------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the Midst of Clouds ~ An Alternate Rurouni Kenshin Romance
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
=========================================================================
Chapter Three: Second meeting Does Not Equate to Improving Impression.
=========================================================================
A lazy afternoon after a long and boring series of lessons saw Misao in the school's kendo dojo.
Not that she truly wishes to master the popular handling of fighting with the bamboo sword like
her elder sister Kaoru, she only got away with being a member of the kendoist team by being
proficient enough in the kendo skills by beating all the guys in the team hands down and yet
stayed to continually polish the techniques she had no idea how she had in fighting with kunai
in a somewhat more fluid ease with the sharp weapons.
Haanya-sensei was indeed one of her favourite persons lists. He recognised the ninja quality
that was most suitable to practise the real skills he yearns pass down to the younger generations
in Makimachi Misao whom had the rebellious streak, loyalty, shrewdness and sharp instincts both
in mind and body. Perhaps he had found the suitable candidate for the position of master for
the school of ninja-arts and even the wife for his okashiraa. Haanya grinned mentally and looked
forward to the arrival of his leader.
Misao did a few brief warm-ups to get ready for the spar with Haanya-sensei, anticipating for
the rare times she could go all out in a fight. Kaoru was a strict upholder of peace and fighting
techniques were only pulled out as a last resort. However Misao secretly disagreed on this theory.
Although she herself abhorred violence, there were times she discovered that taking out on the
crooks were more effective when mental negotiations failed, not to mention far more stress-
relieving as well.
A fellow member of the team signalled the start of the spar and with a battle cry, Misao launched
into lightning fast blows that caused Haanya raised his eyebrows in admiration. Her speed had
improved yet again and the intense concentration Misao held that day was almost as if she was
confronting her enemy. 'Someone must have sparked off the temper of ninja-girl.' Evading the
oncoming attacks, Haanya barely had the time to consider the distance to strategize his counter-
blows. Misao tried to sweep his legs under him but Haanya predicted the move to leap to a position
behind her. He was caught in surprise as Misao grabbed a towel on the dojo floor nearby and wring
it to form a whip that attached to his ankle and pulled him to the ground off-balance. A metallic
drawing of a sharp weapon frozen him in the middle of his struggles. Misao placed the blunt edge
of the kunai at his throat and glared in triumph, silently demanded a resignation of losing the
match.
Haanya sighed and raised his hands. "I concede."
"Yatta! I've finally beaten you at last." Misao stood up and hopped around in a weird dance of
victory. Her master grinned at this display of sheer exuberance. 'Yup, definitely good for
okashiira.'
His focus recovering, Haanya felt a familiar presence exuding from the corner of the dojo. He
bowed at the respective area and a tall figure emerge out of the dark. "Okashiira." He addressed
to the man with a pair of gleaming blue-green eyes radiating cold calculation.
The stranger finally stepped out of the shadows and let the light revealed his identity. The
pair of eyes were found on the face with well-defined contours and the coal black hair dark to
the point of being navy blue scanned the room of kendo team and resting on the other face he
recognised. The only female in the team, he noted.
"You!!!" Misao snarled in defiance. Haanya blinked. How in the world did the tenacious girl
know his okashiira. He mentally filed this information in his mind as he cleared his throat
for speech.
"Class, this is the grandmaster of my martial-arts school and my leader, Shinomorii Aoshi-sama."
The entire class bowed except for the indignant Misao. She crossed her arms and set her face
in the strongest frown of anger and extreme dislike was written all over the pixie face.
Aoshi could have laughed at this expression and the hilarous situation had he retain the non-
existant humour at the small slip of a girl. However, since he had abandoned the unneccessary
luggage called emotions, he settled on looking back at her near-exploding red face instead,
an elegantly arched eyebrow lifted up in challenge. Misao noticed the challenge and tightened
the grip of her fists.
Haanya coughed at the awkward tension building up in the samll enclosed area. "As I was saying,
I'll teach the rest of you in the kendo arts as usual. The only change will be, *cough* the
training of your team leader Makimachi Misao will be under the wing of my master, Aoshi-sama
from now on. This is a great honour to be taught by the grandmaster. Congratulations, Misao-chan.
I have to address you Misao-sama from now on."
"What!" Misao exploded at last. "Me under that obnoxious creep? You have got to be kidding me!"
Aoshi lifted his other eyebrow. "Haanya, I do remember that you told me that you have found a
rare talent to learn the restricted forms and techniques of martial arts. It could not have been
a little girl that can hardly control her emotions like her, could it?" He merely motioned the
near-hyperventilating girl and ignored the outraged crys of "I have a name you know!"
Haanya was tempted to sweatdrop at the significantly insulting remark from his leader. Usually,
Aoshi-sama was person who does not underestimate anyone, inclusive of females. This
uncharacteristic display of understating a woman and a martial arts practitioner was
unfathomable, to say the least.
"Aoshi-sama, I suggest that you test her level of arts before dismissing Makimachi-san. She
is a good material to shape." Misao fumed. How dare Haany-sensei spoke about her as if she was
just an object, and how could he even push her to a jerk like the 'high and mighty' Shinomorii
Aoshi. Granted, he is a handsome jerk but an egoistical one nervertheless. She almost lost the
comment on how Aoshi commented on no matter how highly-skilled a person is, if he or she cannot
control their emotions, the person will face the inevitable fall in the end. 'I'll show him.'
Without warning, Misao lashed out a fist that was meant to knock him on the side of his head.
Aoshi sensed the onward attack and doged. A barrage of kicks and pushing her speed limit to let
loose strong and predictable moves to see him parrying with ease. 'Good. My plan is moving well.'
A fake sweep at Aoshi's left foot was quickly ammended to a devastating kick upwards to where
males could really feel pain for days. Aoshi sensed the chi of the young girl and realised her
actual plan. His lips lifted at the corners in a near smile before disppaearing right in front
of Misao and the captured audience before the kick could contact. Misao lost her balance and
begun to fall backwards due to the momentum. She shuts her eyes and braced herself to land
heavily on the floor. 'This is going to hurt.'
A strong pair of arms enclosed her suddenly to prevent the fall and Misao opened one eye to
see who her rescuer is and was stun to discover Shinomorii Aoshi enfolded her in an intimate
near hug. "Won't want my student to get hurt before she started her lessons from me." Misao
watched in fascination in close-view on how a certain lock of soft balck hair fell and nearly
covering his eyes. Suddenly, her hand itched to brush them away so that she can continue to
count the tiny flecks of black dancing in amusment in the deep-set eyes.
Aoshi let go of her suddenly and strode to where the rest of the group watched open-mouthed
at the fiercest fight they witnessed from their kendo team leader Misao as Aoshi nodded to
Haanya. "I'll begin with her lessons starting tomorrow."
Haanya bowed politely to see his okashiraa off before turning back to see Misao picking
herself up. "The jerk! Who told him that I wish to be his student?" She grabbed her towel
to wipe the sweat off in agitated movements, before announcing her request to go off.
Haanya bid her farewell as he decided against how Misao had stayed in his leader's arms
without protests.
'Interesting match indeed.' A brief smile flitted across the older man's face as he himself
pondered on the implications of the words if the reference is the fight or the couple
itself.
.............................................................................
[The next day, Science class, laboratory]
Misao dumped her materials and textbook on the benches, muttering to herself how unfortunate
she was that the following day arrived so fast. She sharpen her pencils in an attempt to cool
herself down as her face darkened to notice a small bundle of presents and chocolates piling
up yet again at the side of the bench. 'When is the Valentines Day ever going to end?'
A shuffling of footsteps signalling the teacher entering the laboratory managed to stop her
in the middle of her ranting as she raised her head to see the ever-so-familiar cold
glittering jewels for eyes, scrutinising at the pencils she had just sharpened that can be
used as a substitute kunai if the user please. Misao gasped at her rotten luck at how she
landed yet again with the new teacher for martial arts being the replacement teacher for the
pregnant Mrs Fujimura.
Aoshi was pleasantly surprised at the ocean blue eyes belonging to the small and delicate face
burning laser-like stares at him. He quickly glanced down at the register on Makimachi Misao's
academic record and was satisfied to find her with straight A's in all the subjects except in
Arts.
Well, that area he could ensure improvement in perhaps during their training in martial
arts. No disciple of his must be allowed a slightest failure in any areas.
With the mental resolve, Aoshi briskly took down the names of those who are present. He
ignored the unwanted female attention towards him as usual as all the girls sighed in dreamy
bliss to fix their gazes on their teacher whom in their opinion is a major hunk from movies.
The class begun as Misao relaxed and paid attention to the lessons taught by her enemy and her
supposed sensei. She was disgusted by the every single sigh of admiration and pushed the
smallest protest from her brain that insisted that he *is* cute.
After a small lecture, Aoshi decided to throw a question that he is certain no one in the high
school calibre could answer. As expected, none of the people in the class volunteered to give
a reply but he found only one student by the name of Makimachi Misao looking unimpressed and
bored. Thus, he pointed her out and wants her to give an answer. Misao stood up and lifted up
her chin in an arrogant manner. To his surprise, the girl answered it perfectly and in
concise, clear words summarized the answer in simplified form before sitting down again.
Aoshi did not show his new found respect at Misao outright an merely nodded before moving
on the other topics to touch on. Assigning experiments for the class to fall into groups, Aoshi
beckoned Misao to come forward just as she moved to join her usual work group. "You will work
individually from now on if you think you're good enough for the challenge." Settling a
worksheet that was meant for a final-year student, he gave her a place at the back of the class
to work on the complex problem. Misao's work team groaned in disappointment. They were hoping
to get the class brains to help them yet again this semester but obviously they had to stand
on their own feet from now on.
Misao returned the challenging glare and stomped to the directed bench. She smiled
apologetically at her old work group and proceeded to do the series of tests and mixing of
chemicals. She had managed to finished with half-an-hour to spare as the other groups swarmed
her on how to complete a certain problem. Aoshi noticed the well-respected status of Misao in
class and was secretly envious of how she earned their respect without fear through kindness
and easygoing nature. Perhaps Haanya had discovered a suitable person to succeed Omasu-san upon
her impending wedding to Shiro after all.
++++++++++++++++++++End Of Chapter Two++++++++++++++++++++
Oh dear. Am I mistaken or has my fic turned waffy. Still, give me your comments and any
suggestions to improve the story are greatly appreciated.
P.S. Haanya is not the masked spy for Oniiwanbanshuu anymore. It's the modern Japan for
goodness sake, is there a need to sacrifice their looks for spying work? ^_^;;
neko_no_miko
In the Midst of Clouds ~ An Alternate Rurouni Kenshin Romance
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
=========================================================================
Chapter Three: Second meeting Does Not Equate to Improving Impression.
=========================================================================
A lazy afternoon after a long and boring series of lessons saw Misao in the school's kendo dojo.
Not that she truly wishes to master the popular handling of fighting with the bamboo sword like
her elder sister Kaoru, she only got away with being a member of the kendoist team by being
proficient enough in the kendo skills by beating all the guys in the team hands down and yet
stayed to continually polish the techniques she had no idea how she had in fighting with kunai
in a somewhat more fluid ease with the sharp weapons.
Haanya-sensei was indeed one of her favourite persons lists. He recognised the ninja quality
that was most suitable to practise the real skills he yearns pass down to the younger generations
in Makimachi Misao whom had the rebellious streak, loyalty, shrewdness and sharp instincts both
in mind and body. Perhaps he had found the suitable candidate for the position of master for
the school of ninja-arts and even the wife for his okashiraa. Haanya grinned mentally and looked
forward to the arrival of his leader.
Misao did a few brief warm-ups to get ready for the spar with Haanya-sensei, anticipating for
the rare times she could go all out in a fight. Kaoru was a strict upholder of peace and fighting
techniques were only pulled out as a last resort. However Misao secretly disagreed on this theory.
Although she herself abhorred violence, there were times she discovered that taking out on the
crooks were more effective when mental negotiations failed, not to mention far more stress-
relieving as well.
A fellow member of the team signalled the start of the spar and with a battle cry, Misao launched
into lightning fast blows that caused Haanya raised his eyebrows in admiration. Her speed had
improved yet again and the intense concentration Misao held that day was almost as if she was
confronting her enemy. 'Someone must have sparked off the temper of ninja-girl.' Evading the
oncoming attacks, Haanya barely had the time to consider the distance to strategize his counter-
blows. Misao tried to sweep his legs under him but Haanya predicted the move to leap to a position
behind her. He was caught in surprise as Misao grabbed a towel on the dojo floor nearby and wring
it to form a whip that attached to his ankle and pulled him to the ground off-balance. A metallic
drawing of a sharp weapon frozen him in the middle of his struggles. Misao placed the blunt edge
of the kunai at his throat and glared in triumph, silently demanded a resignation of losing the
match.
Haanya sighed and raised his hands. "I concede."
"Yatta! I've finally beaten you at last." Misao stood up and hopped around in a weird dance of
victory. Her master grinned at this display of sheer exuberance. 'Yup, definitely good for
okashiira.'
His focus recovering, Haanya felt a familiar presence exuding from the corner of the dojo. He
bowed at the respective area and a tall figure emerge out of the dark. "Okashiira." He addressed
to the man with a pair of gleaming blue-green eyes radiating cold calculation.
The stranger finally stepped out of the shadows and let the light revealed his identity. The
pair of eyes were found on the face with well-defined contours and the coal black hair dark to
the point of being navy blue scanned the room of kendo team and resting on the other face he
recognised. The only female in the team, he noted.
"You!!!" Misao snarled in defiance. Haanya blinked. How in the world did the tenacious girl
know his okashiira. He mentally filed this information in his mind as he cleared his throat
for speech.
"Class, this is the grandmaster of my martial-arts school and my leader, Shinomorii Aoshi-sama."
The entire class bowed except for the indignant Misao. She crossed her arms and set her face
in the strongest frown of anger and extreme dislike was written all over the pixie face.
Aoshi could have laughed at this expression and the hilarous situation had he retain the non-
existant humour at the small slip of a girl. However, since he had abandoned the unneccessary
luggage called emotions, he settled on looking back at her near-exploding red face instead,
an elegantly arched eyebrow lifted up in challenge. Misao noticed the challenge and tightened
the grip of her fists.
Haanya coughed at the awkward tension building up in the samll enclosed area. "As I was saying,
I'll teach the rest of you in the kendo arts as usual. The only change will be, *cough* the
training of your team leader Makimachi Misao will be under the wing of my master, Aoshi-sama
from now on. This is a great honour to be taught by the grandmaster. Congratulations, Misao-chan.
I have to address you Misao-sama from now on."
"What!" Misao exploded at last. "Me under that obnoxious creep? You have got to be kidding me!"
Aoshi lifted his other eyebrow. "Haanya, I do remember that you told me that you have found a
rare talent to learn the restricted forms and techniques of martial arts. It could not have been
a little girl that can hardly control her emotions like her, could it?" He merely motioned the
near-hyperventilating girl and ignored the outraged crys of "I have a name you know!"
Haanya was tempted to sweatdrop at the significantly insulting remark from his leader. Usually,
Aoshi-sama was person who does not underestimate anyone, inclusive of females. This
uncharacteristic display of understating a woman and a martial arts practitioner was
unfathomable, to say the least.
"Aoshi-sama, I suggest that you test her level of arts before dismissing Makimachi-san. She
is a good material to shape." Misao fumed. How dare Haany-sensei spoke about her as if she was
just an object, and how could he even push her to a jerk like the 'high and mighty' Shinomorii
Aoshi. Granted, he is a handsome jerk but an egoistical one nervertheless. She almost lost the
comment on how Aoshi commented on no matter how highly-skilled a person is, if he or she cannot
control their emotions, the person will face the inevitable fall in the end. 'I'll show him.'
Without warning, Misao lashed out a fist that was meant to knock him on the side of his head.
Aoshi sensed the onward attack and doged. A barrage of kicks and pushing her speed limit to let
loose strong and predictable moves to see him parrying with ease. 'Good. My plan is moving well.'
A fake sweep at Aoshi's left foot was quickly ammended to a devastating kick upwards to where
males could really feel pain for days. Aoshi sensed the chi of the young girl and realised her
actual plan. His lips lifted at the corners in a near smile before disppaearing right in front
of Misao and the captured audience before the kick could contact. Misao lost her balance and
begun to fall backwards due to the momentum. She shuts her eyes and braced herself to land
heavily on the floor. 'This is going to hurt.'
A strong pair of arms enclosed her suddenly to prevent the fall and Misao opened one eye to
see who her rescuer is and was stun to discover Shinomorii Aoshi enfolded her in an intimate
near hug. "Won't want my student to get hurt before she started her lessons from me." Misao
watched in fascination in close-view on how a certain lock of soft balck hair fell and nearly
covering his eyes. Suddenly, her hand itched to brush them away so that she can continue to
count the tiny flecks of black dancing in amusment in the deep-set eyes.
Aoshi let go of her suddenly and strode to where the rest of the group watched open-mouthed
at the fiercest fight they witnessed from their kendo team leader Misao as Aoshi nodded to
Haanya. "I'll begin with her lessons starting tomorrow."
Haanya bowed politely to see his okashiraa off before turning back to see Misao picking
herself up. "The jerk! Who told him that I wish to be his student?" She grabbed her towel
to wipe the sweat off in agitated movements, before announcing her request to go off.
Haanya bid her farewell as he decided against how Misao had stayed in his leader's arms
without protests.
'Interesting match indeed.' A brief smile flitted across the older man's face as he himself
pondered on the implications of the words if the reference is the fight or the couple
itself.
.............................................................................
[The next day, Science class, laboratory]
Misao dumped her materials and textbook on the benches, muttering to herself how unfortunate
she was that the following day arrived so fast. She sharpen her pencils in an attempt to cool
herself down as her face darkened to notice a small bundle of presents and chocolates piling
up yet again at the side of the bench. 'When is the Valentines Day ever going to end?'
A shuffling of footsteps signalling the teacher entering the laboratory managed to stop her
in the middle of her ranting as she raised her head to see the ever-so-familiar cold
glittering jewels for eyes, scrutinising at the pencils she had just sharpened that can be
used as a substitute kunai if the user please. Misao gasped at her rotten luck at how she
landed yet again with the new teacher for martial arts being the replacement teacher for the
pregnant Mrs Fujimura.
Aoshi was pleasantly surprised at the ocean blue eyes belonging to the small and delicate face
burning laser-like stares at him. He quickly glanced down at the register on Makimachi Misao's
academic record and was satisfied to find her with straight A's in all the subjects except in
Arts.
Well, that area he could ensure improvement in perhaps during their training in martial
arts. No disciple of his must be allowed a slightest failure in any areas.
With the mental resolve, Aoshi briskly took down the names of those who are present. He
ignored the unwanted female attention towards him as usual as all the girls sighed in dreamy
bliss to fix their gazes on their teacher whom in their opinion is a major hunk from movies.
The class begun as Misao relaxed and paid attention to the lessons taught by her enemy and her
supposed sensei. She was disgusted by the every single sigh of admiration and pushed the
smallest protest from her brain that insisted that he *is* cute.
After a small lecture, Aoshi decided to throw a question that he is certain no one in the high
school calibre could answer. As expected, none of the people in the class volunteered to give
a reply but he found only one student by the name of Makimachi Misao looking unimpressed and
bored. Thus, he pointed her out and wants her to give an answer. Misao stood up and lifted up
her chin in an arrogant manner. To his surprise, the girl answered it perfectly and in
concise, clear words summarized the answer in simplified form before sitting down again.
Aoshi did not show his new found respect at Misao outright an merely nodded before moving
on the other topics to touch on. Assigning experiments for the class to fall into groups, Aoshi
beckoned Misao to come forward just as she moved to join her usual work group. "You will work
individually from now on if you think you're good enough for the challenge." Settling a
worksheet that was meant for a final-year student, he gave her a place at the back of the class
to work on the complex problem. Misao's work team groaned in disappointment. They were hoping
to get the class brains to help them yet again this semester but obviously they had to stand
on their own feet from now on.
Misao returned the challenging glare and stomped to the directed bench. She smiled
apologetically at her old work group and proceeded to do the series of tests and mixing of
chemicals. She had managed to finished with half-an-hour to spare as the other groups swarmed
her on how to complete a certain problem. Aoshi noticed the well-respected status of Misao in
class and was secretly envious of how she earned their respect without fear through kindness
and easygoing nature. Perhaps Haanya had discovered a suitable person to succeed Omasu-san upon
her impending wedding to Shiro after all.
++++++++++++++++++++End Of Chapter Two++++++++++++++++++++
Oh dear. Am I mistaken or has my fic turned waffy. Still, give me your comments and any
suggestions to improve the story are greatly appreciated.
P.S. Haanya is not the masked spy for Oniiwanbanshuu anymore. It's the modern Japan for
goodness sake, is there a need to sacrifice their looks for spying work? ^_^;;
neko_no_miko