The Inevitable

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

'......' signals thoughts

nyah...sorry for two+ month wait. I was really busy, and I wrote a little each time. I finished the chapter on my flight to New Orleans, I'm back now and on my way back I wrote some of the next chapter too! Anyway, here it is. Hoep you enjoy it

Chapter 7: The Tanabata Festival-

------

Misao sighed and slumped onto her futon. Something bad was going to happen today; she could feel it.

"Misao-chan!" Okon yelled happily through the shoji. "We have a surprise for you!"

Misao smoothed her kimono and stood up. She walked to the door and slid it open to find the happy faces of Himura Kenshin and Kaoru

"Konnichiwa Misao-chan! Long time no see!" Kaoru rushed in and hugged the life out of Misao

"Hello, Misao-dono" Kenshin said warmly. "It's nice to see you again"

"Kaoru-san! Himura! Why did you tell me you were coming?!"

"A surprise for you," Okon answered, "to cheer you up!"

That bad feeling she had? Why, it was simply absurd! Kaoru-san and Himura were here now. She was just being paranoid. And it was Tanabata! Her favorite festival; surely good things would happen today

And she was spending the day with Aoshi. Aoshi, her friend, which she hoped would stay that way.

------

Kenshin and Kaoru, actually only Kaoru, had decided to leave Aoshi and Misao along for the evening and let them enjoy Tanabata together, while they would do the same. Kaoru's 'secret' plan-Mission Ditch Aoshi-san and Misao-chan-worked to some degree.

"Bye Misao-chan, Aoshi-san!" Kaoru shouted at them and pulled Kenshin away.

"But Kaoru-dono...." Kenshin protested.

"Quite Kenshin!" she muttered back. "And what have I said about calling me -dono!!"

"Kaoru-san, wait!" Misao said, reaching for her hand, but only grasping air. She blew a hair out of her face. "Hmph, I bet she just wanted to with Himura!" She started in the direction that Kaoru has pulled Kenshin in.

Aoshi guided her in the opposite direction. "Come, Misao, we'll see them later." Misao complied, muttering about how married couples were and evil tanukis.

Little girls flitted from stand to stand as their guardians followed them. Misao saw herself doing the same.

--Flashback--

"Oh, wow!! Candy!!" six-year-old Misao ran to that stand. She eyed it. "Aoshi-sama~! Can we get some? Pleaseeeee~?" She tugged at his hand. "Please~?"

"Alright Misao-chan" Aoshi answered paying for the candy and handing it to an ecstatic Misao.

"Yatta!! You're the best Aoshi-sama!" she chirped happily while munching on some sweets. She spotted a tub. "Oooooo~! Fishies~!"

An old man sat behind the tub. "Hello there," he said to little Misao, "If you can catch one, you can bring it home" and handed a little bet to Misao.

Misao moved the net around, trying to pull a fish into it. Ten minutes passed. Nothing. Twenty minutes passed. Nothing. Thirty minutes passed. Still Nothing.

"Aoshi-sama?" she looked at Aoshi with huge disappointed eyes. "Please help me! I want a fishie!"

Aoshi took the net from her. "Patience is the key Misao-chan" he said while dipping the net into the water. "Let the fish get used your net in the water." he added, keeping the net completely still. Soon enough, a curious fish swan towards it. Aoshi quickly snapped the net and lo and behold! A fish!

"Wai!! Aoshi-sama! You're the best!!" Soon she was holding a little bag filled with water and one little fish. "I love you Aoshi-sama! Do you love Misao-chan, Aoshi-sama?"

"Aa, I do, Misao-chan"

--End of Flashback--

Misao sighed. What she would give to be young and happy again.

Wait....what was she saying? She was still young! And well...relatively happy. She sighed again and snuck a glance at the man next to her.

'In his mid thirties and still looks so good' she mused, not that she would let it get ahold of her. She was on a strictly no-romantic-thoughts-about-Aoshi diet. But still...he was so gorgeous. He hair was still a jet black color which had not faded throughout the years. His eyes were still an ice blue, though slightly dull and had a weary look to them. He was wearing a western suit; one that fit his tall stature perfectly.

She licked her lips unconsciously just thinking about him.

In the distance, they saw an old woman waving her hands around. A group of children were clustered in front of her; their eyes full of excitement. As Aoshi and Misao neared they hear the storyteller ask the children. "Would you like to hear Kikkoden? Why we celebrate Tanabata?"

After a chorus of "Hai!"s, she laughed merrily and began her tale. Aoshi and Misao unconsciously stopped to listen.

"Well, there was once this beautiful princess. Her name was Orihime. There was a handsome cow herder prince name Hikoboshi. They both lived in space. One day, they met purely by coincidence, mind you, and suddenly, they were inseparable! Not too long after, the kind was very angry that Orihime and Hikoboshi were neglecting their jobs. So he separated them on opposite sides of the Milky Way!" At this point the children gasped and some of the little girls even gave a few whimpers. "But...he allows them to meet once a year. They cannot meet if it is rainy, which is why we need to pray for good weather."

Misao sighed reminicently at the end. "I loved that story when I was a child." she said to no one in particular

"I know." he whispered, "I remember everything"

How desperately she wish to talk to him about everything that could not be expressed. She wanted-needed-someone to tell everything to, but she, herself, was hardly aware of it. Now was the time.....

Now was the time.

The time to have a real and open conversation. A real and open conversation about their relationship, or lack of relationship.

"Aoshi?" she tentatively asked.

"Aa?" he acknowledged.

"Do you..." she hesitated for a moment, "do you like having me around here? At the Aoiya? Or were you happier when I was gone?"

"I.." he thought quickly, "Okina adores you Misao. He couldn't be happier. Okon and Omasu are ecstatic about having their 'Misao-chan' back. Shiro and Kuro are smiling more. Everyone is happy to have you back."

Misao had to repress the urge to scowl and choke him. Why did he always, always, ALWAYS avoid the question?! Did he think that she wouldn't notice? That she was too silly and naive to see behind what he was doing?

Misao took a deep breath and questioned him again. "And you? You've told me about everyone else except for you. How do you feel about me?" She made sure to put a strong emphasis on the 'you'. Surely he wouldn't be able to dodge that question!

"I feel the same way as I have for the past few years." he said nonchalantly.

Misao's jaw dropped open, but she shut it as quickly as possible. How did you that again?!! She just couldn't comprehend it! Wasn't he supposed to be more open now? Old habits really do die hard. Though he was more open, there was still much left to the imagination./p>

It was fruitless to try to receive the information she sought this way. She would try a different tactic.

"Oh, me too" she replied. "My opinion of you hasn't changed since I met Sou-chan during wandering." She also smiled when she saw Aoshi wince slightly at the mention of 'Sou-chan' Who knew he could be so jealous! Though maybe it was because he didn't like Seta Soujirou. She wasn't sure which one it was, though she would have rather it been the first. If it had been, oh the things she could make him do! But the reality was that he just hated Seta Soujirou. She was sure of it.

He winced at the mention of 'Sou-chan'. He just knew that there was something going on between them! That small mention was all he needed. Aoshi wondered where Seta went off too. Did you see Misao? He probably did and Aoshi would admit it, not to Misao, though, only to himself, he was jealous. He was especially jealous of how carefree she was around Seta.

But he had something that Seta did not-this night. And he planned to make the most out of it. By the end of the night, Misao just might be his forever, no questions asked.

By now, they had been walking in silence for quite a while; it was a companionable silence, though, one that was welcome. Not that they noticed anyway. Both were absorbed in their own thoughts.

Aoshi took a deep breath. The time was now, no more staling, no more thinking about it. Spontaneity was at its height....Misao would never expect this to happen.

"Misao?" he murmured, loud enough only for her trained ninja ears to pick up.

"Aa.." was the equally soft response.

I have received a request from a man who like to take your hand in marriage." He said, carefully wording his sentences.

"So ka?" She replied. Who would want to marry her? Was it Jiro? He was at the Aoiya everyday....and was always especially kind to her... "Tell me about him" she said. Maybe it was someone else.

"I don't know much about him," Aoshi lied smoothly, "but what I do know I will tell you."

"Fine," Misao said, "tell me everything."

He practices swordsmanship. I don't know the style. He is tall and very spiritual." Aoshi described, careful to leave things vague.

"Hmm..." she said thoughtfully, "that doesn't sound like anyone I know of. Tell me Aoshi, who is it?"

Aoshi took a deep breath, this was no time to back out. "The one you seek is in front of you. Will you marry me Makimachi Misao?"

Misao's jaw fell open, leaving her openly gaping at the man in front of her.

"Misao-chan! Aoshi-san!" Omasu's voice called out to them. she was waving wildly while running towards them. "Okina want you two back at the Aoiya"

------

Okina had called them back to the Aoiya for the most ridiculous thing according to Misao. But she was still happy for it. She needed time. What would she say to Aoshi?

------

A/N: the culture and the story should be pretty much correct. The legend probably changes a little depending on who's telling it, just like the Chinese Zodiac. But, yeah, complaints on culture will be ignored, giving links to places where I can find out more will be appreciated, however. I also go tmy own domain! check it out. melancholy-aura.net

PLEASE REVIEW!!