Onset
By: NonameJane
Disclaimer- Nope, not mine!
AN- ...and here we are again!
Ch2 Introductions
Misao had long since calmed down. After the initial shock she had stood motionless for a moment, just staring at the sight before her. Jiya came quickly along with Aoshi-sama. They did what they could.
It was because of the heat, they had told her. Neither were surprised, really, just a result of over exhaustion.
"How long do you think he was there?" Misao asked quietly, sitting on her knees.
The sun had set quite a few hours ago, darkening everything in its departure. Okina lit another candle in the shadowed guest room, the current lighting not being sufficient enough.
" Well..." Okina paused, blowing out the in match in his right hand. " It couldn't have been too long. He wasn't there when I returned or when you left." He replied, staring down at the man sleeping peacefully on the futon.
" I wonder who he is?" Misao questioned, giving the man a closer look.
" Who knows..." Okina answered, his eyes on the man as well.
" But he looks quite young, maybe in his mid or early twenties." The old man sighed a moment in regret. "Ahh...what I would give to be that young again." He chuckled at himself.
The candle flame brightened a moment and swayed gracefully as Misao walked by it. She stood next to her Jiya's sitting form, the candle light illuminating her blue eyes brightly and reflecting in his own.
"Will he be okay?"
Okina gave a soft smile. His little Misao-chan was so worried over this stranger. It made him proud the way she held concern for people, yet it bothered him in a way. Someone could take advantage of that.
"It'll be all right Misao-chan. He was a little dehydrated from the heat today but he's cooled down and should wake soon."
Even in the dim light he could see the frown on her face. He stood and patted her on the head playfully.
"Give him some time and I'm sure he'll be okay." The old man gave her a push toward the door, "I'll stay with him for a while. You get some rest."
"He could've died you know..." She trailed off sadly.
"And he's safe here because of you. You should be happy."
She flashed him a smile. "You're right. Thanks Jiya."
The old man nodded, his age-whitened beard swaying as he did so. " No problem my pretty."
Misao walked a couple of steps forward and opened the shoji quietly.
"Goodnight."
Okina smiled. " Good night, Misao-chan."
Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
The night seemed relatively long. Misao had trouble sleeping and spent most of the night tossing and turning on her bed. She could hear the rain falling gently outside, soothing and calming in the usual stillness of the night. She thought of happy times as a child, of playing in the rain, and splashing in puddles. Misao smiled remembering how happy she had been then, of how she thought it would last forever. She sighed.
Deciding it was just to warm, she shrugged the light blanket off her body. She sat up and pulled her knees to her chest, leaning on a nearby wall. She stared into nothingness, the midnight darkness enveloping everything in the room, Misao closed her eyes wishing for sleep.
Her head turned sharply, her ears registering a sound in a nearby room. She stood immediately after recognizing the location of the noise.
The guest room.
Misao crept slowly to her door and opened as quietly as she could manage. She didn't want to wake the others, which is a task in itself. She lived in a house full of shinobi.
She continued to creep in the darkened hall, her socked feet minding every step as not to hit a floorboard waiting to creak. She followed the path along the wall a few steps until her eyes had adjusted to the darkness.
She wanted to see this mystery man of theirs and take a closer look.; to see if he was okay, who he was, and if he was well enough to return to his own home. Misao, herself, didn't understand where this curiosity rooted from but still felt the need to quell it. Perhaps, it was because the others felt the need for patience, that they would find out in due time. Not any of the Oniwaban took any initiative in finding the identity of this man, finding it inhospitable to treat the poor guy as a case of espionage.
She pulled the door to the guest room at a slow, drawn out pace. Misao only opened it enough to get her body through, wanting to keep all noise at a minimum. The room was also shadowed in a veil of black, Okina had blown all the candles out and departed for bed long ago.
Her eyes focused on the futon before her. The man continued to rest and hadn't appeared to move since the last time she had been there. Misao leaned down to see if anything at all had been moved; she found nothing. She stood and shook her head, thinking she must have been hearing things. She made her way to the door and closed it behind her.
It was best to return to bed.
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The next morning relieved the sweltering heat of the days past. The humidity was at a low level, the sun hidden behind large gray clouds. It was gloomy, but it didn't bother Misao one bit.
She rose from her futon and dressed, preparing for the day ahead. After she had woke last night, she returned to bed shrugging the incident off. She had quickly fallen asleep afterwards.
Misao exited her room and entered the hall.
She made her way, again, to the one of the Aoiya's spare room to check on the heat-stricken man. She walked at a slow pace, humming as she did so. Turning a corner, she saw a curious sight before her.
"Good morning, Aoshi-sama," Misao chirped happily.
Aoshi was staring out the hall window silently as if debating to go outside or not.
" Good morning Misao." He replied flatly, turning a little to look at her.
She gave him a smile, " Going to the temple today?"
He turned back to the window, focusing his eyes on something beyond the glass.
Aoshi shook his head, " No, it may rain."
Misao gave him a nod and turned to excuse herself. " I'll see you later, Aoshi-sama."
He didn't respond, verbally, and she continued on her way.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
The room was empty when she had arrived. There was no sign at all that anyone had been there the previous day. She was surprised to find it that way. Maybe he had left.
Misao made her way to the kitchen to help as she usually did at this time. Okon met her at the door, a wide grin on her face.
" Morning, Misao."
"Good morning to you too, Okon-san." Misao bowed slightly. " Guess I better get to work, huh?"
Okon shook her head, " No need."
Misao's eyes widened, never before had help ever been refused, especially in the kitchen. She was puzzled.
" Really?"
"Of course, we have all the help we need."
Before Misao could ask her what she meant, another figure approached the two. He was an average sized and built man with a gentle face. He held a few bags of rice in his arms and waited patiently for a proper time to voice his arrival. Misao gave him a long look.
" Excuse me, ma'm. Where would you these?" His voice was gentle as well, it had a light tone and wasn't too deep.
Okon reached for them, " I'll put these away." She looked over to Misao. " Remember him, Misao?"
The man nodded, "You helped me yesterday, and for that I thank you." He bowed and Misao returned the gesture. "My carelessness almost got me killed." He gave a chuckle, "I suppose that was a disturbing sight to see."
Misao grinned happily, "It sure was! I was so worried when I saw someone lying there."
Okon nodded her head, " She was." The woman turned on her heel away from the other two. " I better get back to work." She returned to the kitchen before either could respond. The man looked Misao in the eyes.
A smile spread throughout his features, "I apologize." The smile vanished from his face for a moment, his light eyes holding discontent. He shook his head. "Excuse my rudeness." He abruptly apologized.
"What for?"
"I never introduced myself."
Misao laughed awkwardly, "I was just as rude! Forgive me for not introducing myself!"
"My name is Makimachi Misao."
He looked down at her, smiling, "Well, I guess now would be an appropriate time for me as well."
Misao nodded.
" I am Ishiami Akira, and it's a pleasure to meet you."
AN- So ends this chapter. The story is about to get into motion and then the plot will seem clearer. I think it's fun to leave the reader guessing!