NOTE: I know I promised to have this out yesterday, but I could not access the internet. It kept on telling me that it couldn't find the server. So here it is. I didn't change a thing from when I went to upload it yesterday so it still has yesterday's date on it and everything. Happy reading.
midnight song
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin.
Chapter nine and I'm actually getting it out when I say I will. That's a major improvement. Usually, I'm late getting chapters out. Of course, if my parents actually didn't obsess over only letting me on the computer for half an hour a day, I would probably get a lot more done. That and I'd probably be dating this one guy instead of just talking to him from time to time. Urgh...stupid parents. At least, during summer, I can be on any time I'm home throughout the day though I don't get stuff done. Too bad. It all boils down to being their fault.
Anyway, on to happier thoughts. School starts Monday. Okay, so that's not particularly happy either. I got new jeans. That's happy. Only one pair, but, hey, now I have to pairs of jeans and I don't have to live in one pair constantly. Nothing else happy, except for my skiing adventure that was on the 5th. I can water ski! And I got up on my first try ever! Oh, and I get to go on the 22nd, if not skiing then tubing. This ROCKS! lol
Please, read on and enjoy. This chapter picks up directly at the end of the previous chapter. If necessary, go read or re-read the ending. Thanks. I hope you'll leave a REVIEW!
midnight song
ps-the authors notes with the numbers system that I used in the last chapter still holds true. Read the author's notes at the beginning of the previous chapter if you don't remember.
8/15/04
"What?!"
Occupants of the bus turned to stare at Misao at her loud outburst.
::Hush, Misao! I know, and I'm sorry. Hajime and I were talking about you and Aoshi and she overheard us, mistaking him for your boyfriend.::
"First off, how do you know his name?" she hissed.
::Oh, Wolf's known him forever.::
"And if she's not getting into town until tonight, how did she manage to overhear you?"
::When we were on the phone, she suggested the dinner and asked if she should expect you to have a "male companion" or not. I covered the mouth piece with my hand when we discussed it, but my hand was not all the way over it.::
"Lovely."
::Look at it this way, she has no clue what he look like or what his name is. This way, it doesn't matter who you bring.::
"I'll figure something out. sigh I got to go. We're almost to my stop. Bye, Tokio."
::Bye, Misao. And don't worry too much, something will work out.::
Misao hung up her phone and placed it back into her purse. She got a firm grip on both bags, making sure she still had everything.
The bus screeched to a stop and Misao headed off.
Directly in front of her was Tokyo Blooms, her place of employment and her least favorite place in the world.
Stepping up to the glass door, she pushed it and entered, hearing the bell tinkle. Waving to her coworker at the desk, she aimed herself towards the back and the employee locker room.
Reaching the door, she stepped inside and headed for her locker. She opened the lock with her combination and the door swung open.
Misao placed her bag inside and her purse on the shelf. Tossing her tennis shoes she put on this morning in, she slipped on her white sandals with yellow flowers on them. Lastly, Misao retrieved her name tag and pinned it to her vest.
Misao clocked in and headed to the arrangements section of the store.
"Hey, Misao," Ayame said. Ayame was always at work half an hour before Misao. She was her best friend at work. Sometimes they would hang out outside of work, but there were more than just physical differences between Misao and the 5'7" blonde.
"Morning, Ayame. How many orders so far?" Misao questioned.
"Actually, as soon as I finish this arrangement," she said, nodding towards her current masterpiece of roses and baby's breath, "we're all caught up."
"Great!" Misao exclaimed, enthusiastic for once.
Just then, the telephone rang.
"Hello. Tokyo Blooms. This is Misao speaking. How can I help you?"
Misao took the order, filling out paper work for it.
"Thank you. Your arrangement should be ready by five o'clock this evening."
She began to gather supplies to fill the order. 'This is going to be a long day,' Misao thought.
The phone rang yet again in the arrangements department. Misao and Ayame were the only two in today and Misao had just left to go get more pink roses, so it was up to Ayame to answer the phone.
"Hello. Tokyo Blooms. How can I help you?" Ayame said, reaching for yet another new order form.
"Ayame? Good. It's Suzume." Suzume was in charge of the front desk and forwarding calls to the correct section.
"Look, Ayame, I think you might want to field this call."
"Okay, Suzume. Thanks."
888888Phone Call888888
"Hello. This is Ayame speaking."
::Hello. I was wondering if I could find out Makimachi Misao's work schedule today.:: 1
"Well, that certainly is an unusual request. May I ask as to why you are interested in such information?"
::Ms. Makimachi is a friend of mine.::
"Oh. And your name is?"
::Shinomori Aoshi.::
"Strange, I've never heard her mention you before."
::We became acquainted just recently. Look, I'd tell you to ask her, but I want to surprise her.::
"Look, Aoshi, I'll make you a deal. I will try to get you brought up in casual conversation. If she doesn't mention you by the end of her shift, I tell her about this phone call."
::Fair enough.::
"Misao starts at seven a.m. and gets off at three p.m."
::Thank you.::
"You're welcome. Have a nice day."
::Aa...::
888888End Phone Call888888
As Ayame hung up the phone, Misao finally made her return.
"Not another order!" she whined.
"No, it was just Suzume. So, Misao, not to change the subject, but what have you been up to. And why did you miss work yesterday?" Ayame asked.
"Oh, God," Misao sighed.
"That bad?"
"Pretty much. Sunday night, Megumi called late and I somehow ended up going clubbing with her and Kaoru. Then, they abandoned me when they saw their boyfriends. Later, this guy sat by me and we ended up leaving together......"
"What?!" Ayame interrupted her.
"Nothing happened. sigh We watched a movie, fell asleep on the couch, and had breakfast in the morning," Misao explained.
"Are you serious?" Ayame asked.
"Yeah," Misao replied.
"What was his name?"
"Aoshi."
"The rest of his name would be..." Ayame said, trailing off at the end.
"I'm not sure," Misao timidly spoke.
"That would be because?" Ayame angrily shot back.
"Because either I forgot or I never knew," spat Misao.
"Misao, do you know how stupid you are! You knew practically nothing about him, yet left with him anyway. Then, never even found out his entire name. The least you could have done was found out a last name instead of a first!" Ayame yelled. She knew she had to react how Misao would expect her to or Misao would realize something was up.
"I'm sorry! I know! And, I wish I did know his last name. It's not like I even meant for this to happen. All I was supposed to do was go out with the girls and go home so I could come to work. Instead, I got abandoned, met a stranger-who I happen to like- and missed a day of work!" Misao's voice rose to match Ayame's tone.
Hearing Misao, Ayame knew she had to back off. She already knew what she needed to and that's what really mattered.
Ayame's voice dropped as she said, "Sorry, I just worry about you, Misao. You and I both know Kaoru and Megumi worry even more."
"I know," Misao sighed. "But, you remember my cousin, Tokio, right?" At Ayame's nod, she continued. "She saw him last night and so did Wolf, her husband. The Wolf even knows him. She told me so on the phone this morning. If there was a good reason for me not to be around him, Wolf would have told Tokio. I promise."
"Okay, just be careful," Ayame relented.
"I will," promised Misao.
Finally, three o'clock came around. Misao stood in front of the manager's office, smoothing her clothes and fixing her hair. She wanted to look as good as possible to make a good impression.
Raising her hand, Misao reluctantly knocked on the door and heard a voice from inside tell her to enter. She placed a trembling hand on the doorknob and slowly opened the door.
"Misao, hello. Please, come in and have a seat."
Misao entered and sat in one of the leather chairs across from Mr. Gensai. "Hello, sir," she quietly voiced to him.
"Misao, I've known you a long time. Though I know Kina, you got this job on merit. It just helps that I know you. I am supposed to get a reason from you, but that can wait a few minutes. Hopefully, you do realize that the probation doesn't matter. We know everyone messes up sometimes. We are, after all, human. Now, as for your reason. Do you have anything to say?"
"There is no reason," Misao said, bowing her head.
"Do not worry, my dear. It will all turn out fine. Thank you for coming and have a good day," he said, dismissing her.
"You too and bye," Misao smiled at her Jay's old friend and got up.
Misao exited the office and took the few steps to the employee locker room.
Misao entered the locker room to find it unusually empty. 'I guess everyone would already be gone,' she considered as she opened her locker.
From her locker, Misao pulled her bag and purse to set them on the bench. Sitting down between the bags, Misao pulled off the sandals and stuck them back in the locker after removing her tennis shoes.
Misao untied the laces and put on the shoes. Pulling the laces tight, she quickly tied them. She grabbed both bags and closed the locker, locking it. Moving towards the door, she slung the bag over her shoulder and unpinned her name tag.
Misao replaced her name tag in its slot and clocked out for three o'clock.
Misao headed for the doors, walking straight through the store and out the glass door.
Deep in thought of how to find a way to Aoshi again, Misao didn't hear her name being called.
After five times of calling her, the person decided to get her attention another. Lengthening his strides, Aoshi quickly caught up to Misao and swept her up into his arms. Misao immediately went rigid until she realized who was holding her.
"Aoshi!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around his neck and hugging him.
"Hello," he sedately answered. He continued walking down the street with Misao in his arms, gathering strange looks from other pedestrians. "Are you busy right now?" he queried.
"No, I guess not. I was going to go to the dojo, but it can wait. Do you have something in mind?"
"A trip to the dojo? Aaaa. That sounds like a good idea. Only one stop first."
Wow. That was a long one, or at least it felt like it. I'm so surprised I got this done today! Yay! Um.........AN's. Well, I really felt like putting Dr. Gensai, Ayame, and Suzume in and that seems to work out okay. I hope I spelled the names right. Giving me a shout if I didn't. Yes, the next chapter is their trip to a dojo and maybe the rest of the afternoon/evening. We shall see. Again, depends on classes and how things go.
1-I don't believe I ever had them knowing each others' last names, so let's go with Misao's first and last names were on the paper with her number.
