Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin.

A/N: I said that I'd update this story in Christmas breaks but I just couldn't resist…:P hope u guys like it…

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Kaoru had just gotten up. She stretched her body and took a shower. She emerged from the shower feeling fully refreshed. She head down for breakfast and saw her mother on the phone with someone. She got herself a bowl of cereal and poured cold milk on top of it. Her mother came to the room and sat down on the chair.

"Who was that?" Kaoru asked.

"Oh, it was Shinomori-san. He called to inform us that he and Aoshi will be visiting us this evening," she replied.

Kaoru nodded. So she was finally going to meet the man she must marry. She grimaced. She thought that she'd only see him on their engagement day. Now she began to feel nervous. She didn't want to meet him. It would mean that everything was not a horrid dream like she had convinced herself it was. She looked at her watch. It was 9 a.m. Misao should be up by now. She remembered the times she used to go and wake up Misao in the old days. She would always grumble and fall back asleep the moment she left and she would be always late for school. The teachers would sometimes excuse her because she was such a brilliant student but she had detention almost 3 times every week. I like to go to detentions. That is where I get to study in peace and quiet. Misao used to joke whenever she got another detention slip and Sano and Megumi used to tease her about it. Kaoru smiled at the memory. Then her mind wandered back to the current Misao, who felt like a stranger to her. She got up time to wake up miss sleepy head she thought and started to go up the stairs.

"Oh, Kaoru are you going up to wake Misao? She is not here. She left an hour ago for some business meeting,' Kaeri said.

Kaoru felt sad, waking Misao up was one of the most fun things she used to do in the past. Kaoru nodded and went to her room. Time to clean up and ready myself for a new life she said to herself as she reached for the nearest photo frame and to pull Kenshin's picture out. It was her favourite picture of him. It was taken at a festival in a nearby shrine. He was wearing a blue hakama and was looking away from the camera. She touched the picture. She just couldn't do it. In 2 weeks she was going to be Kaoru Shinomori not until then. She sighed. If only life would turn out the way she wanted it. She dialled Kenshin's number but slammed the phone down before the first ring. She collapsed on the bed. She looked at the headboard of the bed in which she had carved Kenshin and Kaoru Forever.

As her fingers traced the words, she wished that it was Kenshin she was going to marry not Aoshi Shinomori. Then her cell phone rang. She checked the number, it was Misao.

"Misao? Where have you been?" Kaoru asked.

"I can't tell you over the phone Kaoru. Can I meet you at the old dojo near Cherry Street in 15 minutes?" she asked.

"Yes, but why?"

"First you come. Then I will tell you. I am heading down the road myself see you in 15 minutes," she said and hung up. Kaoru was puzzled. She got up took her bokken in her hand and headed downstairs again.

"Mother, I am going outside for a while. I will be probably be back in time for lunch if not earlier," she shouted at the general direction of where she thought her mother was and went out. She too a deep breath in and looked around. Winter was almost past and spring had just begun to show its colours. The trees boasted of newly budding leaves and the warm march sun shone on her face. She began walking towards the old dojo that they used to practice in. She reached the dojo in 5 minutes and swung her bokken around. It was nice to be standing there with the bokken in her hands. She began to practice her katas. She was an assistant master of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu her mother's sword style which had been passed down to her. As she twirled around unleashing a fury of kicks and strikes she heard the door slide open.

"Oh you are here already?" she asked thinking that it was Misao. When she didn't receive any answer she turned to see Kenshin standing there leaning his body on the door frame, his amber eyes watching her. Kaoru was startled.

"Hello Koru-dono. What brings you here?" he asked.

Kaoru winced at the –dono attached at the end of her name. It had taken her 2 years to get him out of that habit. And now he was at it again. "Misao asked me to meet her here. I don't know why though," she replied.

"Same here," he said.

Tension filled the room as the two people in love waited for Misao to arrive. Kaoru fidgeted and checked her watch constantly whereas Kenshin stood at one end of the room and stared. Both let out a sigh of relief when they heard Misao's car pull up the curb. They both went to greet her.

"Good morning, Misao-dono, "Kenshin greeted her first.

Kaoru got straight to the point. "Misao why did you call us here?" she asked.

Misao gestured them to head inside the dojo. "I have some news for you both." she said.

Kenshin and Kaoru looked at each other's faces. 'I went to visit Aoshi Shinomori this morning,' she said.

"Misao! Why?" Kaoru asked.

"I put up a proposal in front of him," she said.

"And what is that?" Kenshin asked.

"I asked him to marry me," she replied earning a gasp from Kaoru and an oro from Kenshin.

"Misao, you didn't have to that for me. Please don't sacrifice yourself for my sake. I don't want you to suffer in my place. As the oldest daughter it is my duty to oblige to this marriage not yours," Kaoru shouted at her.

"Kaoru do you love Kenshin?" Misao questioned.

"Yes, but that is not the point! I will not let you take the fall for me!" she cried. Kenshin ran to comfort Kaoru. Kaoru started to sob. Misao went up to her older sister and rested her head on Kaoru's shoulders. Kaoru hugged her and started to bawl. Misao waited until Kaoru's sobs died down.

"Don't worry Kaoru. I have thought it out thoroughly. I am sorry that I couldn't come and help you out. It must have been hard trying to manage everything on your own since father passed away. But I was still mad at him for hiding the fact about my mother from me. Anyway that doesn't matter now. I am not marrying him just to save the family. I am…..don't know where to start…" she said.

"The beginning would be good," said Kenshin.

"Well after completing my studies I wanted to just get a good job and I was approached by Seiichi Sanada for a job in his company. I accepted eagerly but tings didn't work out as I wanted to. Then I remembered that one of my mother's ambitions was to establish her own company and I thought why not? I explained my idea to Okina a friend of mine and thus we started 5 years ago. We made unbelievable progress since we started 5 years ago. We had patented 4 of the drugs in the market that I was working on at my college years and they became very popular with the public. We became a small company within 2 years of our establishment. By our 3rd year we had begun to buy other smaller pharmaceutical companies in and around the vicinity. Then our most successful venture happened when we made a breakthrough in the field of genetics. After that we thought about establishing a lab to research and develop it even more. We decided to base on London because it had one of the best facilities. But Sanada Corporation saw our success and now it is trying to buy us out." She explained.

"I just thought you were a scientist at some corporation. I didn't know that you own one," Kenshin said and Kaoru nodded in agreement. Misao shrugged. "Anyway the Sanada's biggest rivals are the Shinomori Group and by marrying Aoshi Shinomori I am in a way preventing the take over," she replied. Kenshin and Kaoru looked at Misao stunned.

"Were you planning on this before you came to Japan?" Kenshin asked.

"No, i didn't know Kaoru was marrying him before i cane here. Besided Aoiya Corp. don't have to depend on the Shinomori's for support. We can fight it out with the Sanada's but it becomes easier if you have someone already established in the business backing you up. When I heard Kaoru crying the other night, I tried to figure out how much money I can spare from to company but we didn't come even close because all our money is tied up at the moment in the lab we are trying to make. But alliance with the Shinomori's give me an advantage because they are involved in the medical industry to some extent. It will open up new business avenues for Aoiya, thus more money. So it is basically the best way killing two birds with one stone I guess." She finished.

"Are you sure about that Misao? Don't you have anyone that you love? Spending an entire lifetime with the person you do not love is not easy…" Kenshin asked Misao.

She just smiled. "I had some one. I thought that we'd be together forever. How wrong I was. Seiichi didn't care about me he just wanted me to become his puppet and pave his way to the head of his father's company. After I refused to do his bidding he tried to hit me and take advantage of me but I was saved in time by Okina. Now I really don't believe in love. So whether I am in love with Aoshi Shinomori or not doesn't matter," she said.

"Oh, Misao…' Kaoru hugged her little sister.

"But I still don't have a concrete answer from the Shinomori's . Aoshi Shinomori says he will give his answer when he comes to the house this eve. So you two just don't get any ideas yet. He still might want to marry Kaoru,' Misao said watching Kenshin's eyes turn into amber.

"Though I can don't think he will turn me down. He won't if he is as business oriented as I think he is," Misao said that and stood and begin to leave.

"Misao, where are you going?' Kaoru asked.

"Back to the mansion, I have to inform Okina of the new developments and I am expecting some documents to arrive. It is imperative that I go through those today," she said and got into the car and left.

"Kenshin I am so worried about Misao," Kaoru sighed. Meanwhile Kenshin was thinking 'Seiichi…Seiichi Sanada?'

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Misao stretched her back. Those reports weren't the thing that she wanted to work on that day. Her brain was working over time. She had informed Okina about her proposal to Aoshi. He had thought that it was a good idea. Now it was almost 5 p.m. She got up and took a shower and dressed herself in casual jeans and t-shirt. She pulled her hair back into a simple braid. She looked at the clock. 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2…The door bell rang. She opened her door. She went out to the landing to hear Kaeri welcoming them inside. She looked at Kaoru's room and she emerged from her room as well. Kaoru came over and held her hand and then they walked downstairs together but with entirely different things in mind.

They were met at the bottom of the stairs by Akira Shinomori himself.

"Kaoru-chan how are you?" he asked.

"I am fine Shinomori-san. I hope you like our home?" she inquired.

"How could one not,' he replied back and turned his gaze at Misao and he smiled. Even in the most casual of dresses she could make her presence felt. She looked exactly like Yukiko except for the nose… she had Taka's nose.

'Misao?" he asked.

Misao came forward and bowed. "Hello Shinomori-san, Makimachi Misao, pleased to make your acquaintance," she replied smiling.

"No dear I am the one who is pleased to make your acquaintance. I used to know your mother very well. You are so much like her…but you have the Makimachi nose…' he chuckled.

"Oh so you are Uncle Akira…" she inquired. ' I have read a lot about mother's favourite uncle Akira who always used to buy her snow cones…" she replied. Akira smiled.

"So you found her journals…" he asked.

"Yes, Kaeri was good enough to give it to me," she said. The old man nodded and extended both his arms. Both the girls took an arm and headed inside the living room. Misao looked at Aoshi behind him and nodded her head in a greeting.

They all took their seats. The tension in the air was too much. Kaeri had already been informed about Misao's offer to the Shinomori's by Kaoru so that she wouldn't be surprised but still she was terrified.

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Aoshi's POV

Aoshi was standing outside the door of the Makimachi mansion with his grandfather and he rang the bell. The door was opened by Makimachi-san herself. She invited them inside. Aoshi was nervous. As he took off his shoes he heard light footsteps coming from above. He looked up and saw her coming down the stairs with her sister holding hands. He caught his breath. Even in jeans and a t-shirt with her hair pulled back into a braid she managed to astound him. He watched as she conversed with his grandfather about her mother. He smiled when she took his grandfather's arm and went inside, a little bit miffed that it was not his arm but obviously he wouldn't show that on his face. He started to walk behind them. Then Misao turned and looked at him and nodded. Aoshi immediately felt himself unconsciously smile. He nodded back.

They were ushered into the large living room. Akira cleared his throat. "Kaeri, Kaoru-chan this is my grandson Aoshi. I believe Misao met him this morning?" he asked. Misao smiled.

"Yes, he had the kind disposition to grant me an audience early this morning," she replied looking straight at him.

"The pleasure was all mine Miss Misao,' he replied.

"Misao, you may call me Misao," she said.

"Only if you call me Aoshi," he replied in turn. She nodded.

Kaeri and Akira were happily noticing this banter among the children. This might not be a bad match after all though they were not getting married for love they thought. Kaoru was also looking at the two of them. She didn't understand how Misao could flirt that way in front of the elders. Well Misao may be all right after all she thought. She liked Aoshi as soon as she saw him but of course she liked Kenshin a thousand times more. Speaking of which, Kenshin was in the kitchen waiting for the final decision. She excused herself from the room in the pretext of getting some tea for the company. She found Kenshin on his knees.

"Kenshin what are you doing?" she asked.

"ORO? I was praying…" he said. Kaoru laughed.

"How is the Shinomori's?" he asked.

"They are ok, I guess Aoshi Shinomori seems like a handsome fine young man…" she said.

Kenshin narrowed his eyes as they turned to amber. "…for Misao-chan of course," Kaoru added. Kenshin hugged Kaoru felt himself relax. Kaoru was his and he wouldn't let anyone come in between them.

"I have to go back with the tea," she said. Kenshin nodded and left. Kenshin got down on his knees and prayed some more to Kami-sama.

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Kaoru entered the room with a tray of tea and biscuits. Shinomori senior was engaged in a conversation with her mother while Misao was sitting opposite to Aoshi and they were talking about London and Misao's last visit there. She set down the tea tray and poured some cups and Misao helped her pass it to everyone.

Shinomori senior cleared his throat. "Thank you for the tea Kaoru. Now that everyone is here. I think my grandson would like to say something," he announced. Aoshi nodded. He went up to Kaoru and knelt before her.

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Kaoru was shocked. She didn't know what to do. Aoshi Shinomori was kneeling in front of her. All she wanted to do was turn back and run to Kenshin's arms. Goodbye Kenshin she said in her mind, tears forming in her eyes. Aoshi took her hand in his.

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Misao watched Aoshi Shinomori go up to Kaoru and kneel in front of him and she smiled. He is truly a gentleman she thought.

"Miss Kaoru I am sorry to have caused you great grief these past few weeks. My intention was not to force you in an arranged marriage. I also apologise for the tears that you have shed because of me. But I have come now to cause you even more pain by saying that I want to go back on the agreement my grandfather made with you and decline the offer to marry you. You are a nice person and I wish that you will forgive me from the bottom of my heart." Aoshi finished his little speech, smirking at the look of absolute horror and then confusion on Kaoru's face. Out of the corner of his eyes he was watching Misao smiling at his antics…she already knew…he thought.

Kaoru could do nothing but nod. She was caught between laughter and tears. She broke down. That sound made Kenshin rushing to the room. Kenshin froze at the scene before his eyes. Kaoru was in tears and the guy who was supposed to be Aoshi Shinomori was kneeling before her. All Kenshin wanted to do was grab the guy by his collar and nail him to the wall. As he moved forward he felt a hand stopping him. It was Misao smiling at him. He was confused. Then Kaoru came rushing into his arms and hugged him and started crying. 'Kenshin I am so relived..." she said.

"ORO?" he said causing Shinomori senior to break out into laughter.

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Misao led them both out of the room and explained everything to Kenshin while Kaoru composed herself. Then they headed back to the room.

"Ok, so now that is out of the way. Didn't you have something else to say?" Akira asked his grandson. Aoshi nodded and made his way to Misao. He took her hand in his.

"I think I owe you an answer to the question that you asked me this morning." He said.

Misao nodded.

"Although it's not for right reasons like most normal couples. Yes, Misao Makimachi I will marry you," he said and kissed her hands. Misao looked at him and smiled.

"Aoshi, whoever said that we were normal?" she asked with a serious face.

Akira Shinomori burst into laughter for the fourth time that day.

TBC…