Nikki's Notes: Guess what? I'm still alive! Sorry for the delay…
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Later that night, the branches kept swaying from the cool breeze that also sent shivers down Misao Makimachi's back. She stared lazily at the window, watching the radiance of the moonlight on the small fish pond. Crickets were heard at every corner and almost echoed into the walls of her room from the deafening silence. Everybody else was asleep fast on their beds. She couldn't close her eyes for some unknown reasons. As she was staring at the window, she tried to discover the reasons little by little, and found out that one of them is the uneasy thought of the Meiji police capturing the person who owns her passionate affections. She pictured Soujiro Seta in the hands of the Meiji, agonizing in pain… but she asked herself.. is it better to think of him killing the police for his own sake?
Misao sighed. If only I found you a long time ago then we'd be resting together in bliss…. Somehow, she still hopes that it will happen everytime she remembered his words. "If you'll leave, we'll do it together."
Breaking the silence was the sudden sliding of her door. Misao turned her head to see the disturbance and easily spotted his soft, seductive smiling lips.
"I thought everyone else was asleep!", she whispered in joy. Soujiro entered briefly and she kissed his face cheekily. He used his feet to slide the door shut and found himself alone with her once more.
"Were you afraid?", he asked after her loving manifestations. It took her a second before she shook her head. I'm not afraid of the dark… I'm afraid of losing you.
"You're lying.", his smile grew wider, inviting her to kiss him again.
"I admit I was worried about—you.", she nodded her head.
"You've been worried since morning, girl! Here let me give you something. It's not much but I hope you like it.", he said and retrieved something from his chest. He raised a cherry blossom to her face and she almost cried out in joy. With her soft hands, she took it and caressed the petals over and over.
"That's the first cherry blossom to bloom this month. It will be snowing soon, do you feel it?", he stroked her cascaded hair behind her back.
Misao grabbed his hand from her hair and felt his fingers with her own. He smiled at her sweetly and lovingly.
Just when she regained her breath, he started to take it away once more when he slipped his hands at the back of her waist and started to take off her night gown. His hands were as light as feather, almost touching her bare skin under the thin clothing of silk. Before she knew it, the dress was slipping off of her body, the straps falling from her fragile shoulders. He made a smile, letting her know how beautiful she was.
But no matter how much she likes to enjoy the sensual feeling, she pulled the straps of her dress back to where they were. "No.", her voice was stern and strict. He muffled his apologies as the smile slowly faded from his lips.
"Soujiro…",she said softly now, reaching a hand to the side of his face. "Let's not be TOO intimate." His face lit up with curiosity. "Not until we're married."
In excitement, he hurriedly stood up and returned the smile on his face, only this time it was reaching his ears. 'Then let's get married! Tomorrow we'll leave this place and find a priest. We will have a home of our own.", he said with so much enthusiasm that he barely kept his voice down. Misao raised a finger to his mouth.
"Please don't forget. You are not allowed to go about. They will kill you out there!", she warned. "It would be unwise if we leave Kenshin and the others. If we move on our own, where will we stay? How should we feed ourselves?"
Soujiro stared at the floor blankly, thinking of a good idea. Misao was right but he is not to change the idea of getting married. "I'm an expert when it comes to disguising. Leave that problem to me. I know that there is a forest near by towards the east. I could hunt for us!", he paused. "…. And in a forest, there is always a hidden temple amongst the woods. Believe me… I've been there."
Though she was yet to be convinced, she nodded her head repeatedly. "So you're saying that the temple will be our new home. In the woods…we will stay."
He nodded excitedly, but this time kept his voice in a hush. "Yes. Only the two of us. And if we ever choose to have another with us… we will still be safe there. All of us."
"Soujiro…", she drew nearer and held his hands tightly as he sat infront of her. She held their clasped hands to her face and melted him with teary, hopeful eyes.
"Misao.", he whispered. "I will marry you."
She let go of their bound hands and curled her own around his neck. The tears flowed down to her cheeks, staining the collar of his shirt as she buried her head at the side of his neck.
Soujiro raised a hand to secure her head, almost pushing it nearer to him. "And.. .when you're ready… we will start a family. We will… make a child of our own."
Soft giggles came out from her mouth. "My love… I don't want our child to be lonely."
Cheekily, he nuzzled into her silky hair, enjoying the fragrance. "Then let's make as many as you want."
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Rain greeted the grounds in the morning the night after Soujiro's proposal to his love. Under the thin roof, they all gathered for an announcement. Some waited impatiently, but deep inside, they all knew that they were excited and worried at the same time. All they could do is wait for a surprise that they will either be glad of or simply disagree.
With a smile, Misao started the conversation. "I want all of you to know, you are all special and dear to me. However, I have made a decision which you may or may not oppose." , she paused, catching her breath. "I am marrying Seta Soujiro today."
There were nothing else heard except from gasps and droplets of rain hitting the roof. Sanosuke and Yahiko had their mouths dry and open. Kenshin was in the state of disbelief. At he corner of Misao's eye, she knew that Kaoru had the strongest, most obvious reaction ever was.
"We both decided to move on from this house, which means… that we will separate from now on. However we will still be here in Aioya. We will be taking shelter in a hidden temple in the forest towards the east. My friends, your suggestions are very important to me. Soujiro and I will gladly welcome any reactions from you."
Others were still in the state of shock. Kenshin was the first to speak up. "Misao, I trust that Soujiro can take care of you. I wish you two the best of luck."
It was clear in Misao's eyes that she was not expecting this reaction from Kenshin himself. However, tears formed in her eyes as one by one, her friends started to bow to her and Soujiro in agreement. "I will miss you…all of you!", she cried. She has not even left the house but she was beginning to feel the pain of missing her friends.
Great happiness overflowed Soujiro's heart. The feeling of frustration no longer has a place in him. When he first saw her cheery face, he though he felt the most wonderful thing ever was. But now, at the sight of her friends, which he too had learned to love in a short while, he knew there is so much more to explore. He rose to his feet and came towards Kenshin, and gently laid his hand on his shoulder. "All of these things.. they're impossible without you." He bowed to him in great gratitude.
Kenshin's lip curled into a smile. Kaoru was crying tears of joy.
"How dare you forget about me, Makimachi!", an old man hollered form the roof, destroying the drama.
"Okina…?", Misao wiped a tear with the back of her hand.
"Okina! What are you doing up there?", Soujiro asked. The old man came down drenched and crossed his arms. "Do you not see me as a family member?"
"Grandpa.", Misao explained. "Soujiro wanted to tell you this thing but you almost dismissed the topic." Okina rubbed his temples. "Better tell me now!"
Smiling but his heart racing deep inside, Soujiro bowed infront of the old man. "I humbly ask for your granddaughter's hand in marriage."
With his left hand, Okina raised the boy's face by his cheek and slapped him across the face. Misoa gasped in shock as Soujiro's face turned pink,
Suddenly, a look of joy crossed Okina's face. "Why yes, my boy! I've been waiting for this moment! Actually I was expecting Himura to do this but he was too numb for my Misao.", he shouted in joy, waving his hands in the air.
"What…?", Kenshin stammered. Kaoru clenched her fist.
"Oh Grandpa!", Misao cried in joy, leaping forward to her grandfather. In his tight embrace she slipped out a hand and reached her eyelid, wiping a tiny tear. "You're such an old weirdo…"
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Misao held the round corner of the hat on her head. "So how are we going to reach the forest in this rain?", she asked out loud. She looked around and sighed thankfully, seeing not anybody, not even the officers, to take a wall in the heavy pouring. "How are we going to reach the forest?", she repeated her question.
Soujiro secured the bags of clothing on his shoulder. "That's easy. Hold on to me tightly."
"What?", Misao wondered, but clanged to his waist anyways.
"Never let go.", he turned his head down to her and smiled. Then everything around her began to change. The cold air became cooler and her vision turned into a blur. I know this… shukuchi in the rain.
In no time, they reached the green forest and found peace at the sight of trees. No people, no officers, just the two of them. As they searched the temple, they found a monk, who happily married them to their new found home. And there they stayed for their first night, and celebrated their love freely as husband and wife.