Under the Cherry Tree
A taxicab pulled up out the front of Kenshin and Kaoru's place, Aoshi stepping out of the passenger seat and opening up the back door for Misao. She had agonized for an hour with him about not needing help to get back to Kenshin and Kaoru's and that she was fine and could do everything herself. Aoshi had placed up his hands 'surrendering' to her words and watched as Misao got out of the hospital bed, but Aoshi caught her before she could fall. She yelled at him numerous times for being a pain and getting in her way but Aoshi stayed quiet, placing Misao against the bed and grabbing the wheelchair silently demanding she sit in it. Misao had glared up at him for several minutes but slouched in defeat and sat down in the chair pouting like a small child once more.
"I can get out by myself Aoshi." Misao spoke determined pushing him away from her just like in her private hospital room. Misao heard Aoshi sigh as he crouched down looking up at her and spoke softly so the driver couldn't hear them.
"Just like you tried helping yourself back at the hospital Misao? Seems to me like you don't want me to help you. Do you not want me to carry you Misao?" Aoshi frowned softly watching as Misao's eyes widen in surprise as though she was rejecting him with her words.
"That's not it at all." Misao spoke loudly while shaking her head at Aoshi.
"Well that settles it then." Aoshi instantly replied, Misao shrieking lightly as she was picked up in his arms, his elbow closing the taxi door.
"Arigatoo…" Aoshi spoke to the driver, placing some yen notes on the front seat and grabbing the bag on the floor heading towards Kenshin and Kaoru's front gate.
"You tricked me." Misao mumbled, moving her head to rest it under Aoshi's chin. She really couldn't get angry with him though. He was being a major sweetie to her, no matter how much of a pain in the bum she was being to him. Misao sighed softly, her eyes closing as she snuggled closer to Aoshi's warmth.
"You can't sleep Misao, Misao-chan has a surprise for you." Aoshi whispered softly into Misao's hair and closed the front door with his foot and headed for the back door to go outside.
"I don't think I'm ready for a game of tag. Even I can admit to that Aoshi…" Misao replied to his small statement but watched as he kept walking towards the backdoor and slid the glass door open stepping onto the verandah.
"SURPRISE!" Misao shrieked lightly as Aoshi placed her on her own two feet but stood beside her when she wanted to move into one of the chairs near the barbecue. Misao placed a bright smile on her lips looking at the overhead banner, which Misao-chan had made with Kaoru's help:
'Welcome Home Oba Misao!'
Misao stared around watching as her mother and father came over to hug her and welcome her to her own party. Aoshi helped Misao to one of the chairs and she sat down thanking everyone for coming. Kenshin was, as usual, cooking on the barbecue, with Saitou and Tokio talking to him. Kaoru sat in one of the other chairs; her hand caressing her stomach every now and then as was Megumi whom was sitting right beside her. Sano was chatting with Yahiko and Kuro with Omasu sitting in a chair near him, her face still etched with sadness as she held her nephew in her arms thinking of the unborn child she used to carry within herself. Enishi lounged on a chair near Kaoru, listening to her conversation about pregnancy stages to Megumi. And who else would be beside Enishi then Tokio, whom was talking to Tsubame whom, got the night off to see how Misao was doing.
"Drink?" Aoshi turned his head, snapping out of his thoughts as Saitou held a beer bottle out for him to take. Aoshi placed on a lob-sided smile and took it taking a long drink from it.
"That good huh?" Saitou replied dryly as he sat down on the verandah steps looking over at all the people in Kenshin and Kaoru's yard. Aoshi sat down beside his older brother watching as Misao hopped over to where Omasu was sitting and began speaking to her while having a cuddle with her nephew as well.
"She is rather stubborn." Saitou spoke plainly while taking another skull of his beer finishing it off. Kaoru noticed this and moved over handing him another one and Saitou raised his eyebrow at her as though she wanted to see him loosen up a little. Saitou took the cap off drinking some more knowing he could relax, as it was his day off tomorrow.
"And determined as hell." Aoshi added in looking over at Misao who was actually laughing with Omasu, Kuro, Sano and Yahiko. Her eyes caught his and she held up her own bottle of beer waving it slightly at him. Aoshi raised his in recognition as he silently watched Misao go back to her conversation with Sano whom was probably on his sixth beer already.
"When does she start her muscle therapy?" Saitou replied getting Aoshi's attention once more.
"As soon as possible according to Misao. She isn't too fond of her therapist, but that's understandable."
"Oh really?"
"Aa, its Soujiro." Aoshi replied as he could hear the intrigue in Saitou's usually passive voice.
"That short smiling idiot from Kyoto? Wasn't he the one who always had a thing for Misao?" Saitou glanced over at his brother noticing the tight jaw. A small smirk crossed his lips as Saitou stood up speaking once more and walked towards Kenshin and Tokio again.
"Ah, so you have competition for Misao. Who will win weasel girl's affections? I can hardly contain myself…" Aoshi closed his eyes for a brief moment, his anger slowly residing but he stood up getting Saitou's attention as he spoke his name…as well as grabbing everyone else's too.
"I hate you." Saitou waved him off, his only answer was throwing him another beer as though silently telling him to force his emotions free and tell Misao about them or drown in his own sorrows using alcohol. For now Aoshi preferred the alcohol.
* * * *
(Aftermath…)
A groan came from Aoshi as he moved his head, the beginning of waking up, the evidence of a hangover rushing forth with a splitting headache and a twisting stomach.
"Damn its cold…" Aoshi mumbled lightly and shifted slightly feeling his clothes were cold, wet and sticking to his skin.
"Did it rain?" Aoshi question himself once more, his right hand moving up to rub his right temple trying to rid the pounding headache away. He opened his eyes, blinking several times as he stared up at a clear blue sky and listening to the birds happily chirping away in the nearby trees.
Aoshi sat up slightly, the swishing of water breaking into his slightly hazy mind. That's when Aoshi finally noticed his resting-place for the night had been in Misao-chan's mini blow up pool! Empty beer bottles floated in the water, moving slightly and clinking together as Aoshi moved and stood up, water dripping of his drenched form. His clothes actually smelled like beer too, obviously some of the bottles not being finished and had been dumped into the water.
Aoshi cringed at the stench and stepped over the side making sure not to trip and surveyed Kenshin and Kaoru's backyard. It was littered in empty beer and wine bottles as well as left over food, ants turning it into a nice meal and taking the chance to grab some crumbs of bread and other assorted foods like meat, salads or left over sponge cake.
Aoshi's body began to shiver from the coldness of the water and the fact a cool breeze swept through the yard. To Aoshi's surprise Saitou had actually stayed…probably not becoming overly drunk like himself but wise enough not to drive home. He rested under the large tree in the backyard one arm a make shift pillow as he was still sleeping and his other lazily thrown over the small mound sleeping next to him. Of course it was none other than Tokio with Saitou's jacket wrapped over her warding off any cold breeze.
In the middle of the yard lay Sano, sprawled on the grass not giving a damn ants where running about him collecting crumbs off of himself and not caring that the sun shone directly onto his face. Aoshi could only estimate about 30 beer bottles lying empty around his, probably still intoxicated and rather unconscious friend. He didn't count them knowing there was A LOT!
Kenshin and Kaoru were no where in sight, sensible enough to bid everyone good night and move off to the warmth of their house and their bed. Aoshi could faintly remember waving to Misao's parents, Okon, Omasu, Kuro, Yahiko and Tsubame. They too being sensible in not drowning themselves in the alcohol that Sano, Aoshi, Kenshin and Saitou and chipped in and bought for that evening. Kenshin only had a few beers that being the limit as Kaoru didn't have the strength to heave him up the stairs if he became blind drunk. That and she really didn't want him to embarrass himself like Sano did all the time. What did he care anyway? It was everyone else who had to put up with him and that was it. Its not like he'd remember what he did that night, but it was all in the name of fun when you could relay it back to him.
Aoshi closed his eyes for brief moments remembering Megumi going inside to lie down for a moment and probably fell asleep on the couch too. He also recalled Enishi and Tomoe saying something about leaving but he'd ask Misao about that later on. Wait a minute…where was Misao? Aoshi snapped his eyes open looking around the room to see she wasn't anywhere in sight. Aoshi began heading for the back door but stopped as beads of water dripped off his clothing and fell to the ground. He changed directions heading for the large tree Saitou and Tokio were resting under since its branches were close to the room Misao slept in.
Aoshi stumbled slightly placing his hand on a branch to steady himself and took deep breaths opening his eyes once more. His vision was slightly foggy knowing he probably matched Sano drink for drink, which was VERY stupid of him. Aoshi "gracefully" climbed onto the tree branch, droplets of water dripping from his pant legs and falling on Saitou's face waking him from his slumber.
"You still disturb me during the morning and we don't even live in the same place anymore." Saitou grumbled and Aoshi looked down at his older brother who sat up rubbing his own forehead for several seconds. His hands grazed over every pocket he had in his clothes looking for a cigarette but came out empty. Saitou sighed softly watching with an arched eyebrow as Aoshi wobbly stood up trying to get his balance back and make his way towards the balcony.
"Don't slip Aoshi…that would be quite painful…" Saitou spoke moving to a crouch position looking up at his brother and then down at Tokio who began to shiver, he taking the warmth away.
"Thank you for the advice…I'm sure you'd just love to see it happen and remind me every waking moment you see me." A smirk crossed Saitou's lips as he rose from the ground, taking Tokio with him wanting to go home.
"Of course." Saitou replied instantly watching as Aoshi jumped to the balcony his timing slightly off, but he still grabbed the white bars and reefed himself up and over to land heavily on the cold concrete.
"Elegant Aoshi…very nicely done." Saitou replied dryly once more.
"Shut up Okami-san! Drinking is rare for me as it is for you and I've seen you drunk and rather slow as well." Aoshi was becoming frustrated knowing he shouldn't have taken Sano up on that bet…it was stupid after all.
"Oh yeah I remember the last time I had a bet of 'who could drink the most beer and you can't back out because honor demands it amongst men'. The things that baka makes up is just STUPID…and the fact you actually went along with it is just so…"
"SHUT UP!" Aoshi spoke loudly, Sano snorting softly as the "chit chat" between brothers was disturbing his comatose sleep. Saitou shook his head heading through the house to get to his car and bent his head looking down at Tokio as she spoke.
"You shouldn't be so mean to your brother."
"Why the hell not?" Saitou questioned as he placed Tokio on her feet opening up the passenger side door letting her in. He moved around to his side and Tokio finally broke the silence.
"Well he is a little funny…"
"That's better." Saitou replied instantly to Tokio's mumble and drove off heading back home.
* * * *
(Misao's Balcony)
Aoshi lifted himself up, goosebumps forming on his exposed skin as he opened the glass sliding door to Misao's room. It was bathed in darkness Aoshi's hands moving around to get the blinds out of his way, but instead of being silent and stealthy it became a full fledged war of Aoshi against the stubborn blinds…and who one? The blinds of course as Aoshi tripped over the bottom, one ankle tangling nicely with them and falling into the room and heavily on Misao's belongings scattered over the floor once more.
Giggling broke into Aoshi's quiet grumbling as he lifted his head up looking onto Misao's bed to see she was sitting up and looking down at him, her hand trying to conceal her laughing but not doing a very good job of it.
"Here I thought you were the quietest and stealthiest person I knew. You were so funny last night…but really cute too."
"Misao please…I really don't need to hear this right now."
"No you don't because you stink of alcohol and you really need to bathe before you freeze to death. No sleeping in here unless you're clean." Misao spoke again through her giggling watching as Aoshi stumbled through her room and closing the door as he walked down the hallway heading for the bathroom.
She had to admit he was cute when he was tipsy and funny when he was blind drunk. The alcohol volume Aoshi and Sano drunk was unbelievable. Sano was the first to start acting...well...not sensible that's for sure. Megumi had blushed numerous times as he began singing loudly, much to everyone's agony.
What really made Misao choke on her wine was when Aoshi, whom was already sitting in Misao-chan's pool began mumbling the sappy words as well while taking sips of about four different types of beer around him. His jet-black hair spiked up everywhere, Sano having poured beer into it and yet Aoshi really hadn't noticed one bit. His cheeks where slightly red from the tones of alcohol flowing through his system and he had a goofy smile Misao had never seen before crossing his lips as though the beer was relaxing all his muscles and he began to forget where he was and how much he was drinking. Misao had hopped over to check on him only to get a bigger smile, one that was only directed at her even though he was drunk and then he had spoken…
'Aa, its Aoshi's Misao-chan.' Misao couldn't help but blush lightly and giggle at the same time, her hand brushing his long sticky bangs away from his green-blue eyes. Of course Misao replied…
'You're a cute drunk baka…but that's okay…' Misao's eyes had widen, almost to popping out as Aoshi became very UN-Aoshi as he began laughing, not regular laughing just small ones…little chuckles here and there as though he was thinking of something and the fact that he was the only one whom was laughing was too cute to pass up the opportunity of telling him when he became sober.
* * * *
Misao watched as her bedroom door opened, Aoshi moving inside and closing it noisily behind him. He made his way over towards the bed and kneeled on the ground looking pleadingly up at Misao.
"Can I sleep now?" Misao started giggling once more wishing she had a camera to grab all his facial expressions but nodded her head watching the awkward way Aoshi rolled into the bed and towards her, his head resting comfortable in her lap as he sighed contently dropping off to sleep in an instant. Misao's dainty fingers brushed through Aoshi's damp hair smelling the soap on his skin and the shampoo that he used was Kaoru's apple scented one. She bent her head, her lips brushing over Aoshi's forehead as she whispered against his skin…
"Your such a cute baka Aoshi…" Misao sat back up and leaned her back against the wall knowing she wasn't moving for awhile and had to try and get comfortable not wanting to disturb her Aoshi.
* * * *
To be continued…
* * * *
Authors Notes: *wipes sweat off of forehead* Damn that was tough stuff! Aoshi is so kawaii! Its been a LOOOOOOOOOOONG time so gomen ne all you wonderful readers and reviewers.
You all remember this story right? *laughs nervously*
Well I'm getting closer to Misao's promise to Omasu and the beginning of the Aoshi-Misao-Soujiro love triangle. PLUS one of the most dramatic and heart wrenching parts to come…really soon…I promise…