Authors Notes: Arigatoo Minna-san for reading and reviewing. You are all very fantastic and you help me keep writing so thankies very much! *Throws the candy and flowers around* I know its total bribing to keep you all reading and reviewing but you can't blame me can you?
me me me and only me: Hey! Now what did I say about wanting me to continue my other stories? Tsk, tsk, tsk! Flattering and all, but nothing has popped up on UTCT at the moment, so you'll have to cringe and get angry and mad and what not, cause its last on the list at the moment. ^_^'
I've got one small little scene of Aoshi and Misao meeting after many weeks, but that's about it…and it's very tragic. Gomen ne, but 'Car Trouble?' is a priority at the moment and I'm going to finish this story completely! *Hehehe* Determination has set itself on Noa's brain for Car Trouble.
DarkFairy: I'm glad you didn't see Misao having a son coming, cause I'd hate to think my stories is predictable. Okay they become predictable in the end of course, Misao and Aoshi getting together, but as long as its not too predictable in between. ^_^'
The Black Gryphon: Nope, nope, nope…Soujiro happens to work for Aoshi and therefore doesn't know Misao. That doesn't mean he doesn't become fond of the woman though… ^_~ Oh! I see a bit of a love rival coming along…
Jaded: Yes indeed…how is Aoshi going to take this news of Misao having a baby…had a baby I mean. But you have to wander about how he will find out first…all I know is that Misao doesn't tell him, he finds her…but that's all I'm saying…
I don't have that much of an obsession with Misao having a baby do I? She's got one in 'Royalty versus Commoners' and she had some at the end of 'Every woman's dream is my Reality', but I don't think she has kids in anything else does she? I can't remember but I don't think she has. I was going to make her have one in 'Himura Designs…' but came up with an even bigger idea…and that will be quite interesting to see it plot itself out. *Cackles evilly* And nobody knows about this either…maybe one person in the story, but I just couldn't pass it up!
I think it's cute to see little chibi Aoshi's and Misao's though…does anyone want to draw me a chibi Misao and Aoshi?
*Pleading on hands and knees*
Hmm now what am I on about in this chapter…well…it's the training day! The dining session is probably like Pretty Woman…probably is and will be since…well I'm not really into formal things at all…so this is all a guess and on a whim. Oh and Misao and Okon get caught doing…well you'll see and they are sprung by dear Aoshi too. So what does he do? Teaches Misao some moves of course! ^_~ So who shall interrupt them?
What else is happening? Oh yes, the teasing Misao ensues on Aoshi about him calling her Miss Misao…but you'll understand once you read. Till next time Minna-san! ^__^
Car Trouble?
Misao stared over at the two men, observing as Hannya placed his hands behind his back, bowing lightly and spoke to her.
"Do have a seat Lady Misao." Misao had to blink a couple of times at the 'lady' comment but stepped forward her hand resting on one of the high backs of the mahogany wood chairs with red velvet cushioned seats. Misao was about to pull it from under the table when she stopped, stepped back and looked over at the two men.
"Aren't one of you supposed to pull it out for me?" Misao asked in a slightly confused tone of voice. She watched as Aoshi raised his eyebrow at her, as though he was stunned at her figuring something like this out. One of her hands fisted behind her back, but she placed on a smile and watched Hannya move around the table and pull out the chair for her.
"Thank you Hannya, at least someone is a gentleman around this place." Misao spoke her smile radiated on Hannya, he nodding silently back as Misao settled into the cushioned chair, her hands in her lap not wishing to touch anything. She had done a quick glance over at Aoshi to see his lips in a thin line…oh that comment made him quite tense indeed. Misao beamed over at Aoshi, as though nothing was wrong and watched as he moved around to sit beside her, almost plonking himself down in the chair. Hannya grabbed the napkin and flicked it to unfold it from the design it had been placed in and then positioned it over Misao's lap, her hands moving from her lap and resting on the table now.
"Elbows off the table Miss Misao." Misao abruptly took them away when she heard Aoshi chide her like a small child.
"I thought this was supposed to be a cocktail party. Doesn't that consist of standing and mingling around while drinking champagne and eating small amounts of nibbles served on trays by waiters?" Misao questioned, her blue eyes moving from Hannya's to Aoshi's.
"So you do know a few things?" Hannya spoke and Misao nodded her head a sarcastic remark leaving her lips.
"I had a mother too you know."
"That's something we must keep an eye on." Aoshi responded and got a nod from Hannya in agreement.
"What would that be?" Misao questioned and watched Aoshi stand up.
"That mouth of yours of course. You can't just say whatever you please to these people. There are rules."
"Rules?" Misao asked her eyes narrowing at the thought of making a complete idiot of herself. That was definitely something she didn't wish to do, for she was bargaining with having Wednesdays off and keeping her job as well. If she ruined anything, it would also fall upon the man standing to her right. Misao bit her lip as she stared at the silverware in front of her, her eyes not lifting to meet both men.
"Yes it is a cocktail party Miss Misao, but not all quests want to be standing for the entire night, so you must learn the proper way. I'll leave you in Hannya's capable hands. Be sure Miss Misao has a break and tell Okon to come in when you have finished so she can put everything away." Aoshi spoke watching his butler nod and then he left the ballroom without a second glance at Misao.
"He has very little faith in me." Misao spoke as she heard the soft click of the wooden doors close shut.
"On the contrary Miss Misao, Master Shinomori is the only one that has more then 100% faith in you."
"Nani?" Misao muttered slightly astounded as she turned to her left and faced the elderly man.
"It's true though. I think all of us in the Shinomori household have faith in you for changing into something you are not and even if it is for just one night. Master Shinomori on the other hand has the most faith in you, hoping that our lessons and teachings will rub off on you for more then just one night."
"What are you implying Hannya?" Misao questioned the elder man as he stood beside her, his facial features not showing anything.
"I am not implying anything Miss Misao, I merely see behind the mask…that is all." Misao eyed the elder man suspiciously, his darker eyes never leaving hers. Was he implying that his master wished to ask her to more then just one function? Misao shook the idea from her mind and faced the table. She nodded her head and the tutoring began.
"Entrée fork, salad fork and dinner fork." Hannya spoke pointing to the cutlery. Misao picked one of them up, her sharp nails taping the points.
"You can either count the points on the end of the forks or just remember go from the outside in. Another easy way is to always wait for others to begin eating. You must learn to do that anyway because it the most polite thing to do, but that way you can watch which fork they pick up first."
"Right…" Misao muttered as she placed down the fork. She was just about to place her hands on the table but quickly put them in her lap. Misao glanced over at Hannya, he placing a small smile on his lips as she had corrected herself quickly.
"The soup spoon is always rounder then the dessert spoon. Knives follow the way of the forks, go from the outside in. This glass is for your red wine, the long flute glass for you white, Chardonnay's and champagne while the bigger and rounder glass is for your water." Hannya spoke while pointing to each glass, Misao nodding in kind trying to remember them. It wasn't really that hard, she was more afraid of turning up on the night and picking up the wrong glass for the wrong wine or something like that.
"Now when you wish to have a glass of wine, do not touch a thing, let the waiter or waitress do it for you. That is what they are there for after all. They shall stand in between you and Master Shinomori since he'll be the one you are to sit next to and they pick up your glass underneath like so. They shall pour a sample of wine like this and then you are to swish it around slightly and then take a sip, almost rolling it around in your mouth to get the taste of it. It is always nice and polite to complement the fine wine on its taste…but you aren't expected to so don't feel pressured." Hannya was demonstrating the pouring of wine using the jug of water on the table water and Misao followed his hand movements as she moved the water in the red wineglass around and then took a sip swishing it around in her mouth.
"Quite bland if I say so myself…but nice and cool." Misao spoke in a slightly posh.
"Aa, quite so Miss Misao, very refreshing indeed." Hannya responded and Misao couldn't help but laugh at the small joke they made together.
"Now gently place the soup bowl in front of you like this Miss Misao." Hannya continued picking up the large bowl as well as the flat plate it rested on. He watched Misao do the same and she picked up her spoon holding it like he was.
"When eating your soup Miss Misao, please make sure you scoop down and towards the back of the bowl. If you so wish to have some bread then cut strips evenly and hold it over the soup, pouring the soup onto the bread. There is no dunking in events such as this one okay?"
"I think I should be taping you so I can go home and memorize all of this." Misao commented once more, but she used perfect skills as she followed Hannya's movements again.
"You are doing quite well Miss Misao."
"Yeah now I am, but wait until the night. That is when the real test will occur." Misao muttered, she sighing as though already predicting her failure and complete humiliation.
"Think of it as only you and Master Shinomori in the room, nobody else."
"I find that very hard to do Hannya, how many people are attending this cocktail party?" Misao questioned the man as he moved the soup dishes away. Misao picked up the dishes to do the same but her hands starting shaking, the spoon rattling in the bowl as she quickly placed it down and away from her when she heard Hannya's answer.
"About 250 people I would think. The last time there was 300, but many people are away overseas or have left the Shinomori companies all together. Miss Misao I assure you everything will be fine. Master Shinomori will be there to help you in any way possible."
"I don't know if I'm up for this…take me back to the cars…" Misao whined slightly but took another deep breath and picked up the main dinner cutlery watching Hannya.
"When eating Miss Misao, you do not take huge pieces of food into your mouth. You must chew delicately and place small portions into your mouth. Each time you place a mouthful of food into your mouth you must place the cutlery back onto the side of your plate and place you hands in your lap." Hannya watched as Misao pretended to cut a serving of food, place it into her mouth, her fork going down to the plate and chewed lightly, her hands in her lap like a 'good girl'.
"Very good Miss Misao, you have learned basic polite manners at the table. If you become at all stressed about anything just have some water and glance around the table to observe the other guests sitting with you and Master Shinomori. If you don't think you can stand being with them and truly need a break, all you have to say is 'Please excuse me, I have to visit the ladies room' and that is all."
"Please excuse me, I have to visit the ladies room…right gotcha on that one." Misao responded as though memorizing that one sentence making sure she'd use it a couple of times during the night.
"Another thing Miss Misao, try to speak properly as well. Remember no slang. These people have been brought up in a most peculiar way and you have to remember that. Like now for instance when you used 'gotcha'. Make sure you say 'got you' or 'understood'. They are very particular about their wording as well, but I'm sure if you just watch your slang…you'll do just fine on your own." Misao nodded her head and observed as Hannya got up from the table and Misao did as well, once he pulled her chair out from underneath her slightly.
"These are merely basic rules in dining out at a function Miss Misao and so we have finished your lesson. I'll call Okon into the ballroom so please stay here and look around for a moment." Misao bowed at Hannya when he did the same to her and watched him head for the main door Aoshi had exited from ages ago. Misao moved around the large ballroom, her eyes catching hold of a large stereo system cabinet and made her way over to it. She glanced around the room for a moment and then clicked the power button, the radio station blaring throughout the ballroom. Misao screeched in shock at the surround sound and quickly turned it down fearing she'd be busted for having it on in the first place. Her eyes cast up towards the ceiling to see six large speaking surrounding the entire ballroom.
"Wow…so that's what it really sounds like…" Misao mumbled to herself and turned it up just a little bit more, the song being one of her favourites. It had a fantastic beat that Misao couldn't help but dance too. What was so wrong with that anyway? She was the only one here. Misao began moving around the velvet red carpet; she taking off her sneakers to glide a bit more…giggling in some cases as she nearly fell over in a heap.
"Miss Misao?" Misao stopped jumping around and blushed in embarrassment as Okon had made herself known. Her toes curled into the souls of her feet, Misao's hands behind her back clutching each other, as she was embarrassed.
"You don't have to stop on my account Miss Misao, I'm here to put away these dishes so do keep dancing…you have wonderful rhythm." Okon spoke in a soft voice, her smile reflected over at Misao.
"A-Arigatoo Okon-san…" Misao mumbled slightly and watched the young woman place the dishes in a far away mahogany cupboard, she humming to the tune when she did so. Misao pursed her lips watching Okon pick up the not used wineglasses and place them on her silver tray…but she was stopped in doing anything else by Misao.
"Is everything alright Miss Misao?" Okon questioned, while looking slightly confused as she was dragged to where Misao once stood before.
"I think you need a break Okon-san, did you want to dance?"
"D-Dance?" Okon stuttered as she watched Misao move to the stereo system and turned the volume up and skipped back over, her high-spirited energy flowing over Okon. Okon was surprised when Misao grabbed her hands as she started spinning her around, making her move to the catchy tune. Okon couldn't help but smile and laugh at Misao, almost copying the crazy moves she created.
"Miss Misao you really do have good rhythm." Okon spoke breathlessly as they jumped around the room as though they were high…on sugar of course.
"That's only because I used to do gymnastics, but also because my father used to make me go through katas in the mornings when I was growing up. It paid off though, so I am grateful to him for teaching me some martial arts…as well as everything there is to know about cars and motorcycles."
"You have so much energy Miss Misao its truly unbelievable. You remind me of Master Shinomori sometimes." Okon responded and watched Misao stop dancing around, her blue eyes focusing on chocolate brown ones as she asked her own question.
"Shinomori-san is bubbly? That's something I really don't see in him at all." Misao muttered almost to herself but Okon heard…not to mention the dark figure standing at a side door to the ballroom as he listened in.
"Oh, you probably don't see it much these days…or at all, but Master Shinomori was such an energetic boy when he was growing up. Nothing seemed to phase him at all…he was always laughing and smiling. These days its hard to get two sentences out of him, but who wouldn't be like that when you happen to be the soul witness of watching your father die."
"He…He saw his father die?" Misao spoke softly, the dancing and music forgotten, as Misao's sad eyes reflected into Okon's. She nodded her head affirmatively, but gasped in horror soon after.
"Oh, I shouldn't be saying any of this. Please don't say anything Miss Misao, I do not wish to be fired. This job is all I know!" Okon eyes were pleading with Misao's, her hands clasping Misao's and she nodded her head.
"Still though…Shinomori-san bubbly. I can't picture that at all…" Misao laughed lightly, Okon joining in but they immediately stopped when there was a deep clearing of the throat. Two pairs of wide eyes stared at each other and then darted to the side double doors of the ballroom watching Aoshi step further inside.
"Oh no…" Misao had heard Okon utter in horror and regarded her as she quickly bowed to the approaching man, finished up placing the rest of the dishes and cutlery into the cabinet and then left the room with a tray full of ones that needed to be washed.
"You know you still haven't learnt to make you presence known yet. Perhaps I should teach you something along those lines as well." Misao hassled Aoshi once more, her hands placed on her hips.
"I saw you Miss Misao." Aoshi spoke, not even bothering with answering her previous statement. He watched as Misao tilted her head slightly, this being her silent confusion as 'I saw you' could mean many things.
"Dancing just a few minutes ago…ever since Hannya left the ballroom." Aoshi observed as Misao's eyes widened in surprise, a faint…no…a bright pink crossed over her cheeks in embarrassment at Aoshi, her employer watching her dancing around his ballroom like a complete idiot.
"You can handle fast dancing and upbeat music quite well Miss Misao, but what about slow music? You will probably be asked to dance at the party and it is rude to decline. So…" Aoshi died off as he watched Misao's face go even redder at the thought of dancing slowly with men she didn't even know…and they holding her close as well! Misao glanced up into intense green-grey eyes, hers growing wide in surprise as Aoshi bowed like some prince in a movie she had seen and held out his hand, offering it to her as he asked her his question.
"Would you like to dance Miss Misao? I will teach you how?" Before Misao could answer, her hand was already in his larger one, she demanding herself not to blush at the warmth and smoothness of his own hand. Her heartbeat was going triple time at the thought of being close to the man in front of her. Aoshi's hand clasped Misao's lightly, he pulling the shorter woman towards him, almost holding his breath at holding her close. His right hand lay against the small of her back, his fingers brushing bare and warm skin as Misao lifted up slightly, her left hand resting on his shoulder, the grey top she wore moving up her back slightly. Though the music on the radio wasn't the slowest, it needn't matter because all sound was drowned out as Aoshi began shuffling lightly, Misao's smaller feet following his bare ones. She was looking down at their feet but finally decided she shouldn't be doing that and looked up, a faint blush crossing her cheeks at being so close to his lips. It was as though, he had bent down slightly, almost wishing to smell the shampoo she washed her hair in a couple of days ago.
"W-Where did you learn how to dance?" Misao heard herself stutter aloud, needing to get a conversation started with the taller man holding her so gently…so lovingly close to him.
"You mean to tell me it wasn't in the news?" Aoshi dryly replied and smirked when he heard a small laugh escape Misao's lips, she bending her head and actually resting her forehead against his chest almost doing so unconsciously.
"So you do have a sense of humour…" Misao muttered to herself, but Aoshi heard every word of it. His hearing was impeccable after all. Misao's breath caught in her throat when she had moved her head, only to have her right temple area comforted by warm breath as Aoshi placed his head against the side of hers. Aoshi's chin and bottom cheek area was pressed against her skin and the flowing of warm breath caressed her ear in a rush.
"You really catch on quick Miss Misao." Misao scrunched her face slightly, almost hurt by the 'Miss' part as he spoke it to her in a whisper...as though wanting it to sound like more even though he called her 'Miss'. Misao's eyes grew wide as Aoshi pushed away from her, they standing a few feet apart, her head turning to the main doors as they clicked open Hannya standing there for a moment. Boy, he really had super human senses!
"I apologise for interrupting Master Shinomori, but Miss Misao has a call from her grandfather." With that spoken Hannya bowed and then left the room, the door left open for Misao.
"That's one thing that you have to watch out on Shinomori-san." Misao uttered her arms folding over her chest as she almost glared up at him, trying to cover up the blush she knew was on her cheeks.
"Oh?" He spoke almost intrigued to find out what she was talking about.
"All the 'Miss Misao' business. If I'm going as your…friend you cannot address me as 'Miss' that's not what friends do at all."
"Is that right Miss Misao? And what should I address you as?" Aoshi questioned the young woman, her face scrunching up yet again. She obviously wasn't one for formalities that's for sure, but why should he pass it up when it gets her aggravated.
"What about plain Misao? I was thinking of opting for Misao-chan, but that's way too friendly for people like us. That would make it sound like we know the ins and outs of each other and that's just not true. I doubt you'd like it if I called you Aoshi-chan huh?" Misao watched his lips turn into their usual thin line when he got a little angry, she smiling as he spoke once more to her, leaving the ballroom through the side doors in which he came from in the beginning.
"Do take your phone call Miss Misao…and stop playing around."
"What about Aoshi-kun? Oh no wait, this is even better! I'll see you later Aoshi-anata!" Misao yelled almost seeing the man's shoulders tense, she racing from the room while giggling all the way. Oh she couldn't help but tease him. He was being such a stiff! Misao made her way to the main passage phone and picked it up when Hannya offered it to her and spoke.
"Jiya what's wrong? He did what? I'll be right there! Bye!" Misao responded hurriedly and raced towards the main doors opening them up and raced towards her bike, completely forgetting she wasn't wearing any shoes!
"Miss Misao is everything all right?" Misao looked up to see Soujiro walking by, his chauffers hat held in one hand and that smile ever present on his lips.
"Please tell Shinomori-san there's been a family emergency and I have to go." Soujiro nodded his head, Misao's eyes glancing at a running Okon trying to catch her before she left.
"Miss Misao please meet me here at about 9am tomorrow. Hannya said you don't need anymore lessons, but tomorrow I must take you shopping for a cocktail dress and teach you a couple of things as well." Misao nodded her head, she switching on her motorcycle and took the slip of paper from Okon and tucked it into her leather jacket. She sped off without a second glance back at Okon or Soujiro. Shin-chan was more important then some freaking cocktail party!
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To be continued…
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