I found the ingredients needed to make the one dish I knew how to prepare and cook off by heart. It was easy for myself and quick to make if I didn't feel like waiting for so long to have dinner with the others. I rarely was in their presence but I was thankful I had listened to Okon and Omasu all those years ago.

Many minutes passed and I placed two bowls of Miso soup on a tray with a pot of tea and two cups heading upstairs towards Misao's room again. I never thought about knocking on her door and instead slid it open with my foot and regretted not telling Misao my presence. She had gasped as she was facing my direction, pulling her sleeping yukata closed and tying it up. I cast my head aside in slight embarrassment and respect as not to stare at Misao.

"Gomen nasai for not knocking Misao." I mumbled out and heard her shuffling around as she sat back down on her futon.

"It's all right Aoshi-sama, you can come in." I closed the door with my foot and silently padded over towards her placing the tray on the wooden floorboards and sat behind it. I picked up a bowl handing it over to Misao who smiled brightly and began sipping the juices slowly. Silence filled the room but we seemed to both be content with it. I picked up the second bowl placing it close to my lips and taking a sip also but glanced through my long bangs over at Misao when she sighed happily and spoke.

"I forgot how good you make this Aoshi-sama. It's been a long time after all." I noticed her blue eyes widen in shock at what she blurted out and she bowed her head and mumbled an apology.

"Gomen nasai Aoshi-sama…for bringing up the past…" Misao looked so vulnerable when her head lifted up and her eyes glanced around my face wanting a glimpse of my own eyes. She knew how much I hurt from the past and what it might cost her as she brought it up but I took a few deep breaths and shook my head.

"Iie Misao, it is all right. You are right though, it has been a long time." I swear the last time I ate miso soup with Misao was when Hannya, Beshimi, Hyotokko and Shijuksho were still with us and that I hadn't left and taken them with me. How I wanted so much for them to be with us right now, right at this moment to see how much Misao had matured and grown into a beautiful young woman.

"And I still make good miso soup." I spoke again and smiled behind the bowl when Misao giggled at my small joke. Her eyes glanced up at me and they danced happily as she drank the soup once more. I placed my bowl on the tray and picked up the pot pouring tea for the both of us. I picked up the cup glancing up and handed a blushing Misao her cup of tea. I heard a soft chuckle escape Misao's throat and turned my head in her direction and spoke.

"What is it?"

"Now your looking after me again Aoshi-sama. We switched once more, back to what it used to be like when I was 4 or 5 years old." I cast my head down, silently picking up the bowl of soup and drinking some more. I said nothing in return and continued eating my lunch. This is what it was like for Misao, to look after me when I would go to the temple and yet she couldn't help take away my guilt. Now I didn't know how to take away her illness. I heard a small groan and snapped my head up as one of Misao's hands came up to rub against her temple. I placed the bowl on the tray, taking Misao's cup of tea out of her hand and moved it aside getting closer to her. Her eyes were slightly glazed and I cupped her shoulders making her lay down in her futon once more.

"You should be resting Misao. Get some sleep." I was about to move away but Misao clutched onto my left hand fearing I was going to leave her alone.

"Please stay Aoshi-sama…" I stared into wide blue eyes, Misao becoming the small frightened young girl once more. She never wanted me to leave her sight and I sighed resting on my right side on the wooden floorboards hoping Misao would relax and fall asleep. I watched with slightly wide eyes as Misao turned over, her hands taking mine with her and I had no choice but to lie on the futon with her. Misao curled beside me moving back to spoon against me and I closed my eyes at how nice this felt. Misao's hands held mine firmly but I grit my teeth when she placed it against her heart, the bottom of my palm brushing over her soft breast. This was bringing back the memories of bathing her and I wasn't feeling too comfortable about that at all. Misao mumbled something and turned over her forehead resting lightly against my chest. I sighed out loud, my hand being forgotten as it now lay amongst the mass of Misao's dark tresses behind her. She was as soft as silk ALL over. I grit my teeth again mentally slapping myself for thinking such thoughts but held my breath when Misao moved impossibly closer, her hot breath trickling over my neck and up into my ear.

"Smell good…you smell so good Aoshi…" I felt a heat rise in my own cheeks now. Never in my life had I blushed before and the first time was with Misao clutched so tightly to me. I brought my head closer, my arms snaking around Misao and smelled the fragrance of her skin and hair.

"As do you Misao…as do you…" I whispered softly into her hair and felt Misao's petite hands clutch the front of my shirt as though in sleep she had heard what I said to her. I closed my eyes knowing I was unable to escape, more or less not needing or wanting to escape and rested.

* * * *

My eyes began to flutter around, the beginning of me awaking from my slumber but something was different, my body was relaxed but my neck and chest tingled slightly. To my complete and utter horror a small moan escaped my parted lips and I snapped my eyes opened to gather my senses. That’s when I felt the soft caress of Misao's lips brushing over my neck as she was wide awake and intent on doing this no matter what the consequences. My heartbeat sped up, as Misao's hand was freely wondering inside my onmitsu shirt and over my chest content to feel the contours of my muscles without even asking permission! I abruptly sat up and moved off of the futon and glanced slightly angrily at Misao.

"What are you doing?" I spoke through clenched teeth. Misao too had sat up, not embarrassed about any of the passes she made towards me. Although her touch was faint against my skin it burned and craved for her touch once more.

"Aoshi-sama please? You must know, know how I feel about you?" Misao kneeled on her futon, her sleeping shirt slightly rumpled, her hair tousled and her eyes pleading for me to listen to her.

"Misao your sick. You don't know what you're thinking…" I tried reasoning with her but watched an angry and very determined look cross her facial features. Her hands fisted on her bare knees as she spoke looking directly up at me.

"That doesn't change the way I feel! Aoshi-sama I lo-" I placed my fingers over her lips stopping her from saying those three words.

"Don't say another word Misao!" I spoke harshly towards her, watching tears spill down her face, but I got up leaving the room and never looking back. I closed the shoji door and leaned against the wall for support. I snapped my head to the right when I heard the sound of Misao sobbing hysterically inside her room. I fisted the hand that wanted to open the door and move back over to hug her in comfort, but I turned around swiftly walking downstairs and out into the yard heading for the bathhouse.

I stripped out of my clothes leaving them on the floor and began scrubbing profusely at my skin wanting Misao's intoxicating scent to leave my skin. After washing the soap off I hopped into the warm bath to relax my tense muscles. What was with her anyway? Did she not realise what she was getting herself into if she dare say those words to me? Misao disserved someone better, someone not so stained and unemotional like myself.

"She is too perfect and too young for someone like me…" I mumbled out with my eyes closed as I rested back against the edge of the bath, while my knees where drawn up and slightly out of the warm water.

"You're wrong Aoshi-sama." I snapped my eyes open to stare up at Misao's blue eyes. She was in the bathhouse with me! I was so locked away I didn't even hear her enter. Misao was sitting on the edge looking down at me with pleading eyes and rosy cheeks.

"I'm not a little girl anymore Aoshi-sama! You said so yourself!" I felt slightly uncomfortable at Misao's passionate gaze but could not help wonder my eyes over her form. She wore her long bathrobe; one leg crossed over the other at the knee, parting it open to reveal bare creamy skin. The top of the robe had been tightly drawn across her chest showing me how much she had grown in the last couple of years. I closed my eyes, my self-control being tested to the limits once again but felt Misao cup my left cheek turning my head to look up at her once more.

"Please Aoshi, please tell me to stay with you…" Misao's hand came up to brush my long bangs away from my blue-green eyes. To my own amazement I closed them, my head turning to brush my lips lightly over Misao's palm as I held it close to me and whispered into it making sure I was loud enough for Misao to her me.

"Say my name Misao…say it again…"

"Aoshi…aishiteru Aoshi…always…" Misao squealed in surprise my right hand reaching out of the water and yanking once on the back of her robe pulling her into the bath. Water splashed everywhere as Misao lay across my lap, her legs dangling over the edge of the bath. The back of her head was cradled in my left hand and Misao stared up at me with wide blue eyes and slightly heated cheeks. Her lips were parted at being so caught off guard. Out of the corner of my eye Misao's robe had parted even more, her legs glistening with water and the upper and middle section of her robe clung to her young and untouched body.

"You keep this up Misao and I won't be able to resist." I choked out, the scent of Misao's arousal very much evident in the steam coming from the water. I watched as Misao's eyes softened, her left hand brushing over my right cheek, as she spoke never taking her eyes off of mine.

"I never wanted you to resist in the first place Aoshi…anata…" Misao tested out the word and I jerked Misao's head up and placed my lips urgently against hers. She moaned exquisitely into my mouth, hers lips becoming just as passionate as mine, as she began to kiss me back. Her left hand wrapped around my neck, while the fingernails on her right dug small marks into my hard chest. I pulled away from Misao's mouth, my lips trailing kisses over to her ear as I whispered hoarsely at her.

"Say it again." I opened my eyes to see Misao was now fully emersed into the warm water, as she straddled my legs looking deeply into my eyes.

"Anata, anata, anata…" I stared wide-eyed at Misao's closed ones as she crushed her lips to mine kissing me furiously. Her left hand pressed at the back of my head always pulling me closer wanting my lips to never loose contact with hers. She sucked and nibbled with intensified passion hoping that I wouldn't tell her to stop. That was definitely NOT what I was thinking. My heartbeat sped up when Misao's right arm left my chest and trailed slowly down my back caressing small patterns all over it. I couldn't help but pay Misao back for what she was eliciting from me and so my hand slipped through her robe and cupped one of her bare breasts. She stiffened slightly, her breath catching in her throat as her eyes opened wide when I began to massage and pinch at her hardened nipple. It appeared that Misao stripped out of her clothes intent on having her way with me. Well lucky for her she was very smart and quite seductive or else I would have over looked her. Misao pulled her lips away, swollen and pink as she breathed heavily and moaned sensually when I parted her robe even more, my other hand stroking her unattended breast. I watched in complete fascination as Misao arched her back, her chest pushing out more with one hand resting on my shoulder clenching it ever so slightly and the other on the side of the bath.

"Onegai Aoshi…more…so good…feels so good…" Misao moaned out breathlessly. Male pride spread throughout my passioned body at Misao being so open and responsive towards the way she was feeling. I leaned closer; one hand dropping away to untie the sash at her waist as my mouth engulfed Misao's right breast. I noticed she stiffened in surprise but her hands wrapped around my head holding me close. It appeared she loved this sort of attention as she let out small mewling noises adding to my own pleasure. The robe was untied and I pushed it off of her silky body and it sunk to the bottom of the bath being forgotten. I pulled away, my lips brushing up to taste Misao's for a short moment but I wanted to memorise this moment forever. Misao's chest heaved, her breasts bouncing ever so slightly and I glanced up to look into her passion glazed eyes to notice her head was bowed in embarrassment. To my complete surprise she was not embarrassed at all but looking down into the water and I watched her hand move under to caress me uncertainly.

"M-Misao!" I choked out; my control breaking that little bit more. If she wasn't to careful I'll take her right now before she was even ready.

"OH! Gomen nasai Aoshi! Did it hurt?" Misao spoke worriedly as she wrapped her arms around my shoulders holding me close. I smiled at her innocence and returned the hug tightly. My lips brushed over her neck and shoulder area, once suckling on her ear lobe as I whispered my reply.

"Iie Misao…you just surprised me that’s all. It was…nice…" Misao pulled away, her sparkling eyes glancing into mine, her pink lips parting as she tried asking me her question.

"Onegai Aoshi…can we…do you think maybe we can…we can…"

"Do you want to be with me forever Misao? Do you want me to take you as mine?" I knew this was going to make it easier for Misao and joy rushed over my face for a split second when I watched her nod affirmatively. How I wished so many times for this day and it had finally arrived. Misao would become my lover, my wife and stay with me forever. I brushed my lips against hers once more, my hands caressing her eager and rather inexperienced body getting her ready. She gasped and moaned eagerly into my mouth my hand travelling lower to caress her most intimate place of all.

"OH! Mmmmmm Aoshi…onegai…I want more…" Misao cooed into my ear now knowing full well what her moans and talking did to me. The water rippled around us, my lips brushing over Misao breasts, one hand holding her firmly in my lap while the other danced inside her. She began grating her hips against my hand rocking to the small rhythm I created within her. Three years ago Misao was ready to be married off and would have been ready for love. She had been waiting for three years, three long years without love or passion. I had my work cut out for me but I knew it would be rewarding in the end, for the both of us. I moved my head up placing my lips over Misao's to catch her squeals and moans when I pinched her sensitive nub watching her body jerk wildly. Her eyes were wide open staring into mine as she felt, just like I did the tightening of her walls around my fingers. I watched proudly as Misao let out one loud pleasurable groan into my mouth, our tongues battling a war there, as her eyes closed and I felt her arousal spill over my fingers and into the water. Misao clutched her body against mine, her lips dropping away from mine as she rested her sweaty forehead against my shoulder, her arms wrapped around my neck holding me close. I slipped my fingers out of Misao, listening to her moan softly against my neck as she pressed her lips against my skin softly kissing me.

"A-Aoshi…can we…again…" Misao whispered shyly against my neck. I pulled her back noticing the blush crossing her cheeks and watched her eyes widen in joy as I smiled down at her nodding my head. I braced one arm around Misao's waist while the other went to the edge of the bath as I stood up, the water dripping off my body and Misao's. She moaned, as did I as her sensitive womanhood brushed against myself making my erection known to Misao. Her legs were wrapped around my waist as her body moulded against mine. I opened my eyes to see Misao staring up at me and she craned her head up, her lips brushing softly and slowly over mine, passionately thanking me for pleasuring her in a way she'd never known about. I stepped out coaxing Misao to get down and although she pouted cutely up at me she finally stood on her own two feet. I placed a towel around my body and listened to Misao's sighs and moans once more as I dried her off.

"You were doing this when I washed you yesterday." Her eyes snapped open growing wide in horror and her cheeks burned with embarrassment. My eyes widened as I stumbled back to gain my footing as Misao jumped into my embrace, her insanely long legs wrapping around my waist once more.

"Surely it got a reaction from you Aoshi-anata…" Misao whispered against my lips and ducked her head away to lap at my neck/collarbone area and then suckle hard on my pulse point. My hands instinctively grabbed her pert bottom squeezing her closer to my hardened self, making her groan louder. She was more then ready now as was I and I grabbed a clean robe, placing it over Misao's shoulders and raced towards the Aoiya not being able to wait any longer.

* * * *

Misao lay under me panting heavily at the kisses and caresses she was receiving. Her eyes bore into mine and I bent down, my manhood pushing against her ever so slightly as I whispered once more just to make sure that this is what she wanted.

"Are you absolutely sure Misao? Do you want to be mine forever?" Her arms wrapped around my neck, her legs around my waist to feel me closely against her as she whispered softly against my lips almost breathlessly.

"More then anything. Do you want to be mine forever as well Aoshi?" How could I say no to her? She loved me despite my flaws and I loved her for everything she was and had become to me. She was my light, my angel to draw me away from the darkness. Misao had become and would always be my saviour. I nod my head watching her eyes tear up at seeing me do this and finally I whispered against her lips before claiming her as mine and letting her experience for the first time what love truly was about between two people.

"Aishiteru Misao-mine…"

* * * *

Hours passed by; the night settling in ages ago and I looked around the room watching the shadows of the tree leaves from outside dance around the room from the candlelight. Misao lay spent on my chest, my manhood still throbbing lightly within her, as she didn't want me to leave. My arms brushed circles against her back and finally I heard her mumble sleepily against me.

"What will Jiya say?" I chuckled knowing full well this was there intention and wrapped the blankets securely around the both of us whispering into Misao's ear telling her everything would be fine and to rest. I knew tomorrow they would be back and they would all know what happened. I guess now it was time to rest and wait for the congratulations and the wedding plans to be blurted out to the both of us.

* * * *

To be continued…

* * * *