Standard disclaimers apply...
Forgive and Forget:
Chapter: 3
A few days later
Misao awoke when hearing someone knock on her room door.
"Huh??" She moaned aloud, tiredly; as she had slept late last night.
"Misao- I'm coming in," Aoshi spoke sliding the shoji open.
"Ohayo Aoshi-sama..." Misao greeted as Aoshi stepped closer into her room. "It's sooo early..." Misao said, sitting up on her futon.
"Pack your things and be ready by 9:30." Aoshi ordered coldly, as he flung open the drapes that were covering Misao's window.
"Hai??" Misao paused staring at the light entering her room, and turned her head to look at her clock. Aoshi's last few words trailed through her head for the second time. "NANI!!!! ..That's only about an hour and a half!!"
'So you're finally awake..' Aoshi thought to himself, and smirked. 'I guess I should've called her earlier...'
Misao jumped up and rushed to her closet. Aoshi was just about to leave.
"How-" Misao turned around to see that Aoshi was no longer in her room. She ran out and spotted him just about to enter his room. "Aoshi-sama!"
Aoshi stopped in his tracks. "Nani?" he softly asked.
"H-how long are.. am I going to be gone for?" Misao slowly found her words.
"About a week or so...longer if you wish," Aoshi walked into his room and closed the shoji behind him. His things were already packed from last night, so he had nothing to worry about.
Misao walked back into her room. 'Well... I'll never finish if I don't get started..' she told herself.
Aoshi walked into Okina's room.
"I hear you wanted to tell me something..." Okina spoke, as he already know that Aoshi will only come to him when there was something to be discussed.
"Aa.. I'm leaving Kyoto for a week or so. Misao will be coming with me..." Aoshi spoke coldly.
"Where are you going?" Okina asked curiously.
Aoshi turned around, pushing away the question and slid open the shoji. "You'll find out when we return."
"Just keep Misao safe..." Okina requested, already getting a hint of where they might be going to.
"Aa..." Aoshi responded and left the room.
An hour later, "Breakfast is ready!!" Omasu called into Misao's room.
"Hai!" Misao responded, dashing out of her room. 'Just a bit more and I will be done... I'll just finish afterwards.' she told herself while desending the stairs.
While entering into the dining room, she spotted Aoshi sitting in a corner, staring out the window and into their yard.
"Ohayo, Misao-chan!" Okina greeted, giving another one of his special bear hugs.
"Urrg... Jiya... I CAN'T ...BREATHE!!"
"I will miss you sooo much while you're gone.." Okina explained. "You'll just have to buy me a present." he teased, "..and this time, you best not forget about it. I won't let you back into your home..understand?"
"Hai!" Misao responded, thinking about the last time she visited her friends in Tokyo and forgot that Okina wanted something. "Hehe.." she grinned. Then, she turned to Aoshi who was sitting alone in the dark corner.
"Aoshi-sama.." Misao chanted, "Come and join us..." she offered cheerfully, seeing that it's been so long since he ate his meals with everyone else. Even when the Oniwabanshuu was at Edo Castle, he was always alone. But now, Aoshi was around everyone; everyone who he can consider as family. Misao felt happy to know that her Aoshi-sama is trying to open up a little bit more to her everyday.
Aoshi got up and moved a bit closer. He ate silently as Okina kept on reminding Misao about his present, and how she should get him two since one has been forgotten. As soon as Aoshi had finished, he went back into his room.
Misao gulped down her breakfast with huge bites at a time. Then she ran back into her room to finish her packing; though she still haven't got a clue what in the world is going on.
Misao stuffed everything into a bag.
A few minutes later, Misao heard a knock on her door. She jumped up and opened it to find Aoshi standing in her way.
"Time to go..." Aoshi commented coldly.
Misao leaped to grab her bag and ran down stairs.
Finally, she caught up with Aoshi, who was already in the main entrance of the Aoiya.
"Ii Kuzo.."
"Ja na..Min'na-san..." Misao called back as she left.
"Take care!!" Everyone yelled to her.
"Don't forget my presents!!" Okina teased, yet again.
Aoshi walked silently with Misao next to him. It made Misao feel restless.
"Ne...Aoshi-sama...Where are we going?" She questioned anxiously. 'I'm sure he won't just dump me in an unknown place...' Misao assured herself, yet with doubt. 'You never know what's going on in that head of his...'
"You'll find out soon..." Aoshi answered, knowing that's going to hold Misao is more suspense.
"Ahh!!" Misao screamed in frustration. "Tell me already, stop keeping thing away from me!"
Aoshi remained calm. He knew Misao was going to burst sooner or later. "..you should know ...if you don't hurry, we'll miss our ride..." Aoshi commented, while changing the subject.
Misao reached the train station. Aoshi spotted where their train was located. Misao was shoved aboard the train and missed the opportunity to read the sign labeling their destination. Aoshi had purposely blocked it out of her sight so she wouldn't know until they reach there. Just as the train was about to departure, a man was walking around collecting their train tickets. Misao attempted to get a glimpse of what was labeled on the ticket, but failed.
"Awwwww..." Misao groaned in madness. "Fine...don't tell me where we are going... I'll just find out myself!" Misao got out of her seat.
"Misao-" Aoshi grabbed her arms and pulled her back.
"What..." Misao looked back at Aoshi.
"Calm down...you're making a scene for yourself..." He commented, seeing a couple of heads turning their way.
Misao looked around and saw quite a few eyes watching her. 'Hehe' she thought, before taking her seat. "How am I suppose to know where you are taking me?" she whined, "For all I know, you can be taking me to all the unknown places and leaving me there."
"If you want" Aoshi said, looking out the window.
"NO!!" Misao screamed and aimed a punch at Aoshi. He caught it just as he had sensed it coming.
"Just trust me..." Aoshi commented softly.
"Fine..." Misao gave in. She knew Aoshi can be stubborn. There was no point for her to be competing with Aoshi in a fight.
Misao sat closer to Aoshi. She closed her eyes and fell asleep leaning on him. Misao was tired from the lack of sleep she had.
Aoshi looked down at Misao, who was already sleeping peacefully. Aoshi leaned back on his seat and closed his eyes, holding onto her.
As the two slept, the train continued running towards Tokyo...
To Be Continued...
Author's notes: Heya! My third chapter is finally done !! More are still coming.