I do not own Rurouni Kenshin.
Tanabata MadnessChapter 3
Aoshi followed Misao wordlessly to the kitchen, seeming almost subdued by the tiny kunoichi. Misao kept glancing back out of the corner of her eye to confirm that Aoshi was following her and not rummaging through her room, but every time she looked back, discreet as she was, Aoshi caught her every time and kept his eyes on hers. Misao blushed until she was a bright red as she slid open the kitchen door.
The kitchen was in disarray when Misao and Aoshi arrived. Everyone was running around and screams were heard through out the entire Aoiya kitchen. The fire had almost been put out, but whatever was cooking smelled terrible. Misao looked on wide-eyed as Aoshi rushed over, helped douse the fire. Once the flames had died down, they revealed scorched walls and burnt Tanabata cakes.
"Our cakes!" Kuro and Shiro cried in unison, not noticing the damage done to the kitchen. Aoshi then turned around and looked directly at Misao, giving her an I-told-you-so look. She stuck her tongue out at Aoshi and huffed, turning away to help Okon and Omasu scrape the charred cakes and ashes into the trash. Okina just stood off to the side, waving around a pair of chopsticks and directing people to do things while simultaneously clucking his tongue. Aoshi was inspecting the kitchen walls and Shiro and Kuro were moping around, mourning their losses.
"How will we confess our undying love now?" Kuro said dejectedly.
"Yes, how?!" Shiro agreed in an anguished voice, fisting his hands dramatically.
Misao looked at Omasu and Okon and rolled her eyes. She continued to help everyone clean up the kitchen until all that remained were the toasted walls. Misao dusted off her kimono and exited the kitchen, wandering off to her room.
~*~
Aoshi decided to go train to let off steam from not being able to sneak his gift away from Misao. He quickly changed and headed off towards the training area. He soon reached the empty grounds, and after a second thought, stripped off his shirt to reveal a toned abdomen. He knew that Misao would come 'wandering' around once she was done in the kitchen, and he had a little surprise for her…
~*~
Misao had been to her room to check to see if the present was still there, and it was, and decided to visit the training grounds to brush up on her kimono-clad-practice. She grabbed her kunai and left her room, unaware of the other shinobi practicing…
When Misao arrived at the training area, she could hear someone practicing. With a puzzled expression, she tiptoed over stealthily, trying not to make a sound. She peered from her hiding spot, behind the corner of the wall, and was shocked. She hadn't seen Aoshi practice shirtless since before he had left her when she was a child. She was too young to appreciate how lucky she had been… She gave herself a wry grin when Aoshi turned around suddenly, forcing Misao to jump back, hoping she had been unseen.
After waiting a few minutes, Misao snuck another peek at Aoshi as he practiced, the sun beating down on his bare upper body. She marveled at the many scars he sported and the way he moved so fluidly… She continued to stare at him, thinking she was hidden when Aoshi spun around and sent a heated gaze in her direction. She shivered and immediately turned pink and tried to think of a good reason for her being there.
"Aoshi-sama! Would you like some cold tea?" she shouted, running over to him in her kimono, trying to hide her blush but failing horribly. Aoshi gave her a strange look before nodding his head. "I'll be right back!" Misao shouted again, running towards the burnt kitchen. She quickly prepared the tea and ran as fast as she could in her kimono and went straight to the training area.
She breathlessly handed Aoshi the tea, staring at him as he drank it down with closed eyes. She let out a sigh and smiled happily. Aoshi continued to gulp down the tea and suddenly opened his eyes, looking directly at Misao. His eyes seemed to grow darker as he finished the tea and handed back the cup, staring intently at her all the while. Misao blushed crimson again and took the cup away, not making eye contact with Aoshi lest she trip and fall.
Aoshi almost grinned when she had disappeared, and congratulated himself silently as he began to practice again.
~*~
After the training incident, Misao had no intentions of running into Aoshi again, and decided that she would go out so she wouldn't have to see him. She was still curious about the gift as well, but decided against opening it and asking Aoshi about it, seeing as how she was avoiding him. Or trying to. But everywhere Misao went, Aoshi seemed to be there, waiting for her. Plotting to embarrass her further she assumed. Misao decided to go to the market today – there might be plenty of other young people out she could mingle with. She hadn't had much time for that since the Aoiya had been unusually busy lately.
Misao smooth down her kimono and checked her braid, making sure she looked presentable. She grabbed a creamy white parasol and left her room, slipping out the door, giving a small glance to the nicely wrapped package.
~*~
Meanwhile, Aoshi was finishing up his training outside – he quickly wiped himself down with a wet cloth and dressed, hoping he would run into Misao somehow in downtown Kyoto, but knowing deep down that it wasn't likely. He would need to get Misao a new gift because she had the 'other' one in her possession and would most likely keep a close eye on it. He sighed, thinking unhappily about all the girls that didn't have guys to take them out that would be hanging around, looking for guys that they thought were lonely. He was always a delectable prospect to them and he didn't want to deal with that now.
AN: Hmm. I hope everyone liked the chappie… Please forgive the very late update – school has just started up again and taking AP classes really isn't fun. -_- Thank you very much for those who reviewed! Reviews are really appreciated! ^_^ Thanks to: JT, MoonPhoenix, Jaded Ayumi, ThiMonkey, Rurouni Gochan, Icy Demoness, and nobody.
