Chapter 2: The Narrowing Gap

"Itai!" Misao screamed after the local doctor examined her nape. "Hmmm, it's not serious, the tissues are swollen though. You said you couldn't move after the bandit hit you?" She nodded just a bit. "Hmm, he probably hit some nerves there that caused temporary paralysis, but don't worry you're okay but you cannot stretch or move your head entirely for the mean time as it may strain further the tissues that are already affected. What you need mostly now is rest. And apply this ointment thrice a day. That should help repair the swollen tissues," The doctor gave Misao a small bottle. She kindly accepted it and thanked the doctor who replied something which made her red.

"It's no problem, you better careful now. Don't do any harsh. This may be a perfect for your boyfriend to take care of you,"

"B-boyfriend! No! Doctor sorry but you've got it wrong, we barely know each other. Soujiro and I are just friends," Misao was startled and immediately denied it.

"Hmm is that so, but you two look good together, well, if you say so," The doctor smiled. "Well then you can go now," "Thank you again doctor," Misao said as they left the examination room and went to the reception area of the small clinic.

"Soujiro! Sorry to keep you waiting," Misao said as she approached her companion who was was sitting beside the window staring at the midnight sky. The young boy quickly responded to his new found friend's call and stood up to meet them both.

"It's alright. What's important is that you get treated. Well, how is it?" Soujiro asked. "Well…," Misao was about to reply when the doctor butted in. "She just needs rest and it will be all right but she mustn't move her head carelessly. You must take good care of your girlfriend,"

"Doctor! I told you…" Misao shouted in embarrassment. She thought that Soujiro would brush off the joke but he did quite the opposite.

"Sure thing! Thank you for her treatment doctor," Misao was shocked at what she heard but she knew it was just a joke to fool her but still the way Soujiro said it somehow penetrated her feelings.

"Hmmm, I thought he wasn't your boyfriend but it seems to me he is…oh, never mind that. Soujiro, I trust you do take care of her,"

The doctor bade farewell to the "couple" as they went outside of the small clinic. Misao looked at the person at her side. He was just smiling and kept on walking. She wanted to clear it up; to clear up the joke a while ago and so she stopped and talked to him.

"Grrrr Soujiro! Why did you have to ride on the doctor's joke huh…," She said in anger.

"Ride on?…what I said was true…," Soujiro looked at her seriously that made Misao fall silent and look dumbfounded.

"huh…,"

Then after a few seconds, Soujiro poked Misao's forehead with a finger and chuckled. "Caught you…," All of a sudden Misao flared up and clenched her fingers. "Why you," She immediately rushed in to punch Soujiro. "Whoa, wait wait…sorry it was just a joke!" Misao threw a lot of punches but he dodged it all.

"So you we're playing with me huh, grr, I won't forgive you for that. That stupid doctor! Stupid Soujiro!" She was about to attack again the rurouni but then she felt the stinging pain on her nape because of her reckless movement. Unable to bear it, she fell to her knees.

"Misao!" Soujiro immediately stopped fooling around, got close and helped her. He took out the ointment, got a little and spread it in his hands then applied it on her nape gently. "Owow…," The apologetic Soujiro massaged the area lightly and after a few minutes the pain eventually subsided.

"Sorry…Misao-san…, I shouldn't have fooled you around with your condition," Misao saw a different person for a few seconds. "Soujiro…," But disappeared immediately after he wore his masked smile once again. "Ha ha I think the joke earlier; I'll make that real for the mean time until you are healed completely. I'll be more worried leaving you alone just like that, besides I can joke around you again when you're okay," The former tenken chuckled.

"Stupid…ow," Misao pretended to be angry but deep inside she felt warmth, something which she haven't felt for quite some times. Deep inside she also wanted to smile, she wanted to say once more "Thank you…Soujiro Seta," but for the mean time, her stubbornness would do. "I can take care of myself! Owow,"

"Careful, Misao-san," Soujiro helped her get up. "Soujiro, I appreciate the offer but if it means stopping your journey I'd rather not. You already had the trouble saving me twice, helping me again would be too much…," She told him as she got up.

"No…"

"But…," Misao spoke again but Soujiro cut her off. "It's alright; I think this stopover will also be beneficial for me. There's something here that makes me feel…well, I can't explain, but I'd like to find that out for myself. So Misao-san I'd like to stay by your side at least until you're finally okay,"

Silence immersed between the two for a short while. Misao's eyes stared at his while his at hers. Then slowly both smiled. Misao glanced on the ground then let out a sigh. "I guess I have no choice do I, since you are very persistent, I'll have to let you take care of me but don't think that I completely trust you yet. If you pull any tricks on me, even in this condition I'll break you out,"

"Hai!" Soujiro cheerfully agreed.

It was about three hours till midnight as the two walked the quiet streets leading to the Makimachi residence. Misao walked slowly while Soujiro followed after. The city lamps born out of the opening of Japan to the outside world shone brightly over them. The river calmly flowed as they passed on the bridge over it. Both maintained silence as they drew nearer to their destination. One was thinking whether she could truly trust the guy behind her while the latter was assessing the things that happened to his journey up to now.

"Seta Soujiro…who are you…why do you smile like that…what is it that you hide…why do I feel gentleness inside of you…," Misao murmured as she stole a glance at the mysterious boy behind her. Soujiro heard a little bit of what she said but he pretended that he didn't hear anything.

"Is there something wrong Makimachi-san?" Surprised Misao replied quickly "Ah…it's nothing hmm but now that you mentioned it there is," Misao stopped and looked back at Soujiro with a slightly grumpy face.

"Huh? What is it?" The boy asked in surprise. Misao sighed and smiled. "…well, that is…stop calling me Makimachi-san or Misao-san! Cut the "Ms." Out and just call me Misao, okay?" Soujiro relieved, just nodded and smiled in return.

"Hai! Misao…"

After a short while, they finally reached the Makimachi Restaurant/Residence. As expected, it was all quiet. A lantern or two was lit on in order to make the house visible. Soujiro immediately felt the loneliness as he stood before the main gate.

"Well here we are, don't expect much, it's just a simple house and a restaurant alright…," Misao said before she slid the door open. Inside, she led her guest to the room which he will be staying; A room which she wasn't very happy to see. Her mood immediately changed as she opened the door.

"Aoshi…," She stared blankly at the tatami mats on the floor and for a moment saw her love sitting there. She immediately felt pain, but not pain caused by her injury but the one caused by him. Her eyes glimmered impending tears but they didn't fall as she didn't want her new friend to see her sadness but she was too late. Soujiro figured out what was bothering her. From the moment they stood at the door, he already knew that it was Aoshi Shinomori's room.

"Are you sure, you want me to use his room?" Misao, surprised, couldn't reply straight. "H-how did you know it was his room?" Soujiro looked at her and chuckled while pointing at something inside of the room.

"Well, I think I recognize that coat over there and as I remember Shinomori-san wearing that all the time,"

Misao looked at where he was pointing and indeed it was Aoshi's. "Err…haha…yeah that's his…," A drop of sweat formed at her forehead as she thought that Soujiro had already seen though her. "…whew…I don't him to see my sadness, my loneliness…it's better to keep it to myself besides, I already took him to trouble with my injury, I don't want him troubled with my feelings…,"

Meanwhile, the latter still kept the truth that he already knew her feelings. But, now Soujiro little by little felt the reason for their accidental meeting. Though it was still not yet clear enough, he knows that this stop over will be a long one.

"Misao, I think we should call a day, I'll be sleeping now and you should too especially with your condition. Just don't be rough and turn your head carelessly," He looked at her closed eyes, smiling. Misao stood silent for a second but immediately went back to her usual self.

"I know! I'm not a kid anymore okay," She shouted then turning her back slowly to walk to her room but as she took her sixth step Soujiro stopped her again.

"and Misao…,"

"What!" She angrily looked back.

Soujiro stared at her eyes for a moment, smiled and said.

"Don't worry about it; I'm just right here…,"

Misao stood speechless and couldn't utter any word. "Could he already…know? He couldn't possibly… or maybe it was just my nape he was referring to…ohhh what did you really mean Soujiro…,"

"Well, good night… Misao," Soujiro lastly said before entering the room and closed his door leaving the puzzled Misao still outside. After a short period of trance Misao didn't mind anymore what her friend meant. Hearing those words somehow made her happy and whatever Soujiro really meant, she'll just have to find that out. She went to her room and as she fell to sleep she uttered.

"…Thank you…Sou-chan,"

to be continued.

CoA's notes: Short Chapter Two, yeah it's short I know but hope you still like it. I am really a lazy ass haha I admit that. Oh well, domo-aregatou for reading. Reviews please.

To Crystal – Haha lolz yeah it's like being resurrected from the dead. Anyway, thanks.

05/08/05 Happy Mother's Day