A/N: I'm coming down to the end of this story; ah! It's been such an amazing journey with all of you and I hope you will be thoroughly pleased with the last few chapters (I'm thinking I'll probably have maybe 4 or 5 more chaps)! There gonna be a lot more tense (in the best way!) and steamy than the previous so proceed with caution!

Xoxox!

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"Aoshi I'm perfectly capable of taking myself outside to sit awhile, don't worry! Besides, Omasu was just bringing me a crutch to walk with so it's really no-"

Aoshi swept Misao up in his arms and carried her out of her room and down the hall. "Nonsense. You shouldn't be straining yourself so much." He cautioned as he stepped out onto the engawa that looked out over the back courtyard.

He laid her down on one of the matts and turned to leave but she clung onto the sleeve of his uniform.

"Aoshi, honestly I'm not going to break!"

Aoshi turned sharp eyes on her and Misao's mouth slammed shut.

"Misao, please. Can you for once in your life just-do as I ask?!" He bit out irritatedly.

Misao was startled and marginally shrank back from him.

Aoshi let out a long breath then stood to his feet. "Omasu will bring your tea; I'll be back later to check on you." then he turned and walked briskly back inside, leaving Misao alone.

When Omasu came with the tea, she found Misao staring pensively at the floor, twisting a piece of midnight hair around her finger.

"Misao?"

"Omasu-san."

Omasu smiled at the young woman, setting down the tray at her side before seating herself on the rocking chair nearest her.

She silently observed Misao for a long moment.

"You have some color coming back to your face." She noted lightly.

"Mmm."

"How are you feeling?"

Misao's eyes became wistful as she stroked absent fingers through her hair. "Oh I'm-I'm feeling better I think."

"Then why do you seem so depressed?"

Misao let out a heavy sigh. Her hands dropped into her lap and she looked hopelessly up at Omasu. "It's Aoshi-sama. Ever since my fever broke, he's been...so...attentive."

"Isn't that a good thing?"

Misao let out a long breath. "It's...confusing. And it's stifling."

Omasu shook her head sympathetically. "Listen, Misao. I know you are anxious to heal and get back to doing everything yourself but-you weren't conscious for several days; you didn't see the state he was in when he saw you like that."

Misao leaned forward intently, her eyes pensive and sharp. "What do you mean?"

Omasu looked straight into her eyes. "He was beside himself with worry. And terrified he was going to lose you."

Misao inhaled sharply. "He-he was?"

"Yes. I can honestly say, I've never seen Aoshi like that before-not even when Hann'ya and the others..." She trailed off, biting her lip nervously as she met Misao's anxious eyes again.

"I'm just saying that you couldn't have known how a wreck he was-but we do because we saw it all. So just-just please be patient with him Misao? I know you don't trust him and your feelings for him are confusing and uncertain but believe me-he feels so much more for you then you know. So just-be patient with him."

Misao said nothing, only turning her head and staring off into the distance as she contemplated Omasu's words.

"...Or at the very least, indulge him."

This caused Misao to snort softly and a rueful smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

Omasu stood to her feet and petted the young woman's head affectionately as she spoke one last time. "Just give him time."

And with that, Omasu went back inside, leaving Misao alone in stunned silence.

# # # #

It was evening when he returned, yet all he did was sit just by the door leading inside-his Saya propped against his shoulder-and watch her quietly.

She tried to remember Omasu's words from earlier:

"He's been through a lot"

"Give him time"

"Be patient with him, Misao"

But after an hour of steel blue eyes staring intensely and lips pulled into a firm silent line, she couldn't push away the aggitation.

"Honestly, Aoshi-sama, if you're going to keep staring at me like that, it's only going to make me-"

"How are you feeling?"

His deep solid voice rang out somewhat harshly compared to the long-standing silence and Misao had to resist her body's reflex to jolt from the sound.

She turned to look at him.

Gods, his eyes were still so intense.

His body was so rigid, it unnerved her that he could pass for a statue.

"I'm feeling really good, actually!" She answered enthusiastically, but Aoshi's expression was unmoving even in light of the soft smile she offered him.

Her smile instantly faded and an unsettling sigh followed as she looked away.

"I wish you wouldn't-fret over me so, Aoshi-sama; my healing has been slow but it's been steady, there's really no need for you to baby me so."

"Baby you?!" He snapped, the dark blue of his irises sharpened to a steely grey as he looked at her.

"I-"

Abruptly, he stood to his feet and turned on his heel. "Forgive me, I wasn't aware that my concern offended you." He uttered through gritted teeth and was almost to the door before small hands grapped his arm fiercely.

His steps halted and his head snapped around to see a tear-stained face and gilstening ocean eyes looking up at him.

"Comen, Aoshi..." She whispered.

His stiff shoulders relaxed and his body turned towards hers.

"It's not offensive to me at all. It never could be."

"Then why are you so withdrawn when I'm near you? it's like-"

"You look at me like I'm broken!" She cried, a small whimper escaping her quivering lips and she had to turn away from him.

"Misao..." His hands slipped over her shoulders and he turned her around to face him.

"You could never be broken in my eyes, Misao." He pulled her against his chest, his arms winding tightly around her soft curves.

"T-then w-w-why?"

"Because I-"

She waited, but when he didn't answer, she pulled back and looked up into his eyes.

"Aoshi-sama?"

He shook his head, pressed his lips together in a tight line and then bowed his head and pressed his forehead against hers.

"I almost lost you-and if I had, I could never bear it."

"Aoshi-sama..."

"No, please Misao-I have to tell you. Tell you that I was-that I am still-terrified."

She gasped in utter shock.

"Terrified because I almost lost you; you were almost taken from me, before I even had the chance to tell you how I-"

Her hand pressed against his cheek as she tiptoed, bringing her lips to his.

"Aoshi..." Her sweet breath ghosted against his lips just before her lips met them.

Aoshi's body stiffened and then his insides ignited into a ball of intense flame and his lips responded feverishly.

"God, Misao...!" He gasped against her lips and then his mouth engulfed hers with more fervency.

His arms tightened painfully around her waist and shoulders as he crushed her aggressively against his body.

He couldn't believe how breathless her taste rendered him; her lips were so soft and supple and each time he kissed her was earth-shaking-just like the first kiss had been.

Misao moaned into his mouth and her body shivered against his as her fingers clawed up his chest and tangled into his hair.

"Ahhh...A-Aoshi-s-sama."

Aoshi growled against her lips as his hand wrapped around the back of her neck and firmly pulled her head back to look in her eyes.

" 'Aoshi' is my name, Woman-I will not tell you again."

Misao bit her lip but couldn't hold back a cheeky smile. "If that is your wish, my lord."

Aoshi's eyes softened and heated in the same moment and his hand slipped from her neck and cupped her cheek.

"You are mocking me."

She laughed softly, her fingers lacing together at the back of his neck. "No. Only teasing you, Saiai."

Aoshi's eyes widened at the unexpected endearment but his lips softened into a smile when he saw how her cheeks reddened as she self-consciously looked away.

"I-sorry, it just sort of came out an-"

Aoshi covered her mouth with his.

He knew she hadn't meant to say it but at the same time, he knew she meant it and he didn't want her thinking it had been a mistake.

"Don't." He whispered, kissing her lips again reassuringly.

"Do not apologize for it, Misao...please."

She pulled back and looked up at him with wide open eyes.

"I just didn't know if you-I mean if it would be alright if I-"

"Little Misao, you may deny it but I know that you aren't ignorant of how I feel for you. In light of that, I don't see why you would feel the need to apolgoize."

"I don't always trust myself to know how you feel...I mean I think...deep down I know but at the same time, I...I'm scared to let myself believe it because if you decide that you have to go away again then-"

Aoshi shook his head adamentally and pulled her close again. "I will never leave you, again, Misao. I swear it on my life. My only place in life-is with you."

A tear slipped down her cheek as she snuggled her face into his chest, breathing in the familiar scent of forest and green tea.

"Good. Because I could never bear it." She uttered in a shaky whisper and her small arms tightened around her Okashira as she breathed a desperate prayer to Kami-sama, that Aoshi would never be taken from her again.

"Come. It's late and gods forbid that Omasu should discover I've kept you up." He pulled back from her but his hands lingered on her waist a moment longer.

"Honestly? Omasu needs to stop treating me like a child who needs a proper bedtime; I'm a woman and besides that, you are the Okashira! That means you have the right to do whatever you please and if you want to keep me company, late, than neither Omasu or anyone can say anything about it."

Aoshi stared at her in amazement. "You are the most obstinent woman; you shouldn't be telling me that I can do as I please-especially when it concerns you."

He couldn't hold back and as he lead her inside, he leaned closer to her and brushed his lips against her ear as he whispered huskily. "You might tempt me to take advantage-and take whatever-liberties I please."

Misao's entire body flooded with heat and her cheeks flamed a brilliant red when she felt Aoshi's molten steel gaze on her.

They'd reached her room but before she stepped inside, she turned towards Aoshi and did her best to steady her nerves with a deep, calming breath. "You misunderstand me, Aoshi-sama-I only said it because it was I who had hoped to-take advantage of you."

He was stunned and all air was expelled from his lungs when those thick eyelashes fluttered and a pair of provocative, lust-filled ocean eyes raised to meet his.

His throat tightened at the raw honesty displayed in her eyes and the moment her full lips brushed against his cheek, his body hardened and he couldn't move.

"Goodnight...Aoshi."

And she was stepping into her room, beyond his reach and the shoji slid quietly into place, separating them.

He walked only a few feet away before stopping and slumping heavily against the wall.

A shaky hand dragged through midnight locks and labored breathing caused his chest to constrict painfully as he gasped for air.

"You-will be-the utter ruin of me, Little one."