(A/N: Thank you everyone, thank you SO much for your reviews. Anyways, her are some personal messages I would like to give to me supporters! LOVE YA ALL!!! XD

$$$$$$$$$$: Money-sama, thanks for that review! And oh, read on to find out the inquiries... LOL... XD

Aoshi/Misao Fan: You like that part? It was meant to be lame, though. Anyway, I'm sorry to say that Aoshi sama is kind of a villain in this fic. Whoops, about that!

Babygirl: I'm really sorry about the cliff-hanger but, smirks I enjoy making them. P

Cathy Mark: I'll always make sure I make Soujirou SEXY and CUTE at the same time in MY fic... Muahahaha! In this way, Misao can't prevent her lust for him... evil grin

Charming Woman: Hey, are you my long-lost twin? smirks evilly

Erica Madarine: Yep. Evil's my middle name. smirks

Flaming Amber: Happy Belated Birthday! It's kind of late, though. ; Anyway, I'm glad you're happy with the chapter!

Genki Ninja: It'd be the end of the world if Soujirou isn't hot! giggles

MSN Chan: Don't worry, I WILL try to find time to type. Don't worry. I WILL update at LEAST once a month. D

Tenken's Lover: Well, Sou chan is not really that much of innocent, it's more of... confused. And don't you worry, when it's Aoshi sama and Soujirou, Aoshi sama's the villain. Sorry to all Aoshi/Misao fans!

Well, that's the end of all my A/N! Now, on to Chapter 8!)

Misao stared at the figure at the door.

"Aoshi sama?" Misao almost stopped breathing. Why? Why, of all places, he HAD to appear here? Why was it HE? "Why are you here?" Asked Misao as she stood up immediately.

Soujirou looked at Aoshi, then to Misao, where his smile was almost fading. Misao didn't looked too happy, and most importantly, her voice sounded hurt. Soujirou didn't like that. He stood up as well.

Then he suddenly recalled.

"Aoshi sama, desu ka?" He muttered to himself.

Aoshi stared at the two figures for a long moment, which seemed deadly to Misao, and started walking towards them. Walking towards Soujirou.

"To get my job done." Aoshi replied coldly. Misao felt her heart twisted. This isn't right. She shouldn't be feeling hurt because of Aoshi at all. She has got herself a hottie who is definitely much greater than Aoshi. She shouldn't be feeling this way. Misao stared into space while Aoshi walked passed her. "To capture Seta Soujirou."

Misao's eyes went wide open as she turned around and found Aoshi, starting to confront he's opponent, with his aura. Soujirou smiled at Aoshi.

This can't be happening. This can't be. Aoshi can't be killing Soujirou. He can't. He... He can't.

Misao screamed at the top of her lungs to stop the fight when Aoshi dashed towards Soujirou to start the attack.

"Stop it, Aoshi sama, stop it!" Misao cried, tears forming at the brim of her eyes.

Soujirou used Shukuchi and dashed to the corner of the room. Aoshi landed softly beside Misao.

"Misao chan," Misao almost stopped breathing when she heard her name being called. Her named being called with that deep, smoothing voice she had longed to here ever since she ran away. "Stay out of this business. It's between him and me." Misao froze. It was weird. She knew she loved Aoshi sama, but it was all over. She should be concentrating her life on Soujirou instead. But... All those feelings she had for Aoshi kept coming back to her.

She didn't want to lose either of them. Neither Soujirou nor Aoshi.

"NO!" Misao cried, her tears streaming down her cheeks, as Aoshi struck another attack at Soujirou.

Soujirou used Shukuchi again. He wasn't attacking. He kept dodging Aoshi's attacks.

Misao looked at Soujirou. Why didn't he attack Aoshi? Why not? He might be killed if he don't.

"Why are you attacking me, Mister?" Asked Soujirou with his usual smile as he landed softly in front of Aoshi. "I'm just a rurouni."

"Shut up, Tenken." Aoshi replied coldly as he attacked Soujirou again. Soujirou used Shukuchi.

Aoshi muttered coldly. "Just a rurouni?" He asked, almost toneless. " A rurouni, using a Tenken's power, Shukuchi?"

Soujirou stared at Aoshi, his smile almost fading, and he closed his eyes with his ever-living smile again. He lifted his hands. "Well then," Said Soujirou as Misao stared at Soujirou. GOSH, what is he DOING? " I'll just stand here."

No. No. No. Seta Soujirou, don't you dare!

Misao screamed like a banshee, her tears flowing crazily, as she witness Aoshi slashing Soujirou.

"Why didn't you dodge or attack?" Aoshi asked, his voice unchanged.

Soujirou smiled. "I'm only a rurouni. Besides, I promised Misao sama that I would never kill again. I promised her I wouldn't make her feel sad or make her feel frightened of me."

Misao rushed to Soujirou, with his chest bleeding, her cheeks full of tearstains. Aoshi stopped her.

"I'm sorry," Said Aoshi, with a tone that sounded almost sincere. " But I was told to kill you."

Misao had enough of it.

THAT'S IT!

She pushed Aoshi away from her and stood in front of Soujirou, her arms open wide, staring angrily at Aoshi.

"He already told you he's just a rurouni! What more do you want?" Misao cried, her voice sounded hurtful, while Aoshi looked back at her.

Aoshi stared at Misao's firm looking eyes, and looked at Soujirou, then back to Misao.

He kept his sword.

"I'll kill him the next time I see him." Said Aoshi as he turned around and walked towards the door. Then, he stopped, his face turned slightly at Misao. "Are you coming back?" He asked, his voice almost caring.

Misao pondered for a moment. She felt hurt, a tear dripped down her cheek, and she held her fists.

"No." Misao replied firmly. She had longed to hear Aoshi sama ask her that question, waiting for the day where Aoshi sama would look for her and bring her home, waiting for the day where Aoshi would look at her as a woman and not as a child. But now, it was no longer important.

Aoshi turned back and walked out of the temple. He never told her that he had missed her and he really wants her home.

Soujirou stared at Misao for a moment. Soujirou's smile was almost invisible. Misao didn't look that happy. She was sad. Really sad. Did she still... Love him?

"Are you all right, Misao sama?" Soujirou asked.

Misao didn't move. Misao didn't speak.

A long moment had passed.

"All right?" Asked Misao, her voice sounded angry, hurt and amused. " Who are you kidding? Of course I'm not."

Soujirou smiled apologetically. "Gomen."

Soujirou's eyes went wide open when Misao hugged him so tightly he almost can't breathe. "Misao sa..." Soujirou heard Misao's sobbing and closed his eyes. He smiled and patted Misao on her back. He rubbed his face against her hair. "It's all right already, Misao sama." Soujirou ensured her. Misao continued crying.

Soujirou smiled and said, "And you might want to get up 'cause my wound is kind of hurting." Soujirou commented as Misao slowly got up. Then, she strikes.

She punched Soujirou at his wound.

Gosh, Soujirou never felt this much of pain before.

"Maa, why are you beating me? It hurts." Soujirou said with a smile.

"Why?" Asked Misao, her voice sounded so loud and deafening to Soujirou, in rage. "WHY? 'CAUSE YOU ALMOST KICKED THE BUCKET YOU DUMBASS!" Misao screamed.

Soujirou just smiled at Misao.

Misao couldn't take it anymore. Her tears dripped down her cheeks.

"Baka..." She cried, her head staring at the ground, her hands on his broad shoulders. "Baka... I thought you were going to be dead. I was dead worried about you. Don't you ever scare me again like this." She pleaded.

Soujirou smiled. "Maa, how am I supposed to not let you worry about me like this without killing?"

Misao continued staring at the ground.

"Maa," Said Soujirou as he held her chin, trying to make her look at him. " I guess I'll attack without killing next time, na?" He asked in his usual cheerful tone, but with a tone of gentleness in it.

Soujirou smiled at Misao that made Misao can't help but to smile back at him.

"One last thing, though," Said Soujirou as Misao looked at him innocently. "Promise me you wouldn't cry again, na?" He asked with a smile.

Misao stared at him for a moment, and smiled, and nodded her head.

Then, Soujirou held her chin up again, holding her head at the back with another hand and brought his face closer to hers.

"Maa, let me clean your tearstains away."

Soujirou brought her face closer to his and started licking her face, licking the tearstains away.

Misao cried.

Gosh. He's licking her face. LICKING.

GOSH! NOW HE'S LICKING OFF THE TEARSTAINS AROUND HER NECK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Misao blushed so red until she almost fainted when she felt Soujirou's body pushing her to the ground.

No. Not yet. She isn't prepared...

Misao closed her eyes when she was lying on the ground, with Soujirou on her. She waited but Soujirou stayed in his position. Soujirou stopped moving. Misao slowly opened her eyes and looked at Soujirou.

Gosh. He face was red. He was puffing. Misao held on her hand and put her hand over his forehead worriedly.

Gosh.

HE HAS FEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Misao suddenly remembered Soujirou had a big wound on his chest. She slowly laid Soujirou on the ground.

GOSH. It was bloody. He probably got infection.

She quickly ran to the water with a cloth and wet it. She ran back and cleaned his wound, with resources she could found around the area, and with the ninja pack she always have with her.

She looked at Soujirou worriedly as she cleaned his wounds. Will he be all right? Misao was almost crying.

Sheesh, since when did she became a crybaby?

Then, she forced herself not to cry.

She promised him.

She promised.

Misao had finished cleaning up Soujirou's wound and had bandaged it. She put a wet cloth on his forehead as she heaved a sign of relieved.

She smiled at Soujirou worriedly and sat beside him.

She hugged her legs.

Sono kizu no itami taezu
Oogoe de naite ii no
The pain of the wound does not cease
Just cry it out

She clenched her fists as she felt a twist in her heart. She felt hurt. After loving him for so many years, he still didn't get it. He had hurt her in so many ways, so many ways, that no one could actually ever help cleanse her wound. Now that she had found one, he wanted to kill him.

Atataka na, namida wa
Koori, tokasu harvest rain
Warm tears
 Melt the ice harvest rain

She used to cry for him. She did. She thought she still loved him, but perhaps she doesn't anymore. She doesn't love Aoshi sama anymore. She got someone else more suitable for her to cry for, though she had promised him she'll never cry again.

Watashi matte 'ru
 I am waiting...

Now, all she needed was Soujirou. No one else but Seta Soujirou.

Makimachi Misao will wait for no one else but Seta Soujirou.

"Misao sama?" Misao jerked up and looked at Soujirou. He was smiling, his face still flushing quite a little.

"Yes?" Misao asked, like she was pleading him to get well soon.

Soujirou held her hand in his hands. "Are you all right?"

Misao smiled. "I will, if you sleep."

Soujirou chuckled weakly. "Maa, Misao sama, I really wonder why I feel so different for you." He smiled. Misao blushed.

It's kind of weird though, 'cause she wasn't screaming in her mind.

Soujirou closed his eyes and went to sleep.

Misao smiled at him. She loved him. She loved him so much until she didn't know how to deal with him.

Misao lied down beside Soujirou, staring at him as she drifted off to sleep.

The last thought in her mind was this:

Did he just kind of tell me he loved me?

Aye, aye, Misao sama.

(A/N: Just like this for a while. REVIEW!!! Ciao!)