Disclaimers Notice: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin nor any of the characters portrayed in this story.

Spending Your Whole Life Waiting…

By: Mimi The Deceitful

Chapter 4: Threes A Crowd

"I love you…Aoshi-sama, I love you a lot."

Misao tilted her head up to look at him. She stared into his eyes hoping to find an answer but found none. He then closed his eyes and pulled the back of her head against his chest. He lightly kissed her forehead and stood up. "We'll stop here."

He walked over to the middle of the training hall and picked up his shirt. Misao sat there staring at the floor but then took a breath and walked over to pick up the discarded bandages. She pulled back on the top of her uniform and turned to face Aoshi as he slid on his sleeves. She walked over and began buttoning his shirt back up keeping her head down the whole time. Aoshi watched her silently as she slid open the shoji. She turned around. "Aoshi-sama, I meant what I said…" He looked at her hoping to meet her gaze but there was none.

"I can't answer you Misao." It was quiet for a moment then Misao nodded and the shoji shut.

Aoshi walked over to the corner and picked up his sheathed kodachi's. He sighed as he straightened up. He smacked himself for letting things get this far. He knew he wouldn't be able to return Misao's feelings for him for her own good but yet he continued to lead her on. What was it about Misao that made him lose all sense of control? He tried as best as he could to prevent something like this from happening but it seemed as if every time Misao ran up and called his name he'd forget himself.

"It's just an infatuation…it'll pass."Aoshi walked over to the shoji and slid it open. At the sight of Misao running out of the Aoiya he felt dizzy. "Kuso…" he cursed as he tried to banish one thought from his head. He tried to ignore it but knew too well the possibilities. He was in denial.

Misao ran into the trees in the front of the Aoiya. Feeling like she was rejected she collapsed to her knees as soon as she reached the small pond in the center of the forest. Despite her hesitation Misao began crying. She tried to control herself but felt like it was only getting worse. She soon sucked in her breath as she heard footsteps approaching her. She pulled out her kunai from inside her obi. She quickly wiped off her face as her hand tightened around the handle of her weapon.

"Aoshi?" She called into the darkness.

Aoshi walked into the dining hall as everyone was stuffing their face with rice. Okina placed his bowl down on the table.

"It's about time Aoshi! We were practically dying waiting for you two…! Wait, where's little Misao?" Aoshi paused as he recalled seeing her running out of the Aoiya instead of in. He took his seat at the end of the table.

"She'll be back shortly." Aoshi concluded as he began eating his portion of the meal.

"Aoshi?!" Misao called out toward the direction of the footsteps. She froze when she heard a noise coming from behind her. She spun around and threw her kunai. "KANSATSU TOBIKUNAI!" She stiffened at the sight of a figure emerging from the darkness. She widened her eyes.

"Sorry to disappoint you but it's just me." Misao stared endlessly as the person approached her waving her discarded kunai in the air.

"TENKEN…!" Misao gasped. Her eyes were met with the infamous smile of one Soujiro Seta. He placed the kunai in her hand and smiled.

"You shouldn't throw stuff at unarmed people, especially sharp things. You could've killed someone who was unable to detect it." He then looked down at Misao. He saw that her eyes were slightly red and lines on her face that looked like dried tear marks. "Were you crying?" Misao turned red and ran over and dunked her head under the water. She then came up when she ran out of breath only to dunk her head back in a second time. Soujiro, unsure of what to do walked over to Misao and began shaking her shoulder.

"Hey, Misao-kun? I'm not really sure what's going on but I don't think that's a good idea." Misao began slapping her hand at his arm telling him to leave her alone. He continued to try to pull her head out of the water but lost his balance when she jerked forward. He fell on top of her pushing her whole body into the water bringing him with her. Soujiro was the first to emerge as he sat up in the pond dripping wet. Misao soon emerged shortly after him and was gasping for breath.

Smiling at the speechless Misao he chuckled softly. "Now, that was uncalled for. I was planning to take a bath soon but I guess I don't need it now." Misao glared at him and stood up as she stomped out of the pond. She undid her hair and squeezed the water out. She then did the same with her clothes. She turned to the former tenken as he sat smiling in the water.

"You plan on becoming a fish?" She asked as he showed no signs of moving. He then slowly stood up and squeezed the water from his gi.

"Nah. I'm quite comfortable being a Rurouni." He replied as he walked toward her. He pulled out a towel out of his bag and was about to dry his hair off when he saw Misao staring at him. He hesitated for a moment then handed her the towel. She snatched it from him and started drying her hair with it.

"Arigato Tenken. Even though you are the reason I'm soaked right now." He just continued smiling.

"Gomen Misao-kun, I guess I don't want to put you through anymore trouble. I'll be taking my leave now." He turned to walk in the other direction but choked when Misao grabbed the back of gi and pulled him back.

"You're not going anywhere Tenken! As okashira of the Oniwabanshu I order you to come with me so we can get you some dry clothes to wear!" She began dragging him through the dirt.

"Um, that title's not really effective if the person you're talking to is way stronger then you-"

"RAWR!" Soujiro side-stepped as he dodged a barrage of kunai's that were launched at him. "Damn Tenken…" Misao spat.

Soujiro raised his hands up defensively. "Gomen Misao-kun, I didn't mean anything by it. You are a strong willed girl." Misao spun around and placed her hands on her hips.

"Yes I Am!" She then began waltzing back toward the Aoiya turning her head every once in a while to make sure Soujiro didn't try to run off or anything. But after a while she stopped when it seemed like he was planning anything of the sort.

Okina worriedly paced in front of the Aoiya for about the hundredth time now since Misao sudden disappearance. Aoshi sat in his room patiently waiting. He knew Misao would show up eventually but it was awkward since an hour had already passed. Even though he wouldn't show it he was starting to get worried. When she would run away when she was younger because of something he did or said she would come back within 10 minutes because she was hungry. He suddenly stood up when he heard Okina's voice.

"MISAO! My little angel Misao! I was so worried about-!" Okina stopped as he observed the sight. Aoshi slowly walked out onto the porch as he wondered why Okina suddenly stopped yelling. His eyes widened as he observed a drenched Misao enter the gate with a drenched Tenken. She glared at Okina as he stood there speechless.

"DON'T-ASK-!" Misao threatened as she walked up the steps. Aoshi silently watched her as she strode past him and into her room. Soujiro walked up and bowed to Okina.

"It's been a while Soujiro." Okina spoke as he straightened up still pondering on what could've happened. It's not everyday his little Misao comes home dripping wet with a guy at her side.

"I'm sorry to intrude like this but Misao-kun offered me a change of clothes. Let's say we had a little bit of an incident." Aoshi turned and glared at Soujiro who didn't even pay notice to the ex-okashira standing on the porch.

"Now if you'll excuse me I'm gonna follow Misao-kun." He walked past Okina and stopped as he neared Aoshi.

"I see you've gotten better Shinomori-san, finally stepped out of the temple eh?" Aoshi shot him a look but Soujiro just smiled and walked down the hallway.

"Misao-kun?" He called.

"Over here Tenken!" Misao answered pulling Soujiro into her room and to Aoshi's dismay closing the shoji shut behind her. What is going on? Aoshi thought to himself.

"Here's a clean yukata. You can change into in the bathroom down there." Misao said as she placed the bundle in his hands. He thanked her and went to open the shoji when she spoke again.

"Tenken?" He turned to look at her. "You must be exhausted from traveling so much…if you want you can stay here for a while."

He smiled and nodded. "Arigato for being concerned about my well-fare Misao-kun. But really, now I should be asking you how you're feeling." Misao turned red and looked down at her feet.

"…I'm fine. Arigato Soujiro-" Misao jerked as Soujiro suddenly placed his finger on her nose.

"No you're not..." He teased smiling. "And I'm gonna find out what's wrong soon enough." He walked over to the Shoji and paused. "And thanks for calling me Soujiro for once."

Misao stood there blushing as the shoji shut behind him. I'm gonna find out what's wrong…"That's exactly what Aoshi-sama says to me…" She then shook her head. She couldn't believe she was actually comparing the two. It was strange since the only person ever to make her blush was Aoshi. She walked out of her room only to bump into Aoshi.

"Where's the Tenken?" He asked coldly. Misao stiffened up and retorted.

"He's around. Better get used to since he's going to be staying here for a while." Aoshi eye's widened as Misao began to walk away.

"The Tenken's staying here?" He asked hoping he misheard her. Misao turned her head and stuck her tongue out knowing this was totally immature.

"Yeah, Soujiro is staying here and I asked him to." And with that she left Aoshi in the hallway. How childish, he thought to himself but sighed when he thought of how cute she looked when she did that. His face then changed when Soujiro emerged from the bathroom.

He smiled totally aware of Aoshi's glare. "Hello Shinomori-san, I'm pretty sure Misao filled you in on everything?" The two walked past each other as Aoshi began speaking.

"You should be well aware that I don't trust you. I'm not going to say anything about you staying here since it is Misao's wishes but I will warn you. If you do anything to hurt her I will kill you."

Soujiro closed his eyes but continued down the hallway. "Kill me? I'd like to see that." Aoshi spun around only to find the Tenken gone. I have a bad feeling about this…

"Stupid Aoshi-sama," Misao threw the clothes on the laundry line instead of placing them nicely to dry, "getting all weird just because I brought a guy home." Misao continued to launch the laundry in the air but stopped as soon as she heard the shoji open. She turned around to find Soujiro standing on the porch staring at her.

"Uh…" He stared at the lumps of clothing thrown all over the place. Misao blushed and scrambled to the ground picking up the discarded clothing. She then jumped as Soujiro suddenly appeared next to her hovering over her. "Let me help you with that." She smiled as they both silently began picking up the clothing that she threw everywhere.

Misao stood up and neatly placed a cloth on the line spreading it evenly. She blinked as Soujiro helped by putting two clothespins at the ends. He smiled at her. Before she could stop herself she realized that she was blushing. Misao felt her heart thumping. He's doing it again!

"You're hair looks cute down." Soujiro said as he released his hands from the clothespins. His smile began slowly fading when Misao just stood there staring at him. He's saying the same things Aoshi-sama said!

"Misao-kun?" Soujiro asked since she remained silent. She closed her eyes as she pictured Aoshi in front of her.

"Aoshi-sama…"

Soujiro blinked. "Huh?"

Soujiro stumbled back, eyes wide as Misao leaned up and kissed him. He was too taken back by what she was doing that he didn't even make an effort to pull away. He stiffened as her arms slowly found its way around his neck. What is she…?! Without thinking Soujiro quickly placed his hands on her shoulders and pulled her away from him.

"Misao-kun…I'm not sure what just-"

"OH MY GOD!" Misao stepped back as she clamped her hand over her mouth. I just k-kissed Soujiro! She covered her face with her hands as she turned as red as a tomato. Soujiro reached out to calm her down but she jerked away from him. Her hands shaking as she tried to find the right words to say.

"G-gomen Soujiro…I thought that you- that you were…!" Misao turned around and ran the other way. "Never mind. Gomen Soujiro!"

Soujiro just stood there blankly as he had no clue what was going on or what just happened. He raised his hand to touch his lips as he remembered how warm they had felt. He then turned bright red and the smile faded from his face. Th-that was my first kiss! Soujiro stood there silent as a thousand thoughts pondered through his mind. What did I do? What is something I said? All I said was that her hair looks nice?! Soujiro closed his eyes and placed his hand on his head. "I don't know!"

Soujiro began looking for Misao after his encounter with Aoshi. Hurt her? Why would I- He trailed away from his thoughts when he saw a flustered Misao hurling around sheets and clothing all over the place. Was she fighting a ghost? Soujiro thought as he walked toward her. There was a creak when he walked onto the porch and Misao spun around. Embarrassed, she quickly scrambled to pick up the laundry. He walked over to her and began to help picking up the discarded clothing. Misao kept her head down flustered as her hair messily draped over her face. Soujiro glanced at her and noted how cute she looked. He decided that he should just help her with the laundry since it would take half the time.

Misao stood up to place a sheet on the line so he picked up the clothespins and clipped them on.

"You're hair looks cute down." Soujiro said hoping to make her smile but instead she only turned redder. He began to get confused as Misao just stood there staring at him. She closed her eyes.

"Misao-kun?" He asked.

"Aoshi-sama…" Soujiro blinked. Did she just call me Aoshi? He stumbled back when Misao suddenly leaned up and kissed him.

Aoshi was on his way to the temple when he decided to check up on Misao to make sure she was all right. He turned around the corner to step on the porch but was frozen in his tracks as he viewed the two kissing. He watched as Soujiro suddenly pushed her away and how Misao dashed off. He saw theirs mouth moving but he couldn't make out what they were saying. Aoshi's hands clenched into fists as he couldn't understand what was going on. It was only this afternoon when Misao had confessed her love to him. Did she bring Soujiro here because I couldn't return her feelings?! His façade began to crumble as he watched as Soujiro stand there almost confused. No…it couldn't possibly be... Aoshi leaned against the wall. Does Misao actually like him?

To Be Continued In Chapter 5!

-I plan to get Chapter 6 up as soon as I can

-R&R Please. I welcome criticism as well.

MimiXTHEXDeceitful