Jasmine: Ah…Misao/Aoshi fluff…this one loves it very much, that she does.
Aoshi: So embarrassing…
Misao: Yeah…especially when she makes me do awkward things…
Jasmine: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin, Saito, or Aoshi. I also don't own "Blackbird"…the Beatles do. On with the Songfic!
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Blackbird
::Blackbird singing in the dead of night::
Misao slowly opened her eyes. Do I… hear singing?
::Take these broken wings and learn to fly::
Yes…there it is again… The young ninja pushed herself off of her bed and silently padded over to the door. But who is it? She listened intently.
::All…your…life………you were only waiting for this moment…to arise::
Is that…Aoshi?
::Blackbird singing in the dead of night::
Why does he sound so sad?
::Take these sunken eyes and learn to see::
Aoshi…
::All…your…life………you were only waiting for this moment…to be free::
Misao noiselessly pushed back her door and slid into the hallway.
::Blackbird fly…::
She slowly walked towards the open doorway and the silent night beyond it.
::Blackbird fly…::
The young ninja bit her lip when a creak tore through the air, but the singer never faltered.
::Into the light of a dark, black night::
Misao stepped out into the midnight air, its coolness settling deep inside of her. Aoshi… She didn't dare say a thing.
::Blackbird fly…::
She wanted to go to him, the lone figure in the darkness, but refused to interrupt the song.
::Blackbird fly…::
Why was he so sad?
::Into the light of a dark, black night::
The young ninja took a tentative step forward.
::Blackbird singing in the dead of night::
She was building up courage now, and bravely walked ahead a few more feet.
::Take these broken wings and learn to fly::
"Aoshi-sama…" Misao whispered under her breath.
::All…your…life………you were only waiting for this moment…to arise::
"A-Aoshi-sama." She whispered louder.
::All…your…life………you were only waiting for this moment…to arise::
The young ninja approached the former Okashira, who still didn't realize that she was listening to him.
::All…your…life………you were only waiting for this moment…to…… arise…::
Misao was just a few inches away from Aoshi. She watched as he lifted his head up to look at the starry sky. "Aoshi-sama." She placed her forehead on his back. Her hands went up to rest on his shoulder blades.
"Misao…what are you doing out here? It's cold…you should go back inside…" He told her, not even turning around.
"Aoshi-sama…that song you were singing…"
The former Okashira's lips turned up slightly, though Misao couldn't see. "Oh…you heard me. I'm afraid I've been caught…"
"It was so sad…" Misao's voice was full of concern.
"Yes…I suppose it was. But don't worry about me. I'm fine."
Misao gripped two handfuls of Aoshi's duster and buried her face further into his back. Tears threatened to clog her throat. "You don't sound fine, Aoshi-sama. Tell me…the truth…is it…me? Is it something I've done? Is that why…you stay away from me? Why you…avoid me like a plague?" A lone, salty droplet fell down her face.
Aoshi contemplated the stars for a moment. How could he answer her? The reason he avoided her…why he stayed away…was not because he disliked her. Definitely not because of anything she'd done. The truth…it was because of himself. The former Okashira couldn't trust himself anymore. He wasn't worthy of someone like Misao…someone that…loved him like she did. So he avoided her. He could not stand to see her suffer…she didn't deserve that. It was himself that deserved to suffer…for everyone he'd hurt. But…Misao wouldn't stay away from him. Couldn't was more like it. "Misao…trust me…there isn't and would never be anything in the world that you could do to…stop making me…love you…" Aoshi tugged on the sleeve of his duster and started to wrestle it off.
Misao lifted her head up and stared at him. "W-what?"
The former Okashira turned around and regarded her with his intense blue eyes. "I…meant that. Misao…I…" Aoshi looked down at the ground, as if it supplied all of the answers for him. "I…I…love you. I've loved you for so long…I can't even remember when I started to. Everything about you: How you always keep your hair in the same braid all the time, how when you get mad your eyes resemble liquid fire, how you beam at me when you bring me my green tea in the morning, how you throw your kunais with such ferocity that they sometimes get broken in half, how you can render men taller than you unconscious with a single jumping kick, how your face gets bright red when you're embarrassed, how you look at me with such…adoration…adoration that I don't deserve, your beauty, your sparkling eyes, your smile that makes me feel like I'm the luckiest guy on Earth, the way you dress in your ninja outfit, how you stand up for what you believe in…need I go on?"
Misao had the euphoric sensation that she was floating. "Aoshi-sama…you…" The young ninja burst into tears. She felt her face reddening, and lowered it in shame. "You…love me? Aoshi-sama…you…" Misao broke off with a sob.
"Misao……just Aoshi. No sama. Just…Aoshi." The former Okashira used his thumb to wipe away the tears that were making salty paths down Misao's cheeks. He put his hand beneath her chin and lifted her face to his. Aoshi smiled down at her…a real smile.
But Misao could only cry. She tried to look away from him, to stop him from seeing her like that, but Aoshi wouldn't let her. "Aoshi-sama…you don't know…how…much this means to me. You…truly mean it? You…l-love…me?"
But Aoshi merely replied with this: "Just Aoshi…no sama," And he leaned down, causing their lips to touch for a second. The former Okashira pulled back so fast that Misao's head reeled, and she tottered unsteadily. "You must get back inside or you'll catch a chill." He pulled off his duster and wrapped it around her shoulders.
"Aoshi…I don't…"
"Hush," Aoshi lifted her up bridal-style (A/N: much to Misao's embarrassment/glee) and carried her over the threshold of the Aoiya. "You don't need to be so embarrassed…I can feel your blush through my shirt." The former Okashira grinned. (A/N: I mean…it's dark…so he can do that.)
Misao buried her face into his chest. Her Aoshi…he loved her…He, Shinomori Aoshi, loved her, Makimachi Misao …
And she could never have been happier.
Outside of the Aoiya, a lone blackbird cawed at the night air. The wind picked up, and the bird flew off in a flutter of feathers. It disappeared into the distance, never to be seen again.
::Blackbird singing in the dead of night::
::Take these broken wings and learn to fly::
::All…your…life……… you were only waiting for this moment…to arise::
::Blackbird singing in the dead of night::
::Take these sunken eyes and learn to see::
::All…your…life……… you were only waiting for this moment…to be free::
::Blackbird fly…::
::Blackbird fly…::
::Into the light of a dark, black night::
::Blackbird fly…::
::Blackbird fly…::
::Into the light of a dark, black night::
::Blackbird singing in the dead of night::
::Take these broken wings and learn to fly::
::All…your…life……… you were only waiting for this moment…to arise::
::All…your…life……… you were only waiting for this moment…to arise::
::All…your…life………you were only waiting for this moment…to……… arise…::
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Jasmine: ::Wipes away tear:: So cute!
Aoshi: ::Blushing furiously:: I was horribly OOC!!
Misao: I…liked it… ::Grinning::
Aoshi: Y-you did?!
Misao: ::Nods:: Since your voice is so sexy…your singing voice was God-like…
Aoshi: ::Blushing::
Jasmine: So… ::Grabs Misao's arm and drags her away from Aoshi:: What do you want me to put in the next story? ::Whispering like two conspirators::
Misao: Um…make him wear… Tight leather pants and a white muscle-shirt!
Aoshi: ::Blushing in the background and wondering what the hell we're talking about::
Jasmine: Oooooo…great imagination. I'll see what I can come up with…I assure you I won't disappoint!!
Misao: Until next time, biya everyone! Please review!
People only have hope because they cannot see Death standing behind them
R&R!!