Title: "10 Different Ways to Say I'm Sorry"
Summary: AxM, Au. If High School is filled with heart-ache, imagine collage. Going to college means facing Aoshi Shinomori again. Can Misao really face her past sins? I'm not good at summaries, but this is pretty good.
Disclaimer: I do not own Michelle Branch's Lyrics or rights to the song Second Chances. I don't own Rurouni Kenshin. All I own is my T.V.
A/n: Damn I am going to have to make a bigger review request. I am not quick at updating. Anyway here is the second chapter. Oh and every chapter will have a different song as the chapter's inspiration. This one is an ode to Michelle Branch's Second Chances. I love this song. I am a little weird I love hardcore, emo, and stuff like that, and then there's my Michelle Branch, Vanessa Carlton, and musical side to me. It's weird. Anyway it's time to start the chapter.
Chapter two: Second Chances, First Mistakes
Sometimes
we get second chances
And sometimes we never make it past the
first
It really makes you wonder why somethings happen when they
do
It really makes me wonder why it wasn't me instead of you
And
when you say
It doesn't matter well it does
And all it takes
Is
a mistake to eat your words
Just one more time I think I'll drive
on home tonight
Sometimes
we never see the warning
And the voice in your head tells you not
to go
It really makes me wonder why somethings happen when they
do
It really makes me wonder why it wasn't me instead of you
And
when you say
It doesn't matter well it does
And all it takes
Is
a mistake to eat your words
Just one more time I think I'll drive
on home tonight
And
when you look its gone its too late to turn around
And it's
another day facing yourself and the things that you've done
(Not all of the song)
-----------------STORY-----------------
August 3, 2004-----------Kyoto Train Station
With a smile etched on her face, Misao turned away from her family and friends that were biding her goodbye. She felt the warm sunshine on the back of her neck; she savored the feeling, before entering the air conditioned train. Her blue back pack firmly attached to her back, and her hands filled with parting gifts. She was ready for college. She sat in a seat near the back of the train and hummed a tune as she settled herself in for a long ride. The train would take five hours to reach Tokyo, due to frequent stops. Misao fully intended to sleep all of it.
"Ticket miss?" Misao opened her eyes and laid them on a cheerful ticket master. He was short with longish black hair, and the world's creepiest smile. Misao immediately liked him, a smiling freak after her own heart. He stared at her for a few more moments before repeating his question.
"Do you have a ticket Miss?" Misao made an "o" face, and got out her boarding pass. She handed it to him, before introducing herself to the smiling man.
"I'm Misao, what is your name?" Misao had always been the outgoing type, and even in the presence of a complete stranger didn't stop her.
"I'm Soujiro. I wish that I could talk, but I have a job to do. Have a nice trip Miss." Soujiro smiled, and walked away. Misao lazily stretched before laying her entire body across the train seat. It was, needless to say, not very comfortable, however, she closed her eyes and soon was in a deep slumber.
----------------------------Dream Sequence---------------------
Lighting streaked across the sky in a blur of color. It was an awe-inspiring sight. Misao turned and smiled at her two best friends. Both of whom were watching the sky with cool amusement. Aoshi turned his head ever so slightly, and caught her eyes. She smiled at him, and he gave a small smirk in return. Life was perfect. After the exchange of smiles, Misao heard a deep laugh, and turned to face her other friend, Hannya.
"And what's so funny?" Misao asked with a raised eyebrow. Hannya's eyes sparkled behind his customary mask. Misao had always loved that mask, though she had never asked why he wore it. Hannya was a dear friend, one of her best.
Suddenly the world began to spin, and the scene changed. Misao was now in a strange car. She glanced around the small space, and saw her four other friends all talking, and laughing. They were on there way to see Aoshi's kendo match. Aoshi was so good at kendo that he got into the regional tournament's final round. Though Hannya and Misao had been cut in earlier rounds, they were going to cheer him on. Misao was so proud of her good friend. Well she should say boyfriend, now shouldn't she. They had started to date not a day ago. Dreams do really come true. Suddenly a blinding light filled Misao's sight. Screams echoed through the night.
-------------------End Dream Sequence--------------------
"Miss are you okay?" Misao jumped at hearing the concerned voice, and feeling someone shaking her. Opening her eyes slowly she barley registered Soujiro leaning over her. Another nightmare. There was one for everyday. Usually the same one, but Misao never remembered them. Some mysteries were better left just that, mysteries.
I'm alright. Just a bad dream, thank you for your worry." Misao said with a ghost of a smile. Misao glanced outside the window and saw that the train was passing by huge rice fields.
"Where are we?" Misao asked turning toward Soujiro
"No idea. I only work on the train. I have an awful sense of direction. We could be in China for all I know." Soujiro was smiling, but in the smile Misao could see his worry. On the mask of cheerfulness went. Sometimes it was better to lie.
"Thank you for waking me. I believe that I am hungry. Where is the dinner car?" Misao asked with a bright smile.
"That way Miss. I have break in a moment, could I join you?" Misao nodded her aquiest. They both strode towards the dinning cart chatting idly. Misao shivered as she passed a closed compartment door. She could feel eyes on the back of her neck. She didn't dare to turn around, for the fear of it being someone she knew.
Tokyo University Registration (The same time that Misao is on the train)
"Name please." asked a mousy looking man. The tall man in font of him was glaring menacingly. The mousy man faltered and then repeated his question.
"Aoshi Shinomori. Sophomore. Number 243532." The mousy man smiled slightly at Aoshi, before looking through the registrations papers that Aoshi had presented to him. All seemed to be in order.
"The term starts on the sixth. Here is your schedule." Aoshi glared at the inefficient man once more, before stalking away. Another year of hell. This year he would be the Kenpo club captain however, the one good thing. He could let out his frustration by working the freshman hard. It was the only stress reliever that worked without letting the world know that he actually felt stress. It was his reason to go on. For the glory of being the best.
To be continued in the next chapter
A/n: Yay another chapter done I hope that it made sense. Aoshi and Misao will met so, but not as you expect. Anyway last time I asked for four reviews, and in one day I got it. So this time I am asking for FIVE reviews! Too much? I don't know. Just REVIEW! I would love for you to tell me what you liked and what you didn't. REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW
