The Unexpected Things

Chapter One: Return from Across the Seas

A girl with thick dark-blond hair dragged her mismatched luggage down the steps of the plane's exit stairway and into the large lobby. Her face emotionless, she peered down at the watch on her left wrist.

Looking around she sighed deeply. Then her face broke into a content -if excited- smile. She set off down the hallway at a brisk pace.

Finally, she was back.

~-:X:-~

"What! Why not? This isn't fair!"

"You're only a middle schooler Aoi, you can't work here. And besides, we only hire female staff. We've been over this."

"But I'm going to own this shop one day anyway and when I wear a wig and cute cloths no one can even tell I'm a guy! And what do you mean you only hire girls?" He pointed an accusing finger at Usui who returned it with a deadpan expression. "What about Usui! He's always here!"

The manager sighed and rubbed a spot between her eyebrows. Then Misaki piped up.

"He doesn't count because he's not human."

"But I'm the great Aoi-chan! Think of how many more customers you'd get if I work here. And I look so cute in this uniform too! And I-"

"That reminds me. Time to take it off. You snuck back here when I was dealing with that customer didn't you? Go change. Now." Manager snatched his blond wig off his head and held it just barely out of his reach, consequently leading him away from the staff room.

"Hey! Give that back! C'mon Satsuki-Chan!

Aoi's cries of protest faded away as the rest of the staff watched him vainly attempting to reclaim his treasure.

"He's full of energy today." Erika said laughing halfheartedly. The rest of the staff nodded in agreement.

-:X:-

"Stupid old hag." Aoi muttered under his breath, a slight pout evident on his face as he went back to fiercely concentrating on his sketch. Eventually he relaxed and allowed his gaze to wander around his room. His eyes fell on an old, familiar piece of paper that lay half in shadow on top of his dresser. Lazily he walked over to it and picked it up.

The pencil had become smudged with age and its surface was wrinkled.

Under normal circumstances he would have thrown it away long ago. The design was outdated and the drawing wasn't even that good. He would have -had the circumstances been normal- which they weren't. He drew this five years ago. Or more accurately, they drew it. But he hadn't seen her sense that time. They still talked. Occasionally. Over the phone, threw e-mail, sometimes threw letters. But it wasn't the same. He would never in a million years admit it, but he missed his friend. She was the first one after all, who had supported him. The first one who had made him feel proud.

He growled at his stupidity, rubbing his head furiously. He needed to snap out of this. What was wrong with him? Hadn't he stopped worrying about these types of things long ago? He was acting like such a stupid sap! Like some bad actor playing the role of a lovesick girl in a play that would ultimately fail.

He was about to set the paper back down but thought better of it.

Silently he walked back to his seat and pinned the familiar drawing to the billboard hanging just above the desk.

The only sound was the scribbling of a pencil and the ticking of a clock as the night went on.

-:X:-

Next morning...

The school bell rang and the classroom filled with students who half a minute previous could have been mistaken for zombies, but instantly sprang to attention at the sound of the bell. The classroom full of chatter, Aoi gathered up his stuff with a bored expression on his face.

A few guys standing by the door were talking in excited voices about a new student that would be arriving the day after the next. Aoi vaguely heard something along the lines of:

"...Thursday I think."

"It's a girl right? I hope she's cute!"

"I heard she's a return transfer student from America. You know what that means..."

"Tch. How stupid can you get?" Aoi mumbled just loudly enough for the group of boys to hear. Earning a host of dirty looks and quiet insults.

He didn't care. He was used to those and it wasn't like he cared what such idiotic people thought of him. Or about some dumb transfer student.

He walked out alone.

"Mmm. I guess I have some time before I have to get back home. I'll go hang out at Satsuki's store for a while." Nothing better to do. He thought dryly.

-:X:-

"Oh, Aoi-Chan!"The manager exclaimed brightly upon walking into the staff lounge to see a brooding Aoi in a male school uniform. "It's a good thing you're here! I was just about to call you!"

"Hm? Why?" Why is she suddenly so happy to see me? It's suspicious.

"There's a surprise for you." She chirped brightly. Then in a lower voice mumbled "It was kinda a surprise to me too but..."

She was interrupted as Misaki, Subaru, and Erika walking into the room.

"Umm, manager? There's someone here to-"

"Misaki-chi! You're wearing ugly cloths again! What about that dress I made you? Why aren't you wearing that!"

Misaki put her hands up in defense as Aoi jumped up from his chair and started lecturing her.

"Well I was just coming to work so I-"

"That's no excuse! Those cloths don't have the slightest trace of femininity! Where's your sense of pride!"

Misaki sweat dropped while everyone else tried to disappear into the background.

"A-aoi. That's-" She was cut off as a rapidly approaching something behind Aoi caught her attention. But he didn't notice and continued his tirade.

"Ughh!" Aoi crossed his arms. "You're all completely hopele-" He was abruptly cut off as he was totally enveloped by a hug from behind (via surprise pounce). His face instantly transformed into one of complete wide-eyed shock."Ahhh! What th-"

"AOI-CHAAAN!" His head snapped to the side to stare at his attacker.

And his eyes widened.

"W-what?"

"I've missed you so much Aoi-chan!"

"Mi-Minami-chan? How-?"

"I moved back here!"

"Heeeh?" Aoi disentangled her arms from his neck and stepped back, finally getting a good look at her. He was suddenly struck by a fact that the photos she had occasionally sent him had not conveyed: She was pretty. No, she was beautiful even. Her wavy, dirty-blond hair fell down to her waist and her large eyes were a familiar bright hazel color. She had gotten taller too. Though, he noticed with satisfaction, he was still the taller of the two.

"W-when did you get back? I thought you had to go live in the United States 'cause your dad's job got transferred there."

"I did. But my older sister graduated a few months ago then decided to move back here to get a doctors degree. So I came too!"

There was a moment of stunned silence. It was just like Minami to do something as impulsive as this. He had the urge to ask her if her parents knew she was here, but held it back. Instead he asked "So your sister's letting you live with her?"

"Well..." She stared to the left of his head, down at the ground, anywhere but his eyes. That was how you could always tell when something was up with Minami. She always looked you straight in the eyes when she was talking to you. Except when she was up to something.

"Minami. Your sister does know you're here right?"

"Of course she does!"

"And you're staying with her. Right?"

"Err. Not exactly. She's in collage so she's pretty low on cash right now, that's why she's been living in a dorm. And it's kinda illegal to stay there unless you're going to the collage. So...Yah. But it's okay!

'Cause Onee-chan is getting an apartment next year and she said I could stay with her then!"

He stared at her, his face one of total bafflement.

"...Minami. Just where were you planning on staying until then?"

"Some hotels probably." There was another stunned silence. Sensing the strained atmosphere Minami's responsible side made an appearance.

"It's okay. I have a lot of money saved up so I can afford it."

"Minami-chan. You can't stay at hotels for an entire year. That's just-"

Cough. "Umm. Minami-chan. If you don't have anywhere to go, you can stay with me if you want."

Aoi and Minami turned to the perky manger at the same time and Aoi came crashing back to earth. His face turned red as he realized he was still holding her hands from when he had unattached her from the surprise hug. It was probably the stray flower of moe drifting off Satsuki that gave it away.

Aoi coughed and tried to act casual, despising that his usual personal had slipped.

Really Oba-san! Thank you so much! I mean... if it's not too much trouble.

"Minami-chan, I've known you sense you were six years old. It's no trouble at all. And please don't call me Oba-san! It makes me feel old! She said waving her arms and pouting.

"Sorry Satsuki-kun. And really it is so good to see you again. Oh yah! And mom and dad say hi." She had said the word "Hi" in English. Satsuki smiled.

"Oh! Minami-chan this is Ayuzawa Misaki, Subaru, Erika, and- umm. Where's Hanoka-chan?... Ah! Anyway, they all work here at Maid-latte. And this is Hiyashina Minami. She was born here but had to move away five years ago because her father got relocated.~"

Minami turned to face the others and bowed politely.

"It's nice to meet all of you. Aoi talks about this place all the ti-" The rest of her words were cut off by Aoi's hand over her mouth.

"Shhhhh! Shut up Minami-chan!"

There was a muffled response.

Erika laughed and Subaru sweat dropped. "They seem to get along well."

"Oh yes! They've been friends sense they were little."

Minami had somehow managed to remove Aoi's hand and was suddenly right next to Satsuki, dragging a protesting Aoi behind her by the arm.

"Mm-hmm. We've been keeping contact over the years though. Mostly through e-mail."

"Really?..." Satsuki cocked her head and turned to look at Aoi, who blushed, scowled, and looked away.

"Hmm. Oh that's right! Minami-chan, where are you going to be going to school?"

Minami smiled. "Oh. I'm..."

-:X:-~

A/N: Hi people! Thanks for reading! You rock for that. But I won't know you read this story unless you review so REVIEW! This story is just a little idea I had while randomly watching the first "Aoi episode" of Maid-sama. I wanted to see what it would be like if Aoi had a very outgoing and genuine friend. Well those traits and a few others I won't give away until future chapters. ;) . Anyway, come to think of it it's a little weird that I made an Aoi fic sense Kanou is my favorite character. I mean I like Aoi too but it just sort of surprised me when I came up with the idea. But the thought just kept nagging and nagging me, so I had to write it. Thus this fan fiction was born! Hahaha. Okay, one last thing. Or two: Anyone who reviews gets mentioned in the next chapter. And also please read and review my other stories. Just go to my profile and look them up. Since I obviously have such wonderful taste in anime/books/movies/ ect. Just a little motivation. Thanks again for reading!