Disclaimer: Yah, I forgot this in the previous chapter, so this counts for both: DON'T SUE. I HAVE NO RIGHTS IN REGARDS TO THESE CHARACTERS!
Aoshi sighed and glanced out the window; he was in his old office, the one that Misao had operated out of for a brief time. It is such a nice day outside. Men, women and children had all clamored outside to enjoy the warm rays of sunshine and billowing breeze. Turning his gaze back to the mountain of paperwork in front of him, Aoshi breathed deeply, and then looked outside one last time. "Oh, hell, I'll never get any work done anyway." It had surprised him, more than anyone else, how much he had loosened up, especially after Misao's death. His control on himself had totally slipped; abstract thoughts slipped from his lips all the time, now. Although he was still the same lucid, quiet and spiritually balanced Aoshi, he allowed himself to live, to be human once again.
The sky was a brilliant blue, an even better view of it from outside the window and the sounds and smells were numerous, yet sharp and defined all the while. This is what he had been missing over the past few years, the simple pleasures in life that required no effort to enjoy. Sure, it sounded cliché, but Aoshi's eyes had been severely wrenched open by Misao's death. Not say that he was happy, but he couldn't really weep.
Every thought of Misao made him smile a little bit more, until the biggest grin to grin could be seen (if he'd let you see it). Each memory, whether good or bad, reminded Aoshi of how much of a light Misao was, how cherished and devoted she was and how he had, and still does, love her. Perhaps it was Misao's doing, but Aoshi could never find himself deeply grieved over her. Of course, he cried and was heartbroken that night when she fell limp in his arms, how he felt a millions daggers penetrate his heart at once and the pain there that has never truly gone away. The darkest corners in his mind were a little bit lighter. "Excuse me, young man? Are you going ot buy anything?" an old woman squinted up at the tall man who seemed frozen in front of her flower cart.
Aoshi snapped from his reverie. "Yes, madam. Lavender, please."
The gates of the cemetery were big, looming ominous, but Aoshi could walk through them just fine. His breath caught as he caught site of her grave; it was settled underneath a magnolia tree in full bloom. "Your beauty, Misao-mine, will never be forgotten." He sighed and smiled sadly. Settling the lavender at the foot of her gravestone, Aoshi glanced up into the branches of the tree. Leaning against the base, he folded his arms and began speaking gently. "I stopped going to the temple and I hardly ever drink tea…of course you know that, don't you…? It's funny, I never did those things before I came back to the Aoiya…don't do them now, either. You were right about that then, Misao-mine: I lived without you before and I seem to still be standing without you now." The wind rustled a few branches of the tree and a magnolia fell to his shoulder and tumbled down the length of his body to fall at his feet. Aoshi bent to pick it up, and twirled it between forefinger and thumb. "It's hard, at night especially, but you've helped me to loose my restraints and my control and to just be. I miss you so much that at times I feel as though I should come join you too." The wind blew a lot harder. Aoshi smiled a bit. "Of course, I know you wouldn't want that.
"My entire being is drawn to you, even in death, so I cannot say I am complete, though I can say I am content. Content to know that when the time comes…I shall truly enjoy holding you in my arms once again…"
GAH! DAMN THIS PIECE OF CRAP! DAMN IT TO HELL! IMMORTAL CURSES AND DAMNATION ON THIS! I HATE IT WITH A FIERY PASSION! THE PASSION THAT LIVES DEEP WITHIN THE DEPTH OF HELL SHOULD COME AND EXPLODE MY LAPTOP! Okay, maybe that last part was a little over the top, but I really DO hate this. I'm SO SORRY that it's taken me so long to update, but a month ago (shortly after I had posted) I went to DC and didn't have internet access for the entire week. Then, when I got home, I had about three tests and three quizzes to make up, so I was running around like a crazy person. Then my grandpa was in a car crash and died that Tuesday. Shortly thereafter, my allergies got into attack formation and have been raging a relentless and brutal battle against poor lit'l ol' me… And I had to take my AP test yesterday and I was cramming for that for two days, so yeah…But for now, the pressures off (at least for about a week), so here is the crappy product of my blood sweat and tears. I rushed to get something on paper, so if ain't very good….I'm sorry. I'd still like a friendly review or criticism, and btw, I have no IDEA when this takes place (ie: how long after Misao's death), I just know it happens. Let's say six months to a year, just to be fair….
