Disclaimers: Rurouni Kenshin does not belong to me and will never do. This is for entertainment purposes only!!!

Summer Nights:

*CHACK* *BOOM!* the thunder roared through the night.

Misao woke from a heart-pounding nightmare, a memory about her past, one that she wishes most to forget about, her father’s cruel death.

Misao jolted up from lying down on her futon. Her heart was racing, as if she was dropped down from the top of the sky to the bottomless pit. She groaned in pain, remembering her old wounds, where she was stabbed all those many months ago. This had happened before the Oniwabanshuu took her in. “Why am I remembering this now?” She mumbled to herself warily. Her hands moved to her racing heart, feeling the endless pulses.

The night was still dark. The sounds of rain continued to splatter on the windows in her dark room and on the rooftop above her. The thickness of the clouds covered the moonlight. It all seems quiet, and then another lightning flashed followed by a crack of thunder. There were no footsteps of anyone approaching her room. Nothingness, but silence that disturbed her night, created a shadow over her. Her room was pitch dark and she was unable to see anything around her. Misao was too shaky to light a candle.

After seeing the movements of the tree branches swaying back and forth, scratching her windows, Misao grabbed into her blankets tightly. ‘Scared? Me? Of course not.’ Misao told herself, closing her eyes tightly. She laid back down on her futon, using her blankets to block her view of the window. She hoped to forget about everything around her and let herself back into slumber.

Misao finally managed to fall asleep. The night suddenly became quieter and more peaceful. Yet, a few seconds later, another loud roar escaped from the sky. Misao woke up, yet again, shaking and shivering.

‘Is there a reason behind all this?’ She questioned, no one in particular. ‘It’s only raining…’ She concluded, trying hard to forget about the old and painful memories, even though it just kept flowing through her head like a never-ending train.

That night, it was quite similar to this when her father got himself killed. It had rained hard, a little while before her father received a note from a pigeon, sending him on a mission. Misao had snuck out of her house that very night, after her father put her to bed. She had not followed her father’s order to stay, and instead, secretly followed from behind. The roads were still wet and trees were still damp from rain. Misao kept on chasing, trying her best to keep a distance from her father, but also enough distance to not loose track.

“Who ever knew that would be his final mission?” Misao thought, slowly understanding the duties of an Oniwabanshuu. She heaved a sigh, to stop those unshed tears from falling again.

“Misao…” Aoshi called, softly, entering her room, checking up on her. He had felt her troubled presence and had decided to look.

Misao jolted from her seat. She slowly turned to the door way and saw a dark figure standing outside of it, holding a small candle light in hand.

“D-Dare?” Misao staggered, breaking through her shaky voice.

Aoshi walked into her room and lit the candle located by her bedside, brightening the room by a bit.

“Aoshi-sama,” She called, finally recognizing the taller man wearing beige, brownish colored gi, which walked in on her already disturbed night.

“Hnn?” Aoshi asked, turning to her, after putting down his candle.

“… W-What are you doing in here?” She finally managed to ask. Her voice still trembling a little, though her pounding heart has calmed.

“You.” Aoshi gave her a one-word answer. “I heard screaming.”

“Me, screaming?” Misao asked, as if she knew nothing of it. “I didn’t hear any.” She commented, hoping not to bring any thoughts into Aoshi’s head.

Aoshi sat at the edge of Misao’s futon. “I heard you screaming from next door.” He looked almost serious his blue eyes were becoming ice.

“Heh…I was?” Misao cracked a fake smile on her face. After a moment, she froze. A bothered and troubled look reappeared on her face. Misao turned her head facing the window, still trying to hide it from Aoshi.

Aoshi looked at her, forcing out an answer.

“I don‘t know, really,” She continued to lie. She remembered screaming in her dreams, but was not aware that her moans and groans had reached out of her nightmares.

“Liar” Aoshi stated, being able to see Misao’s true expressions. He may not know what Misao was feeling exactly, but he has learned to tell from Misao’s expressions to get an idea on her feelings.

“So I had a dream, one memorable dream…” She began.

Aoshi did not believe her.

“Or rather, a nightmare.” Misao finally let out. “I guess it‘s just the weather, that’s making me feel this way.”

“This way?” Aoshi asked, in a monotone. He was not looking at Misao, who was currently holding on tightly into her blankets, but at the dark sky.

“hummm…” Misao mumbled weakly, still shaking, yet relieved that Aoshi was in the room with her.

Another thunder roared, echoing through the nighttime sky. She grabbed onto Aoshi without thinking twice.

“I see.” Aoshi said softly, holding onto Misao.

A small tear escaped Misao’s hold. “I don‘t want this.” She cried. “I don‘t want to remember it anymore.”

Aoshi understood what Misao was talking about.

“Don‘t run away from it, Misao-chan” Okina said softly, standing by the doorway. “I think you‘ll be even sadder if you were to forget your memories of your late father.”

Misao was in shock. She gripped tighter onto Aoshi’s gi.

“Okina” Aoshi mumbled in a bit of surprise. He was to busy worried over the helpless Misao, he forgot to sense for other presence around him.

“I suppose you didn‘t feel me coming either,” Okina spoke to Aoshi.

Aoshi did not respond.

“I‘ll take care of this,” Okina told Aoshi, walking closer to Misao.

Misao did not look at him. She stared at the light, forgetting about the darkness flowing outside of her room.

“Our former okashira told me to take care of her,” he said, shaking his head slowly, wanting to keep a promise to his old leader. “I will take care of her.”

Okina smiled lightly. “I‘m glad you two are getting along well.” He smiled warmly. He reached out and pushed Misao’s bangs aside. Slowly turning around, he walked away, closing the shoji behind him.

“Onegai,” Misao begged, still clinging onto Aoshi. “Stay with me for this one night.” Unshed tears were burning, as they filled her eyes. Misao was still reluctant to release her hold on it.

Aoshi did not say anything, but agreed to stay with Misao for this night. Misao lay back onto her futon with help from Aoshi. She was still holding onto his arms.

“Oyasume nesai!” Misao bided good night to him, as she closed her eyes.

Aoshi was about to pull his arms away from Misao. He was feeling a bit uncomfortable now.

“You‘re not going anywhere…” Misao mumbled in her sleep.

Aoshi sighed.

“I promise I‘ll stay with you Misao.” Aoshi told her.

Misao still did not let go. Aoshi gave in and tried his best to making himself as comfortable as possible. There was still half the night left, before day arrives.

--------------------

The night slowly turned to day. It was still raining, though the thunderstorms and lightning strikes have stopped.

Misao woke up from the loud platters on her rooftop. She finally let go of Aoshi’s arms, realizing she was still clutching onto them. Aoshi stared at her.

You’re awake already? Misao asked, a bit shocked, having to have forgotten a few of the events that occurred at night.

“Aa” Aoshi responded. He did not want to explain all the events that took place, and just decided to keep things nice and simple.

“Heh…” Misao grinned, before turning her head to the window. “When will it ever stop?”

Aoshi did not have an answer for her. It is all nature’s work.

-------------------

Misao remained in her room. Aoshi had left, having much work to finish. Misao watched and waited as the rain lightened by a bit. She got dressed in her blue and gray Oniwabanshuu uniform with a pink ribbon. Misao grabbed a bundle of kunai, for protection, in case anything happens.

She snuck out of her room and went down the stairs to the third floor. There, she spotted many wandering Oniwabanshuu shinobi’s at work, either standing guard or delivering messages.

Misao planned to sneak away without anyone noticing because if anyone catches her going out in the rain, they will tell Aoshi and/or Okina. She did not want to get into trouble and get herself yelled at for doing something so dangerous.

As Misao walked down this hall, she saw a shadow of someone heading in her direction. “Shimatta” she mumbled, hiding herself in a corner.

It was Omasu. She was heading towards Aoshi’s office to give him his tea and snack. As soon as Omasu was out of sight, Misao crawled out of the tight space and headed for the exit.

Shikijou guarded the main gate. Usually she would greet him, but for today, she did not want anyone to know where she was off to. Misao threw a kunai hitting a tree and managed to Shikijou, leading him to think there was a spy on Oniwabanshuu grounds.

Misao made her way to Okina’s garden. Most of the flowers were drenched in rain. She managed to find a bush with many flowers. Misao took a few and went on her way. Misao did not head straight to her father’s grave. Misao enjoyed the freedom she got, after leaving the headquarters.

Misao wandered around. She avoided jumping on trees, afraid to slip and fall. About two hours, Misao finally wandered far enough to start heading back.

-------------------

Back in the Oniwabanshuu headquarters:

It was lunchtime. Okon went to Misao’s room to call her down. When she knocked on the door, she heard no response and slid open the door.

The room was empty. Okon immediately rushed to Aoshi’s office.

“Aoshi-sama!” She exclaimed warily entering his room without announcing herself. “Misao is not in her room.” She spoke quickly.

Aoshi was shocked at first. “Has anyone seen where she went?”

Okon shook her head. “I‘ve asked some people, even Shikijou who has been guarding the doors since morning. No one has seen her.”

Aoshi nodded. “Let it be.” He finally ordered.

“Nani?” Okon opposed his decisions. “How can you say that?”

“I don‘t think Misao would want to get herself into any tight situation.” Aoshi spoke, believing in Misao, and trusting her judgments.

“What if Misao ran away?” Okon assumed.

“I‘m sure Misao just wanted some fresh air, rather than cooped up in her room.” Aoshi defended Misao. He was aware that Okon did not know anything about the previous night’s events.

Okon grinned, but she has stepped out of line enough that she has decided to go along with Aoshi’s judgments.

“Many events happened last night.” Aoshi told her coldly. “Just don‘t say anything to the others and just leave it.”

“Wakatta.” Okon bowed formally and left his room.

-------------------

“Misao.” Aoshi called softly, standing alone on her doorway. He let himself in.

Misao turned around. Her wet hair clung to her back looking like strands of noodle. She stood quietly in the balcony of her room, still drenched in rain.

Aoshi walked closer to her. He picked up her pink and blue mantle that was lying on a chair, in the corner of her room, next to the open window.

“Where were you earlier?” He asked curiously, knowing that Misao was soaked, only because she went out in the rain, aside from Okon telling him she was missing in the afternoon.

“It just felt … right to be there tonight.” Misao paused. “To-san‘s grave and Ji-sama’s… I was there for a little while.” She finally told him.

Aoshi said nothing.

“Besides, the rain let down a bit, when I went outside.” She assured him. “It started pouring like this as I headed back here.” She turned around, revealing a white, pinkish flower in hand. “I found these in Jiya’s garden and placed a few on their graves.” She commented.

Aoshi placed her mantle gently over Misao‘s shoulders. “You‘ll get sick.” He hinted to her that she was to go back into the room and dry up.

Misao nodded, but remained standing, as the rain continued to splash on her face and clothes.

“The rain… it has lightened.” Misao mumbled, comparing it‘s strength from earlier. She looked into the clouds, watching as the thickness thins out piece by piece.

--------------------

It has been days since the rained poured like there were no end. The sun finally broke out of the clouds. Summer felt more like summer. The weather became humid and the water began evaporating from the puddles off the streets.

“Aoshi-sama!” Misao screamed, running down the hallway to his office. A small crack was left on Aoshi‘s doorway, due to Misao‘s temper when opening it so hard. “Hehe… gomen nesai.” She apologized for a moment time, before changing the subject.

“What‘s wrong?” Aoshi asked worriedly, getting up from his seat.

“Outside… the roads are dried.” She exclaimed cheerfully.

Aoshi was content, even though not showing from his facial expression. He was content Misao was backing to her old genki self. She has been down for days, which made everyone feeling bad as well.

Everyone cared for Misao, not only because she was their former leader’s only grandchild, but also because she was a cheerful little kid, that lighted up many of them.

Misao dragged Aoshi out of the room. “Asoko yo, Aoshi-sama!” She pled Aoshi to play with her in the yard. “You promised you would play with me, when the roads dry up.”

“You did?” Hannya asked Aoshi in amusement. He stood in the dark corner of the room, only revealing himself when necessary.

“Hannya-kun.” Misao jumped on him. “I‘m glad you‘re here too.” She exclaimed in joy. “This saves me a trip to searching for you.”

Hannya was surprised when Misao jumped into him.

“Please…” Misao begged. “Won‘t you join us?” She pouted with her weasel face.

Hannya went along with Misao’s request. He walked with her out of Aoshi’s room.

Aoshi turned around and looked at the pile of paperwork he still had to finish. Then he looked at the happy Misao.

Misao saw that Aoshi was still standing in his office. She walked back into Aoshi’s office and grabbed into his bigger arms with her small hands. She pulled him out.

‘I guess I’ll have to take care of those another day.’ He thought, following Misao into the yard, not wanting to miss this chance.

-- END -- 7/31/05