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 5: I'm Eighteen

Misao placed her hands on the side of the bathhouse to support herself. Sweat ran down her forehead as her chest heaved for air. She was breathless after running so fast. She slammed her first against the wall and cursed. Dammit! Why do I always have to run away?! Misao didn't move as she patiently waited for her breathing to return to normal. She felt her eyes water as she stared at the dirt beneath her. "Aoshi-sama…I haven't grown up at all."

She sighed and turned around to find herself frozen in her tracks. She held her breath as Aoshi slowly approached her. He raised his hand up and wiped away the one tear that fell upon seeing him. "Misao…I don't understand." Misao picked her head up and stared into his eyes confused. Even though Aoshi seemed incapable of showing emotion on the outside, his eyes usually told everything. She was well aware of this but before she could get a straight answer Aoshi turned his head. "What is your relationship with the Ten- Soujiro?" Misao blinked as if she didn't hear him right.

"Sou…jiro? What are you talking about?" Aoshi twitched. He turned to face her, his face as emotionless as ever.

"I saw you…with him." Misao eyes widened. Her hands began to shake at the realization that Aoshi saw her. She turned her head away as if she was ashamed.

"Th-that kiss…was a mistake. It was never supposed to happen…" Misao started to turn away but was caught by Aoshi's grip. His eyes had such intensity that it seemed as if she could shatter at any moment.

"Then tell me this, if it was truly a mistake…then why were you the one holding on to him…your arms around him like…you wanted to be closer to him…?" Misao was speechless as she thought she saw a second of sadness in his eyes. Like you did when you were with me…

Misao clutched at the front of Aoshi's yukata and pressed her forehead against his chest. "…If you're asking me if I love him," she took a breath then let it out in a sigh, "then the answer is no." Aoshi stood there still confused about the whole thing.

"Then why-"

"Because of you," Misao pressed her face harder against his chest when she felt him stiffen, "because he reminded me of you." Aoshi slowly placed his hand on the back of her head as he tried to understand what she was trying to say.

"Misao…you don't need anyone to remind you of me. I'm always right here." Misao pulled away only a few centimeters from his yukata and shook her head slowly.

"No, you're not. And I really want you to always be right there. But, I can't keep pouring my heart to you if it's only ever going to be one-sided. I just can't do that Aoshi-sama." She let go of his yukata and backed away. "I just hope that one day you'll be able to tell me what's on your mind. For once, I want to know how you feel." Misao smiled but Aoshi could see the emotions that were hidden behind it. I wonder how long she's been smiling like that now...

"I must leave now Aoshi-sama." Misao said in a proper tone. She bowed her head respectfully then walked away from the bathhouse.

"Misao…you don't understand…" Aoshi spoke as he watched her walk away. "It's not that I don't...It's that I can't tell you how I feel."

Misao walked into the Aoiya and started to head towards her room. She went around the corner and looked off the porch only to find Soujiro finishing the laundry that she had thrown all over the floor. She placed her fingers to her lips and blushed but quickly shook that away as she ran off to see him. Soujiro felt someone approaching him so he turned around to find Misao on the ground bowing.

"I'M SORRY SOUJIRO! I didn't mean to leave you here so you could do the rest of my chores for me!" Soujiro just smiled awkwardly hoping Misao would stand up. "…and for what happened before, I- um well…I didn't mean to do that." She was clenching her fist so hard in her lap that he noticed they were turning white. He knelt down to her level and placed a hand on her head reassuringly.

"It's alright Misao-kun. I still don't know what really happened but..." Soujiro placed his hand on the back of his head and chuckled. "Well, let's just say I don't know much about women." Misao just stared up at him disbelief. He was acting so nonchalant about the whole thing. "I wouldn't have guessed when you give them a compliment that they'd throw themselves all over you." Misao quickly returned his gaze to the dirt as she turned red. Is he teasing me…?! At the sight of this Soujiro began laughing.

"Ha-ha, relax Misao-kun. I'm just kidding." He reached his hand out and she slowly stood up with him. "Like I said, it's okay. If it bothers you than we'll just forget the whole thing ever happened." Misao sighed in relief and smiled. She then surprised him again by hugging him. His hand slowly rose to hold her, but he hesitated and dropped them back to his side. He watched silently as she strode away from him. He glanced down at his hand and then clenched it into a fist. Even though he said it'd be best to forget the whole thing ever happened…I'm sorry but I can't forget it Misao-kun…

"Good morning Aoshi-sama!" After everything that happened yesterday Misao made sure not to be a second late for their morning tea. It seemed as if for the first time he had actually acknowledged her presence and turned to face her. She decided to ignore the fact that he was actually paying attention to her even though her hands were shaking at the awkwardness. She began the tea ceremony and un-easily sipped her tea. After a few seconds Misao casually looked up at him to see that his eyes were closed as he silently drank his share. Aoshi would've preferred having a silent tea for once, but it was too much unlike Misao not to say a word.

"…Misao." She quickly responded.

"Y-yes Aoshi-sama?" He narrowed his eyes. Misao was acting extremely strange today. Ever since she walked in he sensed there was something off about her ki.

"What are you doing?" Misao stared blankly at him without losing her smile.

"Um…what do you mean?" Aoshi sighed and placed his tea down.

"You're acting…like your age." Misao opened her mouth to retort something but shut it. She just tilted her head to the side and spoke calmly.

"Well, wouldn't it be appropriate for me to act my age? I'm a grown woman now and this is how grown woman should act." She stood up with the tray and bowed respectfully. "Wouldn't you agree Aoshi-sama?" She then walked toward the door as if she had rehearsed her stride thousands of times and left. "Goodbye Aoshi-sama." He stared at the closed shoji for a moment then returned to his tea. He half-smiled at awkwardness of seeing Misao actually being mature and respectful.

"Eh…I don't know…" Misao turned around and glanced at herself in the mirror. Okon and Omasu had suggested she try wearing a kimono for once since she wanted to be lady-like. Before she had any second-thoughts she was shoved into a room with two insane women and no chance of freedom. Misao tightened the obi around her waist but sighed when it just loosened on its own. He probably won't even notice…are they trying to make me look like a seductress?

"Misao-chan! What's with the look?!" Omasu demanded. She quickly straightened up and smiled. She sighed, "You know this was a lot of work trying to make it fit perfectly." Misao placed her hands on her temples.

"Don't worry, it fits perfectly…!" Misao turned and walked out of the room to run into Soujiro.

"Good-afternoon Misao-kun!" Soujiro looked at Misao as it was indeed a strange sight to see her dressed so…womanly. Misao noticed this than placed her hands on her hips.

"What?! Something wrong with the way I look?" Soujiro placed his hands up at the sudden accusation.

"No, no Misao-kun…but don't you think that kimono reveals a tad bit too much?" Misao blushed then quickly closed the front of her kimono with her hands.

"We-well! That's not my fault! Blame those two women! They're the ones who dressed me up in this!" Soujiro looked past Misao's shoulders to see Okon and Omasu peering out from the room.

"Well, she's the one who wanted to look all lady-like so what else to wear but a beautiful kimono?!" Okon explained. Soujiro thought for a moment then he smiled.

"Oh…I see…" Soujiro looked back at Misao. She fumbled a bit with her clothing at the pain-staking realization of how obvious it was that she wanted to impress Aoshi. She bowed to him and began to stride away when he placed a hand on her shoulder. She turned back to look at him and he opened his mouth like he was going to say something but closed it.

"Um…good-good luck." He mentally smacked himself for not saying anything better. She smiled and thanked him.

"Arigato Soujiro. I'm gonna need it." And with that she left the hallway. Soujiro eyes remained at where Misao had just been standing.

"I…I just don't understand why she goes so far…" He shuddered at the sudden feel of Omasu's hand on his shoulder. She smiled.

"It's because she's in love. And that does weird things to people." Soujiro stared at her as he tried to understand what she was trying to tell him. She's…in love. Was that why when…? He imagined when Misao had suddenly thrown her arms around him and how warm she felt against him.

"G-Gomen Soujiro! I thought you were- that you were…!"

He raised his hands to touch his lips and his expression softened. "So, its Shinomori-san is it?"

Omasu and Okon covered their mouths at the sudden realization of what was happening. Misao-chan…! And Aoshi and Soujiro-san?!

TO BE CONTINUED IN CHAPTER 6!

Author's Notes:

-Yes, yes I know. This has been my longest update so far. But bear with me. We all have lives and it's just that mine's been busy lately.

-RxR Please! Criticism is encouraged and allowed.

-Thank You!

MimixTHExDeceiful