Subject: [kffdisc] Ikebana (1/2) Date: Thu, 06 May 1999 03:07:41 PDT From: "Tin Mandigma" Reply-To: kffdisc@onelist.com To: kffdisc@onelist.com From: "Tin Mandigma" Hi, minna! ^_^ Just a short Aoshi/Misao 'fic this time. Not anything like OLH. It's sappy ^^;; (I think -_-;) And I invented a lot of stuff (which may or may not have real basis ^^). I'm still taking a breather from OLH ^^; All that angst is not healthy, ne? BTW, lots of typos, grams... This 'fic is a quickie which I wrote due to frustration. Besides, I figured I might as well let Aoshi and Misao have a break from the angst, etc. which I put them through in OLH ^_^; Gomen ne! Ikebana by Tin Mandigma ---------------------------------------------------- This is a Rurouni Kenshin-inspired fanfic written entirely for entertainment purposes only. Standard disclaimers apply. ---------------------------------------------------- WARNING: This is pure unadulterated FLUFF. Aoshi made his way silently through the empty corridors of the Aoiya. He frowned as he took note of the almost eerie stillness which pervaded the building. Admittedly, it was still very early but the Oniwabanshuu were hardly heavy sleepers. He peered into the kitchen. No one was there. Strange. Okon and Omasu should have been up by now, raising what Okina termed as their "breakfast hell." Well, Okina was hardly a morning person. Misao, too. He was tempted to deepen his frown at *that* particular thought but he found himself resisting the urge to smile instead. Aoshi wondered just how much he had changed in the past few months. Slowly, he had adjusted back to the routine in the Aoiya, the routine of living, if you could call it that. It helped, of course, that he had some sort of anchor to which he could cling to, a constant to be his guide. Misao... Aoshi sighed. He emerged into the weak morning light, pausing only to close his eyes as he enjoyed the crisp if slightly chilly bite of the wind. Invigorating. Maybe it was time he did something more physical than meditation. He knew he was still in reasonably good shape but he needed to maintain his edge, after all. His edge. For once, Aoshi resisted the pull of the familiar niggling doubts which tormented his every waking hour. There was time enough for them later. Now, he just wanted to--be. He started walking, aimlessly at first, his gaze roving around restlessly as he took what pleasure he could from the calm serenity of the morning. A sudden burst of energy swept over him and then he was running, feet skimming lightly over the freshly turned path. The air brushed his face in a cooling caress and he welcomed it eagerly, an almost-smile curving his lips. He took a deep breath as he slowed down to a brisk walk, rounded a corner and...stopped abruptly. Misao was standing in the middle of what seemed to Aoshi as an entire field of flowers, all dazzling explosion of color and heady scent. He blinked, unsure of what he was seeing, when he realized that he had just stumbled into Okina's infamous flower arbor. The Oniwabanshuu was an organization known only to few but even those select people had little idea that one of the group's most revered and oldest members had a most unlikely habit for a ninja--growing flowers. Now that Aoshi thought about it, Okina habitually boasted about his prowess for gardening and he would often disappear for hours at a time to a 'secret' spot in the Aoiya grounds. Aoshi had never troubled himself with Okina's odd hobby, engrossed as he was in his own--problems. Aoshi reflected wryly that he and Okina were not so different after all. Where Aoshi had meditation and Zen Buddhism, Okina had his flowers as his own version of a peaceful escape from the turmoil of everyday living. But what was Misao doing here? Aoshi leaned quietly against a nearby wall. Misao hadn't noticed him yet and, for the moment, he wanted to keep it that way. She was carrying a huge bunch of flowers in her arms and Aoshi wondered why she hasn't toppled over yet from the weight of what seemed to him as tons of hyacinths, daffodils, touch-me-nots, lilies, daisies, even roses. He was tempted to go over and help her but he then he heard her mutter something which sounded suspiciously like 'I can do this, I can do this, I can do this.' His mouth quirked as he relaxed in his lounging position. Might as well enjoy the show. A slim foot peeked out of the riotous fall of color and moist petals to nudge a large wicker basket which rested serenely on the ground, blissfully unaware of the increasing agitation of its owner who was trying valiantly, if a little blindly, to kick it back into action. Misao suddenly staggered. Aoshi instinctively lunged forward, arms already reaching out to catch her when "Misao-chan!!!" Misao pressed hard on her outstretched foot, stepped back with the other, and somehow managed to reach a sort of wobbly balance, spewing muffled curses all the way. Aoshi tensed, unsure of what to do as he glanced to where the call came from. He relaxed when he saw Kakeru, the old gardener of the Aoiya, speeding towards Misao, an alarmed look on his face. He didn't notice Aoshi who had retreated back into his shelter as he careened to an abrupt stop before the flower- swamped girl. Aoshi watched as Kakeru quickly lifted a considerable portion of the bunch and bent down to arrange them carefully on the still-waiting basket in a swift economical motion. Misao's face was still hidden by a curtain of petals but Aoshi saw that her posture had relaxed. He shook his head wryly. "Misao-chan, are you all right?" Kakeru asked worriedly even as he gently tugged the remaining flowers from the girl's grasp. Misao burst into a peal of laughter, the sound sounding muffled at first but getting clearer as her head emerged slowly from its, Aoshi couldn't resist the metaphor, flowery grave. "I'm OK, Ojiichan," she murmured as her laughter tapered off into a warm smile at the surprised old man. Kakeru shook his head at her. "You really should have waited for me, Misao-chan," he reproved her. Misao giggled as she rubbed her now-empty but sore arms. "I know," she chortled. "But they looked so beautiful I couldn't resist. Besides, I was so excited..." She smiled again. "Thank you for helping me, Ojiichan." Kakeru then said something about 'stubborn young women' but Aoshi had ceased to pay attention. He was staring in bemused fascination at a disheveled Misao who was wearing a smudged apron over a pale blue kimono. Her dark hair was piled on top of her head in a careless knot, strands of which were falling loosely into her small if dirt-streaked face. She was gesturing vividly at Kakeru, pausing only every now and then to brush back another wayward strand. Aoshi reflected that he rarely, if ever, saw her looking quite as relaxed and carefree as she did at that moment. She was always smiling, true, but today she looked different--expectant, effusive, totally alive. He wondered why. "It's a good thing I came back just then," Kakeru was saying. "Sachiko's here." "Sa-chan?!" Misao exclaimed in delight. "That's great!" "Misao-chaaan!!!" Aoshi turned to see a young girl, about eight years old, running straight towards Misao, one arm clutching something wrapped in heavy paper. Misao waved, yet another one of those heart-stopping smiles lighting up her face. "Sa-chan, ohayo!" "Ohayo, Misao-chan!" Sachiko beamed. She came to a skipping halt in front of Misao. "Am I late?" Misao shook her head. "No. They're all asleep yet." Kakeru looked at her suspiciously. "Okina-sama?" "And Okon and Omasu," Misao said happily. "And the others." "What did you do, Misao-chan?" Misao grinned impishly. "Just made sure they slept a little longer, that's all." "The tea," Kakeru said knowingly. Misao nodded. "A little sleeping drug. Nothing to it," she replied airily. >From his hiding place, Aoshi raised an eyebrow. He remembered Misao bringing some tea up to his room that night before with the insistent reminder to drink it as soon as possible. It was a good thing he'd been too preoccupied with his reading to pay more attention. What was the girl up to? "Misao-chan..." Kakeru said worriedly. Misao waved at him dismissively. "Don't worry, Ojiichan. I just want more time, that's all." She turned to Sachiko. "Do you have it, Sa-chan?" Sachiko nodded happily. "Yes! I reserved it especially for you, Misao-chan!" She held out the bundle in her arms. "Kore!" "Good girl," Misao said approvingly as she took the proffered item. "Okaasan said you have to remove it from the wrapping as soon as possible," Sachiko replied, scrunching up her forehead. "And you need lots of water!" "Sure!" Misao answered, still smiling. For a second, Aoshi wished that he was Sachiko so he could see that smile up close. He shook his head. What the hell-- "Arigato, Sa-chan!" Sachiko smiled back. "Will you come by the shop tomorrow, Misao-chan?" "Of course," Misao said gently. "I'll see if there are any new stuff, huh?" Sachiko laughed. "Lots!" She reached up to tap the bundle Misao held in her arms. "I bet he's gonna love that." "Yes, he is," Misao replied, her blue eyes softening. He? Now, wait a minute. Aoshi stiffened as he frowned, wondering if he missed something. He had allowed himself to drift into a lazy daydream where the world revolved around Misao and her disheveled kimono... He straightened from his lounging position, confused. "Well, I gotta go, Misao-chan," Sachiko said. "Kaasan's waiting for me!" Misao bent down to pat the girl on the head. "I'll see you tomorrow, OK? Thank you so much for your help, Sa-chan." "Anytime, Misao-chan!" Sachiko smiled. "I'll see you out, Sachiko," Kakeru said gently. He looked at Misao. "You'll wait for me before you bring--" he motioned toward the flowers "--those into the house, won't you, Misao-chan?" Misao gazed at him innocently. "Of course, Ojiichan." Kakeru hesitated but Sachiko was already tugging on his hand. "Come on, Ojiisan!" Giving a last warning look at Misao over his shoulder, Kakeru allowed himself to be dragged along by Sachiko. "Misao-chan..." Misao made shooing motions with her empty hand. "Yes, Ojiichan!" She waited until he and Sachiko have left her sight before she turned to regard the overflowing basket of flowers on the ground reflectively. She frowned for a moment, her gaze wandering to the package in her arms and her face cleared. Well, Sachiko said she had to get this out of the wrapper as soon as possible, right? Kakeru will most probably accompany Sachiko up to the street, meaning he'll be gone for five more minutes at the least. Besides, she can't wait any longer. Having made up her mind, Misao adjusted the said package more comfortably in her hold as she reached down to grab the basket with a hand. It's not that heavy, right? Damn. It was heavy. Misao clenched her jaw as she slowly lifted it off the ground. Now, if she could just make it back to the house... "Misao!" Kakeru. Double damn. Misao staggered again and, this time, she knew with a sense of dreadful certainty that she was going to fall. Her foot slipped in response to her thoughts and then she was toppling forward. Misao closed her eyes, cringing at the thought of meeting the ground with her face, when she felt herself grabbed by the waist and pulled back gently but firmly. "I'll take that," a cool voice whispered in her ear as the basket was taken from her limp hand. Misao nearly stumbled again but the arm around her waist tightened. She peered over her shoulder and found herself being regarded steadily by a pair of calm if slightly amused blue eyes. "Aoshi-sama?" she croaked. Aoshi let go of her when every nerve in his body was shouting at him to hang on. He stepped back carefully, tightening his grip on the basket instead, as he took a couple of deep inward breaths. "Misao, you really should listen to instructions sometimes," he said mildly. Misao flushed. "Well, I--" She turned to him, looking so calm and poised as he stood in front of her, dressed elegantly in a gi and hakama, and she was suddenly conscious of her own state of cleanliness. Or lack of it, for that matter. Her flush deepened and his blue eyes glinted as he waited for her response. Humph. So he thought he caught her now, did he? She smiled at him sweetly if a bit defiantly. "Ohayo, Aoshi-sama!" Aoshi blinked, looking to Misao as he was suddenly at a loss for words. She pushed the thought away impatiently. In her dreams. "Ohayo, Misao," he replied evenly. He looked around him and, with a sinking heart, Misao waited for him to put the basket back on the ground and admonish her to wait for Kakeru who was walking hurriedly towards them. To her delight, he simply hefted it higher in the air effortlessly. "Where to?" he asked noncholantly. Misao smiled again. "To the kitchen, o great master," she murmured softly. Aoshi stopped for a brief second and Misao stared up at him, surprised, wondering if he had stumbled. But then he nodded and began walking back to the house with long easy strides. "Let's go," he said. Misao watched his retreating back bemusedly, wondering if she had just imagined what she saw. She could have sworn that Aoshi had--blushed but then... Shaking her head, she rushed over to catch up with him, clutching her package tightly to her chest. Kakeru stopped and smiled at the couple who were walking slowly back to the Aoiya, Aoshi's dark head towering over Misao's. He thought that they looked awfully--domestic, almost, what with Aoshi carrying the basket and Misao dressed in her ridiculous apron. "Love," Kakeru murmured approvingly. End of Part 1 NOTES: Mwahahahahaha!!! I'm fast approaching the state of sugar- ecstasy. I wrote this little piece to satisfy my sweet tooth which has been severly neglected for these past few months. My apologies. Also, I made a lot of assumptions about flowers (you could count the number of flowers I know by name in one hand ^^) and the Aoiya's architecture. Sumimasen! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ONElist: where real people with real interests get connected. http://www.onelist.com Join today!