A Happy Ending?

"Kaoru!" Kaoru looked over to find Kenshin running towards her. As soon as he got to her, he went to work untying her bindings, and no sooner were the bindings off that she flung herself into his arms.

"Kenshin," she sobbed. "I was so scared. I thought he was going to kill…" Kenshin shooed her while rubbing her back.

"It's alright now, dear. I'm here. Nothing is going to hurt you." Kaoru looked at him with tears in her eyes and shook her head.

"I'm not worried about me. It's…it's…" She couldn't finish her sentence, but Kenshin knew what she wanted to say. He looked over his shoulder and saw Aoshi looking over Misao's body. Aoshi knelt down and picked her up gently.

"This is all my fault," he whispered as he wiped her blood from her cheek. "If I hadn't thrown her out, she wouldn't have gone looking for Katsu, and she would have never had to face him like this. I knew she would have to learn the truth about her parents, but not like this."

"Aoshi." Kenshin walked towards him, but Kaoru stopped him. Then he realized it. It was no good to try to sooth the leader.

"I did love her, but I was too stubborn to see it. I loved her and I banished her. I sent her to her death. How could I have been so foolish?" Kenshin and Kaoru slowly walked in front of him. What they saw made them gasp. Aoshi Shinomori, the cold hearted, strong leader of the Oniwanbanshuu, was crying. "I killed her. I let her go. Misao, please forgive me. I love you so much." Another tear fell onto Misao's face. He couldn't stop it. He couldn't make the water stop flowing. He had lost the one he loved, and he would never get to tell her.

"Lord…Aoshi." Aoshi opened his green, tear-stained eyes in shock, and two ice blue eyes were staring back with a smile. "I love you, too, with all my heart." Aoshi couldn't believe it. After all this time she was alive.

"Misao, but how?" he asked.

"You shouldn't underestimate me, Lord Aoshi. I've been training to become stronger and tougher, just like you. Then I realized that I wouldn't grow up unless I learned to protect the ones I love. I never gave up on you, Lord Aoshi. I would never leave you." Aoshi smiled as he clung to his ninja.

"I will never leave you again either, Misao. I will always love you." And with that, he gave her a kiss. Misao would never forget this day. It was the day she finally grew up the day she found her love.

"That was a lovely story, young Miss. What a happy ending!" Miss just looked down at her hands with that same sad smile. "But you said it was rather depressing. What happens after that?" Geezer looked to the side at the young maiden. She was twirling her hair when she suddenly started to cough uncontrollably. The old Geezer quickly leaned her back against the tree and took out a small vile. "Don't overexert yourself. Drink your medicine."

She did as she was told and finally calmed down. Her breathing was still uneven and hard, but at least she was comfortable. Geezer decided it was time for her to rest. "We can finish this story tomorrow. Let's go inside and rest." He was about to pick her up when she grabbed his hand. He looked at her and found the most desperate smile he had ever seen.

"Please, I want to continue." He smiled back as he sat down. How could he deny her wish?

"So tell me then," he continued. "What happens next?"

"Nothing." This made the man turn with an odd look. What was she getting at. "I'm sorry, Geezer. The truth is I don't really like the real ending. I tried to fix and shape it the way I like, but it doesn't fit quite right. I'm afraid that I have lied to you. There is no happy ending. Do you still want to hear what happens to young Misao?" The man hesitantly nodded.

"No more fibbing though, little Miss," he warned. "What happens to our young heroine that never left her leader's side?"

"It is quite tragic," she stated as she watched the cherry blossoms fall from the tree. "But this is the true ending for our Misao Makimachi."

When Kenshin saw that his beloved was fine, he looked over his shoulder and saw Aoshi looking over Misao's body. Both Kenshin and Kaoru immediately got up and ran to his side. They looked at the motionless girl that was bleeding to death and then at the leader of the Oniwanbanshuu. He wasn't making a single move, so Kenshin did.

"Aoshi, we have to help Miss Misao," Kenshin shouted. "If we hurry, we can get her to Miss Megumi and Dr. Genzai in time." Kenshin was about to pick her up when Aoshi pushed him to the side so hard that he fell over. "Aoshi, what are you doing?"

"It doesn't matter," Aoshi stated. "She got herself into this. Let her get out by herself."

"How can you say that?" Kaoru asked. "She loves you, Aoshi. She protected your name this whole time. She was given an option to live if she gave up on you, but she chose death. She realized that she needed to protect the ones she loves first if she wanted to grow up, and she protected you. Now help her!"

"Silence!" They both froze. Aoshi was still looking at Misao, his eyes cold as ever. "She chose her fate. I wish she could have found out about her parents a different way, but she still chose to leave the Oniwanbanshuu and fight Katsu. She may have grown up, but she still has a lot to learn. She is not my problem anymore." He started to walk away, but something stopped him.

"Lord…Aoshi." He looked back. Misao was still alive, but barely. He saw that face of blood being smeared with tears. "I'm…sorry. I failed you again." Aoshi didn't say anything as he turned and wandered away from the scene. Misao could only sit on her back as she realized the truth. "I have grown up, but by doing this, I proved to him that I was incapable of being any help to him. I'm unworthy to receive his love. I know that now. But…" Kaoru and Kenshin helped her up carefully as she continued to cry. "It still hurts. I can't stop loving him."

Misao would never forget that day. It was the day she finally grew, but in the process she lost the one thing she loved most. It was the day that her heart was broken by Aoshi Shinomori.