As a lonely and heartbroken 21 year old girl ventured out into the storm in one part of Kyoto, a tall and pensive man strode through another. His long white trench coat was drenched with rain and clung uncomfortably to his skin, but the man barely noticed. Aoshi had returned to Kyoto for the first time in almost two years and he was astounded by the feelings that this city awoke in his heart. So many memories with so many people. But the memories that stirred his heart the greatest were those with her. Misao; that beautiful little firecracker that graced this city with her presence. The year that he had spent here with her after all the chaos had died down had been undeniably one of the best years of his life. He had felt himself beginning to heal under her gentle touch, to love life again with her by his side. He had found himself smiling without knowing why, thinking about her at the most random of times and wondering what she was doing. It was when he realized that he was falling in love with her that he decided it was time that he should leave. He had made a decision immediately after learning of Misao's affections for him that he would not allow this beautiful little flower to be tainted by his blood stained past. She deserved better, someone of whom she could be proud. No one could ever be proud of Aoshi unless it was in regard to his fighting skills. But Misao didn't need a fighter; she needed a good man, someone who would be a good husband. He could never do that, be that. Leaving aside the fact that he was ten years her senior, he had damaged his heart and soul so severely in the recent past that he was not sure he could ever be a whole man again. So even though it ripped his heart to do so, he had left her in Kyoto. He had used Kenshin's idea of wandering Japan, claiming he needed to "find himself".
He could never tell her that he had already found all he needed in her.
He convinced himself that she would move on, find another who would be more suitable for her. She was full of life and happiness and was very far from unattractive. He knew that many young men in the area would be interested in her and that she would be sure to find a wonderful husband. Although this was what he wanted for her, he found that he could not bear to think about it. Every time he thought about Misao with another man, a pain like nothing he had ever felt before would worm its way into Aoshi's heart. But he had to be strong. He had to sacrifice his feelings and do what was best for her, no matter what. This was what was best, wasn't it?
After wandering for two years Aoshi had had enough and longed for a more stable life. He had returned to the Aoiya thinking that he would be able to live there peacefully with all of those that he had come to think of as family. He had expected her to be married or at least in a relationship. He had not expected her to be waiting there for him, ready to take up where they had left off when he departed two years ago. He knew that he could not give into his emotions, but he simply didn't have the courage to deny her to her face. He knew that he would break. It had been excruciating. To walk by her and show no emotion day after day, watch her eyes follow him and do nothing to vindicate or deny her feelings. He couldn't take it. After three months of living in this agony, he had to leave. He had gone to Tokyo where he knew many people due to his affiliation with Kenshin Himura and his friends and had found a house to settle down in. It was almost as hard as the first time he had left, only this time he was prepared for the wave of emotions that overtook him upon leaving her. Kaoru Kamiya and Tae, the woman who ran the Akabeko, had taken it upon themselves to question Aoshi about Misao and other matters. His quiet and sometimes menacing nature won out in the end, however, and both of them left him mercifully alone after a few months. And so almost two years had passed by since he had seen her face or heard her voice. And now here he was; mere moments and footfalls away from her.
Heaving a heavy sigh, Aoshi turned up the color of his trench coat and trudged through the rain towards the Aoiya. Two weeks ago he had received a letter from Omasu. She said that she was worried about Misao, that the young girl had not been acting like herself lately. She had become much more quiet since Okina passed on, only laughing when required to and spending almost all of her time in her room or alone somewhere in the city. Going over Omasu's letter again in his mind, Aoshi frowned and felt a familiar ache in his heart. He never wanted Misao to be unhappy; that was why he had left. He should have known, though, how hard Okina's passing would be on the girl. After all the man had raised her and acted like a parent to her all her life. Still, it wasn't like she was left all alone. So why was she in so much pain? Shaking his wet hair from his eyes, Aoshi looked up to see a familiar building looming ahead of him. He closed his eyes and fought to control his conflicting emotions as every step brought him nearer to the Aoiya, to the girl that haunted his dreams.
Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin or any of the characters mentioned. I do love them though!!