Of Roses, Scent And Rain

STANDARD DISCLAIMER APPLY: I ABSOLUTELY DON'T own any of the characters from Rurouni Kenshin. And I DON'T make money out of this. This is for entertainment purposes only.


Author's notes:

Yeah....so I have noticed. I don't have titles for the chapters. What the heck. It doesn't matter anyway.



So the Lemon part comes. And hopefully more to come.



gomen for the grammar.





Chapter 12



Walking alone from a countryside-like pathway, each of

Soujiro's footsteps lead its way to a secluded area, a place much

kept away from the noise and troubles of the city's life. Giant trees

are fully grown, equally planted at each sides of the road, and green

luscious grasses are spreading a mile or two. Sweet chirpings of

canary birds are heard as the young man enters into another realm.

Smooth breeze kept him cool as the sun sits still from above,

shimmering its might and glory as the ruler of the heavens. He

continues to walk, stretching his arms to feel more of what the

beauty of nature has to offer. He wonders more of what this morning

had become for him. A small thing happened but has huge effect on

him. After 30 minutes of strolling from the wilderness, he stopped

from a big mechanical gate with a design more like of Victorian. He

just stood there, waiting for someone to open the huge entry before

him but no one dared to.



"Oh," Soujiro said in surprise and sighed, "I forgot." He

went to the side of the gate and probed for the right brick to take

off. Beneath that specific brick has the state-of-the-art scanner

analyzer for the fingerprint, and another for Iris. "This should do

it."



After a moment of confirmation from the machine, the enormous

steel gate slowly began to open. The view of a large mansion, some

kind of French Victorian style, projected its beauty to anyone who

enters its domain. At the front of the mansion lies a garden maze,

decorated with different kinds of tropical plants, is one of the most

astounding features of the villa itself. Varieties of flowers are

seen from any part of the villa. Tulips, Orchids, Yellow bells

dominated the plains. As Soujiro makes his grand entrance, 6 security

guards clothed in a black Americana suit greeted him.



One of the guards, a tall, baldy guy - probably the head of

the group, welcomed and asked him in a respectfully manner. "Master

Soujiro, why didn't you use the limousine in touring the town early

this morning? You know how dangerous the city's streets today, sir.

And the Head Master won't allow such arrogance, such irresponsible

act. I'm afraid that he already knows what you did." He bowed down.



"Nonsense! The people at the city are fine to be with and I

have nothing to be scared of them. You know I can take care myself,

far more than you could, same with your subordinates." Soujiro walked

towards the huge marble stair as the head guard followed him.



"But sir, I'm only concern on your safety. You know the

rules, and breaking them would really make a big fuss on all of us

especially him. Please do understand."



"Why thank you Iwasu-san for your sincere concern for me

although I'm not the one who should be pardon with. Tell me. Isn't it

a great insult for a Superior being scolded by one of his minions,

especially in front of the lower classes? I think reprimanding my

ways isn't your job to deal with, Iwasu-san. Always remember who you

are from this sphere." Soujiro continued to walk to his room while

the head guard stopped from a specific spot. "Your concern for me is

not very amusing but rather pathetic. Not suitable for this kind of

field." He laughed loudly, not minding his harshness towards the

concerned old man.



The head of the guards was silenced while looking his master

walking, farther and farther, his way to his room. The rest showed no

emotions, but went to their assigned positions and refrained from

communicating with each other. The head guard went outside the

mansion, exiting towards the mansion's lavish designed lanai,

worrying more of what Soujiro had become.



Upon entering his room, Soujiro saw a bucket of ice and at

its side, a bottle of red wine, placed above a rolling tray. Along

with it is a porcelain vase with a 4 tulips inserted; all peach ones.

He made his way towards the tray and sighed. Not a single delight was

shown on his face but his mark was still there, a smile but cold as

an ice. The temperature inside the room is hot. The time is almost 12

noon. He searched the remote control for his room's aircon.



"Where did I put it?" Soujiro asked himself. After all

searching, he grabbed and pointed it towards the unit and switch on.

He threw it to his lovely fully satin-bed and bit by bit, he took

away his clothing.



Left with a boxer short, he opened his beautifully carved Venetian

cabinet in his walk-in closet to reach for his white bath towel

scented with raspberry perfume. Moments later, the room's temperature

had reached at 19 degrees. It is cold yet very cozy for his smooth,

young skin. The toilet measures half the size of his bedroom; it took

a large space on his room. Hazel marble and black granite combination

is used at the floor, same with the vanity area. A large, oval-shape

mirror at the counter, a gift from a wealthy and very influential

friend politician from China, is simply seen. At the other side, a

computerized Jacuzzi and the silhouetted- wall shower area are

placed. The Jacuzzi was automatically turned on at the time Soujiro

first entered his bedroom a while ago. Armed with his scented towel,

he looked at the mirror, looking for some flaws at his face but

there's none. He whisked some fresh water at his young delicate face

for some reasons he didn't know - just like that. He took some steps

towards the bathing area and threw the scented towel at the dry side

of the pleasure bath machine. He stretched his body, aiming to take

away other stress left. Ready to go, he removed his boxer short and

went inside the bubbling waters of the Jacuzzi. Rearranging other

crowded bubbles, he sat slowly and put some therapeutic bath gel on

the water. He sighed deeply and leaned against the surface of the

tub. He closed his eyes and thought of something. Kokoro, the girl at

the park. .After imagining her, he smiled yet deep inside of him,

rejection and urge to be love is yielding much. He brushed his bangs

away from his face and continued to daydream about her. It was his

only thing to smoothen things out after her straight rejection from

him. But upon relaxing, he remembered what Kokoro told him at the

park. Such tragic for him to hear those words but he has to live with

it. He has to face another challenge of his life and get over with

it. At his mind, echoing of words, or her name, of being without her

on his life punishes him dearly. So much for that for almost a day in

a friendship, but for him, it was a long time ago he had this

feelings….since when, is the biggest question.



Several moments later, he stood, walking towards the shower area. He

had enough of the soothing sensation from the Jacuzzi. At the shower,

open as it is, Soujiro reached for the nozzle and turned the shower

on. He pointed it above his head, to his back, arching gracefully as

the water simply probes throughout the surface of his delicate

juvenile skin. He also showered his chest to take away other specs of

bath gel and bubbles. He basically massaged his upper torso, arms and

then his lean belly when suddenly; a touch from his left shoulder to

this upper spine was felt. The reaction of the young man was not

surprising, as if he already knew who the one is doing that thing on

him, touching him with full sinful intention. Then, the two foreign

hands explored its way toward his chest, then to his lower abdomen,

caressing what is left to excite. A beautiful sexy woman, older than

his age, came to his room, to his bathroom, just to greet the newly

arrived young man at the mansion.



"My dear Seta Soujiro." She chortled. "You excite me more whenever

you leave this mansion and don't come back for a long time." The

woman spoke as she undressed her purple kimono behind him. "I've been

waiting for you for this moment. Did you like the tulips and the wine

I've placed on your room? Romantic, isn't? If you may say so, I can

turn on the stereo to play some sweet music jazz for us, to persuade

your mood."



Soujiro reacted numbly but gave an effort on answering her back. "But

I'm only away for 4 hours. How could you call that long? We see each

other in this mansion quite so often, Yume."



Yume is the Head Mistress of the Mansion. Armed with gorgeous looks

and knowledge of special oriental healing, all under her follows her

orders and wishes. Seta Soujiro is one of them, one of her subjects,

her loyal subject but diverse. Since she is the head mistress, he has

to follow her commands to remain his life at it is - until the time

comes.



She probed her tiny hands to his wet chest again, massaging

pleasurably to him. Both wet at the shower, she shook her head;

enabling her long brown hair to move freely as the fast tiny droplets

of water goes into them. Wet bodies collided and Soujiro still faced

the tiled wall while Yume kept on hugging him at the shower, bearing

all of her to him. Soujiro bent his head as he put the nozzle back to

its original place. The nozzle continues to sustain them warm water.

Soujiro held his hands against the moist tile wall while she

continued to embrace him, brushing her smooth-skinned body at his

bare wet back. The feeling of ecstasy was felt; all her sinning

caresses to his body were starting to occupy his dark side. He

reflexively bit his lips as he arched his body to receive the

continue flow of the water at the nozzle to his pretty face. Her

rounded breast clashed at his bare back, mounting more delight of

showering together.



"Soujiro, will you receive me now?" Yume whispered into his left ear.

Her red lips touched his ear back then to his neck. "I'm hunger of

you, don't you know?" She moaned and continued to kiss.



Soujiro grabbed Yume's hands and kissed both of them while the moist

in the showering area is getting thicker. He turned back and gazed on

her. "So soon, my Head Mistress?" He raised his eyebrow.



"Don't call me that, Seta-san. You are making me older." She moved

forwardly to him, trapping him to her arms as the water from the

nozzle continues to shower. "My body needs another one of your

expertise, my Seta-san." She looked at him wickedly. "Yours is truly

irreplaceable. I like your momentum." She kissed him on his lips then

to his check, scanning what is left to seduce.



While Soujiro allowed her to demoralize his, his detached eyes begins

to wander, wondering about the day he had, the life he had, the

times….He thought more of what he had become in the hands of the

people whom he trusted, to the people who molded him through those

sad, damned years which they also caused. Suddenly, the image of

Kokoro came through his mind. He instantly moved away from Yume. The

woman was surprised upon his resistance. Soujiro held back against

Yume and work his way out of the shower area.



"Soujiro!" Yume shouted while her stare followed him. Crossing her

arms to cover her bare breast, she went after him.



"I'm sorry to disappoint you, Madame. Well, I think my work is

calling me." He walked back to his bedroom without his towel, leaving

him bare naked. Water from his drenched skin flowed towards the

floor.



"But Soujiro!" She followed him to his room, also leaving without a

towel or robe to cover her up. She stood at the door, still crossing

her arms to her chest. "I see. What seems to be the problem, my love?

You are not like this whenever we do our thing." Soujiro stopped from

walking, just stood still - listening.



The lady went close to Soujiro and once again touched his body, any

part of it, while kissing fervently. She moaned, feeling at the verge

of the orgasm when she finally noticed that he doesn't react. "Seta-

san," Yume held a hand to his cheek and stared through his eyes, "Am

I not the same as you first touched me before? I assure you, it won't

be the same as the."



"OTHERS." Soujiro spoke abruptly with emotions still intact inside of

him.



"Why? Didn't you like the things we usually do when we are together?"

Yume asked, sounding like a little nosy girl.



Soujiro remained quiet and looked at the other view where he could

not see her. Each of their body is starting to dry because of the

room's cold temperature. Even though the air is cold inside the room,

each of the bodies is in heat. They were near his white- satin bed.

Yume grabbed his hand, directing towards the bed. She laid herself

first, feeling the smoothness the satin has to offer on her body.

Soujiro had no chance of escaping from her now. He has to follow her,

and that is his curse. She invited him naughtily to his own bed. Eyes

winking, she bared it all, just like the same other instances with

her. He followed in, placing himself above her - still arguing with

himself about this old ordeal.



"Kiss me now, my Soujiro." Yume said while she continues to whimper

harshly. "Be with me, be one with me."



Soujiro couldn't resist anymore because of the threat posing against

him if he will not follow her. He just closed his eyes, praying that

all of this will be over soon. Beneath his mind, many judgments of

disgust on himself keep berating. He asked himself of the end of his

sacrifices, and when to regain his dignity as a man. He kissed her

lips lusciously as he made his way to her chest, down below her

abdomen. Yume was thrilled whenever Soujiro does this to her, to her

body. She arched her body, in response to the pleasure he was

endowing upon her. Soujiro looked up and stared her face, trying to

catch his loosing breath. He moved between her moist womanhood,

aiming for a right position. He bent his head and kissed her once

more, but this time, more aggressively. His manly arms made it

through her back, supporting more of her weight. Yume kept on

encouraging him, to do all the nastiness they usually do whenever

this moment comes. He brushed his arms and hands to her creamy back.

As the heat went on, her womanly scent radiated on him, intensifying

the smell that might urged him to go beyond his limits. Deep inside

of him, questions started appearing - Was he enjoying this? Was he

beginning to lose himself again to this call? He didn't know. He has

to do this or has to do something about it. One of his hands cupped

one of her rounding breast, producing more of the bliss she's dying

to receive. She gripped her hands at the dashboard, trying to pull

herself together as the young man explored her more. Arching her

body, she widened the openness of her thighs to receive him more and

Soujiro was about to enter her, to make things soon to be over.



"This is what she wanted," he said to himself.



Upon the edge of pure pleasure, Soujiro's celphone rang, making him

to stop from the thing he supposed to do. Gladness was felt on his

side, saving him at the nick of time. He deliberately moved out of

his bed to answer the call. Yume was obviously irritated, sighing

roughly after his weight gone out from her body. She cursed the one

who called silently.



"Moshi-moshi." Soujiro greeted on the phone.



A very low and manly voice was heard. "Report to me now." Then the

phone at the other side hung up. Soujiro smiled upon receiving the

message. Yume wasn't happy upon seeing his reaction.



"So your master called." Yume took a large pillow near the bed's

dashing board.



"I told you. I have worked to do." Soujiro said while searching for

his towel.



"Can't you stay here for at least 15 minutes? Let's just finish what

we've started." Yume posed erotically to his view. "Being late at

short minutes won't make a difference."



Soujiro went to the bath room and took a quick shower. Cleansing what

stuck into his body, he rubbed his skin roughly, hoping to take away

the sins and lust attaching. After all of that, he then went back to

his walk-in closet. "I don't think so Madame Yume. Maybe, some other

time," He quickly dressed himself up with faded salmon shirt and

black pants, and went to a near by mirror, also in his walk-in

closet, to comb his hair properly. After grooming himself, he took

something from his safety cabinet. He was about to walk out of the

room when Yume called him back. He just stopped to listen without

glancing at her.



"Seta-san," Yume called, "let's continue this after dinner. Your work

always hinders our play." She supported herself up and chortled

wickedly.



Soujiro didn't speak as he smiles like he always do, then left,

closing the doors behind him.



*******



"What are you talking about, sensei?" Kokoro gradually moved away

from Aoshi. Nervous as she was, she deliberately jumped up at one of

the big old oak tree's branches, to position herself up just to be

away from his presence. Something in her felt edgy to get close to

him after she had experience the intense intimacy when she and her

sensei had their first demonstration at the gym that late afternoon.

Everything came back to her senses the things she had noticed at the

time she got closed to her sensei - his well-built posture, his

jagged attitude and his heavenly twisted scent. She laughed upon

remembering them while Aoshi watched her while she makes completely

fool of herself. Kokoro continued to laugh then looked down, seeing

her sensei silently staring at her, without much of a reaction. That

scene made her slowly stopped from further laughing because she

realized that she's acting silly in front of him, loosing her

dignity. "What are you looking at?"



The man didn't speak. Know as an observer, he just watched her,

straight to her lovely cerulean eyes. His eyes began to connect with

her, without realizing much. Kokoro began to blush for her sensei's

boldness. "Why is he staring at me that way?" she said to herself,

wondering the magic of his stare to her. This is the first time she

felt this way from him, all of because of his special gaze. She tried

to put her sight into another perspective, just to avoid his. But

then again, the feeling won't just fade away. She carefully glanced

at him, securing herself not to be too obvious of her excitement and

uneasiness, and caught him still staring. Her heart beat had gone

faster. She abruptly took her sight away from his. "Will you stop

staring at me?! It isn't funny anymore." She bit her lip.



Gazing up to her, Aoshi closed his eyes and brushed away his long

bangs from his face. "Just by staring at you makes you feel very

uncomfortable."



"It's natural to feel that when someone stares at you without much of

a reason why he should be."



He opened his eyes and took his sight away from her. He went beside

the big old oak tree and leaned himself there. The sun shined

beautifully on them even the setting is hot. Aoshi wore gray long

sleeves shirt and long faded black jeans. His shoes were also black,

branded by a well-known international shoe designer. He crossed his

arms and bent his head. Then suddenly, he spoke. "You are

uncomfortable because you are hiding something from me. Guilty as it

is. You have done something, making you to owe me an apology and a

big explanation."



Kokoro was stunned; more nervousness started to come over her. Did he

already know who the culprit is? "I don't know what you're talking

about." She climbed her way to another branch but this time, it's

higher.



"The more you move away from me, the more you show your guilt." Aoshi

spoke mockingly. "Are you afraid of me?"



"Afraid? Why should I?" Kokoro exclaimed.



"Why are you still moving away if you said that you're not?"



Kokoro was again surprised. "You see me climbing up again?!"



"I don't see you. I just feel you." Aoshi said without any boasting

from his tone. Aoshi's leaning from the trunk made him attentive,

alert to all her moves on the tree.



"Well," Kokoro spoke, "for your information, I'm not afraid of you! I

did nothing to be guilty of. I just walked away from the dojo like

what you have ordered me to do. I went home and that's it."



"I haven't said any thing about that." Aoshi said. "But it seems you

are already getting my point. Sins and secrets can't just simply be

buried."



Kokoro covered her mouth in confusion. "He knows! Darn you, Kokoro!

You're so silly!" she said to herself, arguing more of her

stupidity. "What point?" She chortled and viewed her wristwatch,

acting that all were well. "Oh my! It's lunch already. I have to get

back to my house. My sisters will scold me if I don't." She felt more

edgy than before. She asked herself how to let herself out from this

mess. She looked down to ground to see her sensei.



"Try not to change the topic, Shiawase-san." Aoshi moved away from

the trunk and jumped his way up to Kokoro's position. He was so fast;

Kokoro hadn't been able to see his actions. A sudden force from her

branch she was stepping into was felt. As she was about to peek,

Aoshi was already there and had deliberately enclosed her between his

muscular arms. A fast whisk of wind was felt on her cheeks and got

her very shocked. Words couldn't escape from her mouth, watching him

just at her front. She was trapped between his arms, and she lean

back against the tree's trunk. Her eyes were widened.



Aoshi looked at her, still in trance. He had spoken of something that

Kokoro couldn't hear. In her mind, she asked what it is. She couldn't

hear a thing until he slowly forward his head against hers.



"Is this for real? Sensei? Are you going to…… kiss me?" She said to

herself, felt numbly at the things around her, including him. Her

eyes in shock and her cheeks are reddening.



As his head moved forward, he stopped half way to her face. Each

could feel their breaths, lingering this unusual moment. The

closeness drew more intenseness as she breathed roughly, feeling so

condensed at this awkward situation. He looked straight to her

stunned eyes, waiting. Poor thing, afraid of what he will going to do

to her. He whispered. "I know the truth. You have nothing to hide

from me anymore. Listening to others conversation isn't a virtue for

a respectable mature person. Didn't you know that?"



She took her view away from him. "Let me go! I'm serious." She forced

herself out but Aoshi didn't let her.



"Not until you confess it to me, Shiawase-san." More movements were

instilled, making the branch to crack a bit but they didn't notice

it. A sudden force from his actions, from his voice was obviously

seen. The strong, vigilant student became helpless in front of a

demanding teacher.



"I have nothing to confess to you. Get the picture?! Go away!" As she

was about to jump to shift away from his endearing existence, the

tree's branch they're currently into gave in. It broke and the two

had fallen from it. Unexpected as it is, Kokoro screamed in fear but

Aoshi managed to grab her hand in time while clinging from one of the

close branches of the tree.



"I got you." Aoshi spoke confidently, stopping her from fearing the

situation. He intensified his grip from the branch and luckily, the

branch can be able to carry their instant weights. She was afraid to

fall. She couldn't do anything but to trust him her fate. What a fool

she had been? An elite athlete of a martial arts competition now

hangs from a tree, very helpless and stupid. Never in her life that

she will do like this, especially with him - from all the people, why

with him?



"I don't want to fall!" She shouted, seemingly so scared of the

ordeal.



"Just hold on to my hand." He said calmly. With his strength, he

easily pulled her up to his side and Kokoro, still scared to see the

things happening to the both of them. Upon leveling her to his chest,

she abruptly embraced him, and Aoshi held her back tightly to secure

her. They breathed hoarsely. Kokoro suddenly realize that she was on

his embrace, locking her away, securing for her safety. Then again,

after the long catching of breath, she had smelled his scent -

strawberry mist. She embraced him more, letting him know how she felt

safe under his wings, these arms of his and thankful for saving her.

She closed her eyes and continued to feel his strong chest, to smell

his aroma. Feeling such strong security under his wing made her

wished that this setting should be forever but she can't. Besides

knowing the scrutinizing fact that he is her sensei, a girl like her

cannot be liked and loved by a guy like him. Felt saddened, she took

her chances, left moments with her Aoshi at her side.



Aoshi took a moment to composed things out. He strengthened his hold

to Kokoro, and something in him was moved. This feeling….It struck

into his head, into his heart.



All of a sudden, she broke the silence. "Thank you for saving me,

Aoshi."



His thoughts were suddenly replaced by her words of gratitude. His

eyes were closed as the smooth breeze passed by. "Kokoro," he

said, "I want you to grab this branch as I lift you up. I'll help you

to cling on it. Okay?"



She nodded but deep in side, she didn't want to. She has to follow

for she worries for her sensei's arm continuing holding the branch.

Aoshi held her up, and she grabbed the branch with her two hands.



"Now, we are both stuck in this branch." She laughed shyly.



After seeing that she finally took hold of the branch, Aoshi

intentionally loosen his grip from it and perfectly landed at the

ground without any evidences of injury from his body. It was around 2

storeys high and he astonishingly over come it. He looked up and saw

Kokoro still hanging from the tree's branch.



"Let it go, Shiawase-san! I'll catch you down here!" Aoshi yelled as

his eyes still impassive.



"I don't have to! I can go down by myself! And besides, I don't want

to owe more of your precious help!" Kokoro's ego began to go over her

head. She then, maneuvered her hands like a gymnast. As she was about

to let it go to transfer on to another tree branch, a bird suddenly

appeared to her view that made her distracted. "Ahhhh!" She landed at

one of the sturdy branches not far away from the ground but received

a cut to her right ankle because of the unnoticed sharp edges of the

branch. "Ouch! It hurts." She almost kneeled down when she loosen her

grip from the tree trunk. Screaming in full fear, she fell from the

branch but fortunately, she was caught by Aoshi, her sensei, in his

arms safely.



"Damn it!" She said loudly, blurting her instant silliness to her

Aoshi unintentionally.



"Why, thank you." Aoshi said sarcastically.



"I didn't mean that to you actually. Sorry Aoshi. Oops! I mean is,

sensei Shinomori." She shamefully chuckled while being carried by her

sensei in his arms.



Aoshi helped her to stand up. Kokoro tried her best not for him to

know that she's injured. But he finally noticed it. "You can't stand.

You are injured."



"Heck no!" Trying to convince herself and Aoshi that she isn't

injured, Kokoro stood up with all her might and tried to walk away

but she failed. She leaned against the trunk and sighed. "Ouch!"



Blood was seen down below her pants, to her ankle. Concerned as he

is, Aoshi took out his white handkerchief and bandage it to her

wound. He carried her to his arms and instantly walked away, leaving

his two kodachis at the ground.



"Hey Sensei! I can walk! If you continue this, I will owe you so

much!" Kokoro spoke madly as she tried to force herself out from his

careful embrace. "You don't have to."



"No you can't. Don't be so hard-headed. It's clear that it's my fault

why you have this wound. I shouldn't have let this incident come to

this point. I'll take you home." Aoshi spoke, without looking at

her.



She was touched from his concern.



"You don't have to worry." Aoshi continued. He went outside her

secret sanctuary with her at his sturdy arms. About 10 people or so

from the park stared at them, seemingly in puzzled. Aoshi didn't mind

them and walked away with her.



"But your Kodachis, Sensei! You left it. You have to get it or else,

someone might take it. Kokoro insisted.



"If they do, I will easily find it." Aoshi responded.



"Can I at least have my dignity as a martial art student? You don't

have to carry me around like this, especially with people staring at

us like that." She pierced a sharp look at one of the park visitor

whom she caught staring at them.



"I don't care. More important here is you. Don't argue with me, young

lady. Just hold still and be quiet." With a sullen voice, Aoshi spoke

back.



"Such a grumpy attitude," She mumbled, feeling a lot annoyed from

what he just said.



Aoshi didn't respond anymore of her complaints. They went on their

way to her house.



*******



"I said," she continued battling with her sensei even the odds are

against her. "I can take care of myself! It's just a small scratch."



Finally, they had arrived at the façade of her residence. Aoshi had

stopped, looked at the surroundings and carefully opened the steel

gate while she's in his arms. People from the neighborhood simply

astonished on how things are getting with their sweet Kokoro. It's

quite unusual from them to see a man carrying her in broad daylight.

Women talking across the street abruptly projected her suspicious

looks towards poor Kokoro. She saw them and simply got embarrassed.



"Look what you have done! Tell me this isn't true!!!!" Funny but

true, she prayed to any deities that can help her at that

moment. "Let me go! I'm at home now. It would be a great appreciation

if you could let me walk to my house by myself. Just here. Promise, I

won't run!" She projected a wide grin.



Instead of responding her back, he simply shoved her legs away from

the rusted bars, protecting her, and carried her all the way to her

house's front door. "Knock on the door," Aoshi demanded.



"What?" Kokoro asked candidly.



"I said," Aoshi said in a calming manner, "knock on the door."



Kokoro did what he ordered her to do but no one answered the call.

They waited for some minutes for someone to open.



"I think no one is at home right now." Kokoro explained. She glanced

at Aoshi who is patiently waiting. Upon seeing him, she blushed

slightly and took her sight into other way. "Maybe they are at the

café right now."



"Twist the doorknob." He suddenly spoke without moving much of his

body.



Without any hesitations, she did again what he implored her to do.

The door finally opened and Kokoro was puzzled. "The door isn't

locked. Oh my,"



Upon entering the house, Aoshi instantly searched for a near soft

sofa to enable her to lay down and rest after all the nagging she had

done a while ago. He carefully put her down at the soft sofa and

immediately tended her wound at her right ankle. Blood stain had

shown in his white handkerchief and Aoshi didn't mind at all. Slowly

as it is, he removed it and gently blew at her swollen wound. She was

surprised on how he tends her wound. She felt like as if she was

treated like a young girl taken care of by her older brother. Older

brother? Strange but intriguing, feeling like this to her sensei

makes her edgy but she can't do to avoid it in any helpful manner.

Looking at the way he tends her wound simply amazes her. As the

rubbing and massaging at the other close surfaces of her injured

ankle made her reflexively tickle a bit. What? Massaging her? A

sensation of self-conscious filled her heart and mind.



"Kokoro," Aoshi suddenly broke the silence, "where is your first-aid

kit?"



She snapped from her thoughts and quickly pointed her finger to its

place. Aoshi stood up, got a throwpillow and slid it under her petite

right foot. He walked to the area where the first-aid was hidden but

he never found it.



"There is no first-aid kit in here but a bunch of women magazines and

pots." He reported.



"What? Oh! Sorry about that, Sensei Shinomori!" She shamefully

admitted. "Go upstairs, turn left and you will see a bathroom. Maybe

Onee-chan had already transferred it there at the mirror cabinet."



Aoshi got her message and went on in his searching. Though she was

relaxing, a menacing thought came through her mind. Something passed

through her thoughts but she didn't give much attention to it. Giving

much confidence that her sensei will find it sooner, she just laid

there, relaxing more. She viewed her wound, worrying that it might

give trouble to her upcoming competition. Scratching her side temples

to ease the pain of distressing, she felt back to her pillow and

sighed.



"Oh my gosh!" Kokoro burst-out upon realizing the threat of the

thought that came through to her mind a while ago. Her personal

belongings were openly seen at that area. He wasn't supposed to see

those, namely her beauty bath tools, scattered used clothes and

hanging underwears. Yikes! Just to think of it makes her ridiculously

go insane. The sofa was moved as she tried to get away from it.

Anxious to get over where her sensei is going, she made a few steps

to catch up, to stop him from entering the bathroom. "He will see my

things up there! I have to hurry."



But her hurriedness resulted into another ache. She had slipped from

a nearby doormat, pulled by Aoshi's feet while entering the premise a

moment ago. Her head was luckily protected by her elbows and hands

but her waist wasn't. "Not again!" She shouted angrily.



Footsteps from the stairs were heard. Aoshi came down and saw Kokoro

lying in the floor, crying - though not that specifically- for help.

He quickly ran towards her and picked her up. "What excuse do you

have to tell me this time?" Aoshi stared at her with a disappointing

look. "Look! You are not helping. You are making this hard for the

both of us."



"Both of us?" She was stunned from his sharp words. How could he be

telling that to her? Is he trying to move another trick on his

sleeves? She rather not wants to think about it anymore. The more she

induces that thought, the more she gets disappointed to the outcome.

She means nothing to him, actually. Or is it?



He carried her up and took her back to the soft sofa. With his

gentle hands, he helped her sit comfortably. Still worrying about

her condition, he solemnly nagged on her. "I have the medicine box,"

he stared at her dearly, "If you still want to represent your school

in Inter-Kempo competition, cooperate with me in any manner."



She nodded abruptly to ease his fury, pouting her lips like a

child. "Sorry."



He sighed roughly. "You don't have to."



"What?"



"Would you mind containing herself for quite some moments? I have to

heal you, if that's the case." Aoshi slowly moved his hand towards

her wounded ankle. "This will hurt you for a moment."



"I know!" She rebated at once. An antiseptic was situated at the

white furry cotton and was carefully tapped on her wound at her

injured ankle. She automatically reacted to the pain instilled by the

antiseptic to her wound but soon realized that her sensei was putting

a bandage at it very quickly. So fast, she couldn't even know that it

was already finished.



"Whoa! You're good." She examined at her ankle, searching for flaws

but none was found. "Do you do this so often, Sensei?"



Preparing himself to stand up, he cracked his fingers, sounding every

essential joint. A loveseat not far from his side took his notice. He

walked and took a seat to rest, hunching down a bit. With his

fingers, he rubbed it against his temples, relieving him from his

weariness. Then a hand of his supported his head as he bowed it at

sideway. His work for curing her wound is over, but the worry is

still there, not visibly.



With hope in her heart, she called his attention once again for him

to answer her abiding question. Aoshi reacted impassively, like his

true nature. Kokoro began to get irritated from his way of avoiding

her.



"Why won't you answer my simple question?" She clutched a near

magazine under the coffee table for her to read, to ease the

humiliation she had received from him. Each of the pages of the

magazine was turned raucously, hearing each sound of it uncomfortable

to the ears of a nearby person. Sound of a petulant person, he

thought.



"Yes," he blurted out his answers, "I do."



Shocked from his unexpected response, from a man of little social

exposure, Kokoro closed the magazine and waited for more of his

speech. Unfortunately, no other words came out next. She decided to

ask more questions but this time, more personal.



"Ahem…" She playfully coughed. "Who was the lucky one you firstly did

this to?"



"Someone," He raised his head, staring straight in front of him.

Still he draws no emotions, even a sign on his face.



"Someone who? Is the person a he or a she?" She moved into a better

position to perceive her sensei more, to know his reactions and to

hear more clearly his revelations. Her hand supported her chin,

reacting anxiously on knowing the next answer.



"A she," He responded coldly.



Upon knowing the gender, in her face saw a moment of jealousy and

sadness that someone had already been first from his care - thinking

particularly a female got home based with him. However, she never

lost hope. She continued asking more about it.



"Is she a child, a girl or a woman like me? Is she some kind special

to you or just one of the people who, by instance, needed your helped

at that time?" Kokoro smirked.



"If you say that you are a woman, I say that she is far more than you

do." He responded quickly, more contemptuously.



"Oh really? How thoughtful and encouraging you are, Sensei." She

derided. "From the sound of it, she's very special to you. I wonder

who it was."



His hands clutched roughly at the cover of the seat. The clocked

stroked at 12 `o clock and sounded loudly, echoing from every corner

of the room. After the ringing of the clock, he spoke back to her but

in another subject.



"Interrogating me isn't supposed to be the deal here. You are just

making excuses, trying to escape from the main reason why I went up

to you in the first place." He grimly said.



Kokoro was silenced. Little by little, she got guilty from the crime

she committed early this morning, denying the fact that he's truly

damn right. Still, she hadn't spoke, fearing for the worst of his

scolding and punishment.



Silence filled the room until one of Kokoro's sisters entered the

living room from the kitchen connected to the cyber café, not knowing

what's going on. Omasu was surprised upon seeing a stranger sitting

at their loveseat, seemingly in full confidence.



"Who are you?! What are you doing here?" With a rolling pin at her

left hand, she aimed it at him nervously.



Aoshi reacted frigidly to lessen the tension growing in the room. He

waited for her to settle down. Suddenly, Kokoro spoke.



"Onee-chan!" Kokoro yelled. "He's with me." She scratched her head

and laughed a bit, acting like a child again.



Omasu looked at her and got more shocked. She noticed that her little

sister has a white bandage at her ankle. Kokoro smiled to lessen her

strain upon seeing her laying like helpless. Equip with a sisterly

love to her, she ran over, unnoticeably dropping the kitchen tool

from her hand.



"Who did this to you? How come? A moment ago, you were in great shape

before leaving in our café, before departing with that sweet boy

Soujiro." She kneeled down to examine her case.



With those words heard by Aoshi, something in him got shoved. He

stood up and was about to explain what happened but Omasu kept on

nagging.



"Where is Soujiro, your suitor," She stood up, "I mean, your friend?

Did he do this to you? Kuso!" And she crossed her arms, expecting for

Kokoro's good answer.



"No Onee-chan. He didn't." She kept on convincing her elder sister on

the said matter but her sister kept on talking worries and non-sense.

While the anger Omasu kept on rising, Kokoro tried to get up, to get

away from her nagging mouth, but Aoshi didn't let her. To stop her,

Aoshi uttered his side of story.



"I did it. You should blame me for causing your younger sister's

mishap." Aoshi said in full intention, just to keep Kokoro away from

her further rage.



Omasu stopped from pestering questions on Kokoro after hearing what

Aoshi had just said. Two harsh words came out from her mouth - GET

OUT! Pointing her finger towards the door, Aoshi got her message and

head off away to the house. As he was about to make an exit, he

gestured something, touching his lips with his thumb, pointing under

his bottom lip and then, he stared back to Kokoro. The young lady saw

his motion, a bit puzzled on what he's trying to pin-point. Then, he

walked away, exiting the area. People outside the residence kept on

staring Aoshi and spreading more gossips. How a man like him could

get involve with a high school girl like their Kokoro, a sweet teen

spirit. Okon entered the scene. "What's wrong in here?"



"Hey wait! He didn't do anything!" Kokoro yelled out to her sister.



"But you heard what he said." Omasu spoke back.



"No. You misunderstand it." Kokoro said in confusing tone. Gathering

her whole strength, she stood up and grabbed a support from her

sister's shoulder. "He's my sensei at my special Kempo Training. He

helped me getting back home."



Omasu was again surprised, looking back at her little sister in great

perplexity. "But he said,"



"There's no one should be blamed at. It was just an accident! Believe

me!" She scolded her sister, infusing more of her side.



"Really?" Omasu said in calming voice. Moment later, as she patted

her left bosom, aming at her heart, she apologized. "Sorry, I was

just so worried upon seeing you like this. You can't blame me for

that, can you?" She bowed her head, feeling humiliated at the thing

she had done to him.



"Now I really owe him big time," Kokoro sighed.



"What?" Omsau asked. "What big time?"



Addressed in confusion, Okon came closer to them and asked what had

happened and about the yelling she heard. Both didn't respond. "You

too have lots of explaining to do."



"Explain again!" Kokoro thought to herself. "All is enough for one

day, for Kami's sake. Why do I have to tell her my part of the

reason?" A headache came by into her, after all the mess she had in

just a few minutes of misunderstanding. She sat back on the sofa,

relieving her stress made by her over-protecting sister, Sister

Omasu. "Omasu-neechan, what have you done?" She murmured.



The openness of the door was only the scene left for them to see. Her

sensei had already left, having the grudge received from her sister

Omasu. Some kind of a breath-taking welcoming he had with the

residence of Shiawase Sisters.









tbc......