(c) copyright 1998 Rurouni Kenshin; Characters are copyrights of Nobuhiro
Watsuki, Jump Comics, et. al.
(c) copyright 1998 Kyoko Takara; Original Story is copyright of aforementioned
name.
Please send comments to takara-san@usa.net.
Thanks!
The following story is a LEMON story, consisting
of graphic scenes of sexuality. If you are easily offended by such material
or are not of an appropriate age to read this, PLEASE do NOT read this
story. You have been forewarned.
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. . . . .
