Standard Disclaimer Applies Here
Chapter Two: Raised Hopes
I've been wishing for so long
To see you smile right back at me
Like I'm somebody special
Uncomfortable tension and heat once again filled the meeting place early the next morning after Saitou and Chou's visit. This time the conversation was between only two of the people who were there yesterday. The elderly man with a pink bow tied on his beard and the seventeen-year-old girl with the blue-black plaited hair.
"You're refusing the offer!" Okina exclaimed after he heard Misao's decision to refuse the spy mission. "Why Misao? This is an opportunity that I know you've been always waiting for to show that you are a worthy Okashira!"
"I remain firm with my decision, Jiya." Misao said stubbornly. "I am turning down the offer. I do not need this offer to prove my worth as Okashira. I shall stay here in Japan."
The old man tugged his beard and shook his head in disappointment. "If that is what you believe to be the right decision Misao then I shall not bother you about it any longer." He sighed. "I admit that I am a little relieved that you will be staying in Japan where I know you shall be safe, but I believe that I would have felt happier and prouder if you went to England instead."
"Are…you disappointed that I decided not to go, Jiya?" Misao asked hesitantly, looking down. She knew she was happy with her decision, but she didn't want to disappoint her adopted grandfather, who she knew had felt proud of her when she decided to take the mission yesterday.
"Yes, I do feel a little disappointed." He replied as Misao's face fell. "But like I said, I am also quite happy that you are to remain here." He quickly added.
Misao's face brightened. "Thank you for understanding Jiya." She told him.
"But I am a little curious Misao, did your confrontation with Aoshi help bring about your decision to stay?" he questioned curiously.
Memories of Aoshi's lips in contact with her skin flashed through her mind. She blushed as if she suddenly felt his mouth her neck, cheeks, eyelids and finally feeling their lips brush against each other. She rubbed her arms as she felt the effects the shivers brought by the sheer memory of being kissed by him.
"Misao?"
She jumped as Okina's voice sent her out from her memories. She felt her cheeks turn even hotter when she realized what she was remembering.
"Misao, did Aoshi help you decide not to leave?" he asked again.
Misao shook her head fiercely. "No, he didn't Jiya!" she spit out. "This was something that I decided for myself." She said then gasped and took out her pocket watch. It was already twenty minutes to three. She shoved her pocket watch back into her obi then groaned.
"Darn it! Not again!" she exclaimed.
"What's wrong Misao?" Okina queried worriedly.
"I have to bring Aoshi-sama his tea!" she told him and scrambled up. "Oh no, I don't want to be late today!" she moaned and pushed the shoji door aside.
"Thanks for understanding Jiya!" she called out before she started running to the kitchens.
Okina nodded and walked over to the shoji and slid it shut, when he felt pattering on the roof. He turned his head to look outside and saw it was raining again. He heaved a breath and walked where he could get a closer view of the rain. It seemed that it never ceased to rain these days. He only hoped that Misao would remember to bring an umbrella.
Somehow he had felt earlier that Misao was not telling the truth when she answered his question about Aoshi's involvement with her decision. He could tell the way she had kept silent for a moment, the way she answered his question and how she blushed at his inquiry. He wondered what had happened between them in the temple yesterday. What had Aoshi done to convince Misao to stay?
He rubbed his chin in his deep thoughts as he watched the rain hit the ground. He only hoped that Misao's decision and the encounter between the two the day before would bring the two their much needed happiness.
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"Ouch!" Misao exclaimed as she slipped on the wet stairs that led to the temple. She had been running up the stairs when she unconsciously missed a step and fell down on the steps.
She scrambled to get her umbrella and the small bag where she had placed the box for where the materials for the tea ceremony. She opened it and checked the contents it held.
"Good, nothing's damaged." She told herself and sighed in relief as she started to climb up again, more slowly this time.
At the corner of her eye, she noticed her golden pocket watch lay forgotten on one of the steps. She bent down immediately and grabbed it and examined the pocket watch for any damage. Fortunately, her fall had not done the time device any major damage. The golden cover had a few scratches on it but thankfully the glass wasn't shattered and the hands had not stopped working.
Misao brought the item to her cheeks and surprised herself by rubbing it against her skin. It seemed silly to her at first as she realized how much she cared for a material thing, but it held something important to her, hope that the one she loved could just possibly love her back and it proved her right with her encounter with Aoshi yesterday.
She placed the pocket watch back inside her obi as she began to climb up the stairs again; jubilance and excitement taking over her. She could not wait to see Aoshi again. She was happy to forego the mission when she had found out how Aoshi really felt for her yesterday. No more words had been said by him after she announced her resolution not to go but she was certain that Aoshi had feelings for her. She could feel it when he kissed her thoroughly and slowly after she spoke. His actions had surprised her and his scent of tea had intoxicated so, that she was not able respond at first but as soon as she felt his tongue poke and slip into her mouth, she responded to him with her passion and hunger. The kiss had ended only after a few minutes later after they had lost their breaths but their eyes were still filled with the passion they had expressed when they had kissed.
Misao closed her umbrella as she reached the temple's entrance. She kneeled down and hurriedly took the box and wiped it clean, before she came in. Giddy excitement filled her, thanking Kami-sama that the Oniwabanshuu was offered that certain mission. Somehow Misao had always known ever since she accepted the mission; that the real reason why she wanted to take it was because of Aoshi.
She had wanted Aoshi's attention, admiration and love. She had thought that he would finally realize it if she took this dangerous mission. Her real goal was not to catch the weapons dealer but it was to win his love and now she was rewarded with her prize.
Misao closed her hands on the box and skipped towards the temple where Aoshi was located and there she found him, seated at his usual spot with his eyes closed.
"Good afternoon Aoshi-sama!" she greeted merrily from the entrance and walked towards Aoshi and set the box down before she kneeled beside him on the floor.
"Good afternoon to you too." He replied with his eyes still closed.
"I'll prepare your tea now!" she chirped and bent down to perform the tea ceremony. A little while later, she held the cup of tea to him. Aoshi opened his eyes and took the cup away from her and said his thanks.
Misao nodded as she watched Aoshi sip his tea slowly and bit her lip nervously. Was it her or did it seem like that Aoshi was acting like nothing happened between them yesterday? She knew that Aoshi had not told her anything after they had kissed yesterday, but that didn't mean that he wasn't going to say anything today, right?'
She glanced at Aoshi as he continued to drink his tea with his usual speed. She kicked herself inwardly. Of course Aoshi would probably not say anything about that topic yet. She knew that he was not the kind of person who would express his feelings openly, the complete opposite of her.
"Aoshi-sama, have you finished your tea?" she asked as she squirmed nervously.
"Aa," he answered and handed her the teacup.
"I'll fix…up now." She mumbled incoherently and started gathering the items she used to serve Aoshi his tea and placed them all back inside the wooden box. She finished fixing them in a minute and stood up.
"I shall be returning to the Aoiya now, Aoshi-sama. Goodbye." She told him.
"Goodbye." He replied back.
"Okay." Misao whispered and walked away from Aoshi using her slowest speed.She was giving him some time to realize that he should now discuss with her about what happened with them yesterday. Walking in baby steps irritated her a little but dealing with someone like Aoshi, she needed patience; lots of patience.
A virtue that she unfortunately that she did not have much off.
"Aoshi-sama," she spoke as she turned sharply back to face his back after her patience ran out when she was nearing the entrance of the temple.
"Yes, Misao?" he answered with his back still facing her.
"Umm," she began uncomfortably as she fidgeted. "Aren't you going to discuss what happened…between us yesterday?" she paused. "Or mention something about it or maybe even try not to act like nothing had happened at all?"
"I believe there is nothing to discuss Misao."
"Nothing to discuss?" she repeated incredulously and almost dropped the wooden box that she held on her hands right at that moment. "Did I just hear you right?" she asked.
"You have heard right Misao." He informed her, his voice blank and emotionless while he remained in the same lotus position he was in when Misao had arrived earlier.
Misao gripped the box more tightly as she tried to take in what Aoshi had just told her. Her eyes narrowed as she felt the same mixture emotions she felt yesterday fill her, this time with infuriation.
"What do you mean there's nothing to discuss?" she demanded. "You can't just kiss me; kiss me like a man would kiss a woman, yesterday and pretend that nothing happened!" she almost yelled at him as she tried to keep the tears coming from her eyes.
Finally, Aoshi pushed himself up and turned around to face her with an expression of slight worry and surprise.
"Misao…" he began but she interrupted him.
"No, don't try to explain because I now know how you truly feel!" she voice almost inaudibly and turned away from Aoshi and walked towards the exit when she was suddenly stopped by a pair of strong and well-built arms turn her body around to face the owner of the pair. She shivered at his touch and flushed. Why did his touch always bring such feelings and emotions to her?
"Aoshi-sama…" she spoke, feeling speechless, ignoring the pain that her shoulders were experiencing from Aoshi's firm grip.
"Do not be mad." He told her giving her an intense look. "Everything happens for a reason." He released her from grip and turned away, his back facing her again as he walked back to his former location when he stopped midway and turned his head to Misao.
"That is all I can say to you now."
Misao blinked, confused by their relationship. Did the kiss mean anything to Aoshi or not? Did he kiss out of the heat of the moment or did her do that because he wanted her to stay in Japan?
Whatever the answer was, she knew she was going to find out. If Aoshi did not want to tell her anything then she would have to find out herself through her own ways.
She loosened her hold on the container and bowed slightly.
"I shall leave then Aoshi-sama. I will not bother you with that question again. You do not need to discuss it with me anymore." She spoke softly.
"Very well," he answered and said nothing more. Misao bowed again and walked out of temple, pacing slowly, when she reached the stairs, she started to run as thoughts filled her mind.
She had lied to Aoshi earlier. She wanted Aoshi to tell her what she meant but it was obvious that he wouldn't so she would test him to find out. If he's actions towards her do not change in the next four days, it meant that it was most likely that what had happened between them meant nothing to him, that he had only done that because he wanted her to stay in Japan and be safe, maybe he really thought that she was nothing but a child, a child that would not be safe during the mission and who will likely mess it up.
She halted suddenly as she reached the bottom of the stairs. But that couldn't be a possibility. If Aoshi was only acting yesterday when he kissed her, how would that explain the passion and desire that she felt from him as he kissed her. It may be because he was a really good actor but she saw his eyes. The usually icy blue eyes were filled with hunger and desire after they had kissed. Even if he was good at acting, he couldn't possibly express those emotions in his eyes. They were all fake, part of his excellent acting. She had to admit that she was impressed with his skills. If Aoshi weren't a member of the Oniwabanshuu, he would have made a good kabuki actor. She covered her mouth to stifle a giggle. The thought of the serious and brooding former Okashira dressed in a Kabuki costume along with make-up was very amusing even at this moment.
The amusement quickly went away when she remembered why she found his acting excellent. Her anger and exasperation returned. She could not believe him. She could not believe that he would use her love and admiration for him to keep her in Japan. He had kissed her like that because he knew that she would melt in his arms and agree not to go and he was right. Misao clenched her fist as she glanced at the temple and tried to control herself from running to the temple to confront Aoshi. For all she knew, he might try to kiss her again and convince her not to stay angry at him.
"Aoshi-sama, you bastard." She whispered angrily as she looked at the temple. "You won't win me over so easily again. I'll show you. You'll be surprised to find out that I won't be bringing you tea in April."
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"Good afternoon grandmother!"
The tiny old woman wearing a brown kimono turned to Misao and smiled widely.
"Why Misao-chan, what brings you here?" she questioned merrily.
"I need to borrow one of your pigeons. I need to send an important message right now." She answered.
"An important message? Are you sending it to your Grandfather?" the elderly woman asked her.
"No, I need to send it to the police station." She said. "It's business." She added quickly.
The old woman raised an eyebrow. "Business?" she repeated. "I won't ask more about it then. Very well, hand me the letter Misao."
Misao nodded and quickly took a piece of rolled paper from her pocket it and handed it to the woman. She only hoped that Saitou Hajime had not found an agent yet. She needed this job or she'll drive herself insane by staying here in her monotonic life in Kyoto.
She gripped her hands together as she prayed to Kami-sama that she would receive a reply soon.
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Okina sat inside the small meeting room in the Aoiya as he eyed the letter laid on the table suspiciously. A police officer had passed by the restaurant earlier that afternoon, mentioning that the message was for Makimachi Misao and had handed it to Omasu. She had given the letter to him some minutes after Misao had left for the temple.
He took the letter up on his hands, controlling the urge to open it. It was uncanny that Misao received a letter from the police and the message could tell him that it involved one certain man.
Saitou Hajime.
What does he want now and how does it involve Misao? Could it involve the mission that the government offered to the Oniwabanshuu five days ago? Did they…
"Jiya! I heard you wanted to talk to me!" Misao blurted out as she slid the shoji and sat on the floor.
Okina sighed after Misao interrupted his thoughts. He would find the letter's purpose later. He cleared his throat and handed the folded letter to Misao.
"You have a letter from the police."
Misao's eyes expanded as she grabbed the letter and ripped the envelope and started to read the letter's contents. Her eyes grew even larger and sparkled as she read the message and she squealed.
"They gave me the mission! They gave me the mission!" she jumped and placed her arms around her adoptive grandfather and embraced him tightly. "I'm so happy Jiya!"
Okina raised an eyebrow. "They gave you the mission?" he repeated skeptically. "Misao," he began and removed her arms from around his shoulders and pushed her back down. "What are you talking about?"
Misao's face darkened as she looked down the room's shiny wooden floor, avoiding Okina's eyes.
"The mission that Saitou Hajime had offered to the Oniwabanshuu had offered a few days ago…" she paused momentarily before she finally looked up at him; her eyes filled with the same determination it held some days earlier.
"I have changed my mind; I am going to take the mission, Jiya." She declared.
His eyes narrowed. "Are you sure about this Misao? A few days ago, you said that you're accepting the offer, a day later you say that you're not going and then now, you tell me you've changed your mind again." He shook his head doubtfully. "I don't think you should go, I think you're acting impulsive."
Misao's eyes narrowed as she clenched her fists and looked at him straight in the eye, her eyes burning with a rare kind of passion that surprised him.
"I am not acting impulsive, Jiya." She said firmly. "I have thought this over and I've realized that this is something that I've really wanted to do. This is something that I know will make me happy and feel worthy of my position."
Okina sighed. He knew that look, he was never going to able make her change her mind through his words. But he wanted to know if she was sure with what she was doing and what made her change her mind suddenly.
"I won't stop you from going anymore Misao, but," he sighed again. "What made you change your mind so suddenly…was it Aoshi?" he asked carefully.
The slight brightness that had appeared on Misao's face earlier when she had Okina's agreement disappeared and was replaced by resentment. She looked away and faced the view the small room had of the outside.
"Aoshi-sama had no involvement with my decision." She informed him darkly. "I decided this for myself because this is what I want to do and I know that maybe I might find my happiness in it." She turned to Okina, a touch of worry in her eyes.
"Please don't tell Aoshi-sama that I'll be leaving Japan in less than a week, please Jiya!" she pleaded. "He might try to stop me!"
Okina rubbed his chin as he contemplated Misao's request. He knew Aoshi would not be happy to find out that they kept Misao's departure a secret from him but somehow inside of him he felt like doing her request, he supposed it was for the best. Aoshi had not wanted Misao to go to England from the start so it was possible that he might stop her. Okina knew that both Aoshi and them wanted Misao to stay in Japan where they could both watch over her but keeping her from the world wasn't right. It would be like locking a free and high-spirited bird inside a cage.
"Very well then," he said then was suddenly enveloped by Misao's arms as she once again squealed happily.
"Thank you Jiya! I'm so happy! I knew you'd understand!" she told him and loosened her arms from him and dropped herself to the floor.
"I'll tell the others Jiya!" she said excitedly. "I just hope they take it well too!" she said and slid the shoji and skipped out of the room cheerfully.
Okina turned and faced the cherry blossom tree just right outside and wondered what had really happened between the two certain members of their household.
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The early morning spring wind blew slowly in Kyoto. Misao rubbed her arms as she felt the air hit her skin as she leaned against the cherry blossom tree located outside the Aoiya, enjoying the feeling of being awake this early in the morning. She wasn't an early riser and rarely experienced Kyoto early in the morning.
"Misao, it is time for us to go." a voice came from in front of her.
Misao opened her eyes, only realizing that she had them closed and saw Okina standing in front of her. She frowned when she realized that she hadn't felt him walking towards her. She cringed, hoping that the same thing won't happen if she happened to be followed by a dangerous personality behind her back in England.
"Misao, I said it's time for us to go." Okina repeated.
Misao nodded and grabbed the small bag she had brought along with her. She was ordered not to bring too many belonging because the government would be providing for her clothing, money and other necessities during her journey and the duration of her stay in England.
"Jiya," she whispered as they walked hurriedly away from the Aoiya. "Did you check on Aoshi-sama? Is he awake?" she asked nervously. Aoshi was known to be a very light sleeper and an early riser. She didn't want to face him if he happened to discover her leaving for England that day.
"He is still asleep, I just checked him, and there's nothing for you to be worried about." He answered.
Misao sighed in relief and quickly followed her adoptive grandfather as they hurried their way to the harbor.
But what Misao did not know that right at the moment when they had left the Aoiya, an icy blue-eyed man with dark hair woke up from her footsteps and voice as she prepared herself earlier that morning.
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A/N: I'm finally done with this! It took a while to get it from my beta reader but I'm finally done! Thanks to smiley's chaos for beta reading (if you like shaman king, read her fanfic!) I'm sorry I won't be able to reply to the reviews right now since I have a lot of homework to do and like I said in sixth chapter of MTJHTM, (seventh chapter coming up next week)my updates won't be as fast as before, so anyway thanks for reading! The lyrics on the top of the chapter, was taken from a song called "Partisan" by alocal OPM band called Spongecola.