Author's Note: Hi guys, next chapter's up! Anyways, hope you're enjoying so far… if you have anything to say, just review… hahaha… ok, onto the next chapter!

Chapter 10: The Invitation

"AAAH! Aoshi! G-gomen!" Misao quickly pulled back and apologized, blushing. Aoshi, however, just stood there and stared at her, confused. After a while, Misao pulled him to the side. "Ano… what's wrong? Do you feel bad or something? Did you get hurt? Does your head ache? Did you cut yourself or something? Did you fall down? Are you okay?" Misao said all in one breath, obviously worried about him. Aoshi chuckled and smiled softly, touched by how she cares. "No… just came to see how you're doing" he said. Misao blushed at his words. "Thank you, I'm fine now… what happened while I was away?" she asked. Aoshi stiffened, remembering the game, but shrugged it off. "Uh… nothing much…" was all he said. And the two headed to their classrooms. So their lessons went on and on and on… until finally, RINNGG! The school day was officially over. The gang met up in front of the school's main entrance. "What do we do? I'm really bored…" Enishi stated. "Ah! Why don't we go karaoke? Ne? Ne?" Misao cheerfully exclaimed. "Eto.." Enishi said while sweatdropping. "Yeah!" everyone agreed. Everyone that is, except for… "I won't be able to go…" Aoshi coolly said. Everyone stared at him, faces asking for an explanation. "EH! Doushite?" Misao exclaimed, crestfallen. "I've got… something to do…" Aoshi replied. "Oh… okay…" Misao said, obviously disappointed. "You guys… have fun then… ja…" Aoshi said, turning his heel and exited the school. Misao sighed deeply and all the energy she had earlier disappeared. Aoshi stole one last look at Misao and sighed deeply. 'Oh great… I just made her sad…' he thought. 'But, I've got no choice… hope you'll be able to forgive me… Misao…' "Well, let's get going!" Enishi exclaimed, and everyone followed suite.

Shinomori Mansion

"I'm home…" Aoshi announced. "Hey! Ready to go?" Aika asked. "Yeah…" Aoshi said lazily. 'Arg… if only I didn't agree to this thing… I would be enjoying my precious time with Misao… damn it…' Aoshi cursed in his mind. Aika gave him a weird stare and told him that they have to go. And so they did…

Somewhere out there…

"And so I said… blah blah blah…" Aika said. Aoshi was pretending to be listening, but was actually in deep thought. 'Haay… I wonder what they're doing now? Are they… having fun? Misao looked so down… I feel so guilty… but why would she…? Unless... ugh… don't jump to conclusions…' Aoshi kept on thinking and thinking, until it finally hit him… 'I've got it! Better inform them, although it's short notice…' Aoshi thought. "Aika." He called, shutting her up. "Yes?" she asked sweetly. "Do you mind if… I invite my friends over tonight?" Aoshi asked. "Of course not! Come to think of it, I haven't met them yet! I'd be delighted!" Aika said, her face lighting up. "Oh. Good." Was all Aoshi said. Aika babbled away again, and Aoshi groaned inwardly.

On the way back home…

Misao kept on sighing. "Misao…" Soujiro said, raising his eyebrow at her. "Demo...! Aoshi…" Misao said. "Yare, yare… daijobu! Besides, isn't it better? You don't have to be... er… self-conscious since he's not around!" Soujiro stated. "Hmm… You may be right!" Misao beamed.

…vibrate…

"Are?" Both Soujiro and Misao checked their cellphones. "Hey… it's…" Soujiro started. "A message from Aoshi! And he's…" Misao trailed. "INVITING US TO HIS PLACE!" both Soujiro and Misao exclaimed, wide-eyed. "Yapoo!" Misao cheered, raising her fist up into the sky. She was now officially hyper, as she replied… "Honto? DOMO!" Misao was now all-smiles. "Yare, yare…" Soujiro mumbled, seeing a hyper Misao. "Oh, we're home… uh… meet you out here in 10." Soujiro said with a wave, and the two went off to their houses to pack up.

Shinomori Mansion

'I don't believe it… she's… actually… coming! Alright….' Aoshi was extremely anxious, but he tried to keep his anxiety under control. However, he seemed cheerful… too cheerful, for that matter. And Aika noticed it. 'Odd… Aoshi looks really happy… too happy for that matter… are his friends that great? I can't wait!' Aika thought.

On the streets…

Misao was all-smiles. "Wow! I've never been to his place before! I wonder how it looks like? Have you ever been there? I can't wait! Ahahaha...!" Misao was loudly babbling and chatting away, and Soujiro just smiled at her antics. "Ne, Sou-kun… do I look decent?" Misao asked. "Perfectly fine to me, Misao." Soujiro said, smiling. Suddenly… "Is that Kenshin...? and Tomoe? And Kao-chan?" Misao said. "Oh yeah! Wonder why?" Soujiro said. The trio seemed to notice them too and waved at them. Soujiro and Misao went to them "Hey people. What's the occasion?" Kenshin asked. "Uhm… It's an overnight thing over at the Shinomori Mansion…" Soujiro stated. "Honto? Oremo!" Tomoe exclaimed. Kaoru noticed Misao's WIDE smile and grinned maliciously. Misao blushed and glared at Kaoru. "Yoh!" a voice behind them called. They turned to see Enishi, Megumi, Sano, and Yahiko. "I guess Aoshi summoned all of us out here…" Soujiro said. "What?" Enishi said. "Oh, never mind. Let's get going" Kaoru said. They all proceeded to the Shinomori Mansion and were very excited, especially Misao.

They arrived at Aoshi's house (mansion, actually…) and everyone was shocked. "Whoa! This's something else!" Enishi exclaimed in awe. "Yapoo!Let's go!" Misao happily said and rang the doorbell. "Hey! Come on in." Aoshi said, holding the door open. They crowded inside and just stood in awe of their surroundings. "Ano… arigato, Aoshi for inviting us." Kaoru said, breaking the silence. Suddenly, Misao noticed…

Misao's POV

Eh? Dare? Kanojo wa dare? Could she be? Ahh! Masaka! No, no, no! Demo… doushite… Arrghh! I'm gonna go crazy trying to figure out who that girl is! Maybe she's the sister of Aoshi… wait! He doesn't have a sister! Ahhhh! Who in the world is she!

Author's Notes: BWAHAHAHAHA! Die of the cliff hanger-ness! Hehehe. I hope it's interesting… you'd better be enjoying it! Hohoho! Well, go Aoshi! Go Misao! Show your spirit! Wahaha… well, this chapter's done. Anything you want to say, just review it, men! Hohoho…

Translations:

Doushite – why

Ja – bye, see you later

Demo – but

Yare, yare – oh boy

Daijobu – it's alright, don't worry

Are? – eh? Huh?

Honto? – really?

Domo – thanks!

Oremo – us too! Same with us! Or something like that… so hard to translate!

Kanojo wa dare – who's that girl