REVISED: 05 February 2019

8. The Stolen Time

-;-

5:30 AM

There was a light mist that's still clinging to the ground as the sun began to peak above the trees. The early morning had a feeling of peace and tranquillity; all the citizens of Kyoto are still falling asleep. Misao gazed out the window, feeling determined. She will spend the day with him, a promise she would not keep. Everything she did must come to an end! Sukunami Akari is dead starting today and she will just be Makimachi Misao and make sure she will stay that way. She will never ever attend royal parties anymore!

She slept a lot last night, having arrived home early before Shishio and the whores did. The kimono she wore was left safely at Megumi's clinic. Sanosuke and Yahiko told her that if she wanted to see Aoshi again, they would make a plan for her. But Misao shook her head no. Enough was enough. Twice she had come to the ball and twice, she had lied to him.

Shishio, Yumi and Kamatari are still asleep. Even though her stepfamily would not be bothering her, she still had a long list of chores to do and the first one is to gather vegetables and make a breakfast for the household.

She went to the garden with some gardening tools in her hands. Suddenly, the sound of running feet approached through the mist, she was surprised to see Yahiko came into view.

"Ya… YAHIKO!" Misao exclaimed.

"Sssshhh." The boy hushed and breathed for a second, his face looked in panic.

"What's wrong?" she asked, worried.

"Sanosuke cannot pretend anymore that he doesn't know you! The Imperial family is good at revealing secrets! He already told Aoshi-sama your whereabouts!"

"What?" Misao said in a low voice so Shishio and the others would not hear her.

"He never told them that you are a servant, he only told them that you were staying with your 'cousins' in this house! And you and Sanosuke had been acquaintances since a month ago!" Yahiko explained clearly. "Misao, this is already messed up!"

"Aaargh! He is going to kill me and he is going to kill you!" Panic rose on her, as she lacks the idea for her next move. "I am going to kill Sanosuke! What the hell I'm supposed to do?"

"Just calm down!" Yahiko answered, calming a panic Misao. "Just put a light make up on your face and put your hair up and wore something descent from Kamatari's wardrobe. When you get him alone, just told him any believable reason that you don't want to see him ever again."

"But I… I can't do that." She cried. Deep inside, she really wanted to see him.

"Then just told him the truth, it's the only other choice you have. I'm really sorry." Yahiko said, sadly.

"Fine, how long do I have?"

"Maybe, 30 minutes. My apologies Misao-chan but I need to see Sanosuke now! And hey, he might not accompany Aoshi-sama… He said that he wanted to spend this day alone with you." He added then quickly run as he disappeared through the mist.

She sighed and she was glad that she was not very dirty this morning. She dropped the small shovel she was holding and ran inside the house. A quick peek into the darkened rooms of her stepfamily told her they were still sleeping.

She only has five minutes to stand in front of the dusted mirror, looking to see if she looked presentable. Her hair was pulled a half way, but was combed. She did not dare to enter Kamatari's room for a make-up. As a final thought, she wrote a note to Shishio that she will fetch some woods and will be back by the noon.

Misao ran fast out of the yard. The minutes ticked with agonising slowness and she kept looking at the house to make sure no one in the household would spot her. Then she heard the sound of a horse approaching, her heart began beating faster, from fear or excitement.

Aoshi came to the view, still charming as ever with his horse holding its reins.

He held out his hand to her and she quickly hold onto it. He helped her up to sit in the saddle and as everything had been settled, the horse stomped impatiently and run away from Shishio's mansion – away from her personal hell.

-;-

Aoshi has ridden the horse in silence with Misao wrapped around his arms. He noticed that she was really lovelier in the light of the day. Her yukata was a deep green, her hair pulled up simply, and no make-up marred her face.

Misao took a breath and blushed as the thought riding on Aoshi's horse once again. The first time she had ridden his horse was when she introduced herself as the servant girl named Misao. And today, for the second time, she was Akari.

"Hi." she said, breaking away the silence.

"Hello." He only answered, completely focused on the road.

"So… how did you discover my home?" Misao asked, even though she already knew the answer.

"I have my ways. After all, this land is my kingdom." He uttered and noticed that they were already at their destination. It was a beach and no people were hanging out at this time of the day. He slowly helped her to get out of his horse and protectively hold her hand still.

"Akari, have you eaten breakfast?" he asked, concerned.

"A small breakfast." Misao lied and Aoshi glared at this, no wonder; she was so petite and little. "But I'm fine!" she said in a response to his glare.

"Aa." He said as he led her near the shore.

"Who prepared this? This is so wonderful!" she said cheerfully at the small picnic of food. Realising that she was really hungry, she quickly grabbed the rice ball and eat it. "Delicious!" she quickly commented.

"I already told my guards to make sure that this was prepared before our arrival." Aoshi said clearly. "I was thinking… Why did you leave so early last night?"

"I had a headache and was tired; you know how tiring dancing could be." Misao answered, giving him a warm smile. Aoshi could tell that she was not telling him the truth. But he did not probe the subject further that could wait for another time.

"Then you will be my first dance at the next ball." he replied.

Misao looked away from him, Aoshi could tell something was troubling her since this morning. He was thinking about asking her what she was thinking so intently.

"Eat as much as you can, Akari." He said, trying to distract her thoughts. They both ate in silence.

"Let's take a walk, Aoshi-sama…" She pleaded after she ate her breakfast and he quickly hold her hand. Somehow, the action is a bit awkward to her.

They walked around and neither of them said a word. He was thinking about the last night's ball as well as the one before, which made him look at her again. His ability to identify something suspicious is rising again.

The first time he had thought of her was the servant girl Misao. The sunny smile and the same indigo eyes were there but his memories showed a dirty face and ragged clothes. She told him her name was Sukunami Akari and yet, she was staying at the very same house Misao said she lived in so perhaps, Misao was their servant and Akari was one of the masters in that household.

"Aoshi-sama, may I ask why socialising with others does not appeal you?" Misao asked, her voice broke his train of thoughts; making him glanced at her.

"I speak when there is something I need to say." He paused; surprised that she had let his arm go.

"Don't you ever just chat?" she held her hands behind her back.

"No." It was the truth, he really never chatted with anyone. When someone attempted to ask personal things about him, he usually ended up annoyed especially when it comes to women.

To his surprised, she pouted, "Oh, I'm not surprised about that but come on! We need to have fun for today! You said you wanted to see sights with me but what about experiencing them?" Misao happily exclaimed the words around.

This confused him, in his opinion "Is seeing not enough?"

"Do you really enjoy as you see them?" Misao asked. "You know, I have many things to enjoy… but running on the beach is my favourite because it is really hard to run as the sand pulls you down, hmmm, do you run, Aoshi-sama?" Misao teased him.

"Are you hoping I will play chase, Akari?" He smirked a little.

She laughed at his sudden reaction and stuck her tongued out on him. "Only if you can chase me!"

And with a second, she started to run.

Aoshi had, at different times in his life, run toward many enemies. On a battle on the field as well in the politics of the palace tended you to have run one way or the other at a given time. This lady, however, was in affair distance and in no time, he quickly caught her arm. She hardly balanced herself as she tripped and both of them fell on the ground. He had landed under her and so she lay across his chest, laughing hard as tears of happiness stood in the doors of her eyes.

His hand moved to brush her hair from his face and was surprised that he laughed but not enthusiastically as she.

"I seem to have tripped." Misao said, blushed; embarrassed at the situation.

"Indeed." He only answered and pushed up onto his elbows.

"Well, I cannot outrun you now." She smiled. Her hair was now a mess but he decided not to mention it, he never mind it anyway.

They quickly sat up and gazed out to see the blue waves making its way to the shore. The beach lingers some memories of Aoshi's four precious friends before they died in Northern Kyoto.

Misao leaned her head against his shoulders as Aoshi talked the history of the beach. She looked up to him and amazed how much his subjects about wars and battling animated her.

"If I bore you, please tell me so." He almost sounded annoyed as he said it. Like he thought she would lie to him or fake interest making him feel cold and distant.

"Well, I do not know much about wars but you're not boring, Aoshi-sama.", she answered and with that he offered her a small smile, seeming to like her answer.

Misao suddenly let his arm go as she noticed a tiny seashell buried in the sand they are sitting on. It was pretty so she quickly picked it and held it out to him, "This is so lovely, right?"

"Aa." He only answered.

Misao looked at him and realised how handsome he was. No wonder that many noblewomen tried their very best to catch him. Her heart suddenly beats fast at his sudden actions. His face came closer and she was sure that she blushed deeply.

They sat only inches apart and his ice blue eyes never left hers… Quickly holding the seashell between their faces, she offered him a big smile, "For you!" she said.

He took it. Not moving for several moments, they sat in the sand like two statues in the ancient beach. His hand moved - brushing a few strands of her hair from her face.

"You… are… different..."

"Oh?" Misao tried to calm her nerves but he was so close and she was suddenly overcome with a desire to kiss him.

"You are different from those women and princesses I have met. There are times that I think you forget that I am the son of an Emperor."

She moved away from him but he quickly caught her wrist… and so she found herself trapped against him. "Well, I'm sorry, I just…" his finger came to her lips. His other hand rested against the ground as he leaned towards her, the feeling of being trapped came to Misao's mind.

"I was not seeking for an apology…" His voice was soft yet deep.

She tilted her face up to his "So… what are you seeking?" her voice was shaking at the state they were in.

He did not answer.

But instead…

…their lips met and for a moment, Misao felt everything around her disappear as she lost herself in his kiss. His hand came to her cheek, pulling her closer as the kiss became more intense.

Her arms wrapped around him as she moved closer… their bodies pressed together, she suddenly found it hard to breathe.

He had thought to trap her in a while. He was sure her true nature would rise as she found herself alone with him. During the picnic, she was usually chatty; asking him about his life in the past, not what his future would be like as the Emperor. She did nothing to make him feel she was in any way fake.

He did grow a bit suspicious when she was having a trouble riding on his horse. But then he decided that maybe in her heritage, no one taught her how to ride a horse.

The moment on this beach had all destroyed his usual cold self as she sat before him. It never took so much time to keep his mind under control… something that was almost never a problem.

Then his guard had completely fallen as he chased her run to the point where he found himself speaking about wars and battling. He was even pleased that she seems interested in what he was saying, not just putting a show of interest.

And he now found himself stealing a kiss from this lady, alone in the beach.

Well this is not a soft innocent kiss as desire took him over. His lips travelled on her neck and he heard a low moan escaped from her lips; it was more like snogging.

Oh, so many things Aoshi must treat a lady, but this is not honourable.

"AOSHI-SAMA!" yelled by a voice from a distance. Aoshi felt a strong desire to kill the man as he broke away the kiss he was sharing with her.

Her eyes remained closed, her face flushed and her arms remained around him. "Akari…" he said softly. She slowly opened her eyes and the servant girl Misao quickly stirred his mind.

How unsettling…

"Oh…" Misao jerked her arms away from him and quickly touched her lips. 'That was… that was my first kiss!' her mind informed her. 'Aoshi was a great kisser too…' she added as she touched the skin on her neck where his lips had travelled.

It was then Soujiro came to the view, skidding to stop when he saw them. He looked quite worried and for a moment, loss of words.

He looked over to Aoshi and Misao as they stood up.

"I'm sorry for a sudden interruption but Aoshi-sama, you need to read this!" Soujiro said and held out a small paper to Aoshi.

He took it, whoever who sent this message would earn his complete hate for interrupting his moment with Akari.

The note was from his mother, Okon. Damn it.

Dear Aoshi,

We have two unexpected guests in the palace and you are required to be here. Princess Emi and her father have just arrived for political matters. Also, she seems hurt because her health was not good these past few days. I know how special to you is Akari but this one is important and your father is expecting you NOW.

"What is it, Aoshi-sama?" Misao asked.

"Akari, my apologies but I need to go now. Soujiro, please escort the lady home." Aoshi ordered and Soujiro nodded.

He turned to look at her as she bent to pick up the seashell that dropped in their moment of passion. "I need to return too, I have stolen enough time…" She held up the seashell to him.

"You keep it." Aoshi said and touched some strands of her hair. "I will see you at the next ball."

"Sure." Misao answered happily but her mind informed her that she was supposed to say no! She felt sad that she was lying to him and was jealous of her other self.

Aoshi wanted to wrap his arms around her but he kissed her forehead instead. It made Soujiro quickly looked away. However, from the corner of his eyes, he studied Misao in silence.

When they parted ways, the two waved their hands goodbye as Aoshi glanced at her one last time before he leaves. She was now chatting with Soujiro as they head home.

As he rode with his horse towards the palace, he was already in good spirits. He was never intimate with anyone but remembering how he enjoyed her company, this day is a huge change for him.

As for his father's ultimatum about finding a woman to his liking, well, he would not make a rash judgment but he already found the one that deserved the place at his side as his Queen.

-;-

"So where do you live? I beg your pardon but I actually forgot your name…" Soujiro asked politely after Aoshi was gone from the view.

"Sukunami Akari. Just Akari." Misao answered.

"You have to be careful, Akari-chan. We will never know when a danger will strike and some watchful eyes might kill you instantly." Soujiro commented.

Misao paused for a moment and tried to decipher what he mean. Remembering how she first met him, he was the one who killed Cho and his gang in the woods. The incident had happened a month ago and somehow, she was not sure if he recognised her as the servant girl.

"I need to go now. I can escort myself." Misao answered, there's something odd about this Soujiro guy she couldn't describe easily. "Just tell Aoshi, I'm fine!"

"As you wish but remember my words..." Soujiro said and let a smirk graced his lips as he watched the girl run away.

"Sukunami Akari, eh?" he added and made his way to the palace.

End of Chapter