O-miai (or how to get her heart and shut up the old perverted man)

Hi minna!! Well… Here's another of Kmye-chan's silly fanfics  ^^ !! AxM of course… Enjoy minna!!!

Disclaimers: Rurouni Kenshin and its characters aren't mine. If it was, I wouldn't be there mourning over my keyboard and writing fanfics…  ^^

This one is in alternative point of view, and is kinda sweet and romantic. I choose to write this one because some readers asked for a romantic non AU story, and moreover I have a big fic planned in my crazed mind, and I wanna write it very soon, so I have to finish this one soon!!!  ^^ … Yet I don't want to write two depressing fics straight away… Don't wanna commit suicide so soon!!

An o-miai is a Japanese ceremony when a girl is to meet one or several suitors to choose a husband (most of the men being sons of influent and wealthy families of course…). Well I think it tells everything  ^^o …

Thanks to Teni for beta-reading this story!!! *glomps Teni*

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Chapter 1: Arguments (or how I got myself into that mess…)

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Aoshi's point of view

Actually, I never believed that one day, I'd be there sitting in the temple, waiting for Misao to come in. The shoji is made of a boringly white and spotless material, and my eyes are starting to hurt from staring at it intensely, half-hoping to make it slid in its rail with my mere spirit force. Well, I've know for a long time that though ki can do wonders, no one has ever been able to open doors with strength of mind… but it's already 2 pm and Misao should've come to the temple for at least two long hours.

What if she's ill? What if she got wounded on her way from the Aoiya? What if she was knocked down by a carriage?! … Wait… When have I started to think about Misao in those ways?! I don't really know myself… But for quite some time now, I've grown to long for those small bits of freedom she gives me willingly when she comes in here to greet me and bring me some tea. We talk a lot – well actually she is the one speaking, answering her own questions, but she doesn't seem offended and it suits me well: I feel more comfortable when all I have to care about is to listen to that limpid voice of hers. For what I can tell, she has matured a lot. She rambles about Oniwabanshuu business, and though I don't point it out, the accuracy of her remarks stuns me sometimes. Afterwards she will babble about how everyone's going in the Aoiya, which is fine to me since I don't see the people there often, as I'm out most of the time. I might look quite unconcerned but I do care about everyone's health.

In fact the only issues she doesn't tackle are personal matters.

Yet today Misao's not going to come with her small tray, and the cups on it jingling happily. Oh – I've always known that such a day would come… Nevertheless I want to think that something keeps her from visiting me, and that she didn't finally lost interest in me. Maybe I should run to the Aoiya and ask what's wrong – but if nothing was actually wrong? I would make a fool of myself.

Which is worse? Making a fool of myself or because I thought of my pride first, bearing the burden of a hurt Misao? I must admit that it scares me. My pride has caused enough damages for now, especially to Misao, and as for me I don't think I could cope with hurting her once more. Her well-being comes first.

That resolution made, I get up and, half angry half worried, I'm crossing the silent temple in three strides. I'm not running – after all I think that if something were really wrong, someone from the Aoiya would have come and looked for me. In a few minutes, I'm coming in sight of the Aoiya: everything looks quiet and peaceful; maybe I've been worrying too much. Yet in the meanwhile, a strange, stinging feeling tugs at my heart: would Misao have forgotten about me? I know I'm not a good company, but nevertheless I like being with her, though her own happiness matters in the first place.

"I SAID NO, JIYA!!!"

Misao's voice echoes in the whole inn, rumbling low in the street where I am standing. What is the reason for such exclamations?! I wonder what the old pervert dared tell her – I must admit that Okina is a perverted old man. Getting inside the inn, I'm immediately knocked over by a fuming tornado running out of the building, obviously in a great fit of anger.

"Misao, stop!!" This is Okon, chasing after Misao and trying to cool her down.

I raise an eyebrow quizzically. Though Misao can be quite – well – touchy, I've never seen her this upset. And my curiosity is aroused; walking quickly, I'm climbing the stairs four at a time and knocking lightly at Okina's door. The shoji flies open in an annoyed outburst, and I'm face to face with a tousled Okina, looking rather bothered and moody. Obviously the old man wasn't prepared to see me, as I can see his eyes widen in recognition of me. Am I this unexpected?! But I have no time to ponder over the question since Okina motions me to come in his office. Do I have something to do with Misao's bad temper? Complying with Okina's wishes, I'm sitting down in front of him and wait for him to break the news.

"Aoshi, I really need your help to deal with Misao-chan."

What? This is unexpected. Since when am I the one entitled to deal with Misao? But Okina is already going on.

"She doesn't want to hear a thing about marriage. I don't want to force her, of course, but then if she keeps delaying choosing an husband, she's going to end up with an old lecherous man because all the nice guys will be already happily married!"

Okay, I know that Misao doesn't want to hear about her wedding, but it's not the first time that Okina tackles the subject and usually she contents herself with brushing his remarks away. There has to be something else.

"I wanted her to take part in an o-miai. It's not as if I wanted her to make her choice immediately! What would be the problem with meeting some nice and well-mannered boys of her age for a change?!"

Should I take it as a personal offence?

"Aoshi, she's still pinning for you. Since you're not intending to marry her, could you tell her to take part in this o-miai? She will listen to you."

Well, I guess she would, but I'm not really sure that I want her to take part to that o-miai. Anyway I have no time to think about the question since Okina is looking at me more than suspiciously.

"You're not intending to marry her, right?"

I have to say that for once, I'm taken aback. No, really, I can't say that I've ever truly considered marrying Misao – I've barely thought of entering into an unconsummated marriage in case she wouldn't find a suitable husband. And truthfully I've never seriously believed that she wouldn't be able to find one. Actually, marrying Misao sounds, feels weird to me – not that I would mind having her around me, caring about me like a wife should, but I can't help but guiltily think that it would be all about my own comfort and not about her happiness. I would like to know that I'll never be alone and have Misao's refreshing presence with me forever, but I know that an unconsummated marriage is not something that would fulfil the wishes and hopes of a young, spirited woman. So all I can do is shaking my head at Okina in denial.

"Right, then." The old man resumed. "So you should understand where her interest lies. Will you ask her to take part in that o-miai?"

And again all I can do is nodding.

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Finally Misao came back home, literally dragged by a fuming, and not to mention very tired Okon. During the whole evening I've been studying her every move and act, trying to find a weak angle where I could start and strike to persuade her to take part in that bloody o-miai. I have to be very careful; I know her well enough to be aware that she can retract like an oyster in its shell when she's forced into a touchy topic. Furthermore, I can't truly find an acceptable excuse to throw her into a boring party where she'll have to struggle in a kimono and have small chat with equally boring, insipid guys. I know that I must sound like her; I've never been fond of those kinds of stupid, senseless customs.

After cleaning the dining table and throwing the rag in the bucket, splashing water everywhere as she usually does, Misao will go outside to have a rest and cool down before going to bed. I'll strike then.

Her small hand is rising to wipe some mild sweat drops off of her forehead, and she sighs lightly. Somehow she's really appealing when she's engrossed in her work, but she doesn't notice my glance and keeps piling up the dishes. In a few, light footsteps she's running to the kitchen, and she comes back with that dripping rag of hers. Meticulously she's washing the large table, gathering the crumbs in one hand; then she throws the rubbish in the can and the rag in the bucket – and water is splashing everywhere, as always. But as a small smile is starting creeping on my face, she is already gone. Catching the tacit request in Okina's eyes, I nod and get up to follow her.

The wind is warm and fragrant – it smells of rich cinnamon and blooming flowers, that peculiar scent carried by the late summer breeze. I don't have to look for her for long however. The sun is merely declining despite the late hour, and Misao is enjoying the last sunshine, sprawled very unlady-likely in the thick grass of the garden. Her eyes are closed, and the blazing whirl of colors displayed in the sky is splashing her face with bright reds and shiny golden-yellows. I'm feeling nearly guilty about disturbing her when she looks so peaceful and relaxed.

Yet I gather my will and cough lightly to actually warn her about my presence. Misao jumps with a shocked gasp and stares at me in disbelief, before sighing heavily.

"Aoshi-sama!! You nearly frightened me to death!"

I can't miss the vague blush rising on her cheeks as she tries to withstand my gaze uneasily. Okina must be right: she's still pining for me. But as for me, I think it will only make things more complicated. Carefully I sit down near her, and she throws me a disconcerted and slightly alarmed look, but as I turn to confront her eyes, she has already turned round and she stares at her feet. Okay. So here we go, and I know everything is hanging by a thread.

"Misao, Okina told me about that o-miai…"

I feel her tensing by my side. Her whole body is in alert, trying to decipher what I'm implying.

"I won't go," she blurts out bluntly. As stubborn as she is, I'm going nowhere this way. I have to be very skilful to make her change her mind.

"Listen to me, Misao. I'm not forcing you to do anything. But you must know that Okina isn't wrong; if you keep delaying your marriage you won't find a husband. You should seriously think about it."

Misao turns slightly pale, and then her face flushes with anger and she stares daggers at me. Her cheeks are a deep red color, and her lips tremble with frustration; but I was prepared for that reaction. I, however, wasn't prepared to the words she'll speak next.

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Misao's POV

I can't believe this. I can't.

Of all people on earth, Aoshi is trying to marry me. What has gotten inside his head?! I didn't know he enjoyed playing the matchmaker! Coming from Okina, it doesn't surprise me, but from Aoshi-sama!! I've always thought of him as my last resort, my shelter, my shield, and he's selling me to the enemy. Worse, he's trying to marry me with some stranger; doesn't he care about me at all?!

Actually, it hurts. It hurts a lot. If I weren't so angry, tears would be threatening to overwhelm me. For the last few months, he seemed to open up a bit to me, he nearly seemed to enjoy my company; and I, naïve as I am, I nearly thought that he cared for me – that he loved me. For Kami's sake, I was trying to offer him some comfort and happiness, and all I earn in return is being thrown in the arms of whoever wants me?!

If he cares so much about my well-being, why doesn't he see that I am in love with him and all I want is for him to marry me?!

But maybe he just wants me to understand that he doesn't need me. That he indeed doesn't love me.

I know that I must sound like exaggerating the whole thing – he didn't ask me to marry someone; he just advised me to take part in that bloody, damn o-miai. Yet to me that's the same thing: if he loved me, he wouldn't ask such a thing. He is not stupid enough to throw his beloved in such matchmaking encounters, right?

My insides are twisting uneasily in me, and my hands are itching to slap him. But I dare not. Throwing some vicious words dictated by anger into his impassable face is all I can do, not yet knowing that those very words are going to put the both of us in a goddamn jam very soon:

"OKAY!!! Since you so much want me to get married, I promise I'll go to that bloody o-miai and choose a goddamn husband before the end of the week!!!"

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End of Prologue…

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Author's notes: Well  ^^ … I hope you enjoyed this! It's rather short, I know, but this is only the prologue and anyway I had to stop here. Next chapters are going to be longer, but remember that short chapters equals more frequent updates  ^^. Anyway, this story isn't supposed to be more than 4 chapters long, unless it gets an unexpected success.

I love writing chara's POV  ^^. Misao betting to get married?! You must think I'm crazy. Well, actually, I am  ^^o .

Aoshi is in this period when you are in love and don't realize it yet. I think some people know what I mean  ^^ . You know, when your friends are having those lob-sided grins and you don't know why (actually it's because you're staring dreamily at that cool guy/girl and didn't notice it yourself  ^^o). Well though he doesn't notice it, he does sound in love ne?

I want to point out to people who were expecting more angst from one of my stories that this one isn't meant to be angsty. It's just a small romantic story. Since it's the first time I'm trying to write something romantic and light, it might not be so good.

Please review to tell me what you thought about it!!!