I don't own Rurouni Kenshin.

""Characters Talking

**Characters Thoughts.

Chapter 7: Aoshi's past

Upon entering the dinning room, Aoshi's mother had a wide smile stretched across her thin face, she came to Misao and took her hand smiling down at her with kindly eyes, Misao smiled back.

"Come and set by me Misao" said Lin sitting across her son. "Now, Aoshi I want to know how did you manage to catch the toast of Japan.?

*Toast?!* Misao thought.

"Yes, Aoshi how did you?" said Enishi grinning.

Aoshi choked on his tea and after he was able to calmed down he said. "With some difficulty, mother." his eyes warned Misao to agree with whatever he said.

*Careful what you ask for.* Misao's words came back to him. *what did she meant by that?* he wondered.

"Well, I'm sure my son did not considered the gossips when he asked you to marry him Misao so suddenly" she said quietly, "I...on the other hand I think is very romantic"

Misao's eyes widened. *Romantic?* Would not be the word she would use to describe her relation to Aoshi. "I have to admit, when he declared his great love for me right after I met him, I didn't know how to react, but he was very persuasive and later on I found I could not turn him down."

"I am sure" Lin agreed, smiling benignly at her son.

Aoshi's body went rigid and his face paled when he heard Enishi laugh.

"Aoshi! Is that the way you proposed to Misao.?" Enishi asked, trying hard not laugh. "Wait a minute..." he looked at Misao. "Misao by any chance...Aoshi wasn't drinking, was he?"

Misao tapped her forefinger against her small chin. "Hmm, now that you mention it, when he kissed me, I tasted champagne on him.

Enishi laughed and Aoshi was astonished that Misao had mention their first kiss. He felt a extreme heat rushed to his throat and into his cheeks, his parted his lips, but nothing came out. Really, was ridiculous to let her disconcert him like that.

"Well, I can explain that." Lin said. "You see darling...when Aoshi is a bit nervous he drinks a glass of wine or any liquor, in your case he drank champagne."

"Is that true Aoshi?" said Misao give him a provocative smile. Aoshi only nodded at her question.

"And any case I'm so glad you overlooked his impulsiveness" Lin said " and even more glad to hear you grandfather approves to your marriage, and I'm sure his approval means so much to you, since he raise you."

"Yes it does....In fact, if Jiya had not encouraged our relationship, I'm sure we wouldn't be getting marry tomorrow." said Misoa and turned to see Okina. She was finding it quite pleasant to talk about Aoshi with his mother.

"I doubt that." Lin replied "Okina, might had help my son, but you beauty alone would attract my son, I'm sure he pursued you relentlessly."

Aoshi so far had offered no comment, but Misao could see that her comments were reaching him. "Oh, yes." Misao became dreamy-eyed. "They tell me that the strongest men fall the hardest."

*You little witch* Aoshi thought. *Careful what you ask for* Misao voice said in his head.

"That's how it was for you Aoshi?" Enishi asked him, smiling mischievously at him.

Aoshi looked highly uncomfortable, listening to Misao's darts and he felt the double meaning in every one of them, he felt helpless to do anything about it without upsetting his mother, damn her, she was proving to be a very worthy opponent, which only increased his frustration. "Our feelings for each other are mutual, Dove." he said and took a drink of his tea and raised an eyebrow at her.

Misao completely ignored his look and went on. After while Lin began talking about the wedding preparation. "We have invited about hundred people to the wedding." she said.

"Hundred?" Aoshi asked

"Lin, I'm sorry but is a little to late to get ready a dinner for hundred people....

"Okina don't worry, everything is taken care off." she said and reach for Misao's hand.

"Mother what do you mean?" Aoshi asked.

"I took care of everything, tomorrow morning trucks will arrive with everything we need for the wedding." she said and turned to see Misao. "You would be surprise what money can do." she whispered.

"Even so, Misao doesn't have a wedding dress." said Okina.

"Says who?" she said.

"I'm afraid Jiya is right....she was cut off by Lin.

"Remember the box a left at office Okina? She said.

"Yes, what about it?" said Aoshi

"Well...that's Misao's dress." she said. "Like I said, everything is ready." she smiled.

"It cost me a fortune, but I believe Aoshi and Misao are worth every cent that I have spent for their wedding." Aoshi's father said.

"I..I..I don't what to say" said Misao.

"You don't have to say anything, all I ask of you is to make my son happy." Lin said.

Misao blushed when she saw the look on Aoshi's face. She new what he was thinking. "Alright" she said.

"Is that a promise Misao?" Lin asked.

Her blush deepened when Aoshi smiled at her widely.

"Is a promise." she said biting her lower lip. I guess it was her turn to feel uncomfortable.

When they were done eating, Misao and Aoshi's mother when back to Okina's study to see her wedding dress. The dress was silk georgette slip dress with lace cutouts and a graceful bias cut.

"Do you like it?" Lin asked. "I know is not the traditional wedding dress but at lease is white."

"I love it, thank you" said Misao trying hard not to shed any tears.

"You know Aoshi is afraid I will tell you all his secrets" she sad and winked at Misao. "Come set beside me." Misao set by her side. "I want to give you a word of advice and we don't have much time before my son comes to interrupt us. (sigh) "Misao I know the reason you accept to marry my son."

Misao's eyes widened "If you knew why did pretended not know?"

"When you came in through that door I saw something in Aoshi's eyes, something I thought I never thought I would see again. You see my son suffer a deception, he had someone once in his life and he wanted a to start a family with her, but she was unfaithful to him, that why I must ask of you, not give him any cause to think that would do that same. And to tell you the true I believe my son can come to love you and I know you will love him too if you set you mind to it."

"What make you say that?" Misao asked

"Because your are exactly what my son needs, you have spirit"

"Do you really believe what you just said?" Misao s asked.

"I do" she said "Oh! One more think, my son is too attractive, take this advice never let him feel to sure of himself, and do I believe he has met his match."

"What make you said that?" Misao asked.

"For one, you don't fall over your self to keep his attention" Lin laughed. "And you look like you can manage anything."

"Manage what?" Aoshi asked when he entered the study.

"You, my son, You!. Lin laughed. "Don't let him know I know the reason for this marriage" he whispered at Misao ear.

"O.K" Said Misao. "I'm going to take a walk,"

"Alright." said Lin.

Her shining features were greeted by a suspicious smile as she when past him. Aoshi turned to his mother. "What did you talk about?" he asked bluntly.

His mother ignored his question. "You'll marry a fine young women, treasure her, you are a attractive man just like you father, but your skills in bed will not hold a woman forever."

Dark color invaded his face. He didn't wanted to imagine what the two of them had discussed. "Mother, you amaze me, I assume you have a word of advice."

"You could marry any woman, why her?" she asked

"She has spirit than most, and she is a stubborn little witch"

"She has spirit to match your own and she is stubborn as you are my son and I believe you see that she doesn't like to being controlled any more than you do."

"So you notice too" he said,

"Don't be afraid to trust her Aoshi, she's not like Yumi"

"Are you finish Mother?" Aoshi's temper rose, as it always did when Yumi was mentioned.

"I just hope your experience with Yumi, doesn't keep you from loving this girl as she deserves" she said. "I'm going upstairs, I'll see later son." she left him with his own thoughts.

Lin left her son with his own thoughts in the study. *Why is it that every time someone mention Yumi, his temper snaps? For goodness sake is been two years since their relationship ended, and it was not because he wanted, but because she betrayed his trust and played with his heard.

Would Misao turn out to be just like Yumi? He had to admitted to himself that he had never felt so drawn to a woman as he was to Misao, would she use her power against him, just like Yumi did? Would she use her lovely body and beauty against him to destroy his will, to have him eating out of her palm?*

"No! No! Never again." he stood up fast and flatted his palm on the desk. " I would marry her, but she'll never discover how strong my feelings for her had become."

*Don't let your experience with Yumi keep you from loving this girl as she deserves* his mother word came back to him. But even when his mother was right, he still couldn't allow himself to trust her.

"Maybe is to soon to compare Misao with Yumi, but for her sake and my, I sure hope she's nothing like her." he said and went out to kook for Enishi.

Hi everyone sorry it took me so long to update but I been a little busy

and sick. But I'm better now.

Thank you for your reviews I hope

you like this chapter.

I can't promise nothing but I'll try to update soon.

Thank you again.