Authors Notes: Well, holey shitballs I updated this story! Gah! It's like OMG EARTHQUAKE! Anywho now that that drama is over its as usual a bit over dramatic I believe but needed to be. Ah Saitou, my dear wolf you just had to open up your big fat mouth. Tsk, tsk my boy, not a good idea at all. Well if anyone can remember this story, hope you enjoy! Ah, if anyone thinks I'm overacting with the "over protectiveness" gomen ne, but I'm like that with my own brother. If anyone hurt him, they'd be punished. Anywho it's now onto Pretty Man Chapter 11 I believe. Phew, don't say I never do anything for you readers, this is my fifth update in two days!

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The Lonely Widow, Not so Lonely Anymore

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"I shall repeat myself, who the hell are you people?" Megumi got off the bench, Sano slowly following her as she gave a small awkward smile to the stoic man still standing at the kitchen entranceway.

"You must be Saitou-san, you are Misao-chan's older brother correct? I'm Megumi, I'm a friend of Misao's." Golden eyes bored into maroon coloured ones, visibly making Megumi uncomfortable.

"You were the one who…" Saitou never finished his sentence as his sharp eyes looked out the small window from the kitchen and straight into the backyard where Aoshi and Misao were sitting pretty close together on a bench.

"Excuse me…" He muttered as he brushed past the fuming Sano having never even been acknowledged by the taller man.

# Outside #

"Um Misao?"

"Hmm?" Misao sat up a bit, her skin moving away from the contact of Aoshi's warm arm and instantly she felt a cold chill move over her.

"Are you…and your partner…still together?" Misao blinked widely at Aoshi's soft question and didn't exactly know how to answer him. She loved her partner, her now dead husband still, but this man here, he seemed so much more different then what Soujiro was. Just how was she going to answer him as it was like he wanted to see whether she'd say no and then perhaps…ask her out?

"Um…well…"

"Misao-chan what do you think you're doing?" Misao jolted from the bench at that deep voice and stood staring at the prominent figure of Saitou, whose eyes happened to be glaring at the back of Aoshi's head.

"Niisan…I…"

"There is no need to get worked up we were only taking a small break." Aoshi spoke while standing to his fall height as well. Turning around to face the narrowed dark look of Misao's older brother Aoshi was proud of himself for not flinching. It was like the man wanted to burn him to a crisp for even being in the vicinity of Misao.

"She is off limits to someone like you."

"NIISAN!" Misao yelled and felt mortified at her brother's over protective ways.

"We need to speak, come upstairs for a moment." Not even bothering about listening to Misao's answer, Saitou swiftly turned around and headed back into the house and obviously upstairs. Misao turned her large ocean blue orbs to Aoshi and mouthed an apology before heading into her house and up the stairs.

"I guess I just got my answer from him…" Aoshi muttered to himself before watching Sano come outside and head on over to him.

"Man that is one fucking scary guy."

"Aa…" Aoshi replied before wanting to head back inside.

"Not such a good idea, that guy is cursing a thousand times over about you." Aoshi shook his head at Sano's reply.

"And to think I haven't even tried anything on her…well…not really…"

"Heh, what did you try on her?"

"That is not your business and do you actually think I would try anything with that sly wolf around? Word of warning for the future of your many girlfriends Sano, get along with their family members first." Sano chuckled loudly at Aoshi's words before flinging an arm over his shoulders.

"You certainly have it bad for this one. So is it your first time?" Narrowing his eyes Aoshi pulled Sano's arm away from his shoulders.

"First time for what?"

"Feeling like you have no control over wanting to just ravish the little lady." Aoshi parted his lips ready to flat out say no but it ended up getting stuck in his throat.

"Ah, I hear ya man."

"Oh?" Aoshi remarked before following his gaze to see Sano's cinnamon eyes watching the back of his older sister.

"Oh great that was something I really didn't need to hear."

"I never spoke a word." Sano replied back fanning innocence, which wasn't working.

"Please, I saw that hungry look and the next time you wish to share information about wanting to have sex with my sister, don't tell me." Sano chuckled at Aoshi's words as the both of them headed inside since Misao waved them in as she thought the coast was clear because there had been no loud shouts from upstairs for a few minutes now.

# Inside #

"Perhaps the three of us should retire for the evening so Misao and Saitou-san can have some quiet in this house."

"Seems pretty quiet to me fox." Aoshi arched an eyebrow as Sano had even got a nickname for Megumi already. His eyes then darted to Megumi who was visibly holding back at wanting to punch the grinning brunette, but all fell silent as yells ensued from upstairs.

"I never said you were a child Misao!" Saitou's voice was loud, but not at yelling point like Misao's had become, but they could still be heard.

"Then don't treat me like one! I know you worry, everyone worries but why can't anyone see that I'm the one that has to get through this loss? Me and no one else!"

"And running to another guy is going to help that? Please Misao I thought you were smarter then that."

"I AM SMART!" Misao balled her fists at her older brother who was calmly sitting in a chair in her bedroom while she sat on the bed.

"I don't recall ever being part of any family domestic. Its not like anything happened besides that kiss…" Aoshi confessed while staring up at the ceiling above the kitchen.

"WHAAAAAAAT?" Came two shocked voices and Aoshi jerked his head to look down at them.

"Did I forget to mention that?"

"Baka, she's not ready for that!" Megumi growled at Aoshi and made him quirk his eyebrow at the way she was acting.

"I know that, but she forgave me for it too. In any case from what I can gather, you know more about her then I do Meg-chan, so why not tell me what the go is?" Maroon eyes widened at Aoshi's words before she turned her back to him.

"Iie that's for Misao to confess." Cinnamon and green-grey glanced at each other before the argument upstairs continued on.

"I never mentioned I was running to any guy Saitou and I don't understand why you are being this way about all of this. He's my friend Saitou. I feel comfortable around him and though it is a shock to me as well, I will still want to be his friend. He is nice to me and I haven't had that for ages from any guy. Whether you like it or not I like his company. Why can't everyone just leave me alone to make my own decisions!" Misao snapped back.

"Because the last decision you made was marrying that boy and look where that got you now!" Tears sprung to Misao's eyes at those harsh words from her brother who was now standing up from the chair, but what grabbed both their attentions was something shattering in the kitchen downstairs.

"A-Aoshi…?" Megumi tentatively asked, her hand moving out to the stone cold form belonging to her brother. Her hand went up to brush away his long bangs from his eyes but they grew wide as it was slapped away.

"So that's why…" Came the chilled unemotional reply.

"Yo Aoshi, you okay man?" Sano spoke feeling a bit of worry break into his voice as he watched Aoshi bend down to pick up the broken bottle from the floor. It wasn't long before he stood back up, eyes unreadable as he moved about the kitchen grabbing his things together.

"It is getting late and we have worked enough for today Sano. I think for the moment we have out welcomed our stay here."

"Ne Aoshi…?" Megumi softly called but her brother did nothing except mumble he'd be back tomorrow to finish the rest of the kitchen off and headed out of the door with Sano behind him. It wasn't long before Megumi watched small pounding footsteps head downstairs and almost run into her.

"Megumi, where did…" Misao didn't finish as she watched her dear friend shake her head before turning narrowed maroon eyes to Saitou who was heading down the stairs with a new cigarette between his lips.

"Was that really necessary? To argue in front of guests so they would hear every single word?" Megumi fumed at the tall man.

"It needed to be done. That guy needed to be told that Misao isn't some little whore who will crawl into bed with any man. I saw the intent in his eyes an-"

SLAP!

Maroon eyes had widened as Misao had smacked her brother over the face. Slightly wider golden eyes stared down into her tears streaked face.

"I won't forgive you niisan…I won't forgive you if you ruined my friendship with him" At that Misao bolted back upstairs and left the red cheeked Saitou in the care of a fuming fox.

"I think you should leave." Megumi spoke while crossing her arms over her chest in a defiant manner much like she had seen the rooster do. To Megumi's utter amazement Saitou headed for the door and silently closed it behind him.

"Oh dear…" Megumi muttered before silently moving upstairs and knocking lightly on Misao's bedroom door. She entered the room to see Misao lying on her bed facing away from her.

"Misao-chan daijoubu?" Se softly questioned the sniffling young woman before carefully sitting on the other side of it and then lowered her back as she placed her head and shoulders against Misao's side.

"Its…ruined isn't it Megumi?" Misao murmured into her dark room and heard Megumi sigh against her.

"Knowing my brother I'm sure he's only bruised by the knowledge of your brother voicing loudly that you were or are married. If my brother has any feelings towards you, which I know he does, he was willing to wait…and would never have rushed you into anything. That is the way he is."

"So, how will I face him now?" Megumi leaned up and over Misao to see her blurry eyes had filled up with more tears. Bringing up one of her hands Megumi quietly brushed the tears away.

"Well you could tell him that you were once married, but aren't anymore. In any case you might have to be patient with him because…well…Aoshi is very hard to figure out sometimes."

"What do you mean?"

"I've never seen Aoshi take an interest in any woman really. Frankly I thought he was gay at first."

"MEGUMI!" Misao grounded out in shock at her friend and heard her laugh lightly.

"But then I realised that Aoshi has such a pure though slightly battered heart that he himself doesn't wish to be hurt so that is why he treads very carefully. In fact I was surprised that when he mentioned you it automatically felt right that he'd gain an interest in you, my dear Misao. You are complete opposites at times and when I look at the both of you together I find a great match…and seeing my brother smile is something that I'll always want to see again and again."

"I make him smile?" Misao spoke while sitting up on the bed with Megumi who was now smiling lightly down at her puffy face.

"Truthfully Misao I'm not sure how Aoshi has taken this news, but I've never seen him take such a liking to anyone before either so its hard for me to try and figure out what he's thinking. Don't get me wrong though, being as good looking as he is doesn't mean he never had a fan club of women following him, but to think my dear sweet friend has caught his utmost attention is truly amazing." Misao blushed at Megumi's words and watched as the older woman got off the bed and helped her stand up on shaky legs.

"He and that rooster are coming back over tomorrow to finish knocking down the cabinets in your kitchen, so I think a nice bath and a good sleep will help you decide on what you will do about Aoshi tomorrow okay?" Misao smiled up at Megumi before hugging the woman and heading downstairs with her.

"You just give me a call, no matter the time if you wish to talk more alright?"

"Arigatou Megumi." Misao voiced with a bit more happiness and waved to the doctor before closing and locking her door. She turned around and headed for her kitchen and looked around. It was a complete mess, but there was nothing she could do about it now. Instead she lifted her hand, the hand that had slapped her brother and instantly went to the phone to call him. Misao dialled his number and as she thought would happen, she got his bland message on his answering machine.

"Saitou-niisan gomen nasai. I shouldn't have hit you, but you should never have voiced such hurtful words to me either. I know you didn't like Soujiro very much, but it was my decision to marry him and I won't ever regret it for the rest of my life. As for Aoshi, I know he likes me, but we are just friends and even with just that he doesn't mind, so please niisan don't interfere. I know you care and I love you for that, but please stop treating me like a little girl. I know I will take my time in doing what I feel is right in my own heart, so please…don't be mad at me." Misao hung up at that and then headed back upstairs to her room and started a nice warm bath just as Megumi had suggested.

Half an hour had slipped by as Misao folded back the sheets and quilt on her bed before hopping into the side she always slept on when Soujiro was alive. Glancing at her late husband's photo she leaned over, turned off the lamp and placed her back to Soujiro's photo before falling asleep.

# The Next Morning #

It was around 9am when there was a knock at her door and Misao practically bolted for it and reefed it open only to see the crooked grin on Sano's face.

"Ohayoo Misao-san." He greeted as though yesterday had never happened.

"O-Ohayoo…" Misao mumbled before letting him inside as he went straight for the kitchen to place in more down lights and of course help destroy her old kitchen benches as asked by Aoshi.

"Aoshi had to go open up shop and said he'd be in shortly."

"Oh…"

"If he seems a bit off today Misao-san, don't worry alright, he's just got a bit of a hangover like me."

"A hangover?"

"We went out drinking and I swear with all his brooding he could drink me under the table."

"Then it is my fault." Misao softly voiced while standing bare foot in the kitchen with Sano sitting on the preparation bench.

"Misao-san…" Sano murmured in worry for her as well. This was truly going to be an awkward day for him now.

"You really should get to work Sano." Ocean blue and cinnamon eyes turned to gaze at green-grey and maroon. It appeared Megumi had taken the morning off and had turned up just as Aoshi had.

"O-Ohayoo Aoshi…" Misao spoke softly while watching the tall handsome man head past her while mumbling a good morning to her as well.

"Sano will you help me with this cupboard?" Misao frowned at his behaviour, but could she truly blame him for it? She felt a hand on her shoulder and gave Megumi a light smile.

"Its okay, it's to be expected." Misao voiced and then exited the kitchen. Hammering had stopped as Aoshi turned his green-grey eyes towards the lounge room where Megumi and Misao were now sitting and chatting quietly. A sigh left his throat and guilt began to eat him up inside.

Why did he always have to feel like the bad guy?

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TBC…

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