* * * * * BACK TO PRESENT TIME * * * * *

I shook my head at that memory to get it out of my mind and picked up my pace when I heard the faint sound of the river. I jumped from branch to branch and dropped soundlessly to the forest floor just like all those years ago looking for Misao-chan. I stopped in my tracks as I looked over onto the large rock. Misao was crouched on it looking into the water her slender back to me. A small humming was coming from her lips as she was too hidden away in her mind to even register I was close by.

I placed my hand to my heart noticing it was faster then usual. Misao, the girl sitting metres away from me was doing this. She’s not a girl! Look at her! A small voice spoke angrily at me. I glanced my eyes back over to Misao and watched as she stood up and stretched her arms above her head showing off her nice form to anyone who was watching her, but it was only I. She was wearing different clothes though, not her regular ninja uniform. She had on a pair of smaller shorts and a small top that showed of her belly and when she stretched it rose up showing off the bottom roundness of her breasts.

I sucked in some air as Misao's clothes clung to her body showing me how curvy she had become. My foot stepped forward as though wanting to get closer to her and I watched as she dived into the water without even a splash.

I advanced and sat down on the rock silently watching her. I started to feel agitated as she hadn’t resurfaced for air yet but my heart calmed down and my body relaxed when I saw her head pop out of the water and she gasped for air flicking it back, droplets flying everywhere. She floated on her back her arms and legs out as though she was a starfish, her slender and creamy stomach slightly out of the water. Her eyes were closed as her body floated closer and closer to the rock but instinctively her arm came out diverting herself away and then she opened her eyes looking directly at me.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!" She splashed about a bit at being so surprised and I slightly smirked but my face was back to normal as Misao tread water and placed a hand over her heart and spoke looking up at me.

"Aoshi-sama don’t do that! You scared me half to death! W-What are doing here?" I scanned my mind for a typical answer and found one.

"Okon said you were down here and I came to make sure you hadn’t gotten yourself into any trouble." I watched as she lowered her eyes to look at the rippling water in front of her and I waited for the inevitable line 'I’m not a little child anymore Aoshi-sama' but it never came, instead Misao nodded her head. I looked up to see the sky when I heard the rumbling of thunder to the left of the forest and spoke to her again.

"You should be going soon Misao, it’s going to rain."

"It’s a beautiful day Aoshi-sama so I’ll stay in for a bit longer." She had spoken back. I looked down to see her eyes frowning slightly hoping I’d let her stay in. I had no control over her and yet she is still seeking my approval. I am no longer her Okashira.

"Do what you wish." I spoke absently and rose to my feet turning around to walk off.

"A-Aoshi-sama?" I stood frozen in my place by the uncertainty in her voice but didn’t face her either.

"W-Why don’t you go for a nice walk and then maybe come back and we can go home t-together...if you want..." I glanced my head over my shoulder to see Misao's head slightly bowed and a light pink flush covered her cheeks. She was so shy and yet very beautiful at asking me this simple question. I turned my head around once more and spoke while walking away.

"Sure..."

* * *

Curse this rain! I silently spoke inside my head. I could barely see 2 metres in front of me as it was that heavy. I was walking slowly making my way back to Misao. I knew the rain was going to come, I just didn’t know it was going to be this bad. This is good weather for any enemy lurking in the trees to attack me. I hadn’t brought my weapons thinking it was unnecessary. How foolish of me. Now was not the time for berating myself. I could hear the faint sound of the rushing water flowing down the river. It must have come all down stream from the rainstorm, which occurred hours ago and miles away. I silently concluded in my head.

*AOSHI-SAMA* I stopped in my tracks, gritted my teeth placing a hand to my head.

"Nani?" I spoke silently to the forest and the rain. What the hell was that? Did someone call me? Was I mentally linked to someone else? I was cut from my thoughts once again placing my hand to my head once more at hearing that voice.

*AOSHI-SAMA HELP ME!* I placed my other hand over my heart and felt a slit stabbing pain as though something terrible was happening to someone I loved. Love? There it was again. Oh no!

*MISAO!* I began running occasionally tripping on branches or rocks but always kept myself on my feet. Please let her be all right. I spoke pleadingly inside myself. I finally reached the river my chest slightly heaving and I couldn’t find her anywhere. This rain was really starting to get on my nerves. I enjoyed rain very much, but not when Misao was in danger and it was coming down this hard as well.

"MISAO!" I tried yelling as loud as possible but the thunder was too loud. It completely drowned out my voice. I threw my coat to the ground now only dressed in my dark purple/blue uniform. I stood on top of the slippery rock trying to gaze into the water to find her body but to no avail. My only chance was to jump in and find her that way. So I did. Shit! The current is fast! I spoke while being forced downstream.

Minutes went by and my back slammed against a large rock and that’s where I stayed with the water rushing past and occasionally spraying some on my upper chest and face. That is when I felt it, her presence, she had to be close by. I concentrated on the thunder for a few moments and began yelling when the thunder would cease for a couple of seconds.

"MISAO...MISAO...MISAO!" I breathed heavily now when I received no reply but luck was on my side when my voice must have carried downstream and I heard her voice reply back to me.

"AOSHI-SAMA!" She was further down stream so I slipped away from the rock following her voice, which kept repeating my name over and over again. It was becoming louder so I had to be getting close. I squinted my eyes and received a glimpse of her head popping out of the water. Seconds later my back slammed against the same rock and we were side by side. I pushed away from the rock and turned around throwing my arms out and placed them against the rock, just between the sides of her head close to her shoulders, in front of her. Those ocean-blue eyes widened in noticing it was I and she smiled as I had diverted the water away from her face and mouth. I was amazed the rain had slowed down and it now only had the occasionally thunder rumbling in the sky.

"Misao are you alright?"

"I’m stuck Aoshi-sama." I let out all my breath, bracing my feet against the rock making sure I was unable to go anywhere and sunk down. The sky was darkened and no sunlight was able to filter into the water so I was unable to see anything. I resurfaced and looked into those eyes as her breathing was returning to normal and Misao answered my unspoken question.

"My ankle...I think it’s broken. It’s been wedged between the rocks below...and my shirts latched on as well." So that’s why she was so far down. I silently wandered. I took a deep breath and spoke grabbing her arms.

"Hold on Misao." I sunk a bit so her arms where wrapped around my neck and I swam back up trying to give her more leverage, but sunk down once more when I heard the pained moan escape her lips. I looked into the tear filled eyes and knew it must have hurt like hell. There was only one choice left.

"Misao go under for one moment." Those blue eyes searched mine for a reason of reassurance.

"I won’t let you go." I spoke back and she began to sink. I grabbed the hem of her small top and reefed it over her head and arms and brought her back to the surface. She gasped for air and although her eyes were wide with shock they held happiness as she was given more leverage so the water couldn’t end up in her mouth. She blushed embarrassed and placed a hand over the binding of her breasts trying to hide them from view. We stared each other in the eyes not saying a single word but Misao's eyes grew wider alarmingly.

"Aoshi-sama look out!" I gazed my head over my shoulder but would never move as the tree branch crashed into my back. I gritted my teeth but a grunt had escaped my throat and Misao’s eyes filled with tears at seeing this as I was looking down at her. Her hands clasped the front of my uniform in desperation. The thick branch was pressing harder against my lower back from the pressure of all the water but I pushed harder against my hands and feet making sure nothing would hurt Misao.

"Aoshi-sama no! Stop it! Get out of the way!" She was yelling at me over and over again, while one of her tears escaped her eyes and fell down her petite face. I stayed exactly the way I was and the branch finally snapped in two and floated down the river. I slumped a little closing my eyes sinking deeper into the water but could never go under as Misao quickly wrapped her arms under my armpits and brought me closer to her.

For the first time in my life I finally let her help me and she bravely placed my head on her bare shoulder. My lower back ached and I knew I must be bleeding. Hopefully this water will help stop the bleeding and ease the pain. I took a couple of deep breaths and pushed away from Misao. She abruptly let go casting her head to the side and blushing beautifully.

The complete and utter silence was getting to me, which was quite strange and I was about to speak but heard the rushing of more water. I watched Misao’s eyes widen as she had moved her head to have a look and I turned my head as well and found the rushing of the water coming closer and closer to us.

This was going to be the last of it and then the river would calm down and return to normal. I braced my legs and hand against the rock ready for the water to come. It rushed over my shoulders smacking Misao in the face and blinding her eyes and falling into her mouth. It was too forceful and I was unable to help her anymore. I could hear her gasping and coughing trying to receive some much-needed oxygen, but it was useless.

Her hands frantically clawed at my shirt trying to get some leverage but was unsuccessful. My heart stopped beating again, just like it did 12 years ago as Misao stopped tugging my shirt altogether. She was sinking and there was only one thing I could think of at a time like this. I too sunk and placed my hands on her cheeks and quickly placed my lips against her partly opened ones giving her all the air she needed. I wrapped her in my embrace and made my way back to the surface and gasped for air, as did Misao while coughing up the rest of the water.

The ragging river had calmed just like I thought and the storm had moved on. The sun was now shining bright in the sky and the danger had passed. I quickly let my arms drop away from Misao and sank to the bottom to check out how bad her foot was. Clearly it had been logged pretty far in and I gathered my strength trying to lift the rock but to no avail. I resurfaced once more looking into Misao’s saddened eyes. I sank again and gathered all my energy into my right arm turning it into a fist ready to break the hell out of it. I looked up when I heard Misao’s angry cry and could feel her ki strengthen remarkably, even to an extent I didn’t know she had in her. She too fisted her hand as well readying herself to break the large rock and at the same time we punched it once and watched the pieces float down the river.

I resurfaced and Misao slumped against my chest at using so much energy. I guided her back over to the bank and she limped out and fell on her back breathing heavily, not the least bit worried she was now showing off her bound breasts to me. I had grabbed her torn shirt before it floated away as well and wrapped it around her swollen ankle. I gazed over at her to see she hissed a little when I tied it up.

I observed as Misao gasped and placed her arms over her breasts feeling more embarrassed then ever as she only just realised what she was showing me. I grabbed the back of my dark purple/blue shirt pulling it over my head and my arms and handed it to Misao wordlessly. She stared at it for a few seconds but grabbed it and placed it on quickly. I was wearing a black undershirt, but was quite dirty now. I stood up and found a rather sturdy branch that would hold some of Misao’s weight so we could begin walking back to the Aoiya. I estimated it would take just over a day to get back so we would have to spend a night in the forest somewhere.

* * *

We had been slowly walking for hours with myself occasionally jumping into the trees going on ahead picking up some fruits and trying to find a decent place to rest for the night. I finally located one and stopped Misao from walking any further.

"We shall rest here for the night." I spoke walking off and going over to a large tree, which had many roots above ground, that could be used as shelter in case it rained once again. Misao limped over and sat gratefully on a small flat rock under the tree. I too sat down looking into the endless forest and heard Misao gasp. I turned my face towards her and watched her small hand came out and press lightly against my back. The shirt was ripped, as was the back of my outer uniform shirt from the pressure of the branch. I jolted at the pressure and watched Misao get up move closer to me. I eyed her silently as she sat right next to me and placed some bark in her lap with some off green substance smeared on it. It appeared that while I moved on ahead she too was looking for certain flowers and plants to make up some concoction she had learned while I was away for ten years.

"P-Please Aoshi-sama…It will help." I let out a loud sigh as she was never going to leave my side and so I stopped being stubborn for once and placed my back to her so she could place the substance on my wound. I felt her small hands lift up my shirt and I willed the small shivers away from feeling anything she did, but gritted my teeth at the stinging sensation it caused my injuries.

"It will sting Aoshi-sama." Misao spoke absently and before I could stop my next words they flew out of my mouth.

"Tell me about it." I closed my eyes and gritted my teeth. Why is it that all the small cuts have to be the worst? I spoke to myself.

"Aoshi-sama…" I opened my eyes and turned my head when I heard Misao’s small voice but was totally unprepared for what happened next. Her small lips pressed against mine lightly her blue eyes closed. It was short but left my heart beating wildly. I watched as she wrapped her legs close to her chest and spoke with a faint blush staining her cheeks.

"I’m sorry." My lips were now slightly parted looking over at Misao. She was no longer the child I helped raised and I was no longer her okashira. Right here and now we were just Aoshi and Misao. I gathered my voice and spoke softly to her.

"What for Misao?" Her eyes opened and she looked into my blue-green ones and then diverted looking down at her swollen ankle.

"For everything Aoshi-sama. For you always having to look out for me. I-I guess I’m too weak to look after or protect myself. I’m sorry you got hurt and I’m sorry for k-kissing you…I guess I just wanted to know what it was like." I watched the small blush form on her cheeks once more when she spoke truthfully to me. ‘…I guess I just wanted to know what it was like.’ That last part of her sentence ran through my brain. My heartbeat was still beating wildly and I swallowed the lump in my throat and spoke back.

"Have you never been kissed before Misao?" She shook her head negatively and I felt myself drawing closer to her. Aoshi what are you doing? The voice inside me spoke. I ignored every part of me that projected I shouldn’t be doing this, that I wasn’t worthy of anything she would give in return or anything she felt for me. I threw all those sensible things out of my mind and raised my hand lifting her chin upwards and drew my face closer to hers. Those beautiful eyes shining brightly and rather anxious at what was going to happen. My lips made slight contact with her parted ones and I was the one who was shocked as she rose up on her knees, placing her arms around my shoulders and neck kissing me back. My heart sung with joy at her positive response and I wrapped my arms possessively around her small waist pulling her closer to me. Did you even doubt she was going to react to what you did? The small voice inside of me spoke. She loves you Aoshi and you know it. It had concluded for me.

I pulled away from Misao and watched her eyes flutter open searching mine for a reason of why I had done that. I could say nothing but look into those eyes and brush my fingers down her left cheek. My lips still tingled with the feeling of hers on mine and I couldn’t help but press them against hers once more. She accepted them with a moan and eagerly kissed me back. I was overjoyed that no matter what my mistakes where she had accepted them and accepted me unconditionally. I separated from her once more and we both spoke simultaneously at how we felt.

"I love you Aoshi."

"I love you Misao."

We sat in silence just staring at each other. Misao’s eyes glittered happily and her hands were placed over her heart as I finally smiled for her. I wrapped her in my embrace once more leaning against the tree and closed my eyes as Misao had called me Aoshi…just plain old Aoshi. I held her tighter and she soon moaned wrapping an arm possessively around my waist holding me close. Misao let out a contented sigh and fell into a blissful sleep.

* * *

The morning had come and we were silently walking, well Misao was still limping a little, and enjoyed the silence we shared. I felt completely at ease with myself and knew it was because of Misao. She had woken up still wrapped in my embrace and told me how she felt once more. Although she blushed thinking she ruined the moment I thought it made her more beautiful then ever and kissed her once more showing her how much it meant to me.

We had finally made it back to the area I had found Misao at yesterday and located my trench coat flapping in the breeze caught on a tree branch. I got it down noticing the sun warmed it up considerably and wrapped it around Misao and picked her up carrying her the rest of the way home. I faulted in my footsteps when Misao’s hand wrapped around my lower back as she placed her fingers inside the waistband of my pants to feel my warm skin underneath. I could hear her soft giggling but didn’t say a word as I kept carrying her, only pulling her tighter against me. Minutes went by and I finally spoke.

"Misao? You know how you said you were too weak to take care of yourself or protect yourself?"

"Yes." She had replied in a small voice.

"It doesn’t matter." I spoke softly into her hair and stopped at the gate to the Aoiya putting her back on her feet.

"Why?" She spoke softly looking up at me with a small but cute smile etched on those slightly swollen lips. I wrapped her in my embrace and spoke huskily into her ear.

"Because I’ll take GOOD care of you Misao-mine." And with that I placed my lips against hers once more but stopped when I heard all the collected gasps coming from the front entrance of the Aoiya. I pulled away looking at the surprised faces and found a wide smile over Okina’s face. I looked back down at Misao who had wrapped her arms around my waist lightly and spoke softly against my chest so only I could hear.

"Take me to our room." I watched her tilt her head up looking at me with those ocean-blue eyes sparkling happily but mischievously. I picked her up, jumped the fence, walked past the onlookers without saying a single word and up the stairs to "our" new room for some much needed privacy.

The End.