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 4

Rolling the Ball

Both of us looked up at the apple.

I looked at Soujiro.

He looked at me.

Then we went right back at looking up at the apple.

"Sao- kun," Soujiro said still staring at the apple, "want to make it a race?"

Oh no. I could feel it… I could feel that he had something up on his sleeves. Again. I narrowed my eyes. We were walking around for hours and it was way past lunch time. We had nothing to eat, there wasn't a decent spring in sight, and we were very hungry. Then there was the apple up on the tree. The very shiny, red apple. The very juicy and huge apple. The very sweet apple…

"Winner takes all." I could feel THE smile.

Normally, I wouldn't race against Soujiro for such trivial things. Then again, this is a life and death situation… and other than the apple being at the top branch of an uncannily tall apple tree, the tree was situated at the top of a cliff. And we're at the bottom of the hill. I figured I had a chance. And I am ever so hungry and –

I WANT THAT APPLE!!!

I nodded determinedly, agreeing, "All right. Winner takes all."

He looked at me, and nodded. For once, he didn't smile. He definitely is taking this seriously. Well, I wasn't going to take it lightly too. I just needed one shot… and that apple's mine. My name's practically written on its shiny, crimson skin. I grinned. We positioned ourselves in line with a boulder. Looking up at my target, I counted, "Three…"

… I reached in my back…

"Two…"

… I clutched my kunai…

"One! GO!"

… I leaped into the air just as he ran up the hill in a ridiculously fast pace – so fast that all that was left of him was a blue blur. I knew that there was no chance in hell that I would win over him if I ran too… so I did the only thing I can. I aimed, flicked my wrist, and threw! The kunai cut the apple off just as a hand was reaching up for it. I leaped up again with all great speed – cheering in victory inside (Go Misao! Go Misao!) – and opened my palm to catch the falling fruit in mid-air.

Nothing.

I looked down, and there was Soujiro taking a bite from MY apple smiling happily.

I crashed down to earth.

*BLAAAAGGG!!!*

"Ne Sao- kun," I heard the crunch of the apple against his teeth. Oh! It is too much to bear for my ears and stomach! "I think that *crunch* you should *crunch* do something *crunch* about your landing."

*CRUNCH!*

Painfully standing up, I glared and pointed an accusing finger at him. "YOU STOLE MY APPLE!!!"

He crunched on, unfazed. "It was just a race, Sao-kun!"

Okay, I have to change tactics if I want at least a bite of that red, juicy, sweet apple. Hey, a little is better than nothing. I turned to him with my best puppy dog-eyed expression and said, "Sou-kun… may I… have one teensy- weensy bite? Pretty please?"

Puppy dog eyes galore.

I swear I saw the all-familiar mischievous glint in his eyes before he hooded his expression and became thoughtful. "Well… it depends. What will I get in return?"

"I'll do anything!" I begged. I can honestly say that this desperate depravation had led me to this current state of craziness. Fortunately, they were the magic words. Unfortunately, those words will lead to my doom. But what the heck, I just want that damned apple!

He raised an eyebrow. "Anything?"

"Anything." That did it.

He sighed, defeated and cut off half of the apple. "Oh, all right! Here." He handed it to me, and I happily gobbled it down in less than three seconds. After my initial satisfaction, my ability to think sensibly returned and the gravity of what I agreed to suddenly dawned to me.

I am dead meat.

I looked at Soujiro. He was grinning madly… more than the usual smile. This was his menacing, mischievous grin. The SCARY one. The one that told me, "hey sucker! You fell for it and now you will face the consequences!"

He took a step forward. I took a step back.

"Ne… Sou-kun… can we talk this over? I didn't really mean ANYTHING anything… it's not that kind of anything… I mean… you know… it's a favor thing… not really – AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH –

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– AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!! HAVE MERCY SOUJIRO! DON'T DO THIS TO ME!!!"

Hands were all over me. They held horrible things that I haven't seen before. Some of the hands held me down while the others stripped my dirty garments off. I felt the scalding hot water burn my skin. My face was pulled, my face was pinched, and every possible torturous thing that I can imagine was done to me. But it wasn't the worst of all.

Then came the Cage.

"NOOOOOOO!!!!!" I screamed and staggered out of that room, surprisingly still alive. I couldn't breathe. The Cage was inside me, crushing my lungs. I cursed Soujiro for putting me into this thing… for planning and scheming my doom. He will pay… oh yes! He will pay.

"Maa maa! No need to be melodramatic, Misao-san!" The devil smiled.

"What… the hell… did you do… to me…?" I managed to gasp out. I leaned against a wall and tried to stand up tall to help me inhale some air. I was suffocating. I was dying.

"Here." He led me to a full- length mirror. "You're even prettier than I expected! That dress suits you!" He said cheerily, smiling madly.

I looked at the image reflected in the mirror. The dress was of European style, a formal blue- green one from England, the color bringing out my eyes. It was simple, the smooth cloth flaring out from my tiny waist and the off- shoulder cut showed much of my skin. It seems as if I was dressed in flowing water. I had to admit, it did look good on me. And with a bit of European make-up and my hair fixed up like that (thankfully, it grew back, just not as long), I can honestly say that am quite a sight to behold.

Not like the previous Misao.

Then I began to wonder what Aoshi would think – which I banished completely before the thought even began forming. He probably wouldn't give a damn anyway. These delusional flashes happen from time to time even now, exactly ten months, two weeks, and three days after I left. Hey, who's counting anyway? I shook my head.

But then… the Cage.

"Anou… Sou-kun… why do I have to wear this Cage? I really can't breathe!" I said, reaching out for a fan. I desperately needed air.

"Cage? Ah… you mean the corset!"

"Whatever…"

"It's what European women wear today. It's pretty effective in keeping one's shape!"

More like killing off women through suffocation, I thought. Why doesn't HE wear it?

"What?"

Did I just say that out loud? "Ah… nothing."

I sat down, wondering what trick's up Soujiro's sleeve this time. Probably nothing good. I started to sigh, but then remembered that I couldn't. I glared at Soujiro. "Okay, I did what you told me. When can I get this thing off?" Then a thought struck me. "And where did you get the money for this kind of prank, by the way?"

He reached for something in his pack. "All in good time, Misao- san!"

"Why are you calling me Misao?!"

"Aha!" He procured a piece of paper and handed it to me. Scowling because of his evasion of my questions but still a trifle curious, I grabbed it and read. At first, I didn't get it. What's my connection with this – then I realized it. My green eyes widened at the horror of it all. It can't be… he's not that cruel to make me go through it! But the minute I looked into Sou-kun's eyes, I knew that he WAS that cruel.

NO!

"Yes!" I could definitely hear the sadistic glee in that reply. I crumpled the paper on my gloved hands.

I was going to a ball in fifteen minutes.

All this because of half an apple. I knew I should've just starved to death.

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I remember Aoshi reading me a story when I was a child about an oppressed girl who was aided by some kind of magical aunt so she could go to a ball to meet the prince of her dreams. I remember loving that story and imagining that the same would happen to me and that I would meet my prince in one magical night.

And who was the magical prince then? Of course, it was Aoshi-sama.

I grew up and forgot all about that story. It really is ironic that I remembered that now, of all times. My current predicament is definitely not the same as that fairytale story.

First of all, I am here in the bushes, waiting for everyone to go in so that they won't see me come out. Now, why am I in the bushes? One, I don't have a carriage. Two, it wouldn't be right if I just walked up there while everyone else rode their little horse- carriages… I would look like a fool (not that I'm not one already). Three, well, I like bushes. There are berries if I ever get hungry from waiting. So there.

Second of all, I am doing this as a consequence for eating an apple. Now that didn't sound convincing. Why am I doing this when I could've just beaten the pulp out of Soujiro? Well, I am a ninja and I always keep my word, even if it is because of an apple. Half an apple. After this, I will beat the pulp out of Soujiro in over an hour. That's my time limit.

Third of all, there is no prince charming. End of discussion.

Gate- crashing a European party… what the hell am I doing?

I snapped out of my thoughts the moment the last carriage came. I quickly ran to its side, the one not facing the huge mansion. After the visitors embarked, I went around the carriage to make it look like I, a "member" of the group, went out of the other side of the door. Neat. I followed the visitors, smiled at the guards and got in. Easy.

Now I have to endure a whole hour inside this. I took note of the time. Eleven o'clock on the dot. Right. I stepped out of the hallway and into the ballroom.

Wow. These gaijins sure know how to party.

Everything was gleaming, from the servants, to the food, and up to the ceiling – as if there was a perpetual golden light shining on everything. The crowd was a mixture of foreigners and Japanese. I vaguely noticed that there were more women than men. I shrugged, not really caring. The music was really something though… beautiful and grand. It makes me want to dance the night away. That is, if I knew how to dance, which I didn't.

I mingled around unnoticeably, nibbling bits and pieces of kami-knows-what. This was getting boring. I sighed (I was finally able to do that after practicing) and stood on a shadowy corner, leaning against a post. I contented myself with watching the people. For some odd reason, everything became suddenly hazy. I closed my eyes as an attempt to clear my vision.

~~~

Misao, will you dance with me?

Yes.

I leaned against his broad shoulders as we swayed lightly, not really dancing. The fireworks continued to brighten the dark sky over our heads. The petals of the Sakura trees fell around us.

I love you, Aoshi.

He smiled.

But he didn't reply. He never replied.

And never will.

~~~

I opened my eyes, gasping. I leaned my head against the post and tried to calm my heart beat. Such a huge jolt from such a small memory. I tried to forget that because it was another one of those lies; but I remember it only too well. That Sakura festival – only a few months after our marriage… a time when I was still naïve. I stopped those thoughts lest I break down and cry.

Kami-sama, what is wrong with me?

Funny. I thought I was over it. I thought I was over him. I smiled wryly.

I looked at the grandfather clock on the corner. Eleven fifty. Ten minutes away to freedom. Well, Soujiro wouldn't really know if I sneaked out ten minutes early, right? Besides, nothing was happening. I'll just go out the side door (something I discovered after I entered, much to my frustration) and no one will notice me. Right.

I made my way discreetly. Unfortunately, the "side door" was on the other side of the ballroom from where I was floating in memory lane earlier on. It was beside the grand staircase and I had to pass in front of it to get to the door. Great. Just hold your breath, wish that no one will notice, and move.

I was crossing in front of the staircase when I felt people turning their heads towards me. No, no… I'm nobody. Don't look! I'm no one special! I continued as gracefully and as inconspicuously as possible.

Then there was utter silence.

Nervous now, I stopped in front of the staircase and turned my head towards the crowd. Much to my relief, they weren't looking at me at all… but at something behind me. Slowly, I turned to look.

And there he was, in all his glory. The prince of the night.

I really couldn't see his face at first. It was the height that first caught my eye. It eerily resembled Aoshi's height. And the hair… a bit longer but it has that soft look, almost the same as Aoshi's too. Prince Charming looked good in a black European suit. It brought out his blue eyes.

Wait a minute. Blue eyes? For a minute there, I thought I saw him as Aoshi. I blinked. Really, this is getting to me. Maybe Soujiro drugged me or something to cause me to hallucinate. Damn. No wonder my feelings were riding the waves.

I blinked again and looked.

My heart skipped a bit as the truth hit me right into my clueless brain. I couldn't believe it. My eyes widened.

And who was the magical prince then? Of course, it was Aoshi-sama.

Aoshi.

And he was staring right at me.

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Author's notes: Ohoho. This was longer than the usual… and a cliffhanger! I like. ^_^

Okay, due to some POLICY, I won't be able to reply to all of your reviews. *grumbles* So, I shall endeavor in the task of e-mailing the people who asks questions. Please leave your e-mail address so I can reply! I WILL try my best in this! :D Thanks for wonderful, wonderful reviews minna-san!! :P

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