NOTE: Differences in age mean nothing in the face of true love.
Troubled times pale in comparison to the strength of two people that
care so deeply, so completely, that nothing stands in the way. Such
is the story of Misao and Aoshi. Perhaps this time, they get things
right . . .
© Copyright 1998 Rurouni Kenshin; Characters are copyrights of
Nobuhiro Watsuki, Jump Comics, et. al.© Copyright 1998 Kyoko Takara;
Original Story is copyright of aforementioned name.
It seemed amazing how time could change things and people. However,
some relationships couldn't be so easily bridged. While the relationship
between Kenshin and Kaoru grew with time, resulting in the birth of
two children, Misao couldn't help but feel a bit jealous at their fortune.
She also heard stories about Sanosuke and Megumi's many children in
such a short period of time. Things were just wonderful for them. Four
years after the crazy times in Kyoto fighting Makoto Shishio, Misao
Makimachi found herself in a state of limbo. Just what was she going
to do with her life now? She was almost twenty. For a long time, she
was content with being the "okashira" of the Oniwa Banshuu, but as year
by year passed, she felt this unbelievable longing in her soul. She
just couldn't explain it.
Aoshi Shinomori was still unresponsive to Misao's feelings. One would
think that time would help that surly beast find some kind of loving
in his life, even if it was from one ten years younger than himself.
That certainly was not the case with Aoshi. Each day, he trotted to
the shrine to pray for hours on end, then return for two meals, at which
time he would go back to meditate some more. Just what the hell was
he trying to find?, Misao wondered, tapping her finger on the tatami
mat of her room in the Aoiya. No one knew what was going on in Aoshi's
mind, not even Jiya. He often told Misao, "Leave him be. When the time
comes, he will forgive himself." Misao just couldn't accept the fact
that Aoshi couldn't forgive himself for what happened to Hannya and
the others.
"Aoshi-sama. . . ." she sighed softly, shaking her head. What an unfortunate
circumstance she's found herself in. Misao was in love with a man that
couldn't ever return her feelings. The question she often found herself
asking was, even if he COULD return the feelings of love, WOULD he?
There was still the barrier of the ten year gap between the two, but
that could be easily disproved with the example of Kenshin and Kaoru,
with their thirteen year difference.
Misao stood, her mind set on talking with Aoshi. The time had come.
She certainly was no longer a little girl, nor did she act like one.
Surely he's seen the difference!
"Jiya!!" she shouted, running out into the hall. "I'm going out! I'll
be back later, ok?"
Running out of the Aoiya, she could see Okina's head pop out from the
corner of her eye.
"OK, Misao-chan! Be careful!" his voice bellowed in response.
Her mind consumed with thoughts of Aoshi, she quickly found herself
at the staircase to the shrine. Something stopped her from completely
approaching the place. In a way, it was intimidating to her, especially
what it stood for between Aoshi and herself. Maybe it is selfish, she
thought. But if it IS selfish, then so be it. Taking a deep breath,
she cautiously approached the entrance. Here goes, she thought.
She removed her shoes, then slid open the door, revealing a calm meditating
Aoshi. He didn't seem to notice she was even in the same room with her,
he was that deep into his mantra. Quietly closing the door behind her,
she kept a safe distance from Aoshi, merely indulging in the sight of
him.
Aoshi was actually a very striking man. His strong angular facial features
could easily catch women, if he would only smile. Smile. . . could he
even do that small task? , Misao wondered. In all the years she had
known Aoshi, he had never smiled. Maybe once, but even that was a resolute
kind of smile. He never showed any emotion, and it was something she
couldn't understand, even to this day. He had allowed his hair to grow
a bit longer, but it wasn't quite past his shoulders yet. Misao wanted
to touch that hair of his for a long time, but she couldn't. She just
couldn't. His eyes were closed, but she could see them now, their piercing
blue depths easily penetrating one's skull. It was eerie. She remained
quiet, merely staring at Aoshi in a rare moment of peace.
Without warning, his head bowed lower. She heard him take a deep breath,
then nothing. So is THIS what he does all day long?, she thought, smirking.
What a sad existence. Misao shouldn't even compare herself to Aoshi
because she was torturing herself with what she couldn't have! What
irony.
"Misao. . ." a soft voice called. Her heart jumped out of her body
at the sound of his voice calling her name. He knew she was here all
along? She had barely moved!
"Aoshi. . .sama. . . " she whispered softly, taking one hesitant step
forward. Then another. Soon, she found herself standing directly behind
the kneeling Aoshi. "I wanted to talk with you. . ."
No response. Misao sighed, feeling her eyes getting misty. It was always
the same with Aoshi, she thought. No kind of response, no emotions,
no nothing. Regardless, she was going to say what she had to say.
"I have something I want to say to you, Aoshi-sama," Misao took a breath
before continuing. "For three years now, I've tried my hardest to make
things happy for you, only to have you shut me out. I don't understand
why. Maybe I don't WANT to understand why, either. All I know is that.
. ."
She paused, turning her head aside in embarrassment. No!, she thought.
She HAD to say it, finally.
"All I know is that. . . .I love you. . . I just want to see you happy,
or even content with life," she declared in a shaky voice, a single
tear managing its way down her cheek. She let it run its course. "You've
wasted the last three years of your life trying to learn to forgive
yourself for what happened to the others. Do you think that's what they
would want you doing?"
Misao didn't expect Aoshi to respond to her question. He never
did. This time, however, Aoshi raised his head, his exhaled breath resonating
through the room. Misao gasped at the reaction. What? Aoshi was. . .
"Misao." Aoshi's voice said strongly. He turned around to face Misao
on his knees. His saddened face looked directly into Misao's eyes. He
was so close, she thought. Closer than ever before. She almost didn't
know what to do, until he said two words she knew she would never forget.
"I'm sorry," Aoshi's eyes broke contact with Misao, lowering his head.
"I'm so sorry, Misao. . "
Her heart stopped. Literally. Everything stopped in that moment for
Misao. Aoshi had never been like this before. Never! In a way, she had
gotten used to the unresponsive Aoshi, expecting to hear nothing from
him. But now. . . Stepping forward so that his head laid against her
chest, she wrapped her arms around Aoshi's shoulders, embracing him
tightly. She was still in a state of shock, but even more shocked when
Aoshi returned the favor, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Aoshi-sama. . ." she said, tears now flowing freely from her eyes,
dropping on Aoshi's head. When he felt the tears hit his head, he looked
up at Misao's crying face. He reached up to wipe away the tears from
her eyes.
"Don't cry, Misao. I'm not worth your tears," he said softly, shaking
his head as if he had some kind of unknown knowledge about himself.
"Not worth it?" she crooked her head at him. "How could you say that?!
Of course you're worth it!"
Aoshi propped himself onto his feet with his hands. Towering over the
much shorter Misao, he grabbed her hand, leading her through the entrance
of the shrine and down the steps. There was a small dirt path leading
away from the shrine and the city on his right. In silence, Misao followed
him, basking in what had just happened at the shrine. After ten minutes
of walking, Aoshi stopped in front of a secluded pond and stream. The
trees enclosed the two in their own little green wonder world. The sky
didn't exist under the cape of the leaves thick expanses.
"I don't want you to ever cry over me again, Misao," he demanded. "Promise
me."
Why was he so adamant about this?, she wondered.
"OK . .I promise I won't," she whispered, looking up at Aoshi. He was
so handsome. . .
"Good," he still hadn't smiled yet, and somehow, she doubted that he
would. He wasn't the smiley type, anyhow, Misao decided. "You've
changed a lot, Misao. You're not as bratty as you used to be. Much more
mature."
She accepted the comment silently, merely nodding her head. One thing
at a time, she thought. Aoshi continued his observation.
"It seems like you've become a woman right under my nose," he ran a
fingertip across her lips. Misao's eyes widened at the prospect of Aoshi's
lips on hers. It certainly was what he was suggesting with that fingertip
across the lips bit. Her heart pounded loudly with an inconsistent thud,
each moment passing making her wonder what Aoshi was thinking.
"Aoshi-sama. . . what are you thinking? For once, can you be truthful
with me?" Misao asked daringly. His face took on a seriousness
she had never seen before. Tilting her chin with his fingertips to meet
his eyes, he stared deeply into r her Prussian blue eyes.
"I'll show you. . ." he said, his head slowly lowering to her lips
to taste. Misao held her breath expectantly, her mind spinning uncontrollably.
The moment his lips touched hers, Misao wrapped her arms around Aoshi's
neck, standing on her tiptoes to keep him close. Aoshi's strength kept
her close to him without her hurting herself. Her mind no longer had
control, nor did it care what kind of audible responses he made. Her
body was in control, reveling in the sensations he was providing her.
His tongue coaxed her lips to open, playing around in the warm abyss.
Hesitantly, her own tongue engaged in the play. Aoshi's hands made their
way down to Misao's buttocks, pressing her closer to his continuously
growing hardness. Her moan only urged him to continue his slow torture
of titillation and temptation. Misao's hands slipped from the nape of
Aoshi's neck, up into his hair. The exquisite pleasure of running her
fingers through his hair made Misao pull her lips away from Aoshi's.
"Ohh, finally. . ." she smiled happily. "I've always wanted to do this
to your hair, Aoshi-sama. . ." It felt so silky to her fingertips. She
couldn't help but indulge in her fantasy. Aoshi's eyes took on a loving
fierceness, then lowered to kiss her neck, nibbling at the tender flesh
just beneath her ear.
"Ahh. . ." she moaned, frantically clutching at his clothing. He was
evoking emotions in her she had never ever experienced before!
"Misao. . . " Aoshi paused, looking down at her. "Do you want me to
stop?"
A choice..? Doesn't he know I've been waiting for this for so long?,
she asked herself. Too long. . . Kneeling down before Aoshi, she silently
looked up at him, holding out her hand in invitation. Aoshi nodded in
acceptance at Misao's choice. In a way, she could tell that he wanted
to be this close with her too. It was in the way he looked at her. Once
on the ground, the two knelt in front of each other. Aoshi, taking the
initiative, began stripping himself of his clothes until his chest was
bare. Misao had seen bare-chested men before, on countless occasions
in fact. Nothing could possibly prepare her for the intimacy of such
a moment with Aoshi. He wasn't overly muscular, but was well developed.
She wanted to touch his skin to feel its texture, to feel his skin against
hers. Misao was still too shy to undress herself, so Aoshi, being delicate
and deliberate, reached behind Misao's top to pull open the tied cloth
around her waist. When her top fell open, Aoshi's breath caught in his
throat. The pink blush of embarrassment flooded her face, spreading
down to her chest. Her petite breasts beckoned to Aoshi. And he answered.
"So beautiful. . ." he whispered before lapping his tongue over one
nipple. Her body grew limp, shivering in the unbelievable feeling of
ecstasy. He sucked one breast continuously while kneading the other
gently in the other hand.
Misao stretched out onto her back, Aoshi following, refusing to give
up her tasty breast. His attention turned to the alternate breast, giving
equal service. Misao's legs opened of their own accord, allowing Aoshi
the opportunity to slip between them. Her mind was reeling, the sense
of vertigo overcoming her.
"Aoshi. . ." she called, his eyes looking up from his task. She needed
to taste his lips again. It had been too long already. Knowingly, he
came back up to taste her lips once again. It was sweeter than last
time. Misao's wondrous breasts pressing against his chest gave them
both a sense of unbelievable satisfaction.
Aoshi watched Misao's face as he kissed her, as he felt her body respond
to his so willingly, so easily. How could have been denying this for
so long? How was it possible? Somehow, he managed to slide off her short
pants, leaving Misao completely naked. He sat up on his knees between
her legs, looking at her. She was beautiful. Her body was so strong,
yet delicate in so many places. Her skin was soft, except on her hands,
where she had trained for a long time. He ran a hand from her shoulder
down to her hip, just feeling her. . .
"Aoshi-sama. . .are you going to make me wait any longer?" Misao smiled,
placing her hand over his at her hip.
"No, it's been too long already. . ." Aoshi said, stripping himself
of his own pants. His erection was tremendous. Misao felt this great
sense of trepidation at the sight of it. Having never seen anything
like that before, naturally, she was curious, but Aoshi could wait no
longer. He would indulge her later.
"Are you sure about this, Misao?" he asked one final time, poised on
the verge of entry. Her right leg was bent, encasing his body.
"Absolutely," she said seriously, confirming all that she had ever
wanted from Aoshi in that one word.
He slowly slid inside Misao's body. She was very tight, he noted. She
had to relax a bit if he was going to continue. He lifted her arms above
her head, running his fingertips down the underside of her arms. Aoshi
knew what Misao looked like when her hair was out, but he wanted to
see her like that right then. Reaching just behind her neck, Aoshi released
the long braid Misao always kept her hair in. The moment it was loose,
Aoshi could feel himself lengthening at the sight she made. Her hair
billowed around her shoulders, some of it dropping over onto her chest.
"Misao, you're --"
Aoshi could wait no more. He quickly grabbed Misao's lips as he plunged
into her warm depths. He could feel Misao's response of pain when he
took the plunge. Several tears managed to escape their way down the
side of her eyes. Aoshi was immediately contrite.
"Are you okay, Misao. .?" Aoshi's face was written with concern, but
Misao just closed her eyes a moment, then reopened them.
"I'm fine. In fact, I've never been better. . ." Misao wrapped her
legs around Aoshi, encouraging him to move deeper.
He needed no further invitation. Taking his time, he slowly edged forward
into Misao. Every time she whispered his name, or moaned or did anything
even vaguely erotic, Aoshi was in a stir. He couldn't understand how
he didn't react to her this way before. Perhaps he never took a closer
look at the Misao that was before him now. She was a woman through and
through. And it seemed that she was HIS woman. . .
"Aoshi-sama. . . .!" Misao exclaimed, her head tossing from side to
side. What was he doing to her?, she thought. This was madness! Simply
madness!
Aoshi could feel his body tightening, his flesh reacting to the friction
of Misao's inner sanctum against his rod of steel. He suddenly felt
wet drops hitting his back, realizing somewhat slowly that it was raining.
The slow rumble of thunder in the distance edged Aoshi. He wanted to
make Misao feel what it was like to reach that ultimate peak. He could
see it in her face that she wasn't far. Gradually moving faster, Misao's
body gripped Aoshi's tightly, and in once final stroke, the two lovers
exploded into a million shards, floating away from all that was sane
and tangible.
Is this a dream?, Misao thought, her body and mind exhausted completely.
Aoshi turned onto his back, taking Misao with him. He held her
close to his heart, closing his eyes and wrapping his arms tightly around
her.
"My Misao. . ." he whispered before drifting off into sleep.
Misao heard the rumble of thunder moving closer toward them. The rain
was steady against them now, but neither of them cared. It was only
water. What they had experienced then, they crossed over into something
neither would have believe possible.
"Aoshi-sama. . . . I love you so much. . ."
She kissed the wet surface of his chest, then laid her head back down,
closing her eyes. I want to stay like this, forever...