Author's Note: Whoa… a lot of interesting reviews. Sorry I've taken so very long to update, there's a lot of crap going on right now. Yes, I said crap. This has been the absolutely weirdest month ever… ooh, I forgot, I have some e-cookies to hand out!

Lady Luna: You get an extra special sugary cookie! Cuz you're ever-so swell!

Noname: Your e-cookie has lots of chocolate chips, cuz something tells me you like chocolate and stuff.

Smiley: O.O You like my writing? Are you on happy pills? Jk jk, but I like to flatter myself that I'm getting better at this whole fanfiction thing. Ten e-cookies for you!

That's all I have left… more next chapter, okay? If you do not receive your e-cookie, it's because I am sending them via telepathy and it's not always that reliable… but it's sure cheap!

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Soujiro beamed at me and hugged me again. "Thank you… Misao. I've always wanted a friend."

I sighed contentedly and melted in his embrace. Being friends with Sou-chan wasn't such a bad thing after all…

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-Soujiro-

I greeted the day with a real smile for the first time in memory. Blinking drowsily in the bright morning sun, I spread out on my futon and decided to sleep in.

About an hour later I awoke to the sight of Okina-san leaning over me holding two copper pans.

"OH-hoho!" His little bow tickled my nose when he laughed, and I held back a sneeze. "Wake up, sleepy time is over now!"

CLASH, BANG, CLASH CLAASH!

I understand what the pans were for now. I scrabbled out of the futon, blinking furiously. I groaned. "Ugh, Okina-san? Would you mind… stopping now?" I cradled my poor head in my hands. Owowowowowoow…

I gathered up my clothes. "I'm up, I'm up Okina-san. I'll be down in a minute."

"Well hurry up, the breakfast crowd has already left, and those dishes won't wash themselves! OH-hoho!" He danced out the door.

I chuckled and began to get dressed.

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Downstairs in the kitchen, I bumped into Misao. She beamed and me and greeted me with her cheerful smile. "Morning Sou-chan! Did you sleep well?"

"Yes. Better than I've slept in years."

She placed her delicate hand on my cheek. "Don't worry Sou-chan. You can stay in our Aoiya as long as you'd like."

I watched her flounce away, balancing a tea tray on her hip, and I couldn't control that funny feeling in my stomach again.

Hearing a sound behind me, I whipped around. It was Omasu-san, and she was laughing. "Sou-chan? That's simply adorable. You and Misao seem to be getting along nicely."

Shrugging, I turned away to cover my blush. "She has a good heart, Omasu-dono."

Walking closer to me, Omasu-dono placed both of her hands on my shoulders and looked deep into my eyes. I began to fidget uncomfortably, very unlike my normal behavior. "Soujiro, don't deny it. You are comfortable around our little Misao. I can only wonder as to why."

"I suppose we're just good as friends," I mumbled, averting my gaze from her sharply defined features.

She snorted. "Mm-hm. You two get along together very well. I must admit, it's surprising that Misao chose you as her friend. You hurt her beloved Aoshi."

I shifted uncomfortably at the memory.

"Misao doesn't know it, but she's fairly good at reading people. So it naturally it astonishes me is how close you two have become in such a short period of time. You and Misao may be the best of friends, but for her sake that's all you should be."

"I don't believe I understand you, Omasu-dono."

She shook her once sharply at me. "Soujiro, you really are a child. I see the way you look at her. Don't go getting crazy ideas in your head. Misao will only get hurt."

"But Omasu-dono, I – "

Before another word was said however, Omasu-dono turned and fiercely stomped away. Was she crying?

Shrugging it off, I headed to the kitchen to wash dishes.

-Misao-

I flounced off to visit Aoshi happily, balancing the tea tray on my hip. Normally he made his own tea in the morning, but I suppose he was still upset about Soujiro, and forgot. So as Aoshi-sama's faithful woman, I will bring his tea to him!

Tee-hee, I can see his face now. As I approach he will turn slowly at the noise. Aoshi-sama's eyes will widen in surprise at my entrance. He'll think to himself, 'Who is this beautiful woman, come to bring me my tea? Surely this can't be my Misao. This stunning girl certainly deserves my utmost attention and love!' He'll rise and cross the room, and look deep into my eyes. Aoshi will cup my face in his smooth fingers and lean in close…

Maa, there you go again, Misao! Stop daydreaming and pay attention! You don't want to trip again…

"AH!"

Well at least this time I didn't drop the tea tray. Jumping up, I dusted myself off quickly. Aoshi would be wondering about his morning tea by now.

I found Aoshi after only about ten minutes. Even though I'd done this before, I suddenly felt nervous. Then I realized that this was the first time I'd been alone with Aoshi since Soujiro had come to live among us. Please Aoshi-sama, don't be mad. Can't you see that you're more important to me than anyone else?

He barely even spared me a glance when I set his tea down before him. I kept trying to catch his eye, but no luck for poor Misao. Well, I've promised myself that today will be the day! Aoshi-sama will notice me, and there's nothing he can do about it! Sitting down beside him, I scootched in as close as I dared.

Nothing. Maybe he just hasn't seen me yet. I cleared my throat.

"Eh-hem."

Hm…

"Ah-HEM!"

Aoshi-sama turned to stare at me coldly. "May I help you, Misao?"

Nodding furiously, I jumped up and proceeded to ramble. "Well you see Aoshi-sama, I know you've been avoiding me ever since I've been hanging out with Soujiro, but can't you find it in your heart to at least accept that he is my friend now and I really do think he's changed, you should hear what he's been through it'll really get to you, man I was crying all over the place, but anyway can't you see how much you mean to me, I can't bear to not be able to be close to you and I – "

AHH! Wait, rewind and FREEZE! Great going Misao, you and your big mouth! Okay, think a cover… think Misao, think think think…

"Ah, what I mean is, um you see I…"

Aoshi-sama cut me off. "Misao, you haven't told me anything I didn't already know."

Was I really that obvious? "Aoshi-sama, I just want to be close to you so badly."

Only silence from Aoshi now. Misao no baka, what have you done!

Aoshi sighed loudly, and I jumped. "Misao, I'm going to be frank with you. You need to grow up."

"Wha-what? What are you saying, Aoshi-sama?"

He closed his eyes, and my body felt as frozen as his heart. "You a child, Misao. Grow up and face the facts. If I cared about you, would I have kept you waiting this long? You need to move on with your life."

The teacup I had been holding fell from my hands. My brain registered its fall, but my body couldn't move. Before it had hit the ground, I was gone. I wanted to be as far away from him as physically possible. I hated him, hated him, HATED him. But, I wouldn't be this in love if it wasn't meant to be, right? Aoshi, why don't you love me?

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Omasu, the ever-so-sneaky criminal mastermind of this particular story, was naturally close by. She snuck up behind Aoshi and loomed over his still crouching form.

"Why would you tell Misao something like that?"

"I don't want to lie to her, Omasu. It's not that complicated."

Omasu hesitated before speaking. She preferred to choose her words carefully in delicate situations. "Aoshi you lying butthead."

Aoshi didn't move a muscle. "You seriously did not just use the word butthead,"

Omasu tossed her hair impatiently. "That's beside the point. What I'd like to know is why you'd lie to Misao about how you feel. Don't deny it, Aoshi."

"I won't."

Omasu giggled. "OH-ho-ho. The plot thickens, methinks! Then why, Aoshi? I'm afraid I don't understand you."

Aoshi smiled sadly to himself, a rare moment of tenderness. "She doesn't deserve me. She's so young and naïve… she would love me just for me. It would be better if Misao forgot about me."

Omasu snorted. "So you're just going to leave Misao's heart broken?"

"It's better this way."

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-Soujiro-

I stretched contentedly, embracing the late morning sun. Those customers sure know how to eat, what with all the dishes I had washed! My godlike speed certainly came in handy when it came to chores, at least. And now I had the whole rest of the day off to do whatever I wanted with myself. Hmm… I still had some money left from my travels. Maybe I'd ask Misao out to lunch.

I wonder what Misao would like best? I mean, she's been a great help and I really wanted to show my appreciation. But there was still one nagging thought I couldn't shake off…

I see the way you look at her…

I didn't understand. Misao had become very dear to me, but why should I regard her as anything but a friend? Parents would really come in handy right now…

The only people I'd ever had were the members of the Juppon Gatana, so I suppose Shishio-sama and Yumi-dono were sort of like my parents. They didn't talk about feelings or anything silly like that, especially to a Tenken like me. To them, I had no emotions.

Ack, this was getting me nowhere. Hey, but speaking of Yumi-dono… Shishio-sama definitely looked at her differently than the other members of the Juppon Gatana, but why? Kamatari-san used to say that she wished Shishio-sama would look at her in the same way, but I could never understand. While I may have had my emotions locked away inside, my curiosity had no such limitation. I couldn't help but question Kamatari-san at what she meant when she would say such strange things like that.

"I'm afraid I don't understand you at all, Kamatari-san. Your words just don't make sense."

Kamatari laughed. "Well kiddo, you can't just explain a feeling like love. Not that you'd know anyway. In that sense Soujiro, I've always pitied you. You'll never know what it feels like, and no matter how painful it feels, I wouldn't give it up for anything in the world."

I'd forgotten that memory, but for some reason I remember it now. My mind had been working strangely, like I couldn't figure out what emotions I should be feeling whenever I thought of Misao… even her name made me feel pleasantly sick. Her face made my whole self feel weird… agreeably tingly. It felt almost like… puberty! No, not again! AHH!

I mentally slapped myself. Baka Tenken, that's not possible.

Love…

Was this the feeling that Kamatari-san spoke of, that phrase that flutters inescapably through my memory like the spring firefly?

A noise. I turned to investigate and witnessed Misao stumbling toward me, her arms covering her face, shoulders shaking. She wasn't looking where she was going when her legs gave way.

-Misao-

Running blindly. Darkness in my chest, mind, eyes. Heart. I couldn't see anything through the veil of tears enshrouding my perception. Was it possible for the soul to bear so much agony?

My brain numbly registered my toe stub the protruding pebble, and my eyes opened just enough to see the ground come rushing closer. Instinctively I braced myself for a fall…

…that never came. Looking up, I found myself gazing into the blue orbs of Soujiro.

-Soujiro-

I held her as she cried silently. Crouching, I pulled her a close to me as I dared, rocking her slowly.

"Let it all out Misao. I'm here, I'm here…"

She snuggled closer to my warmth, her shaking reducing. Clutching my sleeves like a child, I found myself praying that she would never let go.

I let her cry until her sobs quieted to shuddering sighs. Pulling her gently away from me, I cradled her face in my hands and looked into her tear stained-eyes. It was just like last night… Misao was much too close. "Misao, what's wrong? Are you hurt?"

She nodded furiously, and I was filled with rage. "What has happened? Who hurt you? Are you alright!"

She smiled dryly. "I'm not hurt physically. But this pain in my heart…" She explained what happened, and I could feel my features tense as I became more and more outraged. "I don't think I can bear to live a life where Aoshi-sama doesn't love me. I'd rather die!" She flailed away from me, her tears flying in the air.

I can't accept this! Misao is so fragile… can't anyone else see how hurt she is? Grabbing her wrists I pulled her closer. "I now know there is truly evil in the world if anyone would bear to hurt you, my Misao. You are too pure."

She stiffened in surprise, but did not object to my embrace. After a few minutes, her shoulders relaxed into my arms and our breathing mingled. I'd never felt so at peace, or so disturbed before.

Her shaking eventually began to quiet. "Thank you Sou-chan. I really needed to talk about that. Between me and you, we talk about pretty screwed up things sometimes, huh?" She laughed, her smile lingering immense sadness. She pulled away and turned her back to me, and my arms longed to hold her again. "I just need to rethink my life a little bit. After all, I am a big part of the Oniwabanshu. I can't afford to be weak."

My stomach dropped as I watched her walk away from me. Misao, you are so strong… how can you see yourself as weak?

Love…

Omasu was right. I do look at Misao differently than any other. Misao wasn't the only one who needed to think right now. With a sigh, I headed to lunch by myself. Perhaps we could go some other time… just Misao and me. I smiled sadly to myself. Everything was so strange.

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Author's Note: Another superbly weird overly fast chapter. I know where I'm going with this, don't worry! MUA-HA HA, my friend was SO shocked when I told her what I have planned! EE hee hee! Til next time, I wuv you! And REVIEW, please?