Capturing the Butterfly

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.


Gomen for the grammar.

A/N:
yeah...it took too long to finish this chap. I lost the inspiration to do it caused by stress from work. Here it is now. Enjoy. ;)

Chapter 5 – Clash and Burn

One more step and the bond between two of the three Great Guardians of the Tokugawa will be sealed. Misao’s sole dream of freedom from the clutches of their old tradition will be turned into nothing if that ever happens. Marriage is bound to be shared by two people who are very much involve with each other….or better yet, in-love with each other. After assessing it all, she obviously couldn’t seem to perceive herself falling in that category. Yes, she admits that the earl had also some remarkable features to deal with. He is somewhat kind of a handsome fellow, intelligent and a friendly one, very far from the non-sense English titled man she firstly assumed, but none had made her senses tingle like she had experienced with….oh my….She couldn’t even mention the name of the devil that had disturbed her thoughts for several hours now, especially during her sleep. And damn! The very same devil that had given her – and still is – all the unwelcoming lustful thoughts in her head was sitting right next her.

What a great pain in the arse it is!

Gathering all of her strength to ignore the arrogant cousin of the earl beside her, Misao discreetly and fixedly turned her whole attention to the man she will about to marry – the half-breed earl just sitting across her. Half-breed? How could they ever assume that when none of his features made it say so? It must be because of his mother’s strong blood flows inside of him.

Anyway, he looked like a typical marrying kind of guy, very far from the reports being said by her set of personal spies. Now she doubts if she will ever trusts her personal spies again because of this great mistake. To think of it, it was their first error on the job.

Besides his features, they had had reported that the earl frequently involves himself into….much more body pleasuring needs. He was said to be a dangerous rogue that needs to be straightened or tamed. And this marriage will change him from that? Very much unlikely. She couldn’t seem to imagine this man’s simple, gentle and calming face could cause several women to weep. She also couldn’t see in his shown character now that kind of harshness against women. It was surprisingly disturbing, she said to herself. Looks can be very much deceiving.

It is more suitable if the man beside her now received all those damning credits. Funny, she could see all those reported characteristics on him, not with the earl in front of her. His unusual handsome features are more equip to be used, garnering him as the ‘connoisseur of women’.

“What if….?” she asked herself, red blush almost came to appear from her pale cheeks.

After several moments of surveying, it made Misao came into thinking about their sitting arrangement. How could they place her ‘husband-to-be’ far from her position? Instead, they had placed this conceited man beside her to torment her to the fullest. Couldn’t they just stop their sly punishment and get on with it? Oh. She had forgotten that the whole council didn’t know the whole truth behind her uneasiness and animosity to the earl’s cousin. Each time the bastard unintentionally brushed his elbows to Misao’s petite arms, even though their clothes hindered them from flesh touching, she could still feel the heating sensation arousing between them. She wasn’t so sure about him but she definitely knows about hers. And she hated it to the fullest. The man beside her was giving her the hard time to be able to conform all of this arrange marriage thing with the council of Makimachi Elders. She overly and silently thanked all the gods for the Elders of Shinomori had not arrived yet. She could still have this one last chance of demand to turn the table, correcting all of this mayhem, this folly of marrying the earl.

All she had to do is to make them see its futility.

“I strongly believe that there are ‘still’ other ways to strengthen the bond between the Shinomori and Makimachi omitsu clan without the sanctity of marriage.” The Maiden of the Oniwabanshuu strongly pointed out.

So it seems that the young chit wanted out from the deal between their families, Aoshi thought for himself. Well, he liked the idea as long as she will be still there for him, too much available to be his mistress. AH! As if it will come to that after all the worse experiences he had endured with this minx yesterday. But after paying for some thoughts about having her as his legal wife, well, maybe….maybe….

“Sure you want to have an heir at our expense but it will be a lot of unfair for the both of us. You can still have your….future heir even though we ended up with our very own chosen mate, I mean behalf.” Misao was a little bit uneasy tackling about her duty as the Maiden of the Oniwabanshuu. She saw most of the elder’s cheeks even to the earl reddened as she had mentioned ‘mate’ in her speech. The word itself should not make him blush, for Christ sake. He is a rake as they said.

“I don’t think so, Madame.” It was the man beside Misao, the only man capable of reeling her senses had turned to speak even though no permission was given to. He has no right to do so for he was only the earl’s cousin. See that he’s here to make sure of the bond will be done, but the decision is still between the elders, the earl and her.

Her pride snapped. “Your opinion is not important here, Shinomori-san. Only the elders and the two priced Pillars will have the voice regarding this arranged marriage. I will be grateful for your effort of silence during our discussion if you please.” There was a distinction of derisiveness on her tone that Aoshi hadn’t missed. Oh…this lady had spirit and a very lively one. This had made his blood boiled….in a certain way that he liked.

Misao still didn’t look on his face. He could still feel her animosity to him. Being the blockhead rake he was back then in the Sacred Zen garden of the Shinomori with her had given him this kind of worse relationship with the Maiden – his Maiden! God! How quickly karma had whacked him! Even so, he still needed her….to see those beautiful cerulean eyes of hers once again. It was indeed strange to him that those had a calming effect that he couldn’t explain. And about her mouth…her lips….her breasts….

Aoshi snapped from his momentarily reverie. “And by that Madame you think you can have my lips sealed. No by all means.”

He leaned over; his left elbow propped at the low wooden table as he descend his face near to hers. Misao could intensely feel his alarming presence of masculinity. Thank God he hadn’t further pushed his luck to make contact again to her….face. God! They were in front of her betrothed and still this man brusquely shows his other side that he had previously demonstrated to her yesterday. Anyway, why would she care if the earl got to see this? “This bond we are about to seal involves the rest of the involved members of the clan. It is no jest to have this kind of arrangement being decided by mere selected people. Haven’t you heard anything about democracy in this country?” Though mumbling, he sounded like fierce to defend his side, noting to all of them that he is not some member of the Shinomori clan to be taken lightly. The last sentence had almost exposed his true self to the maiden. He coughed afterwards, clearing his throat.

Having not to bother to look at the earl’s cousin, Misao still didn’t relent. “I sympathized to your ways, Shinomori-san,”

“Aoshi,” he abruptly cut in, reminding her his first name.

One of Misao’s eyebrows instinctively rose as she continued her speech, “But this is our traditional way for tackling this important issue. I expected to believe that you had already knew that before you came here, Aoshi-san,”

Oh….hearing his name being muttered by those luscious lips did give a jolt on his sane senses. It was a pleasure to hear it from her as if she’s already his….wife.

“The earl here must have known it better not to argue with our tradition.” She sourly added, crossing her arms below her ample breasts. She haughtily lifted her chin.

That had set a trapped on Misao’s part. Aoshi straightened his back and produced a lop-sided smile. “Speaking of traditions, you yourself are defying it first. You mean to follow the old rules yet it was you who wanted to break from the bond – the traditional bond meant for our families to be united as one. Is it not ironic, Maiden?”

She gasped. “We are already bonded as two of the Three Guardians of the Tokugawas, and let’s not forget to mention the previous marriages held between our families!!! Isn’t it about time to see it also as a union?”

“Yes, there had been a union before yet you can’t still evade the fact that this is still part of the bargain – and continuing. You speak of honoring the tradition yet your actions and true intentions for this marriage proved it otherwise. From all the members of our secret society, the Pillar should know her/his responsibilities on these matters. Thank God there are Elders seeing through this. You were just delaying the inevitable, Misao-chan, so give it up. It is all futile to resist.”

Aoshi couldn’t believe himself saying all of this crap. As if all of these words are natural for him to say. Is it because of his yearning for this Maiden?

That had given her an unconcealed deep blush. All of the elders of Machimachi clan, including Okina, heartily laughed at her expense. The assumed earl was about to laugh also but he concealed it for he had thought that he had no further right to humiliate Aoshi’s future behalf. Misao glared at him for not making an effort to also defend his side, never letting his conceited cousin take all of his right to voice out. Was he also into this? Damn the Shinomoris!!!

On the other side of the ring, Aoshi was indeed gloating.

“Easy for you to say. You are not being held as brooding mare in this case.”

“Either way, you are still bound to produce an heir out from your….” Aoshi looked at her, slowly traveling his scorching gaze from her flushed face, down to her neck, then to her healthy bosom, to her curvy hips….

“Barbarian! You have a nerve on humiliating me in front of these men! Who do you think you are? You are not even my husband-to-be yet you are very much affected on this meeting!” Rage had finally snapped from this maiden’s nerves. Aoshi only remained calm on his stance, looking at her abrupt harsh reaction on the said retort.

“I was just only stating the facts, my dear. You don’t have to be so angry about it. As I had said before, I am here to make sure the vows will be honored. Think of me as the representative of the Elders of Shinomori clan.”

Shirojou had uncomfortably coughed and briefly massaged his soaring temples afterwards.

“It is very unlikely to come to that, Shinomori-san,” Misao retorted, now glaring at him.

“Aoshi. Call me by my first name, Misao-chan,” There is smugness in his voice. His lips curved a lop-sided smile that even she couldn’t miss its intention of taunting.

His blue eyes had shown somewhat spark. Oh….his eyes….his eyes are so gorgeous…so blue….that somehow….made Misao mesmerized for a moment.

But unfortunately, it didn’t take long for her to snap from that piece of emotional crap. “And don’t even address me so informally, SHINOMORI-SAN!!!” Misao stood from her seat and was about to leave the room when Okina called for her to halt.

“There is no need to be so feisty on this. Everyone has a voice in here, Misao-chan, including the earl’s cousin,” Okina looked at Aoshi, as if he was berating him for his ungentleman-like manner on dealing with the short temper of the maiden, “He belongs to the Shinomori clan. All of us had a share on this. No matter what, this union had to be honored, with or without your approval for this is the duty of the Machimachi’s to the Shinomori’s, vice versa.”

“Are you sure about that, old man? How is that this earl’s mother had gotten to escape from her demise? She will about to marry father but she chose to run away with the Englishman. She had a choice. I say, I am also entitled to that right.” She felt a bit sorry afterwards of mentioning the young earl’s dead parents just as if like nothing. It was done anyway. She meant no harm. It just got out from her infuriating system on defending herself from these close-minded people. “They say that this union is important for the coming heirs needed for both clans. Can’t we have them by following our very own choices? Time changes, people. You speak of fairness yet you also don’t honor it.”

Okina was about to explain to her the other IMPORTANT reason behind the union of these clans but he hesitated at the moment for only Kami-sama knows why. The marriage between the Bearers of Shinomori’s and Makimachi’s are very important and mystical. He should have told Misao long ago all about its whole structure and story so that this wouldn’t have been happening. Didn’t she see the effect on both clans when the earl’s mother had dishonored the bond? More likely not. Though half of their feelings are sad about it, they were also thankful for the other result. The broken union had produced a good seed out from the untimely digression. Misao, their lovely, spirited and spit-fire maiden, came out from it.

There had been a momentarily silence inside the room. Misao knew that what she said had struck somewhere inside of them. She was hoping that they could see that through their hearts, not with their minds. Staring each of them, Misao prayed they would reconsider their decision of this bonding. None reacted…so far.

“I believe this is getting out of hand, Misao. Let me tell you this, young lady...” the old man was about to berate his step grand daughter when Aoshi interrupted.

“I know you won’t believe me. I also feel your resentment, maiden of Oniwabanshuu.” The voice was unfathomable and very much serious. Hearing it will likely shiver your nerves for some reasons you just couldn’t understand. It was deep and sinuous. “We all do so don’t think that we couldn’t understand your point. But let me remind you that there are things in this world that had to be sacrificed in the name for the greater good. No matter how gruesome it is, you have to face it. Living in fairy tales will do you no good, I assure you. In the end, you will just hurt yourself, waking up from what you thought is best but in truth, it isn’t.”

Aoshi didn’t even look to her. He just stated his side, beginning to show the other side of his personality which he tried to hide most of the times. When alone, he becomes like this – cold and impassive to the world. Mentioning his deceased parents brought back painful memories of his pasts. If time itself be turned back as it was, maybe, a lot of him, a lot of his perspectives in life will be the same with his young, beautiful chit. But he had been awakened by a stronger force – reality of life, that is. By then, he had known better what to look forward to and never expect too much.

There was silence again.

Instead of retaliating, she chose other tactic.

“You know,” mustering impassiveness, Misao was turning to leave. Her back was against them. “Maybe, you are right. I should see for the betterment of our clans, Shinomori, forgetting the one true happiness I long for myself. Besides, I was just only a pawn from this stupid bonding anyway. I should have long realized that being a Makimachi is a curse, not a blessing they have long instilled in my youthful mind. Power, richness and influence I got from having this name etch in my blood. And with it, there is a price. No freedom to live what life she/he had chosen. Same goes with loving someone. Only loneliness….”

“Ha! You think love matters most? How foolish and naïve,” Aoshi coldly muttered. He wasn’t supposed to say this. Most of the people inside Okina’s room were startled. But none of them had leveled with the intensity on Shirojou’s reaction for he knew his master better than the rest. This was the first chance he had gotten to see his master’s dark perspective about love.

Misao turned on her back, her eyes fuming with great hatred. “And what do you know about love, Shinomori-san? I say there’s naught.”

“And you do? I can only see that you haven’t gone and experienced it yet - all of its devastating effect, my goodness. You were just hoping for something that will be the death of you.”

Misao laughed, deliberately taunting the earl’s cousin. “I can only sense a man in grief of having been painfully rejected by love. Poor soul. No wonder why you are so against it.”

They eyed each other. Aoshi’s blue eyes were so cool while Misao’s were fuming. It was totally opposite forces.

Aoshi could not believe himself what he was saying in front of these people. He was supposed to be bubbly and subtle but when it comes to this infuriating maiden, all is at lost on him. These grievous feelings he was trying to bury were evidently loosing his mild composure and steady mind.

Polite knocks at the side of the ajar shoji door was heard. It was a young man dressed in a ninja suit bearing the fashion of the Makimachi clans. “The Elders of the Shinomori clan had finally arrived, Master Okina.” Bowing his head as a sign of respect to the Elders and the Pillars, he informed of the other party’s appearance to the Mansion.

His report had only stopped the heating debate between the two. And Okina was glad of it, so as the rest of the elders. Shirojou wiped his sweating forehead. At the same time, he was thinking of explanations he might render to the maiden if she got to know who the real ‘breeder’ is. It will not be long she will discover this.

“Hai. You may leave us now.” Okina calmly said, dismissing the young lad at the shoji door.

The old man stood from his seat. He also motioned Misao to get back to her seat as the Elders of the Shinomoris were being led to his room. “Since the other clan’s Elders are here, might as well get this conversation be done with. I am not tolerating anymore of this debate. We are here to secure one thing and that is to continue the tradition we have between the clans, honoring it. The earl’s mother had chosen her path and with it she had dishonored us. Grievous events had happened after that.”

“I had enough of this. You all never listen.” Misao angrily stomped away from the room.

“Where are you going?” Leaving from the unfinished meeting was not an option. But they couldn’t stop her. When times like this, it is better to move away from her path.

“None of your business, old man.” She shouted as she was outside the room, in to the corridors of the wooden platform.

She inhaled the fresh air, stretching her arms wide to release the tension she had newly acquired.

“We still have important issues left to settle, Misao. Don’t be rude to the Elders of Shinomori clan!” He followed her just to the shoji door.

Walking towards the main building, she said without turning her back, “There’s nothing left to discuss with me since you all had already made a decision. You say it so; it is done with or without my permission.”


********

Time flies so fast. Day became night and there was a celebration being held inside the strong hold of Oniwabanshuu headquarters. The gathering of the two clans was a joyous one, as said by the many. All of them where enjoying all the foods and wines being served upon the feast. Long time comrades saw each other again, remembering the pasts they shared during their missions concerning the Tokugawas. They have a reason to be glad for this was the night of resealing the bond between the two clans that should have been honored long ago.

Misao was not on sight at the great feast. It was very much understandable why. She didn’t want to be a part of this craziness so she hid herself from her room and ordered never ever disturbs her. She also never accepted the foods her servants brought-in to her for it is better to starve than eating them, knowing where it come from. She just lay there on her futon, hoping to get some sleep she badly wants. But hearing them laughing, talking and singing made her quite irritated and restless. She needed to get out of this mess. She won’t be happy living in a lie upon herself on being contented on this. She had to create a plan. What would it be?

She stared at the ceiling blankly, hoping she might come up an answer. Tapping with her right hand’s fingers to the tatami mat and a free arm on top of her forehead, she continued to think of a possible, successful plan to withhold. Escaping for the sixth time, ah, it might likely not the right answer for that. She tried and failed as always. But if she only plans it carefully this time, it might be worth it. Stowaway…..that will be her last option. And this time, she will go out from this city, maybe from this country as long as she will be away from the clutches of force marriage with the half-breed earl.

But there was a part of her that doesn’t want to leave. She loves Aoiya, the city, the whole country. Though they are against her wishes right now, she still loves them.

Only one person is giving her one hell of a pain. And he should be the one to get out from this country. Same concept goes to the bastard, annoying….devilishly handsome cousin of his.

She shook her head afterwards. How could she think of that monster at the time like this?

Mentioning the earl, she felt sorry for the young man. Having no voice to fight for his own and a conceited relative doing the battle for him, there is no mistake that he has no spine for himself. And it is one of the characteristics she despises for a man – a man she will about to spend the rest of her life.

Wait. Maybe that will be the answer to her dilemma. The argument against the fixed marriage was at lost to her because the earl hadn’t fought for his right. Maybe, just maybe if she could only convinced the English-Jap earl about this craziness, it might solve everything. They will talk and if he happens to cajole him to leave Japan, it will be the end of her misery. Since his mother had done it, why wouldn’t he?

Assessing his type of personality, he might be easily persuaded into her favor. Just talk and let him see all of her bad sides of personality….well now….that will be so good. He hadn’t seen all of her capabilities.

This time she had to smile, a deviously one, carving upon her ruby lips. This will be very, very, very easy.



*******

“Need a woman, tonight?” Shirojou bluntly asked as he drank his Sake in one gulp. He produced a burp afterwards. “God! I miss this one.”

Aoshi remained silent as he took his own at smooth ease. He always preferred green tea but this occasion – his engagement with the Maiden - calls for Sake. He had caused enough annoyance from both Elders of the clans and making another one will only create further trouble. He isn’t as ‘bad’ as they think. It is better to get along for now since the ‘other’ Pillar had locked up herself away from the whole grand feast of their engagement. It was a good thing Misao did that for he wasn’t prepared yet to reveal himself to the most people here as her future behalf, not Shirojou. Only the Elders knew the real ‘breeder’. Both also knew what he was doing and warned him about this folly. The Maiden of the Oniwabanshuu will be angry, causing great animosity in their marriage. All were done anyway. If they want an heir out from their bloods, they have to follow his will….even just for now.

Beautiful women, not so far from their table, had a little commotion happening. One of them, the most beautiful of them all, had seductively smiled and winked at Aoshi. As if she had no shame on herself. There was no doubt that she wanted to get laid for tonight by the man she had chosen. But that man was not interested, continuing to savor his Sake at hand.

“They are smiling at you, Lord Aoshi, especially the fairest of them all.” Shirojou teased, his voice was on a weaker side. He wouldn’t gamble on revealing to the unsuspecting by-passers and tablemates about Aoshi’s real standing. “If they only knew who the ‘real breeder’ is, maybe, they wouldn’t be flaunting themselves to you.”

Aoshi eyed one of the beautiful girls at the other table. She was definitely giving him signals of sexual flirting by rubbing two of her dainty fingers in and out of her ruby lips. It was kind of arousing yet none compared to the maiden hiding in her room. God! Why does it have to always end to her when it comes to attraction and….sex?

“I doubt that.” Aoshi simply replied as his lips smiled lop-sided. His reaction was more of nothingness instead of boasting.

“Too confident, huh? I don’t blame you for possessing such damn good looks of yours. It had molded you into a rake because of that.”

Aoshi had strongly doubted that too. It was not his looks that made him a rake. It was something else. Preferably, it should be called ‘someone’ else.

The rake took his last sip of Sake and prepared to leave. An open invitation from the beautiful women at the other table had been somehow turned down that had shocked his friend quite so. Aoshi is not ‘that’ kind of man. Something must have been bothering him lately.

“Will you excuse me,” Aoshi politely said to his tablemates and Shirojou as he was preparing himself to leave the joyous feast. He felt he had enough drinking Sake and feasting for tonight. His senses were swirling a bit. And sleep was the only remedy for it.

“I assume you already know where your room is, right?” The drunken Okina asked Aoshi as he clumsily passed a huge jug of Sake to one of his fellow Elders. Accidentally spilling some of its contents along the way had made him laugh a bit. Some did say cursing words to him.

The old man had meant for him to know that the room held for the ‘breeder’ is off-limits for him since he had played a role of not being one. Automatically, Aoshi should sleep to Shirojou’s room.

“Hai. Please excuse me,” he nodded and left the table.


*******

“Where are you going?” A female voice was heard on the corridor. She was speaking on her native tongue, assuming he resides here unlike the half-breed earl. Good thing Aoshi knew the language.

Aoshi halted from his slow walk towards Shirojou’s room as soon as he heard her. His broad back was to her. The corridor was dark for the moonlight had not been abundant on this side of the mansion. Raking his hair with his long fingers was his immediate body reaction caused by annoyance. He needed to have some time for himself yet these women of this party seem thought otherwise, particularly this one.

“I beg your pardon. Why are you retiring this early?” It came from the same, seductive voice he had heard earlier.

Her lovely voice should somehow ignite his lustful senses by now but sadly, it didn’t. Instead of facing her, Aoshi grumpily huffed and continued his walk towards Shirojou’s room. He was now being’ rude’ in every sense – turning down her obvious succulent offering of herself to him.

“I believe men in the Shinomori clan are ‘equip’ to take on any kind of challenges they may hook up to. Brave and gallant as they are being described.” She smirked but suddenly it faded away. “It seems I had proven them wrong.”

Her tongue had caused pricks on his pride as a man but Aoshi continued to walk towards Shirojou’s room. She could taunt him as much as she likes. He cared naught of it.

This is one thing that had him startled about his new behavior. Never had he been so reclusive in an opening invitation of a wanton woman. He knew for the fact that she is one of the beautiful women that he and Shirojou had exchanged meaningful gazes a while ago. Who would not have noticed it? There is enough lust in their eyes, almost eating him up on the spot. He bet that the woman behind him is the fairest one who had been plaguing him with many sensual signs of flirting. Nevertheless, the thought here is, he wasn’t interested on entertaining them in his bed in any manner or whatsoever. He had no mood for fun tonight and that had made him question himself. Was he loosing his likes to bed a woman tonight just because he had already engaged himself to that fierce Maiden who was now hiding in her own chambers? He had not promised them his loyalty to the said Maiden and instead proclaimed that he will still continue living being a rogue as he is now. His seed is needed. That is clear from the very start. To enable to have him done that in exchange, they should be also lenient on his ways of living – his own type of living he had grown to…accept. He is just a man out to seek his need….dirty as anybody male who would want to bed her. Damn it!

Angered by his ‘rudeness’, the woman followed him, almost matching his pace. She wouldn’t allow him to walk out on her just like this. Never had she been humiliated in her whole life, until now.

“You think you got the upper hand, blue-eyed Shinomori?” She was calling him that for she haven’t had the time to ask his identity to her other tablemates and friends. His identity had been a mystery to them. Only his blues eyes had marked a good memory on her mind. And with this, her curiosity had to be satisfied. “I’m offering your free pleasure.”

“I had accumulated enough pleasure in my body just by feasting on the goods and strong beverages served a while ago. Might as accept it as one.” Aoshi coldly uttered without turning his back to her. He knew he needed not to face her.

“But I am offering you much more satisfying pleasure, dear man, than a mere piece of smoke beef and Sake.” There was definitely a sinful, meaningful hint on her words. She closed the gap between them when Aoshi stopped from walking to search and check if he had chosen the right path leading Shirojou’s room. He looked at the moon, seeing its fullness. But its light had not been enough to give enough illumination for the walk side corridors.

Positioned behind him, the woman boldly snaked her slender arms to Aoshi’s lean waist. Aoshi was startled at the woman’s audacity but he remained calm to this kind of moment – his usual reaction when being pursued by women to take them.

He was so tall, past 6 feet. Good thing she had a height to boast for. Tall woman she is called, there had been so many advantages - including this. She could easily pursue with her daring hands this handsome man’s upper torso up to his neck and hopefully on his face. Even though his clothes hindered her pleasure of seeking heat of his pure skin, she could still sense this man’s powerful hidden sexual prowess.

“You are too bold for a mere servant girl. Don’t you know your masters will be angered if they see you tangling yourself on me?” Aoshi was aware of this woman’s disposition. He knew she didn’t belong to his clan, much more to this Mansion. All of the members of the clan had a name to take care of. Well, maybe he might be wrong to this one.

“That would not be a problem,” she replied as she continued to explore his lean muscles of his chest. She smiled as she savored his manly scent. It had aroused her that instant, almost wanting the game of flirting to end and get on with the real show – the one she had long for since her lavender-colored eyes saw him at the first light of the party.

If she could only describe it overly, it was like seeing him as a demi-god descending from the heavens of mist and clouds. He was talking with both of the Clans’ Elders with such great confidence and pride with himself. She had not seen such stand from any other men she had ever met. His bearing, his stance at the matter of their discussion, and the way he led one matter of answering their questions had caught her interest. He is a man born to be a leader; oddly enough against to the half-breed earl they were treating so highly. It was just there are things in this life that they could not deny or hide their great bearings as a good leader. A man in this great disposition shouldn’t be just left unnoticed.

“I don’t belong to anyone. I am free to choose what I want to do with myself, so goes in acquiring one.”

“And if so, you still shouldn’t be gambling your reputation to a poor man like me,” Aoshi was gentle enough to try not to hurt the woman’s feelings, a thing he had missed on performing matters for the Maiden hours ago. That side of his ‘sweet rogue’ personality had been missed, hiding, when these matters came to her. “I rank in the lower class of the Shinomori clan.” He tried his best to lie. Maybe by mentioning this, she would reconsider her reputation. Not that he was reformed from being a rake, it was just this lady couldn’t be easily back down from any force revulsion like he did a while ago. Maybe by this method, it might work.

Unfortunately, that didn’t convince her well.

“We both know that you lie, dear man, but I will not ask you why. All I want is for you to take me to your arms and be one with me tonight.” The woman eagerly countered as her hands continued its exploration to his well-built chest.

“You don’t understand, woman….” He was supposed to explain his side for not letting this to happen but he was abruptly silenced by the woman’s succulent kiss. She went in front of him and embraced him at the moment she felt he was deciding to flee from her. Her kiss was the only weapon she could use to a man to stop his senses. It was deep and sensuous. Like any other males she had encountered, his traitorous body responded by returning her kiss. But his was only a peck.

“Just that?” She playfully questioned. “I expect better than that.” With eagerness like from a child’s, she pulled his hand and ran to the nearest empty chamber she could find so that the game she was planning earlier would start.

Aoshi was almost dragged by the liberated woman into a certain dark, empty chamber. He had allowed her games on him so far and it is time to make her face the truth.

“A beautiful woman such as you shouldn’t be that desperate to bed a man like me. You are only playing fire, Madame. Even though your beauty had entranced me so well, I am in no mood to have this kind of entertainment for tonight.” He was turning down a great offer as this for what reasons!!! Had his appetite for one night stand left him because he was now engaged?! This is definitely insane, he thought.

“You may take your sweet words away, dear man, for I care naught. This is between you and me, pleasuring ourselves freely for the whole night.” She whispered.

“You speak as if you have no care for your reputation.” Aoshi couldn’t believe himself having a debate on chastity with his willful prey.

“What if I don’t?” Then she kissed him, deeper than the last one. Her tongue had penetrated through Aoshi’s reluctant lips, opening him like he was just a novice. But a novice he wasn’t! The magic between them was naught to be seen and felt.

She stepped back one at the time, guiding them both to enter the dark chamber, without breaking their kiss. She wouldn’t be able to gamble on loosing his momentarily interest so she kept stepping back on slow pace. Her hands were caressing his sides, raising his English shirt at mid way as if memorizing each of his manly curves. Alas! She could finally devour him into pleasure – her pleasure.

Aoshi had tried his best to turn down this maiden’s offer yet was flattered by her boldness to take him though as if it was a matter of life and death situation. Japanese women’s understanding with liberated sex today is not so far with the women he usually bed with at his father’s homeland. They are willful and unconventional….well…not all of them, especially the one he really wanted.

“May I know your name, please?” The woman desperately wanted to know his true name. It had shamed her a bit for she was entirely giving herself to a total - handsome – stranger. “Then I would give you mine,” she gasped along the process of talking.

The young earl had thought for a moment whether if it is good to reveal to her the he is the real Pillar of Shinomori clan engaged to Misao. Oh Misao. He remembered her too well. Somehow, remembering her name had made him stop. He abruptly removed his lips from hers and was about to tell her the truth when someone in the dark had uttered sarcastic words.

“So my spies had been right for one thing, the earl of Easterby is a dangerous rogue needed to be tamed. I see being engaged hadn’t stop you for ravaging another woman’s flower – whether it be still intact or not.”

Aoshi and the woman on his arms were surprised, hearing another person’s voice inside this dark chamber. There had been not enough illumination to see the person’s identity. One thing is for sure – it came from a woman. They hadn’t expected encountering one at the heat of their touching. Instead of asking who it was, Aoshi remained silent waiting for the person to speak again.

Fools as they were, it was too late that they gotten to know that the dark chamber they had entered was for the Pillar of the Shinomori Clan. In this case, it was for Shirojou for a meantime.

“Leave us, Megumi. I have to talk to him – in private.” There was no doubt the person’s voice had a great authority over this woman.

Even so, Megumi didn’t bulge.

“What are you talking about? He isn’t the…”

“I SAID LEAVE NOW OR ELSE!!!”

Megumi hated being shouted at, especially in front of someone. Like others, she deserved to be treated with respect. Well, she is indeed treated as such for she is the current doctor of the Makimachi Clan. With her she-devil looks and charms, all are at bow to her. Only one person in the clan can only do this to her and that person is now ordering her to leave.

She harrumphed, starting to disentangle herself from Aoshi. She smiled deviously for she will about to let the person assume that the blue-eyed Shinomori is the earl. Let her have the humiliation she deserves!!! “Suit yourself.”

Megumi left, hearing none of her departing footsteps from the corridor.

Then they were left alone.

It took several minutes before the person talked again. Aoshi remained standing, not wanting to reveal his identity. And also, he had already known the person by hearing the voice. This time, it was his turn to smile deviously.

“I won’t apologize on what had happened for this is more important than any rutting you wanted for that woman for tonight. You can have any woman as many as you want and be free, continuing the usual life that had made you contented for sometime if you will only agree to my proposition of you turning back against the marriage.”

Then silence loomed over again. Aoshi wouldn’t afford revealing himself to her by the sound of his voice. Not just yet.

“You can only do that by leaving this country, going back where you belong. That will set us free from this blasted arrangement, don’t you agree? I will pay you, matching what amount of wealth you have now – doubling it.”

It was obvious. Freedom is what she seeks. Misao is playing a dirty game. But Aoshi wouldn’t allow that. Technically, she was already his but only partially because the proper ceremony of marriage had not been settled yet. It was only an engagement.

So then a dirty game she will have from him. Thank God it was dark in this chamber for Misao might see his even wider smile for his new, devious plan.

A/N:

You smell something, eh? In the next chap the real party will start.
Till next time.

( I have to re-edit this....)