Disclaimer:
BD#2: We're back… evil grin
BD#1: Yes, well after a year I just HAD to update…
BD#2: Eh, yes the disclaimer. It's definitely not ours
BD#1: And most likely not yours either…
BD#2: It's Watsuki-sensei's Rurouni Kenshin characters
BD#1: But plot is ours…
BD#2: We bring you the newest chapter of Second Impressions!
BD#1: Tensing Moments!
"Soujirou?" Misao stood in shock, her fingers gripping the edge of the door as she stood there gaping, staring at him.
"Glad you still remember me", Soujirou said, the same smile still on his face.
Misao still stood there, unable to say anything. Her eyes fixed on his smiling features.
"Soujirou!" she suddenly woke up out of her shock, tears coming to her eyes as she practically glomped him.
Soujirou only hugged her back, holding her tight as he felt her tears dripping on his shoulder.
He pulled back, putting his hands on Misao's face, his face still adorned with the sweet smile he had always had.
Misao tried to smile back as Soujirou's fingers wiped the tears away from her cheeks.
"A beautiful lady like you shouldn't cry, Misao-chan", he said.
Misao succeeded in putting the smile to her face, slowly finishing her crying as Soujirou brought his lips to hers. When they finally parted for air, Misao dragged Soujirou inside the living room.
"Eh..." Soujirou sighed, "Misao-chan I-"
"Omasu!", Misao hollered as Omasu came rushing into the room, reacting as shocked as anyone would be when she saw the tenken standing beside Misao, hand-in-hand.
"Konichiwa Seta-san", Omasu said as she gave a little bow.
Soujirou responded with a nod.
"Can you get some tea for Soujirou?" Misao said with her usual cheery voice, although her eyes were red.
"Hai", Omasu said quickly as she rushed away to the pantry.
"Please, Soujirou-kun", she smiled, "sit down"
The black haired boy fell down to the floor as she pulled him down to sit on the tatami mat.
She stared at him again, as he sat there looking around the room with his usual smile.
'His smile' she thought, 'he's smiling again, it's sort of freaking me out, but it's sweet, I guess'
She giggled at her own thought.
Soujirou looked at her with concern, and then calmly lifted his hand to her forehead.
"Ne, Misao-chan, I don't think you have any fever", he said; stifling a little laughter between the words he spoke.
She hit him slightly at the back of his head, giving him her deadly-but-oh-so-playful glare.
He kept his smile glued on his face as they looked at each other, suddenly; his smile seemed to turn into a frown for a split second.
His gaze was torn from her, and now he smiled again, though the fakeness of the curved painted on his face was genuinely obvious, as of most of his smiles. The warmth that usually radiated from it had disappeared into a cold tingling sense of strangeness.
He stood up and bowed, his closed eyes somehow directed behind her.
"Aoshi-san", he spoke gently, "how are you?"
He opened his eyes, still showing the forced smile.
Aoshi nodded curtly in reply, showing his silence and obvious dislike. He walked towards them and sat beside them.
"Misao-chan, escort him out", he said, coldness hanging in his voice.
"But-"
"Did you hear what I said?"
"There's no need for that", Soujirou spoke up, and "I will leave"
"Good", Aoshi said as Soujirou walked towards the door.
"Demo, Soujirou-kun", Misao stood up after him.
"Misao, stay where you are"
Misao ignored him and ran after Soujirou.
"Wait", he turned around to face her, putting his hands on her shoulder.
"Let's not get you into any trouble, shall we?"
"But when will I see you again?"
"Meet me tomorrow morning", his gaze softened as his fingers moved to cup her cheek.
"At the market?"
He nodded, "At the market then"
He gave her a quick kiss and left, fumbling his way through the crowds, blending into the everyday life in the busy Kyoto streets.
Misao sighed and headed back for the Aoiya, where Aoshi was waiting.
"What was that all about?" she snapped.
'Am I getting angry at Aoshi-sama?' she was surprised at her own actions, but no less did her fury calm.
"I will repeat this once again Misao, and I expect you to listen"
"You will not go near him"
"Why?" Misao asked, glaring at Aoshi, who seemed not the least affected, he was still as calm and collected.
Aoshi didn't answer her question; instead, he walked away, leaving an angry Misao.
'I know he said all those things', Misao sat down, 'but he wasn't supposed to even care'
Little did Misao know, Aoshi did care, too much.
Thing were starting to heat up in her life with the return of Aoshi, and his forbidding manners towards Soujirou.
Night came and Misao was ready to go to sleep when someone knocked on her door.
It was Omasu.
"Ne, Misao-chan, I found this on the porch", she said, handing her a piece of parchment.
Misao unrolled it in a hurry, to find that it was from Soujirou.
'Dear Misao-chan,
I have a surprise for you, come meet me in front of the Cherry Babies.
Let's not ruin the surprise shall we?
Love,
Soujirou'
"Surprise?" Misao blushed.
-Outside the Aoiya-
A tall figure sat on the porch waiting, his bangs covered his mask, coating his eyes with shadow.
'I will get you soon'
He smirked as Omasu exited, and sat beside him.
"Have you given her the letter?"
Omasu nodded as he handed her a pocket full of money, "There's your reward"
He stood up to take his leave, "Wait"
"Yes?"
"You won't-", she sighed, "you won't hurt her right?"
"I don't promise", he shrugged, "But I'll try"
"Aoshi-sama", she tried to stall, "You did promise"
He only laughed.
'She still thinks I'm Aoshi', he gave her a last glance.
"Goodbye"
She sat there, as she watched his back walk away.
Omasu knew she didn't exactly do the right thing as she entered the Aoiya, finding Aoshi meditating in the backyard. She scoffed, 'It's so like him to be back fast'
She walked pass him and stopped in front of Misao's room. Omasu knocked on the door, calling out.
No-one answered.
She decided to peek inside the room.
"Misao-chan?" she called out again.
Makimachi Misao was not asleep, and she was not in her room either.
Outside Cherry Babies-
"Soujirou-kun?" Misao looked around her, finding no one in sight.
She wandered around the front porch restlessly as she noticed a paper stuck to the wall.
'Had to go early, sorry. Don't cancel out on tomorrow; why not meet me the day after tomorrow as well?
Lin Pei Temple at the bank of Kodaichi River. 6 pm.
Don't forget. I'm constantly watching you.
Soujirou'
She sighed as she walked back to the Aoiya, note in hand.
Her eyes swerved back to the Cherry Babies, disappointed at the fact he had instead left her a note. She abruptly stopped on her tracks when she bumped into someone.
"Gomen", she mumbled as she walked past the tall man.
"You better be careful miss, walking at night alone", the man said as she nodded offhandedly.
Unknown to Misao, the tall figure sneered at her and as soon as she passed the corner, he followed her.
"I am constantly watching you, Makimachi Misao"
-Back at the Aoiya-
Misao walked briskly into her room, finding Aoshi there, she stopped at her doorway, staring at him.
"Aoshi-sama"
"Where have you been?" he glared at her, "Out with your dearest tenken again?"
She felt her anger rising inside herself again.
'How dare he talk to me like that? Who does he think he is?' she narrowed her eyes at him.
"I asked you a question Misao, would you like me to repeat it?"
Misao's POV
He's back into his cold self again.
"No", I replied.
"Then answer me", I heard him retaliate, "or perhaps you are too ashamed?"
"I have done nothing to be ashamed of"
Wow, I am standing up to Aoshi-sama, the love of my life until Soujirou-kun came along.
"It's not like you even care anyway", I retorted.
I wished he had cared, but what does it matter to me.
He's been acting like that since he came back, no, he was nice, but nice had their own purposes.
"Oh, but I do care Misao", I scoffed at his words, "More than you think I do"
Hah! You still can't beat Soujirou-kun's powers over my heart, I do not love you!
He lifted up Soujirou's letter and dropped it into the burning candle.
"Oops", he smirked, "Worthless thing, after all, I suppose you have no more use for it"
I gave him a cold look before I told him one word.
"Out"
I pointed at the doorway.
I am cold, far too cold, but he's been getting on my nerves. I love Soujirou and he's supposed to know that.
But he just wants to break us apart, first by that stupid little speech of his, now it's like this, degrading us.
I am not ashamed of myself.
I saw him getting up and leaving.
"Don't go out late Misao", was his last words as he exited my quarters.
I closed the door behind him, my tears were threatening to spill, but I refused to sob.
It was the first time he told me he cared, but my heart had fallen for another.
What am I to do?
"Misao-chan", Omasu knocked.
I couldn't stop my tears by now, why? Kami why?
I was happy, and now you made him come back and confused me.
I know I used to make it absolutely clear I loved him, but I do no more. But what am I to do when my heart is once again torn apart?
"Go away", I said between my ragged breaths and sobbing.
"I'm sorry" was heard from behind my door.
I couldn't care less.
Oh Soujirou, you returned, but he sent you away.
Had God really bestowed upon me his love, maybe I would have never met Soujirou.
Never will find true love.
I heard Omasu's steps fading away as my tears trickled down my cheek, streaking down in a slow pace.
Had I really blew at Aoshi-sama back then?
I didn't regret my actions, I felt, relieved somehow.
I stood up for myself and for Soujirou-kun in front of Aoshi-sama.
I felt a hindrance though, deep inside.
But I felt proud.
-End of POV-
Misao blew out the candle as she lay down on her futon.
She was infuriated, but she was serene again.
Yes, she was assured. She will see him tomorrow.
Tomorrow.
To be continued…
BD#1: DON'T KILL ME! avoids flying plates and other damaging objects thrown by readers
BD#2: Uh... We're sorry for not updating faster?
BD#1: from behind the piano really sorry!
BD#2: Anyway, we hoped you have enjoyed this chapter, previously, BD#1 had written chapters down, and it was a better one…
BD#1: Then my damned laptop had to go berserk and I had to say bye-bye to all of my datas… But anyway, I hope you like this, I beg your forgiveness for the weirdness and the strangeness and the ugliness and the un-professional-ness of this chapter and story form the depths of my heart…
BD#2: She also promises to update more to your humble content as our readers…
BD#1: Look, I'm really sorry… I will try to update the others as well, but the others are probably still on hiatus…
BD#2: We're sorry that it's weird, after one year of not mingling with this story, when we continued it we couldn't make it the same
BD#1: Don't know why, but I hope it's for the better…
BD#2: ANYWAY, review, please!
BD#1: and forgive us if we had made mistakes towards you :p Thanks for reading!