AN: It’s been forever, I know. Sorry. If you want to know why it’s taken me so long to update then go to my bio page and find out. On another note, I have like no idea where I’m going with this fic. Yeah. This is just like a trial/last attempt at a fic. I want to see what I can do before I finally give up writing fanfiction for good.

Chapter Four: Love and Understanding

“Misao,” called Okina softly to his granddaughter. She was sitting quietly by the pond in the garden.

She smiled softly at him and motioned for him to sit down next to her. He did and took her soft hands in his old, roughened ones.

“What is it?” she asked him.

He looked at her with an affectionate gaze then turned his eyes to her hands in his, preparing the words he wanted to say. “Misao, I have known since you were, and you may not be my flesh and blood but I could not love you anymore, you do know this, right?” he said guardedly.

She looked confused. “Of course I do. I could not love you anymore either if you were truly my grandfather. But what is this about?”

Okina sighed. “I’ve watched you grow from a child into a wonderful woman, Misao. You are everything anyone would ever want in a daughter, a friend. You are more than anything a man could ever want in a wife, my child. And that is why it pains me to see you suffer.”

Misao shook her head in denial. “But I don’t suffer...” she said trailing off. Immediately knowing it was futile trying to deceive her grandfather.

“My little Misao, your eyes are so expressive. You guard your emotions so well, but you cannot fool this old man. I’ve lived too long, I’ve seen too much and I know too well. You can’t hide it. I have seen your mask almost crumble when he is near. I can see the confusion in your eyes even though he does not. Don’t end up crippled like Aoshi.”

“How can you ask me that?” she said frantically. “Because of his selfishness members of our family died. I owe them honor and respect! I owe them this. I can’t forgive him,” she said, tears falling gently down her cheeks.

Okina wiped the tears from her eyes and lifted her chin up for her eyes to meet his old, wizened ones. “Yes you can, but you just can’t forgive yourself for having forgiven him. You love him, don’t punish him or yourself for things that happened in the past. They have forgiven him and bless your love.”

Misao shook her head. Having someone tell her that she was wrong, that what she felt was wrong was confusing. Having Okina tell her that it wasn’t wrong of her to love Aoshi should have made her feel elated, but it did not. It just served to make her feel even more confused. For four years she had forced herself to hate Aoshi. Never truly succeeding, but never letting her love for him cloud her resolution. She brought her tearful eyes back to her grandfather’s, finding a love and understanding that spoke volumes. She saw in his eyes that he truly believed in her love for Aoshi.

“He loves you, Misao. Heal him and let him heal you in return. Please don’t let things stay this way. I can’t stand to see you suffer, and I can see his suffering as well. Don’t let your anger keep you from what will make you happy. Talk this out with him. I’m sure that you will find things out you never knew,” Okina said. He rose from his seat beside her and walked back to the house. Hoping that she would listen to his advice and that she would at least talk to Aoshi.

Misao still sat there, her heart beating wildly and confused in her chest. Wondering fervently is her grandfather was right. For years she had believed that loving Aoshi was wrong, but now she wasn’t so sure. Could she really be denying herself the only chance at being happy? Could her love really heal her wounds and his sins? She stood up from the ground and dusted herself off. Without a second thought she walked back to the Aoiya.

---

He sat alone in his room like he often did. He did not go to the temple as often anymore. He didn’t know why. But he thought that maybe it was because when he meditated all he saw were the faces of his friends contorted into masks of hatred and anger. And he saw Misao, the old Misao that always had a smile for him just beyond his reach, and he could never catch her.

His soul was tortured. His being was tortured, and even his mind was tortured. He could never have a restful night of sleep. He was always plagued by bad thoughts. His sins made him believe that maybe he didn’t deserve to be happy. That maybe he didn’t deserve Misao or her forgiveness. It was his penance to have the only person that had ever truly loved him, abhor him.

He was startled out of his thoughts by the footsteps that stopped outside his door. There was a soft, hesitant knock. Intrigued he bid the person to enter. To his great surprise it was Misao on the other side of the door. She looked straight at him and said softly, “Dinner is ready.”

He sat there, too shocked to say anything for a few seconds before getting his mouth to move and form the words, “Thank you.” She left immediately, and he couldn’t help but think that maybe, just maybe things had just taken a big turn, and hopefully for the better.

He rose from the floor and walked to the dining room, a tiny flame of hope coming alive in his chest.

Tbc…

AN: You think they’re horribly OOC? I hope you guys like this. Um, I don’t know when this will get updated. Sorry. I’ve had all summer to update and I haven’t, now I have to go back to school in like three weeks. And I’m so sorry that these chapters are so short, but I already said that they’re not going to be long. Also I’m moving. My parents bought a new house for us and we’re moving in the next four-five weeks. I’m excited. Anyway, please review.