Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Pottery 101 ❯ Having a Little Fun ( Chapter 10 )

Standard Disclaimer: I do not own these characters and do not intend to make any form of profit from the fictional work.

 

A/N: I apologize now to all the reviewers. I just had to switch the story to my other account and so all my reviews were lost. I am really sorry about that. Hey has anyone else noticed that Aoshi's birthday is long gone? (Grinning sheepishly) Ah sorry about that. I originally wanted to end the story on his birthday but as you can tell the story has one more chapter to go before it's done. I write really slowly. I really don't know why but one chapter takes me a couple of weeks to write and don't talk about how many times I usually delete the whole thing and start over.

 

“Speech”

 

`Thoughts'

 

(Change of Scene)

 

Chapter 10

 

Aoshi Shinimori stood in the Aoiya's restaurant with a twitching eye. Why was that? Oh because Misao's admirer from last week came back and was currently was babbling on about something he didn't even want to know about. The Kenshin look-a-like with the brown hair, whose name was Koji, had come back this time with flowers. When he had stepped into the restaurant, he looked determined but when he got Aoshi instead of Misao, when he asked for the okashira, he looked sad. So sad in fact that he looked ready to cry any second. Aoshi had stood there, his face actually showing how shocked he was that the boy was near tears. Okon had passed by and almost spilled hot Miso soup on some of the customers. She wished that Misao had been there to see it. She probably would have fainted. Aoshi looked down at the boy, his eye now twitching violently, as the boy spoke kept on talking about something.

 

“Who are you?” Aoshi's eye stopped twitching when the boy looked up at him with a frown on his face. “I thought Misao-hime was the Okashira? What are you doing here?”

 

Aoshi glared down at the boy. Did parents forget to teach their children manners these days? “Who I am is of no concern to you Takahashi-san.” He smirked when the boy looked at him shocked and then frowned at him.

 

“You must be that Shinimori-san that she's always talking about huh? So I finally get to meet you Shinimori-san.” He stood up and gave a respectful bow. Aoshi just looked at him. He wanted badly to ask him what she said about him but he didn't want to seem like he was interested in what the little gaki had to say. Said brat pinned a glare on him.

 

“I envy you Shinimori-san. You get to see her face everyday when you wake and before you sleep. She really is something lovely.” He sat back down and looked down at the tea that he had forgotten about. “She serves you tea everyday not so?”

 

“Yes” was all he said. He kind of felt sorry for the boy. He seemed so down.

 

“You should see how her eyes shine with happiness whenever she has to bring you tea. I've been unfortunate to come here whenever she has to go to you” he chuckled sadly and then looked up at Aoshi. “I've never seen her eyes shine like that when she speaks to me. They only shine with friendly affection, not like whenever she speaks of you.” he dropped some yen on the table and he stood back up again. “Please give Misao-hime these flowers for me.” He handed Aoshi the flowers that he brought and then he gave a slight nod and then he was off.

 

“Aoshi-san would you like your tea now?” Okon asked as she stood near him with a tray in her hands. She looked at the retreating back of Koji and sighed. “Poor boy, he comes here everyday in hopes of seeing Misao-chan even though I've told him every time that she's on vacation.”

 

“”I'll be in my room” he turned to go but then stopped, looking down at the flowers in his hands. “Please take these to Misao's room for me Okon.” He handed over the bouquet of flowers and then he was off to his room to brood.

 

HIKO'S SHACK…

 

“Weasel! Get in here right now and make me some food!” Hiko screamed. He was hungry and the weasel was no where to be found. “That's it!” he said as he got up quickly. He practically burst through the shoji screens. He expected to see her there grinning like the tricky little weasel she was but no one was there. He looked around and all he saw was snow. He looked everywhere around the shack for her but there was no weasel in sight. He realized that the only place he didn't check was the bath house. He grinned evilly as he stalked over to the tiny bath house. He heard her singing and he shuddered. She had a horrible singing voice. It was loud and off key. He stepped in quietly. For sure he didn't want to see the weasel naked so he stood right outside the door. As he put his foot down the door flew open and sixteen kunai came whizzing past his head. He had always thought that she was holding back when she normally flung her kunai at him when they were arguing. If he wasn't as fast as he was for sure there would have been a lot of kunai embedded all over him.

 

“Whoever it is outside there, I swear I'm going to slice you open and pull out your organs if you take one step closer to this bath house.” He saw her head peak out from the tiny space and then an aqua marine eye landed on him. “Oh it's just you Hiko. What do you want?” she said as she stepped out in a gray kimono with an orange obi. Her hair was down and he was amazed at how long it was. It was past her waist.

 

“What do I want weasel? I want food, I'm starving to death.” He smirked down at her when she scowled at him. “And may I ask, what's the occasion? Since when does the weasel wear kimonos like normal women?”

 

“I'm practicing for Aoshi's birthday next week and all my hakama ran out.” she walked past him with a bundle of clothes in her hands. She set them down and began plucking her kunai out of the wooden walls. “So you were waiting for me to come cook all this time Hiko? Why didn't you cook something yourself for a change, huh old man?”

 

“Who you think you calling old man, weasel? I'm in perfect form and if I remember correctly, you agreed to cook and clean while you stay here with me learning the art of pottery making.” He folded his arms over his chest and smiled triumphantly down at her. She just rolled her eyes.

 

“Oh I completely forgot, you're welcome to come to Aoshi's birthday party next week Hiko. Okon and Omasu will be very happy if you come.”

 

“I guess I can make an appearance, and I do have to collect my pay for teaching you.” He grinned as he thought of all the sake he would be collecting.

 

“What is your pay for teaching me Hiko?” she asked curiously. She always wondered what Okon and Omasu had written in that letter.

 

“You don't worry about that weasel, all you worry your self with is getting my lunch ready.” He smirked when she growled at him. “Oh but you look so pretty when you growl.” he watched as she stopped dead in her tracks and stared at him with a blush on her face.

 

“I knew you were in love with me Hiko, don't deny it!” she grinned evilly at him. She just loved to push his buttons.

 

“You're right Misao, I won't deny it anymore. I'm in love with you.” He grabbed her hand and held it to his cheek. He watched with satisfaction as her face turned red and her eye-brow was on the verge of twitching. “Forget the ice block, stay here with me up in the mountains. We'll get married and have lots of babies.”

 

“Hiko stop kidding around will you, I know you don't like me like that.” It was the scariest thing she ever experienced.

 

“Ah but you're wrong my koi! You're the only thing I think about when I wake and when I sleep.” His eyebrow switched as he kissed her hand. He didn't know how long he could keep up this act.

 

She stepped back and pulled her hand away from his mouth. `What the hell is wrong with him?' She watched as he advanced on her causing her to back up into a wall. He looked crazy. `He really is in love with me! Oh man, what am I going to do?' she thought as he towered over her. “I'm very flattered Hiko but I…I…I don't like you that way.” When he gripped her chin, she looked up at him with wide eyes, the blush still on her cheeks.

 

“Don't lie Misao. I see the way you look at me. You want me just like I want you.” He was glad that she was so flustered that she didn't see his mouth twitching as he said that. He leaned down to look her right in the eye. She really did have pretty eyes though. Even prettier than that tomboy-girl's eyes that his baka deshi was in love with. “Don't look so scared pretty eyes.” He held back a laugh as her cheeks turned a darker shade of red. She must have been so unaccustomed to receiving compliments.

 

`Oh man, he just called me pretty eyes. If Okon and Omasu finds out, I'm dead meat!' she thought terrified. “Let's go inside Hiko, I'll make your favorite” she tried her best to divert his attention.

 

He sighed happily in his mind. Finally some food to eat! But he had to continue with his plan. He really was enjoying making the weasel squirm. “Ah but you're my favorite now.” He followed her back into the shack.

 

“Ah stop it will you Hiko!” she said as she hurried inside. She hoped that maybe she could escape him if she just went off to the kitchen to prepare his food. No such luck, he followed her to the kitchen too.

 

“You should leave your hair down more often, you look pretty with it like that.” he wasn't lying about that either, she really did look pretty with her hair like that. She was a pretty girl; it was just hard to see mostly because she was acting like such an evil weasel most of the time.

 

“Ah thank you Hiko-san.” She pulled out some radishes and began to peel them. She looked up at him to find him staring at her with a smile on his face. She blushed and turned away.

 

Thirty minutes later, they now sat eating their food quietly. Hiko was glad to finally get something in his stomach and Misao was glad that Hiko wasn't scaring her anymore.

 

“Would you like some more rice Hiko?” Misao asked as she finished off her oden soup. He simply nodded his head and handed over his now empty bowl. She spooned more rice into his bowl and handed it back to him.

 

Five minutes later when it was clear that he couldn't consume anymore oden soup and rice, Hiko sat back with a small smile on his face. The weasel was a surprisingly good cook. He watched her as she gathered up the bowls. She had been extremely quiet throughout lunch, so he was guessing that she was still a little peeved about his declarations of `love'. He sat there in silence for a few minutes until she returned from cleaning up. It was time for his plan to get back into action.

 

“Hiko will we be glazing the tea bowls today?” she asked as she sat opposite him. She began to braid her hair while she awaited his answer.

 

“Why don't we take today off so that we can spend some time together?” he grasped her hand and she let out a cute squeak.

 

“B-but Hiko! I want to finish the tea bowls today so that I can relax the rest of the week.” She stared down at his hand that was holding onto her much smaller one. Both her mouth and eyebrow began to twitch.

 

He pulled her up with him as he stood and he noted with glee that her face had turned blue when he put his arm around her waist to keep her upright.

 

She stepped out from his embrace and stood a good few feet away from him. She didn't like the whole touchy feely thing at all. “So are we going to glaze the tea bowls or not?”

 

He stepped closer to her so that he was just a few inches away from her. He bent down so that he could look her in the eye. “Anything you want to do Misao-hime.” He was surprised when she narrowed her pretty eyes at him. He guessed that she didn't like to be called a princess. He made a note to call her that more often. Before he knew it, he had an angry teeth baring weasel in his face.

 

“You don't call me that. You got that old man! I should tell Okon and Omasu that you're cheating on them.” She pulled out some kunai and waved it in his face as she spouted other threats to him. `Only Aoshi is allowed to call me that. That other baka Takahashi-kun calls me it too but he's alright.' “If you don't watch it Hiko I'll chop your hair off in the night when you're asleep.” When he burst out laughing, she stopped her ranting and looked at him puzzled. “What's so funny you baka?”

 

“So would you prefer it if I call you something else? Something that the ice block wouldn't call you?” he whispered in her ear. He really was pushing it here but he was having too much fun to stop. He smirked when she grew quiet. “How about Pretty face?” He grinned when she stepped away from him, her face beet red.

 

THREE DAYS LATER…

 

“How does this look Hiko?” Misao asked as she held up the wooden box that she had just painted a dragon on. She was quite good with her hands Hiko noted. The dragon was wrapped around the entire box and the scales were given a touch of gold to make them shimmer. He had no idea that she was that artistic.

 

“Very good pretty face” Yup he was still pretending he was in love with her. It was fun to see her mouth and eyebrows twitch madly. From time to time she would turn blue if he said something really weird.

 

“I'm finally finished. Does it really look good Hiko? Tell me the truth.” She asked. Hiko only had black glaze for the tea bowls so everything was black with slashes of gold on them. She really hoped that Aoshi liked it. It was certainly different from the other tea sets she had ever seen before. She had seen just plain black ones but she never saw any with gold on it two. “You don't think it's too flashy do you?”

 

“No it's just right. I think it should suit the ice block just fine.” He could tell she was nervous. “You shouldn't worry too much weasel.”

 

“Um thanks Hi…you just called me weasel!” Just a few days ago she would have been angry when he called her that but it was good to hear him call her weasel again. “You called me weasel!!” she got up from the ground and she almost danced around but she wasn't that crazy with happiness.

 

“You really are weird you know that?” he looked at her as she celebrated. “Go make some dinner, I'm starving weasel girl.”

 

“You're mean you know that Hiko! All this time pretending like if you were a lovesick fool, I knew I saw your face twitching sometimes.” She skipped happily out of the room and into the kitchen to go prepare dinner. She was happy that he didn't really like her that way but she was most happy because she would be going back home tomorrow.” `I can't believe I didn't see Aoshi for one whole month. I can't wait to go home' she thought happily as she started to prepare dinner.

 

BACK AT THE AOIYA…

 

Everyone was seated around the low table eating dinner, even Aoshi. He sat silently eating his dinner as he listened to Okon and Omasu chat excitedly about something probably to do with Hiko Seijuro.

 

“I just remembered, Misao is coming back home tomorrow! I can't wait to see her again.” Okon cried. Omasu nodded her head in agreement. `I can't wait to hear all about Hiko-sama!'

 

Okina looked at Aoshi's expression as Okon and Omasu started talking about Misao. His eyes had shone with brief surprise and his mouth had almost formed a smile. It was of course replaced with his usual mask but Okina had seen it none the less. He smirked. He really couldn't wait for Misao to return.

 

Aoshi couldn't help but feel happy that Misao was returning tomorrow. It had been too long since he had heard her cheery voice and saw her bright smile. He felt so lost without it.

 

TO BE CONTINUED…

 

OMG! Going to the gym is real work. All my muscles are killing me. You people better be grateful that I actually wrote out the chapter because I feel like I'm going to drop down from exhaustion. Yeah and I'm so nice I'm still going to thank you for reviewing aren't I wonderful?

 

REVIEW THANKS

 

Darkflamangel - Thanks so much for the review. I hope you keep reviewing for the other chapters.

 

Katsumi Sagara - (hugs back Katsumi) thanks for really nice review. I'm glad to see you were so happy for an update.

 

Kohaku Rose - You wish you could write like me? (authoress grinning sheepishly and scratching her head) Wow thanks for the compliment! The funny thing is that when I read me own stories I don't see what the big deal is. Yes Misao is just a determined girl. Thanks for your review, it made me smile.

 

Spirit Demon - I really can't remember if you did review chapter 8 but it doesn't matter. You reviewed most of my other chapters so I'm a happy camper. I'll try my very best to update faster so you won't have to suffer. Thanks for your review.

 

KENSHIN FANATIC - You were dying to read chapter 9? Thanks, I'm so happy that my story has that kind of effect on people. Your review made me laugh. Keep reviewing and arigato for the funny review.

 

Sum1 - You reviewers are out to make me blush aren't you? Close to perfect you say? Thanks a lot that means so much to me to hear you say that. I'll try to update faster. Thanks for the review.

 

Legolas_Estelstar - You're from the Caribbean too? (Authoress jumping around happily) Which part, if you don't mind me asking? I'm from Trinidad and Tobago. Yes my sister is very lucky. Lol. Thanks for the review.

 

Katsumi Sanata - Oh thanks for the review Katsumi-dear. Yes poor Aoshi is so sad without his Misao-hime. Don't worry she be back to make him smile again.

 

Jessica - Super glad you liked my story. Keep reviewing for the other chapters. Thanks for the review!

 

No one - please stop scowling. I hope this chapter made you smile and jump around instead of scowling and growling. I have a fishy feeling that you are the same reviewer as Sum 1 three review thanks up from you. I'm very sorry I made you scowl. Do you have it in your heart to forgive this unworthy one? I tried to sound like Kenshin there but I'm sure I failed. Lol. None the less, thanks for the review. (hands over an Aoshi plushie)I hope that makes you smile.

 

If I left anyone out who reviewed, I thank you too. I'll try my very best to write the final chapter quickly. Yes it's going to end in the next chapter. I'm kind of sad but happy at the same time. It means that I can start to write other stories. I might write a one-shot Aoshi/Misao story but I'm not sure yet so you'll just have to wait and see. I'm also sort of thinking about a Sano/Misao story but I'm not too sure if I can write Misao with someone besides our beloved Aoshi. I'll see you next chapter! Ja ne!