From: Joy *Hugs Piggy* My muse spoke to me!! Here's chapter five, and Nicky.. Many, many thanks to you!! And to all that commented on the previous chapters, thank you too!! ********************* Disclaimer: The characters from RK do not belong to me, however, if they do not appear in RK, then they are mine! Comments and such are appreciated and are most welcomed!! Let The Reason Be Love by: Joy ********************** Let The Reason Be Love Chapter 5 "Dreams" Another day had come to an end. Misao stretched her muscles as she climbed up the stairs to go to her room. Yawning loudly, she opened the door, but before she could step inside, Koharu, one of the ninjas called her. "What is it, Koharu?" She asked with a smile. The man bowed before her and returned the smile. "The Okashira wishes to see you in his study." He replied. Misao looked at him blankly. It's been almost two months since she got married, and they really never had talked to each other, in fact, she had rarely seen him. "Now?" She asked. Koharu smiled inwardly at the girl's confused expression. She has proven to be a great asset. The Aoiya has become a very good source of income for them. He merely nodded in response. "I'll be there shortly. I just need to change.." With that, Koharu bowed again, and left. *Why does he want to see me?* she asked herself silently as she stepped inside her room and began changing. She recalled everything she had done over the week. She hadn't done anything wrong, nor has she interefered when Okina had received some of their associates.. what could he possibly want to see her for? After changing to a light blue kimono, Misao headed down stairs, and into the study. "Come in.." Misao almost stepped back, surprised. The door was still closed, and yet he knew she was there. She nervously opened the door and walked in. Aoshi was sitting down, reading some reports. He briefly glanced at her, before gesturing for her to take a seat. Misao felt her heart beat faster. Maybe it was because she was tired, or maybe it's because of the moonlight streaming in the window, but Aoshi looked a bit.. different. She tried not to blush as she sat down before him. She took a deep breath before meeting his eyes. "Konban wa, Aoshi-sama." "Aoshi.." Misao looked at him blankly. "Nani?" "I am your husband after all. I would never wish for my wife to address me with an honorific" He replied smoothly. *Even a wife brought only for your conviniece?* her mind asked. She pushed that thought aside and nodded her head. "Very well.. konban wa, Aoshi." She replied, repeating her greeting. Aoshi nodded. "Konban wa, Misao. How was business today?" She sighed before replying. "Good. There wasn't much trouble today, though I think we might need to hire more people.." she hoped that her voice sounded like a woman who owned a business, and not a child who was complaining. "I see," Aoshi was impressed. This girl was as good as Okina said she was. She can see any problems, and the solution needed. From the reports that he had read, Misao had no business training or any training at all. She seemed to have been spoiled by her father, and would spend the days playing with her friends, and riding her horse. "One of the reasons why I called you tonight is that I need you to go with me to a party a few nights from now." He told her. "It will be held in Osaka. Omasu and Okon will help you pack." "A party?" She asked, although somehow, she already knew that it wasn't really a party. "I will be meeting with a few important people, discussing important matters." He replied. "We leave two days from now." Misao thought about this. He told her what *exactly* was going to happen, though he didn't give her any details. That must mean that he trusted her, right? Or maybe he was just testing her? "What do I have to do?" "Nothing at all. Just mingle around with the other women.." Misao was mildly insulted that she was to be paraded around like a prized breeding mare. Was that all women were to their husbands? Aoshi noticed the scowl on Misao's face, but didn't say anything. Instead he stood up in one fluid motion and offered his hand to Misao, as a gesture for her to get up. Misao blinked as Aoshi offered her his hands. She numbly took it and felt a little rush of electricity surge through her body. "I want to show you something," He said, letting go of her hand. They walked silently, with Aoshi leading the way. Soon, they were walking at the back of the Aoiya and into the stables. Misao wondered briefly what he would want to show her. Aoshi opened the stable door, and inside was a black stallion with a white mark on his forehead that resembled a star. "He's yours," Aoshi told Misao who just looked at him in surprise. "Consider it a gift. You've worked hard in the Aoiya ever since your arrival. Okina mentioned to me that you used to have a horse." Misao looked at the stallion and back to Aoshi. Her eyes growing wide in surprise. "Honto?" she asked disbelievingly. "Do you like him?" he asked. Misao's eyes were now shining. "Like him? I love him! Thank you!" she cried, hugging him impulsively before running to the stallion, who received a longer hug. Her action caused his heart to skip a beat, but his face retained the blank expression he had always worn. There was never a time that anyone had even dared to get close to him. The feeling was new to him, and was causing him to feel slightly agitated. He had always maintained a wall that seperated him from others, and this girl broke through that. Her actions was purely innocent, and was a result of the surprise. He continued to stare at Misao who was speaking to the stallion in a soft voice. The stallion, it seemed, has no problems with it's new master. Misao felt as if she was going to faint. *I can't believe I did that! What was I thinking?* she screamed inside. She could still feel the heat burn her face. She hoped that he wouldn't get mad, or wouldn't see her turning beet red. But she really did love the stallion. *I wonder what am I going to name him?* her thoughts were cut off when one of the ninjas arrived. He bowed before the two of them and whispered something in Aoshi's ear. Aoshi simply whispered some intrusctions to the ninja before sending him off. He felt his hands trembling with rage as he recalled the news. "Misao, it's getting late. Go and get your rest. I'll take care of things here." Misao knew that there was more to this than that, but decided to leave it, for now. She nodded her head and walked towards him. "Thank you for the stallion, Aoshi. I really appreicate it." She said before walking away. When he was all alone, Aoshi took a deep breath collecting his thoughts. He has just been informed that a man believed to be a spy for the government was found dead in an inn in Kobe. His throat was slashed, and on his forehead, was the dragon seal of the Oniwabanshuu. **** Megumi dreamed. "Megumi-san! Megumi-san!!" the little voice cried in joy. Megumi laughed as she caught the young girl in her arms. "I made some food for you!" "I'm sure they'll taste wonderful!" she replied as she let herself be lead to the kitchen. She grinned as the girl handed her a riceball which she ate. "Hmmm.." "Well?!?" the girl asked impatiently, hands on hips. "I didn't know weasels can cook.." Megumi was rewarded with a screech of outrage and was chased outside by the girl. "I didn't know weasels can run either, Misao-chan!" "I AM NOT A WEASEL!" Megumi opened her eyes. She took a shaky breath before sitting up. She had spent so many sleepless nights ever since she heard what happened to her cousin, Misao. She was angry at her uncle for selling her, and angry at herself for not coming back in time. If she had, Misao would be with her at this moment. They would probably spend nights gossiping about anything and everything. But that would never happen now. She was married, and this worried Megumi more. She hadn't been given a name. All she knew was that Misao now lives in a place called the Aoiya. They might beat her there, and have no one to call for help. Megumi hated not knowing. She didn't know exactly what to do, but she did know that she will do anything to get Misao back. "I swear it." She whispered harshly, the light of the bloated moon the only witness to her oath. ********** Okina paced back and forth at the stable. Somebody was out to get the Oniwabanshuu. Aoshi had quickly mobilized the ninjas and sent them all over Japan to liase with the other Oniwabanshuu. The seal was definetly Oniwabanshuu, but the practice wasn't. Tradition has always demanded that the dragon seal was to be burned at the back of the neck. Not the forehead. There were no renegade Oniwabanshuu about. Everyone was accounted for. A traitor, that nobody knew about? Possibly. This man, if he did work as a spy for the government, could spell trouble. The authorities would surely be interested in this assasin. "Is there anything else that you know?" Okina asked, breaking the silence. "No. Not yet. There is something that I am missing here, Okina.." Okina looked at him. "What do you mean?" Aoshi merely shook his head. "Gather whatever information you can find on this man. I want a full report before I leave for Osaka with Misao." The old man looked in surprise. "You're taking her with you?" "I don't see any problem with that. Do you?" he asked smoothly. "Is it safe for her?" Aoshi looked almost amused by Okina's question. "She will be travelling with me, Okina." he replied. "Do you doubt your Okashira?" "Of course not, Aoshi. I am simply worried for her. You will be taking her to meet with your other contacts. You can't keep an eye on her all the time. She can be left vulnerable.." "I'm glad that you worry about my wife's safety Okina. But as I said, she will be with me. Nothing's going to happen to her." He replied. Okina nodded his head in resignation. "I'll send word before the sun rises tomorrow, Aoshi." "Good." With that, the two men left the stables and returned to the Aoiya. ***** Misao turned restlessly on her futon. She couldn't wait until morning to visit her stallion. She bit her lips as she tried to come up with a name, but came out empty. Instead, the scene that evening kept replaying in her mind. Aoshi offering her his hands, she blushed as she remembered how nice it felt, if only for a moment. She raised her hands and stared at it. Sighing, she closed her eyes and cringed as she remembered another scene. *Misao no baka! Why did you hug him?* she thought to herself. She didn't know what possesed her to do what she did. She was just so happy, and touched that he would get her something he knew she liked. "Shinomori Misao.." she whispered. "Shinomori Misao.. that doesn't sound bad.." she said softly. *I would never wish for my wife...* his voice drifted in her head. She blushed at that thought. "I'm his wife.." Misao didn't know what to think of this. She knew that she was only brought, she felt a stab of pain, knowing that her own family has practically auctioned her to the highest bidder. She wondered briefly how much was she worth. At least, she wasn't being mistreated, and in a way, she was almost happy. She loved working in the Aoiya, and the new friends she has made. She thought about her life with her parents in Nagano, and her new life here. It seemed like a long time when it has only been at least two months. "Father, Mother... please be proud of me," she whispered as sleep slowly claimed her. Misao slept, and dreamed of childhood days gone by, and of an older girl, long gone but never forgotten. ***** Just in the outskirts of Osaka, a man also dreamed. He dreamed of revenge long over due. The time has come to claim his destiny. Oh, how sweet it would be when the day has come for him to claim what was rightfully his and his alone. And so he dreamed about the steps he will take to execute his revenge, and execute them, he would. **** ~TbC~ I did it!! I did it! Now I have to think about chapter 6.. Comments are welcomed in open arms!! --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ---------------------------- Congratulations to Susan Davis! ONElist’s final FRIENDS&FAMILY WINNER! Stay tuned for exciting new contests, sweepstakes & more at ONElist! ------------------------------------------------------------------------