Car Toruble?

"Relax good Sir, I don't bite…and neither does the car." Misao spoke sarcastically back at the tall man beside her. She observed with an eyebrow raised as he brought out an old fashioned handkerchief and wiped his wrist clean even though there was no oil or grease on it anyway. She watched him intently as he folded it back up and then slipped it back into his trench coat pocket as though he did this everyday.

"Look you've got to know what happens in a car to understand them and to notice when something goes wrong. We'll start with the basics okay?" Misao stared over at the silent man, his lips in a thin line as his green-grey eyes flickered from her blue ones down to the engine in the stretch limousine. She couldn't help but place a smile on her lips. He looked completely lost as he stared endlessly at the engine. Did he really not know anything about cars?

"Well start simple. This is what is known as a stretch limousine, this is the body and the body has four wheels that go round and round when the car is in motion." Misao began as she indicated the car as a whole, then the body and then the wheels to the now slightly annoyed man. She watched as he folded his arms across his broad chest and replied to her little observations.

"I am well aware of what cars I own madam…as well as what a wheel is. If you don't mind, I have quite a lot of work to do." Misao watched as he swiftly turned around as he headed for the main door to leave her alone to have her 'fun'. Misao smiled even more. He was embarrassed…and she'd figured it out and she knew he didn't like that at all.

"Mr Shinomori wait! Look I'm sorry okay? Come back, I promise I won't tease. I think you should learn at least a little something on cars. It'll do you some good…please?" Misao watched as he halted…frozen in a confident stride. Misao did not know, but Shinomori Aoshi was not one for practical jokes…especially when the teasing was being referred to him. Misao's eyes softened and she held yet another small smile on her lips, she watching as her 'employer' turned his head to look at her over his shoulder, his silky bangs falling across his eyes. Aoshi couldn't help but watch sightly amused, much to his silent disgust, as Misao hopped from one foot to the other, waiting for him to make up his mind. What surprised Aoshi was that he turned fully around and headed back to Misao, his hand moving down to unbutton his trenchcoat and taking it off placing it on a nearby stool.

"So?" Aoshi mumbled slightly…almost too quietly for his usual confident self but he was staring at a piece of machinery he knew nothing about. He watched as Misao held out her hand, slightly waving him to move a little closer, in which he did. He bent over slightly and watched and listened as the short woman beside him began to tell him the different parts in the engine while pointing a few out to him.

"The cylinder is the core of a car engine. It has pistons inside of it that move up and down. A spark plug supplies the spark that will ignite the air/fuel mixture within the car so that combustion can occur. Of course it has to happen at the right moment for everything to actually work properly. Intake and exhaust valves open at precise times to let in the fuel and air and also to release exhaust. Are you with me so far?" Misao asked as she stood up properly and observed as Aoshi nodded once waiting for her to continue. She shrugged her shoulders thinking he would ask her some sort of question but it appears that he was one very smart man.

"Piston rings are sliding seals that are situated between the outer edge of the actual piston and the inner edge of the cylinder. The combustion chamber in the engine is the area where compression and combustion occur. When the piston moves up and down this actually changes the size of the combustion chamber. A crankshaft turns the pistons up and down motion into circular motion. The connecting rod is what actually joins the piston and the crankshaft together. Both ends rotate so the angle may change as the crankshaft rotates and the piston moves. The sump is the part that surrounds the crankshaft and contains some amount of oil, which happens to collect in the bottom of the sump. Basically known as an oil pan. This is where piston rings come in real handy. They are served for two purposes basically one is to prevent the air/fuel mixture and exhaust in the combustion chamber from leaking into the sump during the actual compression and combustion. They also keep oil in the sump from leaking into the combustion area and if that happened then it would be burned and lost." Misao turned to look over at Aoshi once more, his eyebrows furrowed slightly trying to take in all this new information at once. Perhaps it was a good idea for her to stop explaining things for one day and let him go.

"Well I'm thinking that's enough for one lesson. The engine has a lot of subsystems but I can tell you about them another day." Misao piped up, her hands on her hips and her head slightly titled as she smiled up at Aoshi. He leaned straight up to his full height almost as though he was confused as he hadn't made for the exit yet. Did he wish to be in the presence of this…this woman mechanic? Aoshi followed Misao with his eyes as she headed for her bag to grab her bottle of water and drenched it over her face and hair.

"We do have air conditioning madam so you needn't do such a thing. We live in a technology driven world, which grows every single day and simple childish things like that are not needed anymore." Misao placed her bottle down and huffed slightly, her arms folding under her breasts as she stared at the impossible man in front of her.

"You seriously need to just relax for five minutes a day Mr Shinomori. I wouldn't be surprised if you didn't know what relaxing means though. First thing, its just water and this floor is just concrete. It will not harm a thing. Second, I am not a child so do not refer to me as one. I doubt you like being referred to as a child either. Thirdly you should try it sometime before actually passing it off as childish. It is very refreshing and very soothing. Have you every decided to go for a walk in the rain? It is very calming and soothes a troubled soul." Misao had watched his eyebrow arch as she rambled on and on about such things, but people like him just got her so infuriated. There were so many little things in life that people like him took for granted.

"I give up on you people." Misao mumbled to herself, but Aoshi had heard every word and watched as she walked back towards the limousine and moved back under the car to go back to fixing it.

"What do you mean by 'you people' madam?" Aoshi couldn't help but ask. He heard the clanking of a tool and watched Misao slid back into view, a scrunched look crossing her features.

"First thing Mr Shinomori, stop addressing me as madam. I'm a common person who prefers to be addressed by my name. So the next time you wish to speak to me then use Misao Makimachi okay?" She watched him eye her silently from his standing position and thought that to be a yes and she decided to continue on.

"On our side of the world everyone is treated equal. This side however, is like the person with the most money rules over the others and then there is like a huge ranking system of who is the richest comes into focus. Who has the most cars, the most properties, the most amount of businesses and so on…its really pathetic."

"There is only one world Miss Misao." Aoshi replied back in a small sigh as though hearing this statement one too many times.

"On the contrary have you been to the real world Mr Shinomori? Common people live in certain sections of Tokyo, but once you cross the line of where rich people like yourself live everything changes. You are looked at and judged on what you own and what you achieve in life. We work to live, where someone like you seems to live to work. I've only been here for a number of hours but clearly I have seen no family of yours. You have no wife, no children…and it also seems no friend's right? The only thing you have in your life is your servants…and I doubt you can call them friends."

"You are treading on very thin ice Miss Misao. You now nothing of my life and the hardships I have been through. I suggest you get back to work on fixing my transportation before I fire you." Aoshi swiftly turned around, grabbing his coat along the way and headed for the door.

"As you know nothing of mine either, so you cannot judge me as someone weaker then you. I bet I work more then you do…and yet you wouldn't even know, realise or even care about someone like me…a simple common person. I knew there was a heart behind that cold exterior and I finally found it. I suggest you let it emerge once in a while Mr Shinomori…and maybe, just maybe your servants will give you more respect and not think of you as a spoilt and demanding little rich boy." Aoshi swiftly turned around at hearing that but Misao was already under the car. She dare have the nerve to say that to him? Aoshi's hands had fisted in slight anger, but nothing came out. No words of 'you are fired' or 'get off my property before I call the police'. Those words she spoke had struck him deeply and that fuelled Aoshi's anger even more. The men and women that had served his mother and father when they were alive were cheerful and easy going, but once they died…something happened. A darkness had surrounded them all, only they had escaped it whereas Aoshi was still very much in the middle of it all. Hannya, Beshimi, Hyotokko and Shikijo had been loyal friends to his father for many years…and although they still served the Shinomori family, Aoshi knew it was out of respect for his father. Was he really what Misao said? A spoilt and demanding little rich boy? Aoshi shook his head and exited the large garage heading for the main entrance to the mansion. He needn't think of such thoughts that meant nothing to him.

"Hannya?" Aoshi bellowed loudly watching the older man walk into the main room and bow slightly, his hands placed behind his back.

"Have you got my pa-" Before Aoshi could finish he watched as Hannya spoke up finishing off what he was going to say.

"Your paper is upstairs in your study Master Shinomori. I asked Omasu-san to brew you a pot of green tea and placed some of Okon-san's rice cakes on a dish and placed them upstairs besides your already turned on laptop. Okon-san hopes you'll like the rice cakes today. She made them using your mother's recipe. Is there anything else you wish for me to do Master Shinomori? I was just about ready to clean up the training hall. It has not been done for a couple of days." Aoshi was silent watching Hannya bow at him once more and turn around heading down the passageway for the back door.

"Hannya, am I…" Aoshi stalled not being able to finish his question and watched his butler turn around, his silent gaze staring into his young green-grey eyes wanting to know what he was so hesitant for. Hannya was slightly confused…and he was never confused. He knew what went on in the household, more then he let on, but Master Shinomori was behaving most strangely.

"Never mind Hannya." Aoshi spoke aloud and began walking upstairs towards his study to look over the paper, write up a report and then drink his tea and eat the rice cakes.

Hannya watched Aoshi move upstairs, not in his usual confident strides either. Had he really been that shocked at seeing that the mechanic was a woman? Or did something happen to him and the mechanic? Hannya knew his young master was not entirely made of stone and ice and a pretty young woman like that would have to have gotten his attention some way or another. Hannya shook his head at imaging his master falling head over heels in love with the mechanic woman. To think of something as absurd as that just made Hannya want to laugh out loud but his master wasn't one for loud noises and so he quietly made his way towards the training hall.

* * * *

Hours had passed and yet here sat Aoshi in his leather chair at his wooden desk, the laptop screen on but his report form was blank. The dish that contained the rice cakes was empty, as was the pot of green tea, but he had just sat there, not doing a thing.

Unfortunately for Aoshi's usually stable form, the young mechanics words had been circling his mind the entire time. Again Aoshi slammed his fist on his table and stood up moving towards the large window in his study. What was wrong with him? Was he really going to listen to her pitiful words of what she thought of him? Please, she was just a common woman, just another lowly person that complained about their poor lives wishing people would have sympathy for them. Aoshi shook his head of those thoughts and turned to face his wooden door when there was a soft knock and Omasu entered the study heading towards the table to collect the dirty dishes and spoke while doing so.

"Good evening Master Shinomori. I see you enjoyed Okon's rice cakes. She will be pleased to hear about that. I came to tell you that dinner is running late this evening. Okon has gone on one of her cooking frenzies and is trying something different, so it won't be until 7:00 that you will be eating it."

"Thank you Omasu." Aoshi spoke absently while leaning against the wall near the window, but his head turned to look at Omasu as she juggled the tray, it almost spilling over in her shook at hearing a thank you pass through his lips.

"Is this the first time you have heard me say those words Omasu?" Aoshi questioned almost too casually for her liking. What was wrong with him? She'd have to ask Hannya once she got back downstairs.

"Truthfully Master Shinomori I think it is. I don't think I've heard you say those words since you were a small child and that's why I was a little caught off guard. I'll call you when dinner is ready." Aoshi watched Omasu make a hasty retreat and he leaned against the wall once more, a motorcycle engine starting up caught his attention. He stared down at Misao as she sat on the bike wearing her leather pants and her heavy boots. He watched her place on her leather jacket zipping it up to her chin and then placed on her red helmet. Aoshi watched stunned as Misao shot her head up to his study window, gave him a small salute and then rode off, leaving a small trail of leaves and dust behind. She knew he was watching her? Aoshi stepped away from the window, his hand moving to his heavy beating heart. There was definitely something wrong with him.

* * * *

(Downstairs in the kitchen)

"Hannya, do you know what seems to be troubling Master Shinomori?" Omasu spoke as she walked into the kitchen and handed him the tray as he washed the three items in the sink.

"Why do you ask?" Hannya answered with a question of his own.

"Well Master Shinomori seemed very strange and well…he thanked me just a few moments ago."

"He thanked you?" Came four voices as Beshimi, Hyotokko, Shikijo and Okon walked into the large kitchen as they overheard Omasu. All astonished faces were starring incredulously at her as though she had grown a second head but they all listened as she explained in full detail what happened.

"Now that you mention it Omasu, he seemed quite far away after he came back into the house from seeing Miss Misao. He was hesitant to ask me something and that in itself is quite rare. I usually know what is rolling around in his mind but not today. It might have something to do with Miss Misao. That is all I can think of to see Master Shinomori loose himself like he has. It is very unlike him to do so." Hannya explained his small encounter with their master and watched smiles grow on everyone's faces.

"No betting!" He spoke forcefully and watched the smiles turn to frowns as Beshimi and Hyotokko put away their money as they wished to bet on why their master was not himself. They had done that a couple of times, but after nearly being caught by Aoshi, they quit for quite sometime and only did small bets here and there but Hannya had banned them all.

The timer on the oven dinged and Okon raced over to pull out the meal she made and entered the dinning room to place the dish on the table. There were two dinning rooms in the mansion, this being the smallest and held 10 people, while the large would hold about 30 or 40 people.

All the members that actually lived in the mansion sat down at the dining room table and waited for Omasu to come downstairs with Aoshi. Only a minute passed as he entered the room, nodding silently to everyone's greetings and sat down at the head of the table over looking everyone. Okon had already dished out his meal knowing what he would have portions of and let the others serve there own, they being very different to Aoshi. He silently watched as they chatted quietly amongst themselves and knew it custom to wait until everyone had a serving of dinner before starting. All pairs of eyes turned to look at him and he gave a small nod indicating for them to go ahead and eat. A small frown crossed Aoshi's lips as he played with his meal not being overly hungry. Was he really that out of place in his own home?

"Hannya?" Aoshi heard himself speak aloud, conversation dying down as eyes glanced his way but only Hannya's stayed on his.

"Yes Master Shinomori?" He answered and waited for an order.

"After you finish your meal please ring for a taxi to come to the house at 8 in the morning. I wish to head into the city to purchase another car." Aoshi spoke and placed some food into his mouth chewing lightly.

"I can do this right now Master Shinomori." Aoshi watched Hannya place his napkin on the table beside his meal, he ready to get up but Aoshi held up his hand quietly telling him no and to sit back down and enjoy his meal. He watched his servants eye each other, they not knowing what was going on but finally they went back to eating and chatting once again. Aoshi never told them to quieten down when their laughing got a little louder then usual, nor did he interrupt them at all. For once he listened to what they said...what they seemed to talk about and his heart did a double beat when Hyotokko mentioned Miss Misao, the 'extraordinary young woman that knew everything there was to know about cars' as he put it. Aoshi remained quiet, trying not to listen to what they thought of her and began eating once more…he not being able to stop the small smile crossing his lips, but it didn't matter though…no one had noticed anyway…

* * * *

To be continued…

* * * *

Authors Notes: Oh thank the gods for that! Well I wasn't sure what I was going to do, but don't panic cause Aoshi is not going to change too quickly…he'll just listen more and pay more attention to Hannya and the others. Sure Misao speaks her mind, but hey, she's the best…and cutest mechanic he's ever going to come in contact with so he's not going to fire her no matter how many times he'll say it. I think he's a bit shocked that Misao has gotten in so fast and he might freak out sometimes and go back to his original posh self, but hey…can't have it go too fast can I?

Oh and if you wondered why it took so long, I had to find stuff on car engines you know. I ain't no expert and hopefully everything made sense. Don't worry though, Misao will tell Aoshi more and drool over his cars and what not…as well as noting he is quite good looking, but that whole snobbish attitude is something she can't seem to get over. So I think I might make Aoshi do the chasing…

Believe it or not I found to good songs for two songfics I plan to do in the future. The best part is that the first one is like Misao to Aoshi and the second is Aoshi to Misao and its fantastic!

You'll have to bear with me on chapters for stories minna-san. I'm running myself ragged at work, plus working overtime and I was sick on Monday and not good on Friday either, so please understand why they take longer then usual and I do apologise but I only write on the weekend these days, so I hope everyone understands…

One of these days I must update my Website but I doubt that will happen for a bit cause…I'm so tired! There's a lot of stuff that needs to go up, but I'll get to it one day…

Arigatoo to everyone reading and reviewing and I love ya heaps! (^_^)