-1Summary: Rules of Attraction's spin off. Misao found herself in an awkward situation with an arrogant guy. What a shock to find that he is the new chemistry teacher. AM

Chapter 7

Aoshi's here. Good. If he hasn't showed up I'll kill him the next time we met at school. He's looking great, in his casual blue denims and black polo tee. Different from his usual attire. He's leaning against a tree. The trench coat he's always wearing is haphazardly draped on one of the lower branches of the tree. He's looking sullen, and smoking like there's no tomorrow, smoke is coming out of him like he's a freaking chimney.

That got a frown out of me. I didn't know that he's a heavy smoker. But then again, I don't know much about him to start with.

"What are you doing here; Jiiya's waiting for you inside." I said as I stood next to him, eyeing him carefully.

"I need something to calm me down," he said after a while.

Calm himself down? He's nervous about meeting Jiiya? I looked at him, and I could see by the subtle tightness at his jaw and the small tapping of his right leg he is a bit nervous.

"There's nothing to be afraid of," I said, and leaned on the tree trunk just next to him, looking up to look at the midnight sky. A full moon and thousand of stars are scattered on the sky. Beautiful night. Being with him, just the two of us, it made me feel ecstatic. I could be like this forever and I could not ask for more.

"There's a lot of things to be afraid of, and Jiiya's one of them," he said quietly. I giggled automatically, and clamped my hands on my lips to stop myself. I never knew he's afraid of Jiiya. He looks all tough but he's intimidated by Jiiya. Funny thing.

He took the cigarette from his lips and gives a small tug on it, letting the ashes fall down on the ground. Looking at that little motion I found my eyes gravitate at a small scar on his hands. A slash right in the middle of the back of his hands. I was about to ask where did he get it, but I stopped myself. I'm afraid it's a scar from the accident that happened back then.

He noticed my scrutiny and smiled his usual small subtle smile.

"I guess you have forgotten how I got this beautiful mark on my hands," he told me.

"Eh?" That surprised me.

"It happened here, under this very tree," he pointed upwards.

I looked up. For as long as I can remember, this huge tree has always been here. It's about three story's high, one story's taller than Aoiya. If you want to go on a midnight rendezvous without Jiiya's knowledge, you can always use this tree to climb down. Works like an emergency stairway for Aoiya inhabitants. I always used it to sneak out while I was dating Yahiko back then.

"Did you fall from this tree?" I asked, very curious.

"Yeah, thanks to you,"

"Me?"

"It was a windy day, and I caught you trying to climb this tree, trying to place back a baby bird back into it's nest. I couldn't let you do that, it's too dangerous, so I offered myself to help. After I have successfully placed back the bird into the nest a gust of wind blow me off balanced and I fell to the ground. I guessed some twig scratched my hand when I was falling down, resulting in this," he explained, rubbing the scar softly.

"I landed right about here," he pointed to a spot near his feet.

Ouch. I guess the nest is not very high up if he survived the fall. How come I've forgotten all about it? All these memories of us. Memories that he kept in his mind after all this time.

"Sorry," I murmured .He shrugged.

"You have said enough sorry's back then. You bandaged my hands with your favorite handkerchief, and run screaming for Jiiya's help."

"I did?" I could just picture the scene right in my head. Him lying helpless on the ground, and I'll be screaming on top of my lungs and running faster than the speed of light for help.

"I haven't returned that handkerchief back. I used to have it in my possession, but I've lost it. I'll buy you a new one later," he said.

The handkerchief? It's safe to assume it's the one that he left that night during our first encounter. Oh, he doesn't realize that it's in my possession now. I hid it under my pillow, like a precious talisman.

"Oh no, you don't have to." I said.

"Oh,"he said, looking a tad bit disappointed.

"Anyways, are you ready to come inside? It's not best to keep him waiting," I said, changing the subject. He nodded and took his coat off the branches. I started to move, but suddenly I felt a light touch on my arms. I looked down to see him holding my right arm in a light grip. I raised my gaze up and tilted my head, quizzically searching for answers on his unreadable face. He looked straight ahead with a determined look in his eyes.

"Let's go," He said, tugging my arms lightly and he begin leading the way towards the entrance. My feet's moving on it's own accords, following his steps automatically, mechanically. My thought are buzzing, buzzing with questions, my stomach's churning and my eyes boring on him, trying to understand, trying to translate his actions into what's he's thinking, because I can't read his eyes at all.

Why? Why did he take my hands in his? Why did he do it? Is it possible? My heart thumped wildly. Is it even possible for me to dream that it's true? Is there any chance that he liked me too?

"Hey, come on, how on earth a man like him would like a girl like me? And don't forget, he probably thought of you as his little sister anyways. He would never have any romantic interest in you, not in a trillion years, girl," demons in my head are whispering, poisoning my thoughts. I shook my head violently to silence their chatter.

Kaoru's words came to me. The easy way or the hard way. I can hold on to this feeling I have for him, and pursue it, or I'll just give it up to pursue another romantic interest to take him off my mind.

"Yes, that's it. There are thousands of other hot men aside from him. Others that is not so complicated. Why complicate things? People said that blood is thicker that water, and even though you guys are not blood related, you two are considered to be family. Why ruin the beautiful relationship? Don't be greedy. Why wish for more?" the demons whispered in my head.

Why? Good question.

Because I like him. A lot. There's no particular reason why, there's no good explanation for it, it just happened without my approval, in a blink of an eye he captured my heart. When I like him, I developed this uncontrollable desire to be near him.

Is that love?

"There you are." Jiiya's loud voice reverberates throughout the dining hall and shook me out of my reverie. I wiggled my arms out of his grip immediately, and he threw a weird look at me before greeting Jiiya. He held out his hands in front of Jiiya, and Jiiya gripped it tightly before enveloping him into a tight bear hug. That shook Aoshi for a second but he composed himself before returning the hug with an affectionate pat on Jiiya's back.

All of us are seated around the low table with the charcoal grill in the middle of the table, sitting on the cushions, with Jiiya and Aoshi chattering away. Well, to be exact, Jiiya's the one who's doing most of the chattering, while Aoshi is as quiet as usual, answering only when Jiiya prodded him. My mind drifted away, and I ate mechanically, not paying attention at all to what's I've been shoving inside my mouth.

The sudden burst of greasy fume as Jiiya laid down a hefty amount of black pepper marinated beef on the grill, making the grill crackle, burst through my bubble and shove me back into the real world. I shook my head to clear me out of my reverie and started to listen to their conversation.

"So, where are you staying now?" Jiiya asked, turning over a piece of corn on the cob, letting the fire burn the corn.

"Oh, I'm staying with a friend of mine, the house just 5 minute's away from the school" Aoshi answered casually. He took a sip of the green tea from his cup.

"Oh, just the both of you living inside that house?"

"Yes,"

"What's his name? Your housemate I mean. " Jiiya asked, curiosity lit his face.

"Erm, my house mate is not a he,"

"Eh?"

"My house mate is a she," Aoshi said, and casually stuffed a grilled fish fillet into his mouth.

That made Jiiya stopped eating and both me and Jiiya choked on our grilled chicken at the same time. Synchronized choking. Aoshi immediately slapped both of our backs with both of his hands and I managed to dislodge the meat from my throat and it landed splat on the table. I wiped it off, embarrassed.

He's living with women? He got a girlfriend? And they are living together? No way. I'm getting dizzy with the thought.

"So you're living together now?"Jiiya asked carefully, trying to look casual as he gulped down his drink to drown down his shock.

"Oh, don't get me wrong. She's just an old friend. I'm not dating anyone right now. I just got back into town and she kindly offered a room for me. I accepted it because it's very near to where I'm teaching right now."

"Oh, is that so," Jiiya exclaimed, rubbing his moustache in deep thought as his head processed the information.

However, I wasn't that happy to know that particular fact. Who is Aoshi's housemate? Old friends? Who is she?

I wasn't going to be the one who will ask that particular question, so I stared at Jiiya, trying to mentally project my desire to ask that particular question to him, so he would be the one who asked Aoshi about it instead of myself.

Jiiya's not that perceptive, and he continued chatting away with Aoshi, changing the topic to Aoshi's career instead. I grind my teeth in frustration and I violently took a grilled chicken piece and shoved it into my mouth, chewing it wildly.

"Anyway, how's Misao's grade?" Jiiya asked eagerly. I choked on that piece of fish and glared at Jiiya. What with that question? Argh! I screamed, mentally.

"Misao's an average student, looking through the records. But she seems a little bit weak in calculus and also chemistry." Aoshi answered mechanically.

Oh great, please spill all my academic records that I've been trying so hard to conceal from Jiiya. I squirmed nervously.

"Oh, really. And Chemistry is your subject isn't it. Perhaps you could give her some private tutoring to improve her grades."Jiiya suggested.

"That's a good idea, since her last test she scored an E,"Aoshi said while turning over a piece of chicken on the grill with his chopsticks.

"An E??!??" Jiiya exclaimed, face red, steam blowing from his ears, moustaches standing up straight.

He turned his head slowly to look at me in the eyes. I cowered under Jiiya's gaze. That's it. Jiiya's going to kill me later. Owh why does Aoshi have to be so honest with Jiiya. It wouldn't be that hard to hide that teeny little fact from Jiiya. I glared at Aoshi. He seemed oblivious to my vicious stares, chewing on his meal calmly. He took some half burnt bulgogi chicken and placed them in his bowl of rice.

"Here, have some," I said, gritting my teeth while smiling so widely, and placed some kimchi in his bowl of rice. He took his chopsticks and ate those calmly. Suddenly he stopped and involuntarily inhaled loudly. Hahaha, I mentally rubbed my hands together and laughed gleefully. Those kimchi's are a specialty of Aoiya's and they are super hot. Hotter that average. Ha, that's for tattling to Jiiya about my grades.

He took his cup and sipped his green tea casually, he looked calm but I could see beads of sweat forming on his forehead. I bet that kimchi burned a hole in his tongue. Even I don't eat those, they are way too hot. He placed down his drink and continued eating. While eating he's throwing daggers with his eyes at me. I did my most innocent facial expression and grinned to him.

He took a piece of beef from the grill and placed it in my bowl. I stared at it suspiciously, and shrugged. Looks okay. I hastily took a bite out of it and nearly choked. That particular meat is well cooked on the visible side, but on the other side it's burnt black. It tasted like charcoal. I feel his eyes on me and I forced a smile to him.

I'll get back to him! Even if it's the last thing I do.

"I have an idea," Jiiya burst out suddenly.

"Eh?" I said, surprised.

"How about you move out from your current residence," Jiiya said, turning to grasp both of Aoshi's hand. He backed away slightly and looked at Jiiya suspiciously.

"Move out?" Aoshi echoed Jiiya's words.

"Yes, and move in with us. Here, at Aoiya. "Jiiya nodded.

"Eh?" I burst out loud. Oh no, another of Jiiya's crazy plan. No way Aoshi would agree, after all he already got place to stay. Jiiya continued.

"You can have your old bedroom, we cleaned it every now and then, but we haven't moved your stuff out. I guess that I hoped that you'll return home one day-"

"Ok," Aoshi replied simply.

"What?? Wa…wait!" I spluttered.

How come he said yes that easily? Without thinking it over? Why! I stared at both of them, but they ignored me. Insane, both of them are out of their mind!!

To be continued…

To be continued…

And thanks to…

Adelaide MacGregor

Thanks. Working to improve my grammar right away.

Fresco

Whoot! I'm jumping with you too.

Ai-so

I know. I've been busy with school and exams too. Glad to know you're not disappointed!

dragondemoness91

Updating! Haha

aRi-16-08

Thanks a lot. flutter

Hieigirl17

That's totally not me. I just roll on the floor screaming. Hehe

R.Kay

Never know that some people thinks blaming themselves are cute. :P

s-makn

Yeah Misao, count yourself lucky!