A/N: Friday, as promised…though it's out a little later then I thought it would be. I've been working on a project for school the last few days--a Lord of the Ring's parody for my Fantasy writing class. Also, I've been working collaborating with another author on a future Aoshi/Misao fic called Safer On The Outside. It's going to be really awesome and you'll all have to check it out. The first chapter goes up this weekend if she can get it back from the beta in time!
Disclaimer: I do not own anything Rurouni Kenshin. If I said I did, I would be a liar, and therefore, no longer worthy to be read.
Riffs & Canvas
Chapter 7: A Little Close For Comfort
The world works in many mysterious ways. Sometimes it's only a burnt out light bulb that stands between a person and seeing the face of their murderer. Or the fact that they stopped to pick up a quarter on the street just as a drunk driver turns the corner. It can surprise you when you least expect it, like thinking about a person moments before you find out something terrible has happened to them. That's what happened to Misao Makimachi.
For some reason, when she woke up on Thursdays morning to find that a blizzard was brewing outside her window, all she could do was think about that day when she was eleven years old. When she had walked through the front door after getting a ride home from a friend's mother, and saw the police in her kitchen. All that was in her mind was the day her mother had died.
It began to snow shortly after sixth period, and it snowed so hard they sent the students home early. There was already talk of school being called off the next day. She was happy about that. Misao was a girl who never refused extra sleep. The only thing she did regret was her daily session with Aoshi. There test was supposed to be tomorrow, but with no school, it'd be pushed to Monday. They would have more study time.
That was when her devilish brain began to work.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Aoshi got home easily enough. The bad thing was that the Aoyia was officially closed due to snow. Okon and her daughter, Omasu the waitress, they all went home. Meaning Misao would not come by tonight. Meaning, he wouldn't get a chance to see her until Monday.
On the plus side, no more Shakespeare lessons--even if he was starting to enjoy them. Bad side, no 'extra credit' from Misao. He sighed, tapping his fingers on the tabletop in the empty restaurant.
Okina was, once more, up in his office, working as hard as ever on his paperclip chain. Aoshi was left to his own device, and he hated being bored. He was tempted to go get his guitar. It was calling to him in that soft voice, pleading to be strummed. He didn't have the heart to ignore it much longer, especially when his head was full of music because of a certain green-eyed girl he was missing.
It was strange, to come to like someone so fast. It was especially odd considering that the week before, he had hated her. Within the space of two weeks, Aoshi Shinomori found himself more and more captivated by this girl. It was not just her eyes, no matter how haunting they were, or the way she looked. It was also her attitude, her spirit, and her art, so complex and kin to his music. It was almost like they were kindred spirits, but then he shook his head at the absurdity of such a thing.
Next thing you know, Aoshi would be professing boundless love and believing in 'happily ever after's again. That had left with his childhood years ago. A childhood he had no temptation to relive. He was quite content with his current present, especially if that meant bothering Misao with pointless questions and watching her draw out of the corner of his eye. He got the feeling that she liked drawing him, because it seemed that whenever he was reading aloud, or otherwise occupied, one of her many sketchbooks were out and she was scribbling with a vengeance.
If he helped her with art half as much as she had inspired his music, then Aoshi would consider himself content. So content in fact, that he could resist it no longer, and followed the song of his guitar. He was almost there too, only a few paces from his room, when the phone rang.
"Aoshi, can you get that?" Okina called. "I'm a little tied up." Aoshi walked past the office and saw his grandfather was indeed, wrapped in a chain of paperclips, looking quite determined as his tongue stuck out between his teeth in thought of where to attach the next clip. Aoshi shook his head and picked up the phone.
"Aoyia Restaurant," he intoned, as was accustomed.
"Hi Aoshi," Misao said from the other end. She was sounding particularly cheerful. "Have you looked outside?"
"At the snow?" he asked with a raised eyebrow--even though she couldn't see it.
"Yes at the snow!" she said. He could almost feel her roll her eyes at him. It did a guy's heart good to know that he could always annoy his muse. "It stopped about an hour ago. All the roads have been plowed."
"What's your point?" he skipped, knowing she was up to something.
"Wanna come over?"
Aoshi, for a moment, was quiet. Did he hear her right? After last time's daring escape from the backyard, there was no way in hell he'd be doing that in snow. "I don't think so Misao," he said with reluctance.
"Come on, it's ok," she assured him. "My father left this morning for the city. He won't be back until Sunday night."
"Is this going to be another 'he works late' fiasco that sees me climbing down a deck?" he asked with a little irritation.
"No, I promise," she said sincerely. "I know my dad. When he says that he'll be gone for the weekend, he's not coming back even if I were to burn the house down. Plus, the snow will keep him in the city till at least tomorrow."
"I don't know," Aoshi said, still doubtful.
"Come on, we can finish up our studying. I have the movie remember?"
Aoshi sighed, defeated. "Ok, you wore me down."
"Yay!" Misao cheered happily. "It'll be nice to have company apart from Seraphim."
"The snake right?"
"Yup, the snake. I would have made Sou come over, like I usually do, but he's sick."
"So I'm second choice?" Aoshi asked with wry amusement.
"No, you were first this time," she said with a smile in her voice. "I was only thinking of who I would bother if you wouldn't leave the Aoyia."
"A likely story."
"So you'll be here in a little while?"
"Sure." Then they hung up.
Aoshi was not aware that Okina had hopped out of his paperclip chain and come to the door of his office to listen in on the phone call. A frown was fixed on his features as he watched Aoshi grabbed his trench coat from the rack near the door. He shrugged in on while he retrieved his guitar from his room. Aoshi paused long enough to look at Okina.
"I'm going out for a while Grandpa."
"To Misao's house?" Okina said in a disapproving tone.
Aoshi had the decency to look a little like a deer caught in headlights. "We're going to finish our studying for the test tomorrow." Okina knew as well as both students that there would be no school, but he held his tongue.
"Where is Misao's father?"
"Out of town for the weekend," Aoshi replied. "Why?"
"No chaperone…suspicious."
"Grandpa," Aoshi sighed. "We won't do anything. We're going to work, that's all."
Okina nodded and Aoshi left. He watched with an almost despairing expression, walking back into his office. He paused long enough to take a framed photograph from his desk and hold it in his hands.
The photo showed a teenaged boy of around eighteen years, tall and lanky with a head of dark blue-black hair and a smile. Next to him on the left was a smaller girl, maybe about seventeen years. Her hair and skin was fair, and her deep green-blue eyes looked excitedly at the boy beside her. On the other side of the boy was a younger girl, perhaps fourteen or fifteen, with brown hair and eyes. She was also looking at the boy with the same expression of excitement and admiration. But the boy was looking at the green with the green eyes.
Okina ran a finger over her figure. "Sae," he said with a wistful tone to his voice. "If only things had been different." That's when he looked at the younger girl and the anguish replaced the glassy look to his eyes. "Aiko, my dearest daughter…if I had only known what was in your heart, maybe things could have been different."
'What Ifs' and 'Could Have Beens' weighed heavily on Okina until he snapped from the tense anger. With a force that would have shattered the glass of the frame had it not fallen onto his chair, Okina flung the picture from him. "I will not let him take Misao! Do you hear me?" he shouted into the dark and silent building. "You won't get Misao!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Wow, you really did come," Misao said with surprise when Aoshi knocked on her door. In the time it took him to get to her house, it had started snowing again. It was not a good omen.
"Well you invited me, didn't you?"
"No one ever takes up my offers," she said with a shrug, taking his snow-covered coat and hanging it in the closet.
"Why is that?" Aoshi asked, resting his guitar case on the floor for a moment.
"Why did you bring that?" Misao asked, pointing to his guitar and tactfully changing subjects.
"I keep the book you loaned me in here."
"Oh." There was a few moments when they did nothing, said nothing, just stood in silence. "Well then," Misao said as if trying to expel the shivers running up and down her spine at seeing him in her house. "We should get to the movie."
"Whatever," Aoshi replied characteristically, following her into a large living room with a home entertainment center.
The DVD was already in the player, ready to begin. Aoshi slumped on to the large leather couch comfortably. Misao joined him, her feet curled up beneath her, looking quite ordinary in the settings. This was how the upper class lived, he decided. They were like chameleons in their own environment, able to change color, in Misao's case personality, to whatever suits their will.
She started the movie and they watched. Aoshi had to admit that it was much easier to understand while seeing it and hearing it acted out, rather than trying to do it himself, even with a great teacher like Misao.
She disappeared a few times. Once to get food and drinks, another two times to answer the phone. The first had been from Soujiro--who happily baited her once she told him that Aoshi was in her house watching TV with her. The second time, it had been her father. Just checking in, as he said, but there was a tightness in his voice that made Misao wonder just what he was doing--and just what he knew.
By the time she was off the phone with him, the movie was over. Aoshi stretched out on the couch and watched as Misao moved around, deep in thought.
"The movie was really good," he commented lightly. "What was it like where you are?"
"Huh?" Misao asked. She blinked, shook her head, and smiled. "Sorry. I'm a little out of it right now."
"I can tell," he said with a nod. "Tell me about it?"
Misao sighed deeply, that sigh from the center of her chest, as she flopped gracefully on to the couch beside him. "My father called to check up on me, that's all. He's…not my favorite person, if you catch my drift."
"Yeah, so I've noticed." He wouldn't ask why. Fathers were not a subjected he liked either.
"I think that he might know you're here. Not much he can do about it though, considering the snowstorm going on outside. There's no way he'll get anywhere near this town until at least Saturday. The roads will be jammed to death."
"This is a good thing?"
"Yeah, two full days without my father around is like a vacation. Even if I am stuck with you," she added as an undertone, smiling.
Aoshi rolled his eyes. "Aren't we full of wit tonight."
"I try," Misao responded. "However, on a more serious note, I don't think you should get on to the roads tonight."
"Why?" he asked, getting up and heading to a window. "It can't be that bad out." It was . "So you propose I stay here for the night?"
"No, you should sleep in your car," Misao said happily, a smile on her face but seriousness in her eyes. Aoshi narrowed his eyes at her in an annoyed manner. "Ok, you can take the couch," she muttered. She held up her hands in a peaceful manner.
"I should call Grandpa and tell him…he won't be happy." Aoshi picked up the phone from the cradle, dialing the number for the Aoyia with a grim expression.
"Let me do the talking," Misao said as she snatched the phone from him. "Hi Gramps!…Yes, we're behaving…No…Yes…Gramps! He's staying here tonight, have you looked outside?…No, I'm not making him drive!…No Gramps…Yes Gramps…Bye Gramps." By the time she hung up, she was scowling and very red. "Your grandfather is a pervert," she muttered as she walked from the room.
"Where are you going?" Aoshi called after her.
"To get changed," she called back. "I've got some spare clothes you can use. Just wait a minute." So he did.
When Misao returned, she was in a comfortable pair of baggy flannel pants and a baggy old shirt-sleeved shirt. Her hair, for once, was unplaited and unhidden as is hung loosely around her shoulders and down her back, all the way to her hips. This was Misao at her most beautiful.
In her hands, she carried a pile of folded clothes. "Here," she said, handing them to a startled Aoshi. "They'll probably be a little big. Gramps used to stay the weekends with me when Dad was out of town, so he'd leave his clothes here."
"Thanks," Aoshi said as he retreated to the bathroom to change for the evening. Adorning his grandfather's sweatpants and sweatshirt, Aoshi padded back out into the living room. Misao was setting up the couch for him, humming a little to herself.
"All set," Misao said when she say him reenter the room. She didn't meet his eye for more than a second before looking away. A faint blush stained her face and she looked a little awkward. From what he gathered, Misao was not much of a people person. In fact, he was positive that, apart from Soujiro, he was the only guy she had ever spoken to.
It was getting late now, and Misao felt tiredness creeping in on her. She wouldn't go to bed just yet, though. First she had to change the water in Seraphim's cage, which is what she went off to do next. Aoshi followed her to the studio. Once there, he again marveled at her wall of art while she was busying herself doing little chores.
"When did she die?" he asked quite suddenly, causing Misao to jump at the sound of his voice. She turned to see him looking at her mother's portrait again.
"When I was eleven," Misao said. The thoughts of that morning came back to her, thoughts of what happened that day, all those years ago. When Sae had left the world for something Misao had hoped would be better than this life.
"How?" His tentative questions didn't bother her as much as the more probing ones issued from others. When it came from Aoshi, she didn't feel the need to hide the truth, to harbor it like some treasured secret that only the trusted chosen few could ever know. It was in that moment that she really understood the depth of her trust in this boy.
"Car accident," Misao responded, eyes straying to the painting. "I used to take this after-school art program in town. She was coming to pick me up one night when a truck hit her at a red light. I didn't know until I got home…she didn't pick me up so I got a ride with one of the other girls."
She didn't know why she was telling him all the details, and not just the usual cut-and-dry answers. For some reason--maybe the fact that she had been thinking about it all day--she wanted to talk about it, about her mother.
"It must have been hard," Aoshi said quietly. He had never lost anyone that close to him, so he couldn't understand the pain that must have gone with it.
"For a long time, it was," she admitted, walking up until she stood beside him, gazing at the painting. "My father was despairing and Okina was depressed for weeks. I remember that for the first three days, I couldn't cry." this was something Misao had told no one, not even Soujiro. "I remember the wake, and the funeral, and the party afterwards…but I never cried until the day after. When all was said and done and I really understood that she was gone."
Inadvertently, Aoshi noticed her eyes fill and feared for a moment that she would start crying right there. She surprised him when she sniffed a little and then smiled. "That's when I started practically living at the Aoyia. Gramps told me that whenever I wanted to, I was welcome there."
"So," Aoshi said, surprised at how hoarse his voice felt. "You're known my grandfather a long time?"
"My entire life," Misao said quietly.
"He never told me about you, when I used to visit him. I used to spend summers at the Aoyia, until I was ten."
"My mother was still alive then," she said with a note of sadness in her voice. "I didn't go to the Aoyia often in those days. It wasn't until after Mom…that's when I became very close with Gramps and everyone there. He used to tell me stories about our mothers, and you."
"Our mothers?" Aoshi asked in quiet confusion. "What about me?"
Misao turned to look at him, her head tilted to the side slightly. "Okina was my mother's godfather. Our mother's grew up together." She could tell by his shocked expression that no one had ever told him that. It wounded her a bit, that Okina never mentioned her or her mother to his grandson. The one he valued so highly. "He used to tell me stories about how he trained you. That when I begged and begged until he taught me a few things."
"Did he?" Aoshi asked, a sudden mischievous glint in his eye.
"Yes, but don't get any ideas," she warned, knowing that look. "I'm not as strong, or as big as you are. It would be unfair."
"You're no fun."
"I know, I know." They stood in silence for a while, admiring the art, then Misao yawned loudly. "Come, I'm tired."
"Are you going to tuck me in?" he asked mockingly.
"Only if you're bad," she said with a teasing smile. Aoshi was surprised when he blushed. He followed her from the studio back down to the ground floor. "Do you want food before bed, or just sleep?"
"Sleep," he intoned, already falling on to the couch with flourish.
"Well then, far be it I deny a growing boy from his beauty rest," Misao said in jest, pulling the extra blanket she had brought over him on the couch. To ward of the cold.
Aoshi surprised her when he grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her down on to the couch next to him. "Stay with me a while," he said in her hair, his arms around her waist.
Misao momentarily panicked, thinking about Soujiro's advice and blushing fiercely, but she relaxed after a minute. He wasn't trying anything beyond holding her, and Misao was stronger than she looked if he did try something funny.
"Tell me something," he said after a few peaceful moments of silence.
"Anything," she sighed, resting her head on his chest.
"What's your father like…that you don't like him?" The question was asked in innocence. He knew that she didn't like talking about him, but part of him asked out of a selfish want. That child deep inside of him who felt safe around Misao, safe enough to ask a question that had always left a sour place in his heart. The fact that he never knew his father pained Aoshi sometimes, late into the night when he thought. Misao was the first person--apart from Hannya--who he had ever felt comfortable enough around to speak of such a thing with.
Once the question was out, Misao stiffened slightly. She would have drawn away, hidden in that protective wall of silence like she always did when someone asked her about her father, but she couldn't do that. She couldn't hide this time. Not from Aoshi. But she couldn't exactly tell him the truth either, could she? Not yet. It was far too much in too short a period of time.
Instead, she only exhaled and thought. "He tries to control my life for me," she said softly, hardly above a whisper. "He always wants to know where I am, what I'm doing, who I'm with. When he doesn't know, he gets upset and angry. Since my mother died, he just hates me to ever be out of his sight, or the sight of those under his employment."
"So you mean, the last time I was here--?"
"He was having me followed," Misao said in a hollow voice. "That's why I made you get out and hide. If he had caught you here, it would have been a nightmare."
"But he can't catch me now?"
"No," Misao said with another deep exhale. "Even if I'm being watched. By the time he gets here, you'll be gone and he has no proof of the matter."
"Is it a good idea to lie to him like that?"
Misao shivered and snuggled closer to him. "Can we talk about this tomorrow? I'm really tired."
Aoshi dropped the subject, and soon they both drifted off to sleep on the couch. It was a peaceful night, with the snow outside and the comfort inside. Peace that was short lived. Misao never noticed that she was, in fact, being watched.
A/N: Okay, technically it's Saturday now. Sorry. I had a little emergency when my freezer broke and my mother and I had to save our food. Looks like it's turkey this weekend! Chapter 8 will be out by Monday! A few quick reviewer responses and I'm out of here. Thanks for reading!
Miz: Lol, what can I say, I'm a romantic--even if the romance I write is very bad. That's what I think too. Aoshi and Misao…how could it be any way else, you know? Sorry it was a day late. Forgive me, and enjoy this chapter!
Darkmoon0829: Back again, eh Darkmoon? I update on time because I have no life, lol. Writing is all I am so I take a lot of pride and put a lot of effort into it. Well, let me say that Soujiro once entertained a crush on her, but they are strictly plutonic. Thanks for reading!
Silver Miko: I'm so happy that you like my work! *cries tears of joy* It's so weird when I hate what I write, post it, and everyone loves it. I always try to do my best, but a lot of the time I don't like it. This story I like for the most part. Renegade--my Soujiro fic--I loved, as well as Tainted Blood, my Inuyasha fic in the works. A lot of the stuff I wrote before that, I hated, which is why I deleted it. I can't wait to read anything you have coming out. (Sorry I don't review, most of the time I just copy/paste and read it offline because my father hates me online so much!)
Allin656: I'm so happy that you like it! Soujiro is actually a lot like me in this fic, I tell that to all my friends when they tell me about their newest flames. More things will be revealed in the next few chapters. I like to drag it out as long as I can. Thanks for reading though!
Flyinangel777: I'm really happy that you like it! I am to please a tough crowd and the fact that you like it gives me that warm and fuzzy feeling inside, lol. Although I do love Kenshin and Koura, I don't relate with their characters all that much. Kenshin is too tormented and Kaoru is too afraid of commitment. I can relate best with Aoshi, Misao, and Soujiro--who are my three favorites! Thanks for reading!
Susan: Yes, I see that I am, which makes me a happy wolf demon! I love Soujiro and Misao action, I always make them act like me and my brother, squabbling and tormenting each other, but there is that layer of affection. I hope you like this one too!
Nekonomiko: *flashes a v-sign of her own* Thanks for the love, I feel ya. I hope you like this chapter, and I hope you are flooded with inspiration enough to update your fic!
Tiian: I only update so often because I have no life, everyone's so ashamed because I go so fast…I'm just a sad little person who barely leaves the basement! Saint Kenshin is a weird little guy, I just thought it would be funny to make him a weird little character. Ah, you see through my little plot device. She feels safe in a web of lies! I try to limit myself because I have other stories to concentrate on. This was majorly a story I created to help me get past my writer's block--which it did. So I want to wrap it up clean in 10 chapters, give or take.
Tamakia'gss: I take it you like the fluff, ne? I'm not very much into the entire 'lovey-dovey' stuff. I write what I can, but romance is hard for me a lot of the time. I have no idea why. Well, ominous feelings about a chapter can be true, what do you think?
SeaBreeze: I'm very happy that I could get you interested in the realm of Aoshi/Misao fandom. I inspired a drawing, did I? Perhaps you could show it to me if you could, yes?
Mariana-chan: Don't put other stuff of just for the sake of my little story! It's not that good! I love sexual tension, I think it's the most hilarious human calamity there is. Well, my whole point is, if you eliminate the sexual tension, then it will be gone…yeah. It was a thought, don't judge me!
Astro-24: Yes, Mr. M is an ass. I wrote him that way. Who can not love reading a love-hate relationship? Did you sat…Kouga? *squeals and hugs her Kouga plushie* I am totally and absolutely in love with him. I know he's a loser in a mini-skirt, but come on! He's a wolf demon! Yes, I did name myself for Kouga because I am his humble servant. Here is that update you wanted.
ANIMEGURL_23: Wow, I'm really happy that you think my story is that good! I personally don't think this story is that great of a find, but if you like it, it makes me happy! Here is another chapter for you. Chapter 8 will be out on Monday.
Len: I'm glad the pull of my writing made you want to review, lol. Yes yes, he finds out next chapter actually. Suspense is part of the writing. And so you know, I am a die-hard believer in happily ever after that comes with a price. Nothing in life is ever easy in my little world. I hope that reassures you…or not! Thanks and continue reading!
