Disclaimer: I regret to inform all of you that I do not own Rurouni Kenshin or its characters, although I do own any created characters that my imagination comes up with.

**************************

Chapter 3 – And It Begins

**************************

Author's Notes: This chapter will be told in Misao's point of view.

"But Kenshin!! It's not fair!!"

I watched as my redheaded brother opened the door and started to walk out. It definitely was not fair. Here I had to cook dinner and do my unfinished homework. Then again, it was my fault from the beginning. Maybe if I hadn't spent my hours watching television and had done my homework once I got home from school…like Kenshin…then I wouldn't be in this situation to begin with.

But again, I just had to try. "Pleeeeaasssse Kenshin! Can't you cook for me just once! Pleeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaassssssssee!"

I grinned inwardly. I knew this would work. There was no way that Kenshin would turn me down after I began to beg. No way in hell.

"Sorry Misao. I'm leaving." And then he shut the door right in my face.

Ugh!! The nerve of him. Knowing I had lost the battle, I slumped down into the sofa and drooped. It was just not fair. I looked over at the television. It was still on. I completely forgot about it.

"Well, its six o'clock Misao. If you know what's good for you, you better get going on your work before your up till midnight trying to finish whatever." I told myself. Just as I was about to turn off the television, a special commercial caught my eye. I watched it with wide eyes…………then grinned. Well, at least I wouldn't have to cook dinner anymore.

Wasting no time, I picked up the telephone and dialed the number on the television.

"Hi. Akabeko? Yes, I would like to order your special for today that's only two yen. Yeah, uh huh. Ok, yes, I would like to have it delivered as well." After giving the restaurant my address, I congratulated myself for a job well done. Kenshin would never know the difference. And if he did………oh well. Now on to homework. However, I still don't understand how Kenshin finished it so quickly when he didn't even take notes.


Yeah, you would think that I would be mad at the fact that Kenshin would be using my notes. Then you don't know me that well. Kenshin is the only good aspect my life still has. I live because of him and love him dearly. I wouldn't mind sharing my notes with him if he asked. But he didn't even ask me. I swear, that brother of mine has some kind of telephoto memory or something.

Ok, now I'm wasting time. Let's see. First question:

"What is the square root of fifty-six multiplied by seventy? Leave it in rational form."

I stared at the question blankly for a few minutes. Was this in another language, or what? I don't know how to do this. Hmm………let's see where Kenshin put his homework. I'll just take a little peek as to exactly how he did the problem, hehehe.

It was about seven-thirty when I finally finished my homework. Heh, you wouldn't know, but I jumped liked crazy after finishing that last algebra problem. Math is definitely not my subject.


I looked out the window and still saw no sign of Kenshin. By now, I was used to him being gone for an hour or two, but that never stopped me from worrying about him. I shrugged and decided to step outside myself for some fresh air. The food from the Akabeko wouldn't arrive till eight, which meant I had a whole thirty minutes to myself. Perfect.

I quickly slipped on some sandals and started walking around. Ever since we moved here, I haven't had the chance to actually look around town and observe it. Now that I take a look, I noticed the beautiful scenery around. There was a gorgeous park only five minutes away from our apartment. A perfect place to train or just hang out. As I began walking towards the park, I spotted some kinds hanging our by the pond.

Hiding behind a tree, I sneaked a peek at them. They actually were kids from my class. I instantly noticed Kaoru staring out at see in bliss as two of her friends where quietly chatting to each other – the rooster head guy and the girl that looked like a fox from a distance. I smiled sadly at them, envying them for their closeness in friendship. I always wondered how it would be to have friends like that. But then again, I have Kenshin. Why am I so sad? I silently began to walk away, not caring where my feet were taking me.

Don't get me wrong, Kenshin is great. But I wish I had some "close" friends like that. I fell a tear fall from my face, but quickly wiped it away. If I didn't get back soon, Kenshin would start to worry, and plus, the delivery guy from the Akabeko might leave.

Because I was looking at the ground while I was walking (I know a lot of people who do that), I had no clue where I ended up. All I know was that right in front of my eyes was the person of my dreams. Once again, I quickly hid behind the nearest bush and spied on him.

I remember his name clearly. Aoshi Shinomori. How could one forget a name like that? Mysterious, but a certain ring to it. I watched him carefully. Because he was training, I couldn't get a good look at his face, but damn, what he taller than I thought he was, and did I mention good-looking as well? I felt myself drool and quickly slapped myself mentally. I had to get back………but I didn't know how. Well I guess I had to introduce myself one way or another, right?

Gathering up all the courage I had, I walked out into the field where he was training. He was holding two swords, one bigger than the other. I think they were kodachies or something. "Umm………hi?"

I don't think he heard me because he did not stop swinging his blades. I guess I didn't speak loud enough. "Hiya." This time I know I spoke audibly.

Yet again, Aoshi did not stop. Was this guy deaf or something? "HELLO!"

He suddenly stopped. 'Finally.'

"I heard you the first time Misao."

If you could have seen my face, it would have been in a state of shock. He knows my name. I didn't know whether to be glad or mad. "How do you know my name?"

"We're in the same class, aren't we?"

Before I knew what I was doing, I nodded. I opened my mouth to say something but nothing came out. What was I suppose to say? Wasn't I going to ask him something? Damn! I forgot.

He finally turned around, and for the first time ever, I saw his face. If I would have died right then and there, I would have been the happiest girl on Earth. Words could not describe him. His eyes were the most beautiful shade of blue I've ever seen and his lips………I wonder how they would feel………ahhhh! 'Going to far Misao. You just met him. Relax.'

Relax? How can I relax when Aoshi is right in front of me?

"Do you want to join me for some tea? I brought some extra, if you like?"

I think I did die and went to heaven. Did Aoshi just ask me to join him for tea? I don't even like tea, but if it's with Aoshi, who cares? For some reason, my eyes traveled to the watch on my wrist and read the time – five minutes to seven.

My brain finally started up again as I remembered dinner and Kenshin. And what I was supposed to ask Aoshi.

I couldn't believe I was going to do this. "Sorry Aoshi. I, uh, have to get back home. You know, dinner. And I don't want my brother to worry. But, I was wondering if you could tell me where the red apartments are located. Uh, I'm kinda lost."

He simply pointed to the left. I nodded and oddly walked quickly out of there. Once out of his sight, I stopped and cursed myself. All I know is – that food from the Akabeko better be some damn good grub. If not, then someone is going to feel the wrath of Misao Makimachi-Himura.

I finally found my way home and stomped into my apartment, fuming mad. There Kenshin was, sitting lazily on the couch, watching television. He looked at me, probably saw my raging emotion of anger, and started to open his mouth, no doubt to ask me what happened.

"Don't…even…ask…Kenshin."

And that subject quickly came to a close. Kenshin still had a look of worry over me, but I simply waved my hand, telling him to forget about it.

Just then, the doorbell rang. Oh yeah, the Akabeko food. Like I said before – it better be good.

I opened the door, expecting to find the delivery guy at least a teenager. But I looked down and saw a boy, no older than ten or eleven. He had wild, dark brown hair with matching dark brown eyes.

"You got to be kidding? You can't be the delivery boy. You're not older than eleven!" I exclaimed at him.

This seemed to hit a fuse inside him because I could have sworn I saw him boiling. "Shut up busu! If I want your opinion, I'll ask for it. Now, are you going to pay me or what?"

'Busu?' "Why you little son of a…………"

"Here you go." Out of nowhere, Kenshin came and paid the bill. Well, I suppose I should thank him. Who knows what I would have done if Kenshin hadn't come.

Still, I needed to know the delivery boy's name. So I could always file a lawsuit or something. "Hey kid, what's your name?"

The little boy just stared at me for a full minute before rolling his eyes. What in the world was he thinking? Better not be anything with "busu," or else.

"Yahiko. And don't you forget it………busu." And with that, he took the money in Kenshin's hand and ran away.

Oh my god. Kami help me. If that kid would have stayed another second, he would have been dead. But I decided to say bye anyway. "Ok Yahiko-CHAN! Bye!"

As I closed the door, I thought I heard him say, "Don't call me –chan!" I giggled anyway.

I turned around, only to find Kenshin staring directly at me. I gasped. I had completely forgotten that Kenshin expected me to make dinner rather than order it. We had never ordered dinner from a restaurant before. Who knew what kind of reaction he would have.

"You know, we could have eaten there if you had preferred. You could have just asked me."

And with that, he walked into the kitchen. "Better hurry up before it gets cold Misao."

I walked into the kitchen and sat on the table while my brother set everything up. "Well Kenshin!" I emphasized. "I remember me asking you to cook dinner. How come you didn't do it then?"

He looked at me straight into my eye with his mysterious violet eyes. "You know that's a completely different story Misao."

I pouted. "Pwweeeaassse Kenshin. Just once, so I can at least taste your cooking."

I thought he would finally give in as I saw him thinking about it. "Maybe Misao, maybe. But just don't get your hopes up, that you don't."

I smiled and nodded as I started to eat the food from the Akabeko. Wow! This food is great. Well, I suppose the Akabeko got lucky this time. Next time, I won't be leaving Aoshi, especially if I have to face that brat of a delivery boy again.

Taking a look at Kenshin, he was happily eating as well. But since I knew him for so long, and so well, I knew he had something else on his mind.

"So Kenshin, where'd you go earlier today?"

"Train." he said nonchalantly, all the while sipping Miso Soup.

If I wanted to know what was occupying his mind, I had to dig further. I quietly ate as I thought about the activities that Kenshin did the whole day. I grinned devilishly as I remember one event that would surely get him to spill the beans.

"Hey Kenshin, you sure all you did was train?"

"Yep."

"You sure you didn't go see Kaoru."

Bingo! The minute I mentioned her name, Kenshin spit out whatever he had in his mouth and onto the wall. "What? Kaoru? No way. What in the world does she have to do with anything?"

Yep, I got him where I want him. "Well, I remember a certain event today in school when Kaoru and you had a "little" collision, right?"

I saw Kenshin starting to get nervous. "There is nothing going on between Kaoru and myself. It was just a collision."

Oooo, his first big mistake. "Hey! I never said anything about a relationship between you and Kaoru. Is there something going on between you two and I should know about, Kennie?" I knew the nickname that our neighbor's granddaughters' gave him would help break him open.

"What? Yeah, no! I mean no, of course not."

I smiled as I continued my onslaught. "And if my memory serves me right, Kenshin – the fourteenth apprentice of the omnipotent Hiten Mitsurugi Style – bumped into someone? I think not."

"Misao, why are you doing this to me?" he asked, almost begged in a degree

"For fun Kenshin, why else? And plus, I just want to know what's happening with my big brother and all. So, are you going to tell me the truth or what?"

I watched him for a minute as he seemed to argue with himself on whether to let me know the truth or not. However, I knew his answer would be………

"Fine, Misao. I'll tell you."

…yes. He finally surrendered. It was only a matter of time before he did. I adjusted myself comfortably in my chair as I opened my ears to him.

"Misao……you know I'm never very good with words. Anyway, its just……well……Kaoru intrigues me." And he actually blushed, although it was a light hue.

"Intrigues?" I asked, very intrigued myself in Kenshin's explanation.

"Yeah. From what I heard about her, she's different than any ordinary girl. For beginners, I'll tell you she's beautiful……no more than that. Angelic, in my eyes at least. I'm not sure if its love, who knows. But she's interesting. For example, I overheard some kids talking about her and how she's the only girl on the Swordfight Team. This fact alone already got me interested in her."

I was shocked. I never knew my brother had a side like this inside himself. I nodded, telling him that I understood everything he said so far and at the same time, told him to continue.

He took a deep breath. "She's not like those materialistic girls, who just want to be popular and be rich. She's like you, in a way. She seems to care for the person on the inside; she's sincere, honest, beautiful…………innocent, in some ways."

I smiled. That was the second time he referred to her as beautiful. Who would have thought that Kenshin – MY brother – would fall so easily for this one girl? And that fact that Kenshin said she had characteristics like me gave me even more reasons to smile. "How do you know all of this when you said a total of two words to her?" I just had to know how he found out.

"I gathered what I heard around school and put it all together." he simply stated.

"Well Kenshin, you always know that I could always help."

"No!" I was taken aback at his rapidness to answer negatively. "I'm sorry Misao, but I prefer to do this alone, if you know what I mean. I'll ask for your help if I need it."

I smiled as I walked up to my brother and hugged him. I guessed he had a questionable look on his face when I did, because it took him a second or two to return the hug.

"What was that for?" he asked.

"For finally opening up to me, after what? Like years or so."

He smirked as he threw a washcloth at me. "Yeah, well. Don't get used to it, that you shouldn't. As for dishes. I set up dinner, now you wash it."

It took me awhile to assimilate what he said. "What!? KENSHIN! You can't do this to me!!!! I ordered it in the first place!"

"So, I paid for it, that I did."

"Yeah…but………ugh! FINE!"

I don't care. I was happy. Kenshin actually opened up to me, even if it was about someone else. Now that I think about it, I wonder if Kaoru feels anything towards Kenshin. She did have this weird look on her face of longing and adoration when Kenshin left after they bumped into each other. Oh well, it'll be fun to see how this will all turn out. Hopefully for the better.

I wonder how Kenshin would react if I told him that I thought Aoshi was one good looking guy. ……………oh my god! I completely forgot that I still was supposed to be mad because I couldn't join Aoshi for tea. I wonder if he's still out there. Well, there's one way to find out.

I looked down and saw no more dishes to be cleaned. Quickly taking off the apron and fixing my braided hair, I told Kenshin that I was going to step out for ten or fifteen minutes. Of course, he told me to be careful and all. By now, I was used to his worrying.

Running towards the park, I tried to retrace the steps that I took to where Aoshi was training. It was getting dark and getting harder to see as well. I dimly spotted the pond where Kaoru and her friends were sitting earlier today. Obviously, they weren't there anymore. Now I knew where I was and quickly took the direction I did earlier.

And there he was – still there – still training as well. I smiled as I watched him perform some technique that was foreign to me. Still, Kenshin could probably wipe the floor with Aoshi if he tried. But I didn't care.

"Uh, hiya, again."

Once again, Aoshi paid no attention to me. "Hello?"

I got the same fruitless result the second time. Ugh! The nerve of men! "HELLO!"

Like earlier today, Aoshi stopped once again at my third try. "You know. I heard you the first time."

I shrugged as I carefully walked towards him. He was watching me carefully, I could tell, even though I wasn't looking in his eyes, but towards the ground. "Uh, I was wondering……well, if……I could have a rain check………for tea?" I shut my eyes closed instantly. I probably just made a total fool of myself for asking him for a rain check.

I stood there for Kami knew how long when Aoshi finally spoke. "Uh, ok."

I looked up and smiled brightly at his look of uncertainty across his face. He probably would have never expected me to come back and ask him for a "rain check." Hehe, what I smart move I just made.

"Okay. So, how does tomorrow? Same time, you know. Around six thirty or so?"

However, to my surprise, Aoshi shook his head. "Sorry, I'm not going to be here tomorrow. I only come to this park once a week."

"Oh." I managed to force a slight smile upon my face at the thought. 'Just great. I managed to miss having tea with Aoshi this week.' Then another idea popped into my brilliant mind.

"How about next week then? Same time also."

Aoshi just nodded as I kept my smile across my lips. "Ok, so……I guess I'll see you then? Ok, bye now."

I turned around to leave, only to find myself lost once again. I smiled sheepishly as looked over to Aoshi as he pointed to the left………once again. 'Better keep that in mind.' I raced out of the park and headed for my apartment, when a thought crossed my mind.

Did this count as a date or what?

Author's Notes: I know I forgot to do this last chapter and to tell you guys the truth, I don't do this often, but let me thank my earlier reviewers:

Kimiko5, blackshadow, BillabongBob3, Misao Mei Mei, kenshin fan, flyinangel777, Lingoddess, dark hope1, missaw, mayabf93, moomoo-chan, Eli-Chan/THE Sock Princess, merlegirl, chocolatetiger23

I heartily thank you for all your support you have given me in writing this fic. You are the reasons why I write and why I'm still in this business.

Anyway, about this chapter - I put in some fluff……sort of, to get things started. I intend for this to be a long fic, and to tell you guys the truth, I don't even know how long.

I'm in the process of writing the next chapter also, so that'll be in some time next week as well. And FYI, next chapter will be in Kaoru's standpoint.

So I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and remember to REVIEW! Thanx!

vindemon64