I awoke to the slight pressure of fingers running over my cheek and opened my sleepy eyes and gazed into a pair of blue-green ones. I smiled tiredly and Aoshi spoke while placing a gentle kiss on my forehead.
"I got us some food. Did you want some?" I nodded my head and sat up but was stopped as Aoshi walked out the door and brought the food in here. I smiled and slowly drank the chicken vegetable soup in front of me.
"I've never had dinner in bed before." I spoke looking up at him and he soon spoke as well.
"Me neither." I smiled silently thinking about something and then it dawned on whether or not Aoshi's girlfriend had ever done this for him.
"What about your girlfriend? Did she not cook for you?" I observed as he silently choked on some of the soup but looked up at me and spoke.
"If you must know her names Okon. I suggest you refer to her as that. She isn't my girlfriend you know, that would be quite sleazy to be married and going with someone else. This is not ancient Japan Misao. Oh and no she wasn't the cooking type either." I blushed embarrassed at prying into his private life and kept quiet from now on.
"I'm sorry..." I spoke quietly and went back to dipping some bread into the soup. I watched as Aoshi took the tray and left the room without saying anything. I blinked the tears away and placed my bowl on the floor and curled up into the bed once more. Stupid! Stupid Misao! I yelled inside my head closing my eyes once more.
xxxxxxx
A grumbled awake at hearing some knocking on the door and I got up walking out into the lounge room walking closer to the door still half asleep not even thinking about my state of dress. I opened it up blinking my eyes a few times and spoke.
"Yes? Can I help you?" I came face to face with a very angry, yet beautiful looking woman. She pushed me away from the door and I stumbled back grabbing my right shoulder and then she pushed harder again and I fell to the floor scraping my leg against the edge of the coffee table.
"GET UP YOU LITTLE HUSSY!" I groaned when she pulled on my braid yanking me to my feet once more. She was quite strong and she had a death grip on my forearms and spoke to me once again.
"You stay the hell away from my boyfriend! He belongs to me!" I gritted my teeth and spoke never taking my eyes off of hers.
"You can't own anybody and he isn't even your boyfriend! Didn't you know he's married." She screamed angrily at this and slapped my face. I was then pushed backwards hard and fell onto the glass coffee table breaking it. I lay slumped on the ground lying on the broken glass looking up at Okon. She bent over threatening me once more.
"Stay away from him! You have been warned!" And with that she left me lying there and stormed out slamming the door behind her. I groaned as I could feel blood seeping out of my lower back. Minutes later I faintly heard the sound of keys coming from the front door.
"HELP ME!" I screamed desperately hoping it was Aoshi. The door flew open and tears came to my eyes, as it was he. I sobbed a little and he dropped the bags and closed the door running over to me. He kneeled beside me and spoke desperately wanting answers.
"Misao what happened?" I shook my head not wanting to tell him.
"Please get me up." I felt myself being raised carefully and carried away into the bathroom. I was seated on the edge of the bath with my feet sitting in it and my back facing Aoshi. He filled the sink with warm water and placed in some disinfectant. Now it was his turn to look after me. A wash cloth was dampened and soon Aoshi kneeled behind me, lifting up my shirts and softly cleaned the blood away. I occasionally hissed at the stinging but never complained.
"This might hurt Misao." I nodded my head and a sob escaped my throat when a piece of glass was taken out of my back. Minutes went by and I was cleaned up and bandaged. Aoshi had turned me around and was taking off my school shirt. It fell into the bath and he moved closer lifting the back of my tank top over my head and down my arms so that I didn't have to lift my right arm. My eyes were closed as I sat on the edge wearing my bra and sports briefs.
"Come on Misao?" I opened my eyes to see Aoshi picking me up and holding me against his chest once more. It was strange though because I felt no shame and no embarrassment at being seen like this. I was carried to the bedroom and placed on the bed. Aoshi had grabbed his old training top; I had worn the other day, and placed me into it and tucked me into the bed. I had a death grip on his left hand and pressed it close to my heart and closed my eyes falling asleep.
xxxxxxx
I woke up blinking my eyes and stared into a pair of curious blue-green ones looking straight at me. A small smile spread over my face, as he must have stayed up just to watch over me. My eyes widened when he stroked his fingers down my cheek and his face drew closer as his lips pressed lightly against mine. This kiss was short almost uncertain but I smiled looking over at him and pressed a kiss into his left palm and sat up turning my back on him. I shrugged his shirt away from me and let it fall silently to the bed as he checked on my cuts.
"They're okay, Misao." Aoshi spoke placing the bandages back on. I sighed and slumped my shoulders happily. I felt his hand against my right shoulder softly brushing it. I closed my eyes at this feeling as he lightly caressed it taking all the pain away. I felt him stop as he placed the shirt back over me and got up leaving the room. I stood up on the carpet but heard Aoshi's voice coming from the doorway.
"And who said you could get up? Get back in bed!" I complied with his wishes and gasped as he brought in some breakfast. He sat the tray in front of him as he kneeled on the bed looking at me. I looked down at the food and knew I was hungry but pushed it away. I sat up on my knees facing Aoshi who was looking at me curiously and slightly confused but I gave him no chance to speak as I placed both my hands against his cheeks and pressed my lips against his once again. My right shoulder was getting better and it didn't hurt as much as it used to. It was his turn to gasp in surprise now and I moved closer sitting myself on his upper thighs pressing my body into his. I smiled against his lips as I heard a small groan escape his throat. His hands rested against my sides lightly stroking my bare skin but he pulled me away. I frowned looking up at him but his head was bent down as he gingerly wrapped the shirt closed around me and then looked up. I bit my lip to stop it from trembling and bowed my head in sadness.
"You don't want me?" I had spoken in a small voice. I can't believe you said that! I voice inside of me spoke. I felt Aoshi's hand under my chin lifting it up and I stared into the endless depths of his eyes once more.
"I didn't say that…" I blushed at those words but Aoshi spoke again.
"You need time Misao. We can't do that unless you are ready and the fact you are injured half means you aren't."
"Half?" I spoke softly once more not really understanding, hopefully getting my blush under control.
"Misao it's only been a week. That week you were unconscious so we've been married for a couple of days at the max. I can't and I won't do anything with you unless we are both sure this is what we want." I nodded my head at what he said.
"Come on you must be starved?" I giggled moving away from him, placing the tray between us and grabbed one of the muffins biting into it.
"I forgot to ask how was the suite at the hotel, since I wasn't there." I spoke with my mouth full of food. He looked over at me and I placed my hand over my mouth a little embarrassed at not acting like a real lady. I watched as he brushed it away and kissed my sugar coated lips and then licked them once pulling away. My heartbeat sped up but I glanced down shyly and picked up a croissant and broke pieces off and began eating it as well not sure at what to say or do about his actions.
"I wasn't there." I tilted my head looking silently at him and he gave me a lob-sided grin and spoke again.
"You look cute like that." I smiled and I knew I had a faint blush staining my cheeks but for once I didn't care. I waited for his answer and he spoke once more grabbing a croissant as well.
"I was either training hard to punish myself for what happened to you or I was sitting by your side waiting for you to hurry up and open those beautiful eyes." His face was slightly bowed at remembering what happened. He still blamed himself for what wasn't his fault. I pressed my small hand against his cheek and watched as his head jerked up at the touch. I moved the tray away and soon moved closer wrapping my arms around his waist and laying my head down on his right shoulder. I felt his arms slowly wrap around me as well and we stayed like this for a few minutes. I turned my face over bringing it closer to his neck and breathed him in.
"What are you doing?" Aoshi spoke softly into my ear and I replied, my lips softly brushing his neck as I spoke to him.
"Smelling you…" I heard a small chuckle escape his lips and I couldn't help but hug him tighter.
"Why? Do I stink?" I giggled a little but replied placing a light kiss against his cheek.
"Not in a bad way dummy. I just love the way you smell because I cannot describe it."
"And that's good?" He spoke questioningly and pulled me away.
"Yep! Its uniquely you and it makes me feel relaxed and comfortable where I am right at this very moment in my life, even if it's kind of weird. I can smell it all in the room and the whole house for that matter and to me its unique because you're pretty special." I smiled as I saw a faint blush cover his cheeks no matter how much he tried to hide it.
"You know I'm going to have to hurt you for saying I'm special now." My eyes widen but I knew he was joking as I saw the sparkle in his eyes.
"Well you gotta hurt Kaoru as well since she agreed too." I spoke back pretending I didn't know he was joking.
"Misao I'm…" I cut him off by placing my lips against his to silence him once more. Know matter how many times I had done this already I loved the feel of his lips against mine. I always got a thrill through my whole body when he kissed me back which is what was happening now. I stopped slowly pulling away to savour the moment in me forever as well as stopping before I lost complete control and spoke again.
"I knew you were kidding." He chuckled while shaking his head but he suddenly stopped and took my hands in his looking down at them. I too looked down to see my creamy hands blend with his tanned ones. I raised my gaze and my heart stopped for a second at the intense gaze his eyes showed as he stared straight into my eyes.
"I wouldn't hurt you Misao…"
"A-Aoshi I-" But was stopped as he placed a finger on my lips.
"I promise Misao…I won't ever hurt you." A small smile appeared on my lips and I fell into his embrace as he held out his arms waiting for me. We sat in our silence enjoying this moment together until a knock on the door jolted me and I left his embrace. He grabbed the tray and placed it on the chair and came back over tucking me into the bed and walked out closing the door behind him. I couldn't help not knowing who was at the door and got up to peek down the hallway. I couldn't see anything but heard Aoshi's voice.
"What the hell are you doing here?" His voice was edged with venom.
"Aoshi darling I came to see you." My shoulders slouched at hearing that voice, as it was Okon's. My feet stepped forward wanting to see the both of them and I stood in the hallway as she was standing in the main room wearing some skimpy little dress and flaunting herself at him. I watched as he pointed to the door silently asking her to leave but she just stood there.
"Aoshi darling what are you doing with that little girl? She is merely a child. You know she'll never match up to me." She had spoken wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her VERY feminine curves to his body. I stepped into the room looking at them and saw Aoshi's gaze turn to me. I watched as he broke away from Okon and finally spoke.
"You are not welcome in this house." I began walking towards them not having a clue at what I was going to do or say but I was standing beside Aoshi and taking his hand into mine hoping this would give me some courage to stand up to this woman.
"I'm sorry Okon, but this is the way it is. You can hate me for all I care but please don't hold this against Aoshi, he's a good man and he wouldn't have done anything to hurt you. This was a promise between our families and we are honor bound to fulfill their wishes." She stared silently at me and then spoke angrily once more.
"You slept with her! YOU BASTARD!" She tried lashing out at him but I stepped in front of him and grabbed her fist in my smaller hand and twisted it painfully. A small squeal escaped her lips and she pulled her hand free holding it as it ached. Tears slipped down her face and I spoke never taking my eyes away from her dark ones.
"You shall never hurt him Okon. I have no clue what happened between the two of you but if you truly loved him you wouldn't be trying to hit him in any way. You may think me a child but I know that is not the way loved ones act. You hurt him and I'll hurt you more." Misao what the HELL are you doing? The voice inside me spoke. I brushed it aside not caring anymore. He's my husband, this is what a wife should do, protect her husband. I spoke more confidently but was soon coaxed out of my thoughts by Okon standing closer to me and spoke.
"Are you threatening me?" I stared into her eyes and fisted my left hand wanting to really punch the shit out of this woman for earlier and for now but controlled myself and nodded my head.
"This is not the end child!" She spoke and I watched as she backed away a little and left the house. I closed my eyes for a brief moment and then turned to stare into Aoshi's dazed eyes as though he was hidden away in some memory or hadn't quite registered what happened.
"Misao what did you just do?" I was a little taken back by his abruptness and the way he spoke to me. His eyes blazed angrily into mine and I stepped back almost frightened but stood my ground and spoke angrily back at him.
"I defended you! I defended myself! I can't believe the way you are acting! After everything that has happened, I mean I nearly died for you, and nobody does that unless you truly care about someone and yet here you are taking her side!"
"I'm not taking sides Misao. All I'm saying is that she thinks I've betrayed her!" My eyes frowned at what he said. I saw his eyes widen the slightest as he spoke how he truly felt. I knew it…he loves her…and I'm only in the way…just some tool…some little girl that would hang on his every word. A woman who would end up falling in love with him and then he'd run off with that floozy and I'd be left crying and heartbroken for the rest of my life. I felt the pressure of his hand on my shoulder and I backed away yelling at him.
"Don't touch me you jerk!" I hugged myself still moving away backing closer to the front door.
"Stop being so childish Misao!" I stood still looking into those eyes seeing the confusion inside at trying to decide what to do.
"I'm sick of you being so secretive Aoshi! You love her and nothing will stand in the way of that! Not even a wife! Well guess what, go soil yourself with her! Go have your little flings or whatever it is you do with her because I don't care! I don't…" I couldn't finish as I began to cry and turned and ran out the door not looking back. I kept running as hard as I could moving down numerous streets and finally stood breathlessly at the tree, which was close to Sano's room. My body ached but I climbed it and opened the window and silently stood in the room. I turned my head to see Sano blissfully sleeping in his bed. The room was dark but occasionally light fell in from the blowing of the curtains. I shut the window and closed the curtains and blinked a few times to get used to the dull light coming from the desk lamp in the corner. I heard a small and tired voice speak to me.
"Get in Misao…" I looked down to see a sleepy Sano holding up his blankets waiting for me. I dived in gratefully and cried into his chest and fell asleep relaxing my sore muscles.
xxxxxxx
The soft caressing of hands against my back woke me form my slumber. I blinked several times and came face to face with a pair of worried chocolate eyes that stared intently at me. I placed my head back down on his chest and spoke softly to him.
"I'm sorry for waking you up Sano."
"Hey if anything's wrong with my little weasel I want to know about it. Now tell me what's going on." He spoke back in a gruff voice, which was just totally Sano. I smiled against his chest hugging him tighter and spoke again.
"I met Okon, Sano."
"Who the hells that?"
"Aoshi's girlfriend…" I whispered back softly.
"WHAT! GIRLFRIEND!" Sano bellowed confusedly. He obviously didn't know about her either. I sighed and spoke again.
"She is very pretty but a little rough and hot tempered. I guess that's why he loves her. The way she is and all. I mean she came to the house and…beat me up…" I was pulled away as Sano sat up looking down at me. I felt ashamed yet again not being able to defend myself.
"W-What do you mean by that Misao?" I looked into Sano's saddened eyes at hearing this and sat up as well and spoke again not being able to look at him.
"She threatened me to keep away from him…but I can't stay away from him." I turned around lifting up the training shirt for him to see my bruised lower back with many cuts on it as there were no bandages on it. I was pulled against his nice warm chest as Sano hugged me from behind placing his arms around my shoulders and placing a kiss into my hair.
"Please tell me everything Misao…" Sano spoke softly into my ear and I relaxed against him, closed my eyes and spoke.
"She pushed me and I fell down onto the table and it smashed making some of the glass stick into my back. Aoshi…he took care of me. He even brought breakfast and gave it to me in bed. I liked it…no I loved it. W-we even kissed, for real and not like at the wedding. It was very special. It was just our moment and it was very special to me. Okon came over early this morning too. She tried hurting me with her stupid words but that didn't effect me. She lashed out at Aoshi thinking he slept with me and all but I got in the way protecting him from her. I-I threatened her in return as well and then she left. A-Aoshi got mad, he wasn't happy about what happened and the words he spoke hurt me, truly hurt me. He loves her so I told him to go off and be with her because I couldn't care less, but I do! I hate to think what they are doing together, as he could only be happy with that bitch and never with me! After everything that's happened, the training hall, me in the hospital, waking up in the same bed and finally maybe feeling something for each other he seemed to cast it all away as though it was nothing, as though it meant nothing to him."
"You love him don't you Misao? Even though it's only been over a week you have fallen for Shinomori." I closed my eyes my heart aching to be held by Aoshi and I nodded my head letting Sano be the only one to know my true feelings. He hugged me a little tighter letting me cry my tears of pain and hurt.
Minutes passed as I had run out of tears and lay exhaustedly in Sano's arms as he still held me. I was turned around as Sano smiled mischievously at me and spoke again.
"So did you sleep with him weasel?"
"SANO!" I blushed at his question and placed my hands over my cheeks trying to hide it.
"Oh come on weasel you can tell me. What are you so afraid of anyway? You've done it before."
"It wouldn't be the same…" I spoke absently taking my hands away as Sano tilted his head looking at me silently.
"It would be different if it was with someone I loved." I spoke trying to reason with him. I watched a hurt expression cross Sano's face as he tilted it down looking at the bed. I gasped at what my sentenced must have seemed like and hugged Sano desperately and apologised.
"Sano I'm sorry I wasn't thinking! I do love you, I really do! It's just that it would be different because I would feel it more deeply with someone I wanted to be with for life. I do want to be with you for life but not like that. I loved every bit of what we did so don't think I hated you or what occurred between us. I just couldn't do it again unless it is with my loved one and it isn't you. I don't even know if I'm making sense but I would be hurting Megumi and you for that matter. I know how much you love her and I couldn't destroy anything between you two, even if you two are so dense that you won't 'fess up to anything." I pulled away and looked into Sano's flushed face but he smiled telling me he understood and I hugged him once more. Yes, Sano and I were lovers. That was two years ago though. It just made our relationship stronger. Every chance I got to go home we'd spend days in bed together. Of course we weren't really supposed to be doing anything since I wasn't even 16 yet but like Sano said 'No one can withstand the Sagara charm.' I don't even know if my brothers or my parent's found out and I'm sure the others have no clue either. Everytime I left to go back to boarding school I cried wanting to be wrapped in his arms and feel his warm skin pressed eagerly to mine. I always told him that he could date anyone because I was never around but he said he couldn't do that to me. Whenever we spoke he'd tell me how much he loved me and waited impatiently for me to come home, home to him. I guess I wished that as well, but not anymore. Sure I loved being wrapped in his arms as it comforted me, taking away all my problems. Our needs were never sexual anymore. That had stopped when I was 16 and somehow it didn't bother us either. We acted the same as we always were before anything happened. I guess it ended because he found Meg. I felt jealous when he spoke nothing of her but soon got over it as I was always in his heart and we'd still speak about how much we loved each other. Yeah, we were just weird like that, I guess that's why we are best friends after all.
"I love you Sano." I spoke hugging my best friend tightly and he soon returned the hug speaking back.
"Love you too Misao. Now YOU get some rest." I smiled as he spoke in his demanding voice and I curled up in his bed and was tucked in tightly as he pressed the sheets close to me. He did this all the time when we were younger and then he'd hold me waiting for me to fall asleep first. I smiled at the memory and closed my eyes once more falling asleep again.
Xxx to be continued xxX
