Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin or Disney's Sleeping Beauty
Sleeping Beauty – Aoshi style!
Part II:
Misao looked around the room she was currently in. Tapestries hung on imposing stone walls and an enormous fireplace spread warmth and light into the room with its huge flames. She looked at herself in the mirror and touched the delicate tiara resting on her head. Her long hair flowed down in delicate waves instead of being trapped in its customary braid. The little fairies waited outside her hearing could pick up an argument between them on why their Rose had to marry someone she didn't love.
"She won't…don't worry!" she said softly to the empty room. She wondered for a moment if Lord Aoshi was alright but then dismissed it. If anyone could take good care of himself it was definitely Lord Aoshi. She stamped down her feelings of disappointment. He had been in the clearing but he didn't bother to come out. He was probably glad he didn't have to do anything in this tale! He might even lecture her about letting herself get carried away!
"Ok stop Misao! Focus on your mission!" she ordered herself sternly. She would deal with all that when she was done giving Rose/Aurora her wish! Suddenly as she was trying to channel the imperatives in the magical currents for her next move the flames in the fireplace dimmed replaced by a bright green ball of light and Misao felt herself inexplicably drawn to it. Curious, she followed it through a secret passage way behind the fireplace and climbed a long winding staircase vaguely aware that someone was following her. She reached a small room at the top of the staircase and the strange green light turned into a glowing green spinning wheel.
Again she moved forward to examine it but as her hand reached out to touch it her ninja training told her something was wrong that there was danger hidden somewhere. She pulled back her hand and looked around the room but it was empty. She shook the feeling off and moved forward again but just as she was reaching for the spinning wheel again; she heard Merewether's voice echo thru the corridor.
"Don't touch anything!" Merewether instructed full of fear. Misao did as she was told and pulled her hand away and took a step back. She was surprised to find that instead of the wheel her hand had been heading straight for the sharp and pointy spindle.
"Touch the spindle! Touch it I say!" commanded an unfamiliar voice filled with hate and malice. Her body began to move out of it's own accord!
"Hell no!" she heard herself say but even though she struggled with all her might her body was pulled towards the spinning wheel and her hand was forced by an invisible power to reach towards the spindle. She knew she could not stop it so she decided that if she was gonna go down she wasn't going down without a fight! Out of the corner of her eye she saw a woman materialize.
She was an evil figure full of hate and anger! At the very last second she stopped fighting the invisible force and grabbed the spindle. She felt her finger prick as she tore off the spindle and launched it as if it were one of her kunai. Unfortunately, the woman's reflexes were faster than Misao had anticipated and she wasn't able to hit anything vital but as she sank towards the floor she realized that it didn't matter whatever poison was affecting Misao now it would also take that witch too!
"…Rose… I'm sorry," she whispered softly as her mind drifted into unconsciousness…
Aoshi looked around the room and realized right away that he was in some sort of prison with a very small barred window, a heavy oak door and stone walls and floor.
'Why in the world would that crazy woman send me here!' he asked himself annoyed wondering if this was some sort of test. He tried to move closer to the door but realized his feet and arms were actually chained to the back wall of the cell. He examined the chains and determined that escape would be simple enough besides someone had been foolish enough to leave an ax on an execution block just a few feet away from where he was sitting! He went to take the ax when he heard sounds coming from the outside. He sat back at his cot and attempted to look defeated as he heard someone unlock his cell.
An evil looking woman gracefully swept into the cell with a smug expression on her face. Aoshi resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Kanryu used a similar expression when he was gloating to his captives about how he was going to torture them and kill them. If he played his cards right she would probably give him all the information he needed. A black raven fluttering about her settled happily on the ax waiting expectantly for her to start.
"Oh come now Prince Phillip; why so melancholy? A wondrous future lies before! You, the destined hero of a charming fairytale come true! Behold…" her cold and elegant voice dripped with sarcasm as she waved her hand above the ball at the end of her staff and showed him the images that appeared.
'I'm Phillip again!' he realized with joy but kept his expression neutral this psycho was obviously the villain of the story and apparently she liked to brag. Lucky for him since he needed information about Aurora's curse!
He almost sighed in relief as an image of Misao appeared on her magic ball. She was unharmed and merely asleep all that would be required to wake her was love's first kiss. This troubled him a little as he half-listened to her gloat about how he would spend the next hundred years in this cell. The love part didn't worry him after all he did love Misao. It was the "first kiss" part that did bother him. For him it really wouldn't be a first he'd kissed plenty of others during his teenage years and though they had meant nothing to him it still wouldn't be a first.
Then he wondered if Misao had ever been kissed before. She was a charming attractive and popular girl and she was nineteen years old surely by now someone would've given her that first kiss. He frowned; the thought of someone other than him teaching her how to kiss was appalling. He felt the fire of jealousy spark in his heart once more as he imagined the one he loved in someone else's arms just as in the clearing with the other Phillip. Maleficent misinterpreted his frown and laughed evilly then she turned to leave. He knew she couldn't leave yet he needed to get more information out of her.
"As long as she remains unharmed I will consider letting you live!" he announced being careful to be overly dramatic. Of course he didn't mean it he had every intention of killing her as quickly and quietly as possible. He knew Misao would have put up a fight and this psycho would've had to cause her harm to get her in that state. So just for that Aoshi would kill her! She turned back around surprised then laughed that evil shrill laugh of hers. From somewhere near the door he heard a small cheering voice but he ignored it…
"You will let me live!" she mocked and threw her head back as she laughed.
"Foolish Prince! This is my domain my immense powers are strongest here! My army sits above your head and beneath your feet! Best of all… only I have the key to your cell!" she laughed triumphantly. He lunged and tugged impotently at the chains that bound him to give her a good show. Again she laughed in that cold mocking tone and Aoshi plopped himself back down on the stone cot he'd been sitting on and affected his most dejected look. She swept out of the cell triumphantly congratulating her self on having such a successful day.
"Perfect!" Aoshi whispered as soon as she was gone. She'd given him everything he needed! Thanks to her he knew there were no guards at the door and that he would have to draw her away from her domain and her army so he could more easily defeat her. The added knowledge that he was not in an underground dungeon was definitely an advantage that his foolish captor would soon regret giving him. Most importantly he knew Misao was safe and he knew it wouldn't be too hard to find her. The whole "first kiss" thing…well he'd have to cross that bridge when he got to it!
For now the old witch that held him captive had an enormous ki (that he had immediately sensed!) and he wouldn't want to risk a fight where she would have the advantage! One of her weaknesses was her overconfidence though and that was something he could easily exploit. He figured she'd never had a real opponent like him so finding her other weaknesses would be simple enough but getting past her army unscathed…well now that was going to take serious ninja stealth!
Before he could take the ax and plot his next move three little points of light: blue, red and green floated into the cell through the little barred opening on the door. To his surprise the lights transformed into the three women whom he'd seen at the cottage with Misao. However they looked different they were carrying thin white wands and had little gossamer wings on their backs. Before he could say anything the one in the red dress shushed him and immediately set to work on his manacles. The one in the green set to work on his ankle chains and the one in blue worked on the lock on the door. Aoshi nodded…
'Well this certainly makes things easier! And quieter!' Aoshi thought as they efficiently rid him of the first two obstacles. Once they were done he again tried for the ax but was stopped by the red fairy.
"The road to true love may be barred by many more dangers that you alone must face!" she lectured seriously. Aoshi resisted the urge to roll his eyes at her over-dramatized speech. He didn't want to antagonize her after all she was helping him escape. He did notice with amusement though that the blue one Meriwether turned to glare at her red-dressed companion. The red one waved her wand…
"So arm your self with this enchanted shield of vir… what?" Flora the red fairy stammered to a halt and just stared in confusion. Instead of a large metal shield that she had intended to conjure a Japanese short sword appeared in Aoshi's left hand.
"Do not worry your spell has been cast correctly…To me this is a shield!" he explained calmly and urged her politely to continue her spell. Still looking confused the Flora continued…
"Take this mighty sword of truth…" again she halted the second sword that appeared was exactly the same as the first.
"As I said before your spell is correct…The one on the right is the weapon and the one the left is the shield! Thank You," he bowed graciously to the magical being assisting him and she returned his bow then ushered him to follow her. He rushed out after the three fairies but just as they were exiting the cell the blasted evil black raven had returned to check up on him and saw them as they were escaping. The creature shrieked loudly and began flying away screeching out the alarm to the guards.
"Damn!" Aoshi cursed softly as he watched the creature fly away but because the three fairies were in front of him he was unable to do anything about it.
'Well there goes my stealth!' he thought annoyed as he gestured for the fairies to follow. They transformed into their tiny forms and flew after him. They reached a large window at the end of the hall as well as another staircase before their progress was interrupted by a swarm of strange stupid looking pig-like creatures.
'This is her army?' he thought disgusted and surprised. He launched into an all out brawl with the creatures but quickly he learned the real strength of this strange army. No sooner would he kill one when three just as thick skinned creatures would replace it!
'It's time for plan b!' he realized as the swarm showed no signs of dissipating. He gestured the three fairies towards the window and leaped out of the throng to the large window sill. He turned away from the swarm and as arrows and spears rained after him he slid nimbly down a large pile of debris to the ground below. He immediately spotted Samson the white horse he'd ridden earlier in the forest. Samson was chained in the courtyard and neighed excitedly as soon as it spotted him. Aoshi headed for it but the little blue fairy made it first and began working on its chains.
"Prince Phillip! Watch out!" yelled Fauna the green fairy. Belatedly he realized the fairy was referring to him he looked up and barely managed to roll out of the way of a stone barrage headed straight for his head. He looked up to see the boulders suddenly transformed into giant soap bubbles! He blinked in surprise but the incessant cawing of the witch's evil little pet snapped him back into the battle.
He ran again dodging arrows that would turn into flowers at a wave of the red fairy's wand. Gracefully he leapt up onto the horse which required very little urging from him to gallop at full speed towards the exit. He cringed as he spotted large vats of what was most likely boiling oil just above the main gateway. They began to tip over the edge…
"Damn!" he cursed and urged his horse onward hoping he could beat the lethal rain. The steed responded with a burst of speed at the slightest touch from Aoshi's heel. Despite the horse's courageous effort it looked like it wouldn't be enough they were still going to get drenched! He braced himself for the scalding liquid but just as they reached the arch of the entry way the scalding oil was transformed into a colorful and harmless rainbow by the combined might of the good fairies' magic.
'Note to self: When escaping from hell driven armies bring good magical fairies!' he noted amused as he watched Meriwether break away from their flight and put an end to the evil bird's endless cawing by turning it to stone. Satisfied the little fairy rejoined them just in time to help his horse leap over a falling bridge. The evil witch had finally joined the battle then and her magic crumbled an archway on the other side of the bridge. He made mincemeat out of the falling debris as the horse galloped speedily forward.
Nimbly Samson avoided obstacles and leapt over chasms and with every feat of strength Aoshi's respect for the beast increased. Magical lightning blasts rained around them but the horse deftly dodged them. A little feral smile crept onto Aoshi's lips as he watched the witch's evil domain recede. The topmost tower where she was perched thundered with her wrath and frustration at his escape. He was throwing himself fully into the role this time and a small part of him was starting to enjoy the thought of being the fairy tale's hero! He spotted a large white castle in the distance and without urging Samson headed straight for it.
As he reached it a large O-shaped dark cloud surrounded the castle and rained lightning around it from which large gashes in the earth opened. From these gashes grew large nasty looking thorn bushes. The horse reared slightly as it came to a halt at the beginning of the forest of thorns. Aoshi made quick work of the first few branches and the horse fearlessly plunged into the mire as Aoshi slashed at the thorn branches with his kodachi. Just as they cleared the forest the witch finally showed herself.
"Now shall you deal with me o' Prince! And all the powers of HELL!" she declared in an over-dramatic tone. Aoshi did roll his eyes then…
"Bring it!" he challenged itching for the fight to get started and paused in amazement as the witch transformed into a huge black dragon!
"Ah, that would explain the large ki," he noted calmly and just as he thought his respect for his new steed couldn't go up any higher… it did! The horse charged at the dragon without needing Aoshi to give the order. Aoshi leaped off his horse and spun his left kodachi as a blast of fire erupted from the dragon's mouth. The speed of the blade's rotation provided an effective shield against the fire.
"Thank you Hyotoko," he said softly grateful for all the sparring he did with his old friend. The fire protection skills he learned would come in handy now! From the corner of his eye he could see that the horse was safe on the other side of the dragon and the fairies were struggling to keep it from charging back into the battle. He smirked in amusement as he realized that Meriwether was also being restrained to prevent her from charging into the battle as well.
He spotted a large rock outcropping and sprinted towards it nimbly dodging the snapping jaws of the dragon. He climbed the sheer wall with the grace and speed only an elite ninja like him self was capable of. Once at the top he assumed his fighting stance once again as the dragon reared up and snapped its jaws in anticipation. Aoshi smirked challenge gleaming in his eyes and the dragon halted for a moment. It peered at Aoshi in confusion surprised to see not even an ounce of fear in the man's eyes...
She let out a mighty blood curling roar and lunged at Aoshi! Aoshi jumped up as the jaws reached for him and slashed at the creature's throat. She reared back and roared in surprise and pain as Aoshi's well placed slash drew blood. Not much but just enough to provide him with more information on her weaknesses. As the dragon reared back Aoshi scanned her underside quickly searching for a likely weak spot in her armor.
'Victory!' he thought triumphantly. There was a small gap in the armor's plating that exposed flesh. That's way he'd drawn blood on his first attack it had hit between the plates! He used his special Oniwaban hearing to try to zero in on where her heart was as he dodged her attacks. With a body that big there had to be a heart to match! It didn't take him long to figure it out. He would only need one shot. The good fairies saw what he was about to do and hurried towards him…
"Sword of truth fly swift and sure… let evil die and good endure!" Flora chanted as they cast their good magic on his sword and Aoshi let his kodachi fly. It hit dead on its mark and the dragon again roared in pain and anger. It flailed angrily at him as it fell to its death but Aoshi nimbly leapt over the dragon's head and slid down its body then leaping away from it putting plenty of safe distance between him self, the dying dragon and the crumbling outcropping. He watched as the dragon smashed into the ground below and its body disappeared into the ground around it leaving only a remnant of the witch's black cloak behind.
Satisfied he tossed the other kodachi aside and he looked back towards the castle. The magical thorn barrier disappeared in the same way the dragon had. He climbed onto the horse again and raced to the castle. He didn't pause to wonder why every single person in the castle seemed to have fallen asleep on their feet. He rushed after the three fairies as they hurried into the castle towards the tallest tower that matched the Dragon-woman's description.
They reached a long winding staircase and Aoshi took the steps two and sometimes three at a time! He reached the door to a small room and he opened it. Misao was lying on a magnificent bed sleeping peacefully. Aoshi approached it quietly marveling at how lovely she looked in that blue dress…
"This isn't going to work," he said as he knelt next to the bed. The three fairies hurried to his side…
"Well why not?" Meriwether asked annoyed. He shook his head sadly…
"She is not the first I've kissed…" Aoshi replied hesitantly. The three fairies sighed in what sounded like… relief?
"Oh is that all!" Fauna giggled in slight relief.
"You misunderstand your highness it's not about a first kiss it's about love's first kiss!" the Flora explained patiently. The Meriwether rolled her eyes obviously not caring much for red's over-dramatized vague explanation…
"Look it's like this: If you're the first she's ever really loved and if she's the first you've ever really loved it won't matter how many you've kissed before!" Meriwether said in a rather annoyed tone.
"Well then in that case…" he leaned down to place a soft kiss on her lips. A kiss that meant more to him than all those passionate embraces from those nameless faceless women far in his past because if she woke it would be proof irrefutable that he was her first real love and that he still had enough time to make it up to her. Misao's eyes blinked at first and Aoshi's heart leaped with joy as they flew open. The three little fairies clapped and happily hugged each other in congratulations then hurried out of the room.
"The witch!" she exclaimed as she tried to sit up. Aoshi pushed her back to the bed…
"Relax…I have defeated her," he announced softly. She smiled and sat up again more slowly.
"You did! Thank you Lord Aoshi!" she said smiling but her smile disappeared as she recalled her mission.
"Oh no! I forgot! Aurora…I made a promise!" she stammered and again tried to hurry out of bed. Once more Aoshi stopped her and explained to her that by a twist of the tale's plot the woodsman and the prince Aurora is betrothed to are the same person. Misao frowned seeming more confused then before.
"Ok so if Phillip and the guy I met in the forest are the same… Which character of the story are you?" she asked truly confused.
"I am playing the role of Phillip right now," he answered calmly "I've been actually in the role since after he was captured by the witch. I had to escape from her dungeon,"
"Of course! That explains everything!" she exclaimed cheerfully. She arrived at the conclusion that she sensed Aoshi's presence because he was destined to take Phillip's place but hadn't arrived yet! She smiled at him in her usual cheerful way and Aoshi let out a soft sigh of relief. He helped her up off the bed and the two made their way down the stairs where a band played soft romantic music. They bowed to the king and queen.
"Would you dance with me?" he asked softly after they were done greeting the other characters. Misao did a shocked double take at Aoshi's question and wordlessly allowed him to lead her out to the dance floor. Misao thought this to be out of character for Aoshi but didn't say anything and decided to just enjoy herself in this crazy yet wonderful turn of events. Lord Aoshi was taking part in the story out of his own free will. She couldn't understand why but she didn't want to question it lest he change his mind.
"Misao, have you ever been kissed?" he asked suddenly in his usual deep serious tone. She blushed and shook her head.
"No…why would you ask me that Lord Aoshi?" she answered slightly flustered. She looked up into his eyes and saw a fire in them that she'd never seen before. To her shock he smiled. They stopped their dancing and he picked her up by the waist. Misao gleefully wrapped her arms around his neck as their lips met. Locked in their magical kiss they didn't realize when the music stopped.
When they finally came up for air they found themselves once more in the Aoiya…
"I'm sorry it took me so long to come back to you…" Aoshi said softly. She smiled joyfully up at him.
"The important thing is that you made it! I love you!" she blurted out happily.
"I love you too Misao more than I can tell with mere words," he replied and kissed her deeply once more. She willingly sank into his warm embrace.
"Misao I have a question for you…you do not have to answer now…" he began seriously. Misao frowned
"What is it?" she asked concerned. He smiled once more.
"Would you marry me Misao?" he asked solemnly. It took Misao a moment to register the words but when she did…
"Yes! Yes! YES! I would! I most definitely would!" she yelled happily and kissed him with wild abandon. Joy and love coursed through Aoshi as he gladly received her affections…
When the other members of the Oniwaban family arrived that night they found the Aoiya oddly empty save for one person. Mrs. Kate was sitting in the study downstairs reading a book.
"Good evening Mrs. Kate!" Okina greeted cheerfully. She looked up from her reading and greeted the old ninja warmly.
"Where are Aoshi and Misao?" he asked as he took a sit with her.
"They were gone by the time I arrived!" she explained calmly "but here I found this inside this book!" she handed him a note addressed to him. He opened it and read it aloud.
Okina:
Misao and I are headed for Tokyo but we will be taking the Tokkaido road. We will be making several stops along the way so we are unsure as to when exactly we will reach Tokyo. We will return via train and hopefully the Himuras will be coming along with us. When we return there are many things I will need to discuss with you and the others at the Aoiya but in the mean time I will take this second chance to begin giving Misao the "Happily ever after" she so deserves. We will be in touch…Aoshi.
"Happily ever after?" Okina repeated uncertain. It took him a moment to realize what Aoshi was talking about. When he finally did he got up quickly running towards the kitchen where he knew Okon and Omasu were and called for the others. Aoshi and Misao were getting married! The note wasn't clear as to whether they were eloping or not but Okina did not care as he shared the news with the others.
Kate giggled mischievously as she watched him run off. She picked up the beautifully crafted leather bound book with its title written in gold letters in English: Fairytales. She opened the book and giggled once more.
"I knew this book would renew your love of fairytales Misao!" she laughed softly "Mission accomplished!" she said with a small satisfied smile.
And they lived happily ever after!
THE END
I just love happy endings! Especially when it involves fighting dragons to save damsels in distress! HA!HA!
Anyway Maleficent is one of my favorite disney villains but she gets the most pathetic death. She gets killed by an amateur with a (literally) lucky shot! So not fair! At least this time the dragon slayer wasn't some love-struck amateur! It was the least I coulddo for her after all getting defeated by Sora, Donald and Goofy in Kingdom Hearts wasn't all that much better when you think about it.
Thanks for reading!