Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ To Love Again ❯ Chapter 13 ( Chapter 13 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
Title: To Love Again
Chap: 13
Hey! I want to thank all of you for being so patient with me! (: You guys were great! Oh, and I've noticed that some authors don't like plot speculations or suggestions. But I really do! So go ahead and send them to me, just please bear in mind that the story doesn't allow for me to include all of your suggestions. (:
I recently discovered that I was confusing Modesto with Marin! (How embarrassing. :">) But all along I've been planning to have Yahiko live in Sacramento, so I think I'll keep AM in Modesto. I'll just have to increase their commute time. :p
-
Misao turned in her seat to look out the window for -probably - the fifth time in the past half hour. "Isn't that the car that was behind us on the last street?" Misao asked anxiously. "You know this city better than I do. Isn't there another road we could take that has more lanes or turnoffs? Something we could lose them in?"
"Misao, nobody is following us. Now would you please stop it?" Aoshi practically begged. "You're starting to make me paranoid."
Misao's cheeks turned a light pink. "Ah. Sorry." She turned around in her seat and fidgeted nervously. Her determination to remain facing forward lasted all of two minutes before she turned around again.
"Misao!" Misao gave a guilty start and whipped back around.
"Sorry!"
Aoshi sighed and tapped his fingers against the steering wheel in agitation. "Why don't you read something? That might help relax your mind a little."
Misao shook her head. "I've been getting car sick since the morning sickness set in. Reading would only make it worse."
Aoshi made no signal that he had heard his wife. Instead he concentrated on executing the turn in the thick commuter traffic. When Misao started to fidget again, he felt like banging his head against the steering wheel instead of merely tapping it with his fingers. "Why don't you play a game or something?" Misao regarded him skeptically. "You know like, spot the car or something."
Misao crossed her arms and huffed. "I haven't played anything like that since I was 10!" Aoshi tossed her an amused glance before returning his attention to the road. "Alright! Alright! I might have been 15 at the time." Aoshi chuckled, causing Misao's blush to return tenfold. "You're so mean!"
Aoshi smiled slightly at Misao's accusation. "Perhaps." He reached out to tug on her braid. "But at least you stopped worrying."
Misao's shoulders relaxed as she grinned. "That's true." She turned in her seat to look out the back window again. "At least it was until you mentioned it," she mumbled.
Aoshi gave a weary sigh. It was going to be a very long drive to their destination.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Misao dropped her overnight bag onto the floor and slumped into one of the hotel room's chairs. "Who knew a car ride could be so tiring! I feel like I could fall asleep right here." The only response Misao received from her husband was a grunt. 'My husband the conversationalist,' Misao thought sarcastically. 'But at least he puts up with my constant chattering.'
Misao watched as Aoshi knocked on the door that connected their room to the one next to them. A young woman that bore an amazing resemblance to Misao opened the door.
"I'm sorry. I was looking for Kamatari-san -"
"Oh!" The woman cut him off. "You must be Shinomori-san. Won't you come in?" She opened the door so that Aoshi could come in, the action allowing Misao to see the other woman's face for the first time.
'Freaky,' was Misao's only thought as she stood to join them. Misao came in just in time to see Kamatari walking out of the bathroom, dripping wet with only a towel around his waist. "Oh gross!" Misao turned around hastily. 'That was not something I wanted to see.'
"What's the matter honey?" Kamatari's voice was amused. "Doesn't your husband ever do this at home?"
"I don't see how that's any of your business!" Misao whirled around to point an accusing finger at him but screamed when she realized Kamatari was still dressed in only a towel. "C-can't you put a robe on?" Kamatari's eyes twinkled in amusement as he fingered the fold in his towel.
"Ahh!" Misao quickly slapped her hands over her eyes.
Kamatari chuckled. "You're too cute." He walked over to the closet to pull out a robe. "But I'm guessing by the glares you're sending me I should stop teasing you if I want to keep my health in tact." He tugged the towel out from beneath his robe. "Well, since we're all here now, we should discuss the plan for tomorrow."
He sat on one of the beds and gestured to the Misao look alike. "I would like you to meet the lovely Karin. She's one of my models. She and Misao-san will have to make sure their outfits match exactly. That includes your clothes, hair, makeup, shoes, and jewelry."
Misao bit her lip. "Well I brought along that green outfit I bought from you like you told me to. I was just going to wear black flats with it. I wasn't planning on wearing any jewelry. Oh, except my wedding ring." Misao waved her left hand slightly as if for emphasis.
"Oh!" Kamatari held a hand to his mouth. "I forgot about the wedding rings! Well I'll just call my assistant and have her pick some up."
"Kamatari-san, I appreciate what you're doing for us and I don't mean to sound ungrateful but," Misao darted a look at Aoshi, "who's going to play Aoshi's double?"
Kamatari grinned in a manner that showed off his impossibly white teeth. "Why, yours truly of course!"
Aoshi choked on his own spit.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Misao slowly got out of bed and drowsily stared at the person in front of her. Had her husband . . . shrunk? And how could his hair grow so quickly overnight? Misao had to blink several times before she realized it was Kamatari standing in front of her, not her husband. Misao shrieked and dove back under the blankets. "What are you doing in here? Can't you knock? And why are you wearing . . . that?"
Kamatari crossed his arms. "I'm here to make sure we all get ready on time and look as much alike as possible. Yes, I did knock but apparently you didn't hear me. And this is my outfit to pose as your husband."
Misao raised a skeptical eyebrow. "I think you're a little too small to pull it off. No offense."
"And I think I liked you better when you were sleeping. No offense," he smirked as he tossed her own words back at her.
Misao's face turned an ugly shade of purple. "What is that supposed to mean?"
Kamatari took off the coat he was wearing and folded it neatly over his arm. "Never mind," he sighed. "Get dressed, we only have two hours before our flight takes off."
Misao sat stewing in anger for a few minutes after Kamatari left. She couldn't understand what Kaoru saw in him.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Kamatari lifted Misao's chin up and turned her head from side-to-side to compare her makeup job to Karin's. "Hmm, I think you need just a bit more . . . " He reached for a brush and applied a little powder to the edge of her jaw. "There!" He turned them both around so they could look in the mirror. "What do you think? Quite good, hm?"
"Oh wow." Misao touched her face.
"We could pass for twins," Karin giggled.
"What do you think, anata?" Misao turned to face her husband.
"Very nice," Aoshi mumbled, his eyes still trained on the map he was studying.
"Mou! You didn't even look up!" Misao pouted.
"I saw you in the mirror."
Misao sighed.
"Misao, I'm sorry I'm not paying much attention to you right now, but I need to figure out how to get to where we need to go."
Misao sat on the bed next to Aoshi. "You know I can help you figure out where we're going as we drive."
"I know." Despite his words, Aoshi was still staring at the map.
Misao sighed in frustration. "That's enough," she tugged the map out of his hands. "Kamatari-san and Karin-san are going to be leaving in a few minutes. Let's relax for a few minutes. You know I'm going to be nervous as soon as we leave. Here," she reached over to grab a fedora from the night stand and set it on his head. "That should take your mind off driving."
Aoshi rolled his eyes upward to regard the hat with disdain. "I don't want to wear it." He sounded like a petulant child.
Misao sighed as she fussed with his hat. "Well I'm afraid you have to so that you and Kamatari-san can match outfits. Plus this will hide your hair. Besides," she grinned, "I always thought a fedora made a man look sexy.
Aoshi raised his eyebrows and Kamatari turned to look at Misao. "Really now? How interesting." Aoshi stared at Kamatari's back, trying to figure out what he meant by that statement.
Kamatari finished pinning up his hair then set his hat at a jaunty angle. "Well ta-ta kiddies. I sincerely hope everything goes as planned. And Misao-san, don't forget to give that package I gave you to Kaoru-chan."
Misao smiled. "I won't." Misao waited until Kamatari and Karin left before she moved to sit in her husband's lap. "They're all gone now," she wrapped her arms around his neck. "And we have a whole half hour before we have to leave." She nuzzled her nose against his before reaching down to kiss him.
Aoshi laid a hand on her shoulder and gently pushed her back.
Misao's head bobbed up in surprise. "What's the matter?"
"If your make-up gets mussed up you won't be able to get it to match again." Misao couldn't help but chuckle. Only her husband would think to worry about something like that.
Misao tapped his nose. "It's kiss-proof." She reached down to kiss him again. "Just make sure you keep your hands below my face."
Aoshi's lips curved up ever so slightly. "The same goes for you."
Misao giggled against her husband's lips. Yep, a fedora definitely made a man look sexy.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Misao fidgeted nervously in her chair, continuously twisting her fingers around each other.
"Misao you need to calm down. If somebody working for Soujiro is here, they could notice your nervousness."
"But I am nervous." She regarded Aoshi with some envy. "How do you always manage to stay so calm?"
"Practice. A lawyer who shows everybody what he's thinking isn't much good." He winked at her. Misao had to work not to openly gape at him. Her husband had actually winked at her in front of all these people! He could be very affectionate when they were alone, but when they were in public she was doing good just to get him to hold her hand.
"Misao!" Misao blinked out of her thoughts to see Aoshi standing impatiently in front of her. "They just announced our flight. We have to leave now."
Misao apologized, grabbed her carry-on bag, then stood. She latched onto Aoshi's coat sleeve as much for emotional support as to make sure she didn't get lost in the shuffle of the crowd.
Misao felt slightly less anxious when they were seated on the plane. Or at least she didn't feel as if some random shout was going to jump out and attack the two of them.
Aoshi squeezed her hand and she looked over at him. He wasn't smiling, nor did he offer any words of comfort. But the relaxed state of his face reassured him that everything would be okay.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Misao very much resembled an awed child as she observed the milling crowd with wide eyes.
"Misao, it's not as if you've never seen Caucasians before."
"Oh I know. But I've never been outside of Japan before so this is very exciting for me."
"It's not as if I'm some big globetrotter myself Misao."
"Oh forget it," Misao mumbled. "Let's just find a taxi so we can get out of here."
Finding a taxi proved to be easier than getting to Kaoru's apartment. The driver couldn't speak Japanese, and knew even less English than Aoshi and Misao. But between broken English, frantic hand gestures, and near collisions, they finally arrived at their destination. Misao stepped out on slightly shaky legs and wondered if what she went through could count as one of those life-altering experiences that changed your view on things.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Misao and Aoshi trudged up the stairs. Checking to make sure they had the right apartment, they knocked on the door. After waiting for a few seconds they knocked again only to be met with the same response. Shrugging their shoulders, they turned to leave when a feminine voice called out a tentative greeting.
Both of them turned to see a damp Kaoru standing in the hallway, dressed in a robe with a towel wrapped around her hair. "Oh!" Kaoru's eye's brightened and she tried to hug both of them at once. "Why didn't you guys tell me you were coming today? I would have had Yahiko come up so he could pick you guys up from the airport."
"We didn't want too many people to know to lessen the chances of us being followed." Misao looked Kaoru up and down. "Do I want to know why you're standing in the bathroom dressed in only a bathrobe?"
Kaoru rolled her eyes. "Communal bathing room. It's what you get when you can only afford cheap rent." She opened the door for them. "Is there anything you guys want?"
"Just some milk to coat my stomach please. The landing made my stomach a little queasy."
Kaoru's eyes dropped down to Misao's abdomen. "May I?"
Misao smiled softly and nodded, "of course." Kaoru gently curled her hand around the slight bulge as if she was afraid of hurting the baby.
"Oh, it feels harder than I thought it would."
"It doesn't really round out until about four or five months."
Kaoru walked over to grab a quart of milk out of the small refrigerator occupying a corner. "So how does your house look?"
"I don't know. We came straight over here after the flight."
Kaoru turned her head over her shoulder and smiled. "You guys didn't have to do that."
"We wanted to." This time it was Aoshi who spoke.
"But I'm afraid we're going to be pests and ask to spend the night here."
"It's no bother at all. You guys are welcome here any time. But I'm afraid there's only one small futon."
"Misao will take it," Aoshi spoke up immediately.
Misao sighed. "I'm afraid he's been very overprotective since we found out about the baby."
"No, it's no problem," Kaoru assured her. "It makes perfect sense." Kaoru looked around as a sudden thought struck her. "I wasn't planning on company so I'm afraid the only thing I have is Top Ramen."
Aoshi frowned. "That's not very healthy for you Kaoru."
Kaoru blew a few stray bangs out of her eyes. "Don't worry so much Aoshi." Kaoru sat on the floor as the water warmed up. "So how is everybody back home?" There was a look of longing in her eyes as she asked the question. She hadn't really wanted to leave Japan and had done so only to escape Soujiro.
"They're all fine. And I have a present for you from Kamatari-san."
"Oh he didn't have to do that," Kaoru protested. Nevertheless, she ripped open the box with the eagerness of a young child. "Oh." Kaoru lifted out a silk Chinese style dress that was made out of a vibrant red and decorated with golden dragons twisting every which way. Kaoru picked up an envelope that had fallen to the ground when she had taken the dress out of the box. She silently read the note that was tucked inside.
Dear Kaoru-chan,
I wish with all my heart I could have presented this gift to you (which I made myself) in person. But we both now that would be an unwise action right now.
My brother is not worth throwing your life away. Find yourself a good man, when you do wear this dress. You'll both thank me.
Kisses and hugs from the best brother-in-law in the world.
Kaoru made a sound that sounded like a cross between a laugh and a sob. Kamatari certainly had a flare for words.
"No, he really didn't have to do that."
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Kaoru had bullied Misao into taking a walk with her in the park. Both she and Aoshi told Misao it would be good exercise for her and the baby. Misao complained that they were gaining up on her and that Kaoru was supposed to be an ally against her husband in such matters.
But once she had discovered the beauty of the trees and how invigorating the ocean breeze could be she decided it wasn't that bad.
A loud shout of "Kaoru!" was the only warning they received before a red blur crashed into Kaoru's leg. "HI! HI! HI!" Kenji shouted as he jumped up and down, his arms still wrapped around her legs.
Kenshin caught up to them right behind his son. "Hey," he smiled warmly at her. "I see you're out for a walk too."
Kaoru blushed and nodded in affirmation. Ever since that incident when she had been sick a few weeks ago they had really loosened up around each other.
Kenshin watched as Kenji lifted his arms up in a clear indication that he wanted Kaoru to pick him up. It still amazed him how much his son had warmed up to her. He seemed to respect her now and even listened to her now - not all the time of course, but still it was an improvement. Kenshin had felt slightly put out that they wouldn't tell him what had procured this miraculous transformation but decided he should count his blessings.
Kenshin flicked his eyes over to Misao. "So are you going to introduce me to your friend?" He watched in slight amusement as a flustered expression came over Kaoru's face.
"I'm so sorry! This is my friend Shinomori Misao. She and her husband just moved over here from Japan. Misao this is my boss Himura Kenshin. And this is his son Kenji."
"So how do you like San Francisco so far?" Kenshin asked in perfect Japanese. He laughed when Kaoru stared at him in shock. "My father taught Meg and me how to speak Japanese. He said it was so we didn't lose touch with our heritage, but I think it was really just because his father made him learn it. It's come in quite handy in my business however."
"What business are you in, if you don't mind my asking?"
"I don't mind at all," he reassured Misao. "I'm in business real estate. You know shopping malls and office buildings. Things like that."
"Oh, my husband was just transferred over here to work for a corporation that deals in that type of business."
Kenshin nodded and rocked on the balls of his feet in the awkward silence that followed. "Well, I guess I should leave you two to finish your walk. It was very nice meeting you Shinomori-san. I'll see you on Monday Kaoru."
"Kaoru why didn't you tell me your boss was so hot!"
Kaoru stuck her hands on her hips. "How can you say that? You're a married woman!"
Misao rolled her eyes. "It's not like I'm going to fantasize about him or anything. I'm very happy with my Aoshi. But that doesn't mean I don't have eyes."
Kaoru had a sudden urge to bite her friend's hand when Misao patted her on the head.
-
I apologize if I used any words improperly during the latter half of this story. I couldn't find my dictionary.
Yes, I really do like men in fedoras! (: I also have a thing for guys in wire-rimmed glasses... (I know, I'm wierd.)
I know a lot of people don't like alternate pairings, but some people do. (I know I do!) I'm curious which ones are your favorites or most hated pairings? What show are they from? Just curious. (:
Chap: 13
Hey! I want to thank all of you for being so patient with me! (: You guys were great! Oh, and I've noticed that some authors don't like plot speculations or suggestions. But I really do! So go ahead and send them to me, just please bear in mind that the story doesn't allow for me to include all of your suggestions. (:
I recently discovered that I was confusing Modesto with Marin! (How embarrassing. :">) But all along I've been planning to have Yahiko live in Sacramento, so I think I'll keep AM in Modesto. I'll just have to increase their commute time. :p
-
Misao turned in her seat to look out the window for -probably - the fifth time in the past half hour. "Isn't that the car that was behind us on the last street?" Misao asked anxiously. "You know this city better than I do. Isn't there another road we could take that has more lanes or turnoffs? Something we could lose them in?"
"Misao, nobody is following us. Now would you please stop it?" Aoshi practically begged. "You're starting to make me paranoid."
Misao's cheeks turned a light pink. "Ah. Sorry." She turned around in her seat and fidgeted nervously. Her determination to remain facing forward lasted all of two minutes before she turned around again.
"Misao!" Misao gave a guilty start and whipped back around.
"Sorry!"
Aoshi sighed and tapped his fingers against the steering wheel in agitation. "Why don't you read something? That might help relax your mind a little."
Misao shook her head. "I've been getting car sick since the morning sickness set in. Reading would only make it worse."
Aoshi made no signal that he had heard his wife. Instead he concentrated on executing the turn in the thick commuter traffic. When Misao started to fidget again, he felt like banging his head against the steering wheel instead of merely tapping it with his fingers. "Why don't you play a game or something?" Misao regarded him skeptically. "You know like, spot the car or something."
Misao crossed her arms and huffed. "I haven't played anything like that since I was 10!" Aoshi tossed her an amused glance before returning his attention to the road. "Alright! Alright! I might have been 15 at the time." Aoshi chuckled, causing Misao's blush to return tenfold. "You're so mean!"
Aoshi smiled slightly at Misao's accusation. "Perhaps." He reached out to tug on her braid. "But at least you stopped worrying."
Misao's shoulders relaxed as she grinned. "That's true." She turned in her seat to look out the back window again. "At least it was until you mentioned it," she mumbled.
Aoshi gave a weary sigh. It was going to be a very long drive to their destination.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Misao dropped her overnight bag onto the floor and slumped into one of the hotel room's chairs. "Who knew a car ride could be so tiring! I feel like I could fall asleep right here." The only response Misao received from her husband was a grunt. 'My husband the conversationalist,' Misao thought sarcastically. 'But at least he puts up with my constant chattering.'
Misao watched as Aoshi knocked on the door that connected their room to the one next to them. A young woman that bore an amazing resemblance to Misao opened the door.
"I'm sorry. I was looking for Kamatari-san -"
"Oh!" The woman cut him off. "You must be Shinomori-san. Won't you come in?" She opened the door so that Aoshi could come in, the action allowing Misao to see the other woman's face for the first time.
'Freaky,' was Misao's only thought as she stood to join them. Misao came in just in time to see Kamatari walking out of the bathroom, dripping wet with only a towel around his waist. "Oh gross!" Misao turned around hastily. 'That was not something I wanted to see.'
"What's the matter honey?" Kamatari's voice was amused. "Doesn't your husband ever do this at home?"
"I don't see how that's any of your business!" Misao whirled around to point an accusing finger at him but screamed when she realized Kamatari was still dressed in only a towel. "C-can't you put a robe on?" Kamatari's eyes twinkled in amusement as he fingered the fold in his towel.
"Ahh!" Misao quickly slapped her hands over her eyes.
Kamatari chuckled. "You're too cute." He walked over to the closet to pull out a robe. "But I'm guessing by the glares you're sending me I should stop teasing you if I want to keep my health in tact." He tugged the towel out from beneath his robe. "Well, since we're all here now, we should discuss the plan for tomorrow."
He sat on one of the beds and gestured to the Misao look alike. "I would like you to meet the lovely Karin. She's one of my models. She and Misao-san will have to make sure their outfits match exactly. That includes your clothes, hair, makeup, shoes, and jewelry."
Misao bit her lip. "Well I brought along that green outfit I bought from you like you told me to. I was just going to wear black flats with it. I wasn't planning on wearing any jewelry. Oh, except my wedding ring." Misao waved her left hand slightly as if for emphasis.
"Oh!" Kamatari held a hand to his mouth. "I forgot about the wedding rings! Well I'll just call my assistant and have her pick some up."
"Kamatari-san, I appreciate what you're doing for us and I don't mean to sound ungrateful but," Misao darted a look at Aoshi, "who's going to play Aoshi's double?"
Kamatari grinned in a manner that showed off his impossibly white teeth. "Why, yours truly of course!"
Aoshi choked on his own spit.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Misao slowly got out of bed and drowsily stared at the person in front of her. Had her husband . . . shrunk? And how could his hair grow so quickly overnight? Misao had to blink several times before she realized it was Kamatari standing in front of her, not her husband. Misao shrieked and dove back under the blankets. "What are you doing in here? Can't you knock? And why are you wearing . . . that?"
Kamatari crossed his arms. "I'm here to make sure we all get ready on time and look as much alike as possible. Yes, I did knock but apparently you didn't hear me. And this is my outfit to pose as your husband."
Misao raised a skeptical eyebrow. "I think you're a little too small to pull it off. No offense."
"And I think I liked you better when you were sleeping. No offense," he smirked as he tossed her own words back at her.
Misao's face turned an ugly shade of purple. "What is that supposed to mean?"
Kamatari took off the coat he was wearing and folded it neatly over his arm. "Never mind," he sighed. "Get dressed, we only have two hours before our flight takes off."
Misao sat stewing in anger for a few minutes after Kamatari left. She couldn't understand what Kaoru saw in him.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Kamatari lifted Misao's chin up and turned her head from side-to-side to compare her makeup job to Karin's. "Hmm, I think you need just a bit more . . . " He reached for a brush and applied a little powder to the edge of her jaw. "There!" He turned them both around so they could look in the mirror. "What do you think? Quite good, hm?"
"Oh wow." Misao touched her face.
"We could pass for twins," Karin giggled.
"What do you think, anata?" Misao turned to face her husband.
"Very nice," Aoshi mumbled, his eyes still trained on the map he was studying.
"Mou! You didn't even look up!" Misao pouted.
"I saw you in the mirror."
Misao sighed.
"Misao, I'm sorry I'm not paying much attention to you right now, but I need to figure out how to get to where we need to go."
Misao sat on the bed next to Aoshi. "You know I can help you figure out where we're going as we drive."
"I know." Despite his words, Aoshi was still staring at the map.
Misao sighed in frustration. "That's enough," she tugged the map out of his hands. "Kamatari-san and Karin-san are going to be leaving in a few minutes. Let's relax for a few minutes. You know I'm going to be nervous as soon as we leave. Here," she reached over to grab a fedora from the night stand and set it on his head. "That should take your mind off driving."
Aoshi rolled his eyes upward to regard the hat with disdain. "I don't want to wear it." He sounded like a petulant child.
Misao sighed as she fussed with his hat. "Well I'm afraid you have to so that you and Kamatari-san can match outfits. Plus this will hide your hair. Besides," she grinned, "I always thought a fedora made a man look sexy.
Aoshi raised his eyebrows and Kamatari turned to look at Misao. "Really now? How interesting." Aoshi stared at Kamatari's back, trying to figure out what he meant by that statement.
Kamatari finished pinning up his hair then set his hat at a jaunty angle. "Well ta-ta kiddies. I sincerely hope everything goes as planned. And Misao-san, don't forget to give that package I gave you to Kaoru-chan."
Misao smiled. "I won't." Misao waited until Kamatari and Karin left before she moved to sit in her husband's lap. "They're all gone now," she wrapped her arms around his neck. "And we have a whole half hour before we have to leave." She nuzzled her nose against his before reaching down to kiss him.
Aoshi laid a hand on her shoulder and gently pushed her back.
Misao's head bobbed up in surprise. "What's the matter?"
"If your make-up gets mussed up you won't be able to get it to match again." Misao couldn't help but chuckle. Only her husband would think to worry about something like that.
Misao tapped his nose. "It's kiss-proof." She reached down to kiss him again. "Just make sure you keep your hands below my face."
Aoshi's lips curved up ever so slightly. "The same goes for you."
Misao giggled against her husband's lips. Yep, a fedora definitely made a man look sexy.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Misao fidgeted nervously in her chair, continuously twisting her fingers around each other.
"Misao you need to calm down. If somebody working for Soujiro is here, they could notice your nervousness."
"But I am nervous." She regarded Aoshi with some envy. "How do you always manage to stay so calm?"
"Practice. A lawyer who shows everybody what he's thinking isn't much good." He winked at her. Misao had to work not to openly gape at him. Her husband had actually winked at her in front of all these people! He could be very affectionate when they were alone, but when they were in public she was doing good just to get him to hold her hand.
"Misao!" Misao blinked out of her thoughts to see Aoshi standing impatiently in front of her. "They just announced our flight. We have to leave now."
Misao apologized, grabbed her carry-on bag, then stood. She latched onto Aoshi's coat sleeve as much for emotional support as to make sure she didn't get lost in the shuffle of the crowd.
Misao felt slightly less anxious when they were seated on the plane. Or at least she didn't feel as if some random shout was going to jump out and attack the two of them.
Aoshi squeezed her hand and she looked over at him. He wasn't smiling, nor did he offer any words of comfort. But the relaxed state of his face reassured him that everything would be okay.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Misao very much resembled an awed child as she observed the milling crowd with wide eyes.
"Misao, it's not as if you've never seen Caucasians before."
"Oh I know. But I've never been outside of Japan before so this is very exciting for me."
"It's not as if I'm some big globetrotter myself Misao."
"Oh forget it," Misao mumbled. "Let's just find a taxi so we can get out of here."
Finding a taxi proved to be easier than getting to Kaoru's apartment. The driver couldn't speak Japanese, and knew even less English than Aoshi and Misao. But between broken English, frantic hand gestures, and near collisions, they finally arrived at their destination. Misao stepped out on slightly shaky legs and wondered if what she went through could count as one of those life-altering experiences that changed your view on things.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Misao and Aoshi trudged up the stairs. Checking to make sure they had the right apartment, they knocked on the door. After waiting for a few seconds they knocked again only to be met with the same response. Shrugging their shoulders, they turned to leave when a feminine voice called out a tentative greeting.
Both of them turned to see a damp Kaoru standing in the hallway, dressed in a robe with a towel wrapped around her hair. "Oh!" Kaoru's eye's brightened and she tried to hug both of them at once. "Why didn't you guys tell me you were coming today? I would have had Yahiko come up so he could pick you guys up from the airport."
"We didn't want too many people to know to lessen the chances of us being followed." Misao looked Kaoru up and down. "Do I want to know why you're standing in the bathroom dressed in only a bathrobe?"
Kaoru rolled her eyes. "Communal bathing room. It's what you get when you can only afford cheap rent." She opened the door for them. "Is there anything you guys want?"
"Just some milk to coat my stomach please. The landing made my stomach a little queasy."
Kaoru's eyes dropped down to Misao's abdomen. "May I?"
Misao smiled softly and nodded, "of course." Kaoru gently curled her hand around the slight bulge as if she was afraid of hurting the baby.
"Oh, it feels harder than I thought it would."
"It doesn't really round out until about four or five months."
Kaoru walked over to grab a quart of milk out of the small refrigerator occupying a corner. "So how does your house look?"
"I don't know. We came straight over here after the flight."
Kaoru turned her head over her shoulder and smiled. "You guys didn't have to do that."
"We wanted to." This time it was Aoshi who spoke.
"But I'm afraid we're going to be pests and ask to spend the night here."
"It's no bother at all. You guys are welcome here any time. But I'm afraid there's only one small futon."
"Misao will take it," Aoshi spoke up immediately.
Misao sighed. "I'm afraid he's been very overprotective since we found out about the baby."
"No, it's no problem," Kaoru assured her. "It makes perfect sense." Kaoru looked around as a sudden thought struck her. "I wasn't planning on company so I'm afraid the only thing I have is Top Ramen."
Aoshi frowned. "That's not very healthy for you Kaoru."
Kaoru blew a few stray bangs out of her eyes. "Don't worry so much Aoshi." Kaoru sat on the floor as the water warmed up. "So how is everybody back home?" There was a look of longing in her eyes as she asked the question. She hadn't really wanted to leave Japan and had done so only to escape Soujiro.
"They're all fine. And I have a present for you from Kamatari-san."
"Oh he didn't have to do that," Kaoru protested. Nevertheless, she ripped open the box with the eagerness of a young child. "Oh." Kaoru lifted out a silk Chinese style dress that was made out of a vibrant red and decorated with golden dragons twisting every which way. Kaoru picked up an envelope that had fallen to the ground when she had taken the dress out of the box. She silently read the note that was tucked inside.
Dear Kaoru-chan,
I wish with all my heart I could have presented this gift to you (which I made myself) in person. But we both now that would be an unwise action right now.
My brother is not worth throwing your life away. Find yourself a good man, when you do wear this dress. You'll both thank me.
Kisses and hugs from the best brother-in-law in the world.
Kaoru made a sound that sounded like a cross between a laugh and a sob. Kamatari certainly had a flare for words.
"No, he really didn't have to do that."
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Kaoru had bullied Misao into taking a walk with her in the park. Both she and Aoshi told Misao it would be good exercise for her and the baby. Misao complained that they were gaining up on her and that Kaoru was supposed to be an ally against her husband in such matters.
But once she had discovered the beauty of the trees and how invigorating the ocean breeze could be she decided it wasn't that bad.
A loud shout of "Kaoru!" was the only warning they received before a red blur crashed into Kaoru's leg. "HI! HI! HI!" Kenji shouted as he jumped up and down, his arms still wrapped around her legs.
Kenshin caught up to them right behind his son. "Hey," he smiled warmly at her. "I see you're out for a walk too."
Kaoru blushed and nodded in affirmation. Ever since that incident when she had been sick a few weeks ago they had really loosened up around each other.
Kenshin watched as Kenji lifted his arms up in a clear indication that he wanted Kaoru to pick him up. It still amazed him how much his son had warmed up to her. He seemed to respect her now and even listened to her now - not all the time of course, but still it was an improvement. Kenshin had felt slightly put out that they wouldn't tell him what had procured this miraculous transformation but decided he should count his blessings.
Kenshin flicked his eyes over to Misao. "So are you going to introduce me to your friend?" He watched in slight amusement as a flustered expression came over Kaoru's face.
"I'm so sorry! This is my friend Shinomori Misao. She and her husband just moved over here from Japan. Misao this is my boss Himura Kenshin. And this is his son Kenji."
"So how do you like San Francisco so far?" Kenshin asked in perfect Japanese. He laughed when Kaoru stared at him in shock. "My father taught Meg and me how to speak Japanese. He said it was so we didn't lose touch with our heritage, but I think it was really just because his father made him learn it. It's come in quite handy in my business however."
"What business are you in, if you don't mind my asking?"
"I don't mind at all," he reassured Misao. "I'm in business real estate. You know shopping malls and office buildings. Things like that."
"Oh, my husband was just transferred over here to work for a corporation that deals in that type of business."
Kenshin nodded and rocked on the balls of his feet in the awkward silence that followed. "Well, I guess I should leave you two to finish your walk. It was very nice meeting you Shinomori-san. I'll see you on Monday Kaoru."
"Kaoru why didn't you tell me your boss was so hot!"
Kaoru stuck her hands on her hips. "How can you say that? You're a married woman!"
Misao rolled her eyes. "It's not like I'm going to fantasize about him or anything. I'm very happy with my Aoshi. But that doesn't mean I don't have eyes."
Kaoru had a sudden urge to bite her friend's hand when Misao patted her on the head.
-
I apologize if I used any words improperly during the latter half of this story. I couldn't find my dictionary.
Yes, I really do like men in fedoras! (: I also have a thing for guys in wire-rimmed glasses... (I know, I'm wierd.)
I know a lot of people don't like alternate pairings, but some people do. (I know I do!) I'm curious which ones are your favorites or most hated pairings? What show are they from? Just curious. (: