Konnichiwa, minna! I know, I know, it's been a while, but the good news is the next chapter's nearly done too! AND I've finally found my muse for this story! Yay!

Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin.

Claimer: I own Sasuke, Ryo, and Akira, so don't take them! (Especially my dear Sasuke hehehe.)

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The next morning, Misao woke early, cheerful and full of anticipation. She yawned and rolled out of bed, changing into her ninja outfit, and gathered the items required for the morning tea ceremony onto a tray. With the china clinking against each other dangerously, Misao carefully made her way to the temple. The tray shivered with every step. She eased the shoji open with one foot and slid in through the opening. The shoji shut behind her with a soft 'click' and Misao nearly jumped. She was buzzing with energy and excitement. The young ninja placed the tray on the ground in front of Aoshi and knelt. "Ohayou gozaimesu, Aoshi-sama!"

Aoshi returned her greeting with a nod.

Even Aoshi's coldness could not quell her bubbly mood that morning. Misao poured the tea and blew on the surface of her mug to cool down the greenish liquid. As usual, Aoshi seemed immune to heat and sipped the tea slowly and deliberately. "Ano…Aoshi-sama," Misao began. Aoshi's eyes rose to meet hers, but he said nothing. "I need to go do something before we train, so I'll be a little bit late. Is…Is that ok?"

Aoshi nodded. "Hai."

Misao smiled, "Arigatou, Aoshi-sama. I won't take long, I promise!"

Aoshi nodded again, his face expressionless. His eyes never left her as she began to clear up the mugs and the tea tray. She is going to tell Sasuke she will be busy, he mused. Something inside him told him he should let her go with Sasuke because that would be the right decision, but he decided to succumb to his selfish desires just once. This Sasuke may not be safe for Misao to be around, he reasoned.

Misao slipped out of the temple quietly and walked back to the Aoiya. She set the tray down next to the sink and climbed upstairs to sleep a couple more hours.

---

Three hours later, Misao woke up again to bright sunlight filling her room. She groaned and sat up, rubbing her eyes. She felt like she had to do something. Ano…Oh! Fully awake now, Misao jumped up, already clothed, and skipped downstairs.

Omasu set a plate of hot breakfast on the table. "Ohayou, Misao-chan!"

Misao sat down before the plate and began to eat hungrily. "Oh-you, Om-shu-shah," Misao greeted, her mouth stuffed so full of food that her words were barely understandable.

Omasu sighed and shook her head with an affectionate smile before returning to her cooking.

Misao finished her breakfast and dropped the plate gently into the sink before leaving for the dojo on the other side of town. She walked through the nearly empty streets until she got to the dojo. It was mid-morning at this point, so the three boys were already in the dojo training. Misao walked in and they immediately looked up. Sasuke's face brightened. "Ohayou, Misao!"

Misao smiled and blushed. "Ohayou! Ano, could I talk to you for a second?"

Sasuke nodded and came over, his face falling slightly. "Hai?"

"My sensei wanted me to train with him this morning, and I completely forgot. He's free so rarely these days that I need to be with him today, so I can't stay. Gomen nasai. Can I still meet you here for lunch? I can stay afterwards too."

Sasuke smiled in relief. "Oh, ok. Sure! I'll see you at lunch then! Meet me just outside the dojo."

Misao nodded. "Hai. Ja!"

"Ja!" Sasuke waved.

---

Misao hurried back to the Aoiya. That wasn't so hard. Now I can train with Aoshi-sama and see Sasuke! She stepped into the Aoiya training hall and sat down on the floor with her back against the wall. Now to just wait.

---

Minutes later, Aoshi glided into the room. Misao, who had not even noticed her sensei had entered, jumped in surprise when Aoshi cleared his throat. "Have you warmed up?"

Misao turned red. "Ano…iie."

Aoshi nodded. "Good."

Misao looked confused, but said nothing, choosing instead to follow her sensei without comment.

Aoshi watched Misao silently before speaking. "Stretch first."

Misao nodded and started to stretch, feeling very uncomfortable under her sensei's stoic gaze. "Ano, Aoshi-sama, I find it difficult to stretch with you staring at me," she pleaded. Aoshi said nothing, but turned away. Misao breathed a sigh of relief and finished her stretching exercises. "Done!"

Aoshi turned around again. "Here," he said, tossing the bokken in his hand to Misao. "I'm going to teach you how to stand."

Misao's face bore a smug grin as she informed her sensei, "I already know how. Watch." She got into the position Sasuke had taught her.

Aoshi's eyebrows rose, the only indication of his complete surprise. "Sou ka. Then we can move onto the next thing."

Aoshi explained about the different kinds of swordsmanship, and how each style is adapted to fit its purpose. "Kodachi, for example, is designed for defense. Most of the moves will be defensive, as opposed to offensive."

"Himura-san's Mitsurugiryuu is offensive, ne?"

Aoshi nodded. "Hai. Demo, all swordsmanship styles have some offensive and some defensive maneuvers, or the style would be useless." He proceeded to show Misao the basic offensive moves used in nearly every swordsmanship style. Once he had finished demonstrating and adjusting Misao's movements, he stepped back. "Now, do each move one hundred times."

Misao held back a groan and positioned herself, concentrating on an imaginary target. She performed each move almost perfectly the required number of times, and when she finished, she set the bokken down on the floor and slumped her shoulder, breathing hard and sweating. Aoshi seemed pleased, though his stoic face showed nothing. "Good," he said simply.

Misao's face lit up and she bowed, "Arigatou, Aoshi-sama."

Aoshi inclined his head toward the bokken on the floor. "Practice each move one hundred more times before tomorrow."

Misao grinned and nodded vigourously. "Hai!"

After Aoshi had left, Misao slipped out of the training hall, bokken in hand, and walked across town to the dojo to meet Sasuke. He was sitting outside, waiting for her patiently. "Konnichiwa, Sasuke!"

He looked up in surprise and smiled. "Konnichiwa, Misao-chan. Ready to go?"

She nodded, "Hai!" They walked side by side to a small restaurant in town. The waitress led them to a small cubicle in the back where they had some privacy. Once they had sat down and ordered a light lunch each, Misao turned to Sasuke excitedly. "Look what my sensei gave me!" She pulled out her bokken. "My very own bokken!"

Sasuke raised his eyebrows. "Oh, sugoi! Let me see it." He took it from her and looked over its wooden surface briefly. "What a nice bokken! You're very lucky."

"And guess what else!"

"Nani?"

"My sensei said he'd teach me swordsmanship!"

Sasuke's face fell somewhat. "Oh. Sugoi! I'm so happy for you."

Misao gave him a curious look. "Nani? Daijoubo?"

Sasuke tried to put on a smile. "Eh…nothing."

"Iie, tell me."

Sasuke sighed. "Well, this will sound silly, demo I wanted to teach you swordsmanship."

Misao laughed out loud, earning a confused look from Sasuke. "You can both teach me! And I'll learn twice as fast!"

Sasuke brightened, "Hai! I'll be as good a sensei as your real sensei! I promise!"

Misao smiled at him kindly. "I'm sure you will. It'll be fun to have you as a sensei, Sasuke!"

The boy blushed pink. "Arigatou, Misao-chan."

A waitress brought over two steaming plates of food and two bowls of rice. Misao grinned and grabbed a pair of chopsticks. "Yatta! I'm starving!"

Sasuke smiled as he watched her eat. She's so kawaii. He began to eat his own meal.

They made light conversation about their outside lives, and both were happy to learn more about each other.

Misao smiled to herself as she and Sasuke were walking back to the dojo, both feeling full. Sasuke's so nice. And he's my age! It's all so perfect. He likes me too. Aoshi-sama's not as nice as Sasuke in public, he's so much older than me, and he doesn't like me back. She sighed inwardly. Maybe I'm better off with Sasuke.

Sasuke tentatively took Misao's hand. "I'm glad we could do this, Misao-chan. We should do it again!"

"Hai!" Misao agreed at once.

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A dark figure watched Sasuke and Misao from the shadows, frowning. He scowled angrily as Sasuke took Misao's hand. He trailed them back to the dojo and peeked inside momentarily to see two other boys talking to Sasuke and Misao. His scowl deepened at the sight of Misao surrounded by so many boys, but what angered him most was how close Sasuke was standing to Misao. She's my Misao! With one last glare in Sasuke's direction, the figure glided away, pausing in front of the Aoiya. It slipped inside the building and made an effort to avoid all of the other Aoiya members, sneaking up to a room on the second floor and slipping inside. He shut the door behind him, thankful no one had seen him. The man sat down on the futon and attempted to collect his thoughts before anybody attempted to enter the room and disturb him.

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Sasuke and Misao walked into the dojo holding hands. Akira and Ryo looked up and a smirk spread across Ryo's face. It took a second for Sasuke and Misao realize what he was smirking about, but when they did, they pulled their hands apart, blushing and refusing to look at each other. "Ano…" Misao began.

"It's not what it looks like!" Sasuke protested.

"Hai! It isn't!" Misao agreed.

"Sure, sure," Ryo replied smugly.

"Why don't we start training?" Akira cut in, trying to change the subject.

Both Sasuke and Misao shot him a grateful look and the four split up to spar for a bit. "I learned some defensive moves from my sensei!" Misao said excitedly.

Sasuke smiled, "Sugoi. Let's try them out then."

Misao nodded, a determined glint in her eye. I won't let Sasuke win today! I'll show Aoshi-sama that I'm a good deshi. She got into the stance Aoshi had taught her. Sasuke ran at her, attacking her lightly with his bokken. Misao parried his blows with a certain amount of ease. "Come on! Don't go easy on me!" Misao complained.

Sasuke smiled again. "Hai." He attacked Misao with more vigour this time. Misao still managed to block all his moves. Sasuke nodded, impressed. "Sugoi. You can defend pretty well." He attacked Misao full force this time, and Misao had difficulty keeping up with Sasuke's attacks, and soon she was defeated. She held her hands up in a surrender.

"Ok, ok, I give up. You win this time."

Sasuke grinned. "Daijoubo, you'll get the hang of it. This was only your first time, and I went all out on you."

Misao smiled, "Arigatou." She looked out the door to find the light slowly fading into the sunset. "Ah! I have to get home! Gomen! Sayonara, minna!" She winked at Sasuke and ran out the door.

Sasuke watched her, a happy look spread across his face.

"Baka," Ryo muttered smugly under his breath.

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Misao rushed into the Aoiya, her face flushed and grinning widely. "Tadaima!" she exclaimed happily.

"How was your date?" Omasu and Okon asked excitedly at the same time.

Misao was ecstatic. "Sugoi desu ka! I'm sure he likes me! He's so sweet!"

Okon turned to Omasu. "Oh my! They'll become a couple and he'll propose to her and they'll get married and we'll lose our chibi Misao-chan!"

Misao giggled, "Aren't you getting ahead of yourself, Okon-san? I doubt I'll be getting married anytime soon."

"She's right. Demo, we must meet this Sasuke boy!"

"Hai!"

Misao sighed. "I'll bring him home sometime, then."

Okon's eyes lit up and her grin was so wide that even Omasu stepped back in nervous anticipation. "OMASU! MISAO-CHAN'S BRINGING A BOY HOME! YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS!"

Omasu nodded and laughed. She and Okon sang in unison. "Misao-chan's got a boyfriend! Misao-chan's got a boyfriend!"

At that moment, Kuro and Shiro walked in. "Misao-chan has a boyfriend?" Shiro asked at once. "Really?"

Omasu nodded, "Hai! Isn't it exciting?"

"Our chibi Misao-chan is growing up," Kuro noted with pride.

Okon jumped up, "That's what I said!"

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Aoshi slipped back around the corner, seething inside. She actually went on the date? How dare that Sasuke boy treat her like…like she's an available girl! She's mine! No one else can have her! He stalked off, grinding his teeth in such a fit of anger than he had not felt in a long time.

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Kuro and Shiro sat down for dinner and Misao went to help Okon and Omasu with serving dinner. Okina walked in and sat at the head of the table. "Where is Aoshi?" he asked, looking around the table and finding the ex-Okashira absent.

Everybody exchanged looks with each other; none of them had seen Aoshi that day. Omasu stood up. "I'll be right back," she informed the group. Omasu stood up and walked up the stairs quietly to Aoshi's room and knocked lightly on the shoji. "Aoshi-sama!" she called. "May I come in?"

"Hai," Aoshi answered monotonously.

Omasu slid open the shoji just enough to let herself in and closed it behind her.

"Aoshi-sama, you heard about Misao-chan, didn't you?"

Aoshi did not look up. "Iie. What happened?"

Omasu let out a long breath. "Aoshi-sama, with the greatest respect, you know exactly what I am talking about. I mean no offense, demo shouldn't you be a man and an adult and just come down to dinner? You appear to be sulking like a child."

Aoshi looked up in surprise; nobody had ever spoken to him so blatantly, save for Okina. He said nothing in response.

Omasu put her hands on her hips. "Aoshi-sama."

Aoshi grunted and stood up. "I'm coming." He followed Omasu down to the dinner table. As he walked in, everybody froze, curious about the coldness emanating from Aoshi.

"Nani?" Shiro whispered to Kuro. "What's the matter with Aoshi-sama?"

Kuro shrugged. "Who knows," he muttered.

Misao watched Aoshi suspiciously. She could not begin to figure out what was bothering the ex-Okashira.

---

After dinner, Misao followed Aoshi into the garden. "Aoshi-sama! Daijoubo?"

Aoshi stopped, but did not turn around. "Hai."

Misao frowned. "Something is bothering you, Aoshi-sama."

"Iie."

"Aoshi-sama, onegai, everybody is worried about you. What's bothering you? We can help! None of us like to see you upset, Aoshi-sama," Misao explained gently.

Aoshi-sama was silent for a moment. "Nothing."

Misao began to get annoyed with his single-word responses. "Aoshi-sama!"

Finally, Aoshi uttered more than one word, still refusing to turn and face Misao. "I do not need any of your help. I am fine. You are foolish to believe that someone like you could ever help me."

Misao froze. "Wh-what do you mean by 'someone like you'?"

"You are not even a full ninja, as Okashira, you lead the Aoiya to danger, and you still expect to be able to act like a sixteen-year-old girl and see boys?"

"Why can't I?" Misao argued.

"Because," Aoshia gritted out, "You must learn to accept that no boy or man will ever want to be with a girl like you who cannot even act like a normal woman outside of your ninja training. Stop uselessly chasing after boys, who will never want a tomboy like you, and focus on your training and your role as Okashira!" Throughout his whole speech, Aoshi did not once turn around, but he could hear Misao's faint sobs.

"Hai, Aoshi-sama," Misao acknowledged, and ran back into the Aoiya crying.

She is mine. No one else can have her. Aoshi did not allow himself to see that, in pushing Misao away from the outside world, he was also pushing her away from himself. It was painful to speak so harshly to Misao, but he used his inner strength and courage to accomplish the task. It was necessary. I will never let her be tainted by my presence, but I cannot stand by and watch her with another man. He convinced himself it was the right thing to do.

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Misao threw herself onto her futon and bawled into her pillow. All the tears that had been building up for so long were released in a flood of emotion. I hate Aoshi-sama! I hate Aoshi-sama! she chanted to herself. Why did he have to say such things? She gripped the pillow tightly and cried herself to sleep, dreaming of the conversation she had just finished with Aoshi.

---

The next morning, Misao sat up, her face streaked with dried tears. She rubbed her eyes and leaned back on her hands, looking up at the ceiling. You must learn to accept that no boy or man will ever want to be with a girl like you who cannot even act like a normal woman outside of your ninja training. Stop uselessly chasing after boys, who will never want a tomboy like you, and focus on your training and your role as Okashira! Aoshi's words echoed through her head. She sighed sadly. They stung her like knives to the heart. I can't believe Aoshi-sama would ever say something like that to me. She sighed. It was difficult to hate Aoshi, even after last night, but she willed herself to do so all the same. Life would be so much easier without this aching for him. He's actually unknowingly helped me. How can I love a man who is so cruel and insensitive? But Misao knew exactly why. That Aoshi is gone forever. I loved him, but he is dead. I do not love this Aoshi. I do not love Aoshi. Eventually, Misao was chanting the phrase mindlessly simply to keep all other thoughts at bay that may interfere with her new plan. Sasuke.

---

Misao ate breakfast and went to the training hall to get her mind off Aoshi. After working herself to a sweat, she went back inside to freshen up and eat lunch. When she finished lunch, Misao made her way to the dojo across town. Thankfully, she managed to avoid Aoshi completely the whole day. "Konnichiwa, minna!" Misao greeted at the entrance to the dojo.

Sasuke looked up with a bright smile. "Konnichiwa, Misao-chan!"

Misao, as usual, turned slightly pink at his affectionate way of addressing her, but she found it did not actually bother her. Aoshi always meant it as 'little'… She shook her head. I won't think about him today! She pasted on a wide smile and waved her bokken. "Ready?"

Sasuke sat down, "I'm tired. How about you spar Akira today? I'll watch you."

Misao shrugged. "Alright. Get ready to lose, Akira!"

Ryo smirked. "Akira's much better than he looks-"

"Hey!" Akira interrupted indignantly.

Ryo ignored him and continued, "So I think you're the one who should get ready to finally lose!"

Misao smiled smugly, her tone clearly mean. "So I can feel how you do everytime we fight?"

Ryo frowned, but said nothing.

"Misao-chan?" Sasuke asked at once.

Misao took a deep breath discreetly. "Nani?"

"Daijoubo?"

She nodded, "Hai, daijoubo ka! Don't worry."

"Okay," he answered dubiously.

Misao turned to Akira and got into position. Akira attacked Misao first. She blocked every one of his blows. He swung with great precision and concentration, completely opposite to Misao's preferred method of swinging recklessly and with more force than needed. He blocked her attacks carefully and jabbed in between her strikes. Misao was pushed back slowly as he fought her. She could barely manage to get that many blows on Akira. He seemed a lot more concerned with technique and perfection than the other two, whereas Ryo concentrated on victory only and Sasuke was an even mixture, allowing him to be the best of the three. But Misao could see Akira was a close second. Suddenly, Akira loosened his arm, let it drop, and flicked his wrist so the tip of the bokken knocked Misao's bokken clean out of her grasp. "Wow!" Misao panted, impressed. "You're really good, Akira-san!"

"Arigatou," he blushed.

"Sugaoi, Misao-chan!" Sasuke beamed. "You're improving so much!"

"Arigatou!"

The afternoon wore on, and by sunset, Misao stood up. "I should get going home. Ja ne!"

Sasuke stood up next to her. "I'll walk you home."

Misao smiled at him. "Arigatou."

Akira chuckled. "Kawaii." The pair blushed.

Ryo smirked knowingly, and the two turned even redder.

They walked out side by side, and Sasuke only spoke up once they were out of sight of the dojo. "Ne, Misao-chan, daijoubo? You seemed a bit…I don't know… Did something happen at home?"

Misao smiled sadly. "Iie. Demo arigatou for thinking about me. Daijoubo."

Sasuke nodded and promptly changed the subject. "You've been improving a lot. Your sensei must be a really great swordsman!"

Misao sighed and looked away. "He's busy again so he can't teach me for a while again," she explained.

Sasuke gave Misao a strange look. "I won't pry, demo, Misao-chan, I want you to know that you can't fool me," he said sternly.

Misao sighed again but offered him a small smile. "You know, I'm kinda glad I can't fool you. It's nice to have someone who notices when you're upset."

Sasuke smiled and took her hand. "That's how all friends should be, ne?"

Misao nodded. "Hai." She squeezed his hand in a friendly gesture.

When they reached the Aoiya, Sasuke turned to Misao. "You don't need to keep coming and practicing with us. If something's happened-"

Misao interrupted him at once. "I don't want to talk about it, Sasuke, demo coming to practice with you guys seems to be the only good thing for me every day, so please don't make me leave."

"I'm glad to know we make you happy," Sasuke smiled. He paused uncertainly for a second and then tentatively pulled Misao into a friendly embrace. She hugged him back tightly.

"Arigatou," she whispered.

"No problem," he shrugged. "I hope things get better for you, from whatever happened."

Misao smiled and nodded.

He turned and walked off after waving. Misao waved back cheerfully and then slipped into the Aoiya, her spirit dampened at the thought of dinner with Aoshi.

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Aoshi knelt in the silent shrine. He desperately attempted to clear his mind, but all day long it focused on only one thing and would not be deterred: Misao had not come to do the tea ceremony that morning. His entire day was thrown off. His thoughts drifted constantly and he found himself becoming irritable. What is she doing to me? He had never realized quite the full extent to which the tea ceremony made his day. Those moments alone with Misao kept him calm, but it was not until that morning that he discovered just how calm. She offered him such a sense of peace, but it was gone now. What a waste of a day. It would have been better spent training. Resolutely, he picked up his double kodachi, stood up, and left for the training hall. It was the only thing left that would clear his mind. He opened the door to the training hall and thankfully found it deserted. He let the door shut with a sound that echoed throughout the empty room. He pulled his two kodachi out of their sheaths and began to engage in a series of moves that eventually, after two hours, brought him to the brink of exhaustion. He sat down, his back against the wall, with sweat streaming down his face and body. After a few minutes of rest, he resheathed his blades and stepped back outside. A breeze cooled his body and he felt strangely comfortable. He knocked on the bath house door next and, finding it also empty, the ex-Okashira prepared a bath for himself. Once it had heated up, he slid into the warm water with a barely audible sigh. At last, he felt some semblance of temporary peace.

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Misao woke the next morning with a new determination. It felt refreshing to have something to live for once more. She brushed her hair to a blue-black sheen and smoothed out the creases of her ninja outfit. She braided her hair tightly and then prepared the tray for the morning tea ceremony. Misao walked quickly to the temple and slid open the shoji, setting the tray on the floor and tapping the shoji shut again with her foot. "Ohayou, Aoshi-sama," she greeted coldly.

Aoshi nodded in response. He could not blame her for being angry. Still, he was surprised, and relieved, that she had come that morning after all.

Silently, Misao held out a cup of steaming green tea. Aoshi took it without a sounds and sipped it quietly. Misao picked up her own cup and began to drink moddily. She finished her cup soon after Aoshi set down his own empty cup and, her mouth and throat burning from the scalding liquid, picked up the tray and walked out. "Ja."

Aoshi nodded, but, with her back turned, she did not see.

---

After lunch, Misao walked to the dojo, feeling a bit more cheerful now at the prospect of seeing her friends. "Konnichiwa!"

"Konnichiwa!" they replied, smiling.

After a couple friendly spars, all of which Misao lost miserably, she looked out the door. "I should go home. Ja!" She looked meaningfully at Sasuke.

"Ja!" Akira and Ryo answered.

Sasuke walked with her outside. "Hai?" he asked as they headed toward the Aoiya.

"Ano…Sasuke…would you like to go out to dinner with me?" she blurted all in one breath.

Sasuke smiled happily. "Hai! I'd love to! When?"

Misao shrugged. "Does tomorrow sound good?"

Sasuke nodded, "Sure. I'll pick you up at the Aoiya at seven?"

Misao grinned, "Great! Ano…" she blushed, "Any ideas where to go?"

Sasuke laughed. "I know a small restaurant near the dojo. It's nothing special, but the food's pretty good."

"Perfect," Misao smiled. "See you tomorrow."

"Ja."

Misao waved and then walked into the Aoiya with a smile. "Tadaima!"

"Konnichiwa, Misao-chan," Okon smiled. "What happened today that's made you smile so much?"

Misao grinned. "I asked Sasuke out on a dinner date."

Omasu appeared behind her sister. "Really? When?"

"Tomorrow night," Misao announced proudly.

Okon and Omasu squealed. "Misao-chan!" they hugged her tightly.

"Ugh," she coughed, "I c-can't breathe!"

They released her at once. "Gomen," they giggled.

"Another date!" Omasu sighed.

"Bring him home!" Okon exclaimed.

"I will sometime," Misao promised.

---

The next morning, Misao brought Aoshi his tea. "Ohayou, Aoshi-sama," she greeted much more cheerfully than the day before.

Aoshi frowned. What's she so happy about?

She set the tray down on the floor and handed Aoshi his cup of tea. Misao sipped her own carefully. Aoshi relished the comfortable silence that stretched between them. He had found he missed it terribly in the past two days. Misao simply thought of what she would wear that night. She refused to let her thoughts wander to the man sitting in front of her. At last, Misao picked up the considerably lighter tray and turned to leave. "Sayonara, Aoshi-sama," she said.

Sayonara? Aoshi thought in surprise. What happened to 'Ja'? He mentally shook himself and returned to his meditation, which was constantly peppered with errant thoughts of Misao's strange behaviour.

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So…any good? I hope so… This chapter was a lot of fun to write hehe. It'll get more fun as Aoshi's jealousy increases! Mwahahahaha!

Personal Reviews:

The Notorious Cat – haha yes yes we've finally caught up a bit, ne? Aww thanks that means a lot to me (about the reviews I deserve…) haha silly her name is Megumi! Oo yes I remember. Honestly, even just being able to type as fast as I think would make things a little easier…-sighs- if only life were so, ne? hope this chap is good…it'll be one of the last light chapters…the next few will get a slightly darker, but we both know that's fun to write, too!

Wise Dragon – Thanks for reviewing! Haha yes I'm glad we agree on that point!

TaintedDarkInuShemeeko – haha yes yes Misao/Sasuke is cute, but writing Aoshi/Misao I find is even more fun to write, so I'm waiting eagerly for when I can get to a little bit of that haha. How was this chapter?