A/N: Plenty of Aoshi's POV still…
Disclaimer: mockingin asomber- I-don't-give-a-damn-about-it voice a'laAoshi..."I don't own it"
Chapter III
Okina greeted him at the door. "Aoshi, I want to have a word with you", he calmly stated. Aoshi just nodded. He sort of knew what Okina was going to say anyway..but…
They walked in into the Okashira's office. Misao was still the Okashira, for he decided he wasn't suitable for that position anymore and opted to assist Misao instead.
Misao wasn't there, he has guessed as much. 'Where would she be?' He can't help but throwing that question inwardly.
Okina cleared his throat, capturing his attention back to reality. "Aoshi..I know that our Misao has grown and turned into a beautiful lady that she is now….and she is eighteen this year. Which means, she would need to be engaged and married soon…Well,..it's all written in this letter..", Okina offered a pristine white envelope with a slight crease on the sides.
Aoshi was rather surprised at this. Well…he knew the theory all along, it was embedded somewhere deep in his mind, he recalled…that, being an Okashira, they have their own strict rules and regulations, so to speak, and a female Okashira such as Misao, eventhough was very, very rare…was not eliminated from these rules..To the contrary, one of the limitation of it was that the position commanded the female Okashira to be having at least a guardian, then a husband when she comes of age. This is the exact predicament that Misao was in for, especially since she was a mere seventeen-year old when she was took over the position of Oniwabanshuu no Okashira.
Correction….
'She was rather forced to come to that decision'..because..
'Because of his previously mad state of mind'. His conscience threw something akin to a punch to his gut. 'Gee..thanks for the friendly reminder'…he cursed inwardly.
With a renewed determination to read what Makimachi-san has to say in his will, he pried open the letter it and quietly read it.
He looked up to Okina as he finished reading, waiting to hear what he has to say.
"Now I always thought that somehow, she'd end up with you by her side…I don't know since when I had that notion in my mind, you being her outmost faithful guardian of all…but apparently"….. he halted briefly.
"…She is going out with someone else now, and she looks very happy…
don't get mistaken here, but I know that you have some feeling towards her...
… If only you'd show her that, and not leave her guessing and blindly reaching out in the dark…." He finished his sentence with somewhat a wistful tone.
He sighed as the younger man was still waiting calmly, refusing to say anything at all.
"All I was meant to say was…if you have second thought…..you still have your last chance, to put it plainly…..otherwise…as her second guardian, next to myself…I would need your approval for her engagement…", Okina said hesitantly.
Aoshi felt his stomach churned as this tender issue was brought up, and was feeling rather confused at this. He took a breath, one of his hands came up to stroke his short black bangs.
"And why does this seem so sudden, the engagement of Misao, I mean?", he asked, as line by line of the well-versed regulation of Oniwaban Okashira that he learned when he was a wee teenager, was replaying itself in his head.
He shrugged, "Well, she just found her ideal partner or so it seems, and she looks quite happy, and when you read that letter I gave you, it was her father's will for her to be married before she turns twenty".
He closed his eyes.
Ah Misao….
"I know that we're well into the new Meiji era…", Okina's voice filled in the silence.
Aoshi swiftly added, "In that case, shall we let her decide on her own then?" his expression still betrayed nothing.
Okina gave a wry smile "Yes, we would do that…but, the purpose of me telling you all this today is for you to think about it…Really, think about it Aoshi! Do you approve of her going out with Soujiro? If not…", he left it at that for him to finish, deiiberately spilling out the name.
Soujiro….Soujiro…where did he hear that before? He narrowed his eyes ever so slightly in concentration.
"You know…Seta Soujiro", as if reading his mind, Okina supplied.
Aoshi's eyes went wide for two seconds. Misao? going out with Shishio's ex-Juppongatana member?
Okina marvelled at the sliver of surprised expression on Aoshi's face. 'That's the most he's ever shown in a long time"….
"Are you serious?", he asked.
Okina scoffed. "Yeah…very serious", he said uncharacteristically.
He sighed again inwardly. This is…confusing.
"Well, if Misao thinks…", he started.
"Stop it right there, Aoshi Shinomori. Think before you say anything. I have extended an invitation to the young man to have dinner with us tonight, and this is your chance to observe. Misao was a nervous wreck when I suggested this idea, so don't make her anymore uncomfortable", he warned slightly.
"…"
"Not that she knew anything about this engagement and marriage plan", he added subtly.
"Think about it", Okina walked out of the office, emphasizing his last word as he stroked his white-grayish beard.
Aoshi waited in silence. Waiting for what exactly, he didn't know. He was in the quiet confines of his room. He lied on his futon, contemplating on his conversation with Okina. 'How am I to think, when I don't know what exactly is my feeling toward Misao'…he let out a deep breath. One of his arms came up to cover his eyes.
The clock on his room sounded loud and clear. It is 6.00 o'clock. In an hour time, Soujiro, Misao and the rest of the guys will have the dinner at Aoiya. Even now, he doesn't know what his response will be.
Will he approve of their relationship, will he feel jealous at seeing them? Will he relent and let her go? Hundreds of possible outcomes flashed through his mind. None of them seemed to appease him though.
He went downstairs nevertheless, just to get ready.
It was 6.50 when he finished taking his bath, changed and descended the stairs once again to enter the dining room. He could hear all sorts of noise, 'They're all here already'.. he could sense a joyful atmosphere surrounded him. Readying himself, he entered the room.
The room temporarily quietened with his entrance. 'I do seem to give off that effect, apparently', he smiled grimly. He looked around..
….and…Look! what a sight it was to behold! He couldn't tear his gaze when it met the petite figure he has come to know all his life.
Misao was looking every bit like a feminine woman. It was obviously the side of her that she always denied since childhood, but tonight, for some reasons, she turned out looking outstandingly beautiful in dark crimson kimono with gold sakura flowers delicately adorning her kimono. A matching obi and hair accessories were on display, and her hair was let down, beautifully cascading down her back. She clearly defined the term 'beauty', as far as Aoshi's concerned…'.and as far as her current boyfriend is concerned' his wicked conscience just had to add that little bit at the end. Aoshi had to swallow a lump that appeared from nowhere.
He nodded curtly as he took his seat across Misao…and Soujiro, he noted grimly. He was unsure why, but his hand itches to wring his neck. 'Is this jealousy? Or part thereof?' He asked himself…no answer.
As if on cue, Okina, the host of the event, was suddenly heard, "Well, minna-san, I would like to welcome you all to Aoiya's…uh, er…dinner celebration!", he finished lamely with a lopsided grin on his face. Everyone around the table laughed, Misao giggled as she leaned a little bit closer to Soujiro.
Aoshi promptly turned his head elsewhere. His face devoid of emotion.
'Dinner was a pure torture', he decided. 'Oh, at least he wasexcellent at hidinghis emotions'.He was meant to observe how Soujiro acted, to basically observe his non-verbal communication around the other Aoiyans, but he was hindered, because he just couldn't be very objective about all ot that. He was mostly quiet, well, as he always was..but he spent extra energy and effort, all of his willpower actually, not that he'd admit it..'oh darn, he just did'… to stand still and be content at just watching and nothing else. Okina would throw a meaningful look at him every once in a while too…to complete his utter dismay.
He sighed. 'He hated it, he hated him….he would never approve'………
His mind flew back to Misao's face. It never showed that much radiance, emanated that much joy, she never smiled as much as tonight…in a long time.
It was all because of him.
It is not fair if he snatches that true happiness once again from her……
all because of his selfishness….
He kept turning in his sleep, not that he could sleep in the first place, as he was thinking.. a lot…and he came to a decision in the cool dawn of the next morning. He closed his eyes in relief and slept peacefully then.