Authors Notes: Before continuing, just clearing a couple of things up. Now, 'Seb' and 'Mon' are two of Anika's children, the eldest ones and that's their nicknames. Well that's what Aoshi calls them anyway. They were born abroad and so have relatively…err…foreign names… 'Sebastian and Monique'. I'm going to let you in on a little secret here… Mon happens to have a crush on Aoshi, but he doesn't know this…and the poor girl will be devastated when she meets Misao! Look out for that soon…

Now there is a cute scene here…its sort of Misao's attempt at organising a date for herself and Aoshi now, her planning it all and guess who helps…Tokio! Isn't she wonderful? It won't be as extravagant as his, if you can call it that, but it'll be sweet and you'll never guess where it is either…not till you keep reading… It's the beginning of Misao finding out Aoshi's an artist!

Anywho I'm sure that's it now…oh and there is some drama in this…way at the end…but all won't be revealed until the following chapter after this one…which I haven't thought of yet…

Ja Ne…

Under the Cherry Tree

Aoshi woke abruptly from his half sleep when he heard the ringing of his mobile phone. He sat up from his bed and turned on the lamp, blinking a few times at the brightness and placed the phone to his ear.

"Hello…" Aoshi mumbled out yawning loudly and his right hand came up brushing through his messy hair.

"You sound tired." Anika spoke joyously into the phone as she always did. She was drinking coffee and walking around her house in her bathrobe. She loved openings of her stores and couldn't wait to see the crowds. She'd been so used to them ever since she started off and so reporters and hordes of fans didn't bother her. Not like how it bothered Aoshi. He felt as though they were judging him by what he painted and not finding out about the real him. Although Anika thought it strange he thought that way when he wouldn't really give people a chance to find out about him. Aoshi mumbled something she couldn't understand and spoke once more.

"I got your parcel at 5am this morning. Thank you for waking me up."

"I was standing outside for nearly ten minutes with no answer. So I dumped it near the door hoping you'd get it before you left for your big opening. Where was Seb and Mon?" Aoshi spoke more clearly now.

"Oh probably around the city somewhere. You know those two, always trying to get into clubs even though many bouncers know who they are and know they don't have ID to get in."

"Sounds like them…" Aoshi chuckled lightly getting out of his bed and heading for the main room.

"Are you still in bed?" Anika asked incredulously as though not thinking about all the work he put into last night at finishing his paintings.

"No…I'm out jogging. I have this sudden burst of energy which I FORGOT to use last night while I was up finishing off MY paintings JUST for you." Aoshi spoke dryly, plonking down on one of the stools at the kitchen bench and yawning once more.

"So, shall you be coming to have a look today?" Anika spoke, her fingers crossing behind her back. She knew Aoshi wouldn't confess as being the new and up coming artist that he already was. Instead he'd be an interested onlooker, so to speak.

"Maybe…" Aoshi left off not saying anything more. Anika knew this to be a back off sign and so she decided not to press any further. She walked into the lounge room to kiss her two youngest children good morning as they had pounded down the stairs heading straight for the television to watch cartoons. Aoshi could hear her mumbling slightly and then heard two very loud and very awake voices yelling into the phone.

"MORNING UNCLE AOSHI!" The seven-year-old twins spoke. Aoshi shook his head, moving the mobile away from his ear. It was so early, how could they be so cheerful at this time of day? Anika pulled the phone away from the two youngsters and let them watch cartoons as she spoke once more.

"I better get myself ready, I'm already running behind the schedule I made for myself. Since you don't want to make an appearance could you look after the twin terrors for me?"

"Sure…I'll be over soon…" Aoshi spoke hanging up his mobile and walking towards his bathroom to shower.

* * * *

(Fugishita Mansion)

Aoshi was walking up the pathway heading through the front garden when he heard the front door burst open, two children running out heading straight for him and Anika locking her door racing towards her car, his paintings under her arm. Aoshi caught the energetic twins lifting them up to place them over his shoulders as he walked towards Anika speaking to her.

"Those aren't for sale." She turned to look at him, waving him off with her hand and getting in her car.

"Anika…No sale…I mean it." Aoshi spoke once more, his eyes staring intently into hers and she sighed nodding her head agreeing for once. She blew a kiss to her children and reversed out of the yard and drove off in her BMW. Aoshi placed Momiji and Shinshi back on their feet, his hands on hips as he looked down into brown eyes staring innocently up at him.

"The park?" Aoshi questioned and watched them nod there heads affirmatively. Aoshi bent down, Shinshi getting on his shoulders for a ride as he always did and then he picked Momiji up, placing her on his hip as he walked off. They chatted a mile a minute telling him what they had been doing since he hadn't seen them for about a month. Aoshi got every second piece of information both of them talking way too fast for him to comprehend everything.

"Mama said we got to meet her at the store at noon Uncle Aoshi." Shinshi spoke, his hands moving down to cup Aoshi's chin and lifting his head up wanting to look down at him. Aoshi gave the young boy a lob-sided smile and nodded his head. So typical that Anika would say something like that. Now he had no choice but to go to the actual store. Anika would intend on taking her kids out to lunch making him drop them off and forcing him to come in and "have a look around".

* * * *

Hours had passed, Aoshi finally making his way towards 'The Mind's Eye'. Aoshi shook his head, as he still couldn't believe Anika changed her shop names to this. It had been his dream that he'd have his own shop with the sign reading 'The Minds Eye'. Of course, he would hardly ever be at the office, probably at some ungodly hour placing paintings on the walls and then leaving to let his assistant take care of everything. Aoshi knew he'd still love to teach with Kenshin. A smirk crossed his lips as he could see himself and Kenshin with canes or wheelchairs and STILL teaching! Aoshi lost that train of thought as he rounded the corner but stopped dead in his tracks making Shinshi and Momiji stop as well as he watched two females walk out of the store. One was carrying a big parcel under her arm. Aoshi backed up a little, when they stopped and hid behind the wall waiting for a few seconds. He looked around noticing Misao and Tokio's figures walking off in the distance. Aoshi sighed in relief and looked down seeing two pairs of very confused brown eyes looking up at him. They each held flowers for their mother as Aoshi bought some because he knew Anika was not going to be pleased about the 'No Sale' on his three paintings. It was a peace offering after all.

Aoshi took a deep breath walking inside to see the place jam packed with reporters and general fans wanting to ask Anika questions about her latest artworks and of course the mystery artist. He listened as she "received" the latest work on her doorstep early his morning. It appeared Anika was telling them the truth but just leaving out Aoshi altogether.

"MAMA!" Momiji and Shinshi yelled at the same time waving at her from a distance. Aoshi had picked them up knowing this was easier. They were waving the flowers at her, the reporters falling silent as Aoshi made his way over towards her. Momiji and Shinshi were completely oblivious to the photos being taken of them. They were more excited about giving her the flowers they picked out rather then anything else. Aoshi stepped up as Momiji held his hand dragging him with her towards her mother. Anika smiled, secretly thanking him for coming but not wording it out loud.

"Mrs Fugishita, who is this young man?" A reporter had yelled out and Aoshi watched nervously as they all turned to face him wanting an answer. Aoshi was blankly looking back at them as though daring them to ask again, but inside he was pacing the floor on what to say.

"Why this is my children's nanny." Anika spoke loudly, grabbing their attention once more. Aoshi had been taken aback by her response but thanked the gods she had a plan, but really…the nanny! Aoshi's eyes narrowed slightly in annoyance at the profession she picked for him. Although why would he be complaining though? Anika hadn't let on that he was an artist, because then they would be firing questions at him.

"Young man, what is she like? What are her children like? Do you work at her house? What is your name?" Aoshi blinked at the young man asking him these questions. He was obviously just an up and coming reporter and a damn nosy one at that. His question were flat out what he wanted to know and although Aoshi was determined to tell him to take a hike he finally made a small statement hopefully getting them off his back.

"Mrs Fugishita is a very kind woman who has a very strong passion for painting. She is very independent and quite strong and she'll fight for what she wants. I've been to her house many times and I must say, it is very spacious." There were a couple of nods and a few laughs as some reporters took notes while others recorded his voice. Aoshi placed a hand on Momiji's head and the other on Shinshi's and spoke once more.

"As for the twin terrors…they're pretty good." Aoshi smirked as they looked up at him and placed a bright smile on their faces and hugged his legs, reported taking photos, Aoshi's face impassive as ever now as they snapped shots of him. He knew he was going to have his face on the paper with the children and there would be a small spill about him being the 'nanny'. He frowned thinking what Misao would do if she actually read it!

"And what is your name?" The young man spoke again. Aoshi narrowed his eyes knowing this guy would not shut up if he didn't say something.

"Shinomori…excuse me…" Aoshi stepped out of the "limelight" and began walking around pretending to be an interested onlooker. He noticed some of his works had 'sold' simples on them as well as 'please hold'. The opening of the store had been a real hit. His darkest work gone, someone having bought them and taken them already. Most of Anika's paintings had been sold already but would be picked up after the store was closed. Aoshi knew he was being watched and sat down at a chair looking at the one he did of Suzume and Ayame running through the sunflower meadow. Only minutes passed and this reporter guy was sitting beside him and rather too close for Aoshi's liking. Aoshi moved away and standing up once more liking his space and began walking around, the reporter following him.

"Can I help you?" Aoshi spoke annoyingly at the shorter man with black-blue hair. Aoshi raised an eyebrow as he smiled "sweetly" up at him and flipped open his notebook and finally spoke.

"You must be related to Detective Shinomori of the Tokyo Police." He spoke confidently his eyes never leaving Aoshi's semi-hidden ones.

"No, we are of no relation." Aoshi spoke back without even blinking and watched the young man nod. Aoshi began walking away to look at other paintings, his jaw clenching as the reporter followed his every move.

"But your name…"

"It's my first." Aoshi interrupted stopping to look at one of Anika's pieces of work. She was into black and white chalk drawings, coming from her background and placed a few in. They never got sold, them being too 'strange' for the liking's of her fans.

"That seems strange…" He mumbled out, obviously thinking Aoshi couldn't hear him but Aoshi finally spoke, his eyes glancing down to scan his name on the reporter badge and then fixing and icy stare into his blue eyes.

"Look who's talking…Kamatari…" Auras were rising but both men stopped when there was an audible clearing of the throat behind thm. Anika stood there, her children beside her as she spoke to Aoshi.

"Its time for them to have some lunch and could you take them home. They must have a small sleep." Aoshi nodded his head, knowing he owed her big for interrupting him and this so called 'Kamatari' guy. Aoshi could tell this guy wasn't satisfied with his answers and he also knew this wouldn't be the last he'd see of him. Aoshi walked off with Momiji and Shinshi asking him to take the to the Akabeko for lunch. Aoshi silently agreed wanting some peace and headed off in that direction.

* * * *

(Okina Apartments - 6pm)

t had been a long day for Aoshi and all he wanted was to take a shower and go to bed. Aoshi hadn't seen that reporter guy for the rest of the day but he'd "run" into him again. Momiji and Shinshi played throughout the afternoon, having a swim in the pool, while Aoshi watched and spoke to Seb and Mon. They had visited the store earlier in the morning before the rush came and wondered around. They knew about Aoshi as well, but Anika said they could be trusted and so Aoshi thought it was fine. Seb had joked about the cruelty of his dedicated painting to Saitou. Aoshi tried explaining that it wasn't him and instead gave up and walked off getting Momiji and Shinshi out of the pool and upstairs to shower. Mon had been silent the whole time and instead watched him for some unknown reason to Aoshi. He shrugged his shoulders not thinking anything about it and kept on with his newest job of being the nanny.

"Good Evening Aoshi." Okina spoke as Aoshi opened the glass doors and waved at him wanting to head for the lift to go to the unit.

"This is for you Aoshi." Okina spoke his hand occupied by a plain white piece of paper. Aoshi took it nodding his head silently and opened it up to read it:

'Go upstairs and have a shower.'

Aoshi headed for the stairs and towards his unit doing exactly what the note said. He knew it to be Misao's writing, it never changing as she got older. It was always neat and tidy, almost perfect with no mistakes at all.

Many minutes passed as Aoshi showered and walked into his room with a towel wrapped around his waist. He noticed another note on his bed and opened it up to read it:

'Put some clothes on.'

Aoshi shook his head but did so and opened his wardrobe noticing a black shirt hanging up with a dark blue dragon on the pocket. This was definitely new as he'd never seen it before. Pinned to the shirt was another piece of paper reading:

'Go to the kitchen bench when dressed.' Aoshi was now rather intrigued at this game Misao was playing. Aoshi was finally dressed in comfy black trousers and placed the shirt on, but not doing up the buttons as he made his way over towards the kitchen bench. Aoshi stared down at what seemed to be a glass of red wine and a thornless rose bud with a white note wrapped around the stem. Aoshi unrolled it and scanned his eyes over the writing:

'Come to the roof.'

Aoshi picked up the glass and the rose making his way out of the unit and up the stairs heading towards the roof. He hadn't bothered with shoes and had only managed to do up two buttons on his shirt. The door to the roof was slightly ajar; Aoshi pushing it open and catching the breeze as it blew by, his wet bangs sprinkling water on his face and shirt.

"About time you showed up." Aoshi turned his head to look over at Misao. She was silhouetted by the sunset behind her making her glow. She wore a plain black evening dress, her hair clipped up on top of her head, with bits falling to her shoulders. A small smile was on her maroon coloured lips, one of her hands holding her black sandals as she stood bare foot, while the other held a glass of wine. Aoshi watched as Misao began walking towards him and bent his head watched as she took the rose from his left hand.

"That's so sweet…Thank you Aoshi…" Misao spoke looking up at him, her eyes dancing as she was only joking. Aoshi replied with a small smile of his own and let Misao lead him to a small picnic blanket she had set up on the roof with a takeaway dinner as well. Aoshi squeezed her hand silently thanking her for doing this and Misao sat down on the blanket with Aoshi doing the same.

"I thought it my turn to surprise you Aoshi." Misao spoke looking up at him, her cheeks a faint pink as Aoshi's eyes had not left her for a single moment.

"On tonight's menu we have Makimachi Misao's best cooking of all…Akabeko…alfresco style… So shall we eat?" Misao spoke happily looking into Aoshi's blue-green eyes. Her smile widened when she heard a soft chuckle leave his lip as he nodded his head bringing out the plates while Misao took of the lids.

* * * *

A couple of hours passed, Aoshi and Misao having cleaned up and headed for his apartment for coffee. Misao said she had something for him there and so Aoshi opened the door letting Misao in first. He watched as she walked towards his room and he entered the kitchen area to put the kettle on. Aoshi moved over to the couch and sat down as Misao yelled for him to do so. He closed his eyes as well, letting Misao play her small game.

"Okay…OPEN!" Misao yelled excitedly. Aoshi opened his eyes and what he saw in front of him nearly made him faint. It was 'Ocean Sunset' his most longest painting he had done. Aoshi finally realised that was the painting that had been missing this afternoon. In all his life he would never have thought Misao would buy it. It was after all, very expensive!

"Isn't it beautiful Aoshi! I bought it just for you!" Misao spoke joyously waiting for his reaction. This had taken Aoshi about 6 to 8 months to finish all of the fine details that were put into it. He had done two of them, this being the most time consuming off all. Aoshi remembered having moments were he'd stay up all night working on small sections an then it would be weeks before he'd want to face it again. A few of his paintings had one him awards but Anika said this year this one would get him the most, although he would never collect them himself. Aoshi stared at the painting, running his eyes over every detail. The painting was in complete watercolour. He remembered never answering his mobile and sometimes forgetting to eat as he stewed over what colours to use. There were after all many types of tubes of watercolour to choose from. Aoshi had used about 20 to 30 just on this one painting. He was trying to get different shades of reds, oranges and yellows of the sunset running into the thunderclouds. He was blending them into the clouds and had a hard time doing so…

The ocean had many types of blues, greens and occasionally black was thrown in to get a darker effect as well. This one painting Aoshi had done had a complete folder full of sketches, drawings and examples of how he wanted to blend different colours. He started at the very beginning drawing different cloud shapes, moving into the sun and trying to catch different waves as well. Actually Aoshi remembered travelling to the beach numerous times to take photos of sunsets with and without clouds as well as catching different types of waves. Some of the photos had been quite excellent and he had sold them also. This whole folder was like a damn encyclopedia into a part of his mind and no one had ever seen it.

Aoshi did have to compliment himself. The painting had turned out better then he hoped for. He thought he had ruined it many times but the gods had been on his side as he had created a large masterpiece. To think Misao had bought it just for him was shocking but very sweet of her. The fact was…he already had one. How the hell was he ging to explain that? Aoshi watched with slightly wide eyes as tears filled Misao's as he had said nothing about the gift she bought him.

"You…you don't like it…" Misao spoke brokenly as she placed the painting on the ground, leaning it against the coffee table. Her hands came up over her face trying to cover up the hurt she was feeling right now. Aoshi's eyes had widened even more as he listened to Misao's muffled voice, each word ripping into his heart.

"I wanted…I wanted you to have something wonderful, something I thought was absolutely beautiful. To me it didn't matter how much it cost…it only mattered that I gave it to the one person closest to me in my heart. I know you'll think it's just some stupid painting, but to me it meant more then that. I felt the emotions within it…" With that spoken, Misao sobbing softly as she couldn't say anything else as she lowered herself to the carpet crying into her hands. Aoshi sat on the floor, looking over at a shaking Misao.

"Gomen nasai Misao-chan… I love the painting and I thank you for buying it, but there is one small problem…" Aoshi whispered softly to her knowing there was no other way in explaining himself. He'd just have to flat out tell her who he was. Aoshi moved Misao's hands away, wiping the tears off her cheeks. She sniffled slightly and watched, as Aoshi stood moving towards a draw near the television. Aoshi brought out some keys unlocking it and pulled out a thick folder.

"I've never showed this to anyone Misao…nor does anyone besides Aoshi and a couple for other people know about the other half of my secret life. I've been thinking for many weeks of whether I should tell you…and now is the time to come clean." Aoshi moved back over, sitting in front of her once more and placed the heavy folder in her hands. He listened to a gasp escape Misao lips when she opened it up staring down at the tile inside…Ocean Sunset…the title of the painting she bought and scribbled under that was: created by Aoshi Shinomori.

"Oh my god… Misao had mumbled out as she flipped through the folder having a look. This was Aoshi's thoughts right from the word go of when he first thought of it. Misao's eyes glanced up when she heard the closing of a door and watched Aoshi move over and flip the painting around. It was identical to the one she bought but a little rougher, almost as though it were completed in a hurry just so he could see what it as like.

"You're…'AS'?" Misao had asked softly as though someone where bugging the apartment. She watched with wide eyes as Aoshi nodded his head once in agreement. Aoshi observed as Misao smiled finally being one of the few people that found out the true identity of a very popular artist. In a matter of seconds though Aoshi watched her frown, her eyes pouting at him, silently asking him why he never told her.

"I didn't want you changing your opinion of me. Our friendship is very important to me and if that were ever effected by this…I wouldn't be able to handle that…" Aoshi tried reasoning with Misao. He was waiting for the huge scream that he thought he would be receiving but instead Misao's hand caressed his left cheek lovingly as she stared endlessly into his eyes and spoke with a small smile on her lips.

"I've known you since I was little Aoshi, so no matter who you are and what you become you'll always be Aoshi Shinomori to me. The bestest friend Misao could ever have and the guy who groped her in training."

"Hey that was an accident!" Aoshi spoke loudly, a bit of his child self-coming out in him once more. He was letting the younger self be known once more reminding him and Misao of the events that occurred in the past.

"Sure it was… Just face it, everyone one of you guys wanted a feel." Misao spoke smugly, her hands crossing over her chest as though she had won. Misao squealed lightly, falling to the carpet with a soft thud as Aoshi pushed her over. Misao's wide blue eyes stared up into darker blue-green ones as Aoshi leaned over her, his face moving down, his lips softly caressing hers. A small moan escaped Misao's lips, her breath catching as Aoshi kissed her more deeply, her heartbeat growing faster as she was frightened and rather anxious to see what would happen next.

Aoshi slowly stopped kissing Misao, not wanting to loose his control. The cent of Misao's hair and her perfume was an intoxicating drug to him and he was having side effects! Aoshi leaned back watching Misao passion-glazed eyes flicker open to stare up at him in slight disappointment but also happily as he didn't go any further. Aoshi sighed a little knowing now that Misao was just as hesitant as he was to try anything more. It seemed to him they both didn't want to ruin anything between them and for now this was enough. Aoshi got up helping Misao up, her hand still in his as he led her into the spare room finally showing her all his unfinished work. Misao looked around, noticing it was quite messy and rather cluttered, something very rare coming from Aoshi. Misao was tugged to a corner of the room, being able to look over everything as she leaned against Aoshi's chest sitting in between his legs and a blanket draped over the both of them. Misao sighed, her eyes closing as she mumbled out her question.

"Does Saitou know?" Aoshi wrapped his arms securely around Misao's small form and softly spoke into her ear.

"How do you think he got that car." Aoshi smiled as a small giggle left Misao lips. Aoshi began talking, allowing Misao her request for him to talk about the paintings in the room and how it all began.

* * * *

Misao was walking down the street humming softly to herself. She had acted like a small child the other night, but finally she understood. Aoshi was an artist, but not just any artist; he was the mysterious 'AS'. That thought made her giggle a little. To think she was…could she say dating…a famous and a very secretive artist at that! Misao smiled to herself aimlessly passing other people as she walked down the street. Nothing would ever ruin this moment for her. Aoshi and her had spoken long into the night and when Misao had awoken that morning she was still amongst his paintings in the spare room. What made her even warmer then ever, Misao lightly blushing as she made her way through the thick crowd was the fact she had fallen asleep listening to Aoshi tell her stories about his paintings and the fact he didn't want to disturb her slumber was just so…so Aoshi. He was really sweet and gentle no matter how distance and quiet he seemed at times.

"Isn't it terrible about Kyoto?" Misao was cut from her thoughts as what a passer-by said. She turned to look back at them watching as the elder man and woman kept walking, Misao unable to hear anything else above the chattering of the large crowd. Misao pushed her way through the crowd even further and made it to a newspaper stand. Her eyes grew wide, a hand coming up to place over her mouth to conceal her gasp. Her teary eyes were fixed on a newspaper…and then she picked it up running off without paying as she raced towards the Okina Apartments. Aoshi would have to know about this right away. Misao eyes kept glancing down at the front page:

"EARTHQUAKE SHATTERS KYOTO!"

* * * *

To be continued…

* * * *