Petals of Life: Chapter 3
Aoshi Pov.
"Misao…"
Are you really dead? Why I thought that you…I thought that I could be there for you, I was going…to make everything right. I had it all planned out we were going to rebuild the Oniwaban Group… together and have children to take on the Shinomori name. Okina was right I was a lucky man until I screwed it. I though that you knew, that I needed you. I thought you knew…I…l-loved…you.
Aoshi just stood there in the dark of the moonlight his head cast down in shame, basking in the memories of what it was like before. If one were to look in his eyes they held for the first time in a long while and maybe the last time, love…and tears. The only thing that could be seen moving were the Sakura petals falling into the river of blood marking the life that was just taken, and tears falling down the cheek of a once proud man.
Somewhere Down the River
"Hey, Hey are you alive? Miss?" said a man as he turned over the body of the young girl near the riverbank. "Miss ar-" his breath was cut short at what he saw. She was covered in blood from practically head to toe, but what really got him was the bruise that was forming on her head.
"Uhh…" moaned the girl.
The boy reacted quickly and took her back to his village for some treatment. Don't worry Miss you will be all right; I promise I will save you… was all he thought as he ran to his village with god like speed with his sword at his side.
5 Years Later After the Death of Misao
The police never found the body that belonged to Misao, though they pronounced her dead at the amount of blood seen in the river and the high of the cliff to the ground. The police figured she had died from the amount to blood loss or the fall from the cliff.
The funeral was held a few days after the incident. It had rained hard that day at the funeral, Aoshi hadn't show up he was actually nowhere to be found that day. Everyone cried at the funeral, but the one who wept the most deep inside was Aoshi. The day the funeral was held he had gone back to the cliff; just standing there looking…hoping by some miracle that she was still alive, and would come out of the brush saying that everything was a big joke and come back to the Aoiya. What he was hoping for would never come though.
Up in the temple a man who 5 years ago lost his love and his reason for life sits meditating of how his life only could have been. It has been 5 years since Makimachi Misao's death. The Oniwaban Group has still remained in tack; 3 months after of the bright leader's death, Aoshi took over the Oniwaban clan. Though he became and acted more isolated and cold. Everyone in the Aoiya thought it was best to just leave him alone and respect his wishes as Okashira. He hardly came back to the Aoiya most of the time just staying at the temple basking in the memories of long ago. He would only come back to the Aoiya on business and nothing more since there was nothing left for him to comeback to. He was a man who lost his friends and his love what else was left for him…
Aoshi Pov.
Temple
Tap Tap Tap the footsteps of a woman could be heard on the way to the temple. "Aoshi!" the woman called as she got to the door.
"…"
"Aoshi could you go to the Aoiya and get the list of foods you need to get at the market today from Okon for the restaurant?" asked Omasu, setting down the tea tray she brought for him; though he never didn't drink the tea.
"Aa…" was all he said icy eyes still closed to the cold cruel world around him. With that matter finally concluded she left leaving him. After the death of Misao
When he finally couldn't concentrate any longer he picked up the untouched tea tray and left for the Aoiya. Might as well just go back to the Aoiya…Misao…where are you? Are you watching over me now? Are you? I will never forget you and the others…wait for me all of you…wait…I'm sorry for the pain I cause you, but now I will forever feel that pain. This will be my punishment for your dead and for not telling you the truth...
Somewhere in the Market
"Baka slow down!" Yelled a small and beautiful woman with midnight hair and a slim body that everyone tells her she has "a body to die for". Her hair was now trailing behind her in a long silk like ponytail as the 23 year-old woman was running after a man around the same age as her, but maybe a few years older.
"Well maybe you should start exercising more…hmmm?" he shot back as he ran faster into the market knowing the girl would catch up soon. The man slightly taller than the girl and had brown hair and dark blue eyes. What was most interesting about him was his never ceasing smile. As he ran faster and faster into the crowed her he finally spotted the young woman catching up to him. Quickly he made a turn it into an all to familiar ramen store called the "Hachiroko"; he sat at a table quickly, and ordered while waiting for a few seconds for her to finally catch up.
"Damn it, Baka, you know how hard it is just to catch up to you in a crowd like that out there!" yelled the now extremely annoyed women.
"I wasn't running too fast! You were just running slow!" he shot back with his smile getting wider by the second. God I love playing with her mind!
Damn you, Soujiro. If I ever get a chance I will wring you neck so badly that you will cry when I am done. "You better watch you back next time Sou-kun,"
"Now is that anyway to treat a man who buys you lunch everyday and who save your life?" questioned Soujiro now pouting a little just to spike his young companion.
"Yes it is! After the way you make me having to run after you,"
"Misao haven't you ever learned manners?"
"Manners!" yelled Misao her eyes twinkling with a little fury and humor in them, "why you little-"
"But not as little as you," said Soujiro poking at her forehead with a sly grin and happiness in his eyes at his newfound fun.
"Why you- " yelled Misao just as she jumped over the table to his side hopping to wring his neck, but then-
"Miss, please sit down before you hurt your cute little boyfriend," said the waitress setting the food down on the table; then pinching Soujiro's cheeks for emphases on the cute part.
"Yes, Misao you wouldn't want to hurt me," teased Soujiro before paying for the food and then eating the bowl of ramen.
"Just shut up Soujiro," said Misao with a happy grin on her face at her companion of 5 years.
Flashback
"Uhhh…oww!" exclaimed Misao as she got up from the bed she was laying on, and only to end up almost reopening the stitches she seemed to have gotten.
"Thank you doctor for your help it is much appreciated!" yelled a young man entering the room Misao was in. "Oh I see your up,"
"Hmm…who are you?"
"I'm just a passing wonderer…"
"More spec-" she was cut of as she hissed in pain from trying to get up.
"Oh, stay down or you'll reopen your stitches…and my name is Seta Soujiro," he the young man said as he helped Misao lay down back on the bed.
"So…how did you find me?"
"I found you near the riverbank all cut up…what happened if I might ask?" asked Soujiro with worried eyes.
"I…I don't remember…" Misao whispered softly but faint enough for Soujiro to hear. Her eyes were like mist over an ocean, they were unclear and had this look as if lost or…hurt?
"Do you remember your family…do you have any?"
"I don't recall..." She said with uncertainty and sadness growing in her blue orbs.
"Try…they must be worried about you…Miss….uh what is your name?" with a little more concern in her eyes fearing the condition she maybe in.
"Makimachi Miaso," said Misao pausing, "it hurts trying to remember…" she said with tears streaming down her face, but she quickly rid of them with one quick swipe of her hand.
Well it's good that she at least knows her name…but what about her family? She has to try to remember them, so she can get back… Thought Soujiro.
"It hurts…I feel like something bad happened to me because of them…my heart…" Why can't…I remember? I remember my name…but not them…it hurts my heart my who body just trying to remember…
"It's ok Makimachi-san you can remember in time…I won't force you…in fact why don't you stay with me I decided to stay here for a while…and it would be nice having a companion around…" said Soujiro with his ever famous smile on his face.
"B-but wouldn't I be to much trouble?" asked Misao with unreadable features on her face.
"Nah…I could even train you a little since you seem to know some fighting techniques by the uniform you are wearing."
"Uhh…ok," said Misao with hesitation to this new idea, but she was always up to try something new he even said that I could stay with him…but only till I get my memory back…he seems nice enough and kind of cute with that smile on his face. Whoa where did that thought come from?
"Ok then it is settled…what kind of weapon do you use anyway?" he asked with a little curiosity in his eyes.
"I use kunai."
"Ok well then I could teach you how to use a sword and how to advance in speed…deal?"
"Ok deal," said Misao with an affirmative nod, and a bright smile at her new companion.
End of Flashback
Over the past 5 years the two had become great friends. Soujiro had told Misao of his working with Shishio but she never recalled that incident, because of having amnesia (of not knowing friends and family and about the past life she had, but knowing about her self and Kyoto). The two both had grown mentally and physically over the 5 years together.
Most of the time, the two were mistaken as a couple when going into town together, but always said that they were friends. Many people said that if they were to end up a couple that they would be perfect for each other, and left them to wonder in those thoughts.
In the 5 years Misao still hasn't regained any of her long forgotten memory and never thinks about losing it. Her stitches had been removed about a month after the ordeal and she was now it tiptop shape learning and sparring with Soujiro. The two have become close almost like brother and sister. Though is there actually something more between the two that isn't discovered yet?
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Damn…how long does it take just for her to finish one bowl is she trying to torture me to death! She never takes this long just to finish! "Misao, how long are you going to take just to eat one bowl of ramen you have been eating for 4 hours now!" Yelled Soujiro getting up from his seat and walking up to Misao's side, and just about to grab her hand when…
Somewhere else in the Market
Aoshi Pov.
Damn Okon why did she need so much food! Though Aoshi carrying about ten things in his hand and still shopping. He had started around 12 in the afternoon and now it was about 4p.m. He hadn't even had lunch yet and now his stomach was growling. As the angry man stomped his way to the closest ramen store with murderous eyes to anyone who dared get in his way, he had read the sign "Hachiroko". Sounds decent… Was all he though as he walked inside. Inside he walked not seeing the small man talking to his friend in a fit about hurrying up whe-. Crash "Hetai, Sou-kun!"
"Soujiro you pervert get off…my….my…. chest!" yelled a now angry Misao at her young companion whose face was… smack dab between her breasts. Her eyes were full of furry and embarrassment and even a blush managed to creep on her face.
"Hmmm……hmmmm….Mi-chan it was an accident," said Soujiro with now a beat red face after getting his face out of that…predicament. His eyes were full of confusion at what just happened. He knew that he went to grab Misao's hand, and then saw darkness, and then heard yelling and there he was.
"Hmm…so I suppose that it is an accident that your hand is now where it is? Hmmm?" asked Misao with her eye brows now scrunched up and with a look of murder in them.
"What are you…" trailed off Soujiro, as he saw that his hands now on her breast, "Umm…Opps!"
"YOUR DAMN RIGHT OPPS! WAIT TILL WE GET BACK HOME!" Misao yelled with a piercing scream through the restaurant making all the heads turn in their direction for a short moment before getting back to each other's conversations.
Finally the two stopped their bickering, though Soujiro still had his hands "on" Misao with all the confusion in is head; turned around to find a man, Aoshi, standing up on the floor just starring at Misao with disbelieving eyes? Misao…is it really you? Alive? Was all that could be processed in the Aoshi's mind, as he saw the predicament the two were in; his eyes then turned into murderously slits at the young man next to Misao who still had his hands on her with a dazed and confused expression on his stupid face…the one he recalled from long ago in the time of darkness for him… was now touching "her". Soujiro…Tenken…