Disclaimers on everything that I don't own.

Letters,

By Winterwing3000

Dear Misao,

It has been long since we've spoken. My clinic has been running smoothly as always and Megumi, Sanosuke and their children send their love. Himura and Kaoru-san as well.

I've recently read that your trip to Luxembourg has been successful as they finally negotiated with France and Great Britain. And that you would also be retiring soon, allowing your assistant to take over.

I shall be waiting.

Aoshi

Dear Aoshi,

I'm finally coming home. My embassies are finished. Wait for me…

Misao

Aoshi stood waiting behind the terminal gate, near the rear end of the large waiting media and crowd. The flight board already said that C23 had landed and the passengers were exiting to the building.

He had arrived about half an hour early, dressed casually in a button-down shirt and black slacks. In his hands were freshly arranged roses wrapped in white gauzy paper. His mind raced with thoughts and minor doubts. But he immediately locked them into the back of his mind.

They had been communicating regularly by phone or by email, but she had decided to send him a letter from her last visit in Shanghai, China a week before her arrival home. And he immediately phoned her to ask her of her flight number and date.

His thoughts were cut off as he heard murmurs and shuffling of feet front in front of him.

Looking up, he saw above the see of heads (since his height gave him an advantage) the many passengers filing out with their small portable luggage. Some ran towards their awaiting families or friends, while other walked out on their own towards the door. It took a while before he finally spotted a small blue head with a braid swishing merrily behind her.

Misao lugged her wheeling suitcase behind her, dressed primly in a mica blouse and a black knee skirt, with white flat sandals on her feet. He stood rooted to the spot when her searching eyes caught his. Enthusiastically, she waved to him and almost bounced the rest of the way there. By the time that she was a yard away from him, most of the crowd had cleared away from the terminal, leaving only a few who were waiting for the next flight.

Neither made another step towards each other, eyes locked and minds not processing the movement of time. Finally, Misao cracked the pregnant pause between them.

"I'm home, Aoshi." Said she, smiling gently as the corners of her eyes creased.

"Aa, okaeri nasai, Misao." He responded, stepping up to her, holding out the flowers. Acting on unrestrained impulse, Misao threw herself into him, nearly squashing the roses between them as she crushed him to a hug. Aoshi buried his face into her hair, drawing her closer to him with his free hand.

"I've missed you…"

"And I you…"

Pulling back a bit, Misao gave him another smile and took the flowers, thanking him as she did so. Then, she slipped her hands into his as he took her luggage and the two walked down to the parking lot, speaking softly to each other as they discussed what had taken place in their past and what was to be their future.

:OWARI:

AN: Well, this is the last chapter… now there's only one more, ze epilogue. In the end, I was thinking that Aoshi should sweep Misao off her feet and kiss her senseless, but that'll be very OOC of him (haha). And their relationship hasn't broadened to such a large extent where they would publicly display their affections towards each other. So, they're going to take things bit by bit as they grow closer (and soon get married –hint hint!-).

I hope that you've enjoyed this (since I wrote it with my braces on… they hurt!)! It was a great story to write, even though the shortness of it. And probably, in the near future, there'll be more of AxM fics!

It.soniablade: I'm glad that you love it much. However, it would be sad to say that I won't be digging very deep into their relationship. It would be very complicated and would most likely stretch the "simplicity" of this fic. I'm trying to keep things simple, but since long-distance relationships are really difficult to write. And yes, they would face many obstacles but they won't be written or explained anywhere. After all, no relationship would be perfect without a few problems along the way.

Moonjava: thank you very much!

Kennii nii chan: OMG! Its YOU! –grovels- I enjoy reading your fics! They're funny! And thank you times 10! I'm practically ecstatic that you reviewed. And thank you for the praise!

MoMo-ChAn1: ehehe, I have grammatical problems… cuz somehow, I would never ever understand grammar. So I tend to make up some words for myself. And I'm relieved to find that he didn't turn into a goldfish. It would have been HORRIBLE if I did! And that "Misao doesn't deserve me, blah blah blah" speech of Aoshi is getting old, but it leads to many cool fanfics! Then again… -glances nervously- yes, Aoshi can be a tad stupid at times…. But I don't think he could be THAT much! So please calm down? Please?

NonameJane: thank you and I hope that I would write more soon!

Mandella-sama: lol, I thought so, cuz I was like, "WHAT!" when I thought that you said that Aoshi going to jail is a good thing… -sweatdrops-. And yeah, though, I don't think that people in Japan wears stripes. I think they wear blue or orange… I forgot. Thanks and enjoy the last chapter!