Author's Note: I hope this story is going as well as I hope it is. Thanks for the reviews you guys, I really appreciate it! Please read and review! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin

Chapter Two: A New Reflection

Aoshi and Misao finally made it inside the Aoiya and gave Omasu all she had asked for. After many 'thanks you's' from her and a small chat about this morning's events, Aoshi motioned for Misao to follow him. At doing so, she soon figured out that they were heading in the direction of the temple, 'Probably to meditate before we train.' She had guessed with a simple shrug of her shoulder.

Misao however spoke up of a request to make a quick stop to her room that was on the way. Once there, she changed into her Oniwabanshu fighting outfit as Aoshi waited patiently outside the shoji door. She had long ago grown out of her old fighting outfit and wore a new one that Okon gave to her. It looked better on her and fit just right against her curvy figure.

Misao brushed her hair of the fewer tangles that managed to appear from when she was grocery shopping. She was amazed at how faster fixing her hair was and now was glad that she made the decision to get the cut in the first place.

After pulling her hair back in a low ponytail, Misao walked out of her room to find Aoshi there and they both continued on their way temple. When they arrived there, they sat down and meditated for an hour. When that was done, they both headed outside to train since it was such a nice day, and Aoshi knew Misao would especially enjoy that.

Punches flew, kicks whirled, and breaths quickened. Aoshi and Misao were sparring outside near the temple in a large clearing. The lush green grass felt nice beneath their feet and Misao enjoyed that. She always loved training outside, in rain or shine, they always trained in both. Aoshi knew it was better this way because to train in all conditions and in different environments, it taught the body to become familiar to it all when in case you actually were in battle in either of those particular environments. It was very beneficial in the long run.

During the middle of their training though, Aoshi decided to ask her something and so slowed down his punches a bit, "Misao."

Misao stopped her kicking practices and wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her fist. She looked at Aoshi while gasping for sweet air. "Y-Yes?" She asked politely once she could gather her voice.

Aoshi calmed his breathing quickly, and felt that he stumbled with his words, "Are you.. fond of that boy, Hideki?" He asked in a sort of regretful tone, as if he had wished he did not ask the question at all. Aoshi was truly not sure if asking something like that would get her all moody and defensive, but he was proven wrong.

"Hmmm, you mean as a friend, yeah sure, why not?" She asked curiously as she sat down on the grass and stretched her legs. "Why do you ask?" Her voice was slightly unclear now that her face was against her leg as she stretched. However Aoshi heard her perfectly.

"It was only a thought." He replied with a calm voice.

Misao stopped stretching her legs and just sat in a straddled position, sliding her hands along the cool grass against her fingers, "In fact, I always saw him as more of a brother when we were young... Ah, I miss those times." She said and chuckled. She continued to stretch just as Aoshi stood up straight and stretched his arms.

"And, what of me?" He asked very nervously, however his voice did not waver.

Misao stopped gliding her hands on the grass and looked up at him, seeming to think about it. Their friendship without a single doubt had grown and flourished as the two years practically flew by. Misao still felt strongly for him, she knew she was in real love with him. I mean she was talking about 'head over heels' 'I'd do anything for you' kind of love. She felt this definite emotion throughout every fiber of her being. Misao smiled sadly though; she knew it could possibly never be as what her heart desires. Aoshi… he, still… did not understand… He had no idea.

She smiled at him, brighter now to hide her inner turmoil, and spoke the words she knew would be as far as their relationship would ever become in their lifetime, "You're my best friend, Aoshi." She looked at him, and saw that he gazed into her eyes; dare she say, lost in them? Because she was certainly lost in his.

There was something in Aoshi's eyes, something Misao wanted to find… Although deep down, she feared she would never find it. However, that didn't keep her from trying.

A couple of hours later, the training session was finally complete. They both breathed heavily and Misao just collapsed on the grass beneath her. Aoshi was actually surprised at her moves. She was a sneaky little weasel that's for sure, he had almost been beaten a couple of times, but he had always managed to get the upper hand.

Misao lay back on the grass and took notice that the sun would set in a few of hours, more or less. She sighed happily and closed her eyes, spreading her arms above her head. Her ponytail was no more, for it had come undone as she had fought.

Aoshi just looked at her and began to wonder what she was thinking about. Aoshi gazed at her more and couldn't help but feel his heart beat just a little faster. The way she just laid on the ground so freely, the way she smiled, the way her hair was around her and slightly messy, the way she closed her eyes and enjoyed simple life at the moment. Aoshi couldn't help but think that at this instant, she looked just about beautiful to him.

Misao yawned and gradually sat up. "I'm hungry Aoshi, how about you?" He nodded in response and offered her his hand. She gratefully took it and stood up beside him.

Misao dusted herself to rid her clothes of stray grass blades and leaves that might've caught onto them as she spoke, "After we get cleaned up, let's get something to eat ok?" Aoshi nodded and offered her the bathhouse first. She took it with thanks and promised to make it short, knowing Aoshi was waiting for his turn.

After they were cleaned and dressed, they went to find something to eat at the Aoiya restaurant like they had planned.

Once they got their food themselves from the kitchen in the back, they sat at a table together and ate their food, talking to one another about a fighting move that Misao had wanted to learn how to do.

The Aoiya was filled with many different people from town. It was early evening and people must be getting a late lunch for the day. Sounds of laughter, excited voices, and calm chatter surrounded Aoshi and Misao graciously, setting a tranquil atmosphere.

Aoshi looked around the restaurant as Misao took a break from talking to take a few more bites of her rice. He looked around casually, seeing the familiar people that came here often, but did not personally know.

Aoshi looked around more with his eyes and turned his head to the left slightly, only to see Hideki. 'What is he doing here?' He wondered. Well duh, maybe to eat? He shook his head somewhat. Aoshi really needed to spot being paranoid. It didn't suit him so well.

Aoshi watched with a dull gaze as Hideki was happily eating his evening lunch, looking at the slightest moments, like an innocent and naïve idiot. Well, to Aoshi he did anyway.

Misao noticed Aoshi looking to his left and so Misao did the same and looked to her right. She instantly saw a certain person that brought a smile to her lips, "Hey, Hideki's here." She murmured softly and raised her head from her bowl to get a better look at him. Hideki looked around the restaurant, and in seconds, spotted Misao.

The young man smiled and stood up, walking toward their table. "Hey Misao, Aoshi." He nodded to Aoshi and the older man nodded back. Aoshi only nodded out of politeness because he thought, hey, why not be nice to the guy you're gonna end up beating the hell out of later? Aoshi wasn't sure why, but he just did not enjoy this guy's company all that much. Which was strange, he did not really feel this way back then when he was younger and knew that Hideki was always playing with Misao.

"Hello Hideki." Said Misao politely and took another bite of her food.

He sat down next to Misao and they started to talk about what they had missed of each other ever since they last were together. Aoshi only listened to Misao's angelic voice. He had in truth only wanted him and Misao to eat alone and continue to talk, not have their privacy ruined.

Misao and Hideki laughed at something he said. Misao giggled, "Th-That is so true." She said trying to calm down from her laughter.

She pulled a strand of loose hair behind her ear and continued to smile as she finished her meal. She looked up at the men at her table and her smile disappeared, "Sorry guys, I promised Omasu that I would help her and Okon clean up the kitchen after I ate." She got up from her seat and took her bowls and chopsticks with her. "I'll see you two later."

"Wait Misao." Said Hideki as he stood up suddenly, shaking the table and heard the mess of dishes on that table wobble. He blushed by his actions. Aoshi only stared at him, 'Clumsy fool.'

"Hm?" Misao barley paid attention to him as she was trying to balance her food bowls in her arms, but soon got it and looked at him then and blew a few strands of her bangs out of her eyes.

Hideki rubbed the back of his neck, but was sure not to avoid eye contact with her, "I was, wondering if you might like to get lunch with me, tomorrow." He asked nervously.

Aoshi nearly choked on his rice. He casually looked up at the boy and then at Misao. He knew if she said yes, it was only because she just wanted to get to know her 'brother' more. If she said no, then Aoshi would be completely relieved. He just looked back at his rice and glared at it, as if it was in fact these small grains that had caused all his problems.

"Well sure, I guess so if I'm not doing anything." She replied as she was in deep thought to try and remember if she was busy at all tomorrow. She looked back at him and nodded slightly. Hideki smiled, "Ok, I'll pick you up around noon tomorrow, see ya Misao."

"Bye." She waved dully at him as he left, trying not to lose balance of her bowls and chopsticks. She then headed in the direction of the kitchen quickly, thinking about him more. Once she made it to the counter, she gently placed the bowls near the sink and gazed into nothingness. Misao knew her love for Aoshi grew over these last couple of years, and she was glad for it. But she suddenly wondered if Aoshi felt the same way at all. I mean, they hadn't been spending all that time together everyday for nothing, now were they? Aoshi was human after all; he wasn't incapable of loving someone. Especially someone he knows so well.

Misao did not realize it then, but she smiled, 'Aoshi had practically raised me. He knows everything about me… But, not the few things that really matter,' her smile faded. 'My love for him.' She absentmindedly grabbed a bowl from the sink and began to wash the dishes along with Okon and Omasu.

Omasu gave Okon a knowing look and then looked back at Misao with a supposedly innocent smile. A little teasing never hurt, right? And besides, if anything, it was what they looked forward to in the day, was to tease and torment young Misao.

Okon smirked, "Hey Misao, I just heard you got a date with your old boyfriend Hideki earlier."

Misao stopped and glared at Omasu who wasn't looking at her, "You know very well that he just wants to hang out with me for old time's sake. We haven't seen each other in a little over ten years! Of course he's gonna want to be with me for an afternoon... And he is not my boyfriend." She tried to reason.

"Whatever you say Misao." Omasu replied with her eyes closed and mouth in a grin.

As Misao continued to wash the dishes, she thought of Aoshi more.

Aoshi was left alone just like that. Hideki had turned on his heel quickly and walked out of the restaurant, and Misao had gone the other way, more likely doing the dishes with Okon and Omasu… And probably by now both of them were pissing her off about something he really did not know about anyway.

Aoshi looked at the entrance of where the younger man had left; he didn't like this at all. That guy just asked Misao on a date... and she had said yes. Aoshi didn't approve of this at all. But of course now he realized, Misao now did not need his approval of who she should and should not date these days. She was eighteen, if anything she should be married by now. Most girls her age were, even Kaoru and Megumi.

However, that still does not make it ok for her to just go off and be with someone he did not know. First of all, that boy wasn't strong enough to protect Misao from any danger that she probably wouldn't be able to handle. And second, he was almost as good looking as Aoshi. (A/N: We can't have that now can we? XD)

Thirdly, he was practically a kid! Could Misao ever want to marry a naïve boy like Hideki? Well... Misao was a lot younger than Hideki. Aoshi was twenty-eight, way older than the both of them, in his opinion of course.

He sighed heavily and held a hand to his face, 'I'm getting old.' He stood up and left the Aoiya himself.

Aoshi made his way up to the temple to meditate for another time that day. He soon arrived and sat down on the comfortable mat. He cleared his head of any thoughts to begin the meditation. Lately he noticed, Misao was always in his thoughts. And more so, right now he realized, the thoughts which were hardest to clear from his mind were those of Misao..

Misao got ready for bed and thought about Aoshi as she brushed her hair. She was still trying to get use to it being so short, but she knew that she would. Looking at herself in the mirror more now, with the stars' light shining on her skin, her hair spread out softly around her shoulders, and eyes nearly glowing, she looked so much more mysterious this way. Misao found that strange though. She always thought herself to look plain and simple all the time. But now, she didn't see herself as that anymore... she didn't see a weasel girl like she always did in the past.

Misao saw a woman, a beautiful woman with real hopes and real dreams, and an undying love that will just never become alive.

She was older now, wiser. She was more thoughtful, thankful, stronger, loyal and smarter than she ever was. Not breaking her gaze from her own eyes, she became vaguely frightened of this new person in the mirror that she thought she was so familiar with all her life. Misao was hoping that she was certainly not becoming someone she wasn't. She realized clearly, that she would rather be hated for who she was than to be loved for who she was not. And so Misao made a vow, that she would always, deep down, just be herself. She did not want to change too much, and so would keep it that way.

Misao smiled softly and stood up. She changed into her sleeping yukata and gradually crawled into bed. She sighed as she pulled the covers to her chest and looked at the moon through her window. Did Aoshi see this new woman in her that was now coming out of its shell after these few years of hiding? Surely he must've. Because he took her more seriously, showed her more respect, and was with her just about all the time.

She shook her head and kept her longing gaze at the stars now. Misao smiled, 'The stars are so mysterious and silent, yet stunning in every way, just like my Aoshi.' She thought happily as she drifted off into the world of dreams.