Authors Notes: Hello Minna-san! It is Noa here again…blabbering away as usual. To think Aoshi and Hannya have some patience with Misao is good…but she really hasn't done too bad…or won't do too bad. At least she knows the basics, but there are fine details she must remember of course… I made this into a cocktail party where everyone mingles and nobody sits down, but I still have tables and chairs around…just cause…and 'western' and 'Japanese' food so yeah…
Anywho where was I? Oh yes the training…really all Aoshi has to worry about is Misao blurting out her own thoughts to 200 other people. Remember…she speaks her mind…
Ah yes and Misao teasing dear Aoshi once more…she can't help it of course…it is just too fun to do so…especially watching him scowl the way he does. As for what Aoshi is wearing is pretty simple ne? Just think Aoshi in the suit he wore at the end of the manga…without the trenchcoat of course…mmmmmm…very nice… ^_^
As for Misao…well I'll let you guys…and Aoshi stew on that until the next chapter…since she'll be taken to every exclusive shop known to man! Okay slight exaggeration but *shrugs*
You'll never guess what Aoshi asks as well…but Misao must refuse…she has…erm…prior engagements to attend to. I think I might make Aoshi spy on her…so he can find out what she is hiding, but you guys can find out very shortly… And I bet most will be "NANI?" Oh, I have the perfect scene already written out for the cocktail party! It'll be funny…or kawaii…either one is fine by me.
Anywho this won't be all of the training in this chapter, that's saved for the next one…this is just a lead up and just a bit more on Misao…since she's kind of a mystery.
Anywho I really should let you start reading now…unless you have totally skipped to the story and forgotten to read this anyway! ^_^'
Car Trouble?
Misao had quickly finished up, sighing in relief at actually finishing the service on the limousine. After all…how the hell was she and Aoshi going to get to this cocktail party? Misao felt a blush creep onto her cheeks as she started her motorcycle, but thanked the gods she was already wearing her helmet. She was going to a cocktail party…and with Mr Shinomori too! What were the gods thinking? Misao had never been to anything exclusive before. She knew of manners thanks to her mother, but she was being taught the mannerism of fucking rich people...people she couldn't stand...and yet she was going to be one of their dates! Misao shook her head at the thought. Not a date…a business deal…
Misao frowned at that as she sped off, leaving a trail of leaves behind her, at the thought of being part of some deal. Why was it that her heart felt heavy? Misao's eyes grew wide in shock as she screeched to a halt and turned to look back at the now distant mansion in the Shinomori grounds.
"What is he doing to me…I shouldn't be like this…like I care what he thinks…" Misao mumbled to herself and shook her head once more…trying to clear her thoughts of her employer for a few weeks.
"Misao you are going insane…" Again she mumbled to herself and took a deep breath before voicing her opinion once more and then left.
"At least you get Wednesday off. That has to be good since you can be with…" Misao cut herself off as she glanced down at her wristwatch noting the time and glanced up at the sunset.
"Oh crap! I'm late!" And with that spoken Misao sped off.
* * * *
(An Apartment building - Room 12)
Misao knocked on the door hearing a muffled voice inside. A chain was detached from the door and the lock was clicked, the handle moving as the door opened to reveal an elderly man smiling over at Misao.
"Good evening Genzai-sensei I'm sorry I'm late." Misao apologised while bowing lightly to the elder man. He ushered her inside and they made there way down the passageway towards the lounge room.
"Nonsense Misao-chan, the one you should apologise to is…"
"Kachan you're late again!" A young boy's voice spoke in a slightly annoyed tone even though he held a bright smile on his chubby face. He raced over to Misao and hugged her around the neck as Misao had bent down to pick him up and placed him on her right hip.
"Gomen ne Shin-chan, mama was going as fast as she could without breaking the speed limit. You can forgive her can't you Shin-chan?" Misao spoke, her blue eyes pouting at another pair of larger blue ones.
"Kachan I hate it when you do that." The young boy muttered as he held onto Misao a little tighter, his face dropping onto her shoulder.
"Shin-chan always forgives mama cause he loves her so much." The boy spoke softly into Misao's ear and she held him a little tighter. Misao waved goodbye to Genzai-sensei and his granddaughters and headed out the door. Her little boy was already four years old and growing up too fast for her liking. Her little boy… Misao sighed lightly as she clicked the button for the lift and waited for it, her mind hundreds of miles away.
"Kachan? Kachan!"
"Eh?" Misao muttered and blinked a couple of times to see a small hand waving in front of her eyes. Misao smiled at her son and patted his back waiting for him to ask whatever it was that he was going to ask. Usually he asked about her day…and so Misao waited for his question.
"Did kachan have a good day?" Shin spoke softly his little hands lifting up to brush through his mother's thick dark bangs, brushing them away from her eyes and face. Misao smiled at the little ritual he had created between them, as though he always wanted to have her full attention on him.
"Hai, kachan had a very busy day…she has a student to teach." Misao giggled at the thought of Mr Shinomori, her employer being her student. She doubted he'd ever been called that before and Misao was not going to voice that aloud.
"But she did fix up one car though…and she has been invited to a party as well." Misao continued on as she stepped into the elevator and hit the ground floor button.
"Do I get to come too?" Shin spoke excitedly, but pouted, his bottom lip sticking out as Misao shook her head.
"Iie Shin-chan, mama has to go for business, but she'll bring back a surprise for you okay?"
"Promise?" The little boy asked, holding out his pinkie finger waiting for his mother to 'connect' hers to his and shake on it.
"I promise, but I'll give you the decision if you wish to stay at Ojiichan's place or Genzai-sensei's place."
"Mama, why can't I stay with Uncle Sano? He's really funny!" His eyes were pleading with Misao's to at least think about what he voiced. Misao pursed her lips and placed her son on the ground, making sure his little hand was in hers as they stepped out of the lift and out of the apartment block to head down to the park, but on the way there they would grab a bite to eat.
"I'll thinking about it Shin-chan."
"Arigatoo mama!" He spoke joyously back and skipped beside his mother, his little hand resting comfortably in her bigger one. He knew she was going to say yes already…and he couldn't wait to be with Uncle Sano again. His uncle had said that no one ever grew up. Even though he and his mum are older they are really just big kids, but Shin-chan wasn't allowed to tell anyone that secret.
"Shin-chan how was your day?" Misao asked as she picked him up and sat him on her hip once more, waiting to see what he wanted to have for dinner. His usual answers were of playing with Ayame and Suzume-chan, as well as watching videos and drawing and going to kindergarten for half a day. It was always the same…but Misao loved every minute of it.
She remembered the night very clearly when her and her lover back then had slept together. It wasn't the most romantic or the smartest thing to do at being slightly intoxicated. Misao felt so stupid as when she woke up he was gone…completely leaving the city…leaving the country all together. She hadn't heard or seen of the man in over four years. That one night…had cost her a lot, but as Misao paid for her dinner and walked towards the park with Shin-chan skipping beside her yet again, she wouldn't change anything for the world.
He was her heart…he was all she had, besides her grandfather, but this little boy was all hers and no one could take that away from her. True he had been a mistake, but as Misao listened to him tell her about his day, about the drawings he was doing for her, Misao was glad he was born. Sure he didn't have a father figure, but Shin-chan loves her and needn't want anyone else…he had said so himself not too long ago.
"Ne mama?" Misao snapped out of her own ramblings and looked to where Shin was pointing. An entertainer was in the park, clapping and laughing from children could be heard and Misao headed in that direction to sit down and watch as well. Shin automatically crawled into her lap and clapped with the other children, Misao glancing down at his wide blue eyes smiling and laughing at what the entertainer was doing. Yep, Misao was sure blessed to have her little boy with her. She constantly remembered her grandfather Okina asking her why she wasn't dating, but Misao told the old man that men these days just wanted one thing. She had said that they only wanted her…but could never take the 'little boy' as well. What cowards they were, never wanting responsibility. Misao had always said that it was both of them…or nothing at all. Of course it always ended up being nothing.
* * * *
An hour or two must have passed by as Misao walked quietly back to the apartment block Genzai-sensei lived in. Misao lived there too, but on a higher floor. She had known Genzai-sensei ever since she ran into him as she raced up the stairs in tears, she coming from the doctors and finding out she was pregnant. He had followed her all the way to the roof where Misao usually went for some solitude, but was comforted by a complete stranger…that stranger being the only living relative left of two little girls.
Ayame and Suzume-chan were always laughing and always playing around, Misao smiling at their energy. As she watched Genzai-sensei prepare their dinner and then get them ready for bed one evening, Misao's hand had unconsciously been rubbing against the small bump on her stomach. Her decision was made; she was going to have the little miracle inside of her. Sure there would be tough times, but Misao had been through many tough situations and she knew she wouldn't regret this at all.
As the months went on, Misao depended a little on Genzai-sensei's help, he actually being a retired doctor and recommended her to see Takani Megumi. Misao and her were now good friends and she'd become an 'Aunt' to her son Megumi watching him a few hours a week for Misao. That's how Megumi met Sano and although they bickered a lot…Misao knew there was something there. Misao had been scared stiff in telling Okina and when she did, he chided her for a couple of minutes but then held her close, silent anger flowing through him at the young man who only wanted one thing and then flittered away as though he never existed in the first place.
Misao sighed brushing away the sad memories from her mind and wrapped her leather jacket around her sleeping son a little tighter. His head rested against her shoulder, his hands fisting in her shirt, never wishing to let go of her and Misao never wanting him to. Misao opened the doors to the apartment block and quickly got into the lift with another couple who lived on the same floor she did.
"Oh my Misao-san, he is growing up fast indeed." The young woman spoke softly, her hand brushing over Shin's shiny black hair, Misao nodding her head in affirmation as well.
"That he is…" Misao responded and bid the couple goodnight as they headed in the opposite direction to her. Misao got out her keys, unlocking her door and closed it with her foot once she was inside. She'd lock it later, but after she placed down her son.
Misao walked to the small second bedroom and flicked on the light, Shin moving lightly, almost fidgeting but he fell back to sleep in an instant. She placed him on his bed, undressing him quietly but quickly and redressed him into his 'trucks and cars' pyjamas. Misao tucked Shin under his blankets and kissed his forehead. She switched on his night-light and then left the room, keeping the door slightly ajar and flicking off the main light. Misao quickly moved back to lock the front door and then made her way to the two-seater couch and her open textbooks on the coffee table to begin her study.
* * * *
(The next morning)
Misao had been running late, but arrived at the Shinomori mansions at exactly 7:55 in the morning. She had fallen asleep on the couch…the buzzing of her clock alarm in her room jolting her from her sleep, not to mention her already fully awake son.
Misao rode her motorcycle under the shade of a large sakura tree and turned it off. She took off her helmet placing it on the seat, knowing nobody was going to steal it and made her way towards the front doors of the Shinomori Mansion.
Misao looked down at herself before notifying she had arrived just to make sure she was comfortable in what she was wearing, but not looking overly shabby. She had some real…old…was probably the best word to describe some of her clothes, but the ones she chose were comfortable and casual…but newer…and not so many holes were in them either.
Misao cleared her throat; her sunglasses propped on top of her head as she rang the doorbell this time. She was wearing a pair of dark blue, slightly baggy jeans and a pair of grey and black sneakers. She wore a grey long sleeved tank top hugging her curves and it came down to the waistband of her jeans. Her hair was placed in a long plait, small wisps framing her face.
Misao left the leather jacket on her bike not really needing it inside the mansion at all. She had a silver chain with a locket on it around her neck. A family photo, including her grandfather was on one side while the other was occupied by Shin.
"Good morning Miss Misao." Hannya spoke as he opened the door; he bowing lightly as Misao entered after bowing to him in return.
"Good morning Hannya. I'm ready for my torture." Misao replied jokingly, but stopped short of laughing when a deep voice registered in her ears, her eyes moving up the banister of stairs to her right.
"I doubt this will be torture Miss Misao. Think of it as a learning experience for you." Misao watched Aoshi move down the stairs in his usual graceful way. Sure she'd never seen him do it, but she couldn't imagine him coming downstairs in any other way but graceful.
Misao's eyes quickly took in what he was wearing. He wore a pair of loose black slacks, almost tracksuit pants and a plain deep blue top that rested at the waistband of his slacks. Misao was stunned to think he could dress so casual and her eyes rested on his feet. He was barefoot too!
"Wow, you're looking awfully casual." Misao responded as he finally stepped onto the tiled floor and padded his way towards her.
"I don't wear suits 24 hours a day Miss Misao." Aoshi responded dryly, he watching with a raised eyebrow as Misao fell against Hannya, clutching at her chest while Hannya's arm went around her shoulder to hold her steady.
"Dear god Hannya, keep me up on my own two feet for I thought Mr Shinomori was trying to be sarcastic for a minute."
"Do follow me Miss Misao…and quit the wise cracks. We have much to do and so little time." Misao watched the tall man walk off, she walking behind him and moving much like a soldier or sailor did. She passed by Okon and Omasu, the two of them giggling lightly at what Misao was doing. She made small bows and salutes here and there, Aoshi completely oblivious to what was happening behind him. He opened a large door and stepped into the dully-lit room, Misao moving in next and followed by Hannya.
"Oh my…" Misao muttered as she stared around the large ballroom. Large chandeliers hung from the ceiling and placed at a low light level. Very famous artworks hung from the walls and intricate but delicate ornaments lined the four corners in the ballroom. The carpet on the floor was a dark red velvet colour looking quite brand new. A spacious area was situated further away so a band could set up and entertain guests and then there was plenty of room for dancing. It was very western indeed.
One large round table was in the middle of the room, formally furnished with the usually wine and water glasses. The silverware consisted of knives, forks and spoons. Candles were lit in the middle of the table. The dinner set was fine white china with a silver line around the edges. Plain, elegant and stylish. If Misao had the money and had seen that in a store, it is exactly hat she would have picked. That or something with a bit of deep blue in it.
Everything was set in a delicate way, each item complementing each other and although Misao would have thought it took hours to do, it would have been a piece of cake to Hannya, Okon and Omasu. Misao's eyes grew slightly wider, as green-grey ones turned onto her, almost as though she was his prey.
"Are you ready to become Lady Misao?" Misao gulped down the lump in her throat watching Hannya move past her and stand beside Aoshi.
"H-Hai…" Misao heard herself squeak aloud. She took a deep breath, her eyes closing for several moments as she began chiding that she could do this in her head over and over again. Misao's eyes opened as the two men had not looked away from her and now she was ready to become Lady Misao and not just plain Miss Misao. Oh what a long day this was going to be.
* * * *
To be continued…
* * * *