Hey everyone!!! This is my first song fic, hope you'll like it. Maybe I'll try 
to make a real story sometime, 
but as of now, here's what I offer.

The song's from Savage Garden, my fave band, or duo... whatever.

Criticisms are welcome, and remember, I'm an amateur ~_^

Have fun readin'!

Standard RK disclaimers apply. 

The same goes with the song.

(...I know, I know, I don't own 'em, *sigh* but at least I can sing the song... 
and oh, Aoshi-sama... *dreamy 
look in her eyes*... :P

 

I KNEW I LOVED YOU

It was a cool November night. The crisp air brushed by the treetops as the cold 
season approached to the 
fullest.

The Aoiya was already closed but there were loud cheers and laughter that can be 
heard from inside the 
large dining area of the restaurant. It was Misao's eighteenth birthday, and she 
was
having the time of her life. Except, that is, there were still no sign of Aoshi 
ever since after he, Okina, and 
the others' surprised her that evening. Kenshin and the gang were also there, 
whom
Okina invited.

I can't believe it! It's my birthday and he's not even here to celebrate it with 
me! Misao pouted to herself, 
hiding here disappointment by laughing with Omasu as she watch her drank sake. 

Oh, stop it, Misao! Today's your eighteenth birthday! Just have fun and forget 
worrying about him for 
once! A sudden nagging voice inside her head harshly asserted. She slowly 
stopped
laughing when Omasu and others near her were not paying attention. She closed 
her eyes and let out a deep 
sigh, giving in to the remark.

One by one, some Oni members, even Kenshin and Yahiko, who suddenly had the guts 
to sing due to 
drinking too much sake, made it to the stage and sang with every effort they can 
give
which gave Shiro, their guitarist, a bunch of headaches. Rather than having the 
celebrant impressed, all 
Misao could retort with their devoted undertaking on their "singing" were hard 
laughs
ensuing a bellyache and teary eyes.

But as time passed, her gloominess over Aoshi's absence was threatening to 
overflow, no matter how much 
she tries to control her feelings. For her sake, as well as for Okina and the 
others,
she tried her very best to keep smiling and laughing with the others. It was a 
good thing nobody notices, 
she thought.

Under no suspicion, a nervous but, still, blank faced Aoshi stood behind the 
door as he peer through the 
crack. He was surveying the crowd and noticed that most of them were almost out 
of
their heads with too much sake. Except for the strong-headed Sano who was 
actually feeding one of the 
already drunk Oni member and was laughing his heart out as the poor lad tumbled 
back
with nausea. Aoshi shook his head, and took pity of Sano's victim. 

Then, he suddenly caught a view of Misao beside Omasu and Kouru. She was 
laughing with the almost 
crazy Omasu. His heart was caught in his throat as he watch her laughing face
lovingly, his expressionless face having a streak of warmth on it. But when she 
turned her ahead away from 
the crowd, the smile on her face slowly faded and he had a glimpse of the sad 
look
in her eyes before she closed them and seemed to let out a sigh. He suddenly 
closed his own and cursed 
himself as he moved away from the door.

I'm the reason why she's sad. I should stop hurting her like this! He let out a 
deep growl and cursed himself 
again.

During all those time, Okina had been very observant and undrunk, and felt the 
depression from Misao. He 
even saw a glimpse of Aoshi peering through the small opening of the door. He
sensed the hesitance in Aoshi and quietly excused himself from the crowd. He 
opened the door and saw a 
distraughted young man leaning on the wall as he clutched a guitar with both 
hands.

"Aoshi, are you ready?" Okina asked him, looking rather amused with Aoshi's 
state of vulnerability.

Aoshi let out a deep breath and looked at him with a resolute face.

"Hai."

Now I'm not only depressed, I'm bored! Misao screamed inside her head. She was 
slowly getting 
exasperated with the trying-hard Oni members' singing and they were starting to 
get on her
nerves. When she heard Kuro let out a very, very out of tune bellow, Misao 
sweat-dropped and indignantly 
stood up, ready to leave when, 

"Okay everybody, now for the main performance," Okina announced as he opened the 
door and entered the 
room, with Aoshi behind him. Okina caught Misao's ready-to-retreat form and
called at her, "and where are you going, young lady? The show's not finished 
yet." Then the old man 
winked at her as he gave way to Aoshi.

A confused Misao didn't even budge from her position until Megumi and Kouru 
pulled her down the floor 
to sit. She watched Aoshi, who was clutching a guitar with his left hand, in
perplexity as he approached the stage. With his eyes still hiding from her, he 
sat on a tall stool and 
practiced strumming the guitar.

Sano gave a smirk and rose from his position, following Aoshi. 

"Hey, Shiro, I think you should take a breathing for a while, huh? Don't worry, 
I'll take care of it." Sano 
said, as he grinned at a dumbfounded Shiro.

"Huh? Uh, sure." The lad asserted dubiously and handed Sano the guitar. Sano 
took it and sat on Shiro's 
place.

There was silence, for once, in the room. As if an angel passed by above them. 
Still confused, Misao tried 
to decipher Aoshi's face until he looked at her. Misao suddenly caught her 
breath
and was unable to blink away Aoshi's gaze. It was so different, so uncold. She 
was even more shocked than 
ever when he gave her a small grin, which she, and only she, can discern.

"Okay, Aoshi. Ready?" Sano asked, breaking the silence. 

Aoshi didn't take his eyes away from Misao and only nodded, and Sano took the 
cue and started strumming 
the guitar and began a tune. Aoshi did the same and started strumming, tearing
his gaze away, followed by an unheard deep but melodic voice coming from the 
Okashira,

Maybe it's intuition

But some things you just don't question

Like in your eyes 

I see my future in an instant

And there it goes

I think I've found my best friend

As Aoshi strum his guitar, he taps his foot on the floor with the beat,

I know that it might sound more than a little crazy

But I believe

... then he looked at Misao... 

I knew I loved you before I met you

I think I dreamed you into life

I knew I loved you before I met you

I have been waiting all my life

... Misao had no chance to cry nor laugh with joy, but her eyes says it all...

There's just no rhyme or reason

Only this sense of completion

And in your eyes

I see the missing pieces

I'm searching for

I think I've found my way home

... for the first time, he grinned with everyone seeing it, which made Misao 
blush to pink with the way he 
looked at her...

I know that it might sound more than a little crazy

But I believe

I knew I loved you before I met you

I think I dreamed you into life

I knew I loved you before I met you

I have been waiting all my life

... Aoshi closes his eyes in tune with the music and Sano backed him up with the 
singing, which made 
Megumi sigh involuntarily as she heard Sano's voice...

(ooohh)

A thousand angels dance around you

(ooohh)

I am complete now that I've found you

... Omasu, Okon, even Kouru and Tsubame, as well as the other females in the 
room sighed dreamily as 
they watch the pair on the stage, which made the remaining jealous, at the same
time, awed at the Okashira and the gangster...

I knew I loved you before I met you

I think I dreamed you into life

I knew I loved you before I met you

I have been waiting all my life

Oh, ooh...Ooohh... yeah, yeah...yeah, ooohh...mmm...

Then the music faded slowly.

After a short pause, everyone suddenly remembered to clap and cheer, almost 
forgetting about it with too 
much admiration and surprise, as they stood up and approached both of them.
Unnoticed, Misao stayed where she was, too stunned to even blink. 

"Sugoi..." she whispered, the only word she found amongst her scattered 
thoughts.

After the celebration, everyone retired and dragged themselves to their own 
rooms, leaving Misao and 
Aoshi with the cleaning.

"I can't believe it! It's my birthday and I'm here cleaning up their mess!" 
Misao stammered as she swept the 
floor with her broom indignantly. 

Aoshi was watching her back, grinning inwardly, as he collected the cups and 
dishes on the tables and put 
them aside. He turned and crossed his arms on his chest as he rested on a wall, 
then
spoke, "Since it's already past midnight, I don't think that applies anymore, do 
you?" he teased, slightly 
amused with her fuming. 

She stopped, then slowly looked at him with slitted eyes, then closed it and 
shook her head,

"A little sympathy would be nice, Aoshi-sama," she lamented, and started 
sweeping again. 

Then, there was silence. Misao was waiting for him to retort, since they were 
already starting a 
conversation. Which is a good sign, she hoped.

But there were none. Instead, she felt his hands gently pulling her hold on the 
broom from behind her and 
made her drop it. Surprised, she turned around and found herself toe to toe with
Aoshi. She suddenly felt her face get hot and was unable to turn her face away 
from him. Instead, she stood 
there speachless.

This is your chance! I can't believe your acting like this!!! She yelled at 
herself. But she suddenly felt shy 
and unable to move, since Aoshi's gentle grip still held both her wrists. The 
silence
was broken when Aoshi spoke in a low hush tone,

"Do you want to say something to me?" his lips twitched into a small grin as her 
blush deepened furiously.

"I--" she croaked, she looked away and tried to concentrate as she cleared her 
throat and repeated, "I want 
to thank you for the song," she said sheepishly, "it was lovely," she continued, 
as she
looked up at him then bit her lip for the unexpected.

Unable to hold himself any longer, his cold lifeless expression suddenly cracked 
and a real smile radiated 
from his face. Misao stared at him wide-eyed with overwhelming happiness with 
the
sight. Then she was more shocked as the already small space between their faces 
got narrower as he leaned 
nearer,

"I'm glad," then closed their gap with a firm kiss. 

The instant his lips touched hers, her world spun endlessly until the only world 
she felt was Aoshi. He 
caressed and mingled with her lips until she learned to kiss him back, softly 
but
fervently. Aoshi smiled intimately, cherishing the innocence in that kiss which 
he, and only him, can taste.

After, that seems like, eternity, Aoshi broke the kiss and rested his forehead 
on hers. He didn't want to, But 
if I won't stop, the situation might lead to a more complicated one, he told
himself as he battle logic with his primal instinct. 

I will wait until we're already married... we'll make it tomorrow, the thought 
excited him, wanting the hours 
to pass quickly. But there was one thing that neither logic nor instinct can 
stop
him. Then he voiced out his feelings, although words are not enough to describe 
them,

"Aishiteru... Misao." He whispered into her ear.

The words were slowly absorbed in her mind, but the emotion in Aoshi's voice 
gave meaning to them that 
was comprehended by Misao's heart immediately.

She gazed her bright blue eyes into Aoshi's fiery gray-blue ones with utmost 
love, her tears of joy 
threatening to overflow,

"Aishiteru... aishiteru, Aoshi." She whispered back fiercely and wrapped her 
arms around his neck, as he 
wrapped his around her.

They stood there, in the middle of the room, holding each other tight as if 
letting go might be forever. 

But with a love that was endeavored by time, guilt, and even depravity, 
rectified by forgiveness and 
acceptance, 

Love can never be sweeter than this.

~OWARI~

Sooo...... whadayathink???

I guess I'm really giving emphasis on my being an amateur, huh?

*ARGH!* Please give this unworthy one a chance, ne?

Please comment, okay? 

Thanks for the time,

be waitin', c-ya!

DYoSa