Burning Desire

"I-Its been some time now…Aoshi-sama…" Misao mumbled lightly, she faulting as she watched the tall man move silently towards her, his eyes moving over every inch of her body, placing what she looked like at this very point in time into his soul. He analysed her in his silence, but as he grew near, her breath caught in her throat at the feral look in his eyes. Was he angry with her? Or perhaps even disgusted beyond belief? Was he disappointed she had left his side one cold dreary night? She still for the life of her could not work out all his gazes, his actions and all his emotions, everything that made up who he was.

The lump in Misao's throat grew as he was but a metre away from her, his eyes now permanently focused on her swollen belly. To her, he had not changed at all. Of course he was different from when they first met, but after nearly nine months of her being away, he was still the man she helped him realise he was underneath his cold exterior. The purple uniform he wore fit him perfectly, just like it had when she first saw him when she awoke from her unconscious state. Even the wrap that once was positioned tightly around his midriff was positioned differently…a way that had been suggested to him long ago. The ties were a bright white, contrasting perfectly with his dark purple ninja uniform. Two long strips fell to the back of his knees having been tied the way he was taught…by her of all people. As Misao gazed into his eyes, even though they were focused elsewhere, he was still the same Aoshi-sama she'd fallen for. Misao had felt like a complete idiot for loving Aoshi so quickly, but why wouldn't you love a man who let you stay in his home at the Aoiya. He didn't care who she was, where she came from, but what mattered most was she had no where to go and so he insisted that she stay here until she found her way again. Aoshi had bluntly stated he did not trust her at all and that someone would always be watching her every move, but he allowed her to work off her debt by becoming a waitress in the restaurant front. The debt being life, for Aoshi Shinomori had given her a second chance.

Misao had been gone for many months, but she knew that as the months grew near to when the child would be born into this world, she had no where to go but back to the Aoiya, a place she secretly called her home. Everyone in the Aoiya had become her family, but the tall man in front of her was far more important then anything she'd ever come across in her life. He had let her get to now him, an honour that no other woman had ever gone through with the tall lean man. He'd let her into his heart and with that he had accepted her love for him and his members. He had let her tend to his wounds if and when he was injured. He had also accepted her worrying ways, because it was the way Misao had been, but not only that Aoshi had given himself willingly to her…the swollen belly she now carried evident of that fact indeed, but also only she knew of this private information. Right now though she was too scared to voice anything for Misao didn't know what Aoshi was thinking at this very moment…and that scared her.

Aoshi's eyes had finally moved away from her pregnant frame and set on her wide clear blue eyes, brimming with tears as she was awaiting the cursing of a life time. He had suppressed a smirk because he finally knew that after the amount of time they had spent together, alone, he was still but a mystery to her…and forever would be he presumed. He took a small step forward, his hand moving out and observed as Misao flinched and stepped back, counteracting his footsteps until she was near the open shoji doors once more. Was she seriously waiting to be hit by him? Her of all people should know he would never lay a finger on any of the Oniwabanshuu members and this included herself. If he hurt her…Aoshi would surely pay with his own life. One night he had voiced terrible hurtful words to her, but only because she scared him with what she nearly got involved in. Misao had made him worry about her and the only way he could retaliate to her stupidity was harshly. In time Misao had finally understood that she had frightened him to death and that was the only way he could voice his emotions since it was in the presence of others.

Although Misao was expecting a thousand curses, not to mention beatings for running away, they never came. She had thought that since she ran away from the Aoiya, ran away from him, because she was afraid for both of them at that time, she would be punished…but she had been wrong.

A soft, almost inaudible gasp escaped her lips when strong arms wrapped around her shoulders, the tall man bending to her short height as he pulled her closer to his lean form…well as close as her pregnant body would allow that is. Her eyes were wide in aghast at the feeling of warmth seeping through her body, just like every other time he had hugged her without even warning her of doing so. Aoshi's head tucked into her right shoulder and neck area, he taking a deep breath to try and remember the sweet scent that was Misao. Now though, it was mixed with motherhood, whereas before it was only a mix of childhood and innocence. Misao's eyes had finally closed, a tear slipping unnoticed down her porcelain face.

The moment however would not last as long as Misao secretly hoped. Bells began to alarm in Aoshi's mind, as what he was doing was not right. In an instant his arms dropped from around the petite woman as he kneeled before her with his forehead touching the floorboards. For a fleeting moment, joy had rushed within him as he finally found solid physical evidence that Misao was in fact alive and well. There was one simple fact he had forgotten to remember: He had been embracing his Okashira.

"Forgive my abruptness Makimachi-sama."

Crystal tears slid down Misao's face as she stared down at the bowing man before her. This wasn't right. This wasn't the way she had hoped to see him again, to be reunited with the man she called her heart. Instead of voicing anything, a lump having been stuck in her throat at his bowing form, all she could do was silently cry some more. A hiccup finally registered in Aoshi's ears, telling him all was not well. Aoshi sat up quickly and just in time as he caught the young woman. Misao had collapsed to the floorboards in a not so graceful heap and dived into his broad chest, her arms wrapping tightly around his waist as she wept like a child.

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To be continued…

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