Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin or any of the characters in it.
If you think I do, please seek mental help immediately.
Author's Note: Reviews and flames are welcome! Thanks to everyone who has left a review so far, it means a lot to me. Thanks to kyouhi for all of her suggestions, I'm going to use the song she suggested in one of the later chapters ^.^ I love suggestions so keep them coming! Sorry I'm updating a late today, I just found out I got accepted to go to South Africa this morning so I've been busy. I should have the fic finished before then though ^.^ Anyways, keep reading and I'll keep writing! Enjoy!
Suddenly Soujirou wrapped one of his arms behind her back and one behind her legs and lifted her up effortlessly. Misao squealed in surprise, her legs kicking in the air. "What do you think your doing?" she asked in bewilderment, her arms instinctively wrapping around Soujirou's neck for balance. Soujirou feeling Misao's soft skin touching his neck. He just melted under her touch. Soujirou smiled down at the beautiful girl he was holding in his arms. "Gomen nasai Misao-chan, I didn't mean to startle you. I just wanted to take you down to get a bath with me. I don't think you can get down there yourself in your condition after all," Soujirou explained to her. Misao's eyes widened in shock at Soujirou's words and her face turned red in mixed embarrassment and anger. "Take a bath with you? Hentai!" she declared as she struggled to get out of his arms. Soujirou's face turned bright red with embarrassment. "Iie! I meant you take a bath before I take mine. Not take a bath with me," he hurriedly explained. Misao quit her struggling as a feeling of discomfort from her situation washed over her, "Oh… gomen nasai…" Soujirou smiled at her, a slight blush still present on his cheeks. "It's okay Misao-chan," he told her as he carried her out the door and down the stairs. Not that he hadn't dreamt of taking a bath with her, just the thought alone was enough to give him a nose bleed. His body shuddered nervously at the though of her small frame next to his. God he had it for her bad.
When they reached the bathhouse behind the inn, Soujirou set down Misao's dainty figure. Misao opened the door and went inside, but before she closed it she poked out her head and warned Soujirou. "No peaking or the scar I'll give you will make Himura-san's look like a scratch," Misao threatened. Soujirou just smiled innocently in reply as she closed the door behind her.
Misao untied her pink obi and took off her Oniwabanshu uniform, dropping it onto the floor. It had been thoughtful of Sou-chan to think she might want a bath as well. Perhaps she should be a little nicer to him, Misao decided as she climbed into the bath that had already been drawn for her. Misao unbraided her long black hair, the wavy strands cascading down her back and over her shoulders as she leaned back into the warm water of the bathtub. She looked up at the ceiling of the steamy bathhouse, as her back rested against the edge of the ivory bathtub. She was lost deep in though about Soujirou. That kiss, it was so bold, so passionate, so right. She wondered what Jiya and the others would say when she came home, holding Soujirou's hand in hers. They'd probably be frightened and worried to see her alongside of the former Tenken, but they'd learn to love him in time, just as she had. Okon and Omasu would probably be supportive Misao decided. They were always encouraging her to seek love elsewhere instead of from Aoshi after he had repeatedly ignored her. Aoshi-sama, what would he think? Would he be upset, would he even say anything at all on the subject? She still wondered if he harbored any affection for her at all. Not that it really mattered now. Misao sighed in resignation as she looked up at a small open window high above the bathtub, there so the steam could escape from the room. Most importantly of all, what did Soujirou think on the subject? Would he stay at the Aoiya when she asked him? She hoped so. She didn't want to know what it would be like to spend another day on this earth without seeing Soujirou's smile.
Soujirou stood patiently outside of the bathhouse in the bright daylight, the sunlight making his shining smile seem even more radiant. He wasn't sure how long Misao would be, he remembered how Yumi-san had always taken an eternity in the bath. He wondered if Misao would be the same way. Looking around for something to do to kill the time, Soujirou noticed a patch of wildflowers growing near the inn. He wondered if Misao-chan liked flowers.
Misao's eyes opened after resting comfortably in the bathtub for a few minutes at the sound of children playing outside the bathroom window above her. Misao smiled at the playful laughter remembering when she had been a child, playing with Hannya and Aoshi-sama. She used to love it when Jiya would throw her in the air and catch her. She had always been a fearless child, never knowing danger or pain in the protective environment the Oniwabanshu provided for her. Misao smiled happily at the memories as she slid lower into the bath. Poor Sou-chan, he'd never had that.
Soujirou stood up suddenly, hearing a loud, high-pitched scream coming from the bathhouse. "Misao-chan!" he thought as a million thoughts rushed through his mind concerning her safety. He grasped the bouquet of wildflowers he had picked for Misao tightly in his left hand as he ran towards the bathhouse, his right hand lightly brushing against the hilt of his nihontou to make sure it was still there. If it was that man who had pestered him earlier again, he swore he would kill him where he stood. With his godlike speed, Soujirou burst through the door, prepared to fight whoever was threatening his Misao, only to see Misao standing up in the bathtub, a short towel wrapped around her hiding her nakedness, her long, wet black hair cascading down her back and over her shoulders to her very knees. A child's ball, which had flown through an open window, startling her, was floating in the bath water, the apparent cause of her scream. Soujirou froze at the sight, uncertain of the situation, having expected an intruder, and awed by the sight of Misao in her present state. Misao, however, wasn't so awestruck.
Soujirou walked along the road that would eventually lead them to Kyoto, carrying Misao on his back, the bright red imprint of a hand still evident on his cheek. Misao was clutching the wildflowers he had given to her in her hand as she held onto him tightly, still apologizing for having slapped him. "Gomen nasai Sou-chan… I'd thought," Misao started again before Soujirou cut her off. "It's alright Misao-chan!" he told her gently. The smack had been worth it anyways. He had been frightened that something had happened to her and come rushing in, but the sight… Soujirou blushed at the thought. Misao noticed the change in color her companion's face as she leaned over his shoulder. "What's wrong Sou-chan?" she asked him curiously, hoping that he wasn't upset with her. She was sorry after all, when he had come rushing in like that she had just reacted without thinking. She knew Soujirou would never do anything to upset her intentionally. Soujirou answered her, "Ah, I was just thinking how happy I am that you're alright." Misao nodded happily, satisfied by his answer. "Arigatou Sou-chan."
And so they continued their journey.
Author's Note: Reviews and flames are welcome! Thanks to everyone who has left a review so far, it means a lot to me. Thanks to kyouhi for all of her suggestions, I'm going to use the song she suggested in one of the later chapters ^.^ I love suggestions so keep them coming! Sorry I'm updating a late today, I just found out I got accepted to go to South Africa this morning so I've been busy. I should have the fic finished before then though ^.^ Anyways, keep reading and I'll keep writing! Enjoy!
Suddenly Soujirou wrapped one of his arms behind her back and one behind her legs and lifted her up effortlessly. Misao squealed in surprise, her legs kicking in the air. "What do you think your doing?" she asked in bewilderment, her arms instinctively wrapping around Soujirou's neck for balance. Soujirou feeling Misao's soft skin touching his neck. He just melted under her touch. Soujirou smiled down at the beautiful girl he was holding in his arms. "Gomen nasai Misao-chan, I didn't mean to startle you. I just wanted to take you down to get a bath with me. I don't think you can get down there yourself in your condition after all," Soujirou explained to her. Misao's eyes widened in shock at Soujirou's words and her face turned red in mixed embarrassment and anger. "Take a bath with you? Hentai!" she declared as she struggled to get out of his arms. Soujirou's face turned bright red with embarrassment. "Iie! I meant you take a bath before I take mine. Not take a bath with me," he hurriedly explained. Misao quit her struggling as a feeling of discomfort from her situation washed over her, "Oh… gomen nasai…" Soujirou smiled at her, a slight blush still present on his cheeks. "It's okay Misao-chan," he told her as he carried her out the door and down the stairs. Not that he hadn't dreamt of taking a bath with her, just the thought alone was enough to give him a nose bleed. His body shuddered nervously at the though of her small frame next to his. God he had it for her bad.
When they reached the bathhouse behind the inn, Soujirou set down Misao's dainty figure. Misao opened the door and went inside, but before she closed it she poked out her head and warned Soujirou. "No peaking or the scar I'll give you will make Himura-san's look like a scratch," Misao threatened. Soujirou just smiled innocently in reply as she closed the door behind her.
Misao untied her pink obi and took off her Oniwabanshu uniform, dropping it onto the floor. It had been thoughtful of Sou-chan to think she might want a bath as well. Perhaps she should be a little nicer to him, Misao decided as she climbed into the bath that had already been drawn for her. Misao unbraided her long black hair, the wavy strands cascading down her back and over her shoulders as she leaned back into the warm water of the bathtub. She looked up at the ceiling of the steamy bathhouse, as her back rested against the edge of the ivory bathtub. She was lost deep in though about Soujirou. That kiss, it was so bold, so passionate, so right. She wondered what Jiya and the others would say when she came home, holding Soujirou's hand in hers. They'd probably be frightened and worried to see her alongside of the former Tenken, but they'd learn to love him in time, just as she had. Okon and Omasu would probably be supportive Misao decided. They were always encouraging her to seek love elsewhere instead of from Aoshi after he had repeatedly ignored her. Aoshi-sama, what would he think? Would he be upset, would he even say anything at all on the subject? She still wondered if he harbored any affection for her at all. Not that it really mattered now. Misao sighed in resignation as she looked up at a small open window high above the bathtub, there so the steam could escape from the room. Most importantly of all, what did Soujirou think on the subject? Would he stay at the Aoiya when she asked him? She hoped so. She didn't want to know what it would be like to spend another day on this earth without seeing Soujirou's smile.
Soujirou stood patiently outside of the bathhouse in the bright daylight, the sunlight making his shining smile seem even more radiant. He wasn't sure how long Misao would be, he remembered how Yumi-san had always taken an eternity in the bath. He wondered if Misao would be the same way. Looking around for something to do to kill the time, Soujirou noticed a patch of wildflowers growing near the inn. He wondered if Misao-chan liked flowers.
Misao's eyes opened after resting comfortably in the bathtub for a few minutes at the sound of children playing outside the bathroom window above her. Misao smiled at the playful laughter remembering when she had been a child, playing with Hannya and Aoshi-sama. She used to love it when Jiya would throw her in the air and catch her. She had always been a fearless child, never knowing danger or pain in the protective environment the Oniwabanshu provided for her. Misao smiled happily at the memories as she slid lower into the bath. Poor Sou-chan, he'd never had that.
Soujirou stood up suddenly, hearing a loud, high-pitched scream coming from the bathhouse. "Misao-chan!" he thought as a million thoughts rushed through his mind concerning her safety. He grasped the bouquet of wildflowers he had picked for Misao tightly in his left hand as he ran towards the bathhouse, his right hand lightly brushing against the hilt of his nihontou to make sure it was still there. If it was that man who had pestered him earlier again, he swore he would kill him where he stood. With his godlike speed, Soujirou burst through the door, prepared to fight whoever was threatening his Misao, only to see Misao standing up in the bathtub, a short towel wrapped around her hiding her nakedness, her long, wet black hair cascading down her back and over her shoulders to her very knees. A child's ball, which had flown through an open window, startling her, was floating in the bath water, the apparent cause of her scream. Soujirou froze at the sight, uncertain of the situation, having expected an intruder, and awed by the sight of Misao in her present state. Misao, however, wasn't so awestruck.
Soujirou walked along the road that would eventually lead them to Kyoto, carrying Misao on his back, the bright red imprint of a hand still evident on his cheek. Misao was clutching the wildflowers he had given to her in her hand as she held onto him tightly, still apologizing for having slapped him. "Gomen nasai Sou-chan… I'd thought," Misao started again before Soujirou cut her off. "It's alright Misao-chan!" he told her gently. The smack had been worth it anyways. He had been frightened that something had happened to her and come rushing in, but the sight… Soujirou blushed at the thought. Misao noticed the change in color her companion's face as she leaned over his shoulder. "What's wrong Sou-chan?" she asked him curiously, hoping that he wasn't upset with her. She was sorry after all, when he had come rushing in like that she had just reacted without thinking. She knew Soujirou would never do anything to upset her intentionally. Soujirou answered her, "Ah, I was just thinking how happy I am that you're alright." Misao nodded happily, satisfied by his answer. "Arigatou Sou-chan."
And so they continued their journey.