something that she wouldn't understand.

 'Taking by force. Then I will kill you if you harm her.' Aoshi thought. Within Aoshi's soul, was a heart which, unknowingly, was melting from its icy form. 'I won't let anyone take her away unless she accepts. She is the Okashira of the Oniwabanshuu and the only one remaining, if she is lost, then the Oniwabanshuu would be dispatched… She is my… best… comrade and friend.'  When they reached the study room, he dropped his hand from Misao's shoulder. Misao walked slowly towards one of the book shelves, she ran her finger along the spines of the books until she stopped at a fairly thick one. She gently removed it from the shelf and gazed at the cover.

 "Aoshi-sama, Okina used to read this book to me a lot. But, now I'm old enough to read it myself." She flicked open the book. Misao looked up, closed the book and held it out to Aoshi. "Please, read it." She looked at him hopefully.

He accepted and glanced at the cover. The Bamboo Forest. Misao pushed him gently into a seat and sat beside him with another book. She smiled. After a while, she placed the other book she had chosen onto the table opened to the first page and read silently.

Aoshi hesitated but decided to read the book anyway. He read the first page, soon he had turned over to the next few pages.

Misao had finished her book a while before and laid her head on the table and watched Aoshi read silently. A smile touched her lips, inside, she felt like warmth had engulfed her. The lantern glowed brightly. Time passed slowly and Misao felt wide awake even though she knew that the day was almost over. She was positioned in her chair beside Aoshi feeling content watching him.

He had reached the final chapter and was almost done reading the book. It was truly an amazing story. By the time Aoshi had finished the book, he closed it and finally noticed that Misao had been watching.

She was still young and still had her hidden child inside. Although Aoshi hadn't been reading aloud, like a child, Misao looked like she had been a little girl listening to someone read her a bed time story. A gentle smile lighted her face while she was sleeping.

The lantern was the only source of light, outside had darkened towards the late hours of around midnight. After a while, a small sharp sting occurred in his arm which made him move away from his thoughts, he lifted Misao's sleeping form and carried her towards her room. On the way, Misao snuggled up against him. Her body usually felt light when he carried her but now it felt almost as if he was carrying a sack of potatoes. Something felt wrong.

Aoshi slid the shouji door closed behind him and entered the dark room. He knelt and laid Misao on her futon. In her sleep, she mumbled something and her arms held tightly around Aoshi's neck. He raised his hands and tried to unravel her fingers. When he finally managed to remove Misao's hands, he sat against the wall feeling exhausted. 'What's wrong with me?' He thought bitterly to himself.

When he finally got to his senses. Images flickered through his mind. The white powder. It was on the arrow and… 'The arrow had cut my skin… the drug must've gotten into my blood…' He felt adrenaline surge through his body. He stood and stumbled out of the room. 'The effects must have slowed while I was reading.'

* * * *

AN: Wonder if anyone remembers me… it's been so long. Holidays sure make you feel tired. I think I'll be staying home for a long while now… How was the chapter guys? It's been awhile since I've been writing so I'm going to have to shape myself up. Sorry that nothing much has happened in this chapter but I will try to pick up pace on the next…

Unique-Starfish: Thanks for the encouragement! ^-^x Sorry that I haven't been updating but it's because I've been really busy during these holidays. I've just came back from my 10 day holiday across the country and all…

Nibi-Chan: Oh! Hope that you didn't die… I don't want to be charged for murder… I already have enough threats… *clears throat and gulps* Thanks for telling me the info and about your fic. I'll look it up when I get the chance!

Luna: *On the floor crouching while holding head in pain with a huge bump* Yes mam! I'll post more chapters whenever possible! @-@x

Nee-chan: Yep. Good thing for keyboards. I'm not sure which fic you'll check first but… I'll tell you in this one too. Perth is the capital city of Western Australia. I live in Melbourne which is on the eastern side of the country. ^-^x I've just settled comfortably at home, (thank god!) I'll be trying to update asap!

Thanks everybody!!! Until next time,

~ Cherry Chibi