"Anything But Lonely": an Aoshi/Misao songfic By Tochi-san Music by: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics by: Don Black & Charles Hart Disclaimer: *standard disclaimers apply* **** setting: New Years in Kyoto Aoshi's voice: "I'm sorry Misao, but I'm not coming with you. They don't need me..." *the music starts* [Anything but lonely Anything but empty rooms] The Oniwa Banshuu and their guests party and feast merrily at the Aoiya. No one notices Misao as she sits at the other end of the room, sipping her tea quietly in a corner. Her expression is withdrawn and etching in indescribable disappointment. [There's so much in life to share What's the sense when no one else is there?] Setting her cup down, she leaves, wandering into the frosty, snow-covered streets. [Anything but lonely Anything but only me] The garden within the Golden Pavilion lays still, wrapped in a blanket of shimmering white frosting. Misao walks along the edge of the frozen pool, lifting her head just in time to see a pair of lovers enfold in each other's embrace. Resentful and embarrassed, she averts her gaze and walks past them quickly. As she crosses the bridge, she peers over the edge into the silvery pond and catches her reflection... [Quiet years in too much space That's the thing that's hard to face] "Aoshi-sama! Please come to the Aoiya for New Years! You have to come. Please...?" Aoshi hesitates and finds himself looking into Misao's cerulean depths, the unspoken apprehensiveness clearly evident in their eyes. Moments later, he presents her with a slight, if not totally genuine smile. "I wasn't planning on any celebration...But if you really want me to, I'll see what I can do about coming to the party." Misao's face lights up with an unspeakable joy. "Hontou...Aoshi-sama...truly, you will promise to do this for me? Promise?" Aoshi closes his eyes and smiles inwardly to himself. "Hai..." [And...] Misao narrows her eyes and turns away from the icy reflection, continuing across the bridge... [You have a right to go...] "Jiiiiiiyaaaa!!!" Okina spins around in surprise to see a beautiful young woman standing in the doorway. His eyes widen in awe and delight. This lovely girl wearing the radiant, silk kimono of scarlet brilliance couldn't be his little weasel girl, could she? "Misao...Is that my pretty Misao?!" The girl laughs and throws up her arms as her old friend sweeps her off the ground over his head and whirls her around the room. [But you should also know That I won't be alone for long] "Oh, Jiya!" "Just you wait, Misao," Okina says with a smile as he sets her back down. "Once he sees you in this, your Aoshi-sama will be glad he ever considered coming." ~ [Long days with nothing said Are not what lie ahead] The entrance of the garden. Misao lowers her gaze to her kimono, the deep reds and flowery silk standing out colorfully against the dazzling white snow. This morning she had looked upon it in splendor and joyous thrill, yet now to her it looked no more stunning than the ninja costume she always wore. Her focus becomes hazy and she clenches her teeth tightly, forcing back the dreaded tears. *Why am I crying? Why do I even care?* She tosses away the train of thought as she flees into the garden, the scent of her lavender perfume lingering in the air as she passes... [I'm sorry, but I'm not that strong] *Damn you Aoshi-sama...* [Anything but lonely Anything but passing time] Away from all activity, Aoshi sits meditating on the temple balcony, allowing the snow to build up around his feet. Despite his initial relaxness, his brow has now creased in deep disturbance as ugly memories slowly occupy his mind ~ [Lonely's what I'll never be...] He sees a 9-year-old Misao, cheeks rosy and eyes glittering as he sits with her under a tree watching the glow of the fireworks in the dawn of the New Year. She giggles as the colors explode and turns to look for a response from her guardian. [While there's still some life in me] He merely nods, content and satisfied as he props her onto his lap for a better view. Misao reaches out into the sky hoping to touch the aerial kaleidoscope, and Aoshi watches her fondly as the vibrant colors dance across her face... "Six o' clock, Aoshi-sama. I'll come for you..." [And...] Six o' clock. He watches her bounding eagerly up the stairs remorsefully from above. A vision of splendor. Loose hair freed from its normally confined form, flowing freely behind like a waterfall of midnight ink. The color of her flushed cheeks harmonizing perfectly with the kimono she wore. She was an angel... And he was a demon. He didn't deserve to be with wonderful people like them. He couldn't... ~ "I'm sorry Misao, but I'm not coming with you..." "Na...nani ittennayo...Nani ittennayo, Aoshi-sama?" Misao can only stare back at the passionless Aoshi, his back turned to her, as the horror begins to build in her voice. "Naze...?" "They don't need me..." [I'm still young, don't forget It isn't over yet So many hearts for me to thrill] Frozen tears swell around Misao's eyes as she runs blindly down the temple stairs, eyes wide in shock and disappointment. Aoshi lowers his eyes as he returns to his meditating position, trying to block the sounds of her cries. *Sumanu, Misao...* ~ Aoshi's eyes snap open. [If you're not here to say How good I look each day] He can't just let this go. He conscience won't let him. Hurriedly, he rushes down the temple stairs into the snowy paradise. Despite its cold appearance, the night had strangely become very warm as the Oniwabanshuu okashira raced toward his Aoiya. As he passed the Golden Pavilion, a vague scent catches his attention. [I'll have to find someone who will] Lavender perfume. The one she wore tonight. Misao. Could she...? [Anything but lonely Anything but empty rooms] The garden was alive with beauty, the moon casting lovely reflections upon the shimmering snow. Aoshi strolls briskly along the garden path, the warm rays from the tree lanterns lighting his way. The lavender scent grows stronger as he continues down the trail toward the lake, his steps increasing faster and faster. He could almost hear her voice calling sweetly. *Aoshi-sama...* Aoshi ground to halt at the entrance to the clearing, his breath ragged as his eyes gazes upon the vision before him. [There's so much in life to share] The angel lays blanketed in a heavenly patch of pink flowers, the one area of the garden uncovered by soft frosting. The light from the moon caused the snow around her to glow brightly, glistening with a light of its own. Misao rests curled up within the rosy blossoms, dark hair spread out like a fan, streaking across her tear-stained face. Relieved, and utterly enchanted, Aoshi sits down next to the sleeping goddess and pulls her close to him, wrapping his warm cotton robe around her chilly body. [What's the sense when no one else is there?] She snuggles against his chest dreamily, uttering small sighs of content, absorbing the heat from his body, for on some subconscious level, she can feel his presence. Aoshi smiles slightly in spite of himself and turns his head up in awe as slowly, the evening fireworks begin to light up the sky. "Aoshi-sama..." "Hmm?" [What's the sense when no one else is there?] "I guess you've made it after all..." *the music ends* OWARI **** Additional notes: 1) I have no idea what the Golden Pavilion is like. I've tried doing some research but I couldn't find anything useful, so I basically made it up ^_^;; 2) Ideally, as I later found out, this story might have been better in a summer setting for the flower part. I know of no pinkish flowers that can magically stay in blossom during that time of winter. So again, it's all made up... 3) Okay, so just ignore the large inconsistencies (how far away from the Aoiya IS the GP?) and just think of it as fantasy okay? ^_^;; Doomo arigato gozaimasu! ________________________________________________ Get your own "800" number - Free Free voicemail, fax, email, and a lot more http://www.ureach.com