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

Hello minna!! Second chapter of this silly story  ^^ .

Thanks to all the reviewers for their kind reviews! I didn't think they would be so many!! Love you everyone  ^^ ! Since you are sooo nice, I'm replying to everyone  ^^

Lebleuphenix: the intention was actually to make Aoshi sound funny  ^^ . Poor him, I'm making a fool of him  ^^ . Angst? Let's see in that part…

Bee: I'm glad you liked this! I love your stuff, so I'm glad you like mine  ^^

Moonphoenix: Thx  ^^ !

Zula: Actually Misoa acted on impulse and surely wouldn't have obeyed if she had answered cool-headedly  ^^ . But as you will see, she has something up her sleeve  ^^ …

ICEANGEL: Aoshi can be dense sometimes, ne?! Well… I'm gonna see to it that he has no choice but realizing that he is in love  :) … I'm evil *bwahahahaha*

Sarah: Don't worry too much about Misao  ^^ . She's not the one suffering in this fic  ^^ .

Teni: Thanks for reviewing and beta-reading! *hugs Teni* Thank you sooo much  ^^ !

Megami no Ushi: Hey hey! I can write sweet stories too!  ^_~ (something better than sugar highs to write this story  ^^ )

Noa: Glad you liked this! Since I know you don't like angsty stories… then you should like this one  ^^ . I don't think it's angsty  ^^ … well you'll see!

Eternitys End: Thanks a lot! I hope you'll have fun reading this part  ^^ ! This is not WAFF, just a light-hearted comedy  ^^

Pratz: Here we are  ^^ ! I hope you'll enjoy this!

SilverNimbus: Considering that I don't want you to go crazy, I'm posting chapter 2 right now  ^^ . Well, I hope you'll have fun!

Have fun everyone!!!

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Chapter 2: Changeable moods (or when I started wondering if I hadn't been done…)

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Aoshi's POV

At first I've thought that my ears have been failing me.  That I've been dreaming awaken or something; but no, Misao is still glaring at me, her eyes holding determination and dull rage. I'm cringing mentally, not wanting to decipher whether she's serious or not: you must admit that she can be impulsive sometimes. But she wouldn't bring her future into play just because of an idle bet… or would she?

Without awaiting my reaction for any longer, Misao is getting up and walking with rigid strides towards the Aoiya. I, however, am staying rooted on the spot by the odd occurrence that happened a few seconds ago. My thoughts are an exasperating turmoil; Misao just promised me she would find a husband in less than a week. But she isn't able to do so. My sweet and bratty Misao isn't cheeky enough to marry any guy on a sudden impulse… or… Oh Kami, yes that she is!!!

Wait, wait. I'm trying to think coolly. Anyway this is not the right time to argue with her because it wouldn't make anything better; worse, she would stubbornly confine herself to her decision. Oh well. Maybe she really should go to that o-miai after all. She is stubborn, okay, but her resolution will weaken when she will find out that none of the guys there will make suitable husbands. And if that's not the case, when she finds a boyfriend, I think it would be all for the best. Okina is right. What is the use of holding her back anyway when I don't want her to stay with me?

Let's just hope she won't do anything stupid.

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Misao's POV

Aoshi. Sama. No. Baka.

I, also known as Makimachi Misao, am damning you to the deepest pits of hell.

You are the dumbest man on Earth. The dumbest and the densest. Even Himura would pose as an expert in women and love matters compared to you. And I have to be the dumbest and densest woman on Earth for being in love with you.

I HATE, HATE, HATE you. And I especially hate that flashing confusion in your eyes when I told you that I am getting married in a week – though I haven't found the happy husband yet. You are feeling something for me, this is strikingly blinding. The rub is, I don't know if this 'something' is brotherly affection or real love. And this gets on my nerves. But believe me, I will find out, I take this as a vow.

A part of me – my brain to be precise – tells me that I should go on and let you down, so that I wouldn't have to bother with your unbearable temper anymore; but another part prevents me from leaving you. I'm stupid, really. I should stop thinking with my hormones. Liluberin isn't a clever adviser.

Anyway, be prepared. Because today is the day when Makimachi Misao goes on war against cold and dense men, and trust me, I won't give up before I've managed to know what's going on in that twisted brain of yours.

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Aoshi's POV

As usual I wake up with the very first rays of light, and the chilly wind is rushing into my room as I open the window widely to get some fresh air. I, however, don't give the slightest hint of noticing – autumn is coming, I have to remember to make sure that the heating wood has been bought before the weather becomes cold, though we should have some nice weeks ahead of us. Deep in my thoughts, I leave the quietness of my room and close the door behind me… Actually, I'm so lost in my musings that I'm not really paying attention to where I am walking…

BANG! The impact was unavoidable, me having not seen the obstacle coming.

"AOUCH!"

Since when are obstacles supposed to talk? Amazed I'm lowering my gaze to the hurdle blocking my way out, and my eyes are widening as I'm staring at Misao wearing only… underwear?! Wait, actually she's not here, standing naked with her lone underwear, but she's trying unsuccessfully to hide her soft curves behind the bright red kimono that she's holding close with both hands… and she's staring back at me with disbelief and uneasiness, a light blush displaying on her pretty features.

WAIT! Earth to Aoshi!!! I'm staring at Misao while she's naked!!!

Okay, try to breathe coolly and pretend you didn't notice.

"H-hi Aoshi-sama… N-nice day huh?" Misao sputters with an uncomfortable smile while bypassing me, staying face to face with me so that I won't see her butt. And in a second, she's disappeared. I, yet, am remaining stunned for a while. Firstly, I've just collided with a nude Misao when she shouldn't even be up; secondly, the latter nude Misao was holding a kimono. Something's wrong.

And then I remember the stupid, foolish bet she made last night.

Oh so that's it. Misao is getting ready for that o-miai. Hopefully she will have fun… though I doubt there could be any fun in having to act well-mannered and nice and witty among boring strangers. Especially when I'm talking about Misao.

Massaging my brow, I'm walking down the stairs to have my breakfast. Okina is up, already drinking his green tea and chasing after the early – or maybe very late – lovely women who have dared venture near the front of the Aoiya. What an old, lecherous man… I just hope I will never, ever become like this – though there are very few chances, really. Anyway, I'm throwing him my best disapproving glare, and I grab the teapot and pour a cup of tea.

This is my favorite moment in the whole day. Just sitting here, drinking a cup of tea and gazing at the rising sun, to see the sky turn from a deep, velvet purple to a dark red, that becomes brighter and brighter before the blinding orb emerges from the horizon. How beautiful and priceless – and it smashes me everyday.

I, however, don't know how long I've been sitting there after contemplating the rise of the sun. My tea is definitely cold – maybe I've fallen asleep? Otherwise I've been so engrossed in my thoughts that I didn't notice that the sun was already high in the now endlessly blue sky. How amazing. I don't know what's preoccupying me so much today morning.

But as I go in the inn, something catches my eyes – something stunning enough to violently pull me out of my musings. A beautiful – no, gorgeous – woman is standing right in the middle of the restaurant, dressed in an expensive, superb kimono of the rich red color, tied around her extremely thin waist by an orange and yellow obi that's nearly training behind her. Her black hair is lightened by blue shades under the poor light of the room, and pulled into a complicated bun with soft strands falling here and there, making it look somehow natural and wild. Her back is at me – how comes I could miss that woman when she came in the inn?!

"Why the heck have I to wear this kimono?!"

MISAO?! Oh my God! When?! How?! Why?! But before I can come to, she's turning round to see who's standing behind her, having felt a presence. I hope my jaw isn't hanging near the floor because I think my reputation for being an icy, heartless man wouldn't survive this. Yet I must look like my good old self because Misao's face cringing slightly; yet I can't believe my eyes for what I am seeing is really… well really un-Misao-like.

She's wearing the nicest hairdo I've ever seen, and a light, skilfully applied make-up makes her eyes stand out, shadowing her eyelids and making those blue orbs shimmer in a way I would never have thought possible. I think that some lipstick reddens her plump mouth, though I'm not sure – I'm not an expert in make-up, after all… but all I can say is that she's incredibly pretty. Maybe too pretty.

Kami, what got inside her head? That red – red! – kimono is a bit too provocative for a girl of her age, isn't it? And that collar shows way too much skin. It allows anyone to peek at her creamy collarbones, at the smooth skin showing between the silk layers. I don't like at all the idea of letting Misao alone with strangers when she's wearing such an outfit. Not that she's overly sexy – but I could kill those guys for turning their eyes on that fragile, red-dressed angel. Their impure thoughts would soil her.

Yet her eyebrows are creasing slightly and she's turning her back at me again, resuming her talk with Okon.

"Really, I can't even have a run in this outfit!"

"That's the actual point of this, Misao", Okon's chuckling lightly with a wry grin. "You'll have to act like an real lady for once."

Misao is pouting and grunting. She's cute when she does this… My own thoughts are troubling me sometimes… But I don't have the opportunity to venture on that slippery slope, because a carriage is stopping in front of the inn.

"Eleven on the dot!" Okon's exclaiming in triumph. "Your suitor is a gentleman, Misao!"

While Misao mumbles something incomprehensible, the coachman jumps down of his seat and ceremoniously holds the door wide open for Misao to come in. I'm catching a glance of the inside of the carriage, and a twinge of regret is tugging at my heart. The car is incredibly luxurious and comfortable, something that Misao very likely never experienced, something that we, Oniwabanshuu, have never been able to afford to offer her – that I've never been able to offer her. With a friendly pat on her shoulder, Okon gives Misao a warm smile; uncertainty is flashing through our protégée's eyes, but she's resolutely grabbing the hem of her kimono, and with a resolute look etched on her features, she steps into the carriage. She turns about for the last time, and her eyes are scanning the small crowd we make, a fleeting gaze warms me; and her look locks with mine as she waving at us with a bright smile splashed all over her face.

I'm scared. Utterly scared. What if good old Misao-chan never came back from this deadly trip for a wedding?!

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Misao's POV

Good. Perfect. This worked terrifically! Or at least I hope…

Aoshi-sama really looked moved of seeing me leaving. I nearly think he was flinching under my gaze when I threw him my overly bright-pleased-happy smile. This is very heartening – maybe I will find out that he cares about me!

But now that I am alone in that wide, scaringly empty carriage, I'm feeling far less proud. You know, somehow uncomfortable. Frightened. Wait, Makimachi Misao frightened of meeting a stranger?! I'm gonna kick that jerk's ass who dared think that he could impress me with that profusion of luxury. What a stupid seducer! I'll show him that Makimachi Misao isn't your average pretentious young madam.

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Wait. If I'm put my tower here, his bishop's going to take my queen. But if I'm moving my knight, I'm checkmate. Argh! What a dilemma!

I'm glancing at Mitsuhiro, who's half-smiling at me, his head tilted as he's studying the game. I'm trying my best coaxing eyes at him, but he doesn't flinch and keep gazing at me gently, and I can't decipher what he's decided to do next time. Mitsuhiro introduced me to that strange – and fascinating – Western game called chess. I needed the whole afternoon to understand its intricate rules and subtleties, but now I'm starting to make life difficult for him. He's still winning, but not for long, believe me. 

I had prejudices against Mitsuhiro; for once I have to say that I was utterly wrong. Mitsuhiro is a cute, shy guy, not much older than I. His hair is short and dark brown, brushing against the pale skin of his forehead, and he has dreamy, gentle black eyes that look down at me with care and softness. At first, he was as uncomfortable as I was – I learnt later that his parents forced him to take part in that o-miai too, just like me; however, the ice was soon broken when, after a long and silent lunch with his parents when my every move was studied and dissected in detail, he asked me if I knew how to play chess. I didn't. So he offered to show me. And we became friends.

Engrossed as I am in my tactic, I don't notice that he's trying to tell me something. When his hand is touching my arm, I start, and he smiles in apology.

"Misao, it's already late. Maybe you should go back home, ne?"

I'm shaking my head franticly.

"Let's finish this game!" I ask pleadingly with my best puppy eyes. Mitsuhiro sighs and gives up. The game is coming to an end soon anyway, since I was in a bad shape for this one. Smiling gently, Mitsuhiro carefully lays the small marble characters in their wooden box and puts the chessboard on a shelf. I'm sighing in slight disappointment, but he grins at me friendly and says, "Hey! Don't look so sad Misao. You can come whenever you want, and we'll play chess again!"

I'm staring at him, before regaining my composure and answering in delight. "Sure!"

I'm eager to be back at the Aoiya and tell everyone how much I had fun today. I'm eager to see Aoshi's reaction too.

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End of chapter 2

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Author's notes: All I can say is… funny stories are MUCH easier to write than angsty ones! I guess this story isn't really interesting but I'm having a lot of fun writing it and I hope that the ones reading are feeling a bit more relaxed after this  ^^ .

I LOVE writing in chara's POV  ^^ . Some of you may think that Aoshi is very OOC but I'm not so sure : he doesn't speak, which doesn't mean he doesn't think, right? Who knows what he is thinking during the whole story  ^^o … I love writing in Misao's POV too because actually the one thinking like that is me  ^^o . I don't think Misao has such Machiavelian thoughts  ^^ …

How did you find this chapter? Boring? Good? Funny? Stupid? Should I throw this in my garbage can? Should I continue soon if I don't wanna get killed? Let me know by clicking on the review button! You know that you want it  ^^ !