WOOT! I hit 30 reviews before posting this chap!!! YAY!!! I never got so many reviews for a story so short…Well, except "She's My Kind of Rain." That one still gets reviews…

Any who, on to the chap…

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Jishin arrived at the Aoiya around ten o'clock the following morning. He, having noticed that Misao tended to only wear traditional clothes, was wearing his most attractive kimono and hakama. His hair was meticulously combed and he looked neat and handsome. His gift of the day was neither flowers nor chocolates, but rather an emerald hair pin that had belong to his mother. It would look lovely in Misao's dark, glossy hair, especially the way all those loose curls rippled down her back…He tingled with pleasure just thinking about her.

Seeing as today's date would be a more casual one, Misao did not dress up as much. She wore her usual blue and violet, her hair bound back in the braid once again. Her haori hung loosely off her shoulders -she was such a slender, petite girl. He had told her they would be headed down to the market -he had an errand to run for his father- then to the park to see the trees with their changing leaves, followed by dinner at a place she had never heard of. It was exciting to be doing these things with some one else. She went out a lot, but was always alone.

Aoshi looked to be the height of suspicion as he trailed the two young adults when they set off from the Aoiya. Dressed in black pants and a black shirt, he certainly did not blend into a crowd very easily. However, he was skilled in the art of espionage and managed to slink through the shadows virtually undetected.

Hidden away around the corner, he watched as Jishin handed Misao a thin, flat package. She opened it carefully, peeling back the brown paper it was wrapped in. She lifted the lid and stared into the box. What was it?? She was being awfully quiet.

"Do you like it?" He heard Jishin ask.

As she lifted the pin from the box, light hit the facets and the emerald sparkled, casting green shadows across her face. Aoshi laughed to himself. Jishin knew nothing about his dear weasel. What would she do with an emerald? Her favorite color was blue.

"I…um…It's very pretty, Ji-chan." She finally managed.

"It was my mother's."

"It's an heirloom? I can't accept this then." He had given her the perfect opportunity to return it. It didn't suit her and she didn't like it. An emerald indeed. She preferred things in blue.

"I insist. It is always passed down to the women the men of my family marry." He said calmly. The way he talked about his emotions, you'd think he was discussing the weather.

Misao's voice turned slightly chilly. "I never agreed to marry you, Jishin."

Aoshi silently thanked the gods. She had dropped the "chan" from his name and she sounded put off. He was glad Jishin was just assuming things. The more he assumed, the more annoyed Misao would get. The more annoyed she got, the more likely she would be to tell him off. Then she would be back to her usual self and he would have his chance to make amends with her. This day could turn out better than he dared to hope for.

"Misao-chan, I love you. I can offer you things you otherwise wouldn't have. Why wouldn't you marry me?" Jishin's voice was oozing charm.

She regarded him suspiciously. What was he getting at? That Aoshi-sama and the others weren't good enough for her? That the Aoiya was a dump? She was comfortable at the Aoiya with her friends and couldn't imagine being anywhere else. "I can think of a few reasons…" She muttered under her breath.

"Sumimasen? Did you say something, Misao-chan?"

"Oh," She looked up, smiling brightly while at the same time changing the subject, "I was just thinking to myself that I can think of a few places I'd like to go today." She slid the box into her pocket before he would have time to insist she put the pin in her hair. Then she grabbed his hand. "C'mon, let's go!"

Aoshi could barley contain his excitement as he trailed after them. So Misao wasn't serious about Jishin. She didn't like him. Why then…? A thought occurred to him: She was trying to make him jealous.

And it was working.

He would have to congratulate her later. His admiration for her only grew with this realization. It took a lot to ruffle his feathers. What a girl -no, what a woman she was. She was the only person who could make him lose his cool. Never before had any one upset him so much. She had some talent to be able to do that.

Misao and Jishin wandered into the market. It was a crisp November day and there were crowds of people here and there. Woman were yelling after their children while at the same time trying to make purchases, men were trying to strike a bargain with the merchants and the kids were just all over the place, squealing with laughter. Misao relaxed a little. She felt at home in the market. These were the people she belonged with, not stuffy rich ones like Jishin.

"Misao-chan! Misao-chan!" A couple of small, raggedy children ran up to her, "You gonna play wif us?"

She crouched down to be level with them. "Oh, not today, Kaiya-chan. I'm here with Ji-chan."

"Awww…But Misao-chan!" The little boy pouted.

"Gomen nasai, Haru-kun." She patted the boy on the head, "But I'm a big girl now. I have big girl things to do."

"All right." They both hugged her, then ran off to their mother.

Rising to her feet, she noticed the disgusted look on Jishin's face. She frowned at him. "Not every one can be as rich as you, Jishin."

He paled slightly, realize she had noticed and understood his expression. Then he recovered his composure. "I didn't say anything, Misao-chan. I was simply thinking that it was a shame that they left dirty finger prints all over your haori."

"They're just children. You can't expect them to keep clean." She said calmly, brushing away a dusty handprint, "When I get married, I want to have children; a boy and a girl." She could picture them both; the boy looking just like Aoshi-sama, right down to those piercing blue eyes; the girl, a picture of beauty like herself. They would be wonderful children.

Aoshi was hiding behind a noodle cart, listening to his little itachi speak. He was so proud of her! She sounded so mature. When had she become so grown-up? She had become a woman before his eyes and he hadn't even noticed. He felt rather guilty about this. No wonder she was so angry. No wonder she was trying to spite him. And no wonder things had gone so badly on her birthday…

He felt his heart twisting within his chest. Poor Misao…He had driven her to going out with this…this…Aoshi was so angry he couldn't come up with a good insult. Poor Misao; it was all his fault. These past few days had been a real eye-opener for the ice man. Things need to change. Not only things within me, but things between me and Misao. I can't deny it any longer. I-

Wait, they were moving again. He quickly gathered his thoughts and darted behind another stand, following undetected behind his itachi and the skunk she called her friend. He was seeing things in Jishin that he didn't like, but he would have to wait and see what happened later in the day.

"Ji-chan?" Misao looked over her shoulder. She had a creepy feeling that she was being watched.

"Yes?" He looked back at her. She had stopped walking and was looking cautiously around her.

"Do you get the idea we're being followed?"

"Don't be silly." He blinked his jade eyes, a smile spread across his face, "Who would follow us?"

Who indeed. She made one last survey of the area, then shrugged. Maybe I'm just imagining things. Maybe I'm just so confused about Aoshi-sama…There's no way that arrogant jerk would follow us around all day. I must be dreaming. But just in case… She took Jishin's hand in her own as they wandered around the stalls.

Oh, clever girl! They had trained her well for her to realize he was there. I'll have to be more careful. The last thing I need is her finding me here…Aoshi dropped back into the shadows, putting a little more distance between himself and the couple.

"Now, you wait here a moment, Misao-chan." Jishin stopped outside a small, shady looking building. "I need to go inside and take care of some business for my father. It would be far too boring for you. Why don't you look at some more of the things for sale while I'm busy?"

"Okay." Wow, he cares about me. He doesn't want me to be bored while he's talking about his father's business…What a nice guy Ji-chan is…Unlike some people I know… "Don't be gone too long."

"I won't. You pick out something you like and I'll buy it for you as a way to apologize for making you wait."

"Oh, thank you, Ji-chan." She smiled up at him.

"Anything for you." He took her hand in his and kissed the back of it, then turned and disappeared into the building, leaving her standing there, stunned.

Aoshi quivered with rage. That little punk! How dare he kiss her? His eyes narrowed. Misao was headed off in one direction while Jishin entered the domicile. Although he would have rather followed the itachi, enjoying her excitement at all the Western trinkets the merchants had to offer, but he felt obligated to remain under the window and listen to what Jishin's business entailed.

"So, Kanemochi, do you have my money?" He heard a rough voice demanding.

Then came the debonair voice of Jishin, slightly less confident sounding than usual. "Ano…I…Um, not yet, Kanawashi. Be patient. I told you once, my father is sick of paying my debts. He won't give me any more money. But I have a good way to compensate you."

"Oh?"

This was intriguing. Aoshi peered through the window. Jishin was standing before a rather imposing looking man. The other fellow, Kanawashi, was smoking a cigarette, a whore clinging to his arm. Compared to him, Jishin looked like a pathetic child. The kid was quaking in his boots.

"There's this girl…She and I are old friends."

"Oh, an heiress?"

"No. She's an orphan. But the people who took care of her own a restaurant. I plan on marrying her very soon, if all goes well. She is so ignorant and knows nothing of the business world. I'm sure I could con her into giving me the deed to the Aoiya."

"This is an interesting proposal indeed, Kanemochi." Kanawashi laughed wickedly, "I like the way you think."

"I'm not proud of this." Jishin's voice hardened, "I love her and don't wish to hurt her in any way. But until my old man dies, there's nothing I can do but this. I see no other way to pay you back. When I'm in charge of the business and I control the money, I'll buy the place back from you. She'll never need to know."

"Well," The mob boss took a drag on his cigarette, "You've never let me down before, Kanemochi. I'll have to trust you on this one. You have a month to produce the deed."

Aoshi had to work hard to control his anger. Did Jishin seriously think Misao was so stupid? Why would she allow him to take the Aoiya when Okina and himself were still there to run the place? She was so much smarter than that. But then…She was naïve. She had little experience in the business world. While she was a skilled thief, she knew nothing of the effort and planning put into running the Aoiya. He had to warn her!

Misao was at a booth where a man was peddling Western scarves. He was doing a brisk business -due to the cooling weather- and the young ninja was debating over whether or not she wanted one.

"Misao! Misao!"

She looked up. "Aoshi-sama?" What is he-? Her eyes widened, "You were following us! You're such a jerk!"

"No, Misao, you don't understand-" He began. It hadn't occurred to him that she wouldn't want to listen to what he had to say.

"Go away!"

"Will you just listen to me?" He grabbed her by the collar, "It's-"

"Unhand me!" She pushed him back, the palm of her hand connecting with his cheek with a resounding "smack."

He was stunned. Had she just hit him? He couldn't move. He couldn't speak. All he could do was stand there, his mouth opened slightly, thinking: she just hit me.

"Get away from me! Leave me alone!" She screamed, tears running down her face, "I don't need you to look after me any more. Why is it that now that I'm happy without you, you won't leave me alone?"

…Now that I'm happy…The words echoed through his mind. He felt sick. She was happy without him? No. He wouldn't believe it. No. She didn't mean that. No! No no no no!! She could not mean that! She couldn't, she couldn't, she couldn't! "Misao, I-"

"Just go away! I never want to see you again! Never! Do you hear me?!"

"M-Misao…" His heart was pounding. She's just angry, he reasoned with himself, she doesn't mean any of this. She doesn't…Yes, she does. She means everything. I waited too long and now she's gone. I should have told her way back after Shishio…I'm such a damned fool…

"Please…Just go away…" Her voice was very low, her head bowed, "I can't even be near you right now…"

He backed away from her. It didn't matter that people were staring at them. It didn't matter that the expression on his face must have been one of the utmost devastation. That was it. She'd done it. His frozen heart was in a million pieces. It had shattered at the slightest touch. It was done. Everything was over before it even had a chance to begin. He felt as if he had died.

Jishin found Misao standing there, clutching an indigo scarf in her hands. The expression on her face was one of bewilderment, as if she didn't know what to do with the piece of fabric in her grasp. "You all right, Misao-chan?"

"What? Oh, I'm fine." She turned to him, smiling, "Can we go to the park now?"

"Of course." He offered her his elbow and she linked her arm through his. "How much did that cost? I was supposed to buy you something, not you buy it for yourself."

"It's okay."

"No, really. How much did it cost?"

"Don't worry about it…" She argued as they wandered off together.

Aoshi didn't pay any attention to where he went, but somehow wound up back at the Aoiya. He was somewhat perplexed when he looked up and found himself standing in the entryway. How did I get home? He couldn't get Misao off his mind. Thoughts of her were driving him crazy. She hated him. She hated him with a passion. He couldn't stand it. I am an idiot!

He ambled into his study, the pain from the confrontation with Misao still heavy on his soul. It hurt. It hurt a lot more than he ever could have imagined. The worst part was that he knew she was making a mistake. Jishin, no matter how much he said he "loved" her, was still using her to pay off his gambling debts. If she ever found out what he was doing to her, she would take it all out on herself for being so ignorant to his true intentions.

Aoshi could not allow that to happen.

But, he slumped down in his desk chair, there's nothing left I can do. She won't listen to me. She won't hear me out. She won't even look at me. She's in trouble and I can't help her. This is such a mess…