Authors Notes: Gomen ne Minna-san for the spelling errors, so I'll try harder to detect them all and read over the chapter a few times more ne?

tesuka! - About the dress ne? Well I was trying to describe the one my mum has in her wardrobe that she's going to wear to my 21st party. The only thing different would be it doesn't have a split I think…and the back isn't low cut like Misao's but everything else is the same. (^_^) Ah yes, typo's are extremely terrible indeed and Noa will try better!

DarkFairy - *cackles evilly* Yes indeed, how will Aoshi react to Misao's entire outfit…and what happens after the party should be running around in your minds…I might leave that part till much later…we'll see, but you have to read to find out after all. Yes for a party Misao needs to be sparkly cause she's going to stand out…a rose between 248 thorns… (I'm taking out Aoshi and Misao in the guests there)

Also for anyone wanting to draw chibi Aoshi's and Misao's seriously I love fanart and will take anything. This is a desperate Noa calling on all fanart drawers to place in some work. It'll go on my Website, so please…give generously! LOL! I accept everything! (^_^)

Gomen ne, but I lied about the party being this chapter…it will consist of Chapter 11 and 12 in fact. This is already 13 pages long. I really wanted to have some fluffy moments between mother and son so yeah…this is what I came up with. At least there's a little something at the end for next chapter though. I hope it leaves you all intrigued!

Now…on with this chapter ne?

Car Trouble?

Misao had been home for a number of hours now and she trying to strut her stuff in her lounge room. She was in her bathrobe, having showered already and wearing the black dress shoes as she tried to gracefully walk around the apartment.

She'd gotten home and greeted Genzai-sensei as he was reading a thick novel in her lounge room and watching over Shin-chan who was having an afternoon nap in his bedroom. Misao bid Genzai-sensei a good evening, had quickly showered and placed Shin-chan's dinner in the fridge for when he woke up.

Misao had already fallen over once, but lucky for her she had the couch to stop her from falling to the hard floor. Misao felt like such an idiot walking around in her apartment like she was…and that's exactly the way Shin-chan found her.

"Kachan, what are you doing?" The little boy mumbled sleepily as he just woke up from his nap, his right arm resting in a sling. He stared at his mum, her hair out from its braid and cascading around her light blue bathrobe messily. Misao turned to smile over at Shin-chan as he lazily made his way towards her and was picked up to be placed on the couch beside his mum.

"Kachan must look really funny ne? She's got to get some practice in or else she might fall over in front of a lot of people at the party tomorrow night." Misao responded as she took off the high heels calling it a night.

"Then kachan would look really funny then!" Misao lightly glared at her son, he laughing hard, his cheeks turning slightly pink in doing so. Misao shuffled away from her son, she pouting and folding her arms…giving him the silent treatment.

"Well, in that case I guess you don't want to know what your surprise is tomorrow night." Misao spoke and got up heading for the fridge in the kitchen and taking out the takeaway food she bought for Shin-chan. She smirked when she heard a small gasp come from his lips, he shuffling off the couch and racing straight for her legs, tangling his left arm around one of them to stop her from walking or moving any further.

"What is it kachan?" Shin-chan spoke, as excitement was clearly in his voice as he peered up at his mother, his larger blue eyes pleading desperately with hers. Misao bent down, her hand brushing through his silky blue-black hair as she never took her eyes from his.

"You know how I said you have to stay with Genzai-sensei because of what happening at kindergarten?" Misao questioned her son, watching him pout and nod his head at the same time.

"Well, I decided that you were so brave at the hospital and asked Uncle Sano if he wanted to visit you at Genzai-sensei's."

"Honto?" Shin-chan spoke, his eyes lighting up with excitement.

"Honto! And if you're really good tonight and tomorrow morning, Uncle Sano will stay the night as well." Misao responded once more, watching Shin's face light up with glee. He stepped on his tiptoes and pecked Misao on the tip of her nose.

"Arigatoo Mama!" He spoke and dashed back into the lounge room to turn on the television. One of his favourite cartoons would be on soon and he never missed a single episode.

"Would you like some dinner Shin-chan?" Misao spoke loudly from the small kitchen as she dished out the dinner into a bowl and placed it in the microwave to heat it up.

"HAI!" Was her answer and Misao moved back into the lounge room watching as Shin-chan sung along to the opening song and got up moving towards the low coffee table and waited for his dinner. Misao placed it down and poured him some milk watching as he awkwardly ate with his left hand, but did so without complaining.

"Shin-chan would you like me to help you?" Misao asked her son, but watched him shake his head negatively.

"I'm a big boy kachan so I can do this myself okay?" He spoke back, turning to look behind him as Misao lounged on the couch.

"Hai, hai Shin-chan, you're a big boy now." Misao silently watched, her head resting on her left arm, as Shin-chan laughed and giggled with the comedic antics happening on the television. His cheeks were a rosy pink having laughed so much, he sometimes pointing to the screen and shouting for Misao to watch as well making sure she never missed what he thought was hysterical.

* * * *

An hour or two must have passed, it being Shin's bedtime, but he was already dozing off as it is. His head rested on the low coffee table, his eyes fluttering, trying desperately to stay open but unable to. Misao got off the couch and picked him up carefully, heading for his bedroom and placed him on his bed, making sure the doona was securely covering his small body.

"Shin-chan, do you love kachan?" Misao softly whispered as she kneeled on the floor, watching him turn to face her, his eyes closed and his little hand gripping some of her fingers for a few seconds.

"Forever…kachan…" He whispered back sleepily and rolled over once more, his fingers dropping from hers and he was fast asleep in an instant. Misao didn't know how long she sat there, her fingers occasionally brushing some strands of his hair or brushing over his back, but she did this every night…making sure her Shin-chan had a good night sleep.

"Sleep well Shin-chan." Misao whispered and placed a kiss on his cheek and then turned on his night-light and left the room. At least she could have an early nights sleep as well, for Misao really needed it!

* * * *

(The next day…)

Misao had spent the morning pacing the floor in the high heel shoes again. Shin-chan was laughing at her all the time, she glaring at him and telling him to watch his cartoons. Misao had tripped every now and then, but never did she topple over.

"Ne Mama? Do I get to see what you look like tonight?" Shin-chan spoke, a lollypop stuck in his mouth.

"Iie Shin-chan, I have to leave really soon to head for the place I'll be staying at for the afternoon. Mama has to get her hair done so it wouldn't be possible." Misao turned to watch her grumbling son, the cartoons not funny anymore as she heard his small grumble of…

"No fair…Shin-chan can't see his pretty mummy…" Misao sighed lightly and sat down on the floor with Shin, her arm resting over his small shoulders and pulling him to her left side lightly.

"How about this, when you hear a honk from a car horn, race to Genzai-sensei's balcony and look outside. I'll be there, but I won't be able to come up okay?" Misao was wondering how in seven hells she was going to suggest that to Shinomori-san!

"Okay…" Shin-chan agreed but still pouted slightly, his next question slipping from his lips in slight sadness.

"How come Shin-chan never meets any of kachan's friends? Is kachan ashamed of Shin-chan?" Misao's eyes widened at the soft voice her son had. She picked him up and placed him on the coffee table, her eyes never leaving his at all.

"Where did you hear that Shin-chan? Never ever will kachan be ashamed of you do you hear me? You are the best little boy a mother could ever have and I wouldn't trade you for anything in the entire world. You're my heart Shin-chan, my little man and I'll always be proud to be your mother. Never forget how much I love you okay? Promise me you'll never forget?" Misao felt a tear glide down her cheek, her little boys eyes wide with worry at seeing her cry in front of him. He leaned forward his small hand brushing the tears away and Misao couldn't help but pull him to her, wrapping him in her embrace.

"Gomen ne kachan. I didn't mean to make you sad…" He whispered into Misao's ear and Misao pulled away, wiping the tears away and smiling over at her son.

"Iie Shin-chan it is okay. There are some things in life that people won't understand about us Shin-chan." Misao began explaining…trying to open up to him about what happened four years ago, but how could she tell a four-year-old that? She had remembered the day Shin-chan had asked what a daddy was and whilst she explained to him, she had tried desperately not to cry in front of him…and she had succeeded only to leave him to sleep and cry herself to sleep in her room…alone…with no one to comfort her at all.

"Like what Mama?" Shin-chan pondered aloud, really wanting to understand.

"Well like how Mama isn't married and that you don't have a daddy. You see Shin-chan, Mama was very careless a few years ago and felt nothing would go wrong in her life, but things change and things happen between men and women and you were the result of what happen between myself and…"

"Its okay Mama, you don't have to continue on. I just wanted to know if you didn't want me to see your friends just in case they didn't like you after finding out." Misao stared silently at her son. He was young, but he was very smart indeed. Sometimes Misao wondered what rolled around in his head and now she found out one thing, one thing she didn't know had been plaguing his mind for quite some time now.

"Truthfully Shin-chan I didn't know if I was ready for you, but when you were born I knew I had done the right thing. I was missing something in my life and knew you were what would fill my heart with complete joy and happiness for many more years to come. I needed someone to love, someone who I could say was mine and you came to me as a healthy baby boy and I decided you were going to be my heart. I needed someone to love me for me Shin-chan and you do don't you? You love your kachan right?"

"Forever kachan." Shin-chan spoke a smile breaking onto his face as he giggled happily.

"But kachan, why am I such a secret though? Ojiichan said its because I'm special, but I don't understand." Shin spoke once more, the smile gone and replaced with a confused look.

"You are special Shin-chan…but many people won't understand why you have no daddy. They might judge us for not having a father figure around home and so I keep you safe from their questioning eyes. I just want to see you happy Shin-chan and its best to keep you like this because I don't want to see you get hurt."

"So kachan gets hurt for the both of us? I don't want kachan hurt though?"

"Its okay Shin-chan, Mama ignores them for being mean. If someone is mean then you just ignore him or her okay? What they say will only make you stronger, just remember that. I can look after you and care for you on my own Shin-chan, so don't you worry about anything." Misao spoke as she brushed her fingers through his hair and then caressed his cheek lightly.

"But kachan, who'll take care of you though?"

"Nani?" Misao questioned, a little bit of astonishment crossing in her voice.

"If Shin-chan is being taken care of by kachan, you need someone to look after you though. Why doesn't kachan have anyone to take care of her?" Shin-chan explained, not too sure why his mum never brought anyone home.

"Kachan is strong sweetie, she can look after herself pretty well." Misao watched Shin shake his head numerous times, as though not wanting to loose this discussion.

"No kachan must need someone. If Shin-chan is kachan's heart…then whose heart do you have?" Misao couldn't help but place a smirk on her lips. She was confusing her little boy, but then he really did make some sense in what he was saying though.

"Don't I get your heart Shin-chan? Doesn't kachan have yours like you have mine?" Misao's eyebrows raised as he shook his head negatively at her.

"Iie Mama, cause if I'm your heart, then someone must have taken yours and haven't given it back. It's like this Mama. Someone gives you their heart and even though I'm your heart, my heart belongs to someone else as well. Do you see?" Shin-chan questioned his mother.

"Do I detect that my Shin-chan has a crush on a pretty girl?" Misao questioned and giggled as her little boy turned bright red.

"Iie Mama! She's my best friend at kindie! Don't tease me!" Misao coughed lightly watching her son's eyes tear up as though she was making fun of him.

"Gomen ne Shin-chan." Misao spoke softly and brushed her nose over his. Misao got up and got her things together, needing to take a few bath products, as she would be showering at the Shinomori Mansion as well.

"Kachan are you going by yourself tonight? Shin-chan doesn't want you to be lonely…" Shin spoke watching as Misao moved around the lounge room picking up her things.

"Iie, I'm going with Mr Shinomori." Misao responded instantly, the memory of the two of them dancing flashed through her mind, her cheeks turning a faint pink.

"Does kachan have a crush on a handsome boy?" Shin-chan spoke and giggled at the face his mother made.

"Don't you get cheeky." Misao spoke in mock anger and pointed her finger at Shin in doing so. He giggled loudly and rolled onto the couch to ask his mother another question.

"Will I get to meet Mr Shin-o-mori?" Misao chuckled at the way he said her employer's name and turned to face her son, his bright blue eyes looking up into hers.

"We'll see okay? I'm only working for a couple of weeks at his place, so you two might not have time to meet each other. He's a very busy man after all."

Small silence broke between them until Shin-chan decided to flick through the channels on the television and then stopped.

"Look Mama on the tellie. You're on the tellie!" Shin-chan shouted and Misao turned her wide eyes to see it was really she on the television. The volume was down so they couldn't hear what was being said, but there she was, looking back at the Shinomori Mansion…on that day she had been wondering what the hell Aoshi Shinomori was doing with her emotions. Thank the gods Misao had her helmet on or else everyone over Japan would have seen her blushing!

"Mama your famous!" Shin-chan spoke loudly and clapped his hands. Misao frowned at that thought and now wanted to know what the supposed reporter labeled her as. Misao blushed hoping it wasn't something terrible and humiliating, as she knew her grandfather would have been watching the news right about now. Misao silently wondered whether Mr Shinomori saw that but shook her head when there was a knock at her door.

"Come in Genzai-sensei." Misao spoke happily when she opened the door to see the elder man and his granddaughters beside him.

"Hi Aunt Misao!" They exclaimed happily and raced inside to say hello to Shin-chan.

"Thank you for doing this Genzai-sensei. Here is the spare key to the apartment and some money in case Shin-chan wants to rent out some movies or buy one packet of popcorn. You'll be good for Genzai-sensei won't you young man?" Misao spoke her hands on her hips and watched her son nod his head, an innocent smile crossing his lips. Misao kissed his forehead, grabbed her bag and headed for her front door.

"You have fun with the handsome boy on the tellie Mama!" Shin-chan exclaimed and giggled at the same time, knowing exactly who Mr Shinomori was. Misao shook her head in defeat and closed it behind her and headed downstairs to her motorcycle.

* * * *

(Shinomori Mansion)

Misao took yet another deep breath and rung the door bell. She was about twenty minutes early, but at least she wasn't late. The door opened and Hannya bowed to her and motioned for her to come inside.

"It is good to see you come early Miss Misao. If you'll just head upstairs with Okon, she'll lead you to the room the women are waiting in. They too only arrived a couple of minutes ago." Misao nodded her head, greeted Okon and then silently followed her upstairs.

"How are you feeling Misao-san?" Okon questioned as they walked down the large passageway, walking by many closed doors. Misao was looking around at the paintings on the walls, or the large vases on wooden tables and estimating the prices of them in the thousands! Misao heard a deep voice, it only belonging to one person and watched as Okon kept walking heading passed the opened door. Misao stopped and peaked into the opened study, observing quite shocked as the room was fairly dark, but the window was open and there lounged Aoshi Shinomori. He rested on the window seal, one leg dangling to the floor while he talked on his mobile phone. Her eyes widened slightly when his turned to meet hers, he stopping whatever he was about to say. Misao placed on a small smile and quickly waved at the man before dashing off at hearing Okon call for her.

"I'm okay for now Okon-san, but as the night draws closer, I know I'll get nervous." Misao was amazed that none of them saw her on the news, but then would they want to voice what they saw on the news to her. Perhaps it was best not knowing at all.

Misao stepped into a large room, her backpack slipping from her shoulder and falling to the floor with a soft thud. The room was huge! Even bigger then her apartment! Misao tentatively stepped further inside and noticed a section had been set up into a small one on one salon.

"Perhaps you wish to shower first and then the women can get started Misao-san. A bath has already been set up for you, just through those doors and down the hall a bit…you won't miss it at all." Okon pointed and Misao thanked the elder woman and then moved out, she taking her bag with her and quickly found the large bathroom with pearl white tiles and gold taps and shower nozzles. Misao's eyes had widened at the size of the bath, it actually being a spa bath. She locked the door, double checking it was shut properly and dumped her bag and clothes on the ground and slipped into the warm bubbly water. Misao noticed a remote control on the counter and intrigue got the better of her as she picked it up and pressed a button.

"AH!" Misao yelled in surprise as bubbles began to form from the bottom and sides of the bath. Misao smacked her head and giggled slightly, she remembering it was a spa bath after all. Misao couldn't help but click another button, a radio popping up and music…classical music at that was being played. She leaned over and changed the station to find a more reasonable one to her. Misao couldn't help but press another button on the remote and watched as beige blinds pulled away, Misao staring wide-eyed at the large expanse of the backyard in the Shinomori grounds. Misao thought it best to put the remote down. As she leaned back in the tub, her hands reached up to untie her hair and she dunked under the water and sat back up, bubbles dripping down her hair and bare shoulders. Misao sighed lightly and stared out the large window, her eyes catching a dark figure walking through the backyard.

"Shinomori-san?" Misao whispered as she watched Aoshi, all dressed in black head for the training hall barefoot. She watched with concern as he stood at the closed shoji, his hand posed to open it, but he never got any further. Misao watched confused as Aoshi shook his head, bowing it slightly and turned around heading back inside.

"What troubles you so Shinomori-san?" Misao mumbled to herself, but jolted when there was a knock at the bathroom door.

"Misao-san, you best not spend all day in there." Okon spoke from outside the door.

"Hai!" Misao yelled and quickly washed her hair. Misao rung it out and then clipped it onto the top of her head, so it wasn't in the way, but wisps of hair stuck to the back of her neck and droplets fell down her face.

Misao bent over the edge of the bath and grabbed her towel and awkwardly wrapped it around her while stepping out of the bath. She hid in a corner of the bathroom, not too sure how to close the blinds and dried off as best she could. She sifted through her bag and pulled out her red silk robe, one her mother had when she was still alive and placed it over her naked form and tied it up. Misao wasn't going to bring along her old blue one that's for sure!

Misao collected her things together and opened the door only to be greeted by the sight of one Aoshi Shinomori. Her blue eyes widened in surprise at he seeing her in nothing but her robe, not that he knew that but she did anyway! Misao quickly bid him a rather pathetic good afternoon and headed for the room she would be getting ready in.

"Miss Misao, the room you are staying in, happens to be in the other direction." Aoshi spoke with no emotion in his voice and observed as Misao stopped and turned around, rushing passed him with a blush on her face. She never did see that smirk cross his face.

* * * *

(Inside the guest bedroom)

Misao slammed the door closed and leaned against it for support. Could this day get anymore humiliating? Misao opened her eyes to see three pairs of eyes silently staring at her. She laughed nervously and walked towards them, one woman starting on her nails, while the other began brushing her hair.

"Misao-san, you'll be here for a number of hours so try and relax. I supplied you with some freshly squeezed juice and some rice cakes. You also have a selection of magazines you can read as well. Tae and Kaoru here will make you over so please relax. I'll be back after I finish my duties around the mansion. If you need anything just use the intercom and either Hannya or Omasu will pick up okay?" Misao nodded her head and watched Okon leave. Misao stayed quiet, not really knowing what to say to the two women and decided to close her eyes as though resting, but heard everything the women said. They began speaking about the women that had stayed in this exact room. Misao sighed softly and knew she was in for a long afternoon.

* * * *

(6:30pm - Shinomori residence)

Aoshi stood downstairs near the already opened front door. He lifted his left hand to glance at the time on his silver watch. He was wearing a black suit with a white shirt and a black tie. His hair was slightly damp from the shower he had taken not long ago and his black shoes were polished.

"Master Shinomori?" Aoshi turned to look at Hannya, but noticed he was looking elsewhere. Aoshi's eyes moved up the stairs and he came face to face with…a very different Makimachi Misao indeed.

Aoshi's eyes had grown slightly wide in the process of glancing over Misao. Her creamy hands were held in front of her, clasped together with the purse that seemed to match the dress perfectly. His eyes roamed further up and onto Misao's natural shade of makeup, her cheeks lightly pink. His green-grey eyes landed on her sparkling blue ones. They were sparkling at him! Misao was…she was smiling at him through her eyes…something no one had ever done to him. It was always the smile on the lips, but while Misao placed a small shy smile on her plum coloured lips, her eyes shone brightly, giving away her excitement. Misao's eyes betrayed her intently. Although she seemed to fuss and complain about people like him, he could see the happiness in them. She was happy to be spending an evening with him? Her eyes did nothing but stare into his, never loosing contact. He could drown in the colour, drown in her comforting presence…and yet they had to be somewhere very shortly.

Aoshi could see her body shake slightly, both in fear and excitement. She was just standing there, waiting for him to say something…anything! What in seven hells was he supposed to say to her?

* * * *

To be continued…

* * * *