Authors Notes: Arigatoo to those who are reading and reviewing. It keeps me inspired and so I'll still write this ficcie. It shorter them my other chapters because I want the next to be longer and have all the information in it. Yes here it comes, its D-Day for Aoshi to tell Misao he is an artist, actually in a funny way, she has forced the issue upon him. You'll all understand in the next chapter...

I must write more on K & K as well as S & M (to lazy to write their names). T & E have disappeared also but I think I'll leave them alone. They are together, the way I intended it and that's that. Now…I finally write down the major drama in this series, but t can't come yet. I got so much to write before that and yet it's one of the main things that popped into my head at work…like 8 pages long…boy did my hand hurt!

Well…I'm sure that's it and look out for an EARTHQUAKE!!!!!!!! Coming soon to a chapter near you… *hehehehe* (What a lunatic…I know) I'll make sense soon…maybe…when I feel like typing again that is… Oh Mara-san and anyone else who is mildly interested, I'm about 3/4 away through my 'Lonely Widow' fanfic so be sure to watch out for that soon…

Ja Ne and don't forget to review! J

Under the Cherry Tree

Aoshi walked slowly down the pathway heading for the nearest bus stop. He'd been painting for about 4 hours straight and knew that was enough. His 6 to 8 months long painting was finally finished that taking the straight four hours to do the finishing touches. Anika had been so pleased and practically choked him to death at how excited she was at finally seeing the end product. Aoshi had been up most of the night, having had about three hours sleep. Tomorrow Anika would be opening her store in the city and Aoshi thought he might casually walk around like an onlooker seeing how things went. Anika would be there, smiling joyously as ever, reporters around her asking questions on her latest stuff and the mystery 'AS' artist as Aoshi was known as. Anika would deny everything, saying she'd never met him or her face to face and that he or she only communicated through her agent, which happened to be her husband who seemed to skip out on the spotlight altogether. He was always away on business never having time for reporters.

Aoshi stopped to buy himself a drink, placing his painting bag on the ground and taking a drink of the cold water clenching his dry throat.

"Aoshi?" Aoshi choked on the water, coughing slightly as he turned around to come face to face with…Misao! She was smiling brightly up at him, in her usual way and Aoshi cleared his throat, the water going down the wrong pipe making his eyes water! After a moment he finally spoke.

"What are you doing here Misao?" He tried sounding curious but to him he felt like he failed miserably. However, Misao blinked a couple of times and lifted her hand that was carrying a bag and what looked like clear containers packed with food.

"I'm walking to the Fugishita Warehouse. Tsubame asked me to deliver again and the only park I could find is just over there." Misao pointed across the road and then turned back to look up at him asking her own question.

"What are you doing here… Is that your bag?" Misao bent down having a look at it. She watched with slightly wide eyes as Aoshi snatched it up clutching it under his arm. His eyes cast away as though trying to figure out what to say but Misao spoke again a small smile crossing her lips.

"Aa, must be a surprise ne?" Misao peered up at him completely innocent and thinking it was something for her.

"Yes." Aoshi spoke back thanking the gods that Misao suspected it to be something like that. Aoshi watched Misao place her hands behind her back; the takeaway food bag going behind her as well and she stood on tiptoes looking up at him excitedly.

"So when do I get to see what it is?" Aoshi's hand crept up as his fingers brushed lightly over Misao's pink cheek smiling softly down at her.

"Iie, not for a while yet Misao." Aoshi watched her eyes pout cutely up at him. Aoshi clenched his jaw his strong sense of will not caving in to her.

"You should go before these go cold." Aoshi spoke pointing to the food and watched as Misao nodded her head, slightly lifting up, her lips brushing against his and then she turned around racing off and heading further down the street. They weren't ones to express themselves so openly in front of others but somehow to Aoshi it felt right that people say him and Misao together. It would show others that they were together and that no guy could take his Misao-chan away from him. Aoshi began walking off, heading for the bus stop at the end of the street. He wasn't blind. He had noticed the stares Misao received from the many guys she passed and the ones she served at the Akabeko. Aoshi felt a little jealous as Misao spoke kindly to them, giving them her attention, but realised her eyes sparkled only for him, the sweet gentle smile no one saw, just for him.

Aoshi sat down on the bench next to a young woman and child. The young woman was reading a novel whilst waiting for the bus and the child sat next to her looking around. Aoshi's eyes glanced down to stare at bright green ones as the young girl was looking up at him now. She had turned directly around to face him, crossing her legs and pursing her lips silently making a decision about the strange man that sat beside her. Aoshi peered at her through his long bangs, one eye closing and poking his tongue at the young girl for a quite second. She giggled happily finally finding her entertainment and poked her tongue back at him, both doing this numerous times. The young woman stopped reading for a moment to see what was happening and briefly smiled at Aoshi knowing everything was fine and went back to reading, her eyes occasionally glancing at him and her daughter.

"Watch closely…" Aoshi muttered out, turning to face the young girl slightly and performed an easy magic trick making a coin disappear. The young girl was utterly fascinated even though the coin was just hidden in the gap between his thumb and index finger. Aoshi had large hands being able to do this and the young girl clapped happily chanting 'more, more, more!' That was not possible however as the bus turned up. Aoshi glanced up to see it was not going into the city and kept seated as he watched the young woman get up her hand clasping the young girls as they boarded the bus. Aoshi's eyes followed them down the aisle until they sat at a window, the young child waving frantically at him, the mother smiling ever so slightly. A smile touched Aoshi's lips his hand lifting up as he waved goodbye.

Minutes passed, Aoshi finally getting on the bus heading into the city. He noticed he received curious stares, some glancing down at his bag wanting to know what was inside it. Aoshi narrowed his eyes, staring back at the people and watched as they abruptly turned to face the front having been "caught" when they weren't even trying to hide their stares in the first place.

* * * *

Aoshi greeted Okina and walked upstairs and into his unit. He headed straight for the cluttered second room, unfinished pieces lying all over the floor or resting against the wall. The second painting in his three-piece series was on the easel. Aoshi sat on a stool, head tilted slightly looking over at it. He had a couple of ideas and thought he'd experiment with them. The first was done and now he needed to finish off this idea. Aoshi set to work, occasionally leaving the room hoping to get some inspiration from somewhere else in the unit.

* * * *

(Saitou Residence)

Saitou unlocked his front door walking inside and closed it quietly behind him. There was music coming from the lounge room and he made his way towards the doorway looking inside. Tokio lay on the battered couch singing softly with the women who was singing. Saitou rolled his eyes walking closer towards her. It always had to be something sappy. Tokio's eyes were closed, her lips moving in time with what the woman was saying and Saitou sat on the coffee table, one hand holding his head up as he stared down at Tokio listening to her soft voice. Saitou watched as the song died down, coming to an end and Tokio opened her eyes screaming in fright at seeing he was right in front of her. She sat up, her hand moving to her heart feeling the rapid beating of it.

"Mou Saitou! You nearly gave me a heart attack!" Tokio spoke annoyingly and only received a smirk from her absent boyfriend. Tokio blushed lightly as she thought about that one word. She knew it had to be true now, but it was still a little embarrassing for her to admit and finally come to terms that her and Saitou were a couple now. She had waited a long time after all. Saitou was a stunning older man who could have any woman he wanted. He was cool, calm and collected and many females stared at him wanting to get his attention as they walked down the street.

They all probably thought he was her older brother or something. Tokio began to seethe just thinking about it but was cut from her thoughts by Saitou placing something in her hands. She blinked up at him and then bent down opening it up to see a very impassive photo of him, a gold police badge with a small motto around it and the emblem and what not and of course his signature and the words - Detective Saitou Shinomori.

"Wait here…" Saitou spoke once more and got up leaving the room for a moment. He came back into the lounge room to see Tokio was still looking down at his ID Badge and tracing her fingers over his photo. He sat back down on the coffee table getting Tokio's attention once more and placed a box on her lap. It was medium sized and Saitou nodded his head allowing Tokio to open it up. He watched silently as she brought out different bravery and honor medals as well as promotional letters he had received over the years. Also things from complete strangers thanking him for finding missing family members and friends and/or solving the mysteries of family members dying etc. He watched Tokio cringe slightly, as she stared at corpses. Saitou snatched them away knowing they weren't supposed to be in there.

"This is who I am Tokio." Saitou spoke and watched her eyes glance up and widen as he brought out his guns, making sure all the bullets and clips were not in them. Tokio held one of the black guns in her hands, knowing these would have shot many criminals. She gave it back to him not liking that thought and what images it could bring into her mind and decided to keep sifting through the box. Saitou watched as Tokio pulled out a yellow envelope and opened it up to see x-ray photos. She blinked curiously at them holding them up to the light to have a better look. Her eyes glanced over at Saitou, watching as his hand came up to take her spare one and press it against his chest to where his scar lay of where the bullet entered his chest.

"Why do you keep them?" Tokio spoke, her eyes glistening with tears, as she never knew that Saitou was shot. Sure she had seen the scar on his chest and the one on his shoulder blade but she thought it was from Kyoto when he was a kid. She had heard the mischief he and Aoshi got up to when they were younger and thought nothing more of it. To think that she nearly lost him and she would have never experienced anything they shared together. Tokio tried blinking back her tears but was unsuccessful.

"It's a reminder of never to be so careless again." Saitou spoke in an instant. He watched Tokio nod her head in understanding and she shifted the box out of her lap and flung her arms around his neck holding him close. Saitou was a little shocked at her abruptness but shook his head, listening to Tokio's sniffles and mumbled softly into her hair.

"You cry too much, just like a woman. What happened to the feisty Tokio-chan I remember." A hiccup escaped her lips, Tokio's crying stopping as she wiped her eyes and pulled away looking up at Saitou. His eyes held determination, fully intent on saying something more and so Tokio waited.

"I am a cop Tokio, that is my profession, my work and I know I am good at it as well. There may be days were I won't be here, or I'll have to leave town for another part of Japan but I'll always return to Tokyo, to my home…here…with you. If you don't think you can be comfortable with this…I'll respect that and let you leave." Saitou couldn't believe he was saying this! He was intent on telling her to stay; telling her she had to be with him, that he couldn't let her go. Just like he said to Aoshi but once he was in front of her, that flew out of his mind and the decision to let her choose took over.

"Baka, of course I'm staying. It'll be hard, keeping this secret because I know if anyone found out, any of your enemies, they'll use me against you. That scares me, but having you here as my protection makes it all worth while. I'll learn to be patient because you'll always return to me…" Tokio spoke softly up at Saitou and wrapped him in another embrace. Saitou had sighed inwardly thanking the gods Tokio was being understanding and didn't make him choose between her and his career. Maybe he should give Aoshi some pointers on how to reveal his feelings to a certain weasel girl. Saitou was snapped out of his thoughts when Tokio spoke seductively into his ear.

"Since you have been gone for nearly four days now Saitou-anata…you MUST make it up to me." A chuckle left Saitou's throat, his arms scooping Tokio up from the couch as he whispered ferally into her ear.

"Mmmm, I have a lot of time to make up for…"

* * * *

With only minutes passing by, the phone rang with Saitou and Tokio both groaning in annoyance. He rolled over picking it up and spoke gruffly into the phone.

"What?"

"Okami-san? What are you doing there?" Saitou sighed rolling onto his back and spoke dryly into the phone.

"This may come as a shook to you weasel girl, but I live here."

"Hahaha, you are so funny Saitou. Is Tokio-chan there?" Misao spoke sarcastically back at him. Saitou turned on his side, to look over at Tokio. She was still dressed but her clothes were rumbled and her hair out of its ponytail.

"She's naked and tied up at the moment. She can't come to the phone." Saitou spoke. There was a loud 'WHAT!' on the other end and a smack coming from Tokio as she took the phone away from him and began a small conversation with Misao. Saitou rolled over on his side and closed his eyes for a brief moment. He'd not slept in his bed for days and on weeks where his cases dragged on and on he'd forget how comfortable it was. He could still hear Tokio's voice in the background, but it kept getting softer and softer…

* * * *

"Okay Misao-chan, I'll come with you tomorrow and we'll find Aoshi a present okay? 10am out the front of the Akabeko. See you tomorrow." Tokio clicked the phone off, being a cordless and placed it on the set of drawers closest to her.

"Now where were we anata?" Tokio spoke softly as she turned over lying down on the bed once more to come face to face with a broad back. Tokio blinked a couple of times thinking Saitou was teasing her until she sat up and looked over at his relaxed face and closed eyes. He'd fallen asleep. Tokio got off the bed moving around to watch him. He seemed so defenceless when he slept, so peaceful. Actually the thought finally hit Tokio that Saitou probably hadn't had a good nights rest in a long time and pressed her lips to his forehead, placed a spare blanket over him and got up to leave. She closed the curtains, keeping the room cool and dark, just the way he liked it. Tokio felt a little disappointment knowing her and Saitou weren't going to…she blushed and quickly left the room before her mind wandered even further.

The box was still sitting on the couch, medals and paperwork everywhere. Tokio sat on the floor looking through it once more; her eyes examining where the bullets entered Saitou. The gods had smiled upon Saitou those days and Tokio was forever thankful to them. Her hands paused inches away from his two guns. The clips and two single bullets lay beside them. Tokio pulled her hands away, not wanting to touch them again. Once was enough for her.

Their Tokio sat, reading through the promotional letters, all of them being denied by Saitou. She thought it strange he hadn't taken them, but finally realised the higher you got the less you were out on the field and solving cases. Saitou seemed to like being in on the action. She shook her head placing everything in the box and closing the lid. Yes it was going to be hard for her, but this was just another step to take in her life, her journey with Saitou.

* * * *

To be continued…

* * * *