Restless Whispers

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.


A/n:
Some of the text contains German and French Languages. The following enclosed or {bracketed} sentences are its interpretation in English. Your reviews had inspired me to do the continuation as soon as possible. Thank you very much.

This is both Aoshi and Misao pov. May I remind you that this is OOC.

Again, gomen for the grammar thing.

enjoy reading. :D




Chapter 7 – Dark Shadows of the Past

It’s so dark. I can’t see a thing. I feel disoriented and so alone. The temperature around me begins to decrease. Coldness becomes my figurative companion in the darkness. I’m standing here, waiting and hoping for an answer. Why am I here?

The familiarity of this estranged, tortured emotion is devastating. The coldness of my surrounding is no longer metaphorical anymore to me. It became a part of me. Or so, came out from me.

Snow. It began to fall around me. Tiny specs of white cold dust are showering toward the earth. So it only makes sense why I feel this way. Snow means equal to coldness and so as impassiveness. It reflects everything of me. It reflects of who I am and why I became the man most people despise of today.

I don’t mind if I am that person. I don’t mind either if they call me a fiend. They don’t know me anyway. They thought that they knew all about me but they really don’t. Many people did so but they are only lying to themselves. In my world, pretending is a must. People around me hid themselves in their fine masks. I know better. Armed with better judgment, trust is not an option. Trust will weaken one’s inner strength and control upon an uncalled-for situation. I’m very much use to that idea since I was reborn. And also, I stop crying since then, after that rebirth of mine.

But what is this? I hear someone is crying while my wandering myself is figuring out to escape this oblivion. Someone is crying, a hysteric one. It sounded so shrilling, disturbing my thoughts.

I search for the source of the wailing. Darkness had been a nuisance but I have to bear with it. There is nothing I could do but follow it using my dependable ears. I know the person is here somewhere deep in the shadows of the darkness, very near me. Not only because of the nearness of the sound bouncing back to my ears, but also the despair emanating from the source.

I found the source, I am sure of it. Though it is still dark, I know the object is in front, some 3 meters apart from me. So common, just like what I had been describing from the start of this blasted conversation with myself. I hate to admit that everything seems to be very familiar to me – the darkness, the coldness, the loneliness, the quiet drift of the snow towards me and the earth, and now….the cry of a dispirited boy, cuddled by shadows.

Then there’s light, a soft painted light beaming through the latest object of my attention. Just like what my mind mentally described, it was a boy, crying for help and rescue. I see not only the obvious physical scars marred in his juvenile body, his spirit was lost also. Blood. I see the red stain everywhere from his body skin and even at the floor. The evidence is strong, I couldn’t mistake of not saying for I am very much acquainted with the red substance. He is badly beaten, that is my final conclusion and he wanted help. From who? Me? Helping a person is the least most of my close associates will think of me. I am neither angel nor savior. I don’t have the right to be one. I lost it when I lost my innocence to the sad truth of reality.

He is crying hysterically for Christ sake! It continues to deafen my ears, reminding me of something that I am eagerly trying to forget. Will someone stop him from doing that?! It almost reaches to break my patience. The enjoyment I have before seems to gradually fade. The wailing continues to crack a nerve at the back of my head. The boy is so desperate, that I know. I want out of this cursed place. Darkness I can take so as with the coldness of the snow but continue hearing this boy’s madness for help, there should be a limit.

I began to saunter towards the boy with much irritation and annoyance building with every step I take. Then when I reached and held his torn collar, I saw his tortured face, the only one that I had known one time in my sad, pathetic life.

The moment simply stops. The anger fled a bit, the irritation before slowly went adrift. But pain is still there, the familiarity of that emotion is overwhelming.

The weakened boy that I am holding by his collar is staring back at me. No life in there yet there is a strong accusation to his. I know why for he has every right to do that to me. Everything that had transpired between us is now so crystal clear. He blames me for his ordeal that I knew nothing about. Ah! That isn’t true. I deserve every beating he got. I deserve his hatred he clearly wants to shove to my mouth and eat. I also deserve to die in his stead. Why? It is because I let this happen to him from the every start. It is all because of the only word that I disgusts the most – LOVE.

He is still staring at me, doing nothing but cursing me towards hell. I deserve it, I know for one time in my life I became so weak. That was the time I cried a lot because of that pathetic emotion, just like this tortured boy. He is blaming me for that one weakness. Too late for that for it was done already. Time for retribution. Only one thing needs to be done which is taking the course of renewing one’s perspective in life. To live once more without taking more of wasted emotions to live by like love. It will just eat you away.

Based from facts, based from past experiences.

He will be like me. No more tears. No more petty emotions. Vulnerability is not an option to live in a world like I am running. Just like a friend of mine always says, the strong shall live and the weak shall perish.

It was a marvelous philosophy, indeed. It gave me this unknown strength to continue trudging the path that I am still taking today. Alone yet very secured. Or is it?

The boy wants to say something, I sense. His bruised mouth is moving but no sound comes out. My eyes are watching the silent, weakened movement of his bashed, parched lips. I patiently wait.

Then I saw a blood trailed from his forehead to his nose.

“W….wa….wake up, you fool! It’s your turn to move!”


*******

The German brute announced my turn to draw my cards into our game. At the moment, I was slacking in my chair, never got the same eagerness to continue playing even though my luck runs smooth. My repeated winnings hadn’t inspired me a bit. Instead, boredom shrouded my senses after the moment I snapped out from my uncalled-for reverie. My eyes were very weary caused by stress and smoke from their expensive cigars. My attention was not in it but beyond the knowledge of this world, and even to these close acquaintances of mine. They haven’t had any idea where my mind had been. There is no way they will know about it. No one had ever come this close to intercept my thoughts and know what’s lurking underneath. Not even my very own bitches.

All four of them, sitting impassively in their chair placed around the round game table. Some are dead placid and some are so obvious for lose taking. Here lies my close associates to my world of depravity and devious businesses - two Germans; one half-Japanese like me, the other is full-blooded. Language barrier is not an issue.

“Verdammte Scheiße! {Damn Shit!} What an insult to us to see that you are not even paying much attention to our game yet still you win in every round! ! Du hast das Glück des Teufels, im Spiel und bei den Frauen. {You have the devil’s luck, both in gambling and women.} I will beat you this next round! And this time, when I win, I will want to sample that special whore you are hiding from us since last two weeks.” The German giant patronizingly exclaimed and proclaimed.

I got to hear those German words again. ‘Das Glück des Teufels’ meaning ‘Devil’s luck’. True. I have the devil’s luck when it comes to both sins. I see no shame in that case for it is the bold truth. Rolf – Blood Drinker – never once win against me yet still got the nerve to challenge me when it is obvious that he stand no chance. He maybe a lot larger than me but he got the reasoning of a child. I bested them all most of the times, even to my red-headed associate here. They revered me because of that. They see me as their unannounced leader. Should I be happy of that? I think I should be. Supremacy feels so good.

In matters of women, he must be telling me my luck of not sleeping in an empty, lonely chamber oftentimes. There had been countless times I share my mates with them, even participating with the game of orgy. Yes. There had been periods of coldness or not-in-the mood circumstances but that was just a few. But even so, my luck with women was still lacking then. Many as they were, I still felt empty. Nothing moved much until I sampled one delicious delicacy. Odd, now that I have seized her, there are certain parts that took away the boredom out from me. Momentarily, I seek no other thighs and bosoms to lick and taste. Only hers…..only hers satisfy me.

For now. Even so, she is mine forever, mine to possess, to ravish. What good fate God had bestowed on us….on me. Oh, revenge is so good to taste.

Misao must be sleeping in her room now. Of course, she is. I can already imagine those white, slender limbs of hers now slowly brushing to the smooth texture of her bed’s satin cover. And along that suave action of hers come a moan I always wanting to hear from her. Her sultry moaning always makes me feel aroused during our sex. I can’t stop foolishly grinning on that. And now, she probably coiling herself into its comforts since the night is cold. I remember the fury in her eyes when I told her to wear only lace camisole and thongs during her night sleep. Well, it is better than nothing, right? She should thank me for being considerate. With a malicious grin, I told her that but all I got is her spit, her lovely, tasty spit to my face. A challenge? Why not?

The point here, I will not tolerate her modesty this time, not in a million years. What a bore it will be if she will be always covered when she got the right goods I want to devour.

A smirk came out from me. The vixen still has the power to torment me, here and everywhere. I’ll be there. Just you wait and see. I’ll have to sample my love slave this night again with a good excuse of impregnating her just like I want her to be. On the other hand, I know they are still waiting for my turn and answer Blood Drinker’s challenge. They were all eyeing at me, very much anticipating my next move.

“And here I think that the Ice Warrior got something to retort. Has the cat got your tongue?” Another imbecile tried to get my attention by taunting me.

“Hush! He must be dreaming or imagining something. I see he isn’t in a mood.” The red-haired one admonished to them. He seems to be the only one sober among us.

“That got me curious about what he is dreaming about. Willst du es uns erzählen, Aoshi-kun? {Care to tell us, Aoshi-kun?} Is it about that hellion you bought last two weeks ago, right? I don’t blame you. She’s beautiful. Well honestly, I fancy your newest delicacy a bit. ” Another German intervened. Seeing him tonight in a drunken and annoying state did disappoint me a bit. Black Knight is not a sort of man that will be drowned in the powerful essence of whisky. He isn’t that weak to endure the effects.

“In a mood or not, he still have to take his turn! Let me have this for the win!” Rolf impatiently demanded as he poured more whiskey to his tiny crystal glass. “I want to fuck your whore, Aoshi! Just like the other ones you freely gave to us. You might even consider joining us then.”

Baka. The fool just boasted that he will ever beat me to this game. Even so, I will not permit my minx to be shared to these fools. Not yet.

Picking up my own wine glass, I eyed the content for a moment, almost swinging it to the glass’ rim. “Do you honestly think that you can beat me this time, Rolf? I beg to disagree. You will never ever have this chance to win against me. You said it to yourself; I got the devil’s luck.”

He scoffed. “HA! So much arrogance for a Half-Japanese like you. I thought your race embrace life’s simplicity and humility?”

“Well, it is kind of obvious that the other blood race of mine acts right now for my behalf. And what made you think that Japanese got no vices? All human does.”

“Oh ouais, je peux voir cela clairement, le garçon pauvre. {Oh yeah, I can see that clearly, poor boy.}” Black Knight mockingly said in French as he threw his set of cards on the table. We exchanged glances yet none fumed between us. But the German gave an honest, fleeting apologetic look. I don’t mind. It is true anyway. With it, I was reminded of my other half-race, the blood coming from my filthy French mother. They knew all about my dead mother. Even after hearing French words again, it didn’t shunt me. I am much used to the idea that I am a son of a French liberated woman who made the greatest mistake of her life - ME. “Ich bin für gemacht. {I am done for.} I got the worse set of cards for this round.” He said in German language.

“Sou ka? {Is that so?} Me too,” The red-haired one surrendered. “I think I had enough playing cards for tonight.”

Beside him, a raven-haired man with spiky ones produced an obvious mocking grin. The man is the heir of one of Japan’s leading shipping line. In any moment he might have the destiny of being its full-pledge owner for his father’s life is unstable due to terminal illness. The poor man is residing to the most expensive hospital in America, so far away from the care of his only son. Did the old man know what his conceited son doing at this time of the hour? Probably not. Like me, the cad son of his got no love toward his father. He is also blessed with a black soul but got humor in his bones. “Getting chicken this time, eh?”

“I just know when I have to withdraw. People got limitations.” The red-haired one calmly defended.

“Or maybe, you just don’t want to experience humiliation,”

“I don’t see why I shouldn’t. It’s my decision not to take the risk. It is sometimes better to take precautions to prevent certain unlikable circumstances.” He retorted.

“Feh, you’re just giving a new meaning to cowardice.” The other one drawled.

“So you call me to a coward then?” Black Knight bluntly asked, his eyes starting to frown. But he doesn’t mean to start a fight.

He just smirked back. “If you think you are then….”

“When will you ever learn, Sanosuke? This is just a game, for Kami-sama sake.” Then the red-haired one interrupted as he friendly patted the prick’s left shoulder. He cajoled him to remain cool-headed.

“I was just kidding, baka,”

“Yameru! {Enough!}” I just said. I had enough of this foolish talk. All I want to do is end this game and move on with my life….together with someone I dearly know. There are better things to do than listening to these twerps. The company with these men seems to begin to bore me to death. My loins are aching for her touch, her lips. Having sex with a beautiful woman will change my bad mood. Just thinking her now, lying in her satin bed all gracefully half-naked and unprotected, my shaft is going wild and ready.

“So what now?”

“I said enough. My head hurts and all of you are the cause of it. I want out. Continue enjoying emptying my liquor cellars for a while. I’ll just send some ‘entertainments’ on the way.” I threw my cards on the table, face down.

“Hey! You just can’t quit!” Rolf angrily protested, standing up from his seat.

I stood up and sauntered towards the door. My manservant opened the door for me and bowed to pay respect. “Warum siehst du dir die Karten nicht an, Blood Drinker? {Why don’t you see what’s underneath, Blood Drinker?} Cool your wild cock elsewhere. I’m in no mood to tolerate your petty sentiments and whining. I pay you all good night.”

The German giant did what I just told him to do. He cursed aloud and furiously threw his very own priced set of cards on the middle of the table.

“Soll er zur Hölle fahren! {May the devil take him to hell!} The bastard won again! Royal flush!”

“Then pray tell who will take Aoshi’s winnings?” Black Knight asked as he gingerly gathered his own.

“He doesn’t care for his winning tonight. He already got what he really needs.” The red-haired one said cryptically.

“Don’t need to elaborate. You are just putting more illicit thoughts in my mind.” Sanosuke said as he lit his cigar. “Damn bastard. He must be thinking of her for quite sometime now that is why more often he is not with himself. The whore must be that very good. Am I right, Blood Drinker?”

“Small as she is, I can not deny the fact that the whore got pretty goods to lust for. I for instance got no taste for small women but hers definitely sets my standard into shreds. I can’t seem to understand my lust these days. She looks so…..tight.”

“A virgin, in short.” Black Knight cleared as he chortled.

“Verdammt, da hast du Recht! {Damn, you got that right!}” He proudly grinned. Then he licked his lips at the same time.

“Bastard! It is because you ‘almost’ sampled the poor lady if I haven’t just came in to check at the right time.” Black Knight reminded him as he took a swift sip to his own glass of whisky.

“Almost sampled? Aoshi would not like that if he knows you almost messed with his priced chit. You shouldn’t have done that.” The red-haired one reprimanded.

“Dear Kenshin boy, Aoshi always shares his ‘blessings’ to us so why pay this one any different from the others?” Rolf said defensively. He sat back to his chair then playfully balancing his big weight only with its 2 hind legs.

“Es ist weil sie anders ist, du Idiot. {It is because she is different, you fool.} All I know that he got certain past with her that needs to be rekindled.” Black Knight explained as he absently rubbed his chin with his point finger.

“Past? Oh….I didn’t know that.” Rolf said insensitively, minding his own winnings. “So he had already sampled her long ago, is that right? Many times I imagine. I can already hear her passion wailing.”

“Das ist nicht deine Sache, Rolf. {That is none of our business, Rolf.} You will just have to wait for your turn if you want to fuck his self-righteous whore.”

“Seems to me that I have to wait for decades for that opportunity to come,” he grumbled.

“Very likely so set your eyes to Aoshi’s other tasty morsels or maybe find your own small chit to fuck endlessly and mercilessly.”

“What? Don’t you want her?” Blood Drinker asked.

“Well, lets just say that I fancy ‘friendship’ before preference,” Black Knight said smugly.

“Friendship! Ha!” He scoffed. “Hurensohn! {Son of a bitch!} You are just afraid of Aoshi’s wrath, that’s why.”

“And you are not?”

“I am not!”

“Then go ahead, fuck the woman. It is best you do it in front of him.” He chuckled afterwards. “So what’s stopping you?”

Blood Drinker’s cheeks reddened not because his angry but of slight humiliation. “He might be still sampling her. Now is not the right time.”

“Oh it’s perfect alright! You just have to….”

“Halt die Klappe, Trottel. {Shut up, moron.}” He petulantly warned.

The moron just grinned.

Sanosuke suddenly became serious. He leaned his elbows to the edge of the table and looked at Blood Drinker and then to Black Knight. These Germans sure know Aoshi’s latest bed playmate. Why did the Ice Warrior secret this information to the rest of their group? “Is she that gorgeous, enough for men to lose one’s sanity? I am very much intrigued.”

“Getting curious, eh?” Black Knight playfully teased.

“I’m serious here, Sonniger Junge {Sunny boy}.” Sanosuke snapped. He called him that because Black Knight possesses tawny hair most women in his country prefers to a man. He was often compared to a Greek god named Apollo for his golden looks and physique. Many women love him for that.

Caught by Sanosuke’s question, he turned his attention to him. He was silent for a few seconds and then softly spoke, “She’s a good morsel alright. I suppose she’s very excellent in bed, even if not drugged. The chit got lusty passion and for that I believe Aoshi will not have this strange behavior if she’s not that good.”

“Drugged?”

Black Knight just grinned. A deep red blush came out from his pale white skin.

“Ah. So it seems you used that forbidden aphrodisiac to her. I can picture her now being so wild and wet….”

“Ja!{Yes!} All wild and wet……very demanding.”

Sanosuke smiled devilishly. He seemed to be formulating something in his mind.

Kenshin gradually laid his back to his chair and thought for a moment. Frowning, he was tapping his chin with his point finger. “He maybe got some strange attitude these past days but that doesn’t mean it only concerns her.”

“What do you mean by that, Roter Junge {Red boy}?” Rolf asked.

“No…..nothing.”

“Du versteckst etwas, he? {Hiding something, eh?}”

These Germans, particularly this big brute sometimes do tests his patience but he is a man who never fell to his trap. He remained silent, not looking at him.

Rolf stood from his seat and raked his long blonde hair away from his flushed face. “Güte! {Goodness!} If you don’t want to share, then don’t. I had enough of this trivial conversation about him! I need to relieve myself. I need a woman tonight. Two, most likely. Where are Aoshi’s beautiful lemans?”

“There will be here so don’t you worry.” Black Knight coolly said. “You better fixed your horrid face so that your woman, I mean women, will not be scared of you.”

“Kümmern sie sich um ihr eigenes Scheiß Gesicht, Black Knight! {Mind your own fucking face, Black Knight!}” The brute shot back.

He just shrugged and smiled.

“I wonder where Aoshi is right now. I bet he didn’t waste any of his time to not to visit his latest conquest.” Sanosuke mused. He seemed to be imagining the act of their sex right now, thinking how the latest chit pleasuring her master. His cock is already engorged.

“Sure he is. I also bet that he is already giving her the big, sounding orgasm.” Black Knight joked.

Then the sent beautiful, sex expert courtesans came rush in. Six of them, all ready and equipped with oozing sex appeal. 2 of them are English, 1 pure Japanese and the rest are French. They were all wearing loose, above-knee Greek white robes.

“Maîtres, who wants to have fun with me?” One of the French whores boldly asked. She got long blonde hair and tanned skin. She shook her hair loose from a tight knot, initiating a good invite for the men’s hungry eyes.

Ignoring the woman’s lascivious inquiry, Rolf turned and talked to the other German. “No French women for me tonight.” Then he gazed at the two English women with so much lust in his eyes. “I prefer the other European delicacy.” There was a small smile into his face.

“I will take the Japanese woman,” Kenshin immediately claimed the woman and took her hand, leading her out of the game room.

“He’s fast.” Rolf commented as his eyes followed their gradual exit. Black Knight chortled.

“Knowing that he prefers Japanese, why bother to ask?” Sanosuke plainly said as he sauntered toward one of the French whores. He tilted her chin with his finger to make her look to his eyes. “This cheeky angel will do. Her expertise might do the trick of easing my thoughts for a certain maiden.” Then he was gone together with the bold chit.

Raking his unruly blonde hair, he smirked at the remaining lemans and said, “So these lead me to the last two French ladies. Mes belles prostituées, venir à votre maître. {My beautiful lemans, come to your master.}”


*******

A month has already passed; I am still in the care of the devil. I need to relieve myself from that awful reality and here I am into one of his dominion’s beautiful places – his flower garden.

The Shinomori’s West Garden is a perfect epitome of serenity and grace. The fresh scent of nature and inviting green scenery attracts everyone to stroll into its lovely cradle. I for one had fell-in-love into such beauty. There is no place in his domain that I will feel safe from his embrace and longing. This is my only refuge, my very own hiding place.

Silly. This garden belongs to him so why do I ever get to think that I can hide from him. If he will seek me out, there will be no stopping that he can have me back to his ‘torture chamber’. Or so, if he wills to, he can ravish me here from the very place I am standing.

I began to feel helpless again. I just can’t help not to hope that this beautiful garden could be my momentarily sanctuary from his touch. I need to stable my thoughts, my feelings, my yearnings…..when it comes to him. Falling into his charming deceit of love again will not be good to my emotional health. Every time he touches me, I can’t seem to turn away from him. He knows how to make me weak into his embraces. His kisses makes my whole body tremble of need for him. When that happens, I succumb to his sexual machinations. Just like before.

The children. I have to think about them. Misanagi will not be happy knowing that I am turning a harlot again for the very man who had ruined my hopes and dreams. Children. I began to think about them, not only my best friend’s but to my future very own. Soon – as the devil had promised – I will have to give birth to his heir. Judging from frequency of our ‘rutting’ with each other, I doubt that his seed didn’t penetrate into my womb finally creating the one he needs from me. Even so, I will not condemn this child for having his bad blood. This child is mine, not his. I will not allow this baby to know how monstrous his/her father is. The child’s sire had clearly stated that he isn’t capable of love. He/she will know love from me.

Aoshi had poorly misjudged me. Even if I do have a child out from our fornication, it will not be the reason for me not to escape from his hold. I will still find a way no matter what. It is better to live out from the comforts of his satin bed than being ill-used repeatedly by his expert hands and lips.

He doesn’t love me. That sad truth hurts the most. I cried so many times whenever he’s not around. Sometimes, I can’t help not to weep after our release in sex. I feel defeated and very used. He knows that part of me. Whenever I do that, he just wipes away my tears with his sweet, tender words and butterfly kisses. Not good, not good! I don’t want him to do those things to me again. No, never.

Wearing this long yellow morning dress with a small ribbon knot between my breasts, I feel like an expectant mother. I am gently rubbing my slim tummy. Soon, I will be able to bear him an heir he needed. While I still got the slenderness of my body, I should plan our escape, the girls and me. Ending this illicit relationship will do well from the whole people involved. He doesn’t love me………enough reason for me to be away.

He doesn’t……love me…..but I love him.

A tear slipped out from my left eye. I am longing to be loved and the one that I fell-in-love with had no heart to share. Is it selfish to yearn for that? If it is, it doesn’t matter to me. I have been walking to this world long enough without it. If love is not possible to be freely shared, at least respect that I need for myself worth should be given. With the way Aoshi treating me just like his sex toy, which will be a great impossibility.

“Auntie Misao!” a child’s voice was heard far beyond behind me. I know that voice. It’s Ayame calling me. I instantly wiped the tear from my face to hide my sorrow from them.

As I was turning myself to greet Ayame, I was startled to see the very man I am trying to ignore the rest of the day, hiding. I began to frown. I can’t help it. “Ayame,”

“Auntie Misao! I have been searching for you! Why are you hiding here?” The child asked. She’s so innocent.

“I….I am not hiding, Ayame.” That was a lie. “I am just strolling to the great outdoors for a change.”

I didn’t move from my position. My legs wouldn’t move from the spot as long as I see him.

He was holding Ayame’s hand. He was still silent and kept staring at me. Now I feel uncomfortable to his quiet treatment.

“Uncle Aoshi helped me to find you.” Since then, the girls are calling him there uncle because he told them to. He is blackmailing me by winning over the girls’ young minds and hearts.

“Yes, I can see that,” I said.

“Suzume is sleeping peacefully in her room. I don’t want to disturb her so I went out to search and play with you, Auntie. Then I found Uncle Aoshi reading his newspaper and he asked me where I am going. I told him then he gladly offered help.” Ayame smiled blissfully. She also hugged the devil’s leg, simply giving her honest thanks.

Aoshi? Helping?

Ayame released his leg as soon as he whispered his welcome to her. The child beamed her brightest smile toward him. He solemnly accepted it with a quick caress of his finger to her juvenile pink cheek.

They moved towards me. My eyes are staring only to the child, trying to ignore his manly presence. But as soon as he and the child reached me, Aoshi – without any word – tilted my chin up and gave me a resounding kiss.

“Good morning, Misao.” He plainly said. “I believe you enjoyed looking at my father’s dead wife’s cherished garden.”

So callous in mentioning his late mother in those set of good-looking lips, Aoshi never bothered to correct it. I was caught a little bit unaware of his smooth motive.

“I never thought that your mother loves flowers, particularly those red and white roses.” I was trying to make a decent conversation towards him for the sake of the child beside us.

“Yes, she loved planting and growing those stupid creatures. So much loved she got no time to play and care for her very own child.” He absently and coolly revealed.

I was shocked upon his small, unexpected revelation. Never in all our moments did he ever talk about his own family, especially his late mother.

“When….when did she depart, Aoshi?” I became bolder this time to ask. Curiosity began to coil up inside of me.

It took several seconds before he responded. “When I was only 8 years old, it was the night of a blizzard storm.”

I didn’t expect him to answer my question. Never had I imagine him to be since I know that he hates talking or sharing about his past.

Then Ayame went to the far side of the garden where the roses bloomed beautifully. Her back was turned at us. She smelled them and picked one. I yelled for her not to do that but Aoshi hushed me.

“Too late for that. The rose has already been picked.”

“Even so, it isn’t too late to send her a warning not to pick the others,” I retorted.

Aoshi remained impassive to what I said. He was looking to the child kneeling in the earth together with the red and white roses. Was he imaging his mother to this very garden or remembering his past as a kid?

“Are you fond of them, Misao?”

There is no harm in answering his question but still, I am not comfortable to be near and befriending the very person who is ill-using me. “I think so,” I coldly replied.

“What made you like them?”

“I guess because they are so beautiful and lovely. Something in them makes me forget the chaos of my life,” I never intended to say those last words to remind him of his doings. I only waited for him to answer my reply.

“Is beauty and loveliness of the roses enough to make you forget about your child, Misao?” Aoshi asked, still impassive to our surrounding.

What kind of a question is that? “I think not. If I get to choose of tending and taking care of, I will choose my child. Along with it, I can teach a thing or two on loving those roses. That will create a good bond between me and my child by using the thought of it.”

“How lucky that our child will be,” he murmured. Even so, I had thought that he said those pleasing words because of his sarcasm side. Aoshi isn’t the type to be thankful a simple graces.

I admit this is the first time I saw him so vulnerable. Seeing him absently staring those lovely roses makes my heart flutter. I never saw him like this, so open to the world.

My heart began to beat faster. Looking at him to his handsome face, I imagined him as the man I am longing to have but that is only a dream. There is nothing to hope for. I should remember that this man doesn’t love a single person in this world, not even himself.

He caught me staring at his face. The fool grinned. He is turning back to his old self again as a depraved creature.

“How is your appetite going?”

“Fine.”

“Feeling well?”

“I said I’m fine,”

“Not yet getting nauseous or vomiting?”

“Nope. Why you ask?” one of my eyebrows was raised.

“I am just asking for signs.”

“Signs?” It was a minute after I realized his concern. “Oh….signs. What made you think that I already have your heir inside of me?”

He chortled. “Don’t play me dumb, Misao. I know what it takes to impregnate a woman. At the rate we are having, surely my seed had made it through and start the natural process creating life with your eggs.”

“You wish,” I helplessly mumbled.

He moved close to me, grabbing my waist. He gradually bent his head to smell my natural scent. He was sniffing my nape and then playfully nipping it with his teeth. He didn’t mind the close presence of the child in the vicinity. If he wants to devour me, he would stop at nothing.

“I prefer your beauty and loveliness than those roses, Misao. I want you beneath me, always.” He huskily whispered.

“I won’t be forever like this, Aoshi. I will wither like those roses over there. Only time will tell that I will…..”

“Let’s try to savor today’s essences. Never think of the sad future.”

“Soon you will get tired of me. Forever with you will not be possible.”

“You think so?” Aoshi mockingly said. “Are you raising your hopes again for an escape, Misao? Never. You will suffer for the consequences of your defiance. Remember that always.”

We shall see about that, I said to myself. In time I will be able to escape from this place together with the girls. In a mean time, I have to play with his dense game of being his baby maker and resident mistress.

He began to rub my slim tummy. “Still slim. I like that. We can have all the following nights and days to fill your womb with my virile seed.” He brusquely said. “You and I will enjoy every minute of it.”

“Stop that,” I wanted to be free from his embrace yet he didn’t let me go. My cheeks began to flush.

“You don’t have to be ashamed of your craving for sex. I always fill them anyway. You do enjoy them every time.”

True, and that is why I should end this ‘weakness’ of mine while I still have the right strength. I didn’t speak. I remained silent.

I can’t breathe normally. His masculine scent is making me wild all over again.

“You are mine. Mine only.”

He kissed me, opening my mouth with the expert penetration of his tongue. I involuntarily moaned as he massaged my nape and the small of my back. Sometime between the lines of being devoured by his lips, I forgot that we’re not alone in garden. Ayame is there playing with the roses. I must stop this. We should stop this before…..

“Am I interrupting something?” a woman’s sultry voice was heard. I snapped out from his embrace, instantly letting me go. I stepped back three paces away from him. Damn it. We are caught.

“Too late to play innocent, Mystic Rose. We find this behavior of yours normal in Aoshi’s arms. All of his whores got the same reaction, including this one.” Another one spoke. The person voice is very familiar to me. I looked and saw the bastard who just called me a whore.

“Surprised seeing me again, Ms. Makimachi? I think you do.” A devious smile curved on his lips. Mr. Kamatari Honjo always loves playing god, like his master.

Before I could answer him, Aoshi interrupted by asking, “What are you two doing here?” He pierced each of them his cold stare.

“Why, can we not enjoy strolling in your garden, Aoshi? I didn’t see any prohibit signs.” The woman sarcastically said. She sauntered towards us, particularly to Aoshi. Her hips are swaying along the way.

“Think that you can talk to me like that. I can see that being my father’s whore did make you regain power over me,” Aoshi coolly said. “Think many times before you step on my grounds, woman.”

“Oh….I didn’t think of that. I was just being myself, all sweet, accommodating and charming. You like me because of that, right, before your father fancied and took me away from you.” She then coiled her arms around Aoshi’s neck.

“I am glad he did that.”

“Why is that?” I saw the hurt in her eyes but she didn’t make it obvious.

He smiled deviously. “Because you don’t satisfy me much. I feel I am getting the same bargain from my resident lemans.”

“Bastard!” She was about to slap Aoshi but she controlled herself just in time. “You are just saying those horrid things because you are angry. I had preferred your father than you.” Then she smiled, thinking that she had marked him.

“You think so? Pity. Here I thought that I was relieving myself from the pain I was carrying all those years caused by your annoying ‘sweet, accommodating and charming’ personality. Those delusions should be stop, Ms. Takani. Think about it.”

“Bastard,” She hissed.

“Even so, I can still entertain my father’s scrap offering. I don’t mind much.”

“You had me first, Aoshi. You should remember that.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter.”

She grinned. “You will make love to me when I ask you too?”

Aoshi glanced at me and then back to her. “Why not? Maybe after 4 months or so….I could consider your plea.”

“Why should be after 4 months in time?”

The devil just grinned. “In time, you will know.”

They are such depraved people, casually talking about sex. So. He will rut with her after I finally get pregnant with his heir. Bastard. I can’t take this anymore.

Takani. The name sounds very familiar to me. Where did I hear that?

Her arms still snaked to his neck, caging him to her embrace. Her lips were pouting, wanting to have his. Seeing that wanted me to charge the woman and slap her. Strange. Why should I do that? Jealous? HA!

I know I should not be feeling that. Aoshi hadn’t been celibate through all these years we have been apart. I should accept the thought of it. This woman is one of them who had warmed his bed during his search for me.

Aoshi saw the look of my eyes. The fool just smiled. I instantly looked away.

I wish for another place to settle. I want to leave them all and be on my way. But I just can’t leave Ayame here.

“For old times sake, Aoshi, will you kiss me?” the woman seductively asked, brushing her hips close to his manhood. “Can’t wait for 4 months for a mere kiss.”

He thought for a moment. “My father will not like it.” The devil had just flirted.

“I don’t see him around.” She huskily whispered and winked. “I hope your newest toy here won’t mind of your little welcoming to me.” Then the whore looked at me. I felt her hatred against me.

I inwardly budged. “I think we better go. The sun is getting high. Ayame! Let’s get inside.” I said impatiently. Shameful as it is, I think I’m jealous. He does know too. And because of it, I am feeling two emotions – jealousy and anger.

Thank goodness Ayame didn’t ask or complain for our abrupt exit. I was about to take her into my arms when I saw Aoshi bending his head to kiss his father’s mistress. He kissed her like the way he kisses me…….so deep and hungry.

My stomach churned up. “Excuse us,” I marched up toward the mansion, carrying the innocent Ayame.

I felt so betrayed. But what can I do? Ha! Now I have another valid reason why I should leave this place as soon as possible. I don’t want to die of a broken heart.

I lived through it once but I believe I could not take this one. This is much worse than leaving him before knowing that I was just his favorite past time. Now seeing him with his other woman, I might not bear it through. I have my child to think about, so as Suzume and Ayame.

The tear that I am trying to hide a while ago suddenly came rolling down on my cheek.

Once is enough.

tbc......

A/n:
there will be chaos in the next chapters. Til next time!


To Evangeline Blue, thanks for pointing that out. I'll keep that on mind.

011407 - i would like to thank MoonCrisp for fixing the german sentences in here. You are a big help and I appreciate it so much! Thank you for being there. :D Hugs and Kisses, dear!