I'd just like to thank everyone who has read and reviewed: ) You guys are so wonderful! I truly appreciate your support, and I'll try to get this story done asap. Longer chapter this time to make up for the wait!
Disclaimer: Don't own it, just enjoy using Watsuki-san's characters in my wierd little stories, lol.
--Chapter 9-Past and Present--
-Misao's Dream Sequence-
Ragged gasps of air racked the girl's heaving chest. "Aoshi-sama!" she tried to yell, but barely emitted a whisper. Staggering to her feet, she wearily stumbled on-ignoring the sharp stabs of pain that shot through her body like burning wounds at her every step.
Clad in a loosely tied, somewhat frayed kimono, the five months of her pregnancy was clearly visible underneath the thin layers. She rubbed her abdomen wearily, praying that she would find the child's father soon. Hopefully nothing had happened to him.
However, it was a time of war. Not a full-blown, grand-scale war-no, it was merely an extremely large group of men who were unsatisfied with the government. But it was dangerous, their leader was unknown even to the Oniwabanshu. The only thing they knew was that he was a cruel ruthless man, and he was targeting the Aoi-ya amongst many other places in Kyoto.
The young woman prayed that nothing would happen to the city, to her friends and family, and to her husband.
She had to find him soon, she was unable to bear not knowing if he was safe or hurt. A rough hand grabbed her by the back of her kimono and roughly slammed her into the same wall she had been leaning on for support, causing her to gasp in pain.
Fear numbed her senses, she couldn't even hear what that man was saying-her mind only registered what he was trying to do. Tears gathered like crystal drops in her teal eyes and fell silently in salty trails down her pallid cheeks as she kicked and flailed wildly, trying her best to escape.
A flash of black and silver crossed her vision, she barely heard the man's faint scream as he died when she felt herself gathered tenderly into a pair of strong comforting arms.
Gazing upwards, she was slightly startled to see a faint trace of fear in his eyes. It was hidden, buried deeply underneath the dying wrath and bloodlust he had had just a moment ago, along with worry and confusion.
"I'm so sorry, Aoshi-sama." she whispered, her voice stumbling over the growing tears.
He picked her up gently and turned in the direction of the Aoi-ya. Silence greeted Misao for the first few minutes, then he finally spoke.
"Promise me that you will not leave the Aoi-ya unless Okina orders it." he gazed down at her, possessiveness, love, anger, and worry fought for dominance over his vague expression.
She wanted to be able to tell him no, to tell him that she wouldn't leave his side no matter what happened-but the gentle swell of her stomach prohibited any such thoughts.
For once in her life she gave in without a fight. Nodding slightly she replied softly, "Hai, Aoshi-sama."
--End Dream Sequence--
Misao tossed and turned fitfully on the small makeshift bed of the men's coats. Aoshi would not leave her side, but sat stiffly, a dark expression on his face.
Shikijo knew that if Ayame hadn't killed the man after interrogating him, Aoshi would. The man had better hope the woman finished him off, the cold fury that swirled in the icy depths of the Okashira's eyes promised revenge to those who had hurt Misao.
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Han'nya gazed down at the bruised and slightly battered man before him, contempt laced his voice as he repeated his question, "Who hired you?"
The man spat at Han'nya's feet, "Go to-"
Han'nya calmly punched his face, then sighed-he had to give the man some credit, at least he put up a fight. Though he would crack eventually, they all did in the end.
Panting, and trying to ignore the fiery bursts of pain all over his body, the man straightened slightly, "Why do you care anyway?"
Han'nya knelt in front of him, his masked face causing the man to flinch slightly, "Because Aoshi-sama wants to know. If you tell me what I want to know, I will make your death honorable and painless. However," he stood up and gestured toward the camp, "your friend has hurt Misao-sama, and you have threatened her-do you honestly believe Aoshi-sama would let you live after this?"
At the man's silence, he continued, "While he would not be as cruel as Okina or Ayame, you would beg for death before he was through with you." Gazing down at him once more, "What is your decision?"
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Ayame frowned at the moaning, quivering man sprawled upon the ground, then glanced at her blade. Blood dripped in tiny scarlet beads from the jagged edge. The little worm had barely let her scrape his arm before he started talking. What a coward.
Ignoring his moans, she mulled silently over what she had found out.
First, it seemed that even the worm didn't know who he was working for. His companion was the one who had contact with the boss. Second, they were supposed to have captured a member of Aoshi's group to hold for ransom. Again, he knew nothing about what they wanted. Also, the poison the darts had been tipped with was mild, supposed to cause a slight fever and keep the person unconscious for a day or two.
'Too bad.' Ayame thought caustically as she absentmindedly fingered her blade. The man stumbled backwards at her movement causing her attention to turn to him.
An evil grin gave her full mouth a malicious look. "Well, you are of no use-and you gave me bad news on the poison, so I think I'll finish you here."
Twirling her shikoro expertly, she laughed lightly at the fear upon his features before he tried to run. Like lightning, she gave chase to her prey. Catching up to him in seconds, she whispered in his ear, her soft yet cold tone caused the man to break out in a cold sweat. "No one ever escapes the Oniwabanshu."
With those words, she smoothly stabbed him in the back. A wail of pain burst forth from his throat before she silenced him forever.
Flicking the blood off her blade, she glanced at the body in disgust. "Pitiful, even in death."
She turned around and made her way back to the camp, never once bothering to look back.
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Aoshi watched helplessly as the young woman twisted and turned fitfully, beads of sweat rolled down her face in steady lines. He could not stand feeling helpless, the emotion was a rare if ever felt feeling. Misao began to cry brokenly in her sleep, the sobs racking her body violently.
He couldn't stand it, seeing her in pain was driving him mad. Brushing back the sweat-soaked bangs from off her forehead, his eyes searched her face hoping to be able to guess why she was crying.
Sensing Ayame's presence enter the camp site, he stood up quickly and turned to her. "The poison?"
The woman looked disgruntled at the fact he had asked about that first, "She'll be fine. It's a mild poison that knocks the person unconscious and gives them a fever for a day or two."
Aoshi felt relieved inwardly, though he kept all traces of it from appearing in his features. "Did you find out anything else?"
"Not really, Aoshi-san." Ayame wished the man was alive again, she wished to kill him again. His failing to give her any pertinent information made her feel rather irked.
Aoshi turned slightly to glance at the now dry-eyed girl and was mildly surprised at the resolute expression on her features.
-Misao's Dream Sequence-
The Aoi-ya was burning, Okina and the others had forced her to leave. Unfortunately, they hadn't gotten out in time, she shuddered as she remembered their dying screams.
Everywhere around her was a mass of panic and death. Bodies lined the streets, she hoped that her husband was not among them. Shaking her head, she frowned at her thoughts. Of course her husband wouldn't be dead, he was the Okashira after all.
A sudden explosion caused her to jump in fright as debris sailed past her body. Luckily for her, she wasn't hurt. Turning to see what had happened, she was shocked to see her husband's blue eyes somewhat hidden behind his ink black bangs. He rushed toward her, scooped her up, and ran quickly.
He hadn't been able to find out what exactly had happened at the Aoi-ya. Twenty men had been there trying to shoot at him. Because he had been distracted by the state of the Aoi-ya, a bullet had grazed his leg. Nothing serious, but it reminded him to focus completely on what he was doing.
Sensing a large group of men following them at a fast pace, he sped up, hoping to avoid having to fight them. Misao was vulnerable right now, and he couldn't risk the lives of his wife and unborn child.
Another group appeared at their right, and another to their left. Misao clung to him wordlessly, her teal blue eyes hard and determined-she knew what their fate was likely to be. Aoshi was a powerful warrior, but not even he could take on fifty some men on his own. She recounted the presences she felt. Yep, around fifty. Most of them powerful warriors in their own right, she reflected as she felt the strength of their ki. They didn't even bother to mask it as they quickly surrounded them.
Aoshi slowed and halted, his icy eyes scanning the crowd that now presented themselves to their view. It seemed they were not about to let them go.
A man stepped forward from the crowd, his ki being the strongest from amongst the mob. A smirk crossed his lips at the sight of Misao. Aoshi pressed her to his body protectively, causing the man to smile even more. "Well, Shinomori-kun, it seems we have you and your lover surrounded." his voice mocked.
Silence greeted his statement, Misao glared fiercely at the man.
"Now, if you surrender peacefully, I'll let your wife go. I'll even give you a painless death." a feral gleam arose in the man's eyes, "Though, I can't be responsible for my men's actions after your death."
Aoshi's grip tightened as he took in the looks that were being sent Misao's way. The woman shifted against him uneasily as she also noticed the looks directed at her.
"What do you say?" he smiled, the tone of his voice mocked the couple.
Misao glared fiercely at him, a resolute expression on her features. "I will die with him. Please make it quick." She glanced up at her husband, smiling sadly as she saw anger and sadness fight for dominance in his expression. "I can't live without you, anata." she whispered softly, reaching up a petite hand to stroke his cheek.
He held her close as the men raised their guns to fire.
"I love you, Aoshi." she whispered again, her eyes alight with love.
"...love you too, Misao." he managed to reply before the guns fired.
--End Dream Sequence--
Han'nya finally gathered the needed information late that evening. True to his word, he made the man's death honorable and painless. The information had somewhat surprised him, but he would relay this to Aoshi first before puzzling it out for himself.
Aoshi listened in silence as Han'nya made his report. After thanking him, he dismissed the man and pondered over this new turn of events. He hadn't thought that man would be willing to target him just yet, but apparently he had better connections now. Ignoring Ayame's tries of getting him to talk, he stood up and left to meditate. He needed to decide what he was going to do.
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Aoshi woke up that night in a cold sweat. He had been havingstrange dreamsever since he had first met the girl. Rubbing his eyes tiredly, he glanced over to her sleeping figure lying only a few feet away. What could these dreams mean? Blue eyes studied her now peaceful sleeping figure thoughtfully, at least Misao wasn't thrashing around anymore. That should mean that she was getting better, and probably would be up by tomorrow.
-Misao's Dream Sequence-
"Don't go too far!" her mother's voice cautioned. She knew how much trouble her eight year old daughter could get into.
Misao turned around, smiled and waved brightly, "I won't, Momma!"
The evening rays cast their last fiery glow on the world, and Misao reveled in the flaming colors. She was only going to her favorite dock and back, there was no need for her mother to worry.
She walked quickly, a bouncy spring to her step. It was such a pretty day, not even her father had ruined it. A smile played upon her lips as she thought of the prank she had played on that old bat of a maid. Laughing exultantly at the thought that no one could trace it to herself for the mischief... excluding her mother who had merely raised a well-shaped eyebrow at the guilty party.
The tide was coming in, Misao loved it best when the waves came. Perching on the edge of the dock, she dangled her feet over the edge, giggling every time a wave splashed against her booted feet.
A heavy step behind her caused her to turn around, a questioning look spreading across her face. The look in the man's eyes warned her to get away as quickly as she could.
As he reached for her arm, she ducked away and ran as fast as she could. Fortunately she was faster than the man following her, unfortunately-she wasn't aware of his lackeys.
Finding herself in the middle of a ring of unpleasant looking men, she paused and looked around wildly for an exit. They began to inch forward even as she drew out her kunai.
"Yer daddy's gonna hafta pay big ta get ya back." the big brute that had chased her grinned, showing blackened and missing teeth. It was always about the money wasn't it? Goodness knows that if her mother hadn't loved her, there was no way on earth or elsewhere that her father would fork over any cash for her sake.
Suddenly, a flash of steel drew her attention briefly away from such thoughts. The ring of men became fewer as shrill death cries rent the air.
Within a minute they were all lying dead or severely injured.
Misao glanced up at the man, no-boy that had saved her. Curiousity taking control, she came closer silently, taking in his handsome features. As the sun died in wreaths of fire and rose, the night sky began to take control. Her heart pounded nervously in her small chest as she noticed how blue his eyes were, and how well his ebony hair framed his face.
He stepped backwards, trying to melt back into the shadows from whence he came.
"Wait!" the girl yelled, and grasped his arm tightly. Glancing up into his surprised face, she smiled cheerfully, "I wanted to thank you for saving me." She then cocked her head and studied him once again, "You know, you kind of look like a shadow when you do that."
"Hn?" the boy raised an eyebrow at that statement.
Misao laughed, then explained, "You see, when you tried to move back into the shadows, they covered you. So now you are a shadow." She hugged him briefly then let him go, "You're much better at it than me, Gramps says I need to practice more."
The boy was puzzled at her chatter, yet pleased that the girl had thanked him for rescuing her, yet somewhat disturbed by the fact she had hugged him. Unused to conflicting emotions, he was about to leave when she stopped him once again.
"My name's Makimachi Misao, what's yours?"
Teal blue eyes met ice blue eyes and held for a moment. It was only a short while, but it felt like an eternity to both. Something felt familiar about the other, though neither could grasp what it was.
The boy merely stepped back and left quickly, leaving a somewhat saddened little girl behind. Though, just before she lost sight of him completely, a name came back to her on the wind. "Aoshi."
She smiled happily and called out loudly after him, "Good bye!"
Both knew that they would meet again, deep in their hearts. Though Misao saved the memory away, planning to remember him always, over the years she forgot about the strange incident.
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A tall, dark shadow quickly appeared in front of Misao and moved her back.
"Hey! What are you-" she stopped as she then noticed the person unsheathe a twin pair of kodachi. She watched in silence as he annihilated the men. Blood and bits of flesh and bone splashed against her face and dripped almost sickeningly down the young woman's face and neck.
There was next to no noise as he moved like a wraith, killing with no remorse.
The moonlight played against the "shadow's" hair and face as he turned to face Misao, calmly flicking the blood of his blades. Teal blue eyes met ice blue eyes and held their gazes. Something clicked, but what it was, neither knew nor remembered.
"What the heck did you think you're doing? I was perfectly fine! And you ruined my favorite dock! Do you realize those bloodstains won't ever go away?" the girl shouted at him, using anger to cover up her brief moment of walking down memory lane.
Shadow smirked at her, not very noticeable, but it was still there. Misao glared angrily at him as she noticed the slight smirk. Pulling out four kunai, she prepared to attack when she noticed something.
It was there. Hard to see, especially in the moon's dim light, but it was there. He looked... for lack of other terms-lost and lonely.
She blinked, unsure that she had really seen that. Lowering her kunai, the girl unconsciously took a step forward to take another look. It was gone, almost as quickly as it had been there.
The smirk had disappeared as well. Sheathing his kodachi, he turned to leave.
"Hey! What's your name?" she yelled as his figure started to become swallowed by the engulfing darkness.
Ice blue eyes looked back at me, an almost startling effect against the blackness of everything else. He looked away and continued walking, making almost no sound.
"Shinomori Aoshi." she heard him say softly, the wind carrying the quiet tones with ease.
"So my Shadow has a name." she laughed softly, then grimaced as he paused a little at what she had uttered. "I'm Makimachi Misao!" she called out loudly after him.
The young woman watched until the darkness swallowed him completely, then pouted at the fact that he hadn't stayed longer. She turned to leave, casting a few glances behind her back on the way home. Just to see if he had followed.
--End Dream Sequence--
Misao woke up early in the morning. "I remember!" she breathed softly, then looked about for Aoshi. She spotted his sleeping form and smiled softly. Weakly, she crawled over to where he lay and gazed down at his peaceful face. "I remember you." she whispered, then slowly lowered herself to lay beside him.
Falling asleep within minutes, she failed to notice a pair of mildly surprised blue eyes watching her sleeping figure. A tiny ghost of a smile appeared on his lips at her words. Putting an arm about her, he pulled her close and decided to get a little more sleep as well.
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--END NOTES--
Note: Okay, we now knowthe poison was mild-causing a fever and restless dreams.
Hopefully if this doesn't make sense now, it will later. Mostly a filler chapter, just trying to fill in things like how they met, etc. And no, I don't believe in reincarnation-I just find it intriguing, so I used it for the story. Mild fluff in this chapter because the next few won't be able to contain much. I'm so sorry for the wait! Good news is I got my job! Bad news is I'll only be able to update once or twice a week. Though if I can do more, I'll try my best to. Mild case of writer's block didn't really help matters much either. But this is a longer chapter, actually, I think it may even be longer than the 3rd one which is my longest.
Also, I'm so sorry MindIIBody! I just couldn't wait on this chapter, so if you want to help fix it up, we can post it again later.
Well, please review and tell me what you think! I promise it will get better shortly. Oh, and if the words stick together, blame it on the evil spirit lurking within the depths of the "submit document" button. I swear there's got to be one in there!