Yay! I am finally finishing one of my stories. I'm really sorry I took so long getting this story out. I might have to redo it and release a better version. Maybe I will, and maybe I won't. I would like to thank a couple of people that stuck it out to the end despite my procrastination.

keikii, misao91, Dark Kitten Saki, EcstasyOfSesshoumaru, anime.fushigi, and LadyVioletteNoir.

And a special thanks to Sexy Neco Gal. This story is for you.

And now what you've all been waiting for. The final chapter. Basically what happens is Misao returns with a vengeance, kills the new wife, kicks Aoshi's ass, and takes custody of little Misao and becomes a loving mother. The End! (Misao and Aoshi throw kunai at Patience)! I'm just joking. Can't you take a joke? sighs Here's the real ending.

Just Forget

"And that's it," the young Miss concluded. "Misao Makimachi wondered around for about a year after she saw Lord Aoshi and his family. There was no way she could go back to being a ninja anymore. She did a few bodyguard jobs, but her eyes got the best of her and she had to retire. She really didn't have the drive to fight anyways. She spent her entire life trying to please the man she loved, and she found him in the arms of another. She knew she had wasted her time, and now all that was left for her to do was live out the rest of her broken life. A little ironic, don't you think?" Old Geezer nodded as he sniffled. It was the first time he cried since the end of the revolution.

"That is a sad story," he replied. "Is Aoshi still alive with his family?" Young Miss thought how to answer him and finally came up with an answer.

"I'm not sure. I have a feeling that he is teaching his daughter how to fight and sneak around like a ninja, just as he did with his first apprentice. She would be almost ten now."

"It appears that Misao will always be sad since she didn't get what she loved." Geezer looked over to the woman leaning against the tree. The sight had almost gone from her eyes. The sakura leaves were nothing but a pink blur, so she couldn't see that the old man had been crying. She just smiled.

"I wouldn't say that. She did settle down in a small house on a green hill that overlooks a small, flowing river, and everyday she sits next to her sakura tree and watches the sunset, thinking about how grand it would be if she saw her Lord Aoshi climbing up that hill." A cold wind blew through her hair just as the last couple of cherry blossom leaves fell to the ground. "There is nothing she would change in her life. No, I think she had one regret. She never told Lord Aoshi just how much she truly loved him. Maybe then he would have realized her intentions. Maybe then he would have loved her. Maybe then she would have the little daughter." Old Geezer looked at the girl. Her skin was paler than usual, and her breath was shallow.

"I think it's time to go inside and rest," he requested, but she acted like she didn't hear him.

"No, it's best just to forget about things like that, but…" He looked over again as the wind blew her hair back. It had finally happened. Two tears streaks were flowing down the young Miss's cheeks. "If it's so easy to just forget, than why does it hurt so much?" She closed her eyes and sobbed. She didn't want to die, not like this. She wanted to see her Lord Aoshi once again, but she knew it was impossible.

"Misao," his voice came.

"Is that my name? I wish you wouldn't call me that. It hurts so much."

"Misao." It whispered her name again. The wind was playing tricks on her. She had to get everything straight. She calmed herself and looked up. Everything was white except for a silhouette of a tall object. She squinted to try to make it out. The object turned into a man, the more detail came. A pair of boots, a long white jacket, sheathed sword, short, blue hair, and finally blue eyes set in a calm but warm face. Misao let another tear fall as the figure stood in front of her.

"Is it really you?" she asked hesitantly. He didn't speak, so she chuckled to herself. "No, of course it isn't you. Just my eyes playing cruel tricks. But even if you are just an illusion, I'm glad I got to see you one last time. I'm glad that you are happy. I just wanted to say I love you with all my heart, and I will never love anyone else." She used all of her strength to reach for him as a burst of tears finally plummeted down her face. In her hand was the paper crane her love gave her all those years ago. "Let me make one last crane for you, Lord Aoshi." And like the last petal of the sakura tree, her lifeless hand fell, only to be caught in midair by the so-called illusion.

"I loved you too, Misao. I'm sorry I didn't realize that earlier." He looked at the old man sitting there. "How long has she been her?"

"I suppose five years. She told amazing stories. She just finished one about a young girl that did everything she could to protect the man she loved, and in the end he married another. That damn Sarcoidosis got the best of her." Aoshi looked back at his little girl and touched her face.

"No, it was my fault. I pushed her away. I killed her by destroying her heart just to teach her a lesson. Did it do any good?"

"She never stopped loving you, and she was still waiting." Aoshi wiped away her tears, ignoring the single drop rolling out of his eyes. The ice-cold eyes had finally melted.

"I'm sorry I kept you waiting. Please forgive me." He leaned in and gave her one final kiss. As he picked her up, he looked at the old man. "Thank you for taking care of her."

"What will you do now?" Aoshi turned away.

"I'll bury her and put a crane on her grave. I hope she can wait a little longer for me. I'll soon be joining her." And with that, Lord Aoshi walked away. The Old Geezer put his smoking pipe in his mouth and smiled.

"Yes, just wait, Misao. Don't just forget. He is still coming for you."

Friends gathered with Mrs. Shinamori and her daughter as she buried her husband five years later. He lived a wonderful life and died in his sleep at the age 42. The physicians declared it heart failure. As everyone left his family, the fifteen year old girl couldn't help but ask a question.

"Mom, who is he buried next to?" Mrs. Shinamori looked at the grave.

"An old friend from the Oniwanbanshuu." The girl looked and smiled.

"She has my name. Misao Makimachi. She must have been dear to father." The mother clung to her daughter.

"I'm sure she was." The women looked up and saw the dark clouds. "It's time to go. It's about to rain." Misao nodded and bent down.

"I hope you find peace and each other," she stated as she stood up. She looked by the sakura tree and thought she saw something. Then her mother reminded her to come along.

"Misao!" The girl jumped and spun around as she ran to her mother.

"Coming!" She caught up with ninja speed within a few seconds. Both of them talked as they walked away.

"You're so fast! I suppose your father was teaching you ninja tricks."

"Yeah, I'm going to be the leader of the Oniwanbanshuu and save the world like daddy."

"You better finish your chores first."

"Ah, mom!" They both laughed until they couldn't be heard from the cemetery. What Misao didn't realize was that she did see something. Lord Aoshi was walking past the tree to see his Misao leaning against it.

"It took you long enough," Misao stated in a grumpy voice.

"I'm sorry I made you wait so long," he answered with his best smile. She couldn't help but smile back and walk towards him.

"It's ok. It wasn't that long. I waited all this time just wanted to make you smile."

"Then you got what you wished." He held her in his arms and waited for something else.

"What about my kiss?" she asked.

"I suppose you deserve that too." Then they shared a kiss that stopped all time for them, a kiss that finally made her forget all of the pain and sorrow of her past life. They were finally together, and they could finally love each other.

"Thank you," she whispered as they separated.

"For what, my love?" She looked at him through her watery eyes.

"For fixing my broken life." They both smiled at each other and walked until they were nothing but a memory to the world, a memory that would transcend time and never be forgotten.

THE END

Man, even this story made me choke up. Again, thanks for all the reviews you guys. I couldn't have done it without you. Hope to cya soon. Cya.

Patience Halliwell