DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN YOU DO NOT SUE

Author's Note: I haven't updated in such a long time. I just didn't feel inspired. I have no clue how long this story is. But be sure there's gonna be no suicide in this story. Suicide is the easy way out and I'm evil so I'm not going to let that happen. Well have fun reading. Review if you want to… please? Ahha ok on to the story

CHAPTER 4

Misao walked behind Maruyama, without so much as a sound. Her head was sulked onto her shoulders and she walked as if she were dead. Maruyama however, had a slight gait to his walk. He was giddy within himself; he couldn't believe the pure luck that he had gotten such a beautiful wife and so young and innocent at that. He was sure there was something between that Shinomori guy and his new fiancée. He was sure of that… but he was also sure that they had not acted on their emotions from the way Shinomori stood 15 feet away from her and the way she looked so hateful towards him He concluded that he had gotten a great deal because surely his new wife would have belonged to the Shinomori man, had it not been for some internal conflict between the two. But what did it matter to him? He was going to have a virgin for a wife. He shook his head in dismay- how had the Oniwabanshuu sold off their last heir to his clan? Were they really that desperate for money? Surely not, he thought to himself – remembering that the Oniwabanshuu owned innumerable iron and silver mines up north.

Maruyama stopped in his tracks; he was shocked with the conclusion he had come up with. Misao was truly not a virgin then… perhaps she lost it to Shinomori… and that was why… SHIT… The Oniwabanshuu had been playing him for a fool! He was marrying some dirty little slut! He couldn't believe how stupid he was. How could he not have known!? They were marrying off their little precious Misao because she was no longer considered precious in society's eyes. A woman who had lost her virginity to a man who wasn't her husband was considered lowly and confined to a life of prostitution and would never be married by anyone half-decent. What if…? What if Misao was already pregnant with the Shinomori's kid? That would explain why … why the Oniwabanshuu had been so insistent that the first child of Misao be the next Okashira. Well Maruyama was no fool! He would confront the Shinomori guy and show him what the consequences of lying and tricking the leader of the White Tiger Clan would be. Shinomori would know what hell was really like after Maruyama was done with him. Maruyama was after all the undefeated champion in his clan.

Maruyama looked back to see the deceitful Misao had followed him outside and waited obediently. He scowled at her. He now knew why Shinomori stood so far away from Misao- Shinomori knew that Misao was carrying a his child and he did not wish to claim the child. How ironic a bastard child born form a whoring mother…

Maruyama had no clue how wrong he was and what his actions would incur.

Misao watched with widen eyes as Maruyama-san stalked towards her. His nostrils flared and eyes squinting at her. She had no clue what he wanted with her or for the matter what he wanted from her. He was 6 feet from her and gaining ground…5 feet… 4 feet… 3 feet… 2 feet… she quickly bowed. Her hair falling into her eyes…

"Maruyama-san, how may I assist you… Do you need some tea? I can brew you some – "

Toshio Maruyama made the biggest mistake of his life when he grabbed Misao's arm and twisted it bending her body at an odd angle. Her back thudded against the ground. She did not let any tears come out nor any cry… she did not want to shame the Oniwabanshuu as it had her. She wanted to kick him, to stop the pain but she could not kick her future husband. She felt the metallic taste of copper in her mouth as she bit her tongue to still herself from screaming in pain.

She could not stand the pain any longer and at this point in time her mind was far past the logical point and she forgot her wish to not dishonor the Oniwabanshuu and with a swift kick to Maruyama's shin she knocked him to the ground. She agonizingly crawled away from his body…

She would not get away from him. He would show her the taste of humility. The anger he felt would be taken out on her. He grabbed her ankle and pulled her body back towards him. He laid his weight upon on her and tore at the obi closing her kimono. He watched as she cradled her arm in fear that he would twist it again. Toshio felt so wonderful watching her tears cascade down her face. So very powerful as the blood from her mouth stained her lips a deep red – deeper than any he has ever seen before. Her kimono was torn and she looked like the perfect whore to him. Her white skin contrasted the stream of blood steeping down her throat. Oh how she looked so delectable. He bared his teeth at her and leaned down to lick her throat.

"Please Maruyama-san – " her voice was barely above a whisper.

"Please stop…" she choked on her blood and her body slackened in defeat

Misao laid there as Maruyama took of the obi and he ran his hands all over her body. She felt her underneath garments being taken off slowly. Her tears rushed down her face faster and faster as she felt her innocence being stripped away. When she wanted to scream her body had now failed her and she could nothing but watch as he violently betrayed his oath to Okina to always value her and protect her.

"Get off her now."

Toshio made the second biggest mistake when he disregarded the voice.

" I was not informed that you were deaf Toshio – so let me repeat myself just in case you didn't hear me well enough last time. GET OFF OF HER NOW."

Toshio glanced over his chuckle and sat up. But he still remained on top of Misao. His weight still burdening her- Misao's breath coming shorter and shorter.

"Okina… you are but an old man. I am half your age. You are out of your prime old man. What harm can you inflict on me?" Toshio smirked at his comments

"Listen and listen well Toshio – this will be the last time I ask you get off Misao. If you do not heed my words – I will be left with no choice but to MAKE you get off of Misao."

Toshio's eyes squinted and he bared his teeth and grunted in an animal like voice, " I dare you to make me."

Okina looked at the fool and shook his head. He jumped up in the air and applied a full round house kick to Toshio who quickly fell off of Misao from the impact. Toshio staggered onto his feet. He was ready to charge at Okina when a large, firm hand fell on his shoulder.

"Stop this. Now."

The voice resounded through out the garden. Everyone stood still. They had recognized the owner of the voice. There was only one emotion that Aoshi Shinomori could express and express greatly and that wasanger and right now he was ready to kill. But he had to calm himself. No good will come of the theory "kill first – ask later."

"Toshio Maruyama, we let you take the hand of Misao Makimachi with the one condition that you would protect her and honor her family name. Have you noticed that many have asked for the hand of Misao but have been turned down? Do you not consider yourself lucky? We did not ask that you love her. We did not ask for much. We even took in consideration your personality and despite everything we let you marry her. What do you have to say for yourself for hurting the last of the line of Oniwabanshuu?"

Aoshi shuddered to himself. How he had managed to keep in control in such a situation amazed even him. He clenched his jaw so much that it hurt his teeth. He did not want to look at the blurb of color – purple and metallic blue. He knew it was her and once again he failed to protect her even though he knew… even though he knew Maruyama was a monster. He asked himself who was the true monster in this situation. Him or Maruyama? The one who committed the crime or the one who sold Misao to the person knowing full well he would eventually hurt her? He shook his head with the conclusion he came up. They were both –

"SHINOMORI! I KNOW OF YOUR SECRET! What I DID was out of ANGER!"

" I don't understand what you are talking about Maruyama."

"DO NOT STAND THERE LIKE A SHIT – HEADED FOOL! You know full well of what I speak of! How did the Oniwabanshuu think they were going to pull this plan off? I am not the person to be played with."

Aoshi glared at Toshio who had certainly gone off his rocker. Maruyama staggered towards him but was quickly stopped when one of his own men came rushing in – taking a sweeping glance of the scene laid before him and if he was shocked he did not show it. The messenger bowed at Maruyama and quickly whispered something into Maruyama's ear. Whatever he said made Maruyama extremely happy. The messenger took one glance at the scene in the garden before he hurried off. Maruyama seemed like he was gloating. He smiled a vicious smile. He staggered across the garden to the exit and before he made it he took one long look at Aoshi and Okina and Misao.

"This is not finished yet. I will be occupied for a while but once I'm done with my business you can be sure that I will bring hell to your front door."

Aoshi smirked and growled, " You do that Maruyama… you do that and I will personally show you why I was nominated as Okashira of the Oniwabanshuu at the age 15 and that's not a threat … it's a promise."

With that last remark… Maruyama staggered out of their garden and briefly out of their lives. Aoshi glanced at Okina who was crouched next to Misao. Okina looked at Aoshi with eyes that showed great guilt and worry. Okina gathered Misao in his arms and whispered to her.

" I am sorry Misao. I thought I could take measures into my hands and stop you. Stop you from dying on the inside. To stop you from wasting your life loving someone who is incapable of loving you back. I am sorry. I should have never interfered. I will stop this marriage at any cost. I apologize for not being there when he started this. I am sorry that I could not change back the hands so you would have never met Aoshi."

Misao heard everything that was said and so did Aoshi…