Do You Believe?

By: Shin Sankai

Two months had passed by as the once strangers (Aoshi and Misao) were now sitting together in the restaurant eating a light lunch.

Misao sighed lightly, her eyes moving about the beautifully decorated Aoi Restaurant as she gazed upon the soft blues, purples and whites surrounding her, Aoshi and many others in the restaurant.

The service was great, the food was even better and she was sharing the moment with the man in front of her whom she kept thinking about after New Years Day.

Sighing lightly in contentment Misao picked up her coffee and took a long sip. Spring was coming fast and Cherry Trees had already begun to bloom about the place, the calm gentle breeze trickling the blossoms to fall gracefully against cars, pedestrians and even the concrete and roads. Misao lifted her gaze from the swirling dark coffee to eye the man before her quietly.

Aoshi was calmly sitting across from her dressed plainly in a pair of khaki pants and a simple black button down shirt, two buttons open to reveal some of the hardened muscles on his upper chest. His hair still looked as smooth as silk and right at this very moment Misao couldn't help but serenely smile as she watched Aoshi quietly slurp up some noodles, her mind drifting back into the past.

Xxx Flashback xxX

Misao was humming lightly, almost having a skip in her step as she headed down the street to buy a gift for one of her friends. She'd just become engaged and Misao needed to find a gift for her as soon as possible since next week would be her engagement party.

Strolling down the streets of Tokyo Central Business District, Misao let out a small hum as she went about her business not even realising in front of her was the very man she'd broken up with Soujiro about. Yes, at first Misao tried explaining to the short man that because he was leaving anyway it was probably best to not become too attached with one another. Misao had felt this was true in her heart and Soujiro had accepted this with his usual smiling ways and they parted ways heading off in different directions. Though even days after Misao's break up with Soujiro, her mind would not forget the image of a certain 'Aoshi-san'.

One cloudy morning Misao had been sipping coffee in a little café when her eyes had lifted up at the exact time a certain someone was walking by and looking oh so sophisticated in black pants, crisp white shirt and a dark green suit jacket over the top. Even though Misao's mind told her a hundred times over to rush out there and converse with him, her body did not agree and decided to stay rooted to the spot. After the moment had passed Misao continuously regretted it.

However, on the day she was desperately trying to find the present for her now engaged friends Misao had not been paying attention on the streets as she knocked into someone and went sprawling to the pavement, several other pedestrians looking down at her but none helping her up.

'I'm terribly sorry." Misao spoke to no one in particular as she collected the messenger bag she had been loosely holding and made sure none of the contents had spilled out.

'No, I wasn't watching where I was going.' Instantly blue eyes darted up to see the tall figure looming over her and Misao's eyes widened in surprise as a finely chiseled face stared down at her with the same ice green eyes she'd come in contact with on New Years Eve/Day. Her lips parted without thought and horrifyingly nothing broke through.

'Let me help you.' Came the deep reply once more, Misao blinking her eyes at the offered hand which was now displayed in front of her before lifting her own to place it within the tall man's grasp. That mere touch had electrified Misao as she gazed upon the coolness of the man before her, also finally realising he had yet to let go of her hand.

'A-Ano…would you join me for coffee?" Misao spoke in a rushed voice, fear almost gripping her as she realised he was probably with that beautiful woman from the celebration. And with that thought in mind Misao's, eyes quickly darted about the place to see if a pair of maroon eyes were staring daggers at her.

'Aa…' Was the simple reply Misao had gotten from him and straightening out her clothing and hair Misao was ready to voice a café to go to when they both turned to where they stood, which ironically happened to be standing right in front of the Aoi entranceway.

'After you…' Aoshi had spoken as his hand was out guiding Misao inside like the gentleman she presumed he was. And that day had been the very beginning of a blossoming friendship.

Xxx End Flashback xxX

"Misao…?"

"Eh?" Misao snapped from her past thoughts and glued her eyes to Aoshi, noticing one of his eyebrows was raised and his head slightly tilted too.

"I'm sorry I was just thinking about how we met." Misao immediately responded telling him the truth. It hadn't taken long for Misao to realise that she couldn't lie to the man in front of her. He'd figured it out not too long ago that she wore her heart on her sleeve.

"So, you didn't hear a word I said?"

"I'm sorry…" Misao mumbled, an embarrassed flush gracing her cheeks as she bowed her head slightly. She hoped it wasn't anything important as every time she came to this very restaurant she couldn't help but zone out to remember how they had met. It was permanently imprinted into her memory after all and sent small butterflies to her stomach every time she thought about it.

"It's alright, I too…was thinking about it earlier." With the slight twitch at a corner of his lips, it looked like Aoshi was giving off a soft lopsided smirk and Misao's tension in her shoulders eased as she flashed him a grateful smile.

"So, what did you ask me?" Misao questioned Aoshi and observed with both eyebrows rising as he had bowed his head, as though collecting his thoughts before she was caught in his piercing gaze noticing the determination held within them.

"Misao, would yo-"

"Ah Misao-chan I thought it was you!" A woman not too far away voiced happily. Misao and Aoshi jerked their heads in the direction of the voice and watched a young woman, just a little older then Misao walk towards them hand in hand with a redhead.

"Kaoru-chan, you are back from your holiday." Misao voiced as she stood up and hugged her friend gently. "How was it?" She voiced once more letting go of her before smiling over at the redhead and giving him a light hug as well. "Looking good Himura."

"It's nice to be home…and to see you as well Misao-dono." Misao punched his arm lightly at the 'dono' suffix at the end of her name but knew Himura was Himura and he would never change. Misao finally remembered that she had company and realised blue and violet eyes were looking purposely at Aoshi as though waiting to find out whom exactly he was.

"Ah, gomen nasai, Shinomori Aoshi this is Kamiya Kaoru and her fiancé Himura Kenshin." Misao did the introductions and Aoshi stood up to shake not only Kenshin's hand but also Kaoru's as well. He also didn't miss the sly look Kaoru was giving Misao obviously realising who he was just at the mention of his name. Thoughts plagued him at what Misao spoke of him, but instantly he got his mouth moving and concentrated on the two in front of him.

"It's nice to meet you."

"Oh my, he's quite a gentleman indeed." Kaoru voiced without thinking and then blushed lightly when Misao cracked up laughing (even though she too was trying to fight a blush) while Aoshi did nothing but look unemotional as ever.

"Would you join us for drinks?" Misao questioned, all excited about her best friend returning and wanting to know how their trip was to Hokkaido and didn't catch the slight frown on Aoshi's lips as it seemed once more whatever he was going to ask her had been forgotten again.

XxxxX

An hour or so had passed, Misao excitedly talking with Kaoru about how laid back and relaxing her days were in Hokkaido while Kenshin picked up a light conversation with Aoshi about business, politics and funnily enough history and meditation.

"Oh we really should be going Kenshin, we've got to tell Genzai-sensei and that darn bratty brother of mine that we are back in town already."

"That we do." Kenshin muttered as he stood up, pulling Kaoru's chair out for her as they stood together and headed for the cashier with Aoshi and Misao in toe.

"Don't be a stranger now. You are both welcome at the Aoiya anytime." Misao contorted as she hugged the two of them once more before watching Aoshi bow his head slightly and politely voice it was nice to meet them.

While Aoshi and Kenshin switched business cards, the both of them realising that the companies they worked for were in fact partners, Kaoru sneakily moved closer to Misao to mumble her own question.

"So Misao-chan that saying we keep pestering you about, do you believe it now?"

"Aa…" Three pairs of eyes stared surprisingly up at Aoshi. "I can hear you Kamiya-san, you are standing right next to me after all." Kaoru flushed as did Misao since she knew Aoshi knew exactly what Kaoru was talking about, the both of them getting into a debate (argument) over that very saying merely weeks ago.

"Kaoru, we should be going now that we should." Kenshin voiced, his hand taking a hold of Kaoru's as he politely walked off leaving Aoshi and Misao be.

"U-Um Aoshi, what exactly were you answering to just earlier?" Staring up into his mesmerizing ice green pools, Misao had to blink several times when Aoshi's lips curled slightly into a soft hidden smile only she seemed to be able to discern as a real one.

"Must I answer that Misao when you already know what it was for?" Aoshi replied instantly back, surprising the short woman before him when he began walking off, but not for that, but because her petite hand was tucked into his own.

"I…I…"

"In the restaurant…" Aoshi interrupted Misao, glancing at her from the corner of his eyes as her lips snapped shut instantly. "I was going to ask you out…officially this time." Misao's eyes widened in shock and her lips broke into a brilliant smile that wouldn't be wiped from her face as she flung herself at Aoshi's arm, hugging it to her face and side.

"You know I'll always accept even without the official-ness." Misao murmured back, her heart thumping happily inside her rib cage.

"True, but since it is official there are certain…things…we can do together." Eyeing Misao's reaction, Aoshi smirked when her face flushed at his side, her hold on his arm growing tighter as she did so.

"Hai…" Misao whispered softly, the heat in her cheeks suppressing, but the thump of her heart was ready to burst.

"Aoshi..?" Misao softly spoke once more, her eyes looking up at Aoshi as he looked silently down at her waiting for her to finish what she wanted to say.

"I do as well…I believe too." She muttered back, that bright smile he'd witnessed just for him on New Years greeted him once more.

Pulling his hand away from Misao, she pouting slightly, but not for long as he threw his arm over her shoulders to bring her closer as a cool spring breeze blew through the streets sending cherry blossoms fluttering about them, nothing more needed to be said as the new couple strolled down the sunset streets of Tokyo.

Do you believe…?

Xxx The End xxX