AN: I'm taking a poll. How many of you gave up hope that I'd ever update?
WELL I SHOWED YOU, DIDN'T I?! *is shot several times* Owwie.
So, here's the next piece to this little ficcie, and sadly, we're coming close to a close. X.x; But never-fear! I have more Sou-Mi fics to work on! Yay! Anyway, I'll quit rambling enough but one last thing. I'm posting a revised version of Meza on deviantart.com with coverart and such. If you wish to check it out, please click on the homepage link in my subprofile. At the current moment, it's my featured deviation so you don't have to search through my gallery. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I own a Kenshin action figure, a wallscroll and two Kenshin graphic novels. It's safe to say that I don't own the series. XX;
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Mezamete-yuku Tamashii :: Awakening Spirits
Chapter 8 :: The Return
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Soujiro turned back to Misao, smiling. "Tomorrow, we go show Shinomori-san what you can do."
"Hai. And who I want to marry." Misao added, before placing a kiss to Soujiro's cheek. In return, Soujiro's smile widened considerably, before he turned and smacked a still giggling Kamatari.
----------
Shinomori Aoshi was enjoying (or just... sitting there with) his morning tea. Unlike most days where he would be donned in his yukata, today he was dressed in his normal attire, sans the heavy overcoat. He was hoping to hear from his hired hand and see Misao back safe in his custody.
What had the girl been thinking when she joined up with that cold murderer? A prengant pause and Aoshi had to remind himself that Misao seemed to enjoy being around those who had a tainted past. Seta, Himura, himself. She didn't care.
And one of these days, that would get her killed.
Aoshi raised his cup to his lips when he heard Okon shouting nearby.
"IT'S MISAO-CHAN! SHE'S HOME!"
----------
Misao walked down the familiar streets of Kyoto, Kamatari in stride and Soujiro at her side (no rhyme intended). She hummed nonchalantly as people seemed to move out of her way. She smiled some, oblivious to the fact that half of the people were scared.
Wouldn't you be if two people with swords and one with a giant scythe were marching down the path you were on?
Soon her smile widened tenfold when the familiar outline of the Aoiya came into view. Unable to contain herself, she bounded forward and pushed open the doors. "TADAIMA!"
Okon and Omasu, who were cleaning up tables, turned and stared at the girl who had walked through the door. Her long jet-black hair was in the ever-so-familiar braid, gently swaying in the breeze and her emerald eyes sparkled with mirth and excitement. Donned in a green gi with grey hakama and holding onto a nihonto, the young girl beamed up at them. "Surprised to see me?"
Her answer was both women squeezing her in a death-grip hug as they fawned over her. "Look how you've grown! Misao-chan, we've missed you so much! We're so glad you're home!"
Their comments were cut off as Misao's two companions stepped inside. Soujiro looked around, taking in the detail of the restaurant and Kamatari was twirling a lock of his hair in his fingers. "Ne, Misao-chan... who is this?" Okon inquired, glancing at Soujiro.
The young man in question gave a smile and bowed. "Hajime Mashite. Boku wa Seta Soujiro desu."
Omasu and Okon exchanged looks. "The Tenken?"
"EX-Tenken." Misao corrected, hugging Soujiro's arm protectively. "He's no longer such a person. He's my travel companion and my sensei."
"Travel companion?"
"Sensei?"
Kamatari giggled some and placed his hands behind his back, rocking on the balls of his feet. His scythe was resting against the wall as he watched the exchange with a very amused expression.
Misao's face dropped it's cheeriness. "Do you know why Aoshi-sama was so persistent that I come home?"
Both women exchanged looks. "He... has decided to marry you off."
"Yes. But that will not happen." Misao replied, glancing down at her sword. She unsheathed it, staring at the blade as she held it up in the sunlight. "I will fight him for the right to choose who I will marry. I am not his object to sell off. I am my own person. Sou helped me realize that."
Soujiro gave a lopsided grin. "She's got spunk! Ehehe..."
Both women gave him a scrutinizing look. "What did you do to our Misao-chan?"
Soujiro sweatdropped, waving his hands in a pacifying manner. "Nonono, it was Misao's idea to train to become stronger. I merely did as she asked."
"Sou's not to blame. I wanted to be stronger. And I am. And I will prove it to you, Shinomori Aoshi."
Everyone but Soujiro seemed shocked as Misao turned her head and locked eyes with the tall man standing in the corner of the room. Beside him, Okina stared at his precious Misao, who had grown up so much since he last saw her.
'She has learned to sense ki...?' Aoshi silently inquired, surprised. He was not expecting Misao to come back wielding a sword. And furthermore, he expected the Tenken to be gone. "Okaeri, Misao."
Misao gave a small snort, sheathing her sword. "Yes. I am home. Now, we need to talk."
"What is he doing here?" Aoshi inquired, ignoring Misao's comment and glancing at Kamatari. In return, the young man just grinned maniacally.
"I thought it'd be fun to have him tag along. He's a great sing-along partner when the road trip gets boring!"
Aoshi failed to see the humor in the situation as Soujiro merely smiled at him. The smile was cold, but at the same time mocking. It almost read 'I have what you want.'
"Ne, Shinomori-san. It's not polite to ignore Misao. She wishes to talk with you. Which I must say, is much more civilized then just selling her off to whoever suits your standards."
Aoshi's lips pressed into a hard line as he gestured toward the exit leading out of the restaurant. "Come."
----------
Inside the dojo area, where Misao would often come to train, sat Aoshi, Misao, Soujiro, Kamatari, and Okina. Okina was happily hugging the life out of his precious Misao while Aoshi and Soujiro had a staring contest. Kamatari was happily endulging in some cakes brought in by Okon.
Finally, after Misao pulled out of Okina's death-grip, she straighted out her clothes and broke the tension between the two swordsmen. "I am not going to be married off."
Aoshi looked over at her, before glancing back at the Tenken. "I have already made the preparations. You will have a fine husband who is a wealthy businessman."
"In HOKKAIDO." Misao hissed, glaring at him. "I do not want to go away and I certainly do not want to marry someone I don't love."
"The arrangments have been ma--"
"I don't care!" Misao shouted, standing up. "I have trained this past year and I'm a lot stronger. If I have to, I will fight you for my own FREEDOM. This isn't feudal Japan, Aoshi-sama! I'm not your possession. I never WAS."
Aoshi's eyes widened a fraction as he stared up at her. "You cannot fight me. You will not win."
"Try me," Misao spat back, anger radiating about her. Her training forgotten, Aoshi could see right through her and how angry she was.
Soujiro stood, earning everyone's attention but Misao's. Gently placing his hand on her shoulder, he murmured something in her ear and she immediately took a deep breath, slipping on a calm mask.
"If you show Shinomori-san your anger, you won't win, Misao."
Misao nodded, and recomposed herself, slipping her nihontou into the belt of her hakama. "Do you accept my challenge? If you do not, I will just leave. And I don't think anyone but you will try and stop me."
Aoshi's jaw clenched as he saw the exchange between Misao and Seta. They were in love. And it angered him that she would choose a cold-blooded murderer to love.
Not that he was any better.
"I accept."
Tsuzukeru....
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AN: Well, still a bit short, but hey, I updated. :D If you're wanting on my update list, I've started it over merely because I know it's been months since I updated a Sou/Mi fic and some of the people who were on the original list don't even read these anymore. If you want to, just please leave me a note in your review, with your email address. Or send me a note at tenkensgirl@hotmail.com.
I can't begin to do reviewer replies because there are so many and I am lazy. But I've read every one and want to say thanks for your support. :)
Wow.. I could-might-maybe get over 200 reviews. O.o I've never had a fic reach that many. *hopeful look*
BUT-- A little thing I want to point out...
"You are on the favorites list of 104 members.
You are on the author alert watch list of 44 members."
THANK YOU SO MUCH! HUGS TO ALL! *tosses chocolate and stuff in the air* :D
**Ignore the grammar, cuz even though I'm a college student now, I still stink at it :D**
Phoe-chan
WELL I SHOWED YOU, DIDN'T I?! *is shot several times* Owwie.
So, here's the next piece to this little ficcie, and sadly, we're coming close to a close. X.x; But never-fear! I have more Sou-Mi fics to work on! Yay! Anyway, I'll quit rambling enough but one last thing. I'm posting a revised version of Meza on deviantart.com with coverart and such. If you wish to check it out, please click on the homepage link in my subprofile. At the current moment, it's my featured deviation so you don't have to search through my gallery. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I own a Kenshin action figure, a wallscroll and two Kenshin graphic novels. It's safe to say that I don't own the series. XX;
----------
Mezamete-yuku Tamashii :: Awakening Spirits
Chapter 8 :: The Return
----------
Soujiro turned back to Misao, smiling. "Tomorrow, we go show Shinomori-san what you can do."
"Hai. And who I want to marry." Misao added, before placing a kiss to Soujiro's cheek. In return, Soujiro's smile widened considerably, before he turned and smacked a still giggling Kamatari.
----------
Shinomori Aoshi was enjoying (or just... sitting there with) his morning tea. Unlike most days where he would be donned in his yukata, today he was dressed in his normal attire, sans the heavy overcoat. He was hoping to hear from his hired hand and see Misao back safe in his custody.
What had the girl been thinking when she joined up with that cold murderer? A prengant pause and Aoshi had to remind himself that Misao seemed to enjoy being around those who had a tainted past. Seta, Himura, himself. She didn't care.
And one of these days, that would get her killed.
Aoshi raised his cup to his lips when he heard Okon shouting nearby.
"IT'S MISAO-CHAN! SHE'S HOME!"
----------
Misao walked down the familiar streets of Kyoto, Kamatari in stride and Soujiro at her side (no rhyme intended). She hummed nonchalantly as people seemed to move out of her way. She smiled some, oblivious to the fact that half of the people were scared.
Wouldn't you be if two people with swords and one with a giant scythe were marching down the path you were on?
Soon her smile widened tenfold when the familiar outline of the Aoiya came into view. Unable to contain herself, she bounded forward and pushed open the doors. "TADAIMA!"
Okon and Omasu, who were cleaning up tables, turned and stared at the girl who had walked through the door. Her long jet-black hair was in the ever-so-familiar braid, gently swaying in the breeze and her emerald eyes sparkled with mirth and excitement. Donned in a green gi with grey hakama and holding onto a nihonto, the young girl beamed up at them. "Surprised to see me?"
Her answer was both women squeezing her in a death-grip hug as they fawned over her. "Look how you've grown! Misao-chan, we've missed you so much! We're so glad you're home!"
Their comments were cut off as Misao's two companions stepped inside. Soujiro looked around, taking in the detail of the restaurant and Kamatari was twirling a lock of his hair in his fingers. "Ne, Misao-chan... who is this?" Okon inquired, glancing at Soujiro.
The young man in question gave a smile and bowed. "Hajime Mashite. Boku wa Seta Soujiro desu."
Omasu and Okon exchanged looks. "The Tenken?"
"EX-Tenken." Misao corrected, hugging Soujiro's arm protectively. "He's no longer such a person. He's my travel companion and my sensei."
"Travel companion?"
"Sensei?"
Kamatari giggled some and placed his hands behind his back, rocking on the balls of his feet. His scythe was resting against the wall as he watched the exchange with a very amused expression.
Misao's face dropped it's cheeriness. "Do you know why Aoshi-sama was so persistent that I come home?"
Both women exchanged looks. "He... has decided to marry you off."
"Yes. But that will not happen." Misao replied, glancing down at her sword. She unsheathed it, staring at the blade as she held it up in the sunlight. "I will fight him for the right to choose who I will marry. I am not his object to sell off. I am my own person. Sou helped me realize that."
Soujiro gave a lopsided grin. "She's got spunk! Ehehe..."
Both women gave him a scrutinizing look. "What did you do to our Misao-chan?"
Soujiro sweatdropped, waving his hands in a pacifying manner. "Nonono, it was Misao's idea to train to become stronger. I merely did as she asked."
"Sou's not to blame. I wanted to be stronger. And I am. And I will prove it to you, Shinomori Aoshi."
Everyone but Soujiro seemed shocked as Misao turned her head and locked eyes with the tall man standing in the corner of the room. Beside him, Okina stared at his precious Misao, who had grown up so much since he last saw her.
'She has learned to sense ki...?' Aoshi silently inquired, surprised. He was not expecting Misao to come back wielding a sword. And furthermore, he expected the Tenken to be gone. "Okaeri, Misao."
Misao gave a small snort, sheathing her sword. "Yes. I am home. Now, we need to talk."
"What is he doing here?" Aoshi inquired, ignoring Misao's comment and glancing at Kamatari. In return, the young man just grinned maniacally.
"I thought it'd be fun to have him tag along. He's a great sing-along partner when the road trip gets boring!"
Aoshi failed to see the humor in the situation as Soujiro merely smiled at him. The smile was cold, but at the same time mocking. It almost read 'I have what you want.'
"Ne, Shinomori-san. It's not polite to ignore Misao. She wishes to talk with you. Which I must say, is much more civilized then just selling her off to whoever suits your standards."
Aoshi's lips pressed into a hard line as he gestured toward the exit leading out of the restaurant. "Come."
----------
Inside the dojo area, where Misao would often come to train, sat Aoshi, Misao, Soujiro, Kamatari, and Okina. Okina was happily hugging the life out of his precious Misao while Aoshi and Soujiro had a staring contest. Kamatari was happily endulging in some cakes brought in by Okon.
Finally, after Misao pulled out of Okina's death-grip, she straighted out her clothes and broke the tension between the two swordsmen. "I am not going to be married off."
Aoshi looked over at her, before glancing back at the Tenken. "I have already made the preparations. You will have a fine husband who is a wealthy businessman."
"In HOKKAIDO." Misao hissed, glaring at him. "I do not want to go away and I certainly do not want to marry someone I don't love."
"The arrangments have been ma--"
"I don't care!" Misao shouted, standing up. "I have trained this past year and I'm a lot stronger. If I have to, I will fight you for my own FREEDOM. This isn't feudal Japan, Aoshi-sama! I'm not your possession. I never WAS."
Aoshi's eyes widened a fraction as he stared up at her. "You cannot fight me. You will not win."
"Try me," Misao spat back, anger radiating about her. Her training forgotten, Aoshi could see right through her and how angry she was.
Soujiro stood, earning everyone's attention but Misao's. Gently placing his hand on her shoulder, he murmured something in her ear and she immediately took a deep breath, slipping on a calm mask.
"If you show Shinomori-san your anger, you won't win, Misao."
Misao nodded, and recomposed herself, slipping her nihontou into the belt of her hakama. "Do you accept my challenge? If you do not, I will just leave. And I don't think anyone but you will try and stop me."
Aoshi's jaw clenched as he saw the exchange between Misao and Seta. They were in love. And it angered him that she would choose a cold-blooded murderer to love.
Not that he was any better.
"I accept."
Tsuzukeru....
----------
AN: Well, still a bit short, but hey, I updated. :D If you're wanting on my update list, I've started it over merely because I know it's been months since I updated a Sou/Mi fic and some of the people who were on the original list don't even read these anymore. If you want to, just please leave me a note in your review, with your email address. Or send me a note at tenkensgirl@hotmail.com.
I can't begin to do reviewer replies because there are so many and I am lazy. But I've read every one and want to say thanks for your support. :)
Wow.. I could-might-maybe get over 200 reviews. O.o I've never had a fic reach that many. *hopeful look*
BUT-- A little thing I want to point out...
"You are on the favorites list of 104 members.
You are on the author alert watch list of 44 members."
THANK YOU SO MUCH! HUGS TO ALL! *tosses chocolate and stuff in the air* :D
**Ignore the grammar, cuz even though I'm a college student now, I still stink at it :D**
Phoe-chan