The Inevitable

Disclaimer! Rurouni Kenshin doesn't belong to me, but to Nobuhiro Watsuki. Darn, maybe some day ^_^x

'......' signals thoughts

Chapter 1: The Journey Home

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The sky was turning dark. Misao trudged on the cold, damp forest floor. She sighed. 'Am I really ready to go back? Five years is a long time' Misao decided to stop for the night. She made a small camp at the next forest clearing, she soon fell into a restless sleep.

The night came and left, like a theif. When Misao woke, she had half the mind to turn around and flee from Kyoto. There had been so many memories there. Some good . . . and some bad. 'Am I ready to face them all again? to face Aoshi?'

--Flashback--

"I love you!" Misao shouted.

Aoshi stopped walking and turned around, his ice blue eyes colder than usual, his voice a barely audible hiss, "Don't. say. that." He turned and started to walk again when Misao ran up and pulled on his arm.

"Don't you think you that you could ever come to love me back?"

"You don't love me, it's merely an infatuation, and a rather childish one at that too." Aoshi replied through clenched teeth, fire raging in his usually emtionless eyes.

"I'm not a child! I'm twently years old for Kami's sake!" Misao's eyes flashed angrily. "I know my heart, Aoshi-sama! but the question is, do you know yours?"

Silence.

"I'm going to leave tonight, Aoshi-sama."

After a pause, he answered. "Well, what are you waiting for?"

"I'm leaving Kyoto and I don't know when I'm coming back. Do you want me to stay?"

Silence.

"Tell me to stay and I'll never leave you. Just tell me to stay and I will!"

Silence.

Misao shook him. "Just tell me to stay and I will!!!" She said, half screaming, half crying. Aoshi gently pried her hands off his shoulders and silently walked back to the Aoiya, not looking back.

Misao started at his retreating figure for a moment, gave an enraged cry and ran in the opposite direction. She sat atop the highest tree, crying her eyes out for hours.

At approximately one in the morning, Misao crept into the Aoiya and quickly gathered everything she had plus all her money. She left a note for her fellow ninjas and quickly left.

What she didn't notice what a pair of ice blue eys filled with pain and sadness watch her leaving form. He didn't try to stop her, he believed she needed this journey.

The next morning Omasu found the note left by Misao and read it to the others.

To my dearest Oniwanbanshuu family,

By the time you have read this note, I'll have left Kyoto already. I'm becoming a wanderer. I want to find myself and forget some things. I don't know when I'll be back. Don't worry about me.

-Misao

Five pairs of questioning eyes turned to Aoshi. "She needs this journey" he said simply and left for the temple/

--End Flashback--

That was five years ago. The past is the past and no matter what you do you can't change or justify it. The only thing you can do is accept it for what it is and move on.

Misao had learned this lesson the hard way. And when she saw the streets of Kyoto in the distance, she almost forgot this important lesson. Forcing down the urge to run away she walked to the Aoiya. It was twilight. The darkening of the sky seemed to reflect her mood. Fears were plaging her mind. Were they upset that she had never contacted them? Did they think she was dead? What have changed? What had stayed the same?

Misao must have stood outside the Aoiya for an hour because now the sky was pitch black, with few twinking stars. She snapped out of her thoughts, picked up her bags and walked inside.

"I'm sorry" Okon said, not looking up. "but we're clo-"

Misao cut her off. "Okon, I'm home." Misao dropped her things and ran over to embrace the older woman.

"Misao! I hardly reconize you!"

Five years ago, Misao still had her long braid, her body still lacking in femine curves, but now . . . now you could hardly tell that she was the same person she once was. Her hair was cut slightly past her shoulders, still highlighted in a deep blue hue. Her face had become slightly thinner and her eyes lacked emtion. Still short petite, and slender, but her body have grown. Misao at twenty-five was a simply stunning young woman.

Okon called all the others to come and see what karma had brought back to them. In ran Okina, Omasu, Kuro and Shiro. Shortly after Aoshi walked in.

His eyes ran over Misao's form. She still wore her old Oniwanbanshuu uniform, he noted. "Misao" he said.

"Aoshi-sama" Misao acknowledged simply. Outwardly her face bore no emtion, similar to Aoshi's hardened features, but Misao's features were relaxed, a slight smile pasted on her face. The journey had changed her in more than one way.

"You must tell us about your journey!" Omasy said breaking the uncomfortable silence.

"Perhaps another time." Misao said, her voice, like her face, deviod of emotion. "I'm really quite exhausted."

"Of course you are!" Okina said. "You've been on a long journey. Your four," he said pointing to Okon, Omasu, Kuro, and Shiro. "Get Misao's things and bring them to her room. The five left, leaving only Aoshi and Misao.

"Misao, I'm-"

"Sorry? Don't be. The past is the past and no matter what you do you can't change or justify it. You just have to accept it for what it is and move on. I've moved on, what about you, Aoshi-sama?" Misao said before walking past Aoshi. 'Aoshi-sama, I've tried to move on, but I can't. I love you, but I hate you. I hate you becuase after everything you've said and done to me, I still love you and I can't stop it. I almost forgot you. almost. but almost only count in kunais'

Aoshi was a little surprised to say the least. Misao had changed. Her five year journey had changed her into someone he didn't quite know. And her words. Did he ever move on? He thought so, but seeing her there, hearing her voice, made him realize, he didn't move on.

Aoshi wondered what would have happend if he had asked her to stay. But Misao was right. The past is the past and no matter what you do you can't change or justify it. You just have to accept it for what it is and move on. But still he couldn't help but wonder, what would have happend? Would they have been married? With chibi-Aoshis and chibi-Misaos running around?

Misao had changed, no doubt about that. She was no longer the carefree genki weasel girl. The way she was acting made Aoshi feel like she was a reflection of how he used to be. She had returned practically emtionless, but showing it when she wanted. Her features were always relaxed, but still did not portray any signs of emtions. Misao has always had hidden wisdom, even unknown to herself, but now she was wiser than before and showed it when she wanted to.

His mind went back five years ago, remembering the question that had haunted him.

'I know my heart, Aoshi-sama! but the question is, do you know yours?'

Did he know his own heart? He thought he did, but five years of pondering proved him wrong. He didn't know know hid heart very well. He didn't know what he wanted or who he wanted. And five years later, right after he had finally answered the first question, she had asked him another.

'I've moved on, what about you, Aoshi-sama?'

After five years of pondering her first question, he could answer her second easily. No. He didn't know his heart and no, he didn't move on. He never did and he never wanted to. Every night for the past five years he yelled at himself for letting her go. Even if she did need that journey.

But she was finaly back and Aoshi couldn't help but wonder. What surprised did the new, wise, and possibly stronger Misao have in store for them?

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A/N: I know, I know, I'm torturing myself by have three ongoing stories, but I just had such great ideas for this fic so I just wrote it. Misao is definately going to be OOC afterall, her five year journey changed her greatly. But it's not going to be extreme OOCness, okie?

Next chapter coming soon! PLEASE REVIEW!!