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

Yaattaaaa!! Back with chapter 3!!

Thanks a looot to all the nice people who reviewed that stupid fanfic  ^^ ! I'm sooo happy that you like this  ^^ !!!

Hey ! I want to burst out with joy because 'Catching Hold of You' got nominated for the RKRC () in category  Best Romance  ^^ !! Wow I just couldn't believe it  o.O … and actually it was also nominated as best Angst/Dark Fic, as well as 'In Her Smile', but they didn't got seconded, at least yet… It made me so happy… but it was so unexpected… Thanks you anyone who nominated my stories!!! *hugs everyone*

Thanks to Teni for beta-reading!

Have fun, and please review  ^^ !

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Chapter 3: Tactics (or what the hell is happening with me?!)

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Aoshi's POV

For nearly an hour we've been sitting in the main room of the inn, after all the customers had taken their leave, and we've been listening to Misao, who's telling us about the wonderful day she had, about the wonderful guy she met, and about the wonderful game he taught her, and so on. I'm bored of passively waiting for her to end this wonderful narrative. Actually, I really can't see the excitement in all this; if she wanted to learn how to play chess, all she had to do is to ask; I would have shown her.

Women are truly a mystery. I guess I will never understand what's going on in their brain – at least I'll never understand what's going on in Misao's. Finally she lets out a dreamy sigh, staring at the ceiling with starry eyes – she looks like the perfect lovesick girl in Okon's mushy Western books. I think I'm going to be sick. Slightly impatient, I get up without a word and bow to take my leave. She throws me a disconcerted glance that goes unnoticed by Okina and the others, and that I'm pretending not to have seen.

I'm wondering whether we're going to endure such a fiery speech every night this week, since she is to meet a lot of other guys… Maybe I should settle in the temple for a while… But I can't bring myself to let my Misao-chan as food for those guys while I'm away.

Sighing in slight exasperation, I go into my private room. It's already late, I've deserved a good night sleep, and anyway, I don't want to ponder over the rendezvous of a certain weasel-girl anymore. Lost in my musings, I start to undress when I hear tiny footsteps stop in front of my door. Hesitantly, a light knock is heard – no need to ask for the intruder's name, I've already recognized Misao's tread. I swiftly slip into a yukata, and then I let out a toneless "Come in".

The door slides open and Misao's messy-haired head pops out of the slit. Unusual of her, she looks slightly ill at ease. She's fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve, she's trying to say something but she stops before a single word manages to leave her lips.

"Yes? Can I help you Misao?" I'm trying to encourage her, though my voice keeps its unfathomable darkness.

"Well…" she says, "I was wondering if you could teach me the subtleties of chess. You know, special moves, tactics, you know what I mean. So that I can beat up Mitsuhiro-kun next time."

I was uncomfortable to begin with, but rather pleased in the meanwhile; and again that Mitsuhiro is stepping between Misao-chan and me. I had nearly forgotten his name, and Misao is calling him 'kun'. I feel annoyed and hurt, somehow, and I can't understand what that raising emotion is.

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Misao's POV

Men are truly a mystery. I guess I will never understand what's going on in their brain – at least I'll never understand what's going on in Aoshi's. The only thing I've understood is that my little feeling about him having something for me was right. But this is not – absolutely not – the way everything was meant to turn out. Aoshi has never acted this coldly towards me, and I can't decipher if this is about jealousy or disgust, for crying out loud.

Frustrated, I casually push my tower on another square; Aoshi's queen's ruthlessly taking my bishop.

"You're checkmate," he lets out in an even voice for the unteenth time in the evening. I'm checkmate. I'm checkmate again, and this time I don't even see how he managed to have me. Anyway, I'm not trying to argue – when he says he won, that means that he won. Discouragement and anger are flowing in my veins; weren't I so tired, I would punch the chessboard in frustration. Why can't I win even once against him?! Everything seems to come to him so naturally; he plays chess as I breathe. He's overwhelming me on purpose.

"You should go to bed. You'll have another tiring day tomorrow," he says blankly, his voice showing as much concern as if he was talking to a stone.

"No. Another one."

He's staring at me with dull eyes, as though he couldn't see me or rather as if I was some kind of insane person.

"Please. Another game," I plead  stubbornly. I can hear him sigh slightly, in annoyance I guess, but he nods and starts gathering the figures. But suddenly, he stops, as if some obscure idea hit that brain of his.

"Put the characters on the chessboard, I'm going to make some tea."

What??! Was I dreaming, or did Aoshi say something to me that wasn't 'Yes', 'No', or 'You're checkmate'?? What is happening to him?! … I know, I'm bitter. I can't help. My eyes are stinging with slumber, and I can't help but yawn loudly as soon as Aoshi is out. Scowling, I gather the pawns and I put them on the board with bad grace, my eyelids having never felt that heavy – but I'm too thick-headed to go to bed before I have a chance to make Aoshi stifle his pride, and in the process give vent to my resentment.

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Aoshi's POV

As silent as possible, I climb up the stairs back to my room where Misao and I are playing chess. It's very late – or very early, up to you. She has decided not to give up, and so have I; I'm well aware that I am trying to make her pay for making me feel so awkward tonight. Not that I am trying to humiliate her – but her talk earlier left me a bitter taste, and I want her to feel that twinge of regret too. She's not the only one who can play with others' hearts.

No one has to know that we still are up – Okina would kill me, he probably think that Misao deserves her beauty rest for her meetings tomorrow. As if she needed it – oops, what am I thinking now?!

Moving like some soundless shadow with my tray, I edge my way to the barely lighted up room, putting my icy mask back into place and bracing myself to face Misao's resolute eyes. But as soon as I come in, my heartless façade breaks down in an instant as the sweetest scene welcomes me.

Misao has dropped off on the chessboard, the white queen and the black king tucked in her small fists, her black hair pooling around her like liquid obsidian – and she's snoring slightly, her pale lips cutely ajar. I really can't help but chuckle, and this chuckle is degenerating into a light but fond half-laugh. She could be damn beautiful – but she's sleeping with her mouth half-open, and then to me she's still so adorable. As though she heard me mocking her, she frowns in discomfort and moves slightly, causing her snoring to stop. Dropping the tray on my desk casually, I kneel near her; softly coaxing the pawns out of her hands, I wrap her in the thick blanket lying on my futon. She sighswith a small smile, slipping into her merry dreams.

I think I'm going to be cold tonight since she is the one sleeping in my blankets – and actually, I don't care. The mere sight of her is enough to make me feel warm.

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Misao's POV

Please remember me how I got into that mess. Or better – don't tell me, if you value your life.

Yesterday was one of the best days in my whole life; I guess that today is the compensation. A day in heaven for a day in hell. Bull crap, damnit! That guy is such a jerk, playing the smart ass with his so-called heartbreaker's smiles… Well, I'm not requiring from any guy to have Aoshi's elegance nor Mitsuhiro's kindness, but this boy is purely hopeless!

Today was an unlucky day from the very beginning anyway; I woke up as a real mess, having slept on the tatami in Aoshi's room, and my whole body was terribly aching. Then Okon literally fell on me as soon as I came into the dining room and dragged me to the bathroom so that she could exert her – questionable – talents at dressing and doing hair. And now I'm stuck with that dumb ass.

The single funny event today was when his parents asked me to play the koto. My partner-in-crime, also known as my brain, soon formed a plan to get rid off any proposition from this guy; and I think that never, never had they heard someone play the koto this wrong, nor sing this out of tune. Just the distorted look on their faces was priceless. I wanted to burst out laughing – but I restrained myself. Only to be cramped again in the boring routine of the tea ceremony.

Fortunately, that awful day is coming to an end. My carriage is stopping in front of the mansion; my well-trained ears noticed the nearly inaudible screech on the gravel.

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Aoshi's POV

I take two long gulps of cold water from my flask; I know that drinking something cold after training will give me stomach aches, but I really need to cool down. Having trained especially hard today, I'm feeling like some flabby jelly heap, my muscles tired and aching and sweat drenching my clothes. Tiredness is overwhelming me slowly; I can feel my eyelids turning like lead. In a careful move I line up the wooden kodachi I use to practice, then I'm dragging this sleepy ass of mine to the door.

My hands slip into my pockets to find some warmth and comfort; but my fingers brush against a crumpled sheet of paper. Oh – I had nearly forgotten about this. Not really convinced about what I am doing, I unfold the small note and read over it again. The sheet is a mere piece of torn paper, as if a larger sheet had been hastily cut into two smaller ones, and the words are scribbled with cheap black ink that leaked as it wasn't dry when the writer folded the letter.

Misao, do you want to come home with me Monday in the afternoon to play chess? I would be very happy about that, let me know your answer! I hope your o-miai is getting well, mine was a disaster. Have luck!             Mitsuhiro

I'm pulled out of my slightly scornful meditation about that note as I can hear Misao's voice echoing in the nearby corridor, barely audible from the yard where I am standing.

"No Okon, thanks, I'm not hungry… Is the bath ready or do I have to warm it up?"

Okon's replying something I can't catch, but I can hear Misao sigh lightly.

"Okay, I'll go and add some logs in the hearth," she's answering in a rather bored tone. And afterwards, the muffled sound of her shoji open and close.

I guess that I should give her her letter, though I don't really agree with her being stuck with someone who, after all, is a perfect stranger. Slowly, I go in the house and with measured steps I climb the stairs to the second floor and Misao's room. A toneless knock knock is heard as I let my presence be known. Nearly immediately, the door slides slightly ajar…

"Okon, I told you that I didn't wanna be disturb-…"

The words are dying on her lips, and Misao's staring wide-eyed at me, as messy-haired and tired-looking as she is. Her midnight blue kimono is half undone, clinging to her shoulders and breasts, and she is holding her yukata close to her heart, apparently ready to change and have her bath, her hair tousled and spunky of having been in a bun all day. For a short moment, I'm thinking that her jaw is going to fall to the floor that she is going to turn deep red and shut me out. Well – at least I'm correct about the deep red part…

"If I'm disturbing, I can come back later," I'm letting out casually, my steady voice hardly mirroring my discomfort.

"No no you're not disturbin-…" and she's turning even redder, well if that's possible that is. "I mean, you're disturbing, but I'll be ready in a minute…"

Her crimson face disappears behind the shoji, and I can hear rushed rustlings of fabric – oh my God, please don't let her realize that anyone can see everything that happens in her room when it's sunset and that every figure stands out on the paper screen like a shadow show… Blushing despite myself, I'm hastily turning my back to the indecent play taking place in front of me, tearing my eyes away from her nicely curved figure and trying to preserve her intimacy. A few seconds later, the door opens again and Misao's still flushed face is popping out of the room.

"Yes, Aoshi-sama?" she asks uneasily.

Without a word, I'm holding her the letter out; and again she's staring at me in incomprehension. Does she think that the letter is actually from me?! Well, so I am explaining in a rush, willing to make everything plain.

"Someone brought this for you."

Her eyebrows are arching in a puzzled frown, and she grabs the note, reading it quickly…

"Yay! It's from Mitsuhiro."

Yes, I know.

"He's inviting me to come and play chess."

Yes, I know.

"He's so kind!"

Yes, I know…

"I'm going to ask him if he agrees to take me to the Tanabata Festival."

WHAT?!

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End of chapter 3

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Author's notes : Yay, another chapter's done  ^^ .

The story's going on, finally I think that it's going to be 5 chapters long after all. I know that it's not very detailled, nor really studied, but hey, it's just a small story to have fun! I'm concocting you another big, dark, sad, and, hopefully, breathtaking story, guys, so let me breath a bit with this one  ^^ !

The Tanabata Festival (Festival of the Stars) is a festival that takes place at August, 7th (or July, 7th in some towns), and the stars are said to be especially beautiful that night… Most people are going with the one they're in love with, or, if you are going alone, then you're intending to find a lover… so you can understand Aoshi's reaction when he hears that Misao wants to go to the Tanabata Festival with Mitsuhiro  ^^ …

Just to let you know, the titles of the chapters are supposed to be characterizing Misao's as well as Aoshi's POV… just to show that actually quite the same thing is going on in their both brains  ^^ .

Thanks a lot to all the reviewers! Here are some answers  ^^

Cat H : Hey  ^^ ! May the AxM Power be with you  ^^

Lebleuphenix : Is Misao turning Aoshi upside down enough for you?  ^^  Mitsuhiro is cute too, but AxM forever anyway… or no?! About the grammar mistakes, I'm having that story beta-read, I hope that everything is correct in the previous chapters  ^^o …

Zula : Cream whip?? LOL ! Gald to see that you like this (I'm sure that you do LOVE cream whip  ^^ ) Between her two lovers, Misao's heart's swinging…

Nakuru : Here is the next chapter  ^^ … I hope you liked this!

Lasaire : Yay thanks  ^^ ! I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as the other ones!

Len : Thanks a looot  ^^ !

Noa : I know that you're kidding Noa  ^^ !! Well actually I was growing tired of only writing angsty stories anyway  ^^ . Needed some fresh fluffy air  ^^ !

Eternity's End : *sheepish* Sorry about the mistakes… I'm very, very bad with present tenses… Next time I'll keep writing in past tenses  ^^o … But thanks for your nice comments!!

Nekonomiko : Yay  ^^ thanks a lot!!! Was Aoshi's reaction what you were expecting?

Pratz : I'm glad you like this story  ^^ ! I think that Aoshi is starting to be in a cold sweat, afraid of losing his pretty Misao-chan… ne Aoshi? (Aoshi : Shut up you EVIL writer!!! Kmye : ^^ )

SilverNimbus : Misao's getting sligthly annoyed at him for being this broody… but the ice is sligthly strating to melt, ne?  ^^  I'm glad I saved your sanity  ^^ ! I hope this helped too  ^^ !

Megami No Ushi : As you said, I thought that Misao should be good at strategy games such as chess, but… Aoshi should be far better than her, or so I think… That second part with chess wasn't supposed to be written, but I thought it would be nice to have Aoshi so upset that he would want to show Misao that he plays chess very well  ^^ …

eLoQueNCe : Thanks ^^ ! And here we go…  ^^

See you in chapter 4 !!!