I slept most of the day away and was now sitting on the window railing looking out into the yard. It was a nice warm day…well what I saw of it. I was still dressed in Aoshi's training shirt, my bra and underwear. Yep that's it. I had run all the way to Sano's wearing just three pieces of clothing. I wonder if Aoshi is with Okon now. I brushed the thought out of my mind not wanting my thoughts to go any further then that. I sighed heavily and placed my head down on my right up drawn knee looking down at the silver band on my finger. I closed my eyes not even caring about my state of dress anymore. I heard muffled speaking coming from behind the closed door of Sano's bedroom.

"She might still be sleeping." That was none other then Sano.

"I still need to see if she is alright." I snapped my eyes open at hearing Aoshi's voice. The door was slightly ajar now but Sano spoke again.

"Aoshi, Misao may be tuff on the outside but deep down she's just a young woman with a heart of glass. Pieces have been broken before, but she has never truly been hurt. I fear that maybe she will be if something isn't fixed between the two of you. If Misao is to be hurt again I fear that it would be impossible to mend her heart. So I ask you, no I beg of you Aoshi to be honest with her." I watched the door open more and I snapped my eyes shut not wanting to look at him. I controlled my breathing even though my heart pounded in my chest at Aoshi walking closer towards me. I couldn't help it any longer. I spoke not opening my eyes or turning my head up to face him.

"What are you doing here Aoshi?" My voice was just like his, emotionless. I didn't know what to feel. Sure I was happy he came but angry it took him so long and still sad about what occurred. Was he spending the night with her? Aoshi softly speaking to me snapped me out of my inner self.

"I came to see if you were alright, if you were safe…" I opened my eyes and sat normally on the railing of the window, my back to the yard and my feet dangling inside the room. I knew the training shirt I was wearing parted open, as there were no buttons. I didn't even have a sash. I looked over at him to see his eyes staring into mine. His right hand fisted as he stared at me. He seemed very uncomfortable, almost as though he forced himself to come and find me. I got off the railing and walked closer to the bed speaking once more.

"I'm fine…Sano was here for me, just like he always has been. He'll always be here for me…forever!" I noticed Aoshi flinch slightly, his eyes closing for a few seconds as he dawned on what I said. It may have been harsh, but no harsher then what occurred last night.

"Look just go Aoshi, you look like you're fighting an inner battle to decide whether you want to stay and talk to me or whether you want to go back to her! I'll make it easy for you, go back to her." I turned away from him but froze in my footsteps as Aoshi's hand crept away from his side and was now placed on my left side just below my bare ribs. I looked down to see his hand snake more around me so it was at my lower back and I watched his feet move closer. I tilted my head up looking at him but Aoshi wrapped his other arm around my shoulders and brought me closer to his clothed chest. I wrapped my arms tightly around his upper chest area wishing he would hold me forever and placed my head against his chest letting my tears run there course.

"I'm sorry Misao. I promised I wouldn't hurt you and I did. I'm so ashamed. I just…I'm confused about everything. About you, about Okon and about the way I am feeling for the both of you. I just don't know anything anymore. I don't know what to feel and I sure as hell don't want to see both of you hurt. I guess I am a bastard…" I said nothing at what he spoke and stepped away from him sitting down on the bed and spoke.

"Aoshi I can't do this anymore. I know it's only been a week but this isn't me. I can't compete with Okon and I'm sick of her treating me like trash. I'm not as tuff as I look and I'll cry whenever I know you wouldn't be at the house thinking you are with her. I guess I truly am a child if I can't handle anything like this. I guess I'm trying to make it easier for you so I'll go… I decided today that I'm leaving for awhile. I don't even know how long for…or whether I'll come back. I couldn't care less what my parents are going to think either. I just…I'm not good at these type of things and me staying here will only bring me heartache and pain at seeing you with Okon. I can't leave like that…" I got up as this truly as my final decision and stood in front of him. His head was bowed as he listened to everything I spoke. I stood up on tiptoes, placed my hands against his cheeks and pressed my lips softly against his savoring the moment so I can forever embed it into my heart and soul. Tears glistened in my eyes when Aoshi responded back but I pulled away and hugged him briefly telling him a couple of things I thought I never could and then left not turning back.

"No matter what happened through these past couple of weeks I will forever remember that you were my husband and my loved one. Goodbye Aoshi."

xxxxxxx

Two years had passed as I earned all the money I could and bought a unit near a secluded beach. I had connections and got it quite cheap. This is where I stayed, my own private shelter away from civilisation. I loved it out here. I got inspiration to paint and I'd walk around on the beaches with my camera taking photo's. I had my own shop in the local town and even one in Tokyo. My friend Erica ran it as we went into business together. While I took many photos and painted about the wilderness and how much freedom there was out here, she painted and took photos of the city. Actually we spoke often complimenting each other and getting different opinions. Business was great but as for my personal life I was still shattered. I knew I'd be broken for life.

I hadn't heard from Sano for about a week and that made me feel quite sad. I remember reading one of his letters. Him telling me that he and Meg hooked up together and he'd ask her everyday to marry him. Of course Meg being Meg would refuse. I remember him writing again telling me she finally accepted and they wanted me to come back to be a part of it. Of course me being as stubborn as I was didn't show up. I knew HE would be there and chickened out. That was a year ago and now they had there own little family complete with child. I always smiled at the thought of seeing a baby Sano getting into all types of mischief. Poor Meg… I concluded inside my head. At the end of each letter he'd ask me to write back but I never did. I guess I was afraid I would sound to fake and miserable and I know Sano can pick that out a mile away even though its handwriting. I laughed when he wrote about Kaoru finally realising that Kenshin was attracted to her and she asked him out becoming angry at his shyness. Well they're still going at it too. Sano said something about them travelling around together. My hands began to shake when my eyes fell on one word. That one word could still effect me after all these years…Aoshi. Sano usually spoke very rarely of him obviously respecting my wishes to not here of my heartache. Not in the letter I had been sent recently. He was alone. Never spoke to anyone at all. What happened in Sano's room had etched into his heart and soul forever and he'd never feel anything again. Tears spilled down my face as Sano told me he was completely and utterly lost. Heartbroken was one of the words I read even though it was blurry. Sano said he did hang around with Okon for about a week after I left but she couldn't rise him from the hole he had dug so deep within himself. His spirit was gone, and he felt dead. Sano had said he's never seen Aoshi like this before. He would leave for days on end not telling anyone where he was going and then show up out of the blue still sad as ever. It was as though Aoshi could never be him again, although he could be an asshole (Sano's words) as he had lost his wife, his Misao. My heart still beat wildly at this and I pressed the letter to my heart and finally placed pen to paper and wrote back.

xxxxxxx

A month passed and my hands shook slightly as any minute now my four friends would show up. I was at my shop in the small town awaiting their arrival. I couldn't wait to see them. As if on queue a spiky headed male walked swiftly into the shop with a bright smile on his face with unshed tears glistening in his chocolate eyes. I ran around from the counter and dove into his arms. He had muscled out more but he was still the same old Sano.

"It's been too long Weasel." I nodded my head closing my eyes remembering the feel of being in my best friend's arms. I let go and hugged Megumi and felt the kicking of the unborn child that lay inside her. I smiled down and patted her bulging stomach lightly and raced to hug Kenshin and Kaoru as well.

xxxxxxx

"Aunt Misao! Look what I found!" I rose from my seated position on the sandy beach and walked over to Maku. Yep the little boy was nearly two but spoke up a storm. He had spiky thick brown hair like Sano's but his eyes where dark and mysterious like Meg's. I squatted down looking as he had found a large shell. It was in very good condition.

"Why don't you keep this and give it to your mum and dad as a present?" I smiled as he rushed off back to the unit yelling loudly. I could just see all four of them groaning and silently cursing me.

I stretched up and walked to the edge of the water getting my feet wet. I was wearing a pair of deep blue bikini bathers and a purple sarong wrapped around my waist. I crouched down getting the bottom of the sarong wet and began fiddling with the ring that hung around my neck on a small silver chain, as I looked into the endless ocean. My eyes widened when I noticed a shadow move over me and I closed my eyes recognising that smell. Could it really be him? I questioned myself. My heart sped up and I stood, turned around and opened my eyes. There stood Aoshi. His inky black hair glistening in the sunshine and his long bangs being blown around so I could see the sparkle in his blue-green eyes. He too had become more handsome then ever and his shirt outlined the muscles hidden underneath. I couldn't help it anymore. Tears fell down my face and I threw my arms around his neck hoping he'd hold me too. It was easier for me now, as I had grown taller. My wish was soon granted as he wrapped his arms around me and placed his head on top of mine. Aoshi was here; he'd come to see me. But why? I snapped my eyes open at those two words and let go pushing Aoshi away from me and looked up at him.

"I have missed you so much. I missed my wife…yes…I missed my Misao." I gasped in surprise hearing the tenderness in Aoshi's voice at saying this to me. I pressed my lips urgently to his and felt him kiss me back just as urgently. He bent his knees slightly and wrapped his arms around my waist and lifted me up so I was unable to touch the ground. I showered his face with kisses and could taste my salty tears. We parted but he still held me close to him. My bottom lip quivered and I spoke in a shy voice telling him how I have always felt.

"I love you Aoshi. Always and forever…" My eyes widened as a smile spread over his face and he pressed a light kiss against my lips whispering back to me.

"I love you too my Misao." I hugged him tighter and placed my lips against his once more. I felt the ground again as Aoshi descended to the sand placing me above him. I looked down into those blue-green eyes hoping that sparkle would never fade again. I rested my head against his chest and felt one of his arms snake around my shoulders while the other drew lazy circles on my bare back. He was keeping me safe and warm. I was becoming sleepy and felt Aoshi sit up, taking me with him as he placed me in his arms and began walking back to my unit.

I felt the sarong being untied and felt Aoshi place a shirt over my body and he placed me in the bed. I clutched onto his hand as I had done years ago and spoke once more before drifting off to sleep.

"Please stay with me Aoshi."

xxxxxxx

I awoke to the squealing of a very happy Maku. I groaned and bummed into Megumi who was lying on the other side. She turned over not being asleep at all and spoke.

"We must be going soon Misao. Aoshi wanted us all to meet him down at the beach." I nodded my head and got up. I looked into the mirror noticing I was wearing Aoshi's old training shirt once more. I smiled and pulled it closer over me. I saw Meg standing behind me and turned around to see a package in her hands.

"He brought this in and told me to give it to you." I nodded my head and opened it up. Inside was an ice-blue silk dress, exactly like the one I wore at the wedding. I undressed out of my bathers and placed on some clean underwear and slipped the dress on. It fit perfectly and I brushed my hair leaving it down. I walked into the living room to see Kaoru and Megumi wearing identical dresses but Kaoru's was yellow and Meg's was dark red. Meg wore Sano's black jacket over hers feeling a little unhappy about how much her stomach bulged out. We walked out of the place and I was walking in front until I was blindfolded.

"HEY! What's this about?" I was hushed by Sano and led onto the beach. I had to blink a few times to readjust to the bright sun when the blindfold was taken off and came across a small archway with flowers all over it. I was pushed through it and found four seats for the others, a small table to the side, Aoshi standing up the front wearing black trousers and a black shirt and what looked to be a priest standing near him. I watched as Aoshi silently reached out his hand telling me to come closer and my feet began walking on there own accord my right hand reaching out to take his left one. I gave him a curious look and he spoke while taking my other hand into his.

"You said you wanted something that was small and personal, well now is our chance." I gasped at the realisation as I was attending my own wedding; one Aoshi had whipped up in about 24 hours. I smiled brightly up at him and the priest spoke.

"Do you have the rings?" I took Aoshi's off to place it back on but was stopped by him as he undid the necklace taking the ring off as he wished to speak first.

"I apologise for causing you so much pain Misao. I apologise for not telling you the truth. I apologise for being an idiot and not doing this sooner. But what I shall never apologise for is how much I'm in love with you. I have learnt that no matter what I do, where I go and how far I travel one thing remains the same and that's my love for you Misao…my wife…" Tears slipped down my eyes as he placed the ring back on my finger where it belonged. I grabbed his and looked into those pleading eyes hoping I'd accept him for who he was and even with his faults and mistakes.

"I-I…" I was struck speechless. Look what this baka had done to me.

"You don't have to say anything my child." I turned to look at the priest and then back up at Aoshi and could only speak for a few seconds.

"I love you so much!" And I wrapped my arms around him and cried silently into his chest. He too embraced me tightly and spoke lovingly into my ear wanting me stop crying.

"I pronounce you husband and wife, Aoshi I'm sure you know the rest." I smiled and looked up to see Aoshi's yes looking intently into mine. My lips parted waiting for him and he crushed his lips to mine in a passionate frenzy. I moaned slightly at remembering what this was like and he finally stopped and drew away from me. I knew my cheeks flushed red but I couldn't care less anymore. Claps could be heard and a large whistle from Sano snapped me out of my daze of Aoshi. I turned to look at my loved ones while placing an arm around Aoshi. He was all mine…

xxxxxxx

Hours past as the other had left to "celebrate" in town, but basically leaving us to have some privacy. I sat on the edge of the bed and watched as Aoshi walked into the room wearing some loose black pants and a towel brushing his wet hair. I closed my eyes smelling in his scent as it filled the room but soon opened them to see Aoshi kneeling on the floor in front of me. I smiled down at him as his hair spiked up everywhere and I brushed my fingers through it. I watched amusedly as he wriggled his way to sit in between my legs and wrap his arms around my waist. I shuddered a little as his hands moved up my back as the silk brushed my warm skin. He rose pressing his lips against mine and I fell back against the bed with Aoshi's upper body over mine. Yep, I definitely was going to enjoy being married to him…and it was for life too.

Xxx The End xxX

Authors Notes: There is an Extended Lemon Ending situated at SLAOML for all those that wish to read it.