Author's notes: hmm… *think think* James Dean by Daniel Bedingfield, eh? Actually, that's the song that put some crazy ideas in my head. If any other people out there don't approve, well speak up! This is your last chance 'coz the bonus chapter's next! ^_^ Hey, suggest as many songs as you want… we wouldn't know, I might make another one like that! MWAHAHAHAHA!! *maniacal laughter fades in the background*

Misao: oh no! She's planning something really bad! Or humiliating! OR BOTH!

Aoshi: …

Misao: DO something!!

*SHAKE SHAKE*

Misao: stop shaking your ass Aoshi. Although I find your ass cute, shaking it is not quite appealing. *covers eyes but peeps in between fingers* oooohhhhh…. *drool*

Aoshi: that's not me.

Misao: wha-? Then who-?

Sano: *removes Aoshi mask* BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! GOTCHA YOU WEASEL!!! BWAHAHAHA!!

Misao: *eyes blazing* Why you…! TORI-ATAMA!!!! *starts to bring out kunais with a sly smile* and I was wondering why that ass was deformed! Aoshi- sama's ass is perfect! TEEHEEHEE!!

*Aoshi went chibi- formed, blushing red and trying to look at his ass unsuccessfully*

Sano: *rather put out but muttering* well you drooled anyway…

Misao: *turned beet red and began to smash Sano into bits*

Sano: BWAHAHAHA- ouch- BWAHAHAHA- eeeeyow!- BWAHAHAHA- Aoshi! Stop your girlfriend!!!

Chibi-Aoshi: *hulks and maintains stoic expression* you brought this upon yourself.

Misao: ATTACK!! NGAR NGAR NGAR!!!

Tesuka- chan: That's it. You're all officially crazy. CRAZY, YOU HEAR? CRAZY!!! *evil maniacal laughter*

Disclaimer boy: they're all crazy. She ain't own anythin' either.

Warning: feeling kind of angsty today. Innuendo on rape. Depression.

Mission: Frustration!

By Tesuka- chan

Chapter 6

Ready…

I was crying.

I was sitting on the floor of an alley, tears streaming down my filthy face, hair messed up and clothes ragged. I didn't want to go back there… to that white, cold place, where everything has a system. That orphanage. I wanted it to be the way it was before… all mess, comfort and warmth… mom and dad.

But it will never be like that anymore. The dead are dead.

Running away is the only thing I can do now… I have to run. And running is what I'm good at.

~~~ Flash ~~~

"Mama! Papa!" little Misao happily exclaimed, her chubby arms outstretched towards her parents.

"Misao- chan!" her father carried her tiny form up and swung her around, while she squealed and laughed. It was a beautiful day, the sun shining brightly, a light breeze cooling their heated cheeks. The perfect day for a picnic.

"Let's eat!" her mother called out from under the tree where everything was set. Before she knew it, little Misao was instantly set on top of her father's shoulders, and soon they were off trudging lightly towards her mother.

"Kyaa! Mama, may I have mochi balls?"

"Iye, Misao- chan, not until you finish your broccoli."

Misao looked at her mother with puppy dog eyes.

Her father laughed and retrieved a box out of the picnic basket. "Only one, Misao. Then you'll have to eat your broccoli." He rumpled her already messy hair.

"Oh, fine. Don't spoil her now. Only one." Her mother smiled at her.

"Hai!" Misao grabbed a mochi ball with her chubby little fingers and chomped on it, green goo covering her mouth. "Arigato!" She beamed at her parents, who smiled back at her.

"I love you mama, papa!"

I love you mama, papa.

~~~ Flash ~~~

He saw me. I saw his blue eyes staring at me after I deftly swiped that man's wallet. Damn it, it was just a small amount of money… and I needed it desperately. Besides, that man looks so rich, he probably has more money at home tucked inside more wallets. I don't feel guilty for doing it. It's just that… that boy's stare was unnerving. Knowing.

I shrugged and walked on, finally turning right to an alley.

"Hey, you! What are you doing here? This is our territory!" A rough voice called out.

I slightly turned my capped head towards the voice and saw a buffed up wannabe and two others on either side of him. Tch. Typical bullies. I turned away and walked on.

"I'm talkin' to you, boy! Come back here!" He grabbed my cap and pulled it off accidentally. I whipped around and punched his arm away from me. He paused, staring at the hair that framed my face and fell on my shoulders. He snickered and laughed, a lecherous grin on his mouth. "Why, it ain't a boy after all! It's a girly girl!" his eyes roved along my clothed body, making me shiver in disgust.

"Get away from me." Nobody calls me a girly girl and lives. I glared and put up my fists.

"Ah, a spiteful one," he said. The two behind him snickered. "Get 'er."

All at once, they lunged at me, gripping my arms harshly. I managed to get one of them in the shins, and I think I hit someone with my fist, but they were too strong and too many. The odds were three to one. I didn't stand a chance. The leader gripped my chin and leaned his ugly face towards mine. His breath stank. Which wasn't really surprising, considering that his teeth were all rotten and discolored. He grinned. "No one trespasses in my territory. There'll be consequences, bitch."

I spat on him.

His grin turned into a sneer and he suddenly punched me in the face. My head snapped to the lefts, lip bleeding. I couldn't speak. Everything was hazy. I vaguely recalled something pawing at my clothes and taking off most of them. I tried to struggle but I knew it was hopeless. Hands were bruising my flesh, horrible pain shooting up everywhere. A rough hand went up my bare thigh. I felt hopeless. Depressed. I am alone. No one would help me. No one.

Then suddenly, a great weight was lifted off me and I heard a grunt somewhere on the ground. After a few moments, the hands that gripped my arms released me and I heard fighting for a while. I was slumped to the floor, wide eyes seeing nothing. I couldn't register what was happening. Everything was so unreal. Then there was silence.

Something blocked the light from above. I looked up, shivering in my underwear. It's him. The boy who saw me stealing from the rich man in the market. The blue- eyed boy.

"Stand up," he said. His voice was cold.

I continued staring at him, seeing him there, but not seeing anything at all. He sighed and got my ratty coat that was discarded earlier on and tucked it around me. He took my clothes and walked towards me, stopping right in front and reaching his hand out. "Come on. Get up."

I looked blankly from his face to his hand. Then it struck me. He saved me. He's helping me. I breathed in, everything making sense all at once. There is someone. There is hope. I've been given another chance.

I took his hand.


Misao woke up, gasping.

She sat up, taking in deep, heaving breaths trying to calm her rioting nerves and wildly beating heart. Her green eyes were wide, blue- black hair disheveled. She raised a trembling hand to her forehead. Damn it. Why? Why is this all coming now… after years of trying to forget? Is it because I saw him last night?

She was suddenly thirsty.

Steadying her nerves, she stood up carefully, her black tank top and boxer shorts plastered to her sweaty body. She made her way to the kitchen, passing the couch where Sano was temporarily occupying, and poured herself a glass of water. She gulped in the ice- cold refreshment, relieving her thirst. She sighed and put her head on the counter.

"Can't sleep, weasel?"

"GAH! Jeez, Sano! You could've at least given me a warning!" Misao half- heartedly gave him a glare. They were planning last night and Sano decided to stay over. Which he does all the time anyway. More for the food rather than the plans.

"Want to talk about it?" He walked to the fridge and grabbed a beer.

"No… not really."

"Hmmm… must be the squid."

"Octopus, mister! He's happily swimming around in the bucket."

"Since you brought that little pink slimy thing home, you've been putting off cooking him in the grill!"

"Well, I decided not to! I'll buy him an aquarium soon."

"Making him into a pet? You know it's bad to have a personal connection with food-to-be's."

"Shut up, Sano. And he's not food, so stay away from Inky!"

Despite all that, she smiled. Sano knew that she didn't want to talk about it, so he distracted her, even for a moment. And she's thankful for that.

"You know, weasel… I was just thinking," Sano said wistfully, "since this is such a big assignment and all that, I'm thinking more gadgets. I know this guy who could acquire anything, from micro cams to the latest guns. I can customize things a bit for this mission."

Misao smirked. Even though Sano may be stupid for everything else, he was a whiz at gadgets and computer stuff. It doesn't hurt either that he has brawn as well as a quarter- functioning brain. He's not the typical geek that stays in front of the computer forever… in fact, that was his secret life. His real life was a jockey who goes to gym most of the time and tries to attract girls. A very unusual combination. And he had threatened her a couple of times to shut up about his secret side or he'll have to punch her lights off… which was very unlikely anyway.

She quickly snapped out of her musings and concentrated on what he had said. "Sure. More gadgets then."

"Right… well, the thing is, since you'll only have to do some research on where this thing is, you won't really need me, right?" He carefully looked at Misao.

She quirked an eyebrow. "So you're going to stay here and work on those things and leave me by myself?"

Brown eyes lit up. "Nice suggestion! Sure, you're the boss!"

Misao rolled her eyes and put her hands on her waist. She was used to him twisting things around. "What are you really saying Sano?"

He twiddled his thumbs. "I got a hot date this Saturday."

"YOU'RE DITCHING THIS ASSIGNMENT FOR A DATE?"

"Now, don't get mad. It's not JUST a date… it's THE date. Besides, it's on Saturday, and it's only Wednesday now. I'll work on the gadgets in between. Anyway, you also owe me! You've been overworking my ass off lately because of that rival of yours!" Sano's voice was rising, his cheeks red.

Oh, kami- sama… what am I going to do with this idiot!? Misao let out a sigh and decided. She'll just have to look for it herself and call Sano when the acquisition time comes. Fine. "All right. But you have to be on the site in five minutes if I call, okay? Think one hundred million dollars." She poured water into her glass. "Although I can't imagine why you would trade a hundred million bucks for a girl…" she mumbled before gulping the whole thing.

Sano was happily exclaiming around the room. "You won't regret this! I'll give you the most high- tech stuff there is!"

"Hundred million… *mumble*… girl… *mumble*"

"What?"

"Nothing. You'd better give me good stuff."

"Only the best, weasel."

"I'll hold you on that." Then a problem arose in her mind. "Hey, what if I needed to send you information?"

"There IS what you call a cellphone."

"No… I mean, information on the site where I had to get in and stuff. Blueprints and the like," she explained, brows furrowed in worry. If she waits until he gets there and then show him the plans, there'd be a delay and Aoshi might get to it first. She can't let that happen.

"Not to worry. Here's a device where you can take pictures of the site and send info to me. Sort of a mini computer, cellphone, and camera in one. Voice activated. High tech stuff." Sano finished smugly.

Misao once again raised an eyebrow. "You've thought of everything. This date must be important."

"Oh yes it is, weasel," he grinned like the Grinch, "yes it is."


*knock knock*

"Come in."

"You called, sir?" a redheaded officer asked, entering the office.

"Himura, I want you to check on our 'agent'." Saitou said. A cloud of smoke was floating around him, making it hard to define his features. Only his piercing eyes penetrated the fumes. "I want to know what's happening with him. See if he's making progress." He threw a folder on the table.

Kenshin picked up the folder and scanned the information. "Mount Fuji?"

Saitou Hajime's lips quirked up in a sneer. "Don't forget to check out the hot springs."

Head officer Saitou making a joke (if it is even one)? How odd is that? Kenshin nodded and said, "hai, Saitou- sama. I'll get to it immediately."

He went out of the office, trying not to gag before he closed the door behind him. It's a wonder he doesn't have lung cancer yet. He shook his head and looked again at the contents of the folder. He sighed. This job is full of quirks.

Mount Fuji, here I come.


"Shit," Misao muttered as she threw a towel around her, coming out of the shower with shampoo on her hair. "All, right, I'm coming!" Damned Sano must've forgotten something. I gotta fix that damned doorbell.

*knock knock*

"ALL RIGHT ALREADY!"

Clutching her the edges of her towel with one hand, she flung the door wide open… and saw no one. Stinking kids playing around… one of these days, I'm gonna have to do something drastic. Misao glared as she walked out to the hallway, dripping wet, and looked both ways.

Something flashed at the corner.

Misao rubbed her eyes, thinking that the soap got in them. She thought she saw something purple flash. She blinked again and shook her head, sending droplets of water everywhere. Must be nothing. I have to go in… I'm making a swimming pool out here, she thought, looking at the puddle on the floor. Then she saw it.

A huge manila envelope was leaning against the wall beside her door. She snatched it up and looked at the label in front: Makimachi Misao, Assignment. She gingerly raised an eyebrow at this. Geesh, what's with mysterious guys leaving messages in front of my door? She went back inside, the mess on the floor forgotten.

Misao slumped on the couch and ripped the top open, feeling the thickness of the packages. Reaching inside, she brought out a stack of papers and scanned through them. This time, both her eyebrows flew up at the loads of information in on her hands. What the-? This was precious, official information about the sword of Murakumo! Most probably stolen from the anthropologists themselves! She hadn't even thought of acquiring it yet, and now somebody just gave it to her. Interesting… but why? This wasn't part of the contract… giving info away to the competitors. Why would anyone give this to me? Misao then thought of the purple flash. I wonder what that was all about. She stared at the papers on her hands. "Well, this will definitely make my job easier."

She grinned.

"Mount Fuji, here I come."


Blue eyes flashed as the door by the corridor closed.

Everything's going as planned. Good.

He turned around, his trench coat swishing around him as he made his way to the stairs, shoes clicking noisily down the corridor. He stepped out on the pelting rain.


A/n: Ho humm… this was sort of the planning period; hence, the title Ready…. Right. Next chapter is where Misao and Aoshi really competes. *evil gleam in eyes* Can't wait for that. ^_^ I'm trying to take things slow… I don't want to rush anything.

Oh yeah, I'm sort of planning the sequel of The Vampire Aoshi. It's entitled Repossession. K/K (hardy har har…) It's gonna be angsty though. So watch out for it! ^_^

Anyway, thanks to the following reviewers!

Dark Phoenix: Hey! Glad you liked this! I'm sort of feeling my way around this because it's kind of awkward writing again after a month. I hope you like this chapter too! :P

Dallisse: Gomen… still adjusting myself. Well, to answer your question, he does remember her, but he's not so vocal about it. This is mainly leaning on Misao's point of view so it's mostly her thoughts that's here. We don't know Aoshi's thoughts… but his actions sort of gives us a hint. (but he's still very vague anyway). Don't worry! All will come out in due time! ^_^

Bee: Well, thanks! *grins*

EK: you're the only one who said anything about that… *sniff* Oh well. Sure, I just like that particular song. It's more of a party song kinda thing… if that's chosen, then I'll have loads of fun making people crazy. *evil grin*

NatsuNoAme: Sure! You could suggest as many songs as you like! *grins widely* It's okay, I'd rather have suggestions than none at all! ^_^ Well, hope you liked this!

nekonomiko: Thanks for the correction! I wasn't really thinking well, taking a vacation and all that (teeheehee…). But I've corrected it. So because of you, they're gonna make a lot more money. Hahaha! Oh, I'll make sure that Misao can compete against him… don't worry. Bummer lizard… yech.

Kmye-chan: Hallo! The competition will come in the next chapter. *evil laugh* About Kaoru… we'll just see about that. ^_^

Innocent Dreamer: *tugs on shirt sleeves* Eto… this is mainly about Misao, Aoshi and Enishi so Kenshin is just a minor character. Don't worry, I'm writing another fic where he's the lead. ^_^

C-ko D.: Hmmm… not exactly. Thing is, I went to Canada for a month or more and they didn't have a decent computer there. I couldn't write a thing! So I only continued when I came back home. ^_^ Camry's story is well and good, but that's not exactly the reason. Hehehe. Well, thanks! I did notice my action packed scenes and decided to change the genre. Laterz!