Chapter 1

A/N: I forgot, I do not own the characters here...ehehehe!

Aoshi stared at the deep black sky. Thoughts of what had happened four years ago invaded his mind.

“Misao...”

The reason he was out in the garden in the middle of the night was her. He could not sleep. Haunting memories of how her face looked still wouldn’t leave his mind. A gust of wind blew over his face, moving his long bangs, revealing soft but icy blue eyes.

Four years had passed, and still, he couldn’t get over the fact that the one he had loved the most was gone...

And she will never come back for you, Aoshi. You are now too late.

Those same words came from Okina’s mouth repeated in his mind all over. He had admitted his feelings for her weeks after she had disappeared. They had asked about that when had all noticed a sudden change in him: he was not going to the temple anymore; he was helping in search of Misao and still didn’t stop until the news of Misao’s sudden disappearance was heard throughout Kyoto. This broke the hearts of everyone in the Aoiya, and they decided not to tell him about the news, fearing that this might devastate him. It did more; he soon found out and it tore his heart and soul apart. He had so wanted to tell her of his feelings towards her, and he had it all planned; but it was all smashed to pieces. They saw him run away from the Aoiya and to the forests, where he let out all his anger. He could have chopped half of the forest if he hadn’t been stopped by the rurouni himself.

He still remembered that same day, every single second of it...

*flashback*

“Misao, wake up! It’s already noon!” Okon shouted behind the shoji door. Frustrated that the door wouldn’t open, she pushed it forcibly and expected to see a sleeping Misao still snoring under her futon.

“Misao I-“

She gaped when she saw no one there. She ran to everyone, told them the news, and held a search throughout Kyoto. And they even asked Kenshingumi if they had seen her, but none of them had.

Out of the entire ruckus, Aoshi walked up to them calmly, and asked what was happening. They had told him the entire story, and at first, he didn’t worry. He knew that she would come back. But weeks had passed, and still, there was no news. At that rate, Aoshi became worried and began asking everyone what had happened. There was still no sighting of Misao, so he volunteered to look for her himself. They all agreed, wondering what had gone in the old okashira’s head that forced him to do it.

Then one day, before leaving at dawn, it seemed that Omasu had gathered enough strength to ask Aoshi what had caused the sudden change in him.

“Um, Aoshi, can I talk to you for a bit?” she asked while he was fixing his katana and his kodachis.

“What’s the matter? Is there anything I can do for you?”

“Um, well, I noticed that you have changed...ever since...well...Misao was missing...”

“...”

“I just wanted to ask, if...well...”

“Aa?”

“Why are you doing all this? I mean, it’s not like you, Okashira. I know that as Okashira, you have total responsibility and all those stuff, and you would usually treat that stuff as assignments, but you take this far too seriously. Why?”

Aoshi looked at Omasu. There was a tinge on concern in her eyes.

“Do you believe that a man who had bloodied his hands with killing innocent men would still have the right to love a woman who has never faced the same bloodshed that the man had faced?”

“Okashira, look at things this way. Love does not occur between two people if their past is all that matters. All that really matters is that two people love each other. Look at Kenshin, he has been known to be Battousai, but he has spent many years living with a woman who barely knows his past and even has the courage to hit him on the head more than 3 times a day.”

“What if I told you that the man that I was talking about was me, and the woman I am referring to is...Misao?”

Omasu looked at Aoshi surprisingly.

“Okashira, do you mean that...”

“I must be going now. I must find Misao and hurry. Sayonara.”

With that, Aoshi left the Aoiya, a gaped Omasu staring at him.

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Aoshi walked along the paths of the forest, hoping to find Misao somewhere. The whole day he had seemed to have scoured the whole forest. But up to no avail; he could not find her. He noticed that nightfall was drawing near, so he decided to camp out for the night. He would return to the Aoiya in daylight, he decided. Taking some of the rice balls he had brought along, he ate them, then saddled up for a goodnight’s sleep. He closed his eyes, resting his back on a tree, in a guarding stance if ever someone-or anyone- tried to sneak up on him. He closed his eyes, and in an instant, he allowed his fatigue get the better of him...

*dreams*

“Ohayo, Aoshi-sama!” Misao shouted as soon as she had entered the temple. As usual, she would bring him his daily ration of tea.

Aoshi opened his eyes, seeing Misao right in front of him, preparing his tea. He noticed the queer silence that was between them. He closed his eyes, took his cup and drank.

“Aoshi-sama?”

He opened his eyes once again, putting the cup back to the tray. He looked at Misao, who was looking down on the floor, deep in thought.

“Aa? What is it that you need?”

“Um...uh...you see...it has been a year since you’ve arrived...and...you haven’t...um...left this temple except if ever you needed something...so...I...um...wanted to ask you...if...”

She looked back at him. Seeing his intense gaze at her, she blushed, and then looked down again.

“...I wanted to ask you...if everything’s alright...I mean...it’s really been a long time after...you know...the fight...and everything else...”

Aoshi blinked.

“Why do you ask, Misao-chan?”

“It’s just...well...you meditate here all day, and you never find time for us...and...gosh, let me just get to the point!”

Misao looked at him, a determined glare in her eyes.

“Aoshi-sama, you’ve already been forgiven by everyone, why are you still living in the past! For all I know, it has been 2 years since that happened, and everyone knew why you acted like that! I keep on trying hard to open you up, but still, that icy demeanor of yours reigns! Don’t you know that we’re always been here for you! Why don’t you seem to understand?”

Aoshi remained silent, but his eyes remained on hers.

“And no matter what I do, you never seem to care! I care too much, but what do I get? Nothing! Nothing at all!”

“This is all pointless, Misao-chan. You would never understand-“

“I do understand! I’m a grown woman, dammit! I’m mature enough to understand what you had gone through! Yes, I know it has been hard for you, but it’s all over!”

“Why do you care, Misao-chan? You know that it’s not nice to pry into someone’s life and criticize them for what they’ve done...”

“Past is past, Aoshi-sama! For God sakes, don’t you get it! I love you, that’s why!”

For a mere second, Aoshi’s eyes widened. Then, he looked down.

“Don’t let a childish infatuation get over you, Misao...”

“I’m not the one being childish and stubborn!”

Misao angrily stood up, taking the tray.

“If you still see me as a child, well then, you’re blind! You’re blind to the whole world! Maybe...maybe if someone showed you, then maybe...you’ll begin to see! And I’m gonna prove it to you!”

She stomped out of temple, running, tears slowly falling.

Aoshi could only look at her as she ran.

*wakes up*

That’s it! She left because she wanted to prove to me that! But when she was gone, that’s when I realize it all!

Aoshi quickly woke up. Noticing the sun rising, he quickly stood up and ran back towards the Aoiya.

*end flashback*

Aoshi closed his eyes, letting the cool air rush on his face. Tears eventually came out, but only one flowed down.

She proved everything to me...and now I see it all...when it’s all too late...

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Author’s note: Hey! Brie here! This is my 1st fan fic! So, just click on the little button below and give me some reviews, people!!