Hiker…

Misao hadn't even bothered to go home after her detention and instead got the bus to Kaoru's place. She only lived a couple of streets away from her so it wouldn't be hard for her to trudge over on her crutches. Kaoru was expecting her anyway and Misao figured she could phone her mum telling her she and Kaoru were going to the movies and that she wouldn't be late coming home. Yes it was a small lie but Misao didn't want her mum placing on all these rules if she knew she was going to go out with a guy. It was so embarrassing for her. Misao tried forgetting about the only other boy she actually ever found an interest in. His name was Seta Soujiro but her mum had ended up scaring the poor guy away!

"Konbanwa Misao-chan, how are you feeling?" Mrs Kamiya spoke as she opened the door wider for Misao.

"Konbanwa Auntie, I'm fine. Is Kaoru up in her room?" Misao spoke as she took off her sneakers. She headed into the lounge room first and straight for the little baby boy watching television.

"Hi Yahiko-chan, I missed you so much!" Misao spoke and patted the boy on the head making him laugh, his cheeks turning a rosy colour.

"Yes she is, I hear she has a date with a university student, how exciting for her." Mrs Kamiya spoke as she picked Yahiko up as he didn't like looking up so high at the two women.

"As long as Uncle doesn't go ballistic right?" Misao softly spoke and the two women laughed lightly but began coughing when Mr Kamiya walked into the lounge room.

"Ah Misao-chan I hear you and Kaoru are going to the movies tonight." He spoke and sat down in the lounge chair, Yahiko stretching his chubby arms wanting to be held by his father. Mrs Kamiya deposited the gurgling boy into his lap and watched as Misao nodded her head and then practically ran upstairs looking for Kaoru. She was never good at lying to Mr Kamiya and thought now was a good time to escape.

Misao knocked on Kaoru's door and entered when her muffled voice indicated to come in. She was standing in front of her full-length mirror dressed in a long grey skirt and a pink top.

"Kaoru-chan you are NOT wearing that outfit!" Misao spoke as she practically tore the top off of a shocked Kaoru.

"I like that top Misao-chan!" Kaoru grumbled but to no affect as Misao stuffed it into the dirty laundry basket in Kaoru's room.

"It's a really old shirt Kaoru-chan, not to mention a bad colour so you need something…something new and bright. Hey why not this?" Misao spoke as she pulled out a yellow summer dress with white daisies on it. She shoved it into Kaoru's arms and waited for her to place it on, Misao having to do up the zip on the back.

"What if it gets cold?" Kaoru spoke while placing on the pair of white sandals Misao handed her.

"Don't take a jumper, Kenshin will give you his jacket."

"How do you know Kenshin will bring a jacket?"

"I have three brothers Kaoru-chan. You should know how much they took about girls. Besides, its Kenshin we are talking about here so he'll definitely have a jacket with him. Don't you want to be wrapped in his jacket Kaoru-chan?" Misao taunted and watched her best friend blush.

"What about my hair, what should I do with it?" Kaoru changed the subject back to what she was going to look like in the end. Misao pursed her lips, her head tilted as though she had just become the latest fashion designer and was making all the decisions.

"Just keep it in your usually high ponytail, but use the yellow ribbon you bought to go with that top you always wear down the street. You'll be schoolgirl cute, but kind of sexy too."

"Misao-chan! I'm not trying to be sexy here!" Kaoru responded loudly but received no answer from Misao as she began to sift through Kaoru's wardrobe not sure on what to wear herself. She pulled out certain trouser pants Kaoru had, but received groans of disapproval from her best friend. After the fourth disapproval Misao turned around, hands on hips voicing her question.

"What is wrong with pants?"

"You always wear pants Misao-chan why not go for a skirt or one of my other dresses?" Kaoru eyed Misao as she parted her lips ready for a retort but knew it was pointless. The only time she did where a skirt was when she was at school and that was because it was compulsory!

"Why don't you let me pick out some clothes for you to choose from while you take a shower."

"Your taste isn't that good Kaoru-chan…" Misao muttered but made her way into the ensuite in Kaoru's bedroom. She remembered she always kept a pair of spare clothes in the bottom draw of the cupboard in the bathroom so she might as well take a nice warm shower.

* * * *

A small amount of time passed and Misao excited the bathroom with her hair pinned on top of her head and a towel wrapped around her body.

"You did remember I can only wear sneakers right Kaoru-chan?" Misao spoke as she made faces at the clothes Kaoru had picked out for her. Yep, her friend had no taste whatsoever.

"No, I found these in my wardrobe which you'll be able to wear." Kaoru spoke as she lifted up a pair of black shoes with a silver buckle. Misao chewed on her bottom lip as she looked at the selection Kaoru had created for three outfits. Her friend observed silently as Misao picked an item from each of her selection and placed it on.

Misao finally unpinned her hair, letting the wavy mass fall to her pert bottom and brushed her hands over the silk of the shirt she wore. She turned to face Kaoru who nodded approvingly and then turned to look in the mirror. She was dressed in black leggings trying to conceal the strap she wore around her ankle and a black skirt that rested comfortably on her narrow hips. It stopped mid-thigh and she wore a silk blue top that rested just were the skirt began.

"Leave your hair down Misao-chan, I'll just find a black clip for you." Kaoru spoke and opened up a large jewellery box to find the clip. Misao placed up some of her hair and let the rest fall freely. The two best friends looked at each other in the mirror and proceeded to squeal in excitement at going on their first real dates!

"We still have about half an hour to meet Kenshin and Aoshi, but did you want to go early anyway?" Kaoru spoke and Misao nodded her head while getting her crutches.

"We'll have celebration drinks!" Misao spoke happily and the two giggling teenagers headed downstairs and pouted cutely at Mr Kamiya to get a ride into the city from him.

* * * *

A couple of hours had passed by, Misao walking silently with Aoshi as they had lost sight of Kenshin and Kaoru who had gone off on their own as well. The girls didn't know, but that's the way Aoshi and Kenshin had wanted it to be. Misao began humming lightly as she gazed into shop windows along the City Street.

"Did you want to stop in the park?" Aoshi spoke and placed his hand on the small of Misao's back making her stop walking on her crutches to gaze up at him.

"Sure, I don't mind." Aoshi jerked his head in the direction of the park and the two of them headed off.

"I think the night has gone pretty well don't you Misao?" Aoshi spoke once more not sure why he seemed to be the one to be talking all the time. Usually it was Misao chatting a mile a minute but he had just snapped her out of her deep thoughts it seemed.

"Oh sure, if you count out the spilling water over you, coughing up rice and having it land on Kaoru's face, dropping ice cream onto someone's shoe and getting my hair tangled up with your watch, sure I'd say the nights going perfectly." Misao replied sarcastically and got a nudge from Aoshi as he spoke to her once more.

"Come on you had to admit that the joke was funny, you just shouldn't have had your mouth full of rice."

"Mou!" Misao exclaimed and pouted up at Aoshi, his eyes softening as he leaned down placing a kiss on her cheek and softly apologised to her for making fun of her and bringing up the disastrous points in the date.

"I-Its okay…" Misao blushed lightly and sat down on a park bench since they were in the park already.

"Wow, forgiven in two seconds flat that has to be a record between us." Aoshi replied instantly and received a smack on the arm from Misao.

"You dare keep picking on this 'sailor scout' and she'll smack you over the head with one of her crutches." Misao retorted threateningly and heard a chuckle from Aoshi as he leaned over, his lips in close contact with her own as he whispered sorry once again and then placed them against her own. Misao had stiffened lightly at the contact but soon melted into Aoshi's embrace, her hands gripping his shoulders as he began to slowly kiss her, finally letting her return the intimate caress.

Aoshi pulled away, smirking when he heard a disappointed moan escape Misao's throat. She blushed under the pale light of the street lamp at hearing that noise come from her, but watched Aoshi stand up. His hands gripped hers as he pulled her to her own feet.

"There's one more place I want you to come with me to see…and then I'll take you home."

"Where are we going?" Misao questioned but never received an answer from Aoshi as he placed his arm out waving down a cab and opened the door gesturing Misao to get in first. She listened to Aoshi voice the street to head for, but she just couldn't place where exactly they were headed.

* * * *

Aoshi and Misao had been walking around for about ten minutes now. When the both of them got out of the cab all Misao could think to say was the obvious…

"We're at a cemetery."

Misao was about a metre or two behind Aoshi, but she stopped when she watched him halt in front of a medium sized headstone. The cemetery was dully lit so her eyes couldn't exactly pick up who it belonged to, but then Aoshi happened to be standing in the way to begin with. He turned half way around beckoning Misao to come towards him. She did so watching as he pulled her crutches away from her and placed them on the ground. He made Misao kneel beside him, her eyes finally moving towards the headstone, a gasp escaping her lips.

"This is your mother!" Misao spoke in shock, her eyes glancing up into Aoshi, but watched as he took her left hand and placed it against the cold headstone, his warm hand covering the top of hers.

"Kachan, this is Makimachi Misao." Aoshi muttered lightly, Misao smiling up at him and then she bowed at the headstone whispering her own words of hello as she introduced herself to Aoshi's mother.

Misao wasn't too sure what made Aoshi bring her to the cemetery, but didn't mind that she was introduced to his deceased mother. In some strange way Misao felt honoured to meet her spirit even though she didn't have any clue as to why though.

"Come on, your mother must be worried about you being out so late." Aoshi spoke as they exited the cemetery and headed for the nearest pay phone to ring up for a cab to pick them up.

"Well…technically…she doesn't know I'm out with you." Misao responded meekly and watched as Aoshi placed the phone down and turned to look down at her wanting to know an explanation as to why her mother didn't know she was with him.

* * * *

(Kamiya Residence)

Kaoru stood under the porch light, Kenshin's jacket wrapped over her shoulders and her hands placed behind her back with her sandals clasped in them.

"Thank you Kenshin for a wonderful evening I had a really great time." Kaoru spoke as she leaned over placing a kiss on his cheek while blushing lightly.

"I am glad to hear that Kaoru." The two of them stood there, Kaoru's nervousness growing as she wasn't too sure what to do next. She wanted Kenshin to kiss her, but what if…

"Kaoru-chan is that you?" A masculine voice spoke from behind the door, Kaoru's eyes growing wide when it opened to reveal her father.

"T-Tochan, what are you doing up?" She spoke in slight fright as his blue eyes gazed over her shoulder to look at the strange man standing silently behind his daughter.

"Konbanwa Kamiya-san my name is Himura Kenshin. I apologise if I have brought your daughter back later then she was supposed to be out, I could not help but be in her presence, she is a wonderful young woman to be around." Kaoru's father was slightly caught off guard at the bowing Kenshin, his words ringing true and sincere.

"Kaoru-chan, please say goodnight to the man and come inside when you are done, we are going to have a small talk." Kaoru blinked in astonishment as her father closed the door leaving her and Kenshin alone. Kenshin observed as Kaoru placed her hand over her rapidly beating heart and then turned around to give him a sunny smile and an explanation.

"I thought he was going to go insane at seeing you here. Thank goodness he's starting to realise I'm growing up. Arigatoo Kenshin for being so sweet, but I should go inside now. I'll call you and explain everything tomorrow. Ja ne!" Kaoru spoke while quickly placing a kiss on his lips and then entered her home closing the door behind her.

"Ja ne…" Kenshin mumbled with a goofy smile on his lips as he turned around heading out the front yard of the Kamiya household. He'd definitely have to catch up with Kaoru; she still had his jacket after all.

* * * *

(Makimachi Residence)

"I can't believe you lied to your mother Misao that's just…not something I expected from you." Aoshi spoke and again heard an irritated sigh leave Misao's lips for the umpteenth time.

"Look if you knew the way she was you'd lie to her as well. She's so…so old fashioned it gets frustrating." Misao responded again but knew it was pointless as Aoshi was going to reprimand her once more. She was shocked when they reached her front door and there wasn't even a retort coming from Aoshi at all.

"A-Aoshi, can I ask you a question?" Misao spoke softly and watched him nod his head affirmatively. She really did need to switch the topic and brought up what had been pondering in her mind ever since they left the cemetery.

"Why…did you take me to your mother's grave?" Misao observed as Aoshi averted his eyes away from her for a moment but then they gazed down into hers as he answered her honestly.

"She never met any of the women I ever had an interest in…or dated for that matter. You happen to be the first person I have ever taken there. I wanted to see if she approved of you."

"Di-Did she?" Misao questioned softly her eyes glancing away from Aoshi's but she was unable to look away when he cupped her face with both of his hands.

"She approves when she can feel that I am happy…and I am happy now…and it's because of you." Aoshi watched Misao blush, he actually glad that she ended up blushing because of him. He kissed her lips once more and stepped away when the door opened to reveal not just Misao's mum but all of her brothers, the eldest having come over for dinner.

"Hey Misao-chan, did ya kiss him?" Her brothers taunted her, while her mother looked on in silence. Misao shoved her embarrassing family back into the house and turned to speak with Aoshi once more before waving and closing the door.

"I'll tell my mum everything, but if she grounds me for life its your fault and I'll have to kill you if I miss out on being able to be with you cause nobody can have you but me. Ja ne!" Hearing Misao's words Aoshi couldn't help but feel the heat rise in his own cheeks. Yep, Misao was something else for sure.

Aoshi shook his head as he turned away from the door and clicked the gate closed when he left the front yard. He stood at the gate, glancing over the dark house but watched as the outline of a room light was flicked on upstairs. The shutters were pulled away revealing Misao as she leaned out her window to see that he was still in ear distance.

"Its not forever, just the weekend so I'll call you!" Misao spoke and watched Aoshi smile up at her and then he waved heading down the street. She sighed as she watched his dark form disappear down the street.

"Misao…you've got it bad for him…" She ended up muttering to herself as she closed her window and then the shutters. She lay on her bed and hugged her pillow, her eyes opening as she finally noticed she was still wearing Aoshi's jacket. The scent was still very much his…and not her own perfume she had worn for the evening. Misao took a deep breath, a bright smile crossing her lips as she wrapped herself tightly in his jacket thinking that this is hat it would sort of feel like if she was resting against him like she had in the cave. She muffled her giggle into her pillow and mumbled once more before falling into a blissful sleep.

"See Kaoru-chan…they did bring their jackets for us…"

* * * *

The End!

* * * *

Authors Notes: YAY! That's all I have to say…