S's A: Thank you all for your positive responses! ^^ A lot more of you like the persocom idea than I thought! Oh well… It just didn't work out for my plans… and plus the thought of downloading emails on Aoshi just disturbs me… *sweatdrop*
Disclaimer: Don't own it, never will. Plots and original ideas are mine, though.
Review Responses:
Silver Twilight: I thought your name was Black Twilight. -_- Stick with one, why don't cha? *rolls eyes* Anyway, thanks for… stuff…
becky: Yeah, if you want to think of it that way. Just imagine a human that works just like a persocom. ^^ And yes, that would be Aoshi. ^^
len: ^^ I love Aoshi/Misao! My most favoritest couple in the whole wide world! Unfortunately, I don't think persocoms or Chobits will pop up too often, though… but then again you never know, especially with me. *sweatdrop*
MiniMidget: Thank you so much!
Lebleuphenix: mmmm…. Aoshi in leather……. ^^ eh… I'll get my mind out of the gutter, for now. Thank you! I'll try to keep her in character, but it's so hard! Don't worry, Kenshin'll play a big role! How could I neglect out favorite rurouni? And Saitou, too. Also, I like to parallel things, so look for more of those, as well as a few twists, at least I hope so…
dynast: ^______^ Yup, better than a persocom. I was really into Chobits at the time I started writing this, but now I'm kinda fixated on the genetic engineering thing… ^^
fallen wings: Thank you! I live off reviews! I hope you like this one as much as the last. My sister (Silver Twilight) informs me the beginning's a little boring…
Digital Siren: I love your name! ^^ Hope I can keep your interest. Even I'm not sure what I'm up to… The crazy things that pop into my head and come out as fics…
* ~ * ~ * ~ *
Misao felt an unpleasant prickling sensation creep up her spine.
"Does it bother you much, Misao-dono?" Himura's voice asked softly.
She swallowed and nodded.
"It does me too, de gozaru yo."
"It's not right!" she burst out, shivering slightly. "Humans without emotions…" she added, still disbelieving. "I can't imagine it!"
"It's dangerous, that it is," he agreed.
Misao hung back in the shadows, unwilling to step through that steel door.
"Are you going to stand there all day?" Saitou suddenly appeared in front of them.
Misao violently strode purposefully into the mysterious room. She refused to show weakness before that stupid wolf. Himura followed silently.
Behind them, Saitou dropped his cigarette into the tray by the door.
Misao's first thought was that she was dead, so blinding was the whiteness of the room. Actually, 'room' did not seem to do the place justice. It was more of a hall, with walled cubicles and highly advanced computers, all with the sterile and impersonal feel of a hospital. Upon closer inspection, she found it all to be constructed of a shiny whitish metal. Reflexively she reached out.
"Do not touch," Saitou said sharply.
She drew back as if burned.
Saitou indicated the back of the room, where shadowy figures were moving around behind a smoky glass wall.
The officer stepped up and laid his hand on a curious disk. After a moment, a green light flashed over the doorway. Saitou passed through.
Motioning for Misao to follow, Himura did the same.
As she approached the strange contraption, Misao wondered what it did. The answer came when she laid her hand on it and felt a sharp prick.
"YOOOOOWWWWWCCCHHHH!!!!!" Her wails reverberated throughout the empty hall. Pouting slightly, she sucked at the tiny drop of crimson blood that formed on the tip of her forefinger and passed under the flashing green light.
"Oro? She's very… animated, that she is," Himura laughed nervously. (I just can't describe the way he talks, it's like he's constantly flinching.)
The foxy young woman in a white labcoat next to him raised an eyebrow. "Animated? I can see that. Oh ho ho ho ho!"
Misao edged away from the woman, slightly disturbed by the way she laughed and hung all over Himura. Wait… she looked somehow… familiar. Oh well.
Bored and frustrated that no one was paying attention to her (why the hell did they BRING me here if they weren't gonna TALK to me?!) Misao scanned the crowd for more familiar faces. There were none that she could see, except for Saitou, who didn't count because he was an evil bastard.
The atmosphere in the room felt more like a party than a serious meeting. The clink of wine glasses filled the air. Hands were shaken; smiles and congratulations exchanged. Long white labcoats and patent leather shoes seemed to be the 'dress code' although Misao spotted a few in the navy officer uniform and yet another few in business suits. In her faded jeans shorts and loose tee shirt, Misao felt rather out of place and insignificant.
Not being exceptionally shy or one to overanalyze situations, Misao cheerily bounced over to a handsome looking young man in the blue uniform of an officer and began to chat away.
"Hello! I'm Makimachi Misao! Who are you? I guess you're a police officer, like that stupid Saitou over there, 'cause you've got that uniform on. What are you doing here? What am I doing here? I'm not sure I know, but Saitou-san and Himura-san brought me acting all serious and stuff, and it turns out to be a party! Go figure! It's kinda boring though, you know what I mean? Nobody's doing much of anything. They're all just drinking and talking and stuff." Misao paused to catch her breath. Even her powerful lungs couldn't talk for five minutes straight without breathing. Frayed nerves had caused her to revert to her sixteen –year-old self and babble even more than usual.
"…areh?" He looked a bit overwhelmed. Then a slow, boyish smile spread over his face. He coughed lightly and turned his head away. "I'm pleased to make your acquaintance, Makimachi-san. I am Okita Soushi. We've heard a lot about you over the past day or so. I think you'll find this isn't much of a party after all, I'm afraid. Once they are through with politics, I am sure you'll be getting all the attention you ever wanted and more." His tone was polite, easy, and sincere, as though he had not a care in the world. He smiled readily. Misao decided she liked Okita Soushi.
"Oh, that's good then, I guess. I really just want to get this over with," she muttered.
"That's understandable."
"Oh, look. Makimachi-san's talking with Okita-san. Don't they look cute."
"Hn. I thought you went home, Tokio."
"I was going to, but then I decided the poor girl would feel a bit lost in all this chaos."
"…I wouldn't exactly call this chaos."
"To a young lady who doesn't know anyone, I'm sure it looks like that."
He snorted. "She's doing fine. They," he indicated generally the whole room, "should cut the crap and get on with it. I don't know what Hijikata-san is doing with Serizawa-san. It's unprofessional to be arguing in so public a place."
"And it's unlike you to criticize Hijikata-san," Tokio retorted with a smirk. "What's gotten you in such a bad mood? Could it possibly be the whole project? I know your views."
"Then you surely must know the answer to your own question."
"So you don't know anyone here at all?"
"Nope, nobody," she replied cheerfully. "Well… I guess you could say I know Saitou-san… and Himura-san… speaking of Himura, where is he? I haven't seen him much since I came in."
"Oh, Himura-san? I don't think he enjoys parties very much," Okita answered casually. Actually, the man was so antisocial he could give Saitou a run for his money, but that was beside the point.
"Oh yeah… that lady that was talking to Himura-san earlier, I think I've seen her before, but I don't know where."
"Hm… that would be Takani-san, one of the head doctors. If you're going to be involved in the eugenics project, I think you'll be getting to know her a lot better." His blasé smile was back in place, although his head was still turned from her.
"Oh. Huh. I don't think I'm going to like her very much," Misao said skeptically.
The guy chuckled. Really, Misao didn't see what was so funny. But he had a tendency to laugh/cough after every sentence, so she supposed it didn't matter. He sure was odd. Cute, though.
"Hello, Makimachi-san, Okita-san," a woman's pleasant voice interrupted their conversation.
"Oh! Tokio-san! I thought you said you were going home!" Misao exclaimed.
"Hello, Tokio-san. I must admit, you surprised me." Exactly what had surprised him, Misao would never know.
She waved the comment away cheerfully. "I just saw you two talking and decided to come over and see how you were doing, Makimachi-san."
"Please, call me Misao!"
"Only if you call me Tokio."
"It's a deal then!" the younger girl replied enthusiastically.
Tokio smiled. It was getting rare to meet such a nice, innocent young lady. Of course, she wasn't all that old herself. Neither was Hajime, even if he didn't look it.
"Actually, I also am supposed to tell you to come to the back room, where everyone will be waiting."
"Jeez, this place has MORE 'back rooms'?!"
"Don't worry; this is the last one you'll have to see for a while. It's the laboratory. Okita-san, you're wanted too, you can't just slip away like I know you're trying to."
He sighed in mock defeat. "You've found me out," he grinned.
She smiled back, but the smile slipped a bit when he coughed again.
Walking ahead, Misao caught tones of worry in the older woman's voice as she addressed the younger man.
The laboratory wasn't nearly as crowded as the previous room, Misao noted with relief. However, most of the people she'd picked out as important were in attendance. Great. Just great. Please note the sarcasm.
She looked down at her less-than-professional attire and grimaced. So much for first impressions.
Trailing along, Misao felt an urge to touch all of the expensive looking instruments lined up carefully on the long tables.
Saitou shot her a glare that said clearly, 'touch and die.' At the same time, he motioned her to follow him to what she identified as the front of the lab, where several people were sitting in chairs, looking like their excitement was barely contained. Misao felt a brief twinge of disgust, although she wasn't sure why.
She took a seat beside four men arranged in a semi circle. Saitou took his position at the podium and began to speak.
"I have been given the delight of introducing you to the final result of the project we've been working on for the last fifty years," he drawled. "I'm sure many of you, including myself, have not been with the Shinsengumi for that long. Most of those who have are no longer a part of this world. I ask that you take a short moment to consider those who make this research their life's work and have not lived to see their dreams become reality."
It was kinda funny, Misao thought, to hear Saitou talk about dreams and moments of silence for the dead. In the back, Tokio smirked.
"Thank you. Now, as undoubtedly all of you know, fifty years ago…"
Misao tried to listen. Really she did. But, honestly, who really cared about some genius fifty years ago who first thought they might be able to alter the personality of a human, not just physical appearance? Come on.
Misao found herself wondering about the guy who was going to be her bodyguard. She'd deduced that much, although they hadn't told her straight out. So like them. So what do you say to a guy with no emotions? Must be really awkward. Hm…
"And so, without further drivel, I introduce you to Shinomori Aoshi, the first human genetically altered to possess no emotions."
Misao's first thought as he stepped out into full view was: SEXYYYYYYYYYYY!
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
Shadow's Assassin: Hm… not one of my best. Hopefully the next one will be better. I'm no good at beginnings. Next time we find out more about Misao's family, and some other… stuff. Ja!