Moonlight Spring Ritual

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: (020205)
Something had gone wrong. Got to repaste it. The chapter cannot be seen in the screen.

Then again, forgive me on the grammar thing.

Chapter 2 - The Confrontation

Thundering bare footsteps of Misao’s led its way towards the Oniwanbanshuu’s headquarters - the Makimachi Mansion, emitting enough rage and hate to scar the one who let all of this mess into her horrible reality. Her yukata was half-drenched caused by covering her wet curvy body and she had left unknowingly her bath toiletries at the sacred spring. Her mind was indeed occupied on getting things straight at her hands, thinking to settle things - perhaps strangling the culprit behind all of this - to ease her anger to what had happened to her at the spring. She could still feel the hands of her….Aoshi on her trembling body. Closing her fuming eyes as she quickly trudged towards the Makimachi Mansion, she tried with all her might to erase the honest sizzle of her body for him. Damn it! After four years of closely deleting him on her mind and heart, that sad memory, Aoshi will just show up in the least expected place and take her BACK to his arms. Just like nothing had had happened between them that made Misao very, very furious at him causing her to forget to love him.

“Okina!” Finally arrived, Misao’s voice was shattering to all corners of the corridors’ platform of the mansion, unintentionally making a disorder or worry for the people who were currently sleeping at that time of the night. “Okina! Okina! Okina!”

Her voice dominated, strongly echoing at the whole place as she was about to make her grand entrance to the dojo where she firstly assumed that the old geezer hides himself from her. The old man, though he had been the right man of her late father and one of her treasured persons in her life, will not be able escape from her wrath if she proved that he had something to do with all of this - having Aoshi bonded on her to be her husband at a situation she least expected. Her black, thick wet hair hung loose, swaying as she forced herself to appear calm for barging like a raging lunatic will likely loose her head as a dignified Okashira who could take things smooth on her hands. But honestly, she couldn’t.

“Okina!” Still, the one she called upon didn’t reply. So, he was indeed hiding from her and surely having all the guilt rampaging in his head. The old geezer won’t escape easily on her and that she surely assured. “Oji-chan!!!”

Behind the wooden walls of the mansion were people - her minions, close acquaintances and family - in deep sleep. Kurojou and Shirojou were luckily been sleeping soundly into their quarters, with the rest of their comrades under their command having no clue what was happening outside. Omasu was also been sleeping soundly on her own room due to her great tiredness on her work at managing the old restaurant all day. Okon in the other hand, together with Seijurou who was also currently sleeping at their sleeping quarter near the dojo, was simply had wide awaked by her youngest sister’s thundering voice searching for Okina.

“What the?” Okon instantly sat up on their futon while Seijurou was still half-dazed on his sleep. Then she heard again Misao’s angry calling. Okon assumed that Okina had done something on her this time that had really cracked her nerves up. “Misao?”

Okon gathered her slippers near her right side, right side of their futon, as she was preparing herself to go to Misao to ask what was that all about that angry call in the middle of the night but Seijurou, still half-dazed from disturbed sleep, quickly grasped for his wife’s arm to make her stop from doing so. His head was faced down the futon.

“If I were you, I’ll wait for the morning to know the insignificant issues. It’s late, for Kami-sama’s sake.” Seijurou’s eyes were fluttering, in search to see the lovely worried woman whom he currently grasping at his manly hand. “She can handle that for her own.”

“But,” Okon replied restlessly as she continued to struggle out from his gentle yet secure grip.

“No buts, my love. She’s the Okashira and she can handle her problem on her own way.” Finally, Seijurou rolled up to sat on the futon, still grasping on her struggling arm. “And besides, I didn’t hear your name being called by the fuming young lady Okashira.” Then he smirked at her.

“How could you say that, Seijurou?! Okashira or not, she’s my sister and from the sound of her voice, she really needs help.” Her eyes were becoming worrier than the first.

“Help from what? On scolding and beating Okina? Well, that wouldn’t be necessary, my dear. Okashira Misao had her own set of tricks to do that on him. She’s enough to make him pay dearly for his assumed ‘crimes’.” He yawned as he gradually loosened his grab on her arm to cover his mouth. “Aaahh…….Am I right?”

“But still, I really would like to check things out. I won’t be able to rest if this mayhem between Misao and old Okina continues.” Okon tucked her long black hair to her ears away from her face as she was continuing her retort at her husbands’ will, frowning.

The large, muscular man came close to her and grabbed her once again, not in her arm but both on her shoulders to make her face him in to his almost awaken eyes. “Darling, what if I tell you that Misao is having her tantrums all because of the said Sacred Moonlight Spring Ritual that had happened to her just a while ago? Does that stop your curiosity?”

But instead, Okon’s eyes widened in more shock as she heard what her handsome husband had told her just now. So the ritual had been done a while ago without her knowing, without them - Misao’s sisters - knowing. So that’s the reason why Misao was having her tantrums. But why does she react like that, seemingly very disappointed and full of rage? But who can blame her at her shock at the fast approach of the things? Does the man that the elders infused to her had something do to with it? And how come that Seijurou knows about the ritual? Only the close members of the Oniwanbanshuu’s council and the elders know its secrecy and were forbidden to talk about it. Seijurou had become the part of the family at marriage a month ago and he seemed to be the one more involved than her on the secrecies lurking the Makimachi’s special lineage of rituals.

“And you knew this from the start, darling? You didn’t tell me earlier about Misao having the Moonlight Spring Ritual this very night.” Her eyes were becoming fuming, one of her eyebrows raised up.

“Well,” he searched for the right words to say to her, “I didn’t think it is necessary to put you on such great worry, my dear. It is in your law not to talk about it, am I right again? So I just kept it inside my thoughts and let things flow in its designated ways.”

They heard Misao’s angry calling again once more. “Okina!!!!!” They also heard that the dojo of the mansion had flung open noisily; seemingly projecting the shear force Misao was infusing to the poor wooden sliding door.

“But you still knew. I am your wife and you haven’t told me about it. You never trusted me!” Suddenly, a tear broke off her one of her eyes as if it was a big fuss to argue about, turning away her view from her handsome husband. She had felt she was mistrusted by the man she fully loved and newly married. But nevertheless, what was done is done. She had to console what was left for her. “Did Okina tell you this?”

With the tip of his index finger, Seijuro made Okon looked at his face again, titling her chin. “Okina had nothing to do with what information I just newly have. He didn’t tell anything about the ritual, dear. I just have my own ways to know what’s lurking inside the walls of this mansion, you see.” With teasing smile and eyes, Seijurou went even closer to his lovely and curvy wife. “Just to remind you, my lovely Kokoro, that you have married not some ordinary man.” His hands made its way towards the loose collar of her sleeping yukata to bare her slim shoulders more to his eyes. The move he did made her breasts exposed to his searching hungry eyes, now fully awake to its luscious view.

“I don’t think it’s a good time for that, Seijurou.” Her head flung away from his teasing stare, still worrying about her youngest sister, Misao. With a gasp escaping from her mouth while her husband gently probing her creamy breast, her hands began to tuck the loosened yukata back to her shoulders to stop what he wanted to do to her. “Some other time might be….”

But he didn’t let her take it back. His hands shoved her slender hands and let the silky sleeping yukata loosened again. “My, my….So this wouldn’t make you stay-off from your sister’s sleeves. That’s pretty interesting. Are you getting cold from me? It was barely a month since we have married.” He was beginning to play his “tricks” on her.

“No…no…it’s not that.” She instantly snapped back to him. She wanted to let him know that her younger sister needs her more than him wanting their carnal calling. There will be another night, or day - probably lots of them, for their intimate lovemaking. Her sister just needed her more, that’s all. Her face began to paint red from the blush that promptly showed as she saw her husband’s teasing face and gesture. His blue-black long hair cascaded freely from his back then to his broad shoulders as he moved to her even closer.

“Come, my kokoro,” Okon reluctantly gave in to his bidding without moving from her current position.

His calloused hands began to unravel the slit of his wife’s sleeping yukata. He also kneeled in front of her, pinning one of his strong-muscled legs between her long-shapely ones. His own sleeping yukata was also becoming loose due to his snuggling to her almost bared body. Okon surprisingly gasped - although she had already felt his ‘other expertise’ on the night of their honeymoon - as she felt his caresses of his left hand to her rounding bosoms again but this time with more lustful intensions. He toyed with one of her nipples by twitching it wildly.

“As far as I remember, you’re the one who would like me to do this to you every night since our marriage. And from that, you never ceased to get used to it…..until now.” He huskily muttered those teasing words to her left ear, reminding her plea to him at the very first night of sharing one bed together.

“It’s not what you think, my love….” She again gasped for more air as Seijurou began to slip his manly hands inside her silky yukata, opening more of her cordial folds to him. Her eyes was fluttering, projecting her honest ecstasy. “I do want to have this……but not now.” She seemingly loosing her grip from reality from him as she felt more of the great sensation he was invoking into her sweet betweens.

Gradually, Seijurou had succeeded on making her laid back to the comfy futon. “Let her be on her own right now, my love. Do trust your sister on this. She has to resolve her dilemma without help from anyone.” He kissed her rosy lips many times with full emotions. “Misao wouldn’t kill Okina; that I assure you. Come, let’s have our own set of dilemma on the rock, shall we?”

He laid his muscled body atop on her as she finally succumbed to his lustful bidding. Okon’s thighs spread wider to him, to receive him. She automatically arched, sensing her husbands magnificent body to slide on her yearning body as he continued to caress her delicate cordial folds and kissed her avidly. His wife’s breathing patterns fastened, so as her heart. Only one man could do this to her and no one else - that’s Seijurou Hiko, her husband. With that kind of expertise, he slid an index finger to her womanhood, and then came the other one, thrusting it slowly but pleasurably inside of her. Natural juices came afterwards. Her whole being was going wild of his sensual touches and she wanted more of it.

“Seijurou…” she breathlessly whispered his husbands’ name out of her pure pleasure he was doing unto her. She indeed was enjoying what he was instilling on her. “Ah….my love….”

“Like the first night we have shared, you still like a virgin for me to caress. Your moves, your reactions, even your scent. You never cease to amaze me, my lovely kokoro. This is ours to problem with, my love. Just be with me tonight…..” He kissed her again to her parted ruby lips, feeling the great tremble she was having as his hands probed her moistened inner folds.

Hikos - Okon and Seijurou made love at the same night of the ritual which Misao should have also done with the chosen one.

*****

“Damn it! Where are you, old man?” Misao was becoming more impatient as time passed by. She was very eager to strike Okina on his head with such great force for putting this up to her. He had to pay no matter what. “Oji-chan!!! You owe me lots of explaining!”

Some moonlight penetrated from the shutters above the wall and the openness of the sliding door which made various parts of the dojo’s interiors a little bit visible to walked with, without a lit lamp for help. The other parts were of course at shadows. And beneath those shadows near the altar of the Makimachi’s realm, a “sipping tea” sound was heard. So someone must have been sitting and enjoying tea in the comfort of darkness and that comes the conclusion of where the old goat’s been hiding. Okina must be there and enjoying her madness flying on all the walls of her family’s mansion. Misao darted a piercing look to where she had heard the annoying noise, scanning him.

“You heard me, old man. I just don’t want to repeat my command on calling on you again or else.” An ultimatum was shot in the air.

Okina finally gave in to Misao’s commanding wishes as he stood up from the floor with his ceramic tea cup on his right hand, still contained some green tea. The man stepped out from the darkness and gave her young Okashira a respectful bow. But that didn’t ease the situation.

“Don’t you think it is too late for that? Fooling me on such gesture will not save you.” Misao crossed her arms under her breasts signifying that she wasn’t deceived for his late, useless motion of consolidation.

A moment pass by, the wet Okashira was still waiting for the old man’s explanation about what had happened a while ago in the forbidden Moonlight Spring and his involvement. Who else would do such a thing to her but the highest official amongst the elders? And by that, Okina entered the scene. Her eyes were becoming more ruthless as she shot it to her Oji-chan. But to no avail, she finally snapped from the stillness of waiting and had to know what caused him to do such act without telling her and most of all, about Aoshi being picked as her husband-to-be.

“Spill it out while I still have my sanity on not killing you this instant.” Her intention was not that serious but she sounded it so real.

Okina had taken a few steps away again from the shadows, nearing to Misao, and rubbed his chin. He paused for a moment, enough to ready himself from telling his part of the story - his explanation.

“Why with all such a fuss, Misao?”

“You know what I am talking about, Okina. I am not the easy believing kid anymore you all used to toy with lies and deceit. I am the Okashira now and I command you to tell me your crime of me.”

“What crime? As far as I remember, the Moonlight Spring Ritual is done for so many generations by your ancestors. And no one had dared to break it.” He took a sip from his tea cup, closing his eyes to feel the good brew to his tongue.

In a swift move, Misao was at Okina’s left side and had instantly strangled him to his neck. The old man was choking, but not to his death. His tea cup was swaying into his shaking hands, almost spilling some of its liquid content. “So you really are the one who did this? Making him come to the Spring without telling me!” She finally let go of him to make him talk. She moved away, turning her back from him. Both Misao’s hands came into her sides and had clasped hard for her deep rampaging emotions swelling up to her nerves.

Okina coughed and abruptly landed on the floor safely after Misao choked him at his wrinkled neck. The young okashira had great strength but still had control to overpower her raging furies. “Well, according to the rules, we, the elders, shouldn’t tell the Subject of when his or her Ritual night will be for it will only confuse the mind of the person involved.” He looked at her, giving her a mocking smile. “Oh! So goes with the man or woman whom she/he supposed to be wed with.”

“Well, well!!! It already has!” Misao retorted back loudly. “Obviously!”

“So you know the rule, my young Okashira. Why so being so…so….so….ah…what shall I call it….so distressed? Surely, we have chosen you the right man for the Ritual night but it seems….” Okina perceived her from toe-to-head-look as he scanned her features - what situation she had encountered in the spring moments ago. It was evident that the Ritual hadn’t been successful.

Her yukata was half-drenched and she’s without slippers on her pearly white feet. Her hair was also wet, scattered in all places. There were still plenty of droplets of water on her exposed skin making Okina assumed that all really didn’t go well. He assumed that she had escaped from her Rite, Rite of Sacred Marriage - the old Makimachi way.

“So it was a failure, I strongly assure.” Okina mumbled as he wiped his sweated forehead with the back of his free hand, having his disappointment on the said discarded ritual.

“So now you’re the one who is disappointed, huh!” Misao turned back and abruptly walked towards the old man’s whereabouts but stopped in the half way to instill her good sense of control of not smacking him for he’s still her perverted Oji-chan.

An immediate reaction came over Okina as he moved further away from her. He was still in the wooden floor with his ceramic tea cup on his right hand. “Misao, why aren’t you happy to see him at the spring? From all we know, you like, I mean, love the man with all your life, right? Why are you so mad about it?”

After hearing those words, Misao couldn’t find the right explanations to tell him, clarify to the old geezer her reasons why she hated Aoshi so much. He doesn’t know what great pain the Ice Warrior had inflicted on her heart on that very night of her 16th birthday, years ago. It was always been a harsh reminder of her foolishness of loving him so genuinely, and not been loved back after that. She worked hard on forgetting him but it seemed too painful to do. She often wondered why she can’t but all her natural reasons couldn’t say to defend. Is it still possible that she still loved him despite what he had done to her years ago that’s why she can’t forget about him though she worked very hard to erase him to her memories and heart? All should stop right now or else she will be back wondering again like a useless naïve teenager she once used to be - drooling for an undeserving man who doesn’t love her at all. Suddenly, Misao’s mind came at halt as something beckoned into her. Okina doesn’t have to know anything about it. Why does he have to know the reasons in the first place anyway?

“I just don’t like it. That’s all.” She knew that the reason she gave to old Okina was unequipped and very unjustified but that was what she had to say for now. She hid her aching face from him, away from his deciphering eyes of emotions.

“Which of the two you didn’t like - the Sacred Ritual or Aoshi?” Okina gave her a piercing and waiting look as he sipped his green tea again. His eyes had closed.

Again, she was searching for another excuse to make Okina stopped from giving her uneasiness which was answering the questions she strongly avoided. “I said, I don’t like it. That’s enough for you to know.”

“You still haven’t answered my yearning question, my young Okashira.”

“Well, I won’t give any.”

After moments of silence, Okina slowly stood up from his position like an aged person used to be and went near to the sliding door. If Misao won’t give him her right true answers, so will his continue on playing the part of being the mature from the two. “Well, if you can’t share your real reason to me, I guess I have to wait until you come and spill it out to me. However, that doesn’t change the concept of making Aoshi your husband-to-be. He is still our candidate, our only candidate perhaps.”

“How dare you?!” She faced him, fuming again with more anger. “I won’t be a part of this craziness!” Remembering the pain Aoshi inflicted on her had intensified her rage. “Why can’t I be the master…mistress of my own destiny? You all have been controlling me since I was a little and now that I have bloomed, why can’t I be the one to make my amends of my life?”

“I, I mean, we can’t just stop the Ritual, Misao. And you know that.” His eyes perceived Misao with great concern after he had lowered his tea cup.

“But,”

“No buts, my young Okashira. Unless you have someone in mind - and heart - that would replace our candidate for being your husband. Do you have anyone to mention?” His voice began to annoy her. He then took another sip, finishing his green tea this time.

No one in particular in her mind, particularly in her heart, that would replace…..Aoshi. After that night, Love hadn’t been an existing word to her but a fellow companionship. She loves but not that kind of love that she used to infuse to Aoshi during her days of wanton and running all over him. Responsibility as a strong leader of a spy organization is her first priority and that made love for a man less vital to her daily needs. She hadn’t spoken back for quite some moments at Okina which indeed made the old man smirked happily, both inside and out.

“Well, I guess I have to make the arrangements all perfectly done. Aoshi will still be your husband unless you….well….change your mind and heart which is not a good idea.” Not a good idea? - so she had laughed from the inside.

Suddenly, Misao snapped. “We can’t be together. That I assure you.”

Okina’s eyes turned into his left side without moving his head. “Why is that? Tell me so that I can understand you.”

Misao was arguing with herself on whether to tell him the reasons why she avoided everything about the arranged marriage to Aoshi when suddenly she heard footsteps coming outside from the dojo, just into the wooden platform. Okina also had sensed and heard the coming footsteps. He moved close to the door to view the person who’s approaching.

“I just said what I have to say. I don’t want any part of it even it makes me the one, the only one in my Makimachi line who defied the Moonlight Spring Ritual. I’ll find my own way to rule the Oni (without him) and no one will ever stop me from my desire. You got that?!” She began to walk towards the wooden sliding door, leaving Okina to have her say and to make an exit when suddenly; a tall and sturdy man appeared in front of her. Her body slumped against him which did irritate her even more.

“Damn it! Move away!” Her eyes were in great anger, seemingly very unstable. She knew that that was Aoshi in front of her, berating herself that she had to be stronger than ever before so that she could escape from his unseen clutches.

Despite her harsh words, Aoshi didn’t move from his position. Both gave a scanning look to each other as Misao tried to have her hand slap him in his face but she couldn’t. Her hands couldn’t. So she moved sideways and left the two men who dared ruin her relaxing night in the Sacred Spring.


Both man sat at the wooden platform of the dojo right in front of its entrance. Okina had finally finished his tea, holding the empty ceramic tea cup into his withered hands while Aoshi just sat there silently watching the fullness of the moon, having his all shinobi uniform properly dressed up - unlike what Misao had done to herself in coming in the dojo due to her intensive anger.

“From the way the woman reacted, Aoshi-san, you too have much explaining to do.”

Aoshi didn’t respond.

“You haven’t done the Ritual in a right way, I assure.”

Then again, he didn’t reply to his talking.

“We, elders, had made a decision without consulting both of the sides, well of course without you two knowing but that is impossible. I never thought that Misao will be having her “usual” tantrums on you having her husband. I personally was shocked on seeing her attitude that way. I always knew that she loved you that’s why we all made the final decision that you will be the man for the job to take care of her for the rest of your lives and so as the whole organization.” Okina confessed his thoughts on the quiet warrior beside him. “It did surprise me seeing Misao so against with the Ritual, especially having you as her husband. It was so uncanny of her to be like that.”

“You know, it isn’t only our decision to make ends for the fate of Misao’s marriage to you. Before the death of our very own Okashira Kyou Makimachi six years ago, he himself had chosen you to be his only daughter’s future husband. Remember, you were there with the elders at his death bed telling in front of us his will on leaving his beloved daughter in the hands of the man whom he truly trusted.” Okina reminded him then sighed afterwards.

“All of us were shocked upon hearing the Okashira’s bold statement about you being chosen to be Misao’s companion for life.” Okina turned to Aoshi and shook, waving his hand rigorously to enable him not to get the wrong information/idea from him of being disappointed or so, “It’s not that I don’t like you for her. Well, we just didn’t expect that he will be leaving us an important final wish that should be followed as the leader of the Oniwabanshuu and the dying man concerning about the Makimachi Ritual on finding a rightful partner in her life. Huge age gap, 9 years to be exact, isn’t matter but we were firstly concerned about Misao’s feelings towards you if there’s chemistry. Well, we watched you two for over two years and we found out that she indeed has feelings for you and that is love.”

Love. Suddenly, love was showed up in this blasted conversation.

“We finally made up our decisions that late Okashira’s final wish had to be done. We waited for her to be more mature and had taught the right responsibilities and duties for being the next Okashira before we make her marry you. She should have been married 4 years ago but to some strange circumstances before the night of the proclamation we were secretly worked upon and suppose to be held, she suddenly didn’t want to, giving us hints that she’s not ready yet. She gave me lots of excuses that she had to be more of an effective leader and had to learn new things that the New World offered to us before she could settle down and be with a man that would help her organize the whole spy group in Japan. I guessed, I have been too weak give in to her pleas.” Okina had smirked and returned to his seriousness. “I don’t know if it’s a luck that she didn’t know it was you who she will be marrying with.”

“From the way she acted a while ago, it seemed that the woman no longer would like to tie herself in the name of arranged marriage to keep the Oniwabanshuu working. She’s too confident on that; that I say.” He then nodded to his own statement. “And that will be the end of the line of the Makimachi if she still resist.”

“Or am I missing the real reason behind all of this?” Okina had wanted to tell this to Aoshi to let him know what he felt for the situation. “Misao was avoiding the issue of marriage not because she doesn’t need a man on her side,” he paused for a moment, “it was all about the man who’s involved in the Ritual, wasn’t it?” He gave him a teasing smile, signifying him that he had hit the spot of the dilemma. “It was you, right?”

Aoshi kept on being silent - a typical move he does when someone would like to take something from him, his emotions to the subject.

“Well, then I am right.” Okina took his victory.

“She’s right.” Finally, Aoshi participated in a two-way conversation.

The old man was surprised upon hearing the Ice warrior’s voices after so many minutes of being silent. He had to give his part of the story to settle everything up. Okina still would like Aoshi to be Misao’s husband no matter what for certain reasons and one that was the late Okashira’s death wish.

“She’s right? On what?”

“We are not meant to be with each other.” The statement had been so cold to hear. “Neither of us will be suitable to each other’s preferences. Obviously, the late Okashira had made a huge mistake on choosing me as her husband.”

“You don’t know what you are talking about, Aoshi-san. You are obviously been hurting after what had happened moments ago in the Sacred Spring.” Closing his eyes as he tilted his head towards the night sky, he spoke,”I only hear a man’s words of broken pride. She hadn’t given herself to you, had she?” Okina had given him a mocking smile, but that didn’t make Aoshi loosen his guard

It didn’t matter whether Misao gave her body to him or not, more important is his affection to her to not to….

“I have given the golden locket of the Makimachi’s to you as the official sign of you being her husband-to- be. And it will stay on you until our young Okashira decides on what to do with the next option.”

“What option?” Aoshi’s eyes began to show some interest.

“There is another rule in the said ritual, you see, that only the Makimachi’s and the elders knew. If the Subject of the Moon - which is our Misao - didn’t like the one being offered to her, she will have the second option. Within a month, she will find a replacement to you as her husband-to-be, giving her options of assessing her feelings for the right man. We and the late Okashira had picked you while Misao will pick her own candidate. Time come she will choose the right one for her. That will be fair enough for all of the parties. And if not, with a ritual or not, you will be her only option to be her lifetime partner - for better or for worse.” Okina gave a wide smile at him.

Misao will desperately find a man that will eradicate Aoshi to her own memories. But where and who? She never loved another man since he broken her heart. Loving a man was useless to her ever since. But the option was still open to hear it out. Both Aoshi and Okina never knew what had changed to her during these past 4 years. With her amazing transformation of looks right now, Misao could have all the easy access on finding herself a man that could…what the heck!

“Let her have her way, Okina.” Hard to admit, something hit inside of him and that was his cold heart. Aoshi began to stand from his area to walk back towards his sleeping quarters - the guest quarters.

“Don’t you want to stop her in any way you can?” Okina shot him back a cold stare.

“No, I won’t.”

“For what reasons, Aoshi? Didn’t you like her at all?”

Aoshi did like her, very much, but that made his insides scared himself the most. Well, about loving her…..

“I too would like to withdraw into the late Okashira’s agreement. I don’t want to marry her.”

“Is that the truth? The whole truth? You were always been hiding those true feelings of yours from us for so long and since then, I used to develop some ways to see what’s really in you heart - what your heart actually wanted to say.” A teasing laugh escaped from his mouth. He was too confident on what he was saying to Aoshi. He was too sure of himself.

Upon walking, Aoshi never said a word. He kept his eyes on his way towards the guest room, wanting to sleep on to this ordeal. Tomorrow, he will leave. He will leave this Mansion and he will back to his designated realm at the northern lands of Japan. Aoshi commanded and assessed some spy men of Oniwabanshuu there as one of the three focal points of spy bases of Japan. His was on the northern region; Misao’s was the central part of Japan which is the main headquarters, while the other was at the south headed by another high Oniwanbanshuu head official. Rest was all he needed and tomorrow will be a new day for him to face.

This will be a lot better for the both of them - his and Misao- far apart from each other. Leaving her all over again will be the right thing to do for he knows for sure that he doesn’t deserve her at all, after all the pain he had inflicted to her and…..about his fears of his dark past during his younger years that continued to hunt him and made him the way he is.

“I just don’t love her. I will never love her.”

Okina heard him even it sounded like a whisper. The old man had just smirked and played his tea cup into his calloused hands withered by time and his being an old omitsu. “That I won’t bet, Aoshi. That I won’t bet.” Under view of the moon’s waning fullness, each involved parties returned to their chosen realm.