Author's Notes:

Taking a small departure from Blue Paradise and Duet is this lovely little two parter just in time for Valentine's Day.

Don't worry though loyal fans, I started working on 'Duet' chapter 2 earlier in the evening, and I know basically what's going to happen in Blue Paradise chapter 9.

Anyway, here's the fic.

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MISS AMOROUS

by Silver Miko

I look to my left, there's Kaoru-chan giggling softly into the phone and murmuring to her boyfriend Himura Kenshin, who I just call Himura. They had been dating for like what? A year and half. I think they should just get married already because they obviously love each other and are perfect for each other.

One year older than me, I remember meeting Kamiya Kaoru back when I lived in Kyoto when I was six and she was seven. She had been visiting with her father, who was friends with my grandfather. I would see her a lot during her visits and visits Jiya and I took to Tokyo. We became friends easily and now we were best friends.

After high school I moved to Tokyo, since I got accepted to Toudai where Kaoru-chan was studying. She studied business whereas I decided to study history. We were both the 'Shining Stars of the Kendo Club'. She ended up taking over the Kamiya Dojo and turning it into a successful school of the Kamiya Kasshin style.

As for me, I tutored high school students for a while and also tought kenpo at Kaoru-chan's dojo. I guess I still can't figure out what to do. Jiya's been hinting at maybe branching his restaurant, the Aoiya, out into Tokyo and letting me run it. I'm not sure.

I'm only twenty-three.

I think the truth is that Jiya misses me and wants me to come home since when he died the Aoiya becomes mine through inheritance, but also because he misses me, his pretty Misao.

I miss Jiya too, and Okon, Omasu, Shiro, and Kuro. The staff of the Aoiya and my adoptive family of sorts.

I know Jiya's not my biological grandfather, but he's the closest thing to a parent I've ever had after my grandfather and parents died.

Ah well, as if life wasn't depressing enough.

"Misao-chan, I know you're not into the it, but really should come out with us tomorrow night! It'll be fun!" Kaoru-chan said, giving me a slight pout.

I'm not Himura, Kaoru-chan. Pouting doesn't work on me!!

"I don't think so. I think I'm just going to sleep in, eat ice cream, and watch anime." I murmured, resting my chin in my hand as I trace my finger over the rim of my half-empty Coca-Cola glass.

I'm truly addicted to caffeine, and it probably factors to my random bouts of insanity. But right now I feel less than chipper for tomorrow is the most evil day of the year.

The ever obnoxious, ever irritating, fricking evil...

Valentine's Day.

I've been told so many things in response to my dislike of the day.

'Oh you'll find somebody to change your mind.'

'Oh it's cuz you don't have a boyfriend.'

'Oh how can you hate it?'



I can and I do and even if I had a boyfriend by some odd chance I probably would still detest the day and wish to use that chubby naked baby bastard for dart practice.

Now here's Kaoru-chan trying to convince me to go out with her and Himura and some of our friends tomorrow night as a supposed "group" thing.

Riiiiiight.

I can see it now.

Himura and Kaoru-chan will total sugar cubes, Rooster Head and Megumi-san will argue/flirt and I'll be like the fifth wheel. Unless Yahiko shows up, but he's so hung up on Tsubame and mopes because he just can't grow a pair of balls and ask the girl out. Honestly, and he wonders why he gets nowhere.

Besides, the kid gets on my nerved 85% of the time anyway.

But then again, I'd rather hang with him than the asshole with Bastard Yellow Eyes, Saitoh Hajime. To say he was a friend of Himura was VASTLY stretching it.

He was like a rash you couldn't get rid of.

He liked to pop up un-announced and annoy the hell out of everyone randomly, smoking and trashing on me or Rooster.

One day I hope he runs out of cigarettes and soba noodles.

But anyways, to get back on track.

My name is Makimachi Misao, I'm twenty-three, and I HATE HATE HATE Valentine's Day.

Now excuse me while I finish my Coca-cola and try to get Koaru-chan off my ass.

**********************************

Okay, it's six pm, February 13th, Friday the 13th and oddly enough it's been a good day. Ah, the bastard calm before the storm.

Kaoru-chan left my side around four to get back to the dojo so I had wandered around Ginza and wound up in a music store called 'The Blue Note'.

I had bag containing some jeans and couple tee-shirts in my left hand and my right brushed over CDs as I casually looked over some titles.

One CD caught my eye, a Buck-Tick album that was hard to find. I went to reach for it and at the same time a large hand clashed with mine for the CD.

Slightly irritated I looked up to the owner of the offensive large hand and found myself staring into the most amazing ice blue eyes ever.

What's more was I had to crane my neck up slightly to see them.

This wasn't too uncommon as I'm only five-foot-one, but this guy had to be over six feet tall.

Not that I minded, I'm a sucker for tall guys strangely enough.

"Did you want this?" he asked, his voice like velvet and steel wrapped into one. It gave me chills, in a good way.

"Um, yeah, that is unless you wanted to look at it." I replied, brushing a blue-black section of bangs out of my eyes.

He shook his head slightly, backing off.

"That's okay. I think I have that one anyway." he murmured, turning his gaze at other CDs.

Aside from being tall he was muscular, but not too much. He had black hair with long bangs that fell into eyes and dammit, was that sexy. He wore black jeans and long sleeved black shirt.

It occurs to me that I've been staring at him so I quickly turned my gaze back to the CD in my hand. Looking over the track list I smiled noting that 'Rakuen' was on the CD.

I loved that song. Good beat!

Trying my best to be subtle I notice Mr. Tall, Dark, and Yummy-liscous was leaving. Dammit. Maybe I should of given him my number, but I'm not the type to do that. Maybe it's spineless, but somethings I think the guy should do the asking. How very modern of me.

Oh well, at least I have my CD.

One credit card swipe later I was the pround owner of a Buck Tick CD.

Okay, now was time to head back to my little apartment to prepare for tomorrow.

Now where's that subway card, aha! Here it is!

Hmm...I should get it renewed soon.

Heading down to the subway I let out a relieved sigh. It wasn't as crowded as usual which was good cause nothing was more irritating than being crammed between people. Especially perverts who try to feel me up. A couple swift kicks solve that problem quite nicely.

I hear the sound of the train and yawn lightly.

Shit, I'm tired. Now is where I go over my day.

Woke up at 10 am, had vanilla chai and a cinammon raisin bagel.

Called Kaoru-chan to go see 'The Last Samurai' and met her at 12.

Had late lunch at Akabeko, beef stew and four Cokes. Tae-san is so generous with re-fills.

Shopped in Ginza, met random bishounen in music store.

Now wait for train, go home, eat dinner, get assorted snack food for tomorrow ready and all black outfit, go on-line, go to bed.

Such an eventful life I lead. That's me, Action Makimachi.

Meet my friend sarcasm. Say hello Sarcasm.



Home sweet home, I mused as I walked into my small one bedroom apartment. I painted in lavender and my furniture has an old school feel as it's modeled after furniture from the early Meiji Era. I suppose it's old fashioned, but my family was a ninja clan back in the day. I think my great-great-great grandfather or something was the last okashira of the Oniwabanshuu, the most elite ninja group of Japan.

Actually I was named after the original Makimachi Misao who was the last okashira's grand daughter. Supposedly I look just like her.

Ah well, enough of that. So I suppose I should explain why I hate Valentine's Day so much.

Every have a day when everything just plain sucks and you have the worst luck and it feels like everyone's rubbing it in your face.

Like sands in the hour glass, so is the day of February 14th.

Aside from that it could be that I have no one. I've never really been in love. I've had some crushes and flirtations, but never the real thing.

I see how happy Kaoru-chan is and I'm glad she's happy but sometimes I can't help but envy her.

Dammit.

I think I'll have some ice cream now I'm getting all blue. Maybe I'll check my e-mail, but so help me if I get Love Day Spam I'm going to kick something. Hard.

************

Here it is, let the misery commence.

Valentine's Day.

Die Cupid! Die!!!!!

I glance at my alarm clock with sleepy eyes. It's 9 am, an hour earlier than I usually awake. Crap, that means I only slept for like five hours.

Stupid addictive message boards.

It's not that I have to work today, but once I'm awake I'm awake. And it sucks BIG TIME sometimes.

Time for caffeine! My precious fuel!! Vitamin Water!

Stumbling into the kitchen I open my fridge looking for the familar white and yellow label.

Nothing.

Furrowing my eyebrows and I start searching through the shelves, behind the take-out and Country Crock and pasta sauce and various A-1 and Teriyaki sauce bottles.

No Vitamin Water.

No caffeine.

"GOD DAMMITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!" I cried out in frustration.

Now before it's asked, I don't drink coffee because it upsets my stomach. I like to start the day off with Fresh Tasting Caffeination. Vitamin Water.

Which I was out of.

Now I have to make a dash to the store around the corner.

I look down at my attire.

Sky blue velveteen pajama pants and a white tee-shirt with a cute chibi green turtle on it.

Dorky yes, but suitable for the store.

Slipping on my sneakers I grab my apartment keys and wallet sighing.

The last thing I wanted to do was go out in this cold ass weather.

But caffeine is a NECCESSITY!!!!

Shrugging on my coat I head out hopeing to avoid all traces of red and pink hearts and bastardly happy cherubs.

Misamorous.

I think that described my mood perfectly today. It's probably not a real world, but hey, doesn't stop most people anyway.

So that's perfect.

I'm misamorous.

Here's to the start of another crappy Valentine's.

****

End of part 1



This story comes from my personal dislike for Valentine's Day. I've never really cared for it and maybe it's because I don't have a boyfriend and I'm reminded of all the guys I've liked who never felt the same. I usually just veg out with anime and ice cream but noooo. Not this year.

I gotta work 1-10 at the store I work at. 1-7 up front then 8-10 in floral.

It wasn't until two hours ago on the way home from the mall that I decided to write this. Originally it was going to be a one-shot, but I'm too tired to finish so I'm splitting it up into two parts.

Okay, obviously the guy in the music store is Aoshi! Who else do I describe so sexily.

Don't worry dear readers, they WILL be meeting again and maybe just maybe Aoshi-sama can change her point of view. Or at least give her something to smile about.

The 'Blue Note' is a little Days of Our Lives injoke. It's not relevant to this fic, but I thought I'd toss it in.

Once more I put Buck-Tick in here. I can't help it they're AWESOME!!!!!



Keep a lookout for part two where maybe just maybe Misao will be less bitter.

Later!