Chapter 8: Intentional words She sat quietly in the corner of the room, finishing her embroidery meant to be a gift for him. The morning lights from the curtains illuminated the sleeping figure on the bed underneath the covers, his sweet sleeping face displayed innocence of a young child. Miko stood up from the dressing table, another westernised object amid the midst of many in the extravagant home, she still clutching the pillow she’d sewn. Softly and gracefully, she strode towards her husband, no intentions to wake him up. He looked peaceful, a smile plastered to his adorable face even whilst sleeping, she couldn’t remember how many countless times she was mesmerised by his smile, easily taking her breath away. “Sou-chan...” she whispered, kneeling before the bed just above his forehead. “I’m so happy to be with you.” True words meant from the bottom of her heart. Words that he said to her during the wedding. Pushing the sleeve of her new silk kimono aside, Miko lightly brushed his face with her soft and smooth fingers, embracing each touch she made in contact with him. Her quivering fingers. She was shy since the day she met him by an inn where she worked, busy serving other customers who harassed, brawled, and shouted at her. For the sake of her family, she was willing to put through with it, even when they got to an extent of hitting her for not entertaining them. That’s when he strode in, like a hero to save her from her distress. He strode in behind his parents. What was more to ask? The marriage gave her a sense of security, she need not worry for the welfare of her family anymore, need not worry about leaving her beloved no longer. This was her dream come true, a life in bliss and happiness. She knew it would be selfish of her to ask for more. Even just a little more... A kiss she never received. A hug she never had. A love she would always wonder if he sincerely meant. “Koishii, are you happy...?” Miko asked, her voice now shaking. *** They walked back in silence under the still moonlight and dark sky, each footstep heard loud and clear, unmuffled by no other noise around. Kaoru had been absent-minded with her teaching today, unusually being hit by even the amateur and beginner students, a couple of times still swinging the bokken after the whole match. She would never dare admit it nor reveal it to anyone else, for all she worried about was the welfare of the sword, the gift she had just grown to accept. That fact that it actually bothers her alone freaked her out. She wondered where she would keep it, hide it, or one day muster courage enough to use it. And as if having a mind of it’s own, her body clutched the sword closely, her sweaty palms strangling the golden handle and black ivory sheath. Kaoru didn’t know how she felt, gratefulness? Or more... Enishi watched her from behind in hushed fascination, slightly amused by her reaction to his simple gesture. It was indescribable, his feelings at that moment. In truth, there was initially a tinge of regret when he remembered all he could achieve with the sword, it was like his second best friend from Tomoe that kept him going through the years both good and bad. But seeing her expression, her reaction... It was all washed away. That easily? He quickly tilted his head down, a smile uncontrollably creeping to his pink face. I’ve been thinking TOO much...*_* ;; “Okaeri Na...Oro??” Kenshin stood by the door to greet two red-face friends. Kaoru holding a sword and Enishi holding Kaoru’s bokken for her. “What an interesting training today ne, de gozaru ka?” *** “Aoishi-sama?” Misao screamed out loud into the dense forest as she ran wildly to catch after someone she couldn’t even see. “Where are you going, Aoishi-sama?!” From the casual strolling till the town boarder, Aoshi broke into a run knowing that Misao would follow. Down the hill and away from civilisation they ran for miles with Aoshi leading and Misao trying hard to catch up. She had no idea where was she, not to mention what was going on. “Aoshi!!” she cried a desperate plea, her tiredness getting the better of her. Only silence responded. “Forget it...” Misao sat down leaning on an oak tree, taking out some snacks she brought. “I need a break now.” Things were fine and perfect moments ago, she almost wished to stop time. But it seems all of a sudden, the situation too a sharp turn for the worse. She know Aoshi knew well she had a limit to her strengths, that she would stop to rest eventually like she was doing now, but it seems he just went on forward, forgetting about her existence. He gave the impression of anxiousness, rushing to chase something in front, while she rushed to chase him from behind. It was always as that. “Was I ever his pace?” she lowered her snack, deep in thought. “When did I ever catch up with him?” It was not in physical context that it saddened her, her painful reflections diverted to the past where her Aoishi-sama was steps ahead, leaving her behind whether to head for Tokyo or Shishio’s refuge. No matter how she cried or called out, like he was in another dimension he could not hear her. “No, no!! What are you thinking Misao?” she grasped her ear and shook her head, knocking out the sounds and thoughts of within. “He loves you! He cares for you! He had reasons to do what he did!!” Her head screamed back. ‘Reasons you were never satisfied with. Reasons you do not understand.’ “Nnnoooooo!!!!!” She took off into the forest at full speed. Hot tears streamed down her face, stinging her more than the thorns and twigs in her way. The gloomy skies from above rained heavily, pouring down droplets that hit her like knives as the lighting struck ruthlessly on the wet earth. Misao knew nothing but to run, to run from the truth that slapped her across the face. It was not by an event alone, but by the accumulation of the happenings in the past that made a scar so deep into her heart. She didn’t wanted it to, but the scene of Okina, a man she treated as father brutally wounded by Aoishi, replayed in her head again and again. Two whom she loved dearly taking each other’s life, none giving a damn to how she would feel. Kneeling next to Okina with half a life gone, she wanted to weep and cry her heart out, but her strong exterior restrained and kept those tears inside. Tears that flowed freely now. He did came back, but walking pass her once more to the confines of the temple, doing mediation to ease his thoughts. How she had longed to see him and be embraced by him was yet still fiercely sojourned. Yes, he needed time for his thoughts, how could she bare to be an obstruction? But what about her thoughts? Did anyone give a damn about it? “I’m not a child anymore...” she sobbed, tripping over a boulder and falling into a murky patch of mud. “Does anyone realise that?” She screamed once more in the darkness, submerging into pools of grime, no darker than she was inside.