Authors Notes: I've noticed that a lot of readers are all expectant in wanting to know why Misao hates Aoshi...or why she forgot him, but well the answer isn't something extravagant. What I must mention is that if you haven't seen someone since you were a child, why does it seem difficult to comprehend that they would be forgotten? Also the reasons Misao gets snappy and then ponders things about Aoshi is because she's pretty much in two different worlds. She wants to dislike him for leaving and yet she is happy that he's back and hasn't forgotten her or their past memories at all. So she's a tad confused the poor dear. So anyway I thought I'd clear that up and apologise cause it won't be anything that great really. For good news though, there is lime!

Memories on the Road

Hearing the door click open Misao remained curled on the bed, pillow protectively over her eyes. Staying securely where she was she vowed not to stare at him. She knew it was hard to tell what he was doing at the very moment for obvious reasons, but Misao soon stiffened when there was pressure on the mattress. He wasn't seriously going to lie down with her was he? Misao's thoughts ran wild, but it wasn't long before the pressure left and she felt the cover of the guilt being draped over her curled form by strong hands.

Misao breathed quietly under the pillow, thoughts, past thoughts jumping into her mind at how this very man used to tuck her into bed when she was a child and he a young boy and teenager. Clutching at the blanket Misao opened an eye to look out of the small gap she had and witnessed Aoshi's hand draw a cigarette up to his lips. Shifting as quietly as Misao could, the pillow fell slightly away from her, creating a bigger gap and found that Aoshi was in fact sitting in a low cushioned chair - that had no sides to it - with his feet propped up on a small table. One ankle crossed leisurely over the other, a strange relaxing concept for the usually stern man. The cigarette lay limply but alit against his lips and his head was slightly tilted to his right shoulder. Not only that Misao took in the simple fact his jet black hair was wet and slightly spiked up which gave him quite the yummy disheveled look. And to top off such a vision he was merely dressed in a pair of black slacks...nothing else.

Gulping down the lump in her throat, Misao felt her breath hitch as she watched the gorgeous Aoshi sit up, black pants riding low against his hips as they showed off the waist band of his briefs before he stood up completely. Instantly Misao's hand went straight to her mouth to cover up the gasp that wanted to rip through her entire body. Scars littered Aoshi's back and Misao felt tears spring to her eyes just gazing at him. Silently watching him, Aoshi pulled the curtains away from the window and then opened it up slightly to blow the cigarette smoke out of the room. At the instant he turned around, cigarette drawn back to the corner of his lips, Aoshi's green eyes locked with the wide ones currently staring at him.

"You're awake." He spoke lightly before he watched Misao sit up, his eyes growing wide behind his unruly long bangs as hers watered while she looked upon his scared chest. It appeared that there were more scars on his chest.

"What...happened to you?" Misao quietly voiced, trying to keep her emotions at bay but as usual she failed miserably at it. Glancing down at himself, Aoshi gazed at his own scared body before bending over to fish through his night bag near the table and plucked out a black shirt and placed it on.

"Nothing..." He muttered before sitting back down in the low chair, shirt now resting at his hips and the waistband of his pants and briefs.

"When did you start smoking?" Misao questioned as she watched the end of the cancer stick light up as he inhaled.

"I smoke when I think." Aoshi curtly responded to Misao's question and silently wondered why she all of a sudden had an interest in what he did when merely hours ago she snapped at him and didn't want anything to do with him.

"Is it bad?" Glancing at Misao once more Aoshi found the traces of tears gone and observed as she waved her hand at the lightly vibrating window from the thunder outside and peered over at it once more.

"Aa, any minute now I'm sure we'll loose power." And as though the gods had heard it the room plummeted into darkness.

"Just great..." Misao grumbled from the bed as she drew her knees to her chest and hugged them tightly. She always found herself to be quite the tough girl, but storms just weren't her thing. She could handle the rain, but the lightning and thunder just got to her. Misao wasn't sure if it was because she'd been stuck in one as a child and was rescued by the man occupying the room with her or whether it was because it was storming the night and that day when he had left without even saying goodbye.

Shaking her head, Misao didn't want to know the answers to her ever racing thoughts and instead silently heard some rustling coming from where Aoshi was situated and observed as he flicked on his lighter and lit a candle.

"Where'd you get that?"

"I'm prepared for anything." Came the sharp reply. Misao watched Aoshi's shadow crawl over the walls of the hotel room and then watched him stand up as he placed the candle inside the astray he'd finished using so the wax could drip into it. Placing it on the counter where the television was, Misao watched as the pale yellow colour burned over his rich tanned skin before green eyes snapped to capture hers. Flames danced in Aoshi's eyes and Misao gulped at how captivating he looked just now. The room was dosed in pale light and Misao watched with wide eyes as Aoshi headed over to the very bed she sat on, pulled the blanket from her clutches and threw it around her shoulders.

"You should stay warm and get some sleep. We could be in for a long night." Aoshi muttered as he began to tuck the edge of the blanket into itself.

"I'm not a little kid!" Misao snapped and watched green eyes met her now narrowed look. Was that...sadness in those usually cold eyes? Misao thought she was hallucinating and instead remained indifferent towards Aoshi as he stood back up and headed for the chair once more.

"Sumimasen..." The quiet murmur was heard by Misao as she bit her lip, almost ready to pound her head into the wall behind her for being immature yet again, but instead opted to flop back onto the bed facing away from Aoshi.

The rain continued to fall outside, the wind picked up even more and the claps of thunder were becoming louder. Each time it happened, the window in the room rattled lightly and made Misao flinch as she curled herself further and further into a tight ball. She gasped in surprise when there was pressure behind her as Aoshi sat on the bed, his back to her, but still on the bed and close enough so she knew he wasn't far from being reached.

"Still not used to storms I see." Came his deep voice as it fluttered sensually to her ears. Prying her eyes open, Misao turned her head to look at the broad figure facing away from her. The black shirt was like a second skin on Aoshi as it outlined his muscles.

"Why keep bringing up the past?" Misao muttered to herself but felt her heart quicken when green eyes turned to hold her gaze once more.

"You keep doing things that bring it back. Do you want me to forget?" At observing Misao's eyes widen at his question, Aoshi instantly knew that the answer was no.

"Your face is still the same from when you were a child, but your attitude...is cold."

"What do you expect? It's been 11 years!" Misao snapped as she sat up on the bed, but lost her balance as she did so being wrapped in the large blanket and toppled into Aoshi's half turned body. Instantly his arms went out to hold her against him and that is how Misao stayed. Her heart was thumping against her chest while the side of her face was pressed close to his beating heart. This wasn't her usual self. She initially wanted to thrust away from him, but with the storm echoing outside, the beat of his heart and the warmth he was emitting in this light embrace, Misao couldn't move from it.

"Its been 11 years..." Misao heard herself whisper out and felt Aoshi's arms twitch as they grew stronger around her form.

"Sumanai..." Came back the soft reply and Misao finally got herself together and pushed away from him. Inexcusable... Was that going to be his only remark to try and make up for 11 years of no communication? In truth, Misao had forgotten him, but when she heard his name it all clicked back into place. Her heartbeat quickened and she felt stupid for not noticing those long bangs and that eye colour from somewhere. It was true though, time had passed, she'd changed, he'd changed and nothing could ever bring back the 11 years that had gone by. Nothing could bring back time and all Misao had to ever remind herself that there was an Aoshi Shinomori in the world was past memories.

"You always said that."

"Hmm?" Came the rumble of his voice as it vibrated in his chest.

"You always said 'sumanai' to me when you were late. You said there were no excuses that you could give me that would make me understand...and ironically I accepted that." Misao bit her lip then and bopped the side of her head. "Ah, I don't know why I thought of that just then." Laughing nervously in front of him it fell short as she started to fidget.

"It is inexcusable, but life tends to get in the way of keeping promises."

"Yeah but..."

"Or parents orders too."

"Eh?" Misao snapped her eyes back to Aoshi but watched as he stood up and headed for the candle as he brought out a crumbled packet of cigarettes and bent over to light one up as it sat nestled between his lips. Misao hands fisted against her lap before she stood up and headed for the quiet man. She plucked the tobacco stick from his mouth.

"What do you mean by what you said?" Misao spoke as she stabbed out the cigarette in the astray.

"Forget it..." Came the stern reply, but to Misao it appeared Aoshi had forgotten how stubborn she was and instantly she stepped in front of him and blocked his path to the chair.

"I won't!" She yelled back, but at that very moment a clap of thunder crashed through the darkened sky making Misao jump, shriek and cling to the statue-like Aoshi.

"Still a child." Misao's eyes snapped open at that, anger brewing deeply within her being as she tilted her head up while she stood on tip toes and pulled Aoshi's head down to hers, lips crashing against her own. She didn't know what fuelled her on to do such an act, but when Misao pulled away, a certain heat instantly rose to her face.

"Not a child..." She muttered before racing past the stunned Aoshi and slammed the bathroom door closed and then instantly locked it as well. Sliding down to the floor, Misao pressed her right hand over her lips, eyes jolting around, as she fully comprehended what she had done.

"Misao...?" She instantly stiffened hearing the muffled voice behind the door. "When I came to the Aoiya there was something you were never told about me...about your family and my own." Aoshi sat on the bed facing the bathroom door, but his eyes were focused on the carpeted floor. "In fact, your family...and my own...were rivals." Misao lifted her head up at this new information, eyes turning to look at the closed door in the pitch-blackness of the bathroom. It was doused in light every now and then thanks to the lightning and the small window, but it always remained in darkness, which is exactly how Misao felt at the very moment. Whatever had happened in the past, it appeared she had never been told anything about it.

"I came to the Aoiya playing an orphan when the truth was I wasn't one at all. In fact...I was more or less a spy for my own family. The Makimachi's ran a restaurant and an inn. So did the Shinomori's, my family. Your father's business was more successful and my father loathed him for it. So in order to please him I went to the Aoiya, a plan figured out and ready to be a spy. It worked for awhile there...well until you came along that is." Misao flinched lightly at Aoshi's words as though it was a bad thing, but to her amazement Aoshi continued on.

"In fact, when you came, I'd unknowingly been given the task to look after you. When your mother died, your father went into a depression. He loved you very much, but he had trouble looking upon your eyes because they were eyes that belonged to your mother. So I'd help him out and as time went on, my spying grew less and less as you became more attached to me. I never wanted you to be attached to me, for I was nothing but a fake. I tried to continue spying but it grew harder when I had a constant shadow behind me that wasn't my own. Okina and the others thought it was adorable, where I started to dislike you for it. My weekly reports ceased and ties where cut between my father and I for a long time." Pausing lightly Aoshi knew this was probably hopeless. It had been 11 straight years and in the end he'd never once picked up the phone to see how Misao was doing. True he never forgot about her, secretly had photos of them stashed away, but speaking to her was a whole different ball game to him.

"Years went by, you started growing in front of my eyes and when you smiled at me, telling me how much you wanted me to always be with you, my heart began to change. As soon as I felt this change, I knew my spying days was over and I just wanted to be there with you as well. So many caring people had never surrounded me before and it just made me want to stay at the Aoiya even more. Do you remember the day I was late in meeting you in the park? It was that day that I ran into my father. I hadn't seen him for so long, he'd thought I'd betrayed him...and for that...I was severely punished. You wouldn't have known that while we played that day, my entire body was bruised all over. I took all the punishment without pleading to him because I felt I deserved it." Aoshi flopped onto the bed as he stared up at the ceiling, watching the light flicker every now and then as the breeze wafted into the room.

"Time slipped by, your father grew weaker with his disease and my heart grew heavier as I continued to lie to all those that took care of me. The day before I turned 15 I had a meeting with Okina and your father. That night as a storm brewed outside, I confessed all. Okina wasn't happy at all. In fact, I'd never seen such an old man with quick reflexes as I was smacked over the face. Your father remained silent, but I knew there was disappointment in his eyes. Okina told me to leave...and I did...taking all my memories of my time in the Aoiya with me. I was certain that I would never forget any of you." Once more Aoshi stopped as he turned over onto his side, head cradled in his right arm as he looked over at the window. Even now as he spoke to an empty room even if Misao was situated in the bathroom...it still felt wrong.

"Nothing I say can bring back the past 11 years Misao. All I can do is tell you the truth...for once...and apologise that I wasn't man enough to ever call and see how you were going. In truth, there were times that I wished you had forgotten me for I was too cowardly to stand up to anyone back then, but when I saw you at your university and with that blank look upon your face, I never felt hurt like that in my life. To be hated is one thing, but to be forgotten is another. It felt worse then any beating I'd ever received." Hearing the door unlock and then draw open Aoshi sat up on the bed, one knee raised and body half turned as he stared at Misao's silent form. Her head was bowed, he unable to see the look in her eyes, but as he drew his own down her lithe body he noticed her hands were tangled in the long baggy checked shirt she was wearing.

"I never meant to lay this upon you now. Especially when you're in such a vulnerable state with the news of Okina."

"Shut up..." Misao mumbled out as she headed around the bed and stood before Aoshi, her thick blue-black bangs still concealing her eyes. By now Aoshi had placed his feet on the carpet, while he looked up at Misao, leaning slightly forward as he did so to try and glimpse at her eyes. It was one of the things he knew to search for her current mood. Her eyes gave away everything she felt for him and it had been the one place Aoshi had ever felt safe in all those years ago.

What happened next was something Aoshi never expected from Misao. She had stepped between his parted legs and bent down as her hands cupped his face while she guided her lips to his own. The emotions that drew from this one kiss made Aoshi's lips respond to hers instantly while his breath caught in his throat. The compassion, the warmth, the desperation ripped into his soul and set his desire free as his hands lifted up to rest against Misao's narrow hips nudging her closer to him. Misao's own body instantly reacted to Aoshi's as she sat on her shins, her backside pressed against Aoshi's lower thighs while her knees rested against the side of Aoshi's hips.

"I thought of you...for so long..." Aoshi confessed lightly when he pulled away from Misao's lips to regain some much-needed oxygen. There hot breaths mixed together as each of them panted against the ear of the other. Aoshi felt Misao's fingers flick through his almost dry strands of hair and went one better as his fingers fluttered under her shirt to encounter a tank top hidden underneath.

"You were there...in my heart...all the time...I just..." Not needing anything else Aoshi pressed an opened mouth kiss to Misao's lips and was met instantly with relenting lips. He devoured her mouth hungrily as he leaned back into the mattress bringing Misao above him. One hand remained at the small of her back, feeling the tank top pull away from her soft supple skin while his other worked effortlessly at the buttons. Still in the passionate liplock, Misao's arms thrust her shirt from her heated skin throwing it onto the floor in the mildly dark room before her hands drew down to remove Aoshi's muscle shirt from his chest as it greedily covered his skin from her caresses. Strong arms had lifted up as Misao guided the shirt up his body, but as she did so her lips had left his and for the first time Misao tasted his warm skin. The scent of soap assaulted her senses while her tongue picked up a slight tang from the deodorant spray he used.

"Mm...Misao..." Grunted Aoshi when a warm wet tongue moved over his taunt nipple. He'd never known she would have been this bold before and knew he wouldn't loose to such a fiery young woman. He'd show Misao just what desires he could bring upon her. Lifting himself up once more, Aoshi's mouth moulded itself against Misao's neck as he licked, sucked and nibbled her flesh. Hearing her sigh lightly, while her hands clutched at his bare shoulders, Aoshi went one further again as his right hand went down to the zip and button at Misao's jeans while his left moved under her tank top and travelled its way to her perky plump breast.

Misao's breathing hitched in her throat as she panted against Aoshi's hair as he attacked her sensitive skin in more ways then she had ever been felt up before, but all was not meant to be when a shrill ring came from the floor. Knocking herself out of her lustful desire Misao thrust away from Aoshi's extremely responsive body, hit the floor with a thud and quickly searched her backpack where the shrill ringing was coming from.

"Moshi, Moshi..." Misao muttered a little breathlessly and instantly knew the person on the other end. "Oh its just you Sou-chan. Wait, what the hell are you ringing me up for at a time like this?" Aoshi quirked his eyebrow as he sat up on the bed, hand moving over his face a he did so to try and calm his breathing down...and not to forget his heart also. His eyes travelled quietly down to Misao lying on her back, tank top showing off her abdomen and belly button region, while one hand held the phone to her ear and the other rested against her forehead. Her eyes were closed, her cheeks were flushed in the pale light and her jeans were very much unbuttoned and showing Aoshi the green lace of her underwear. She looked very inviting indeed.

"Well we got stuck in this bloody typhoon and were lucky enough to find a hotel that would put us up for the night. Not only that the power is now out." Aoshi raked his right hand through his hair as he got off the bed, thoughts running drastically through his mind as to what could have happened if this 'Sou-chan' hadn't of called.

"Why am I out of breath?" Aoshi froze at the window; shoulders tense as Misao relayed her friend's question aloud while he gazed out the window in nothing but black pants. "Well I was thinking...and the phone scared the crap out of me. WHAT? GO AWAY SOU-CHAN!" Misao hung up then, cheeks flaming as she still remained on the carpet lying on her back with her right arm now over her eyes.

A thick silence blanketed the room as both occupants pondered on what to say to the other. It wasn't long before Misao had gotten off the floor, adjusted her top and did up the zip on her jeans and sat rigid on the mattress.

"Um...what happened just now?" She quietly questioned Aoshi who took in a deep breath before slowly making his way towards Misao and sat beside her.

"I was thinking the same question for you." Without wanting it to happen, the room fell silent once more and this time Misao heard Aoshi sigh beside her. Her ocean orbs lifted up to side-glance at him and found Aoshi slightly slumped in his seated position with his eyes closed. Gazing upon him, Misao found that there was no remorse for what had occurred merely minutes ago in his aura.

"Why did you initiate such an act?"

"Why did you allow it?" Misao retorted as she sat with her arms crossed looking at the wall. She wanted to come off as nonplussed and tough, but inside she was dreading what Aoshi was about to say.

"Does there need to be a reason?"

"There are always reasons for every action one takes."

"You mean, reasons other then because I wanted to?" Darting her eyes to Aoshi, Misao waited with baited breath as he finally opened his eyes to turn and gaze upon her lightly blushing features. She blinked silently as he raised a hand to rub at his temple. "This...isn't the way it was supposed to come about Misao. Its moving too fast...too soon...and especially when you are vuln-" Aoshi never did get to finish as Misao had leaned towards him, right arm moving over his shoulders as she drew her lips to his once more, giving him an open kiss with no restraints against it.

The storm brewed outside. Lightning flashed and the thunder crackled, but all was forgotten as two bodies glided against each other. Each craved the sensual touches of the other against them. Heated skin dampened the bed sheets as moans and sighs escaped the bodies moving lasciviously within it.

The wind howled outside, a gust fluttering the curtains about just as two voices gasped out the name of their new lover before the flickering flame was blown out sending the room into darkness. Aoshi and Misao lay slumped and spent against each other, their breath mingling against the sweaty skin of the other while there legs intimately tangled together as they remained joined as one.

Heartbeats slowed and it wasn't long before the room fell eerily quiet, as the two reunited occupants fell asleep in the arms of the other.

# To be continued... #