The first step is admitting you have a problem. Okay I, Linny, cannot complete one or several stories without starting one or several more. That didn't make me feel any better…

Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin.

All In The Name of Cement Shoes: Don't Cry Over Spilt Cappuccino

"Misao…" The petite woman turned about on the makeshift bed that doubled as her desk during the day. She had done it again. She had fallen asleep while trying to get some late night work in at the office. It was the third time she had done this week. There was a soft nudge followed by an equally soft voice. "Misao." Part of Misao didn't want to wake up. She was having a wonderful dream involving Orlando Bloom and a certain pirate ship. "MISAO!" The booming volume of Kaoru, Misao's co-worker and partner in crime, was enough to wake her out of amorous splendor.

"I'm awake! I'm awake!" She smiled innocently at the woman standing above her.

"You did it again, didn't you Misao?" Kaoru placed her hands upon her slender hips and glared down at her friend.

"Did what?" She tried her best to organize the numerous patterns, pictures, and scrap materials she had occupied for her newest clients. All in a day's work of a wedding planner.

"You fell asleep at work again!" Misao hastily combed through her lengthy cobalt hair with her fingers and tried her best to smooth out the wrinkles in her shirt.

"I did no such thing." Kaoru let the argument drop and pulled out an envelope from her purse.

"What's the one thing you've wanted really badly for a really long time?" Misao bit her bottom lip in deep concentration. She finally burst into a wide smile and her eyes sparkled with excitement.

"A starring role on the 'O.C'?" Kaoru had thought the tiny girl would guess right off the bat.

"Um…no."

"A date with Hugh Jackman?" Kaoru openly gawked at her friend for a moment. She couldn't believe the ideas spouting from her mouth.

"What? No! Misao, the Shinomori couple have accepted you as their wedding planner!" Kaoru half expected the braided female to jump with joy with her. Tabloids and entertainment stations were going crazy over the mystery wedding of the multi-millionaire and his unidentified bride. Rumor had it that Mr. Shinomori was involved with the mob and only agreed to the marriage to keep the peace with the multiple mob families scattered over the state of New York. Kaoru watched her friend sigh out loud and plop down on a nearby stool. "What's wrong, Misao? You should be ecstatic over this! Aoshi Shinomori is one of the most sought out men in the world. Not only is he rich, but he's handsome and has that whole thing with the Mafia." Misao let her head fall down into the palm of her hand and twirled the end of her long braid around her thin finger.

"I've met the bride. She's a spoiled brat who can't quit talking about herself for a second. I didn't like her all that much. Besides, did you know that the two have never seen each other? It's like one of those old-fashioned set-ups. That's not a real marriage." Kaoru pondered this for a moment. This was true. But if Misao wanted to be the most sought out wedding planner in New York and receive a nice paycheck for it, she would have to suck up her pride and take the assignment.

"It's just a job, Misao and we both know you could use this paycheck." Misao's sea colored eyes wandered over to her compatriot. She hated it when Kaoru was right. She needed this client more than other. Not only did she need a new car but she was also hoping to invest into a small house on the outside of Albany. It wasn't anything fancy, but it was Misao's personal palace; her quiet utopia.

"Alright, I'll take the stupid job." Kaoru leaned over beside her friend and grinned slyly.

"Well then you better get going. Your first meeting with the future Mrs. Shinomori is in one hour at the quickie stop." Misao slapped her forehead. That's right! How could she forget about it? She quickly scrambled up the small mass of examples of wedding cakes, dresses, and invitations and dumped them into a leather binder. She pulled on her black trenchcoat and waved goodbye to her coworker.

Shinomori Estates

"I didn't like her. She was too full of herself. Master Aoshi doesn't need a woman like that." The statement came from a young woman who was carrying on the casual conversation with a fellow maid and the head butler. Her name was Omasu and she couldn't believe that the master of the house was indeed getting married. The older of the two maids, Okon, amused herself with one of the linen napkins that had been bought for the night's regal party. It was the night that their dear master was to meet the horrible blonde socialite that he was to be married to in six months.

"Well what do you suggest for Master Aoshi? You know that this whole thing is nothing more than a peace treaty between warring families." The elderly butler, who went by the name of Okina, was the one to remind the girls that the master of the house had no say so in the matter of marriage.

"But she's so…ick!" Omasu stuck out her tongue to further extend her point.

"Master Aoshi needs someone nice." Both Omasu and Okina glanced over at the maid staring off into oblivion. "She would have to be sweet and prove to be able to melt the master's heart." A smile began to spread over Omasu's face as the ideal woman came into all three servants' heads.

"And funny…cute…strong….loyal…"

"And have one hell of a body." Both women glared at the old pervert across from them.

"Okina!"

Misao pulled her beat up Chevy convertible into the parking lot of the quickie stop that graced the outskirts of New York. Why the blonde socialite wanted to meet here, Misao could care less. All that mattered was getting this meeting out of the way. The model like woman skipped up to the blue jean clad Misao, the top half of her body covered by a skimpy fur coat and a tiny Pomeranian barking at her side. She greeted Misao with a kiss on each cheek and motioned for Misao to follow her to her car. Without thinking, Misao left her own vehicle running. It was out of routine. It was the beginning of winter and if Misao didn't leave the car running, then she was to return to a cold car. A VERY cold car.

"Misao, darling, would you be a sweeting and go fetch me a diet cappuccino from inside. When you get back, we'll discuss the matters of the wedding." Misao rolled her eyes but did as asked and entered the convenience store in hopes of finding a diet…whatever. In ten seconds flat, screeching tires could be heard and Misao dreaded the impossible. She sprinted outside in time to see the olive green convertible slip out on to the road and speed off towards Maine. Misao ran after the hunk of junk for only a minute, yelling at the top of her lungs for the heiress to stop.

"Stop! Please! My Snapple…is…in there." Misao swiftly turned on her heel and ran back into the store. A zit covered, red headed teenager met her with a cheeky grin. "I need to use your phone."

"Sorry, lady. You have to pay to use the business line." Misao couldn't believe her luck! Her car had just been stolen, for Christ's sake!

"Look, I have no money. My car was just stolen!"

"Tell someone who cares." Misao could feel her blood boiling underneath the numerous layers of clothing she sported in the winter. Had the whole freaking world gone insane?

"Could you at least point me in the direction of the nearest house so that I could possibly use THEIR phone?" The hormonal teen pointed towards the west and Misao had to suppress a wide range of curse words. She exited the store and took off in the direction the clerk had pointed towards. Five minutes later, she crossed the front of the store again, her cheeks reddened by the chilly wind and her own anger. "That WASN'T very nice!" With that said, she began her journey towards the east.

It seemed like an eternity had passed by when Misao finally reached a dirt road that led up to a giant mansion on a hilltop. Iron gates protected the entrance from intruders but allowed the exhausted wedding planner to gaze at the wondrous monument. By the looks of the outside, she could tell that it was old, possibly built when New York was part of the thirteen colonies. To Misao's right were a camera and a speakerphone. She shyly pressed the red button and jumped three feet in the air when a man's voice echoed over the intercom.

"Shinomori Estates, state your business." Misao stared at the speaker. She was ACTUALLY at her client's own home! Now, she could figure out why the bride had stolen her car and made off like Thelma without a Louise.

"Um…hi. I'm Misao Makimachi, wedding planner. The master of this house and his bride employed me but Mrs. Shinomori just took off with my only means of transportation. If I could just use your phone –"

"She's not Mrs. Shinomori yet!" Misao jumped back as the sound of a young woman's squeal of protest shook the wedding planner to her bones.

"Hush Omasu. Young lady, look towards the camera and let me get a better view of you." Misao wearily turned towards the security contraption and watched as the lens moved up and down Misao's lean body. The fiery sprite quirked an eyebrow up in annoyance.

"Hey pervert! I'm not here as a door prize! Can I just please use your phone?" Another shriek of excitement.

"She's perfect Okina! Let her in! Let her in!" There were some slight ruffling noises from behind the speaker and Misao could feel herself becoming annoyed.

"WHO is the main butler here! I am! Now let me do my job! Ahem, you may enter Ms. Makimachi." There was a small squeak from the iron gates opening and Misao suddenly regretted coming up the hill. She could only pray that she wasn't entering a 'Jurassic Park' or something or the other. Ocean blue eyes scanned the terrain for any signs of danger, a technique that she had learned in self defense class and was almost out of breath when she reached the front doorstep. Before a knock was even placed on the large mahogany door, it was hauled open and three forms came spilling out, each one grinning from ear to ear. The younger of the two women held her hand out for Misao and smiled sweetly.

"Welcome to Shinomori Estates. We hope you will enjoy your stay." There was a deep cough from behind and all three women's eyes darted towards the old man.

"Who's the butler, Omasu?" A deep crimson spread over Misao's cheeks as she replayed the words spoken by the maid. Stay? Misao just wanted to use a phone.

"I don't mean to intrude-"

"Nonsense! You are ALWAYS welcome here, Misao." A crooked smile was placed on Misao's lips as the butler wrapped a slender arm around her shoulders and guided her towards the lobby of the mansion. The usually shy wedding planner clasped her jacket into a tight hold around her thin frame. A deep voice surprised the small group and the butler turned around to face a masked man holding a stack of papers. Misao could feel a large knot forming in her throat when her sights turned towards the tall man. Why was he masked?

"Okina, what is it that you are doing?" The man he called Okina laughed nervously and lightly pushed Misao behind him.

"Why, Hannya… I'm just getting Master Shinomori's fiancée situated for tonight." There it was again; the flash of bright light and the sudden heat erupting throughout Misao's body.

"Fiancée! WHAT!"

A little sketchy, and not that descriptive, but give me time. This is my first RK fic let alone my first Misao and Aoshi romance.