I do not own Rurouni Kenshin.

Tanabata Madness

            July 7th, the day for happy lovers, the day for beautiful young women to receive gifts from handsome young men, and the day for a certain kunoichi to dress up in a kimono…

            "But, Okon!" Misao cried, "I don't want to dress up for Tanabata!  It's not like I'm trying to attract anyone…"

            "Of course you're trying to attract someone, Misao!  And we," Okon looked at Omasu knowingly, "are trying to make you look your best for anyone that decides to give you a gift.  No man in his right mind would not give you a gift… Well, once we're through with you.  Now come, try on this very pretty blue kimono!" Okon and Omasu finished in unison as they advanced on Misao, one holding the kimono and the other holding the obi.

            "Stop, you two!  It's not funny anymore!  No, I don't want to wear it.  No!!" Misao's cries became muffled as the two women armed with clothes attacked her.

Aoshi took a deep breath.  Today would be the day.  He stood up slowly from his meditating position in the temple and looked out the window.  The sky was a beautiful blue and birds were singing.  He was not prepared for this.  How was he going to do this?  He had never properly courted a woman and how was he supposed to ask for permission if he was the guardian?  He took another deep breath and glanced sideways from the corner of his eye at the neat package wrapped up next to him.  It was hardly the kind of gift to give a young woman.  Well, almost any young woman, unless that woman was Misao. 

'Misao.'  He finally admitted to himself that it was she whom he was attracted to.  Well, had been attracted to since… since forever.  He was going to give her a gift and ask to court her.  Maybe he should ask Okina?  He's quite close to her guardian, pretty much her grandfather, well that's what she called him anyway.

'Misao did not come to bring tea today,' he realized.  'Maybe she was expecting something and she didn't want to face me?  Didn't want to reject me and injure my pride?'  Aoshi's self confidence, or lack there of, was eating him up inside and destroying what confidence he did have left.  He sighed again and picked up the present, leaving the temple and approaching the Aoiya.

Aoshi approached Misao's with the suspicious, wrapped up box.  "I can do this," he said to himself as her walked over.  He abruptly stopped short of the door when he heard Misao arguing, teetering on the fine line between a raised voice and shouting.

            "Well, for your information, Okon and Omasu, I am not going to be accepting any gifts from anyone other than you-know-who, and I am quite sure he won't be giving me anything," Misao shouted huffily, her voice slightly hushed behind the shoji door.

            'Not accepting gifts from anyone other than "you-know-who"?' Aoshi was horrified.  He looked at the gift in his hand, suddenly sadly and pathetically wrapped by someone inexperienced, that someone being himself.  Misao, Okon, and Omasu begin bantering again, louder than before, giving Aoshi the opportunity to slink away.  Slink away right into Okina.

            "Aoshi-kun, what was it that you could do?" Okina asked, a sly grin on his face.

            "Nothing you need to worry about," was the short reply.

            "Oh?  Well, who is that gift for?  If I'm not mistaken, today is Tanabata."  Okina's grin was even wider now, fully exposing the missing teeth in his mouth.

            "It's not a gift."  Aoshi's vow to keep his face impassive was disappearing.  This old man really tried his patience.

            "Oh, I see."  Okina immediately backed off, seeing as how Aoshi was quickly losing his composure.  "We'll talk more, but for now, I need to give out some of my own gifts."  Okina held up a large basket filled with tiny boxes wrapped in gaudy pink bows.  He grinned and rushed outside.  Shrieks were immediately heard such as "Ahh!  Run away!" or "Get away from me!"

            Aoshi shook his head.  'Lecherous old man.'  Aoshi's thoughts turned back to his previous problem.  Who was this man that Misao spoke of?  If this man did indeed come by to give Misao a gift, what would Aoshi do to him?  How would Aoshi deal with this intruder?  And what would he do with the gift he was planning to give Misao?  Aoshi sighed and walked towards the kitchen where he immediately ran into Shiro and Kuro furiously baking.  Aoshi only gave them each a questioning look and they smiled with sheepish grins.             

            "Well, Aoshi-san, we were thinking about baking some cakes for… for…" Kuro began nervously.

            "For…?" Aoshi replied.

            "For some girls we like…" Shiro finished.

            "I see."

            "Could you give us a few tips on wooing the fairer sex, Aoshi-sama?" Kuro asked hesitantly, expecting a refusal.

            "I don't really know that much," was the answer, which completely contradicted Aoshi's good looks and style. ^_^

            "Oh."  Both Kuro and Shiro looked dejected and turned back to the pitiable looking cakes that sat on the counter.  Although they ran a restaurant, apparently it was the women that did the cooking, and Okon, Omasu, and Misao were nowhere to be found.

            Aoshi left the two in the kitchen and walked towards Okina's garden.  'Finally.  A place where I can think.'  Aoshi didn't want to think about his problem though.  The very day he decided to confess his undying love to Misao was the day he discovered that there was another.

            The bright morning sun hurt Aoshi's eyes.  The verdant garden was overflowing with healthy plants and had a small stream meandering through.  Aoshi approached his favorite spot in the garden – a tiny wooden bridge that arched over the stream.  As he got closer, he noted that there was someone standing on it.  Someone dressed in a blue kimono.  Apparently, it wasn't only his favorite spot.

            He instantly turned around when he saw the bright colors of the clothing.  He wanted to be alone.  He began quickly walking away when he heard, "Aoshi-sama?"

            He turned back around, facing the bridge, but refusing to meet Misao's eyes.  "Hai?" he said rushed, looking at a suddenly very interesting bonsai tree.  He tried as best as he could to hide the present behind his back.

            Silence.  A very, very awkward silence.  "Is this your favorite area in the garden too?" Misao asked quietly, afraid to break the silence, even though they both wanted it broken. 

            "Hai."  Misao sighed.  Aoshi sighed.  'This is not good,' Aoshi thought unhappily.  He stole a glance at Misao and she looked just as uncomfortable.  Misao twiddled her thumbs and looked up at Aoshi, only to find him staring intently at her.  Her eyes widened and she blushed prettily. 

            "Aoshi-sama," Misao said shyly as she began to step off the bridge, "would you like to go for a…"  Misao stumbled as she spoke, tripping off the bridge, only to fall into Aoshi's outstretched arms.  The gift for Misao was forgotten once Aoshi dropped it to catch her.

            Aoshi held Misao in his arms while he looked at her.  A few minutes felt like an eternity.  She kept her eyes shut, not believing that this was happening, while he continued to hold her tight as if he was still trying to catch her.

Misao opened her eyes slowly.  "Aoshi-sama…" she breathed, staring into his blue eyes, his raven hair falling into his face.  Misao smiled up at Aoshi.

            "Misao…" he whispered hoarsely.  'This is not happening,' he thought. 

Someone cleared their throat impatiently and both Aoshi and Misao turned to look at the Oniwaban staring, all of them wide-eyed except for Okina.  Misao sprang up out of Aoshi's arms, blushing deeply and peeked at Aoshi.  He was also blushing for holding Misao so intimately, his blush ever so slight and almost unnoticeable.  She grinned. 

"J-Jiya!" Misao stuttered as she pretended to wipe off some invisible dust on her cerulean kimono.

"What, exactly, is going on out here?" Okina asked,  "If I didn't know any better I would say that…"

"Jiya!" Misao said sternly, "Nothing was going on.  Nothing!" She added with emphasis.

"Excuse me."  Aoshi walked away from the group and went straight to the temple.  He sat down angrily and tried to meditate.  The day could not possibly get any worse and it had barely begun.  He tried to rationalize everything.  Holding Misao – good.  Seeing her in a kimono – also good.  Having all his plans ruined – bad.  Finding out that there's someone else in Misao's life – extremely bad.

He tried to sit peaceably for a few minutes, and succeeded, until he realized that he had dropped his present for Misao in the garden.

A/N:  Well, I started another story.  If any of you have read 'Fragmented Dreams,' I have a serious writer's block and am stuck for the moment.  I really wanted to write a humorous Aoshi/Misao story, so here it is.  I hope you liked it!  Oh, and I hope that I got all the facts right about Tanabata, but please correct me if I'm wrong.  Also, I am aware that Tanabata is celebrated on July 7th as well as August 7th in different parts of Japan. ^_^ Please review!