Hiker…

A few days passed as Misao was forced to rest up, to get her health back to what it originally was and to rest her badly damaged ankle. Misao being Misao couldn't handle it anymore though. On the fifth day of being bedridden she couldn't stand it any longer and was already up and dressed for school. Her mother insisted she take a few more days off, but she began to whine about how boring it was just lying around in her bedroom not being able to go anywhere. Its not like she was on her deathbed or anything.

The following day after Misao had a good sleep in her bed, she was taken to Megumi's father to get her ankle checked out. Ligaments had been sprained and torn in which she was given painkillers if it got too much for her as well as being placed on crutches. Misao didn't mind the crutches every now and then, but painkillers? She felt like such an idiot that over a sprained/twisted ankle she was given painkillers. She hadn't touched them though, Misao was way to stubborn to give into a small amount of pain.

Once her friends had heard the news of her safe arrival they were over her place in a flash, tears brimming in Kaoru, Megumi's and Kurohato's eyes. Sano and Souzou just patted Misao on the back even though they too were worried as hell.

"Misao-chan breakfast is ready." Her mother spoke from downstairs and Misao grabbed her bag and limped out the door. She got to the stairs and used the banister to slide down. Once she was on the ground floor she picked up her crutches and used them to head into the dining room. She knew her mum would flip out if she saw her without her crutches.

"Are you sure you want to head back to school Misao-chan?" Her mother spoke again while watching one of her sons who was still half asleep trudge into the kitchen to make himself some coffee, still dressed in his sleeping clothes.

"Hai, hai kachan…" Misao muttered slightly exasperated. She stared endlessly into her bowl not touching her food as she chewed on the thought of when she persuaded her brother to take her back to the place where they had picked her up from. Their mother wasn't home that day and all Misao had to do was pout at her brother and he gave in with a loud sigh. Once they arrived Misao was helped to the door, but her brother soon backed off and let Misao take care of whatever she needed to do. Misao had clutched the plastic dry cleaning bag, which held the clean clothes and slippers in it, and held her breath when the door had opened revealing another woman who wasn't the one she saw days ago. She was the spitting image of the one that had hugged Aoshi and Misao began to stutter like an idiot as she explained in full detail what happened and why she was here. All the woman could do was blink and nod her head as Misao thrust the clean clothes into her hands and bowed to her.

Misao sighed over her breakfast, not noticing the worried glances she was receiving from her mother. The woman had asked Misao if she wanted to come in, but Misao shook her head negatively and only asked one more question 'Did she know where Aoshi was?' Her hopes of seeing him were dashed when the woman shook her head and replied that she hadn't seem him since her sister let him stay the night he and Misao made it back into Tokyo. She had come home late from work and noticed his sleeping form on the couch, but decided to let him rest and ask her sister what he was doing here in the morning. When they both woke in the morning there was a note of thanks, but Aoshi had already left.

"Misao-chan you best eat up or you'll be late for the bus." Her mother spoke snapping Misao out of her thoughts and she promptly began to eat quickly.

"Misao-chan, I heard you and Kaoru-chan talking the other day about a boy named Aoshi. He was the one to help you right sweetie?" Her mother spoke making Misao choke on her food.

"Kachan you eavesdropped on our conversation! Mou!" Misao turned her head away and crossed her arms over her school uniform shirt.

"You never told me anything of what happened Misao-chan. I had to do something too. I was so worried that something might have happened to you while you were with that boy!" Mrs Makimachi watched Misao's face turn red at her words.

"Ka-Kachan that's not fair! Have you got no faith in me? I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself thank you very much! Furthermore I already told you that nothing happened alright!" Misao was fuming at her mother and proceeded to stuff her face while mumbling lightly.

"Misao-chan, you are my youngest…and my only beautiful daughter therefore I must worry about what boys will think when they glance your way. You're a very pretty 16 year old girl that's all I'm saying." Misao let out a frustrated scream not caring that her two out of her three brother were in the room, since the eldest didn't live there and they listened in to her conversation with their mother.

"For crying out loud what do you think was going to happen? I nearly died of hypothermia and I'm glad that I was found by Aoshi. He knew exactly what to do since he is studying medicine at university so stop referring to him as a boy mother because he is definitely not a boy!" Misao stood up then and placed the pads of the crutches under her armpits and made her way to the front door.

"Wait, when someone is suffering from hypothermia don't they have to be stripped of their clothes and warmed up with someone else's body heat?" One of Misao's brothers voiced loudly, Misao hearing a definite gasp coming from her extremely old-fashioned mother.

"I'M LEAVING NOW!" Misao yelled and hurriedly…well as fast as she could go on crutches and headed out of her front yard and down to the end of the street and around the corner to sit down at the bus stop. What Misao didn't notice was the lone figure that was aimlessly walking on the other side of the road, a slip of paper in his hand trying to locate an address.

"MISAO-CHAN!" A loud voice yelled making Misao turn her head to look down the street to see a running and waving Kaoru. Misao smiled seeing her friend and made room on the bench for her to sit down.

"I'm so glad your coming back to school! It hasn't been the same without you." Kaoru spoke and took Misao's bag when the bus arrived so she could make her way up the steps on one foot while clutching her crutches as well. Two students that Misao knew smiled at her and moved from the front seat to sit elsewhere so Misao and Kaoru didn't have to head down to the back of the bus.

"Arigatoo." Misao responded and sat down, Kaoru still holding her bag silently indicating she'd carry it for her. The bus slowly moved away from the curb as it puttered along heading down the street.

* * * *

(Makimachi's Residence)

Mrs Makimachi was placing away some of the breakfast dishes, her sons placing on their shoes as they were ready to leave for work and university. There was a chime indicating they had a visitor and the three Makimachi's headed for the door and opened it up. The visitor had his back to them and turned around taking off a pair of black sunglasses he wore.

"I'm sorry to bother you so early in the morning, but I was hoping to find a Makimachi Misao, this is her address correct?"

"We haven't seen you in quite sometime Shinomori-san, how have you been fairing? Misao-chan went looking for you but was unable to find you which saddened her greatly." Mrs Makimachi's sons replied to him.

"I must speak with her, is she inside?" Aoshi spoke again but watched as her brothers pointed at the bus that was heading down the street.

"She's on the bus heading for school. Do you need a lift there?"

"No I'm fine, I'll catch her another time. Thank you for your help." Aoshi bowed and turned around walking away and headed back the way he came.

"I see why Misao was so embarrassed when I spoke about him, he's quite handsome indeed…very sophisticated indeed. He certainly has my fussy daughters attention that's for sure." Mrs Makimachi spoke and gained confused stares from her sons, but waved them off and headed back inside to get started on her cleaning.

* * * *

(Lunchtime…)

Misao and Kaoru sat inside eating their lunch, with numerous other students doing the same. Misao sat atop her desk, her back facing the open window and was chatting with Sano, Souzou, Megumi and Kurohato. Misao had squealed happily when she heard the news of Sano and Megumi, not to mention the news about Souzou and Kurohato dating as well. All four of her friends blushed and glanced away not being able to take her energetic congratulations since she was voicing them so loudly that the rest of their grade could hear them. Girls began to giggle profusely while some of Souzou and Sano's mates ended up slapping them on the back while voicing 'score' as well.

"I'm…going to go buy myself a drink." Sano spoke and got off his own desk and headed out the door trying to ignore the comments he was getting from his mates.

"I'm coming too!" Souzou, Megumi and Kurohato spoke simultaneously as all three of them rushed after Sano. Misao giggled to herself watching the door slide shut, numerous other students going back to their own conversations. She turned to look over at Kaoru who was sitting in her chair, her head resting in her folded arms as she gazed out the window deep in her own thoughts. Misao brought out her cold drink and placed it against her friend's neck observing as she shot up from the chill.

"Mou, Misao-chan that's cold!" She spoke annoyingly. Misao turned to face Kaoru fully and voiced her question allowed.

"Your far away Kaoru-chan, is something bothering you?" Misao watched as Kaoru mumbled lightly, her fingers toying with the uniform scarf around the collar of her white blouse. Misao leaned forward, her hands placed on Kaoru's desk to support herself as she tried to understand what Kaoru was confessing.

"YOU'RE GOING ON A DATE WITH KENSHIN?"

"Misao-chan be quiet, it's embarrassing!" Kaoru hissed and Misao slapped her hand over her mouth stopping any more words from escaping. Kaoru was bright red as students glanced their way. Whispers were uttered as no one had ever seen Kaoru on a date...but the students that went on the camping trip saw how her and Kenshin got along. Giggles soon erupted and Kaoru bowed her head hiding her face in her arms.

"Ne Kaoru-chan is it tonight? Did he call you? Where is he taking you? What are you going to wear?" Misao was back to being her super genki self asking a million questions that Kaoru never had time to answer as she lifted her head up to gaze down at the courtyard, her eyes glued on a figure dressed in black.

"Ne Misao-chan who is the most gorgeous guy you'd wish to see again?" Kaoru asked and stared up at a confused Misao. She was chewing her lip thoughtfully and then brought up her drink to take a sip but answered first.

"That's easy, it's got to be Aoshi." Misao had responded with a blush after she realised that it really didn't take her long to answer her friend at all. Had she fallen for the nature loving, scientific university student?

"Looks like you got your wish." Kaoru spoke almost in boredom but watched comically as soft drink sprayed from Misao's lips as she turned to look out the window knowing the black clothed figure off by heart. A deep blush crossed Misao's cheeks as she eyed him silently.

"Misao-chan, just what happened in that cave anyway?" Kaoru spoke her arms crossing over her chest watching Misao splutter trying to give her an answer, but made absolutely no sense.

"You kissed him didn't you?" Kaoru spoke loudly and gained the attention of the other students.

"Iie, that's not what happened!" Misao spoke and picked up her crutches and stumbled out of the classroom to head to the courtyard. Kaoru smiled lightly as she finally got to embarrass her friend. She watched as her fellow classmates rushed to the windows to have a look as Misao finally made it downstairs in record timing.

* * * *

(In the courtyard)

Aoshi had spotted Misao a mile away, her long braid very defiant. She had been sitting on a desk when he watched confused as she turned slightly red and disappeared from view. He was just about ready to head inside the building when he watched the doors burst open and a puffing Misao looked his way. Aoshi tilted his head slightly as he watched Misao pat down stubborn wisps of hair that broke free of her braid and tucked them behind her ears. She placed her crutches under her armpits and began heading his way.

"Its been a while Misao." Aoshi spoke in his usually soft tone of voice even though it was deep and masculine. He watched as Misao jerked her head in a nod as though he made her loose her voice at seeing him again.

"You are resting well I hope." Aoshi spoke again watching Misao nod her head once more. A small smirk made its way onto his lips as he noticed a small flush cross Misao's cheeks. Aoshi's hand lifted up without his consent and brushed a strand of Misao's hair away from her slightly parted lips. He chuckled lightly when her flush darkened as his fingers brushed lightly across her cheek.

"I…I tried looking for you…" Misao spoke in hesitation and closed her eyes in slight mortification of her weak words. She was supposed to be strong and yet here she was being all meek and shy in front of Aoshi, a guy who had effected her to no end, but still she knew next to nothing about him.

"I know…I was at your home, but a little too late in reaching you. You were already on the bus heading for school." Misao jerked her head up looking at Aoshi when he spoke those words. He'd come looking for her? But…why?

"I ended up getting an extension on my assignment and headed straight back to the cave. While near the river, I found something that is precious to you." Misao observed as Aoshi placed his hand in the pocket of his black jeans and pulled out the item, it concealed in his right hand. His fingers unfolded, Misao gasping, as she knew what it was, her index finger brushing over the chain.

"My locket…" Without even thinking Misao dove into Aoshi's chest, her hands wrapping around his waist as she practically yelled thank you to him for finding it. She had felt him tense, his left hand squeezing her shoulder almost painfully and Misao quickly backed away blushing richly in abashment.

"Sure the fall was days ago, but the bruise still hurts a bit." Aoshi spoke while rubbing his right hip. Without even thinking on Misao's behalf, yet again in fact, she lifted up Aoshi's untucked black button down shirt, her eyes coming in contact with tanned skin, but his right hip area was tinged purple because of the large bruise, even though most would be hidden by his jeans.

"Gomen ne Aoshi!" Misao abruptly spoke as she stepped away, her eyes brimming with tears at seeing such a horrible mark like that encasing his richly tanned skin.

"Misao I'm just glad you were okay in the end, so you needn't apologise. You became my responsibility and I didn't want anything to happen to you. Anyway…I should be going, I just came to give you back your locket." Aoshi spoke as he tucked his left hand into his jeans pocket.

"Th-That was it…that's all you came to do?" Misao muttered to herself, her head bowed as a thousand thoughts began to invade her mind.

"Misao…" Aoshi spoke softly watching as her shoulders shook lightly. He wasn't too sure what to do for her and was just about to place his hand on her shoulder when her blue-green eyes glanced determinedly into his.

"I want to get to know you more Aoshi! Please, I want to see you again…I…I want to be you!" Misao spoke abruptly her eyes staring intently into his, the depth of her soul being known to him. Aoshi was caught off guard. She was...Misao was freely giving herself to him without he even voicing anything for her. He said she was cute, but that didn't necessarily mean he was "into her" did it? Aoshi was rooted to the ground, hearing Misao sniffle lightly as he spoke no words to her.

"I…I got it all wrong didn't I? The way…you held me…cared for me…kissed me…I feel like such an idiot." Misao tried laughing her embarrassment off, but it just wasn't working…especially not in front of him.

"Misao…you and I…I mean, your still…"

"I'm still what, a little girl to you is that it? A stupid love sick teenager right?" Aoshi was again struck by her words. Her head was bowed and her hands were fisted, clutching his black shirt. Aoshi sighed lightly as he looked down at Misao. His hands lifted up to cup hers, he never believing that she'd be the one to make him feel completely frustrated and yet so free at the same time.

"That's not it at all. Your not a little girl Misao, your more like…a sailor scout."

"WHAT?" Misao yelled as she pushed away from him, her eyes glaring up into his laughing green-grey ones. Her lips parted ready to respond to his remark but she was unable to as Aoshi cupped her cheeks, his lips pressing a soft kiss onto hers.

"That's the stubborn and outspoken Misao I know." Aoshi spoke as he stood to his full height dropping his hands away from Misao's glowing cheeks.

"But I…I never said anything…" Misao replied lamely.

"You were going to though…right?" Aoshi contorted again, his eyes laughing as he glanced up and down at Misao. Her uniform was exactly like the one that the sailor scouts wore in that series his younger sister watched all the time.

"GO MISAO-CHAAAAAAAN!" A voice yelled from the classroom Misao had been having lunch in. She turned bright red at Kaoru's words and promptly turned around, her hand raised and fisted as she yelled back her own remark.

"SHUT UP KAORU-CHAN AND LEAVE YOUR BIG MOUTH FOR KENSHIN!"

"MISAO-CHAN NO BAKA!" A bright red Kaoru voiced loudly down into the courtyard, her hands cupping her mouth so it would reach Misao more powerfully.

"BACK AT YOU KAORU-CHAN!" Aoshi pulled on Misao's arm telling her to quiet down and he began to head for the school gates indicating he should leave. Misao hobbled after him on her crutches. Aoshi turned to face Misao and shook his head looking down at her.

"You and Kaoru quarrel like this all the time?" Aoshi watched Misao shake her head, her bright smile directed up at him as she voiced her answer honestly…with a flush crossing her cheeks of course.

"Only if it has something to do with you and Kenshin." Aoshi continued to stare down at Misao, watching as she fidgeted with the hem of her short skirt. Misao watched the small smirk on his lips grow, her eyes narrowing at not knowing what he was thinking.

"I don't really look like a sailor scout do I?" Misao pouted up at Aoshi as she was the first to speak again. Aoshi's head tilted to the right but he finally leaned forward, Misao's eyes growing wide as he held her in his light embrace.

"Yeah you do…but a little cuter."

"Mou, just a little?" Misao complained even though she closed her eyes and relaxed into his arms. She felt all giddy inside when Aoshi chuckled at her question. His right hand brushed the nape of her neck sending goosebumps down her body.

"Don't worry I'll get you out of them later on." Misao's eyes nearly popped out of her head when she heard Aoshi's words. She pushed on his chest looking up at him as he spoke again.

"I forgot to tell you Kenshin wanted us to come with him and Kaoru on their date…so it'd be a double date if you wanted to go of course, but I'd make you go home and change first. Wouldn't want to be seen with a sailor scout and all." Aoshi winked down at Misao watching her fume silently, but her response was not what he thought it would be.

"Oh…" Misao began chewing on her lip deep in thought. Her train of thought was soon lost when Aoshi's green-grey eyes stared back at her, she blinking in surprise at how close he was.

"Just what were you thinking about Misao?"

"NOTHING!" Misao replied loudly but again her cheeks flushed red when Aoshi placed a kiss on her lips. He always seemed to like surprising her by kissing her without warning her he was going to. It sent a thrill down her spine, but it too was frustrating when she couldn't even return it!

"I'm not going to sleep with you Misao, if that's what your train of thought was implying." Aoshi spoke clearly as he hugged her, his eyes glancing at the figure heading towards them. He felt Misao stiffen at his words, his lips moving to her ear to voice his last words before swatting her butt and walking off.

"Yet… You really should get back to school sailor scout."

"MOU!" Misao yelled in exasperation, her face red at the 'yet' and she proceeded to lift up one of her crutches over her head to throw it at Aoshi's retreating form but could do no such thing when a loud shriek was heard coming from inside the school grounds.

"Makimachi, you get back into school this instance!" Her homeroom teacher spoke loudly, her hands on hips as she saw what that man did to Misao.

* * * *

(Detention Room)

Misao sat at a desk her hands folded and she rested her chin on them as she stared at the clock, time slowly ticking away.

"Aoshi no baka." Misao mumbled to herself, as she was a hundred percent sure that everything was his fault, mainly the fact she had detention for being out of school and not in the class as the lunch bell had already gone. Misao closed her eyes for a moment, the warm feeling of Aoshi hugging her was very vivid in her mind. Thunder rumbled through the cloudy afternoon sky, Misao aimlessly glancing out the window to watch huge puddles begin to form on the pavement below. Again her thoughts turned back to Aoshi…

"Hazukashi!" Misao spoke to herself and blushed bright red, her hands trying to cover the redness of her cheeks but to no avail.

"Misao-chan?" Misao glanced at the door to see Kaoru poking her head inside.

"I'll meet you at my place when you finish your detention so we can decide what to wear on our dates." Kaoru slid the door closed and quickly walked off.

"D-Dates?" Misao stuttered to herself, Aoshi's words flowing through her mind and she squealed happily at going on a date with him. She flopped back down on the desk and closed her eyes not too sure what to wear or do on a date, but hoped Kaoru had some sort of clue. Misao was in a wonderful mood, but it soon dawned on her…the one thing that could stop her from going anywhere…and that was her mother. Would her mother allow it? She always had the rule of no dating until she was 18, but could Misao actually listen to her…or even wait for another two years to pass by? Could Aoshi wait for two years? Misao's depression grew as these thoughts consumed her mind.

* * * *

To be continued…

* * * *

Authors Notes: There is only one chapter to go! YAY! I might write it…but then I feel like writing another chapter of something else…Ja ne…