Chapter 7
By Crystal
Author's Notes: Extremely mushy =p Even though most of my chapters are mushy. Otsu next chapter. I promise.
*Screw the disclaimers ^^;;*
I would love to be your daughter-in-law...
I know you would. You love him, a lot. And he you.
Soujiro's cheek turned crimson red when he had heard those two comments. The truth was, his sharp ears had heard the whole conversation between the two when he had left. He once heard Yumi-san talk about love. Such a weird word, 'love'. Yumi-san tried explaining, but ended up confusing him more. And she ended with, 'You'll know when the time comes. You don't feel good when you're away from her, and when you're with her, you feel all of a sudden very warm, and not lonely anymore.' Was this what Yumi-san called love?
How he had missed Yumi-san and Shishio-san. Shishio-san was kind of like the father he never had, and Yumi-san was her sister. The only person giving him gifts, whether it was clothes, candies or anything. He missed her dearly. He missed her calling him 'boy' and missed the noise Kamatari-san and Yumi-san would make when they were arguing over who Shishio-san would like better. He missed Anji...Maybe he could sneak in the jail when they were in Kyoto working. Toshiko would never suspect him of breaking in jail just to see his old comrade, and what if she did? She couldn't have done anything, and he could care less of what she thought...Or not.
He hated not knowing what to do. He could either be truthful and tell Toshiko that he was going in to visit someone, or he could lie to her. But if she found out, he would be in deep crap. And he really didn't want her to lose her trust in him. It was already eight at night, they had taken a break at about one to have lunch, then they've been walking until now. It was awfully quiet. Neither Toshiko or him wanted to talk. Toshiko said that she would be opening the package Aoma-san gave to her tonight and she looked like she was deep in thoughts too. Whatever she was thinking about...
'I really wonder what he's being so quiet about...' Toshiko took a sideway glance at Soujiro. 'It's getting dark already, and we haven't spoken much today.' She held the wrapped box tightly, sandwiching the blanket between the box and herself. She held the box like it was her life, 'I wonder what Tagagi-san gave me. I can't wait to open this up.' A bad thought crawled in her head, 'I hope it's not a wedding gift or anything, I'm not married yet...Even though I surely wouldn't mind being married to Sou...stop your thoughts, young lady.' She blushed furiously, thanking Kami-sama that it was night and Soujiro would not be able to see her blush. She was wrong.
Soujiro saw the blush quite well and was wondering what made her blush. Looking up at the heavens, he saw bright beautiful stars shining brightly. It reminded him a lot about himself looking up when he was a child, growing to love the sky at night because of the stars. They looked nice and clear, exactly like they were years and years ago. Nothing has changed about the stars, the only thing that changed was himself. He no longer was the innocent kid that carried a hundred rice bags everyday to be able to eat, he was now a skilled killer with an innocent woman as his companion.
Three weeks, four weeks tops and then they'd meet Himura-san. Then Toshiko would probably leave him there and stay with Himura-san and his wife. Then I'd be alone again and continue my travelling. Such thoughts were so depressing. Alone. That word meant being alone, sleeping in the forests everyday instead of inns even though he had enough money, it meant having no one to talk to, it meant being the 'smiling freak' as Chou referred him to be.
He didn't want that, but did he have a choice? No. Toshiko was to choose her own path, whether she was going to stay with the couple or continue his traveling with him. But he would never let her travel with him. It was too dangerous, who knew what could happen?
There was stupid drunks always picking fights with him because he had a katana by his side which he hadn't used for weeks, but his techniques were not getting any worse. They were still flawless. So that left one choice, her to stay with Himura-san. Unless he was going to stay with them too, but he wasn't going to impose on his ex-enemy that much. Once he found out what was going on, he was out of there.
Sagara-san certainly wouldn't be glad to see him, who else was living with Himura-san? He didn't know. He was going to find out sooner or later anyways... Three more weeks...or four.
Toshiko started humming softly, a song her mother used to hum to her when she was little and had trouble falling asleep. That song would always make nightmares go away. Her legs were getting tired, what she would give for a rest. But by the looks of Soujiro's face, they weren't going to get rest anytime soon. He was deep in thoughts...Again.
The silence was starting to get on her nerve, but she kept quiet about it, if she kept quiet, he wouldn't know. But what surprised her more was what Soujiro was just about to say.
"Doushita, Toshiko?" Even if he was in front of her and not looking at her at all, he could feel the person behind himself getting irritated at something. Whatever it was, he hoped it wasn't him.
"...Aa..." she said after some hesitation, "I'm just wondering what you were thinking about..."
Soujiro raised his left eyebrow and looked at her, "You don't get frustrated because you're thinking of what I could possibly be thinking about."
"Ehh...It's nothing, Soujiro. You shouldn't worry about it." Toshiko replied, calming herself, after all, he had lots to think about, and you couldn't blame him for such a terrible childhood.
"If you say so. I'm here to talk though. If you need help, that is." Soujiro replied. "Oh, and we're resting for the night in a few minutes, when I find a tree nice enough to lean on."
"Thank Kami-sama! I was wondering when you were going to say that." Toshiko looked relieved. Finally, rest. Her feet were sore, her arms and hands were tired of carrying the stuff for the past few hours.
Soujiro chuckled slightly, "Hai, hai. We're resting now." He pointed to a tree a good ten metres away.
"Darn...so far..." She pouted and dragged her feet towards the tree and flopped down hard. "Itai! The stupid ground's hard!"
"Nobody told you to sit down so hard, Toshiko."
"Oh shut up." She pushed him playfully, "Anyhow, I'm sleeping right now, you better be under the blanket tomorrow morning when I wake up, or else I'm going to kick your butt all the way to Osaka!"
"Hai, hai. Oyasumi." He was standing up, looking at her peaceful face, half covered in the blanket.
"Oyasumi, Soujiro..." Her voice was muffled, thanks to the blanket. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath, and was falling asleep already.
Soujiro stood there looking at her for a few minutes before he heard her soft breathing, indicating that she was asleep. The moonlight was shining on her pale porcelain face, her rosy lips standing out very nicely. There was certainly no words that could have described her. She was...breathtakingly beautiful. And suddenly noticed a box she was holding onto the whole day.
She had been so exhausted that she had forgotten to open the present Aoma-san gave to her. She was going to be just as exhausted as today for tomorrow, they were going to do the same thing, except tomorrow, they were going to walk around this village for a few hours.
He laid his whole body on the floor and closed his eyes. He didn't want to be in a sleeping position to sleep today. His back ached. Besides, he wanted Toshiko to have the whole blanket, or else she would get side, on the other hand, him, he was used to the weather. If Toshiko was going to kill him when she woke up, then so be it, he wouldn't mind going in a coffin now. His mind drifted off somewhere before falling asleep.
A few hours later, Toshiko woke up and found Soujiro sleeping on the floor. 'Baka...you're going to be a cold like that, Soujiro.' She stood up, 'Soujiro no baka, making me wake up every time I'm comfortable with the blanket.' And wrapped the blanket around Soujiro and snuggled up to him softly, as not to wake him up.
* * * * *
Waking up, he felt something warm and soft close to him, and opened him eyes little by little and was surprised of what, or should he say who was there. 'Toshiko...my little angel' He couldn't help but plant a small kiss on her forehead, wrapping his arms around her slim waist, hoping she was still asleep. 'Arigatou, Yumi-san, for describing what love was. I think I know what love is, and who I love.' "Aishiteru, Toshiko." He whispered softly.
In her dreams, she had just heard a familiar voice, the voice that belonged to someone she secretly love, Soujiro. 'Aishiteru, Toshiko.' She was delighted to hear that. She said something just as softly, "Aishiteru, Soujiro."
Soujiro was sure she was still asleep, but she had heard him. And he was kind of glad. Half of him was embarrassed and the other half was glad. He wouldn't be able to say that again. And he now knew he wouldn't be rejected either. He closed his eyes, ready for another few hours of sleep. The sky was still dark. He was falling asleep, and his last thought before falling asleep was how he was now the luckiest man alive. Sleeping with someone he loved and had his arms wrapped around. He felt warm, safe, happy and loved.
Author's Notes: Heh...Okay. I promise, Otsu next chapter, tomorrow night, I hope. Thank you for those that had been staying with me ever since the beginning of the story, I really appreciate it. Have fun reading this chapter (I hope) and please review! Oyasumi, minna-san!
Kami-sama - God
Doushita - What's wrong?
Itai - Ouch!
Oyasumi - Good night
Baka - Idiot
Arigatou - Thank you
Aishiteru - I love you
By Crystal
Author's Notes: Extremely mushy =p Even though most of my chapters are mushy. Otsu next chapter. I promise.
*Screw the disclaimers ^^;;*
I would love to be your daughter-in-law...
I know you would. You love him, a lot. And he you.
Soujiro's cheek turned crimson red when he had heard those two comments. The truth was, his sharp ears had heard the whole conversation between the two when he had left. He once heard Yumi-san talk about love. Such a weird word, 'love'. Yumi-san tried explaining, but ended up confusing him more. And she ended with, 'You'll know when the time comes. You don't feel good when you're away from her, and when you're with her, you feel all of a sudden very warm, and not lonely anymore.' Was this what Yumi-san called love?
How he had missed Yumi-san and Shishio-san. Shishio-san was kind of like the father he never had, and Yumi-san was her sister. The only person giving him gifts, whether it was clothes, candies or anything. He missed her dearly. He missed her calling him 'boy' and missed the noise Kamatari-san and Yumi-san would make when they were arguing over who Shishio-san would like better. He missed Anji...Maybe he could sneak in the jail when they were in Kyoto working. Toshiko would never suspect him of breaking in jail just to see his old comrade, and what if she did? She couldn't have done anything, and he could care less of what she thought...Or not.
He hated not knowing what to do. He could either be truthful and tell Toshiko that he was going in to visit someone, or he could lie to her. But if she found out, he would be in deep crap. And he really didn't want her to lose her trust in him. It was already eight at night, they had taken a break at about one to have lunch, then they've been walking until now. It was awfully quiet. Neither Toshiko or him wanted to talk. Toshiko said that she would be opening the package Aoma-san gave to her tonight and she looked like she was deep in thoughts too. Whatever she was thinking about...
'I really wonder what he's being so quiet about...' Toshiko took a sideway glance at Soujiro. 'It's getting dark already, and we haven't spoken much today.' She held the wrapped box tightly, sandwiching the blanket between the box and herself. She held the box like it was her life, 'I wonder what Tagagi-san gave me. I can't wait to open this up.' A bad thought crawled in her head, 'I hope it's not a wedding gift or anything, I'm not married yet...Even though I surely wouldn't mind being married to Sou...stop your thoughts, young lady.' She blushed furiously, thanking Kami-sama that it was night and Soujiro would not be able to see her blush. She was wrong.
Soujiro saw the blush quite well and was wondering what made her blush. Looking up at the heavens, he saw bright beautiful stars shining brightly. It reminded him a lot about himself looking up when he was a child, growing to love the sky at night because of the stars. They looked nice and clear, exactly like they were years and years ago. Nothing has changed about the stars, the only thing that changed was himself. He no longer was the innocent kid that carried a hundred rice bags everyday to be able to eat, he was now a skilled killer with an innocent woman as his companion.
Three weeks, four weeks tops and then they'd meet Himura-san. Then Toshiko would probably leave him there and stay with Himura-san and his wife. Then I'd be alone again and continue my travelling. Such thoughts were so depressing. Alone. That word meant being alone, sleeping in the forests everyday instead of inns even though he had enough money, it meant having no one to talk to, it meant being the 'smiling freak' as Chou referred him to be.
He didn't want that, but did he have a choice? No. Toshiko was to choose her own path, whether she was going to stay with the couple or continue his traveling with him. But he would never let her travel with him. It was too dangerous, who knew what could happen?
There was stupid drunks always picking fights with him because he had a katana by his side which he hadn't used for weeks, but his techniques were not getting any worse. They were still flawless. So that left one choice, her to stay with Himura-san. Unless he was going to stay with them too, but he wasn't going to impose on his ex-enemy that much. Once he found out what was going on, he was out of there.
Sagara-san certainly wouldn't be glad to see him, who else was living with Himura-san? He didn't know. He was going to find out sooner or later anyways... Three more weeks...or four.
Toshiko started humming softly, a song her mother used to hum to her when she was little and had trouble falling asleep. That song would always make nightmares go away. Her legs were getting tired, what she would give for a rest. But by the looks of Soujiro's face, they weren't going to get rest anytime soon. He was deep in thoughts...Again.
The silence was starting to get on her nerve, but she kept quiet about it, if she kept quiet, he wouldn't know. But what surprised her more was what Soujiro was just about to say.
"Doushita, Toshiko?" Even if he was in front of her and not looking at her at all, he could feel the person behind himself getting irritated at something. Whatever it was, he hoped it wasn't him.
"...Aa..." she said after some hesitation, "I'm just wondering what you were thinking about..."
Soujiro raised his left eyebrow and looked at her, "You don't get frustrated because you're thinking of what I could possibly be thinking about."
"Ehh...It's nothing, Soujiro. You shouldn't worry about it." Toshiko replied, calming herself, after all, he had lots to think about, and you couldn't blame him for such a terrible childhood.
"If you say so. I'm here to talk though. If you need help, that is." Soujiro replied. "Oh, and we're resting for the night in a few minutes, when I find a tree nice enough to lean on."
"Thank Kami-sama! I was wondering when you were going to say that." Toshiko looked relieved. Finally, rest. Her feet were sore, her arms and hands were tired of carrying the stuff for the past few hours.
Soujiro chuckled slightly, "Hai, hai. We're resting now." He pointed to a tree a good ten metres away.
"Darn...so far..." She pouted and dragged her feet towards the tree and flopped down hard. "Itai! The stupid ground's hard!"
"Nobody told you to sit down so hard, Toshiko."
"Oh shut up." She pushed him playfully, "Anyhow, I'm sleeping right now, you better be under the blanket tomorrow morning when I wake up, or else I'm going to kick your butt all the way to Osaka!"
"Hai, hai. Oyasumi." He was standing up, looking at her peaceful face, half covered in the blanket.
"Oyasumi, Soujiro..." Her voice was muffled, thanks to the blanket. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath, and was falling asleep already.
Soujiro stood there looking at her for a few minutes before he heard her soft breathing, indicating that she was asleep. The moonlight was shining on her pale porcelain face, her rosy lips standing out very nicely. There was certainly no words that could have described her. She was...breathtakingly beautiful. And suddenly noticed a box she was holding onto the whole day.
She had been so exhausted that she had forgotten to open the present Aoma-san gave to her. She was going to be just as exhausted as today for tomorrow, they were going to do the same thing, except tomorrow, they were going to walk around this village for a few hours.
He laid his whole body on the floor and closed his eyes. He didn't want to be in a sleeping position to sleep today. His back ached. Besides, he wanted Toshiko to have the whole blanket, or else she would get side, on the other hand, him, he was used to the weather. If Toshiko was going to kill him when she woke up, then so be it, he wouldn't mind going in a coffin now. His mind drifted off somewhere before falling asleep.
A few hours later, Toshiko woke up and found Soujiro sleeping on the floor. 'Baka...you're going to be a cold like that, Soujiro.' She stood up, 'Soujiro no baka, making me wake up every time I'm comfortable with the blanket.' And wrapped the blanket around Soujiro and snuggled up to him softly, as not to wake him up.
* * * * *
Waking up, he felt something warm and soft close to him, and opened him eyes little by little and was surprised of what, or should he say who was there. 'Toshiko...my little angel' He couldn't help but plant a small kiss on her forehead, wrapping his arms around her slim waist, hoping she was still asleep. 'Arigatou, Yumi-san, for describing what love was. I think I know what love is, and who I love.' "Aishiteru, Toshiko." He whispered softly.
In her dreams, she had just heard a familiar voice, the voice that belonged to someone she secretly love, Soujiro. 'Aishiteru, Toshiko.' She was delighted to hear that. She said something just as softly, "Aishiteru, Soujiro."
Soujiro was sure she was still asleep, but she had heard him. And he was kind of glad. Half of him was embarrassed and the other half was glad. He wouldn't be able to say that again. And he now knew he wouldn't be rejected either. He closed his eyes, ready for another few hours of sleep. The sky was still dark. He was falling asleep, and his last thought before falling asleep was how he was now the luckiest man alive. Sleeping with someone he loved and had his arms wrapped around. He felt warm, safe, happy and loved.
Author's Notes: Heh...Okay. I promise, Otsu next chapter, tomorrow night, I hope. Thank you for those that had been staying with me ever since the beginning of the story, I really appreciate it. Have fun reading this chapter (I hope) and please review! Oyasumi, minna-san!
Kami-sama - God
Doushita - What's wrong?
Itai - Ouch!
Oyasumi - Good night
Baka - Idiot
Arigatou - Thank you
Aishiteru - I love you
