Car Trouble?
* Two days have passed *
"Aoshi-sama, you should finish up your training and come in for breakfast." Hannya spoke from the shoji at the front entrance of the Shinomori Dojo. At Hannya's voice Aoshi finished up his kata and then headed for the elderly man who handed him a towel to wipe his face. The day after his public conference of his confessions about Misao and also suing the newspaper Aoshi had let his lawyer deal with all of it and instead remained secluded in his mansion grounds. However most of his time had been in this very dojo, sitting cross-legged, facing his father's portrait with his eyes closed. It was time for a clean start in life Aoshi had realised and this also meant he would finally make his father proud...and himself and went back to training in his families art.
Aoshi remembered when he finished an old kata the other day and was surprised at the clapping coming from behind him and found Hannya standing there in an old black gi. He watched the elder man produce a package for him and headed towards him wondering what it was. Aoshi had lost all words when he opened it up to see a deep purple gi inside, the colour of the gi he wore that his father gave to him when he was a teenager. Right now he had been dressed in just a pair of slacks and a loose long sleeved shirt, but now Hannya had produced this...and today was the first time he wore it.
"I won't be long Hannya. Tell everyone to start without me okay?" Aoshi spoke as he took up a lotus position on the wooden floorboards and closed his eyes.
*
Half an hour passed as Aoshi walked into the dining room where he was surprised to see everyone still there. He eyeballed them all and all he got in return was the smiling faces of Okon, Omasu and Soujiro.
"Please sit Aoshi-sama, breakfast will be served now." Aoshi quickly brushed the towel through his sweaty locks of hair and then placed it over the back of his chair before sitting in it.
"You could have started without me." Aoshi spoke in his usual soft deep voice but now it was void of the frozen iciness that used to accompany it.
"We have a rule in this household Aoshi-sama." Soujiro spoke while dishing out some miso soup to everyone.
"Oh?"
"Family will always eat meals together." Hannya replied, dark eyes locking with green-grey. He was now dressed back in his suit and Aoshi noticed a small smile on the old man's lips.
"Aa..." Aoshi replied and held a small smile of his own, which did surprise the others immensely, but they took it in there stride and began to eat.
"Hannya when we have finished with breakfast, can you book me on the next flight to Kyoto?"
"Yes Aoshi-sama."
"Soujiro, I'll get you to drive me to the airport."
"Not a problem Aoshi-sama." Aoshi nodded his head at that and went back to eating.
"Do you have business there Aoshi-sama?" Okon and Omasu questioned at the same time.
"Mm, I'm letting go of Yukishiro Corporation." He looked around to notice surprised gazes were locked onto his face, as though he'd grown a second head.
"Are you sure Aoshi-sama?"
"I am Hannya. Yukishiro was right, he lives in Kyoto, his business is in Kyoto and thats we're I'll make sure it stays. Other then that I believe for once I'm doing the right thing."
"It is your decision to make for the future of Shinomori Enterprises and we'll support you all the way." There were nods of the heads from the others and Aoshi closed his eyes for a moment and whispered his thanks to them. This was probably the first time in his life he was making an unselfish decision...and the first time in his life his family now had full respect for him. Aoshi was sure that now he had grown up.
*
Another hour had passed and Aoshi was in a business suit with briefcase in hand waiting for Soujiro to reverse the limo out of the garage. He looked down at his watch and knew there was plenty of time to get to the airport, but he had to write up an agreement contract that would need to be signed between Yukishiro and himself. Aoshi sighed lightly and glanced his eyes to his right to see Hannya staring right at him.
"I'm alright Hannya. Though I'm not fully over her, I'll be okay in the end, so you needn't worry so much." He watched the elderly man shake his head at his words and walk towards him.
"We all worry Aoshi-sama, its in our nature to care for you, so no matter when you say 'you needn't worry' we always will. This will still be true even when your a forty year old man. To us who have been with you ever since you were a child, you'll always be our Aoshi-chan." Hannya was surprised to hear a light chuckle from Aoshi, green-grey eyes flickering over to gaze into his dark eyes.
"Aoshi-chan huh? Haven't heard that in a long time...and I would hope not to ever hear it again Hannya. I'm not a child. I'm not going to scream, cry and whine when something goes bad in my life. I suppose I will allow you to worry for me, but not so much. In the end you won't be around forever and you don't have to constantly look over my shoulder to make sure nothing is going to hurt me. I will get hurt in the end, but it is me who will need to pick up the pieces. All I need from everyone here is the constant knowledge that your around, even the tap on the shoulder for me to remember that I'm not alone...okay?" Aoshi watched as Hannya stood beside him, his slightly wrinkled hand cupping one of his shoulders and Aoshi observed as he nodded his head in affirmation. A beep of the limo horn and Aoshi darted his eyes away from Hannya's.
"If we don't go now Aoshi-sama, you might miss your flight." Aoshi got into the back seat when Hannya opened the door for him and unzipped his briefcase to pull out his laptop. Aoshi absently heard the phone ringing in the mansion and listened to Hannya bid him farewell before he went inside to answer it.
"Lets go Soujiro." With a nod of Soujiro's head he drove off down the road and out of the high fence of the Shinomori Mansion grounds.
* Inside the Mansion Foyer *
"Good morning, Shinomori residence, Hannya speaking." Hannya frowned not hearing anything on the other end.
"Hello? Is anyone there?" Hannya sighed lightly and was just about to pull the phone from his ear when he heard a soft voice.
"Don't hang up..."
"MISAO-SAN!" Hannya yelled in surprise and watched as brown eyes belonging to Omasu and Okon turned to stare his way, smiles plastered on their faces. He shooed the two women off who pouted at him in return but they did as Hannya silently requested.
"Misao-san, how have you been? We've all been worried about you." Hannya spoke as he pulled up a chair and sat down in it.
"I'm okay I guess. I just..."
"Misao-san, is something the matter? I know that seems a stupid question after all thats happened, but you seem confused...lost perhaps?"
"I am..." Hannya's dark eyes softened at her almost childlike whisper.
"You worry for him don't you Misao-san." There was a distinctive gasp from the other end of the line and Hannya couldn't help but smile.
"Misao-san, there is no point in ringing if you have no idea what you would say to him. What if Aoshi-sama picked up the phone instead of me?" Though it seemed harsh to tell such a sweet young woman this, Hannya needed to be truthful with her.
"I just...I wanted to know if he was okay...thats all."
"He will be, I'm sure of it...and even Aoshi-sama is sure of it. He mentioned to me that he was not over you, but perhaps with time he will let go. All he needs is time...and I'm sure Aoshi-sama will be okay. He is getting better each day, just yesterday he was back to training in his fathers martial arts and this morning he smiled. This is a big step for him to take after all."
"I...see..." Hannya frowned at her words. She was expecting something different? Like Aoshi pinning away for her perhaps?
"Misao-san, did you want him to be sad forever?"
"What?"
"You seem depressed that Aoshi-sama isn't hurting inside. In fact he is very much so, but you seem disappointed that he is determined to move on."
"NO! ITS NOT THAT!" Misao yelled into the receiver.
"Then what?"
"I think...I think Shin is disappointed in me. I yelled at him the other day and I haven't forgiven myself for it, but also Shin never stops talking about his best friend Aoshi-san and how much he wants to see him. I think Shin misses him."
"And you?" Hannya questioned but there was nothing on the other end from Misao.
"Misao-san are you there?"
"I've got to go."
"Misao-san don't do this to yourself...and especially to Aoshi-sama as well. All we want is for the both of you to be true to your hearts." All Hannya heard was the click of the phone and then the engaged signal. He sighed lightly, hearing Okon and Omasu bolt back into the foyer with encouraging smiles on their faces.
"Well?" They questioned, but their smiles dropped when Hannya shook his head negatively.
"They are as stubborn as each other and there is nothing we can do to help them."
"But..."
"No Okon, we cannot help them through this. Now you two promise me not to say a word to Aoshi-sama about Misao-san calling alright?" Okon and Omasu reluctantly nodded there heads and went back to cleaning the mansion. Hannya sighed and sat back down in the chair. Should he tell Aoshi-sama she called? But that might trigger off his loneliness again and that was something Hannya didn't want to do.
"For once, we are unable to do a thing for him. How useless I feel." At that Hannya stood up and headed for Aoshi's study to see if there were any old dishes within the room.
* Hours later - Kyoto - Aoiya Restaurant *
Aoshi entered the restaurant and pointed out the person he was here to meet to the waitress. He made his way to the back of the restaurant and promptly sat down in thwe vacant chair.
"Why are you here Shinomori? I already told you I want sign shit."
"I apologise." Enishi choked on his tea when he heard those words escape Aoshi's lips. Turquoise eyes lifted up as they stared incredulously at the taller man in front of him.
"Did you just..."
"You were right Yukishiro, my family never respected me." Enishi parted his lips ready to say something, but watched Aoshi open his briefcase to pull out a newspaper clipping.
"You were right again Yukishiro, about me finding someone...and about them not wanting me too." Turquoise widened at the clipping in front of him. It was from the Tokyo Newspaper, the one about him and Misao.
"So now go ahead Yukishiro, mock me, laugh at me, whatever pleases you go ahead and do it." However nothing escaped Enishi's lips as he just continued to look down at the clipping.
"She's very pretty."
"Aa..." Aoshi muttered under his breath as again he picked up his briefcase and pulled out some papers.
"Now that I have your full attention, I'd like to discuss Yukishiro Corporation with you."
"Teme..." Enishi ground out, but was pulled back into the chair by a very serious Aoshi.
"This document is an agreement between you and myself. Yukishiro Corporation will never merge to Tokyo and Shinomori Enterprises will never merge to Kyoto. It also states that we at Shinomori Enterprises have come to an agreement that Yukishiro Corporation needs financial aid or else they will close down in the next three years."
"How did you..."
"Furthermore we also believe that we as a company can help Yukishiro Corporation." Aoshi spoke again as he interrupted Enishi from butting in.
"Come again?" Enishi asked with disbelief crossed over his facial features.
"Shinomori Enterprises will never own Yukishiro Corporation, but we will be in partners with you for financial aid and monthly reports on your sales to make sure they don't drop any further. I have already signed at the bottom, but I'll leave you with the papers to read over them. The envelope is already self addressed so whenever you decide on whether you sign it or tell me to fuck off, please post it back to me." At that Aoshi rose from his chair, scrunching up the clipping and stuffing it in his briefcase before bowing lightly to Enishi then headed for the waitress that took his coat.
"Shinomori?" Aoshi turned slightly around to face the standing Enishi.
"I can't believe I'm hearing myself say this, but Tomoe was right. Deep down underneath that icy attitude, you're a good man." Aoshi nodded once at Enishi and then took his coat, bid the waitress farewell and headed outside. It was a beautiful sunny afternoon and Aoshi decided to go for a walk rather then call Shiro straight away. It wasn't long before Aoshi entered a small park and placed his coat and briefcase down as he sat on one of the children's swings, it actually holding his weight.
HIGHER! I WANT TO GO HIGHER OTOSAN!
Aoshi sighed hearing his genki child voice race through him as the memory of his father pushing him in a swing came flooding back.
I think mummy is going to be happy again. And I've got Aoshi-san to thank for that.
Immediately Aoshi stopped swinging on the swing. He closed his eyes hearing the voice of Shin and then his laughter. Instantly it was changed. It was replaced with the smiling face of Misao, her ocean blue eyes sparkling as it looked like she was lying down and he was looking down at her from above.
You say you are nothing. But I say you are something.
"Misao..." Aoshi jolted from his seated position and brought out his cell phone.
"Shiro, please come and collect me from the Aoiya straight away, I've got to get home." With that Aoshi flipped his cell phone closed and raced back to the Aoiya.
* Hours Passed - Tokyo - Shinomori Residence *
"Hannya!" Aoshi spoke as he walked through the doors of his home, calling out for the elderly man. He watched Hannya walk into the foyer with a towel in his hands wiping them dry.
"I didn't think you'd be back so soon."
"The business meeting is over, now its time for personal."
"Aoshi-sama, please, Misao-san isn't..."
"I know what you're going to say, but I just need to explain myself. I know she won't want to listen, but I need to do this for me or else I can't move on."
"Aoshi-sama wait!" Aoshi stopped on the first step heading upstairs and turned to gaze down at Hannya.
"She rang this morning, just after you left."
"Why didn't you call me?"
"She spoke in riddles and hung up when I tried to talk to her. We are all worried for the both of you, so thats why I tried calling her instead."
"And?" Aoshi insisted and watched Hannya frown.
"Her home phone is disconnected and she hasn't been to work or university for three days. Its like she's disappeared."
"I guess thats it then."
"Aoshi-sama..."
"Iie, don't say anything. I was well aware that Misao might resent me for meeting with her son...and now I have to live with it."
"Aoshi-sama..."
"Thank you Hannya, for trying to help me." Hannya parted his lips ready to say something else but they were interrupted by Soujiro walking in the door.
"Aoshi-sama, its the limo, its not working." Aoshi quirked his eyebrow at that.
"I'll change and then come and have a look at it. You know I really should send you to mechanics school Soujiro." He watched his driver smile and scratch the back of his head.
"Mm, perhaps that is a good idea Aoshi-sama." Aoshi shook his head and headed upstairs.
*
In a matter of minutes he was back downstairs in a pair of black jeans, worn sneakers and a button down deep blue shirt with the top two buttons undone.
"So what's the problem Soujiro?"
"It just doesn't start." Soujiro replied while popping the hood of the car for Aoshi. He lifted up the bonnet and then scractehd the back of his head as he looked down at the engine.
"Aoshi-sama?"
"Shh, I'm trying to remember what was taught to me." And with that spoken Aoshi bent over to have a closer look, fingers moving over the battery to make sure the connections were secure.
"Okay, try that Soujiro." Soujiro sat in the drivers seat and turned the car over. Nothing.
"Okay...how about..." Aoshi began mumbling to himself as he stewed over what could be wrong with it.
"Having car trouble?"
"No, I just like sticking my head in the engine for fun." Aoshi replied sarcastically as he continued to muse over whether it was in need of water, oil or maybe the spark plug could have blown.
"Why not let me have a look, its my profession after all." At listening to that voice more clearly Aoshi lifted his head...and promptly smacked it against the bonnet.
"Kuso..." He grounded out.
"I know that feeling. Someone made me do that too." Green-grey eyes glanced down into ocean blue as the slightly shadowed figure in the afternoon sunset stepped forward.
"Misao..."
"Step aside Mr all thumbs with machines and let a pro do the work." Aoshi did nothing but stare at Misao and stepped away from the bonnet, while still rubbing his head. Misao was here! But why? Had she come to explain? Or perhaps come to listen to him? Aoshi felt hope rise within the pit of his stomach, lips parting to say something, anything, but to his horror nothing came out.
"Okay, lets try that." In an instant the limo started up and Misao got out with a smile on her face. Soujiro had miraculously disappeared.
"Ah, a touch of a woman was all it needed."
"Misao what are you doing here? I mean of course I'm glad to see you again, but why now? I mean that probably sounds rude and I have absolutely no idea if I'm actually making any sense with what I'm saying, its just that I..."
"Aoshi?" Misao stopped his babbling as she stepped closer towards him.
"Yes?"
"Shut up and kiss me." The look of disbelief was written clearly on Aoshi's face. Was he getting a second chance? He stepped impossibly closer, one hand brushing against the side of Misao's face as he whispered 'sorry' at her lips before capturing them in a passionate kiss. Misao's eyes had closed instantly at the warmth surrounding her when Aoshi pulled her into his embrace, crushing her smaller frame to his leaner one. She moaned lightly into the kiss, loosing herself, but everything reality came back with a little voice yelling 'ewwwww gross'. Instantly Aoshi pulled away from Misao to find Shin looking up at them.
"Wow Aoshi-san is this your house? Its huge! Can I see? Can I, can I, can I?" He spoke jumping up and down before Aoshi pulled him into a light hug.
"I missed seeing my best friend Shin-chan."
"Me too, but not half as much as Mama!" Shin decided to voice loudly and Aoshi let go to stare over at a blushing Misao.
"Young Master Shin, would you like me to show you around? We even have a large garden and a swing out the back."
"Mama, did you hear what the elderly man called me? So can I go with him?" Shin questioned as he was excited at wanting to explore this house.
"Yes you may, but I want you to be a good boy for Hannya-san." She watched him nod his head before racing away to grab a hold of Hannya's hand as they took the steps and then entered the foyer.
"Misao I..."
"SUGOI! MAMA! I WANT TO LIVE HERE!" Shin yelled loudly and Misao couldn't help but laugh lightly at his energetic and innocent words.
"Where did you go Misao?" Aoshi softly questioned her and watched Misao dart her eyes away from his. He lifted his hand and brought it under her chin to turn her eyes back to his.
"Please Misao, I know your angry with me. You have a right to be. I delved into your life without permission. I was exactly like one of those reporters, just wanting to find out what you were hiding. I feel so ashamed with myself, but Shin is...he's so addictive to be around I couldn't help it. Its just like you too. I told myself not to feel anything, tried not to feel anything, but you pulled me in and in the end I embraced these emotions with open arms and I thank you for it. I thank you for everything Misao."
"Shut up." Aoshi frowned at her words, but was also surprised that tears pooled in hers.
"I hated the way you made me feel, everything was so confusing at first, but then piece by piece it all came to me. I started to want you...more and more until I became scared and ran away. Even now you stir these feelings within me when I tried to forget, when I wanted to hate you for seeing my son without telling me you knew of him. I wanted to hate you, but I couldn't." Aoshi brushed Misao's tears away, but watched as she instead thrust herself into his chest and mumbled the rest of her confession there.
"Your the first person I ever feel in love with...and I can't let you go." Aoshi buried his head into Misao's neck, thanking every single god in the entire world for bringing Misao back to him. He sighed into her skin, placing a light kiss on her cheek before pulling away.
"I...I love you Misao..." Aoshi softly confessed and smiled down at the wide puffy eyed Misao with rosy cheeks. He laughed lightly when all Misao seemed to be able to do was nod her head vigorously before jumping into his arms once more and pressing her lips to his.
Aoshi was in heaven.
"MAMA, COME QUICK! YOU SHOULD SEE THE SIZE OF THE TV!" Aoshi and Misao pulled away and laughed together. Aoshi pulled down the bonnet of the limo and Misao closed the driver side door, the both of them walking silently towards the main entrance of the mansion before stepping into the foyer.
Misao noticed not a soul was around and before Aoshi could go any further she quickly grabbed a hold of his left hand to get his attention. Intense green-grey eyes glanced down at her and Misao lifted her head, a thousand watt smile plastered on her face.
"Tadaima." Aoshi sighed hearing this and laced his fingers with Misao's.
"Okaeri nasai." From the corner of Aoshi's eye he saw movement and placed his unoccupied hand on his right hip and jokingly scowled.
"I never said you could all listen in." And out came the guilty party of everyone in the household. Misao blushed, but that was soon forgotten as Okon and Omasu raced over and hugged her happily. Aoshi himself stood by the stairs but glanced over to Hannya when his hand rested on his shoulder.
"He's proud of me now, isn't he Hannya?" Aoshi asked quietly to the elderly man as he continued to stare at Misao who was introducing everyone to Shin.
"Oh, I'm sure he'd be even prouder if you married her and continued on the Shinomori legacy."
"Umm..."
"Why Aoshi-sama, is that a blush?" Hannya decided to voice a little louder and to Aoshi's horror everyone heard. All eyes focused on him as he lowered his head slightly and coughed. Narrowed eyes watched Hannya walk off, a little chuckle escaping his lips while summoning the others to follow him. He also took Shin with him to show the boy the Shinomori Training Hall.
"A training hall? Neeeeeeeeeeat!" The four year old commented happily and bounded off leaving his mum and Aoshi alone once more.
"I'm sorry about that, about them listening in. They do it all the time, but I hope you can get used to it."
"You are blushing!" Misao commented and Aoshi coughed once more and turned his head slightly away in even more embarrassment.
"What did Hannya-san say?"
"Umm..."
"Oh come on you can tell me can't you?" Misao waltzed on over to Aoshi, a pouting look on her face, but all she got was a caress on her cheek and then his lips covering hers.
"Mm, maybe one day."
"Mou!" Misao complained half heartedly and instead leaned into Aoshi's chest as he had descended to the stairs and taken her with him as she was wrapped snuggly in his embrace. Misao made a mental note to remind herself to ask Aoshi why he blushed. He had looked so caught off guard and so darn adorable that she wanted to see him like that again. Oh well, for now though Misao was content to stay within the confines of his arms. She was where she wanted to be all along.
* * * *
The End!
* * * *
Authors Notes: YATTAA! YATTAA, YATTAA, YATTAA! Only an epilogue to go and then complete! WOOHOO! I'd do that right now, if I had my notes with me but I don't. Dammit! But ah well, YATTAA! ^_________^