My right hand twitched at the pressure being placed against them. They were being inspected by Megumi-san. I had survived. I groaned when pressure was placed against my side and moved away from her hands and spoke opening my blue-green eyes to stare accusingly at her.
"Will you stop that…it is quite sore." Her eyes were wide finally seeing me conscious and she relaxed her shoulders, placing her hands in her lap and spoke in a serious but concerned tone of voice.
"Thank goodness. It's about time you woke up. We were becoming extremely worried." I had raised an eyebrow at the 'we' bit but from my dream with Hannya, I guess all was forgiven between Kenshin and myself. After all he knew more then anyone what I had been through.
"You've been out for 3 days. Any longer and we might have thought you didn't want to come back at all." 3 DAYS! Was I really that weak? I had spoken angrily to myself.
"Any longer you might have bleed to death. Your lucky Misao-chan found you and made Yahiko run and tell me what had happened. She, Sano and Kenshin brought you to Kaoru's since it was closer and I operated on you then and there." I watched as she placed her hand on the bandage wrapped around my lower stomach region.
"Misao said…you had stabbed yourself. She found your larger kodachi on the path towards Kanryuu's but in some mental state you still took your smaller one with you. Why did you do it?" I looked over at her and silently shook my head. I watched her purse her lips thinking of something and then she spoke again.
"When Misao awakens can you please tell her to eat. She hasn't touched a thing for three days and this is the first time she has slept. She's been up watching over you the whole time." I turned my head looking over at Misao. She was lying stomach down on a mat, arms and legs sprawled out and her mouth slightly parted bringing in silent breaths.
"She looks cute ne?" Megumi had spoken softly.
"Hai, she does." Disgustingly cute, I spoke silently inside my head. I groaned softly as I got off the bed grabbing the blanket.
"Wait! You shouldn't be up yet!" Megumi-san had spoken getting up trying to tug me back to bed but I pulled my arm away and took the blanket over to Misao. I dropped it over her body and slowly descended to the floor, leaning my back against the wall.
"I'll stay here until she awakens." I spoke. Megumi was silent and I was awaiting the whole doctor routine but watched as she brought some blankets over, placing some behind my back and then lay one over my semi-clothed body. I noticed now I was wearing my dark pants from my ninja outfit. Now everyone could see my scars.
xxxxxxx
I sat fully awake looking down at Misao and watched her shiver slightly. It was a cool night and I crawled closer towards her and lay down on the mat as well. Misao had curled up on her side facing me and I lay down on my left placing an arm around her waist. She was deep in sleep and wasn't even afraid of the presence that lay near her. It was as though she knew it was I and that I'd never harm her in any way. Her arm had wrapped around my upper chest, never placing any pressure on my injury. Yep, she knew it was I.
Minutes passed by and she was mumbling, the first signs of her awaking. I remember this from when she were a small girl. Some things from her childhood she would keep with her forever. This, her beautiful eyes and her energy. There were things I never knew about Misao, as she had matured. She did pout, but only to try and get her way and it worked with Okina all the time. Her body had changed, showing the curves of a young woman. She was beginning to wear kimonos showing how much of a woman she was. She had this grace, this beauty about her that glowed and it was tormenting my thoughts, my feelings. They were changing, becoming aware to me, that Misao was someone I cared deeply for and would share my life, no matter how dark it had been in the past.
I am cut from my thoughts when the slight pressure of Misao's head left my chest as she had risen, her blurry blue eyes focusing on mine. Her mouth gapped open, surprised to see I was beside her and awake for that matter. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears and I watched as she sat up the blankets falling off her body and she placed her hands over her mouth trying to stop her sobs. I had lifted my body up with my bandaged hands and moved closer towards her. I was engulfed in her hug, her arms wrapping tightly around my neck, her head resting on my right shoulder as she cried openly in front of me.
"I'm sorry Misao…" I had whispered in her ear and placed my arms around her feeling the contours of her body press against mine. I had worried her more then I thought. I was truly a loved one to her and she thought she had lost me again.
"I thought…I thought I lost you again Aoshi…" Misao had spoken brokenly to me as though she heard my own thoughts. My eyes widen at this new contact. Misao had moved, she was sitting in my lap, her insanely long legs wrapped loosely around my waist. It was very intimate and yet Misao was still unaware as she was now sniffling lightly, her weeping was now being controlled. Her head still rested against my shoulder, her arms loosening lightly around my neck but they were still wrapped around me. She fit perfectly in my embrace and this was now playing havoc with my emotions. She pulled away, her head lifting up so she could look at me. Those eyes were red and all puffy but she was still cute to me. I guess she'd always be cute to me.
"Why did you leave Aoshi?" I stared out the slightly opened window letting in some natural light, but the sun was setting.
"You told me to leave…right after you hit me." I heard her gasp and looked down seeing those eyes wide and a hand placed over her mouth.
"Misao its okay. You had every right to do that. I was being insensitive yet again. It will take me awhile to rid myself of the coldness in me. After all I have had it in me for a long time now."
"Its okay…I'll wait for you Aoshi…as long as it takes…even forever…" I glanced into her eyes when I heard her whisper this. Her cheeks stained pink as she openly confessed how much I meant to her. Her teeth bit down on her lip, something I had grown accustomed too everytime she spoke her feeling to me becoming insanely nervous on whether I'd accept them or disregard them. Not anymore though, tonight and the days ahead I'll accept everything she has to offer and learn to give it back to her. My hand came up freeing her bottom lip and I looked down tracing my fingers over them, wanting them against mine once more. I looked up at Misao as I was bending down, my lips going to meet hers.
"Perhaps, forever is too long to wait." I had spoken and caught Misao's gasp with my mouth. Her lips were soft and moist and I kissed them passionately knowing she was mine, she was always mine no matter how stubborn I had been. I involuntary shivered as Misao rang her hands down my back. I could feel her lips smirking and I took the challenge running my bandaged hands from her knees upwards, going inside her shorts. Her breath had caught her eyes opening and widening at this new sensation. She had pulled away now as my arms moved out of her shorts and kept travelling up and under her long sleeved black top running over her bare back. I stared into her eyes not coming into contact with any binding. It seems she knew what I was thinking as she had a telltale blush of complete embarrassment. She was unable to speak as I placed my lips against hers once more. Her lips had parted letting my tongue travel inside her mouth, claiming her more. Before I knew what was happening more of my self-control had snapped and Misao's chest now lay pressed against mine, bare skin against bare skin. She had whimpered feeling the contact, but the enjoyment was now stopped by me hissing, as she had wrapped her legs too tightly around my waist pressing it against my wound. Misao abruptly let go, her hand pushing on my shoulders, pulling herself away from me. Her passion was completely forgotten as her eyes frowned in concern wanting to know if I was in pain. I was unable to respond as a slight rasping on the shoji door interrupted us. Misao's hands stiffened on my shoulders and I quickly pulled her away and placed the sheets over her. She had turned over pretending to sleep and I made my way slowly to the door and opened it up to see Megumi handing me some ointment and clean bandages.
I closed the door, as Megumi-san had left not coming in as I could dress my wounds myself. I sat down on a chair unwrapping the bandage around my lower waist area but watched as my hands were brushed away but smaller and paler ones. I looked up noticing Misao, a still half-naked Misao. Her hair was undone and covered her bare breasts. She kneeled on her knees and began unwrapping the bandages. I watched as she took great care in not hurting me and never placing a lot of pressure on the wound as well. I flinched slightly away from the stinging of the ointment but bared with it. Misao was now wrapping the clean bandage around my waist and I smiled down at her as she placed a kiss where the wound lay underneath.
Many minutes have passed and Misao had finished wrapping my hands, placing a kiss on each of them as well. I couldn't help it anymore I placed my hands under her armpits and brought her up and closer to me, making her sit on my lap once more. Her cheeks were pink again at the contact as she sat astride my legs, hers not touching the floor. Her arms lay around my neck, her fingers brushing the strands falling down my neck and my hands rested lightly on her hips, my thumbs caressing small circles on her bare skin making her squirm slightly. I was not doing anything awaiting to see what Misao would do as I looked up at her. I felt as she clenched the hair on the back of my neck tilting my head back. I smirked knowing she was getting me back from the other night and her lips brushed softly against mine, not making full contact. She was teasing me, I had assumed. After all now she were the taller one, now she was in control. Misao was pulling away but my tongue had come out grazing over her swollen lips. They glistened with my saliva and I watched Misao lick them. I gulped thinking this was quite arousing and watched as Misao lowered her gaze, her hand brushing over the bandage.
"Damn…" I chuckled hearing her whisper that. She looked up at me pouting cutely and I wrapped my arms around her slender waist bringing her closer to me.
"Did you want me to pleasure you Misao-mine?" I had whispered and Misao's eyes were like saucers never thinking she'd ever hear something like that leave my lips. I moved my hands up and cupped her full plump breasts. Her eyes were closed as she whimpered at the touch. Although she moved closer, liking this feeling very much she took control her hands wrapping around my wrists as she shook her head negatively. Her eyes opened pulling my hands away and she spoke in a soft whisper her cheeks turning bright red.
"I want to loose myself…with you…inside me." She was even sacrificing her hunger for passion for me, waiting for when I was stronger. I placed a soft lingering kiss on her lips thanking her. I stood up placing Misao on her feet and she walked over to where she was sleeping before and placed the shirt over her head. I watched as she walked over and she soon spoke.
"I told you I'd wear this for you Aoshi-anata." I arched an eyebrow hearing how sexy she sounded. Misao was luring me into a trap and I would gladly fall into it. She was wearing the black top I had given her all those years ago and even though it draped over her body, gapping at the front slightly, the hint of curves could be seen. I looked down noticing she had raised a finger and began tracing some of my scars. I smirked as she whispers tracing some little ones.
"Mine…mine…and mine." I took a deep breath as she slowly trailed her fingers down my chest, following my longest scar.
"Himura's…" She had whispered.
"Aa, and the one on my back too." I had spoken looking down at her. Misao's head jerked up and she left my light embrace and moved behind me tracing the scar there too. I felt her arms wrap around me and she placed her lips against my back, kissing the scar. I heard the door sliding open and Misao stiffened behind me. There was some chuckling and Sagara spoke.
"Whoops, sorry guys, shoulda knocked huh? Kenshin wanted me to tell you foods ready to eat if ya want some." I had half turned around placing my arm around Misao's shoulders holding her to me and spoke to Sagara stopping him from leaving.
"Arigatoo Sano…for helping me." He nodded his head in silence and closed the door behind him.
"Let's get something to eat Misao, I'm starving and you look too thin."
"WHAT?" She had yelled as I moved away grabbing my shirt that was placed on the back of the chair and placed it on.
"I know you stayed up watching over me while I was unconscious and I know you didn't eat either. Never again will you do that Misao. I will get worried then." Misao bowed her head in embarrassment and I lifted it up smiling down at her. She was shocked at that; it was after all a full-fledged smile at that.
"Come on…Lets go see how long I'm out of action for." Misao blushed yet again hearing words like that leave my mouth. She didn't know me very well, but a watched a lecherous smile form over her lips as she thought of something. I think she was beginning to like this.
xxxxxxx
"THREE WEEKS!" Misao had yelled in front of everyone. All eyes were on her wanting to know what the outburst was for. I too was looking at her pretending I had no clue.
"No training for three weeks, that's like torture!" I sipped my tea smirking slightly at Misao's cover up but glanced my eyes, which were hidden by my long bangs over at Sagara. A small smile covered his lips but he kept quiet not saying a word to anyone.
"Misao it's just three weeks! Be thankful he's here and alive. If he'd been like that for much longer Aoshi wouldn't be sitting at this table at all!" Misao fell silent, actually everyone was quiet and I placed my teacup on the table and heard Misao's small voice.
"I know that…I know that…I know he could have died and I'd be left alone…I KNOW THAT SO STOP REMINDING ME!" I watched along with the others as Misao bolted from the room.
"Gomen nasai Misao-chan…" Megumi had whispered and I got up patting my hand on her shoulder telling her it was alright and left to go find Misao, my left hand placed on my right side.
xxxxxxx
I walked into the backyard noticing Misao was standing under a large shady tree. I walked over and she spoke in a quiet voice, which I rarely heard.
"I know you could have died Aoshi. I thought about it the whole time you were unconscious and then when we were bringing you back to Kaoru's I was thinking of it then too. I shut myself off to the others not wanting them to see me cry. I waited until they fell asleep and then I'd weep brokenly to no one. I begged the gods hoping they'd let you come back."
"I did Misao, I did come back. I saw Hannya, Shijuksho, Beshimi and Hyotokko again. They looked exactly the same, but they made me choose. To go with them or to stay with you. I was so confused I wanted to be with all of you but I saw you, you looked beautiful but sad. You had aged considerably but you were scarred for life. I had left, I had died leaving you alone and you were at my gravestone. I watched as you jumped off the cliff, wanting to come to me, wanting to be with me. Dying to have a life with me then staying on the earth to live a loveless life. When I saw that, I made my choice, I made my decision. I chose life…a life with my Misao…my loved one." Misao had turned around hearing me say that and her arms wrapped around my neck, her lips pressed urgently to mine, her happy tears glistening down my cheeks.
"I love you Aoshi…forever…" I placed my lips against hers once more and she responded with furious passion. I pulled away gathering more air and self-control and placed Misao back on her own feet as I had lifted her in the air bringing her to my height.
"Koibito?"
"Hai…" She had whispered out, her eyes closed, loving my voice saying that word to her.
"Let's go home…I'm ready to go home." Misao eyes opened, sparkling up at me and she nodded her head and we walked back inside to tell the others.
Xx TBC xX
