White Tiger, Jade Concubine Prologue: Self-discovery KYOTO “Are you sure about this, Misao-chan? Are you sure you want to leave?” The self-proclaimed Okashira of the Oniwabanshu looked up at her friend’s softly spoken question. The older woman was staring at her from beside the shoji, a small frown marring her pretty features as she watched the younger girl hurriedly stuff a select few of her possessions into a small sac. “I’m sure, Omasu,” Misao replied after a slight pause. “This is the way…it has to be…” “Demo…I’m sure that Aoshi-sama will come around eventually…give him some time…” “I’ve wasted enough time on him,” the young, raven-haired girl declared, hefting the sac over her shoulder as she met anxious brown eyes with her own jade orbs. “I’ve wasted my whole life…loving him…chasing him…yet he treats me like a child. A bothersome child at that…I need to get away…I need to do this…for me…” “When will you be back?” “I’m not sure. I’ll come back after I’ve finished my journey…” “Your journey?” “My journey to find myself,” Misao murmured, taking one last glance around her small room to make sure she hadn’t forgotten to pack any items of importance. “My journey to discover who I really am and what I truly want…to see if I can honestly be satisfied accepting whatever tiny doses of affection Aoshi-sama deigns to give me.” Pausing, she pulled the older girl into a tight embrace. “Once I have found all of my answers, I will return…I will be the new and improved version of Makimachi Misao!” “Oh, Misao-chan…” “Don’t worry about me,” the raven-haired girl assured the older woman. “I’ll be fine.” “I know, but I’m going to miss you…and so will everyone else…” Smiling brightly, Misao willed away the tears threatening to form in her eyes and hugged Omasu once more. “Time to say good-bye…” ~~~~~~~~~ “Aoshi-sama?” The tall, dark haired, former Okashira’s eyes drifted open slowly as he sat calmly in meditation. Icy blue eyes swept over the girl’s small form, noting the sac slung over her shoulder and the determined expression on her face. “I’m leaving,” Misao declared, stepping closer to the incense burning before the so-far silent man. “I…I don’t know how long I’ll be gone, but…I just wanted to come say good-bye…” “Okina told me that you had decided to start wandering in search of answers to the questions in your heart,” Aoshi stated quietly, gazing up at her as she came to stand in front of him. “I wish you luck, Misao. I hope that you find what you are looking for…” “So do I.” The raven-haired girl closed her eyes briefly then took a slow step back, turning away from the older man. “Good-bye, Aoshi-sama…” “Good-bye, Misao…” The young girl waited until she was a fair distance from the temple before she allowed the tears to fall, burning hot trails down her pale cheeks as she moved forward, never looking back, on her journey towards the discovery of her true self. Not once did she stop to consider that her self-discovery would come from one of the most enigmatic of all men, in the most unlikely of places. TBC… ><><><><><>< ADDITIONAL NOTES: I am aware that this prologue is EXTREMELY short, but I will post the first chapter A.S.A.P.! Thanks for reading! PLEASE REVIEW and let me know what you think of this idea so far. This fic is a giftfic for Susan. At her request, I am venturing into the wild to try and piece this thing together. If you like it, show your support! She really wants to see it finished, but I don’t know if I will if I don’t get any feedback, SO give me FEEDBACK! ^__^ Once again, I want your opinions, but flames on my chosen pairing will be ignored or erased, so don’t bother to post them, okay? For those of you with an open mind, I hope you enjoy this! Ja! ~Midori^_~