The Lonely Widow, Not so Lonely Anymore
Aoshi pulled up at Misao's house and got out of the car moving around the other side to open the door for her. Misao smiled her thanks and opened the gate heading for the front door and unlocked it stepping inside. Aoshi followed Misao into the spacious lounge room and headed for the large kitchen, which was separated from the lounge room by the dining room.
"Well here it is…" Misao spoke absentmindedly and turned around to see Aoshi was deep in thought as he moved around the kitchen, his hands running along the benches and the cupboards.
"What a disaster…" Aoshi spoke softly to himself but Misao heard every word.
"HEY! I didn't ask you to criticize my home I asked you to come look at my kitchen and that's it!" Misao spoke annoyingly, both of her hands turning into fists. She watched as Aoshi turned away from the small kitchen window and he held up his hands explaining what he meant.
"I didn't mean to offend your home Misao-san. I look out into your back yard to see its blossoming with flowers and yet you have this very small window. It does not compliment this large spacious kitchen at all. If you'd like, I can measure the entire kitchen, get a quote together for you all including tiles, cupboards, shelving space, bench tops, lighting and of knocking more of the wall out and placing in a larger window." Aoshi watched as Misao blushed embarrassed once more and then a bright smile crossed her lips as she nodded her head in agreement.
Misao silently watched as Aoshi opened the slightly broken cupboard door and actually pulled it off. She gasped softly in surprise and Aoshi turned his attention to her and spoke once more.
"You did want a complete make over of your kitchen right?" He watched as Misao nodded her head affirmatively and he gave her a small smile speaking again to reassure her of what he was doing.
"I needed to take a cupboard door off to measure the inside of the cupboard as to were your shelving would go."
"I understand…its just that…my former partner and I…well anyway its just a shock that's all…" Aoshi watched Misao move out of the kitchen having broken off whatever she was going to say.
"Former partner…" Aoshi mumbled to himself but shook his head going back to work.
* * * *
(A Couple of Hours Later…)
Aoshi stood at the small window looking out into the backyard of Misao's house to see she was attending to her garden. She had many different flowers picked already and resting on the porch steps. Aoshi watched as Misao stood up and turned to face the small window but Aoshi already looked away knowing she was going to see what he was doing. Aoshi pretended to measure the sink space again to look like he was actually doing work and not watching her. He flipped through his notebook making sure he had written down all of the measurements.
"How are you going in here?" Aoshi turned his head to see Misao carrying the flowers and placed them on the preparation table in the middle of the kitchen. She hummed softly as she arranged the flowers, cutting their stems and placed them in a crystal vase filling it with warm water and adding in a teaspoon of sugar and stirring slightly.
"What are you doing tomorrow?" Aoshi spoke closing his notebook and leaned against the bench waiting for Misao to answer him.
"Why?" Aoshi shrugged his shoulders and replied back gathering up his things and placing them either in his bag or back in his tool belt.
"I thought you could spare some time and tell me what you really want to do with this kitchen. I can bring in different folders on cupboard designs different colours as well and other folders with numerous amount of bench tops and tiles. Also you'll need to pick out handles for the draws and cupboards so I'll bring them over too. You'll probably need to change your lights as well, these are old fashioned and so maybe down lights could work, they are the best, maybe even dim ones if you wish. My flat mate happens to be an electrician so I'm sure I can grab a catalogue from him and get him pretty cheap for you…he does owe me a few favours after all."
"O-Okay…um what time did you want to come over?"
"Whatever suits you Misao-san…" Aoshi replied absently back and began screwing the cupboard back on using some temporary screws he carried in his tool belt.
"Well what about around noon, I can provide some finger food for us as I'll probably ask a lot of questions about what to choose and even get your opinion." Misao stared at the tall man as he was quickly typing something in the laptop he carried with him and a pen stuck out the side of his mouth.
"No problem, noon it is then. I'll see you then Misao-san." Aoshi gathered his things together and walked towards the main door opening it up and stepping outside. He handed Misao his card, with the appointment time written on the back.
"Wait!" Misao yelled as he was already at the gate heading for his black Ute. Aoshi turned half around waiting for Misao to speak once more.
"Can you remember my address?" Aoshi nodded his head and spoke once more before giving her a small wave and driving off.
"Sure…I used to play here when I was a small kid...my family was originally from around here…"
* * * *
(Early Evening - 6:30pm)
*Ring Ring*
Misao walked back into the lounge room in her house and picked up the phone, which sat on the coffee table.
"Misao-chan, how are you going?" Megumi's voice filtered into Misao's ear before she could even say hello.
"Not too bad…I went back to apologise to the man who runs Shinomori Renovators. I was…well not myself and he was still kind enough to go ahead and renovate my kitchen. I have an appointment with him tomorrow." A sly grin crossed Megumi's lips as she drove down the street heading for Misao's house.
"That's wonderful Misao-chan…you'll have to tell me all about it over dinner. I'll be around to pick you up shortly." Misao stared at the phone as Megumi hung up abruptly, but moved to the window when someone honked his or her car horn. Misao noticed it was Megumi's BMW. She shook her head grabbing her things together and headed out the door placing her slip on shoes on and walked out the gate getting into the passenger side of Megumi's car.
"Evening Misao-chan." Megumi spoke happily to her and drove off heading for the city center to eat at one of her favourite cafes.
* * * *
Hours had passed as Misao and Megumi were sitting silently at a table eating dessert and drinking coffee. Megumi had laughed softly about Misao over reacting with whatever it was that Aoshi was saying. She got quite uptight sometimes and in some small way Megumi felt sorry for her brother.
Megumi silently watched as Misao played with the last remains of the cake on her plate and observed as Misao placed down the small folk and grabbed Megumi's attention by asking her a question.
"Do you think its right…if…I mean do you think Soujiro would be angry if I found someone else to love?" Megumi's dark eyes softened at hearing this question. She knew Misao had been pondering over this for quite sometime now but ever since she ran into Aoshi, it seemed that she truly did want an answer. Megumi stretched her hand across and squeezed Misao's comfortingly and spoke an answer.
"Misao sweetie, Soujiro knows you'll always love him and no one can take that away from you. 'Till death do us part…' Misao…you must remember those words. I can feel he wants you to be happy Misao and if that means falling in love again and maybe even marrying then I'm sure he'll be very happy for you." Megumi watched as Misao parted her lips to interrupt but Megumi placed up her hand wanting to finish her speech and observed as Misao stayed quiet waiting for her to finish.
"You can take as long as you like Misao. If the man is worth it, he'll be patient and he'll be honest and open with you as you should do the same for him. Then again you may not want to marry again Misao, but that's okay as well. You may have many fears but I just want to see you happy again…Soujiro wants you to find love again, I can feel it…just as you can. Am I right?"
"H-Hai Megumi…only…only I'm scared…afraid that if I do fall in love again, he'll be taken from me just like Soujiro was."
"Misao you'll have many ups and downs in your life and sometimes you'll feel as though you have more downs then ups, but you are a very attractive and smart young woman who grabs the attention of many men that walk passed you in the street. You'll have no problem getting attention; it just depends on whether any of them are right for you. You'll feel it one day."
"Feel what?" Misao asked intrigued wanting to know what Megumi was talking about.
"You'll meet a man Misao, maybe even once off, like passing him in the street and you'll know. You'll feel yourself become breathless, your heart will beat rapidly, your attention focusing on him as a whole, but noticing small details about his appearance and features. It will feel different from Soujiro, but it will still be powerful and it will frighten you, but it will be beautiful Misao…I promise…"
"M-Megumi…I'm scared because…I think…I think I've already felt that again…only this time it was more intense and I don't know why…he was and is just a stranger…" The clearing of a throat interrupted the two woman as a waiter stood beside them and spoke.
"Have you two ladies finished with your plates?" Misao nodded her head and cast her eyes out the window to watch couples arm in arm walk off heading back to their homes.
"Misao-chan, do not think so much into it just yet. Give yourself time to know this man…to find out who he truly is, if you see him again that is, but don't rush into anything. Go at your own pace this time and if he is interested tell him that he must be patient or at least tell him of your lost love and that you wish to go slower then that because you are afraid. Okay?" Misao smiled over at her doctor and personal friend. Megumi seemed to have a lot of experience in the matter of love but then again, she had always declined offers of telephone numbers and dinner dates with men she had met at the clubs the two of them went too. Perhaps a previous love had broken her heart, Misao was not too sure.
"Its getting late Megumi and I've got to make something for tomorrow for when Aoshi comes over…" Megumi turned her dark eyes to the younger woman and watched as her cheeks turned light pink at speaking about Aoshi as though they had known each other for a lot longer then one day.
"Why Misao-chan, is this man the one you think you might find love with again?" Megumi spoke softly, her elbows resting on the table holding her head up as she raised her eyebrows for more emphasis. Megumi laughed loudly, a hand moving over her lips to try and conceal it but was unsuccessful. Other guests turned to stare at the two women wandering what on earth was going on. One was blushing bright red and the other quieting down but still laughing at her friend.
"I've seen him from a distance Misao-chan and he looks quite handsome…" Megumi spoke softly, getting her laughter under control and leaned back in the chair once more. She was secretly hoping Misao would open up more.
"Its not that Megumi…I can feel a sort of chemistry between us. It scares me, but he seems like a very gentle and understanding man, much like Soujiro…but I don't know if I'd care for him for being him or because he is reminding me of Soujiro…its awful of me to think that, but right now…that's how I feel…" Misao's eyes stared pleadingly over at Megumi, hoping she'd understand. Megumi gave Misao a gentle smile and nodded her head patting her hand once more.
"Come on you silly girl…I take you home."
"HEY!" Misao spoke loudly getting the attention of other customers and blushed once more in embarrassment. Megumi waved her off and paid for dinner walking out the café with Misao hurriedly following her.
"So Aoshi's coming to see you tomorrow Misao, why not drift from the subject of your kitchen to gain small bits of information about him. Nothing major just yet, but I'm sure if you opened up a little he'd do exactly the same." Misao stared suspiciously at Megumi for a moment but noticed she had a completely innocent face and brushed off any thoughts of Megumi knowing the man from Shinomori Renovators.
* * * *
"Have a lovely day tomorrow Misao-chan…and don't get too nervous, its just business…with a bit of personal pleasure yes?"
"MEGUMI!" Misao yelled humiliated once again by her friend being so open about such personal things. She laughed loudly once more and drove off, honking the horn once signaling Misao to go inside and lock the place up after her.
* * * *
Misao stood in her kitchen, looking around at the…okay…she finally admitted that it was probably designed in the 1980's! Misao had prepared some food for tomorrow and began cleaning up the small mess she had created.
"Soujiro…" Misao whispered feeling his presence in the kitchen. Misao quickly turned around, her eyes sparkling happily but they saddened as she wasn't able to see him or touch him anymore.
"Soujiro…please help me…please…" Misao spoke brokenly and descended to the tiled floor in the kitchen, her head resting against her up drawn knees as she cried to herself. Misao felt so lost, so alone and yet she wasn't alone. She had her family, her friends and of course Soujiro who would always watch over her until she was complete and whole again.
Misao wiped the tears away from her eyes, silently berating herself for being silly. Misao finally realised that no matter how many tears she cried it still didn't change the fact that Soujiro, her first love, her first boyfriend and then husband was dead and that he wasn't ever coming back.
"I'll try Soujiro…I try to become happy, I'll try to be complete again…just don't get mad, don't hate me for falling in love with someone else…I beg you…" Misao gasped in surprise as she felt a warmth around her, as though Soujiro was actually hugging her. He was giving her his approval that he wouldn't be sad if she found love once more; in fact, he'd be able to rest in peace knowing his Misao would be all right. Misao was and is a beautiful young woman who had the right to find love again, even if it meant trying over and over again until she was completely happy.
* * * *
Hours have passed, as Misao lay on her side of the bed, the other side cold and empty as Soujiro used to sleep there. She was curled into the blankets, her left hand resting on a photo of Soujiro and old tear marks caressing her pale cheeks as she had cried herself to sleep.
* * * *
(Sanosuke Sagara's Apartment)
"Sano, this may sound really stupid, but do you think its possible to fall in love with someone even though you've only known them for one day and not even knowing exactly who they are on the inside?"
"Shinomori, you met someone?" Sano spoke after taking another drink from his beer bottle. Sano watched as Aoshi shrugged his shoulders and brushed his hand through his jet-black hair in frustration. Aoshi was usually a quite man, not one to speak so openly about relationships or romance but now he seemed quite bothered and confused at the moment. Sano cleared his throat after returning from the kitchen with more beer.
"Sounds interesting, but you are definitely asking the wrong person. My record of keeping long-term girlfriends is very slim, as you already know. I mean a month ago I was with…Hikari…no wait maybe it was Tae… Anyway that's not the point. Ever since I ran into this real peace of work last week, I've completely lost interest in the women I see at the clubs we usually go to and can't get this woman's dark eyes out of my head."
"So if you feel that way…and I feel that way…and its two completely different women and the fact they are strangers…doesn't that make it true?" Aoshi softly concluded. Sano and Aoshi stared at each other for a few more moments and then both shook their heads at how stupid they were thinking and opened another beer each drinking in silence as they continued to watch the late movie on television.
* * * *
To be continued…
* * * *