All righty people, new rule. I will not update until I get at least three reviews. Got it? Now to more important matters. I think I've got the personality problem fixed...I think...If you don't think so just tell me and I'll try, once again, to fix the problem. So, that said, enjoy the next chappy!

Chapter five

After finishing lunch, finally, they set off into the busy city of Kyoto. The streets were packed with the usual locals, pickpockets, and small kids in dirty Kimono's and gi's were running around the street.

Kaoru looked around her in wonder as Misao pointed out all the different buildings. Aoshi and Kenshin walked a few steps behind.

"She's nice. Is she a new employee at the Aoiya?" Kenshin asked.

"Well...no, actually..."

"Is she a friend of Kuro or Shiro?"

"Not exactly..." Aoshi said, his hand clenching into a fist.

"Omasu or Okon?"

"Unfortunately not."

"So...well I'm confused, that I am. Who is she?"

"She's...my fiancée..." Aoshi said at last.

"What?!" Kenshin was so surprised by Aoshi's engagement that he tripped over his own feet and landed flat on his face.

"Kenshin!?" Kaoru ran back and bent over him. "Are you okay Kenshin?"

"Ororor...."

"Kenshin, can you say anything else?"

Misao looked over the swirly-eyed swordsman with a small smile on her lips. She turned back to Aoshi. "What happened?" She was trying desperately to hold back her giggles.

"He was a little startled when I told him we were engaged."

There was another loud crash as Kaoru landed in a pile on top of Kenshin. Her first words were, "I'm sorry?"

Misao looked down at them. "Something wrong?"

Kenshin and Kaoru both jumped to their, faces red, eyes confused. "You two are engaged! You must be about ten years apart!" They shouted together.

"Um...yeah. So what's' the problem again? I'm lost?" Misao said, blushing furiously.

"Let's try this; How could you two be engaged!" Kaoru yelled going, if it was possible, an even deeper shade of red.

"Well...um..." Misao was at a loss for words.

"It is an arranged marriage." Aoshi said.

"Oh, well...I suppose that makes sense." Kaoru said. Then she whispered softly to herself, "It makes more sense than what was going trough my mind."

"I'm happy for you, Aoshi. And, Misao, you are a very lucky young lady, that you are." Kenshin said smiling at her.

"Arigato, Himura." Misao laughed. "Shall we continue?"

"Sure...I think I can walk again..." Kaoru stammered.

Kenshin held out his hand for her. "Take my hand, Kaoru-dono."

"O-okay." Kaoru blushed once more and took his hand.

Misao looked at them, and suddenly the whole concept of holding hands changed for her. When they were holding hands, Kenshin and Kaoru seemed closer, happier. Everyone who had ever held her hand seemed to do it to lead her through town, like a little girl was sure to get lost, or was being punished for wandering off. Not because they wanted to...

Her cheeks flushed and she ran ahead of everyone else. She put on the most convincing smile she could manage and looked back at them. "Let's get going. How 'bout we stop at the temple?"

"Sound like fun! Let's go Kenshin!" Kaoru said pulling him down the street.

The temple was crowded and noisy, as usual. Many people were praying while others chatted happily about wishes they had just made.

"Let's make a wish, Kaoru." Misao said.

"All right."

They rushed to the other side of the room and sat side by side. Misao had no idea what she was going to wish for, but since this was her idea she might as well make one. She looked around the room, hoping to find some sort of inspiration. Finally, her gaze settled on Aoshi. He was sitting with Kenshin talking about god only knows what, but it made her relies that there was something she wanted.

It took her a moment or two, but she felt wonderful when she had finished. Kaoru smiled at her. "What did you wish for, Misao?"

"You tell me first."

"I didn't wish for much. Just that things at my dojo were going a bit better. I could use some more money to fix it up, and then there's the free loaders living there. Y'know, minor things like that." She said standing up. "What about you Misao?"

"Well, this is going to sound silly and childish, but," she paused and looked in Aoshi's direction, "I wished that Aoshi-sama would smile at me from the bottom of his heart. A smile that shows her loves me and is truly ready to spend his life with me."

Kaoru looked at her. "That's all?"

Misao nodded. "That smile is the only thing that can make me go through with this wedding. I know it's silly but...it's what I want." She looked back at Kaoru. "Do you think I'm being silly?"

"No. I think it's a wonderful wish." Kaoru put a hand on her shoulder. "Are you going to tell him?"

"No! If I do that he'll just put on a smile every time we see each other, even though he doesn't want to!" Misao said. "I want him to smile when he's ready, no matter how long it takes. I can wait."

Kaoru looked at her. She knew there was some other reason Misao didn't want Aoshi to know, but she didn't push the subject. "Okay. Let's get going, I want to do the shopping for dinner tonight."

"Mind if I help?"

"Of course not."

Misao ran over to where Aoshi and Kenshin sat. "Come on Aoshi-sama. Kaoru and I need to go shopping for dinner."

"All right then. Let's go."

-----=====

"Dinner's ready, everyone!" Kaoru said, putting the food she had made on the table. Everyone just stared at the deformed rice balls. "Well, dig in. There's enough to go around."

"Aw man..." Yahiko said, reluctantly picking one up. "Couldn't we have found someone else to cook?"

Sanosuke looked at the rice ball in his hand with utter disgust. "Someone needs to teach the missy how to cook." He said.

Megumi smiled at them. "Maybe I should go whip up some better food." She said, plowing her fingers through her hair.

Kaoru's face turned red with fury, as it often does. "If you don't like it don't eat it, but you have to go through me to get to the kitchen!" she yelled.

Kenshin ran between them. "Now, now, that's not necessary, that it's not."

Aoshi spoke up from the corner. "You're being childish."

"Well, no one asked you!"

Omasu, Okon, and Shiro came in from the restaurant part of the Aoiya and looked around. "What's going on in here?"

"Calm down Kaoru-dono!"

"Look, Ugly's mad!"

"Who are you calling Ugly, you pointy-eyed imp!"

"Who wants miso soup?" Misao walked out of the kitchen bearing, with the help of Kuro, eleven bowls of steaming hot soup.

Smiles appeared on everyone's faces, with the exception of Aoshi and Kaoru. Kaoru glared at her. 'Show off...Now no one's going to eat my rice balls...' many thoughts of the same sort ran through her mind.

Aoshi got up and helped Misao and Kuro hand them out. It was so rare for Aoshi to even show up at a meal, let alone help with one, that most everyone uttered a small gasp.

Yahiko paid no attention and took the first sip of soup. "Wow! This is really good!" he said excitedly. "Way better than Ugly's cooking1"

Kaoru's eyes narrowed. "What was that?"

Sano was the next to try it. "Amazing! Do you think we could take you to Tokyo with us?"

Kenshin picked up his bowl and smiled. "I'm afraid we can't do that, that we can't. She's getting married sooner than later, that she is."

Sano stopped his chopsticks in midair, halfway to his mouth. "Who's she engaged to?"

Aoshi gave a small, obviously fake cough.

Sano looked at him. "You should get that cough cheeked out. Anyway, who is she engaged to Kenshin?"

Kaoru coughed this time and jerked her head in Aoshi's direction.

"You to, Kaoru? You had better not give me a cold or anything like that, I don't want to have to see that vixen everyday.

Megumi pulled on his ear. "You ahou, she's marring Shinomori."

Sano pulled away from her. "I'm sorry? I don't think I heard you correctly."

"Then read my lips. She's marring Shinomori Aoshi."

Sano dropped his chopsticks. "You..." he pointed to Misao, "and...Him...?"points to Aoshi. "good one, so who is she really engaged to?"

"My daughter is really engaged to Aoshi." A new voice joined them from the doorway.

Misao looked up and emitted a small scream. "Father! You're here!" She threw her arms around him.

"Misao-chan, are you okay? Aoshi-sama wrote me and told me the attack."

"It was nothing. I'm fine now."

"Then let's head home."

"All right."

"Oh wait! Misao, could you help out here at the Aoiya for a while? We'd love it if you could."

"I'd love to. I'll see you guys later." She waved good bye to Kenshin and the gang, and more importantly, to her future husband. Then she turned back to her father. "Let's go home."

-----=====

There yeh go! So, since I'm tired of calling him Misao's father, Misao's father's first name will be revealed next chappy. Only problem is that I cannot think of a name for him, or have forgotten his real name. If any of you have any ideas please tell me, cause I'm at a loss. Here's my shout out to my reviewers:

Oniwabanshu: I'm looking forward to the end to. If only I knew what it was...

Spirit Demon: Loved your last story! Look forward to more of your writing.

Cookie6: Glad you like it! I'll update soon.

virtual white tiger: Well...um...What am I suppose to say, but I need a little more than "...I honestly don't know what to say..." Do you like it? Do you hate it? I need info!

So, those are my reviewers. That was chapter five. And this is me saying that if you read this, then review, because it is rude to read and not review! I'll up date ASAP.