Chapter 2-- Smiles, phones, and sarcasm
By: Ochako107
Standard Disclaimer
Aoshi sat at the table the following morning. He boiled a pot of water to prepare himself some tea as he looked out the window.
"Another day… another crime… another lonely morning…" He muttered as he ran a hand through his slick hair. He glanced at the phone and the small yellow sticky note attached to it reading Misao's phone number. "Maybe I should… no. It's a bit too early and she's probably still sleeping." He glanced at the clock; it read 10:30 AM. "Yeah, it's too early. Maybe I'll take a shower, and then I'll call her."
He picked up his steaming cup of tea and walked to the bathroom to shower. As he finished showering, drying, dressing, and combing his hair, he looked at himself in the mirror. His icy blue eyes pierced right back at him. Why couldn't he smile? It felt… nice chuckling last night when Misao was there.
Aoshi moved one side of his mouth up. 'That's it, now do the other…' He tried his best but it seemed stuck in his usual seriousness. Feel frustrated he put his hands on his dresser and got closer to the mirror, using all his concentration on trying to smile. It began to wobble a bit. 'Come on…smile damn you… smile…'
RING!
'Damn you! You've been standing here for ten minutes and you can't even curl your freakishly straight lips! You're hopeless, Shinomori.' His mind scolded him. 'I know dead people who can smile more than you.'
He dashed for the phone, his lips serious as always. "Next time I'll smile… I hope." He picked up the phone and cleared his throat lowering his voice an octave. "Moshi moshi?"
"Good morning, Aoshi!"
'Ah, so it is the non-stop grinning idiot redhead.'
"How is your morning?"
"…" 'Riiiight, now he's trying to have a conversation.'
"REALLY? That sounds great! Everything sounds fine over there de gozaru! Kaoru-dono-- ow! I mean… Kaoru," Kaoru nodded her head in approval, "was wondering who my partners were whom I work with. She wants to meet you and Sanosuke, is that all right? I understand if you don't want to de gozaru yo."
"… Um well…" He side glanced at the sticky note reading Makimachi Misao. A mental image of her laughing face infested his mind.
"… Does this involve that young lady we met last night?" Kenshin whispered almost mockingly.
Aoshi answered almost too quickly. "No."
"You are not lying to this one right, Aoshi?"
"…" 'Stop poking around you idiot!'
Kenshin released a sigh and put a hand into his pocket noticing Kaoru's glare. She was waiting expectantly for Kenshin to say something. 'Okay, I don't want Kaoru to hurt me today… It's an important one too! I can't be beaten up so make something up fast!' 'Hey, give me some slack here, you slave driver, I only have one brain.' 'Psh, well get on with it.'
"Ah… I see. You are not feeling well de gozaru ka? Really now?"
Aoshi leaned on the counter side while raising an eyebrow as he listened to Kenshin ramble. 'And who the hell is he talking to? I knew he had issues but gez. Talking to yourself is another thing…'
"Yes… Yes…" Kenshin looked to his roommate apologetically. "I see, well feel better Aoshi-san. I hope you have a good day and meet Kaoru another day."
'Oh, a diversion. I guess I don't give Kenshin enough credit sometimes.' "Thank you, Himura."
"You're welcome and please take care de gozaru." Kenshin whispered into the receiver as he hung up. He turned to his roommate and grinned politely. "Would you like to have a picnic with this one instead? I'm sure you will meet my partners some day de gozaru yo." Kaoru laughed and shook her head as she walked past Kenshin.
"I'll go find a picnic basket."
He began packing small boxes for their outing, just the two of them this time.
Aoshi silently thanked Kenshin again while hanging up the reciever. He glanced at the clock; it read 11:44. "Maybe she's still sleeping. Yeah…" He sat down across from the phone on his black leather couch, waiting patiently. "Just wait an hour and then call."
Three minutes passed and it was driving Aoshi up the wall. 'Just call her!' 'But what if she didn't really want me to call?' 'Then she wouldn't have given you her number, ahou.' 'It could be a fake number.' 'We'll never know.' He argued in his head.
He got up and coolly yet collectedly got up and stood before the phone. "Here goes nothing." 'Damn straight.'
"What a jerk." Misao said to herself. All morning since eight o'clock, she had lied on her bed staring at the ceiling in her yellow matching pajamas, clutching her cordless phone to her chest. "The least he could have done was not lead me on like that. But… he was quite sincere though. He even bid me good night. That doesn't give him an excuse to not call me though! For once I took a risk, and it sucks!" She threw a pillow at the wall to release some frustration.
She took the phone, gripping it tightly and held it right in front of her face. "Ring damn you… riiinnnng!"
RING!
"Ohmigosh!" Misao jumped at the loud ringing. "Stupid phone. You could have at least given me a notice." It rang again and she picked it up.
"Hello."
"Good morning, is this Misao?"
"…Yes." Misao pretended to sound bored but inside she was jumping for joy. "Who is this?"
"Aoshi. The officer from yesterday night?"
"Oh… it's you, Aoshi, riiiiiight." 'Like I didn't know by your voice all ready! AHHH! He actually called me!'
'Why does she sound so… mad?' "So, I was wondering if you'd like to…" He looked out the window and saw two children skipping down the sidewalk. "Go to the park with me today. We could get to know one another."
"Well I guess."
"Sure?"
"Positive, thanks."
I'll see you there in ten."
"Yeah sure… okay. Bye."
"Good bye, Misao."
Misao thought she hung up the receiver when she began screaming and jumping on her bed like a mad woman. "YES! YES! I'M GOING OUT WITH THE HOTTEST GUY EVER AND HE'S TAKING ME TO THE PARK! AHHHHHHHHHH! HOW ROMANTIC!"
Aoshi, on the other end of the phone, was wide eyed, but hung up before he could here anything else Misao would blurt out. Yes sir… she was one unusual lady.
Aoshi leaned on the tall oak tree in the front of the part. He dressed in black pants, a dark blue shirt, and a beige trench coat. There came Misao around the corner, waving happily. He gawked.
She was in a mini skirt, a yellow tank top, and a black leather jacket. "Hello there, Aoshi." She said almost in a whisper. Aoshi gulped and prayed she was real, and it wasn't a dream.
"Hellllo? Aoshi?" Misao waved a hand in front of the day dreaming officer.
"Oh! Eh… hi Misao…-dono. You look lovely today." He looked down to the blushing girl.
"Dono? You don't have to be so formal, Aoshi. Why, no one even talks like that anymore!" She swatted his arm playfully.
"Eh… aha… yeah… you're right." 'Why do I hang around Himura anyway?' "I hang around my friend Kenshin too long."
"Kenshin?"
They began walking, "Yes, he's a partner. You saw him yesterday."
"Yes, I've seen him before. He's room mates with my friend Kaoru."
"Oh… her."
"Yes, and look! There she is with Himura! HEY KA-"
Aoshi pulled Misao behind a tree and placed his large hand on her mouth. She struggled to get free which made Aoshi hug her tighter. "Be quiet, Misao." He whispered into her ear.
Kaoru turned to a noise. "Kenshin? Do you hear anything?"
"Iie, Kaoru-dono, I do not."
"I told you to stop using dono. It makes me feel so damn old" She said sweat dropping.
"It's a habit Kaoru-dono." Kaoru sighed in defeat as Kenshin handed her a small sandwich.
Misao finally stopped struggling but Aoshi didn't let go of her. He did put his hand down, off of her mouth though. "Um… Aoshi? You can um let go of me." She said blushing.
Aoshi was startled and jumped away. "Aa." 'Smooth move, she probably thinks you're a slime now.' 'Shut up, I'd trying my best!' 'Oh sure, like when you were trying to smile?' '…' 'My point exactly'
"Not that I didn't mind… you hold me or anything." There was a silence as Misao giggled and ran away from Aoshi. "Come and get me Aoshi! You slow poke!"
He looked at her childish antics and side glanced Kenshin and Kaoru. Maybe they wouldn't see him. Besides, Misao is challenging him; he never backs down. Taking one more glance at his partner, Aoshi took off in pursuit of the little weasel girl.
In a heart beat, they saw Aoshi sprinting away from a tall oak tree right behind them.
"Oro! Is that Aoshi?" Kenshin asked as Kaoru too turned around.
"I thought you said he was sick you liar!" She bopped him on the head and threw her sandwich at him.
"Orororo... "
Aoshi knew Kenshin and Kaoru had seen him, but decided not to turn back. He ran faster and faster away almost catching up with Misao.
Misao laughed hysterically as she collapsed on the soft grass trying to catch her breath. Panting she looked up at Aoshi's figure running towards her. "Wait wait!"
Aoshi looked around. 'Where did she go? I swore she was right in front of me.' It was too late. He tripped over Misao who screamed and fell next to her.
Misao doubled over in laugher. "Ow, ow, ow." She gasped. "It hurts. I, laugh, it, hurts." She began rolling over to get on her knees. She brushed her bangs away from her face and glanced at Aoshi with a sigh.
He was not happy. Need a list?
Going out with Misao; good.
Her being fun to be with; good.
Misao being beautiful; also good.
Himura seeing him chase after Misao; bad.
Him tripping over the cute weasel; the worst thing ever.
His face was icy as ever as he picked himself up and turned over so he was in a sitting position. "I'm sorry, Misao."
"Maa, its okay, Aoshi. I know you didn't mean it." She patted his hand and smiled. "But I do mean this!" She jumped him and began poking his ribs, tickling him. 'Where did she get all this energy?'
Kaoru and Kenshin went in search of Aoshi. "Kenshin, why did you lie to me? You could have just told me he didn't want to." They climbed over a hill.
"This one is afraid Kaoru-dono would be disappointed. This one doesn't want to disappoint you de gozaru yo…" He looked down in shame as they walked down the hill.
"Kenshin no baka! You never disappoint me! I just … nothing. I don't know."
"Ow, ow, ow. It hurts. I, laugh, it, hurts." They heard a young women pant.
"WHAT?!" Kenshin and Kaoru screamed. They began walking quickly and found Misao and Aoshi on the grass. "Oh…" Kaoru blushed red. "Never mind! I thought… never mind." Kenshin too was trying to hide his embarrassment from the bad thoughts.
Kaoru looked on with interest as she noticed the male Misao was crawling all over. "Wow. Is THAT your partner?"
"Oro? Yes, that is Aoshi."
"He's HOT."
"…"
"And that's Misao! Misaooo! Over here!" Misao stopped her antics and looked up at Kaoru.
"Hey, Kaoru!" She jumped up, her skirt swishing around her petite legs. Aoshi sat up and just stared at Misao's back. He finally rose to his feet and walked over to where Kenshin, Kaoru, and Misao stood.
Kaoru turned to Aoshi giving Misao a sly smirk. "THIS is the guy you said was hot? And stopped you over the road to ask your number?" She stared at him with glassy eyes. "Mou! You never said he was THIS good looking!"
Misao blushed as red as Kenshin's hair and smoothed her outfit. "Hi, Kenshin." At the moment, Kenshin was just glaring at Aoshi. "Kenshin?" She waved a hand in front of Kenshin. "ARE YOU LISTEN-"
"Yes, Misao-dono. Aoshi. Let me talk to you, alone." The taller man nodded and left the two girls.
"What is it, Himura?"
"I do not appreciate you… well being here."
"How was I to know you and Kamiya would be here?"
Kenshin sighed. "To tell you the truth… I was planning on… um… asking Kaoru-dono's to… I was going to pop-"
BEEP BEEP!
Kenshin sighed and picked up his beeper. "Aa… Aoshi, Sano needs you at the office."
"But it's my day off."
"Yes, but Sano is saying '911' so it must be important de gozaru."
"I guess I'll have to put a rain check on Misao and my date."
"Oh… so now you're on a 'date'?" Kenshin smirked.
"And what are YOU on, Himura? Drugs?"
"Aoshi and Misao…sitting in a tree…" Kenshin laughing out loud.
"Shut up pink boy. How old are you again? I could have sworn you were three."
"I'm older than you and my shirt is NOT pink, it's magenta! And… well, Kaorupickeditout."
"Ha, got that frightening girl picking out your outfits now? Oh, and it's still pink." Kenshin didn't say anything and left to find his Kaoru-dono. Aoshi sighed and followed his former partner.
Misao was sitting by the lake swinging her legs gently, while gazing over the lake, watching the baby ducks swim across. The breeze flew through her stray tresses as the warm sunlight glittered the azure lake. He stared at the perfect picture of his Misao. 'Wait, MY? So when did she become mine?'
"Aoshi?" Misao turned to him and straightened up.
"Misao, I'm sorry, but we'll have to cut our…"
"Date?" She whispered. Why did she have to be so darn cute?
"Aa, date. We'll have to cut it short. I'm needed at the office."
"Wai! Can I come, please?!" Her sultry mood swung back into its hyperactive childish fiasco once again and all the ducks suddenly flew away. "I'd like to see Sano since I haven't talked to the baka rooster head in so long."
"You call him rooster head?"
"Of course! I GAVE it to him!" She laughed while tugging on Aoshi's hand towards the park's exit.
'What a small world…' Aoshi thought as Misao and he left the park.
"Kaoru-dono?" Kenshin walked around in circles calling Kaoru's name. "Kaoru-dono? Where are you!"
He walked beyond shrubs and found Kaoru batting away a figure. "GET OFF ME YOU HENTAI!"
"Aw come on sweetie, just a little smooch, hehe." That earned him a hard smack on the face from the angry girl. "OW! YOU STUPID WHO-"
Kenshin rushed in and pulled Kaoru behind him. "Go away, she's MINE." His eyes flashed amber. "You do not want to touch her again." He kicked the man's ass royally, earning him an evil grin from Kaoru. He scampered away like a dog with his tail between his legs.
'Booh ya! That's what I'm talking about!' 'Violence is not the answer!' 'Who cares, look, she's happy, we're happy, everyone is happy.' 'Freak rapiers in parks… what is this world coming to?'
"KENSHIN!"
"Oro?" Kaoru glomped the redhead and they fell to the ground.
"You're such a cutie you know? Thank you thank you!" Suddenly she hit him on the head. "BUT I COULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF HIM MYSELF YOU KNOW!"
"Well, it seems I can't leave you without some thug gawking at you, Kaoru." He chuckled.
"What did you call me?" She never got her answer as Kenshin pulled her in and kissed her hard on the lips. "Ken… shin…" She said in between kisses.
"Kamiya Kaoru?" Kenshin broke from her and stared into her eyes. "We've known each other for… well who knows how long. And I have been meaning to ask you…" He stopped very nervous to pop the question. "Would… I mean… would you?" He fumbled with a box. "Go out with this o-" Kaoru gave him a glare. "…me?"
"Yes." Kaoru sniffed. He smiled wide and slipped the promise ring onto her finger.
"So… what you said about Aoshi." His lips were set firm.
"I was just complementing Misao, Kenshin. You are way hotter than Aoshi." Before Kenshin could mutter an 'oro' Kaoru kissed him.
'And we live happily ever after see?' 'What about Aoshi, Misao-dono, and Sanosuke?' 'Patients, just wait for the next chapter.'
Thanks to everyone who reviewed! I appreciate it all so very much! See you in the last chapter!!!!!!