Disclaimers Notice: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin not any of the characters portrayed in this story.

Spending Your Whole Life Waiting…

By: Mimi The Deceitful

Chapter 2: Jumping Balconies

Misao returned to her room to wash her face. She looked like a drunken weasel after fighting with a drunken Okina...and smelled like one too. She walked out of the bathroom to find Omasu and Okon fast asleep. It was already near midnight. She slowly crept past them to the mirror as she dried her face off. She stopped as the cloth landed on her cheek. Misao stared at herself in the mirror as her fingers slowly drew themselves to her lips.

"Was he…going to…?" Misao turned beet red at the very suggestion. She shook her head violently back and forth. "No, no, no, no, no, no!" How could you even think that? This is Aoshi-sama were talking about! She then started chuckling to herself. Just because you're talking to the guy doesn't mean he's going to kiss you out of the blue.

Misao tossed and turned on her futon. I can't sleep, there's too much on my mind. Misao got up and walked over to the balcony and rested on the railing. She was still thinking about what happened.

"Grr…this is bothering me too much." She leaned her head to the side and stared at the full moon. "I wonder if we're looking at the moon together right now." Misao smiled. "Ooh, how romantic…!" She squealed. She stopped when she heard shuffling coming from the room next to her. Who would be awake at such an hour? More thieves?! Misao didn't think twice before she started climbing the railing and jumping into her neighbor's balcony. She leaned against the wall as she slowly peered into the room.

Misao turned pale as her eyes focused on a certain green kimono. Her knees gave out from under her as she slid to the floor. Th-This is Aoshi-sama's room! Her mind was telling her to get off of his balcony but her legs just wouldn't move. She froze as she heard a shoji slide open. She slowly turned her head as she saw a figure emerge into the room.

"…!" Misao quickly cupped her mouth to prevent any further noises. She couldn't believe her eyes. It was Aoshi-sama…her Aoshi-sama in a towel. She began to sweat as her mind went reeling. She had 2 choices. 1.) Take in this one time sight of Aoshi-sama after a bath or 2.) Forget about it and not risk getting caught on his balcony peeping. Misao was hopeless. She couldn't choose. Oh screw it! She decided to go with option 3.) Enjoy the sight and escape fast enough without getting caught.

She held her breath as she took another glance into Aoshi's room. He was beautiful. Her eyes followed one droplet as it slid down his angular face, down his neck, and stopped on his chest. So many scars Aoshi-sama…

Misao undid her hair and held the ribbon on her palm. He liked her hair down so she was going to wear it like that. Misao was too distracted by Aoshi that the small breeze began to carry the ribbon right out of her hand. In a split second she snatched at the ribbon slamming her ribs against the railing. Shit! Misao cursed as her body throbbed from the impact.

"What are you doing?" Misao froze from hugging her ribs. Her eyes widened as she took in the sight of his luscious body.

"A-Aoshi Sama! Uh- I-!" Misao followed his gaze to the ribbon she was clutching in her hand. "Oh! The-the wind! The wind blew my ribbon out of my hand so it was a reflex to jump and grab it." She started panicking at the awkward silence. She then quickly stood up. "I'm sorry to intrude like that. I should return to my balcony now-"

"You're hurt." Aoshi spoke as he stared at her covered ribs.

"Oh this! It's nothing! I'm fine!" Misao quickly dropped her hands to her sides. She didn't even have time to protest before Aoshi was already carrying her in. "A-Aoshi-sama I'm fine! Let me go!"

"No." He went and placed her on the chair as he went to find some medication.

"Aoshi-sama…don't you think I should at least let you d-dress first." Misao was beginning to feel uncomfortable.

He came back holding some cream. "I think treating you comes first."

Misao blushed and turned in the other direction. "Arigato."

"And it's only fair since I saw you in your towel earlier." She held in a gasp. Was he actually looking?! He knelt in front of Misao and began to pull off her sleeve.

"Aoshi! What are you-" She panicked as she grabbed his hand to stop.

"Misao, how am I supposed to help you if you won't even let me look?" She then got embarrassed and withdrew her hold. He continued to pull off her sleeve until the binding on her breasts were revealed. He stopped and looked up at her. She looked away facing the wall avoiding any possible questions. He then saw the bruise on her ribs just below the cloth binding.

"You must have hit the railing pretty hard. It's black." Aoshi concluded as he began to spread the cream. He noticed her knuckles were turning white from squeezing the ribbon too hard in her fist. He stood up and glanced at Misao. She looked so different. The ends of her hair fell on her shoulders and dangled in front of her chest. "I don't see why you were so desperate to catch that ribbon. You look like a woman with your hair down like that."

Misao turned red. That exactly what he said earlier! "And what do you mean I look like a woman? I am a woman!" Misao stopped as she saw the sudden change of emotion in Aoshi's eyes. "Aoshi…sama?"

"What I meant…" Aoshi's hand began trailing up Misao's back from inside her robe. She was speechless as they slowly started slipping off her sleeves revealing her bare shoulders. "…Was you look beautiful." Misao felt her heart beating ten times faster than usual. She moaned as his lips brushed against the skin of her neck. She was not expecting this at all.

"Aoshi…sama…." She began to tremble at his touch. The situation was too much to handle for her. Aoshi wasn't even dry let alone dressed as he held Misao against him breathing in her aroma. He was causing her to have feelings she's never even experienced before. She held her breath as his hand crept its way to her binded breast. He cupped her right breast with his palm when she quickly grabbed his wrist. "A-Aoshi-sama! I-I can't-!"

Aoshi stopped as she released her grip on his hand. He took a few steps away from her and placed his hand over his face as he apologized. "Gomen Misao. I didn't mean to do that." Misao took a few steps forward as she held out her hand to touch his face. He grabbed it and looked at her in the eyes. "Misao…I think you should go to bed now." She looked almost heartbroken but just nodded. As she walked toward the shijo she fixed her robe and turned to face him.

"Good night Aoshi-sama." She slid the shoji closed behind her and entered her room. She was too busy trying to take in what had just happened that she didn't notice the tear drop falling from her face. Before she could stop herself in any way, she became overwhelmed with tears and a wave of sadness for refusing Aoshi like that. She lied down on her futon and curled herself into a ball trying to refrain from waking the others up. The tears kept coming and coming and they didn't stop. At least not until she drifted into sleep.

To Be Continued In Chapter 3…

Author's Notes:

-I know this seems like a pretty short chapter but to get more effect I needed it to end here.

-Aoshi wasn't really forcing Misao into doing anything, he just got carried away. And seriously, do you really think she'd stop him if you had to think about it.

-Kimi-chan! There's your promised Aoshi-sama. Haha! But even better! Bathrobe or dripping half-naked? Well, well?

MimixTHExDeceitful