Sunlight flickered through the curtain window as it turned the walls a soft golden glow, while two slumped bodies lay asleep in bed oblivious to the first morning rays. The typhoon had passed leaving destruction in its wake, but also left two people resting together in only a way where they never wished to let go of the other again.
Not a sound emitted from the room as the two bodies breathed calmly as one. The warm breath escaping Misao's lips swept lingeringly against the skin on Aoshi's right shoulder. With sheets pooled up to her bare shoulders, Misao lay sprawled on the bed, lying flat on her stomach, but sharing the very pillow Aoshi's head rested on. He however, was lying on his back; sheets low against his hips while an arm belonging to Misao lay possessively over his taunt abdomen. Though they weren't joined as one any longer, the fleeting touch of the other was still subconsciously clear to one another as Aoshi's left hand rested lightly over Misao's arm that held him close to her side.
A nerve twitching in Misao's arm as it lay across Aoshi's stomach awoke the man as he blinked his eyes open staring up at the golden sunlight filtering over the ceiling. Lifting his right hand a mumble from his side instantly froze him from wiping the sleep from his eyes as he jerked his head in the direction the sound had come from. His jet-black bangs mixed with blue-black ones as Aoshi stared quietly into the blissfully sleeping face of Misao. His lips parted, mind reeling at the events of last night, but still he remained gazing at her. Misao looked quite a sight with nothing but a sheet covering her womanly curves from his eyes while her unbound hair lay messily around the white pillow she occupied with him. Shifting quietly so as not to awaken her, Aoshi lifted his head to rest it up on his hand as his elbow dug into the pillow.
"What will you do when you awaken Misao?" Aoshi muttered quietly before his eyes widened as he'd already lowered his head to kiss her gently on the lips. He was never like this before. All wanton for the woman sleeping unawares beside him and that played havoc on his nerves. Misao had been right though. It had been 11 long years and he couldn't just ask her to forgive and forget because he knew she wasn't that kind of girl. True it had been sometime, but with only being in her presence he'd gotten to know her quickly once more. She hadn't changed much for sure as her emotions played within her eyes while her heart was bare for him to observe even if she didn't realise it. He knew she tried to act tough in front of him, but in front of him, she could never hide much as he was one to pick up on it quickly. He had helped raise her after all.
Placing a light kiss against her parted lips Aoshi quirked his own as Misao mumbled his name in a very child-like voice asking him if he could tell her another bedtime story before she rolled over. She took the sheets with her and left him with nothing to cover himself up with. Staring at her back, the sheet low against her as it showed off the smooth contents of her shoulder blades all the way down to her lower back and the very beginning of her buttocks, Aoshi's eyes lingered all over her petite frame. He knew she'd always been petite, probably would always remain that way, but beneath that a figure was actually apparent even if Misao never showed it off. It didn't matter to him because everything fit perfectly within his firm grasp. His little Misao had grown into a very pretty young woman and last night there was a small sense of jealousy welling in his stomach when he found out that she was not a virgin at all. Aoshi shock his head of those thoughts once more and went back to gazing upon Misao.
"I remember everything about you Misao...everything! The way you placed more food on your face then in your mouth, to when you first crawled and began walking too. You were so innocent and so free to roam as you pleased that it made me hate you. Your childhood was far better then my own." Pausing for a moment Aoshi lay back down, tugging the sheets from Misao to place them over his body as he began to adjust to the crack of dawn, but wanted to remain in bed with her by his side for a little longer.
"I still took care of you, but I was envious that when your father was around, the days he could look upon you without feeling remorse, he openly showed his love for you whereas my own father could not. If I didn't do as he wished I ended up being a failure to the family. So to not let that happen I did everything that would make him happy and still I did not receive his love. In the end I began seeking it in everyone at the Aoiya and when I found it in a certain genki girl who thought the world of me, I knew I needn't my father anymore. Your child-like love for me was enough back then. I wanted to protect you from that day on, as I knew all I needed was you beside me. Nothing else mattered." Aoshi bit his lip when he noticed Misao move, but only to turn around and face him once more, her eyes still closed and her body slack as she remained in the land of dreams. Lifting his hand Aoshi glided it down Misao's warm cheek.
"When your father became ill a sadness began to well within me. I remember he used to joke quietly with me about having all these fixed plans that involved you as we watched you try and sleep through storms together. You could never sleep alone and so we sat by your bedside, each holding your hand until you feel fast asleep unable to hear the rumble of thunder anymore. He always told me he'd be here for when you went to high school and what he would do if you ever introduced him to the boy you liked. He was quite funny really, which I suppose is where you got your genki attitude. He said he'd be in the crowd waving at you as you graduated from high school and would have to try and hold back tears from ever walking you down the aisle to your future husband. He had so many plans that when I knew he was fatally ill I wanted to tell him I'd witness all those things for him in his place." Staring over at the window Aoshi missed ocean blue eyes flicker open before they closed once more as Misao snuggled into the warm chest in front of her. A light smile graced her lips, as Aoshi could not see it while his arm went around her back to press her closer.
"I went to do exactly that and instead found him coughing in bed with Okina beside him. He choked out that he didn't wish to lie to his little girl anymore as he wanted to tell you he wouldn't be getting better. At that I instantly fell to my knees before them and poured all the emotions I'd ever locked within my heart out to them. Okina was livid to say the least. Even after the beatings I'd received from my own father that single one from Okina hurt more then the others. I finally figured out why too. I'd just lost everyone in the Aoiya because I never opened up to begin with. I lost everything that I had begun to fall in love with. A grandfather, a father, sisters and brothers...and you. I never even got to say goodbye as I ran from the Aoiya and never returned. I never even returned back to the Shinomori's either. I couldn't face anyone. I never even did the things I promised your father I would do in his place. Even now, heading back to Kyoto, which holds so many good and bad memories, I don't even know if I could face your father's grave or even visit Okina in the hospital. I guess in the past 11 years, my cowardly ways haven't changed at all. Pathetic...so pathetic."
"No, not pathetic at all. You just didn't want to be a disappointment to anyone." Blinking wide eyes down at the petite body that had just spoken into his chest, Aoshi pushed Misao away to see tears brimming at the corners of her eyes.
"You...you're awake!" Aoshi muttered in surprise before his hand went to try and cover his entire face in silent mortification. He'd gotten rusty over the years as he forget his martial arts training Misao's father had taught him and instead he had thrown himself into his business and tried to forget.
"You've really gotten rusty Aoshi-sama." Feeling the tug at his wrist Aoshi lowered his hand from his face and peered through messy bangs to look down at Misao. He didn't miss the fact she'd just reverted back to calling him 'sama' or the fact a light blush graced her cheeks as well.
"How long have you been awake Misao?" Aoshi grounded out through clenched teeth as he narrowed his eyes down at Misao only for the fact she was absently tracing little patterns into his chest as she thought about his question.
"Since you kissed me." Misao whispered lightly before she felt her heart flutter when she caught light pink rushing across Aoshi's cheeks as he quickly rolled away from Misao so she wouldn't see it, but it was too late because she already had.
Misao's lips broke into a full smile as she stared at Aoshi's back before she sat up, not caring about the sheet as he'd already seen her in the buff anyway and scooted closer to the embarrassed man. Placing her right side at Aoshi's lower back Misao placed her right hand to balance herself over Aoshi's body as she gazed upon his rigid body. His eyes happened to be glued shut, arms folded and a frown on his face. Misao thought it was truly adorable and she bent down further to land a kiss against his shoulder. She felt him twitch lightly as her soft strands of hair brushed languidly over his skin. Lifting her left hand Misao lightly played with Aoshi's bangs as she slowly began to torment him to open his eyes and turn over to face her properly. Aoshi refused to comply with her wishes and so Misao furrowed her eyebrows and rested her forehead on his arm.
"I remember when I got caught in that thunderstorm as I'd wondered too far into the woods. When you found me, curled in a ball, shivering and crying in the rain you'd instantly scooped me into your arms and told me everything was going to be fine. You had said you'd come to rescue me and that if something happened to me you wouldn't know what you would have done without me. From that day on I never wanted to leave your side. You even had to bathe with me because I'd kick up such a fuss if I couldn't be with you. I think you had to even sleep with me too. Everyday you told me that if I felt afraid in anyway then I was to come to you and you'd rescue me away from it."
"I remember that as well." Misao faintly smiled as Aoshi had opened his icy orbs to look up at her. "It was also the first time you'd ever called me Aoshi-ojisama because you said that you prayed your prince would come and save you and that you wanted it to be me." Misao couldn't help but flush and giggle. She leaned forward; her forehead pressed against Aoshi's as his arm moved to wrap around her waist.
"Do you think..." Misao was interrupted as a cell phone went off and both pairs of eyes looked at the cell phone buzzing away on the table near the chair and window. Pulling away from Misao, Aoshi got up in all his naked glory and walked towards the phone as he flipped it open and placed it against his ear.
"Moshi, Moshi..." He muttered as he listened to the woman on the other end. "Thank you, we'll be there by lunch time." Hanging up Aoshi fished quietly through his bag before finding a pair of clean briefs and placed them on. Turning his eyes to gaze upon the quiet beauty draped in white bedsheets, Aoshi held a light smile as he told Misao the wonderful news.
"Okina has come out of his coma." The smile on Misao's face instantly reached her eyes at this news and Aoshi observed as she leapt from the bed, butt naked as the day she was born - well minus all the curves - and watched as she scooped up her bag and dashed into the bathroom. It appeared that whatever Misao was going to say to him merely seconds ago had been forgotten.
Bringing out a pair of black jeans Aoshi quietly slipped into them as he did up the zip and button before moving to the forgotten clothing scattered on the carpet and picked up his black muscle shirt and placed it on. Grabbing his clothing and folding Misao's onto the bed Aoshi headed for his bag and pulled out a black shirt with blue flames at the bottom of it and placed it on with three buttons left undone. Sitting back down in the chair Aoshi placed on his socks and a pair of hardly worn sneakers as he opted for his 'smart casual look' rather then his 'business look'.
"The typhoon has passed and we should be ale to get to Kyoto by this afternoon." Aoshi spoke to the closed bathroom door as he headed for the hotel room door and pulled it open to gaze outside. Clouds still lingered in the bright blue sky, but his eyes were trained on the fallen signs and branches littering the parking lot of the hotel. It wasn't the worst typhoon he'd ever witnessed, but it still did some fairly extensive damage. Moving out to his sleek black BMW, Aoshi looked it over for damage. There were a few dents in it, plus some scratches but he would certainly get it repaired as soon as he returned to Tokyo.
"Alright lets get going, I can't wait to see Jiya!" Peering his eyes over at the ecstatic Misao, green eyes widened lightly at her attractive attire. She was dressed in a pair of black satin trousers that rested low on her hips, while her top was a simple white spaghetti strap top that showed off her pierced belly button. A black choker with a diamond heart on it was latched onto her neck and a pair of black flip-flops graced her feet. Misao's hair was pulled away from her face as it flowed in waves down her back.
"What's the matter?" Misao asked when she realised she had Aoshi's full attention as he openly stared over at her. Bringing out his keys from his back pocket Aoshi pressed the button to unlock the doors and opened the passenger door before heading for the driver's side not saying a word. Misao shrugged her shoulders and jogged towards the car, his and her bags in hand and dumped them in the boot before getting into it. Closing the doors Aoshi drove to the reception to hand in the keys and pay for the accommodation and then they were on their way heading towards Kyoto. The silence in the car was thick as Misao pressed the button to wind down the automatic window and looked at the damage the typhoon had caused.
"Back in the hotel, what was it you wanted to say before my cell phone rang?" Aoshi boldly questioned as he indicated to change lanes. There was no reply from Misao and Aoshi stole a quick glance to see she was actually facing him but quickly took her eyes from his and stared back out at the scenery whizzing by.
"It was nothing important..." Misao half-heartedly replied and Aoshi left it at that. He knew that wasn't true, but never wanted to pressure Misao into telling him. He had seen the look of hope in her eyes in bed, but when his cell phone ruined the moment, it appeared that it wrecked Misao's courage as well.
Slouching slightly in the seat Aoshi placed one hand on his thigh while the other kept hold of the steering wheel as he began to ponder over his thoughts. Misao was no different as she too worked through her thoughts about what would she have said to Aoshi if they hadn't have been interrupted. Slumping back into the leather interior of the chair, Misao closed her eyes and faced away from the man that had just been her lover the other night.
With pleading glances thrown at each other without the other knowing over the rest of the drive, the two occupants remained stubbornly quiet as they drove through the streets of Kyoto and headed straight for the hospital.
# To be continued #
Authors Notes: Woohoo! There is only ONE more chapter to go of this. Yattaa!