Summary: Aoshi and Misao are happily married? That should've been the case, but Misao realizes that she was just deluded by that fantasy. Oh, they were married all right, but not happily. What happened? That's what she is going to figure out. A/M.
Happily Ever After? Hardly.
By Tesuka- chan
Chapter 1
Fairytale
The prince swept her off her feet and kissed her passionately on her lips as the sun sets on the horizon. And they lived happily ever after. The End.
I scoffed and threw the stupid book on the floor. Okon and Omasu read these things? I sighed, wondering why I agreed to be manipulated by those two women. They so "nicely" asked me to read those things… "to give you an idea how to become a woman!" they say! HA! Does being a woman include 'sunsets' and 'sweeping off her feet'? What does that mean anyway? Cleaning her feet with a broom? What?
I honestly don't understand this at all.
I sighed, put my arms behind my head and leaned back against the tree trunk. I am 17 now, soon to be turning 18 in a month. I'm not dense. I know that I am a bit boyish and that other normal girls my age are already happily married with two wailing children. But then again, I'm not normal. How many ninja girls are there nowadays? A few, and the numbers are diminishing. It is the age of peace after all and our services are not needed anymore. Even the Oniwabanshuu is losing its power and prestige. But I've been a ninja all my life and I will be one until I die.
I keep wondering what will happen to me if my being a ninja becomes obsolete. What comes next? What will I do? I wasn't trained for anything else… I am a ninja through and through and I can't imagine being anything else like a sailor or a geisha (not that I'm qualified for that. Ick).
Hmmm… is this why the two conniving witches of the east and west gave me those books? Sou na… they'll probably preparing to marry me off! Damn, damn, damn! But I don't want to get married! Not to a businessman, not to a farmer, not even to the emperor – I won't marry anyone! Well, probably except…
…Aoshi –sama.
The only man that I'm willing to marry, of course.
I think I can associate him with being a ninja. In a way, I've loved him all my life. My love for him is deep and true. I know he loves me too, just that he doesn't realize it yet. He'll come to his senses one day and ask me to marry him. And I'll be the princess waiting forever for that. Huh. Now that's a great story.
"Misao-chan! Time to bring Aoshi-san his tea at the temple!"
Oh, right! I almost forgot about that.
I quickly stood up and headed inside to make tea for Aoshi-sama. After getting all that I needed for the tea ceremony, I bid Omasu goodbye (who was grinning very wickedly for some freaky reason) and walked towards the temple. My head was still full of the ideas I had earlier on as I entered the room where Aoshi-sama was. Seeing him in his usual place and looking like his usual, meditating self, I started the tea ceremony while stealing glances at him. This in itself was a ritual. I mechanically performed everything and finally served him his tea.
And here comes my daily thrill. His hands momentarily touched mine when I gave him the bowl. And there ended my daily thrill.
Damn, I am so pathetic.
I watched him as he silently drank his tea. I know that he values his silence while drinking and I respected that. I would usually only start to speak after he finishes it and I would then narrate to him what happened that day. Frankly, even after almost two years of doing this, I still don't know if he listens to what I actually say. He would usually nod or say his usual "Aa." His cold, blue eyes give nothing away and his handsomely carved features never shifts, never changes. Always the same, cool, silent countenance.
Yet to my surprise (and my delight), he was the first to speak today.
"Misao, how old are you?" Even the most trivial of questions, when it is asked by him, gives me another one of those pathetic thrills. Even though I was disappointed that he forgot my age, I was still glad that he spoke to me.
"I am seventeen, turning eighteen next month."
He nodded and said, "So it is." Then he added, "You are past the eligible age for girls to marry."
"Well… yes, but I don't really mind it at all." I began to wonder about coincidences. I was thinking about the exact same thing a few moments before. Then I became suspicious. What is this all about? Is he like Okon and Omasu, planning to marry me off?
"What would you say about getting married?" I knew it!
"Now?" I asked, feigning surprise. Sure, I'll play this game.
"Hai."
"I don't know. I don't think I'm ready yet. I guess I'm too busy with my training and all so I haven't really thought about it." I carefully said while peeping at him through my lashes. Stoicism makes him more handsome, I think.
"But if someone asks your hand in marriage, would you accept?" If I wasn't nervous before, I sure am now.
"Anou… it depends, Aoshi-sama. If I knew and liked the person..." I left it hanging and shrugged. I hope he gets the picture.
"Aa." He shifted his head in an angle and began to stare off in space.
I heaved a sigh of relief. He won't pursue it. I guess I'm safe for now. Really, getting married to a stranger? If they don't know what to do with me, why don't they just say it outright so I can decide myself? I am, after all, an adult now. Not to mention a living, breathing, human being with feelings of my own. I am not just one of those old antiques that are given away or something! If this goes on, I'll just have to –
"Wait, Misao."
I stopped in mid-rise. I was fixing the materials and was about to go when he suddenly spoke. My trepidation came back. Is he going to finally tell me that someone asked for my hand in marriage? Is he going to finally tell me that I will live with my future husband somewhere up in the mountains in a little shack? NOOO!!!!
He stood up (I can never get over the fact that I only reach a few inches below his shoulders) and went towards me. I had to straighten up, still holding – no, clutching – the tray where everything was. I had to strain my neck to look up at him. Wonderful cerulean eyes…
He stopped a few inches before me with the tray in between us and said in all brevity, "There really is no easy way to say this but... will you marry me?"
To say the least, I was utterly confounded. Understatement of the year. My eyes widened and my heartbeat began to thump faster against my chest. My throat ran dry. For the first time in my life, I couldn't speak. And I didn't realize that I was gripping the tray so hard until his long fingers touched my hands and pried them off it, putting it down on a table near us. Then the impossible happened. He put his arms around me and murmured against my ear, "will you, Misao?"
I looked straight at his eyes. My green ones softened. Of course I knew the answer. I knew it all my life.
I took a deep breath, smiled, and said, "Yes."
His eyes warmed – to my amazement and wonder – and he softly kissed me in the lips. He held me like a porcelain doll, and I loved him for it. I felt like he really cared. My heart almost burst. He wants to marry me. He didn't exactly say the words, but he loves me. I knew it.
I kissed him back as the rays of the setting sun entered the temple.
The marriage ceremony occurred on my birthday.
It was quite odd, really. As if everything was prepared beforehand. Then I realized after that it WAS prepared beforehand and that Okon and Omasu (not to mention Jiya and… oh, just everyone) knew that Aoshi was going to marry me. My white, wedding gown was prepared, the menu for the feast was all planned out – practically everything was taken care of. The only thing to do was to get married.
And so we did.
It was a small affair, the whole Oniwabanshuu members as well as the Kenshingumi from Tokyo. I was glad that they were able to make it, especially Kaoru. Kami-sama, I needed a sane woman with me that day. And sane is not in the vocabulary of Okon and Omasu. Anyway, I was all ruffled feathers and blushing bride. Kaoru, being married to Kenshin for over a year then, told me what to expect. But I think that instead of being comforted, I became more nervous. But, being the brave little ninja that I am, I went through the ceremony with no slips and mistakes. Well, no more than the usual.
There's Yahiko fighting Sano for the last fish, Jiya's state of drunkenness and lechery, and Okon and Omasu's mischievous laughter that can probably be heard all the way to Mt. Fuji. Yup, no more than the usual.
When it was time for me to go to my room – I mean, OUR room – I was sick to my stomach with worry. The terrible witches didn't help at all by pushing me towards the room and smiling evilly. Kaoru just winked and mouthed, "Good luck". For some weird reason, that only intensified my nervousness.
The door ominously shut behind my back.
I sighed, and concentrated on the task of taking off my make- up. Really, I wonder why women like putting them on. It's like having cake smeared on one's face. That thick. In the middle of shoveling it off my face, it got kind of warm so I took off my outer clothing, leaving a thin yukata on. Then I proceeded to completely banish all make-up, heaving a sigh of relief and victory after I accomplished it. I raised my hands to put down my hair when I felt warm fingers on them along with a whispered, "Need any help?"
I jumped in surprise. When did he arrive? I didn't hear anything! My heart began to beat faster than it already was.
He turned me around to face him. My breath caught at the beauty he exuded, the candlelight touching those firm planes, creating shadows that made him look unearthly. His blue eyes were dark, and I couldn't understand the feelings in those orbs. His eyes not leaving my face, he raised his hands and with a flick of his fingers, my tresses came tumbling down on my shoulders. I was vaguely aware that my eyes were wide and my lips were trembling. My cheeks were pink from scrubbing off the make-up. I suppose I created quite an image. I just stood there, unable to do anything.
"So beautiful," he murmured as his hand cupped my cheek, the blessed thumb caressing. His lids half-covered his eyes as he lowered his head to mine for a soft kiss. That stopped the trembling. For a time, I just reveled in the way he kissed me, gentle and loving. Then I tentatively kissed him back, which was probably what he was waiting for because he suddenly had his other hand on the small of my back, pulling me towards him. He deepened the kiss and I groaned against him. I felt his whole body shiver and I wondered if he was cold. I put my arms around him to hold him close to me.
Then I remembered something that I had forgotten to say back in the temple.
I drew back a little, our foreheads touching, and said, "Aoshi, Aishteru."
He opened those heavenly eyes and smiled. His reply was to kiss me again, even deeper than before.
In his silence, I knew that he loves me. No words were necessary. For me, that night was enough. It was the same as the words itself. Besides, actions speak louder than words, right? I shall remember that night forever. It was the night when I found out that heaven can be found on earth.
But unbeknownst to me, I shall soon find out that words have their own power.
And that fairytales all have their evil stepmothers.
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Author's notes: This fic will definitely be shorter than my main ones… just a "what if" thing for me. And yeah, the whole story will be in the POV of Misao. ^_^ I'm glad most of you liked it! Thanks so much for the readers and the following reviewers!
KyteAura: Hmmm… yeah, I thought so too after I read your review. So I changed it right away to a dramatic genre. Hehe… thanks for that! And you'll soon find that out in the next chapter… MEN! ;p
Kakashi-fan: Hey, that's reality, no? Nobody's really THAT perfect. ^_^ thanks for the review!
Oyuki: Thanks! I'll update pretty fast for this story. :D
Spirit demon: Arigatou! *bows*
Fallen wings: thanks a bunch! I like writing great starts. Haha! ;p
Silver Miko: Maa maa… do not fret! Will definitely be A/M. And I didn't say that he's monotonous in bed. I just implied that the sex was so great that she was deceived by it. Lolz. ^_^
Luli451: Gomen, I know… here's Tesuka-chan starting another story! But I just felt that I had to deviate a little from my AU stories. After this, full time on M:F! :D And yeah, the whole thing's in the POV of Misao, but she will still see Aoshi's reaction and stuff. Thanks for being an avid supporter! *grins*
Leila Jenkins: Arigatou! I'm glad you liked it! :)
Bizcochia U-u: Sometimes, I really have odd ideas… haha! Thanks for that! I shall update soon! ;p
Loyanini: Glad you liked the start… Usually sets everything. :D Thanks!
Mirune Keishiko: That's true… I'm into conflicts these days. Frankly, I find the "perfect" ones quite boring. Haha! I'll definitely check out that shrine… thanks so much! ^_^
Gaby (hyatt: Well, I'll let you decide if it really IS later on. Haha! Thanks! ^_^
Mia1218: Twisted… so true. Just like the author! *grins twistedly* LOL. Thanks and I hope you continue reading! ;p
Len: concise! Thanks dude. ^_^
The Jade Lady: Know what? I thought somebody already had this idea… haha! Well, thanks! ^_^ Next Chapter will be soon!
Wow, thanks minna-san for the great replies! Please read and review! Arigatou! ^_^