Now or Never
By: Cereis
(Rikka-chan)
Disclaimer: I don't own RK
…but how I long to own Aoshi….
:wishful thinking:
Sighs a deep sigh
Chapter One
Tup Tup Tup
The dull sound of the foot steps of wooden slippers softly resonated along the path. A girl holding a tray with all the necessities of a tea ceremony could be seen. She wore a bright read kimono with golden leaves prints and a matching golden obi. The girl was short in stature with long flowing hair down her back and golden ribbon to finish off her stunning appearance.
A small breeze blew the bangs out of her eyes. A look of slight discomfort and worry covered her face.
Maybe this is a bad idea…
Earlier that morning
"Come on Misao!" Okon whined, pulling Misao up the staircase of the Aoiya.
"It's a great idea! There's no way Aoshi-sama won't notice you this time! You're going to look so beautiful! Omasu said pulling on Misao's other arm.
"I said no damn it! You know how much I hate kimonos! I look so stupid in them!"
"But you do need to start dressing like a real lady now! You're already nineteen."
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean!"
"Oh Misao, that ninja outfit of yours is just too small for you to wear. It's indecent for a woman your age to wear that old rag." Okon said, panting while still pulling on Misao's arm.
"It is not a rag!" Misao yelled resisting even more- until her hand slipped.
Crap, this is gonna hurt…
Misao closed her eyes and braced for impact.
But the hit never came. Instead of the hard thud against the ground she was expecting, she felt warm arms encircle her waist and felt herself being pulled up to a person's chest. The scent of incense and green tea hit her nostrils.
A blush covered her face.
She didn't need to open her eyes to know who had caught her.
Aoshi-sama…
Shit.
Once again, she had succeeded in embarrassing herself in front of her beloved Aoshi-sama.
She slightly leaned in to his embrace.
Might as well take advantage of this while I can.
"Misao, are you alright?"
The sound of Aoshi's deep voice snapped her back to reality. She tensed and shyly looked up. Aoshi's piercing ice blue eyes peered down at her.
"Yes..I'm alright…"
Aoshi let go of Misao. A look of disappointment briefly covered her face, but only for a second, for she smiled up at him.
"Thanks Aoshi-sama. You can go over to the temple now, I'll go bring you your tea in a few moments." Misao said.
"Aa" Aoshi replied, walking towards the door.
The moment he left the room, Misao slowly slipped to the ground, her head bent, her bangs covering her eyes.
"Oh Misao…."Okon said, walking over to her, Omasu in tow, squatting down next to her, rubbing her back.
"He'll never feel the same for me as I do for him, will he?"
"Don't say that." Omasu scolded.
"He does care for you."
"Yea, but not he way that I want him to!" Misao yelled, now looking up to Okon and Omasu. Tears could be seen coming down her face.
Misao rubbed her eyes. "Well, I have to go bring Aoshi-sama his tea now. I did tell him that I would be bringing his tea a few moments ago." Misao said, a sad smile gracing her tear streaked face.
"Misao, maybe I should take Aoshi-sama his tea toda-."
"No. It's alright. I'll bring it. So, where's that kimono you were talking about?" Looks of concern covered the other two girls' faces, but they complied.
"It's in my room. Come on, we'll help you get dressed."
Present Time
Ok, I can do this. This was my idea. I'll tell Aoshi-sama how I feel, this last and final time. If he doesn't feel the same way, then I'll just give up on him. I don't think my heart can take anymore of this. I would only be a burden to him if I keep on trying anyhow.
Before she knew it, she was at the doors of the temple.
She hesitated before knocking.
"Come in."
She opened the door.
Aoshi's back was turned to her. Misao walked over to where Aoshi sat and placed the tray in front of him. She proceeded to perform the tea ceremony. She did it expertly considering the fact that she did it practically everyday since Aoshi returned from the battle with Shishio.
When she finished, she poured some tea into a cup and handed it to Aoshi. Their fingers brushed slightly. Misao's checks slightly flushed.
"Arigato".
Misao nodded her head, keeping her head down, bangs covering her eyes. Her heart was racing. It thumped loudly in her ears. Her fists were clenched and her knuckles turned white.
Aoshi's Pov
Aoshi kept his eyes shut.
When the sound of the tea ceremony ceased, Aoshi opened his eyes. His eyes opened wide in shock.
The sight before him took his breath away.
Misao was in a stunning red kimono with golden leaves designs all over it. She had a matching gold obi and a golden ribbon in her flowing raven hair that was down instead of it's traditional braid.
She looked extremely beautiful.
Aoshi's face immediately returned to its original emotionless state.
Misao didn't see the look on his face when he noticed her appearance for she was pouring tea for him in a cup when he opened his eyes.
He didn't miss the slight flush in her cheeks when she handed him the cup.
"Arigato" he thanked her.
She quickly nodded her head, keeping her eyes to ground, bangs covering the emotion she had on her face.
It was then when he noticed her clenched fists.
"Misao, is there something wrong?" Aoshi asked, concern filling his voice.
Misao's POV
"Misao, is there something wrong?" Aoshi asked, concern filling his voice.
Misao tensed when she heard his voice.
Ok Misao, this is it, you have to do it. It's now or never.
She hesitated before answering.
"Aoshi-sama, I have something to tell you… even though I know you already know." She said keeping her head down.
Aoshi just looked at her.
Misao brought her head up, getting up and moving closer to him. She came up, knelling right in front of him.
"Aoshi-sama- no" Misao paused shaking her head.
"Aoshi," she said looking him the eyes, moving closer, "I love you".
Misao came up to him and kissed him, ever so lightly. She felt him tense. She waited for him to respond. Her heart fell when he didn't. After a moment, she pulled back, eyes downcast, her bangs once again covering her face.
Aoshi's POV
He was speechless.
He always knew that Misao had a crush on him, but never in a million years did he expect her to be this forward and kiss him.
He didn't respond to Misao's kiss, but when she moved away, he felt a tinge of sadness at her leaving.
He mentally scolded himself for that.
No, my soul is too tainted for her. She needs someone better than I who can give her the life she deserves.
But at the thought of her marrying another, his heart slightly dropped.
He came back to the matter at hand.
"I'm sorry Misao, but I don't share the same feeling for you as you do I." he spoke.
Misao's firsts clenched again.
"Why?" she said in a whisper.
"I am too tainted for you. You deserve much better than me. You deserve someone who can make you happy and give you a good life."
"Don't you understand!" Misao shouted, her head now up, looking him in the eye. Tears were streaming down her face.
His heart dropped yet again at the sight of her tears.
"I love you! I won't be happy with anyone else! You are the only one for me!"
"No Misao, it's not love, it's only a childish cru-"
"Damn it Aoshi-sama! I'm not a child anymore. So how can it be a childish crush! I always have, and always will love you." Her voice when from shouting to a whisper.
"Why can't you just give me a chance….."
The tears continued to come down her face.
Misao's POV
Suddenly, Misao was being pulled forward.
She was pulled against Aoshi's chest, his arms winding around her. Her head laid in the crook of his neck, and his head rested against hers.
"Misao, we can't….." he said, eyes averted. . "I'm sorry…"
Misao reveled in his embrace.
Then as soon as she was pulled, she pushed away from him.
"Ok, I understand." She said, keeping her head down. She gathered the tray and all the items she brought and placed them on it. Then she left the temple, tears streaming down her face.
When she neared the entrance of the Aoiya, a voice shook her out of her trance.
"Weasel. Long time no see."
She looked up to the smirking face of Saitou Hajime.
"Shut up Saitou." She said glaring at him.
When she looked up, Saitou noticed Misao's tear streaked face.
Saitou's POV
He walked into Misao's path, stopping her, but she kept her head down.
"What do you want?" she said venomously, still keeping her head down.
Saitou took his hand and brought Misao's chin up.
Misao's eyes were red and puffy and her face was tear-streaked.
Concern lightly covered Saitou's face.
"Tears don't suit you. What happened?"
Misao looked away and bit her lip, her bottom chin trembling.
"None of your business."
"Was it Shinomori?"
Misao winced at his name.
Guess it was.
Misao suddenly dropped the tray to her side and latched onto Saitou.
"What the hell-"
Misao grabbed onto Saitou's waist.
"Just this once…just…just hold me…"
Saitou just stood there, arms up in the air, deciding in where or not he should.
…I can't believe I'm going to do this…
Deciding to give in, he wrapped his arms around her waist, slightly bending over, resting his chin on top off her head, rubbing he back.
Misao's POV
Misao softly started to cry into Saitou's uniform, feeling slight comfort in his arms, despite who he was.
"Shhh. It's ok." Saitou said softly, rubbing her back, slightly rocking her.
A few minutes passed, Misao still in Saitou's arms.
"What the hell are you doing Saitou?" a deep venomous voice sounded.
Misao gasped.
Oh shit!
Saitou and Misao's heads snapped over to where the voice came from.
Infuriated ice blue eyes peered over at them.
YAY! i finished my first chapter! yay for Cereis!
If you like my story, then REVIEW! for reviews make me update! the more the reviews, the more sooner i am to update! so..
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-Cereis out