A/N: Now I know that you'll hate me more for what I'm about to do… but I promise that what's going on in my mind is really a good plot so I am just following my instincts, and I hope that you'll like it even though I know I've skipped some little things…Thanks again for reading my fic… hope you like this one…(6.6)
Disclaimer: Not all of the characters are mine… I have a new one here (6.)
Chapter17: Reunion
After two years had passed….
"Welcome Sir!" (.)
"Please follow me?"
Misao greeted the guests with a delightful smile, as she led them to their seats. She was very gracious as she entertained each and every guest that would be calling her from time to time, and in spite of all the sweat and pressure she still looked radiant. It was a busy place full of people mingling and socializing with each other, and it was her job to keep the place in track. She didn't mind doing all those for Akami and Shin; it was something she does for the pleasure of helping a dear friend. She had come to love the place, and was becoming a real close friend of Akami, plus she adores Shin so much.
"Here you are sir" Misao cheerfully pointed the guests to their table as she goes along to other tables she needed to serve.
"Hey Misao-chan!" Akami shouted from across the table of a bunch of bustling busy people.
"Where's Shin?" Akami asked trying to drown out the noise from inside the restaurant.
"I think she's in the back, let me just check" Misao answered as she untied the ribbon from her apron and left the room.
"Misao-Chan is doing a great job." Shoji whispered from the back of Akami.
"Yeah… She is a strong vulnerable woman." Akami whispered as she stared onto the door where Misao left.
Shoji was one of the few people who work in the restaurant, and he had been with them ever since their mother had died. Shoji and Akami were childhood friends ever and from then on they were inseparable. His family had died from a raging war when he was still little and it was Akamis mother who had taken care of him ever since. He was three years older than Akami, and he treated her like his very own sister. Shoji once lived with Akami and Shin, but had decided to find himself his own place so he wouldn't be such a burden for both of them. Although he chooses to live in his own place, he still visits Akami to check up on things.
"She's been through a lot." Akami whispered as concern was clearly seen in her face.
It's already been two years since Soujiro left, and Misao had finally decided to put it all behind. It hit her pretty hard, but she was a strong woman and had a great deal of strength inside her. She had made both Akami and Shin worried, but they were relieved the moment she had come back to her own self. She met shoji when she had started working on the restaurant, and Misao find him very enjoyable. When Shoji heard about the incident he felt sorry that he wasn't there to help. He left for Edo at that time for a vacation, but he was thankful that Misao was there for them.
"And it's good that she got through it all" Shoji smiled down Akami with his boyish grin.
"Oh! Get back to work!" Akami said hitting Shoji lightly from the back of his head and looking like a mischievous little girl.
"Okay…just don't be such a nagger boss" he said with a wide grin, and left back to his tasks.
No one had bothered them for a long time, Ryujin was locked up in prison, the restaurant is shooting high, Shoji and Misao were great, and life had never been better for both Akami and Shin. They were grateful that Misao had decided to stay and live with them, specially Shin. Shin had always admired Misao, ever since the day they met. They both spend a lot of time playing and running around the woods, and Shin just can't get enough of Misao. Misao on the other hand, seem to grow more mature as days pass by, she had become a woman and yet still childlike and innocent. It was a characteristic that many man admired in her, suitors and admirers in the village flock at Misao whenever she would pass by their houses. Although men were attracted to her, she never seems to be attracted to any single one of them; she just brushed them off with pleasant words and a promise of friendship which she tenderly give to many.
A festival was to be held at midnight, and Shin was getting very anxious about the festivities to be held. She had already picked out the perfect Kimono, and she was pumped up with excitement the moment she got out of the store. Misao on the other hand, had never worn one, so she will be borrowing one from Akami, who has lots of it stacked in her room. Misao was always wearing clothes that are comfortable for running and kicking around, so it was something she was not anxious about. But she was willing to do it since Shin wanted her to wear it badly, she can never say no to Shin, she was too irresistible…
After the days work, they closed the shop and Akami led Misao to her room. She slid open a wooden closet full of colorful Yukatas. Each of them was embroidered with beautiful patterns of flowers, butterflies, and all sorts of shapes. She then buried her hands onto the closet and searched for a perfect one for Misao to wear. Misao on the other hand just stood from behind Akami with a tense feeling, she knew that it would be different and she was feeling a little bit uneasy about the idea. Although it seemed pretty irritating for her she felt happy to do it for shin, and she was in a way also excited, she is still innocent and childlike and she felt that a change in looks might not be so bad. Misao lingered as Akami searched, and finally she pulled out her hands and found the perfect Yukata.
"This is perfect Misao…" Akami said with a reassured look. I'll help you put it on…
Outside the inn…
Shin had already worn the kimono she had picked out from the store, and it fitted her perfect. She looked so cute with the pink Obi wrapped on her little waist. And her hair tied up in a perfect knot. She was very anxious to wear it, and was pleased that it fitted just fine. But now it was Misao's that she was anxious about, she knew that she would be wearing one as well and she was excited to see how she would look like.
Akami was first to reveal herself, and she was breathtakingly beautiful. Shoji was can't help but stare at her for a whole ten seconds. She just took his breath away, with her hair flowing down onto her waist, and her slim figure clearly visible.
"You look beautiful Akami" Shoji can't help but say it, and he was so taken aback by her.
"Thank you Shoji" Akami said smiling with flushed cheeks.
For a long moment silence had dawned between both of them, and they felt awkward in a way, since they were always so comfortable talking to each other. This moment seemed to be an exception, since they felt that they kept on avoid each other's stares, and they were both stuttering as they talk…
Misao seem to break the awkwardness between them when she stepped out of the inn. She looked completely different, and she left everyone awestricken with her beauty. She was astonishingly mesmerizing with her hair ruffled in waves of curves that seem to dance with the wind, her Yukata that fitted her perfect slim body very well, and the sparkle in her eyes that show such great compelling innocence. Everyone around them seemed to have hit their heads on something, because for a minute there they were all frozen with amazement as they stared. Misao in the other hand was put in a spotlight she never really expected, and she felt a little irritated by all of it, it seemed too much for her.
"You look great Misao-Chan!" Shin greeted breaking the silence with a joyous smile.
"Thank you Shin. You look very beautiful yourself." Misao whispered as she patted Shins head lightly.
"Well well… aren't you a sight for sore eyes." Shoji teased with his wide boyish grin tampered onto his face.
"Oh shush!" Misao blushed.
Misao didn't really know how beautiful she looked and that made her much more attractive. She was always humble about herself, and it was one of those things most people liked about her.
The festival had already started, and excitement was sparkling on Shins eyes. She was running around the place, talking about how fun it was being in the festival and playing games. It was hard for Misao to keep up, since she was not accustomed to what she was wearing, but she was willing to sacrifice since Shin was having such a great time.
While Shin and Misao were running around the place, Shoji and Akami find time to talk. It was a long moment before anyone could bring himself or herself to talk. Shoji felt uneasy, because she can't get himself to admit that she was more than what people think. All their life they were on each other's side, with no feelings and emotions to interfere. But now it was becoming stronger and stronger as days pass, and it was becoming more difficult for him to ignore it. Akami felt the same, and she held back whatever feelings she has because she knew that it was what he wanted. She wouldn't want to make things harder for him.
"So how was your vacation in Edo Shoji-san?" Akami asked looking at Shoji's eyes with curiosity.
"Well… at first it wasn't good because I got in trouble with a bunch of people there" Shoji confessed.
"But I thought that nothing bad happened?" Akami asked looking a bit worried.
"Well nothing bad really happened, I was in trouble but thankfully some group helped me out, they were pretty good and they were very popular" Shoji said looking like a little kid.
"That's a relief." Akami said.
"Actually I remember inviting them to go to this festival, I just don't know if there here"
It was already passed eight, and the skies are getting darker and darker but the festival is still on going. Everybody was still so full of energy, everyone except Shin. She was running around and playing games that her energy had finally given up on her. Akami took her back to their inn, and she promised that she'd be back. Misao tried to catch her breath, as she sat on a bench near the river. She took the time to rest from all the running she did with Shin, she smiled as she recalled how happy Shin was and she was grateful she had this time to spend it with her. The all of a sudden she find herself thinking of Soujiro again, it was a long time since it came up to her again. He was a good friend of hers anyway. She then recalled it all, the memory she had kept hidden for a long time, the memory she had tried to forget, the memory that had haunted her ever since that day. Her whole body trembled, as the cold chilling wind swiftly caressed her and brought it all back…
Flashback…Her heart was beating fast, as she felt her whole body tremble with anxiety and fear as she grasped the paper onto her wriggling palms. Misao felt like time was running out for her, and that every inch of movement she does was making her weaker and weaker as time ticks away. Then she held her breath and read the first statement…
Dear Misao…
Agony was clearly seen in her face as she reads through the words written in the letter with such apprehension, it was just the beginning but it felt like it was the end. She was hesitant of what was to come, but she struggled to be strong and continued…
It is in my great sadness to bring you more burdens, and I am hoping that you'd understand. I am leaving you for certain reasons that matter to me greatly. So I hope that we could put everything behind us and go on separate ways. I hope that you'll find it in your heart to forgive me.
Soujiro
Misao looked over the letter with the words that had sliced her wounds open. It was agonizing for her to even fathom that Soujiro could be so hurtful, and she felt so confused and lost.
"Great sadness to bring you more burdens"
"Leaving you for certain reasons that matter me greatly"
"Put everything behind us and go on separate ways"
It was too great pain for her to handle, and she was feeling more and more hurt as the words continued to echo through her head. She felt cold as she hears them, and it was killing her slowly.
"How can I forget it, now that you've made it more unforgettable. You left me with these words that just breaks me apart. You say that you hope that I could forgive you, I have forgiven you but it is for the cost of my own anguish and torment. And I am willing to accept the risk. You have left me and now you ask me to leave you as well…I cannot ponder this… if forgetting someone is much more painful than that of what you ask me? And that is to forget you…how can you say that? How can you?"
Back to present…The memory left her crying in tears as she sat on the bench with no one to console her. She had hid it for so long inside her, that she was now in pools of great sadness. It was a deep hurtful memory of what Soujiro and Misao shared, and yet she kept fresh inside her memory. She opened her eyes slowly, as the world unveils itself to her with her great beauty. She was thankful that in that memory she could still see him, and remember what they've had.
"What am I doing?" Misao asked herself…
"I'm only torturing myself""Guess I better go and look for Akami, she must be looking for me" She said as she quickly stood from where she sat.
But before She could even take another step…
"BUMP!"
Someone had accidentally hit her…
"Hey! Shiro be careful would you"
"We've just been here and you're already hitting on cute girls"
Sweat drop
Sweat drop
Sweat drop
"Shiro!"
"Misao!"
Tsuzukere…
A/N: Haha…liked it? Hope you did. Well thanks for reading my fic and R&R okay. Just wait for my nest chapter …ciao! (.)