Secrets in the Sun

"Damn it's hot…" Misao grumbled to herself as she pulled her white tank top from her skin and placed it over her thighs.

"That's because you haven't moved an inch."

"Eh?" Misao snapped her eyes to the person that had spoken and found the dark haired bartender cleaning up around her and collecting glasses.

"You've been sitting here for the past few hours now, randomly mumbling to yourself and still on that same pineapple juice I might add." Misao eyed her juice, which was ¾ empty and felt a flush cross over her cheeks when the bartender dragged a stool closer to hers and sat down.

"Shouldn't you be working?" Misao asked, slight nervousness coming over her at being this close to this stranger.

"Working on what? As you can see, there are no customers. So what is a fiancé like you doing out here alone?"

"F-Fiancé?" Misao squeaked out and watched the man nod in the direction of her left hand.

"That's quite an engagement ring you have there." Misao fidgeted slightly and placed her hand in her lap, the expensive diamond ring out of sight from ice green eyes. "So why are you out here by yourself?" Aoshi repeated himself.

"You ask a lot of questions." Misao watched the bartender shrug his shoulders and get up at that as he knew when he was not wanted around. Instead he moved behind the bar once more and placed all the dirty glasses on some stacking trays so other waiters or waitresses could take them back to the kitchen to be washed.

"I'm sorry." Misao blurted out as she didn't like the silence around the pool area even though echoes of several children scurrying about as they jumped into the pools could be heard.

"There is nothing to be sorry for Miss. It just seems unnatural to see such an unhappy face on someone and especially in a place like this." Misao watched the man bring his hands up to move about the tropical scenery before her eyes.

"That's true…" Misao replied and let off a light laugh. She eased her tense shoulders giving the bartender back her unfinished drink as she didn't want anymore of it.

"My name's Makimachi Misao." She finally thought it best to introduce herself, her hand out to shake the employee of the resort and watched as he took her creamy petite hand into his well tanned one.

"Mine is Shinomori Aoshi…and it's nice to see a smile on your face finally." Aoshi spoke and then went back to work as one of the mothers of some children came over to get them their milkshakes which they kept hassling her about.

Misao decided to eye the bartender carefully, observing as he tucked the tea towel he used to dry his hands with into his back pocket before he began making three milkshakes. It didn't take long before he was back over to where Misao sat, she practically twiddling her thumbs not knowing what to do on the island.

"You know, you could actually go for a swim, the water is great."

"Oh well…umm…"

"It will not kill you Makimachi-san, besides I'm sure your body might enjoy the coolness." Misao flushed once more, his words seemed to go deeper within her then what they should have. "I can keep an eye on your stuff for you, company policy after all." Misao smiled at that and handed over her tank top, sarong and placed her engagement ring into the satchel bag watching as he took the items quietly from her hands and placed it under the counter.

Misao moved to the shallow end and instead of swimming about she remained in one of the corners and sitting on a seat positioned in the water. Her eyes began to close as her body relaxed. This Shinomori Aoshi had been right, as her body loved the change in temperature.

"YAHOO!" Came a cry from above Misao as she snapped her eyes open and just in time to catch two teenagers dive bombing into the water. It was obvious (as they splashed about not caring who else was in the pool) that her relaxation was over for one day. Misao drifted her eyes over to Aoshi and watched him wipe down several tables, those leather pants of his riding low on his hips and Misao couldn't help but blush as she continued to ogle him. When Misao nearly received a foot in her face from one of the overzealous boys, she deciding it was time for her to leave the pool and placed on her flip-flops that she had walked to the pool with and headed back over to Aoshi.

"You seem bored." Misao grinned lightly at Aoshi for stating the obvious to her and then she couldn't help but carry some of the glasses back to the bar for him.

"Thanks…" He muttered and began stacking them once more.

"I work as a waitress at my grandfather's restaurant so it's no problem. Actually it's more like a habit I can't seem to break."

"I see, so what's the restaurant called?"

"The Aoiya… My gramps said it's been open for many years, even back to my ancestors and still retains its heritage like style, which is always nice to see."

"Aa…in Kyoto, I know the very restaurant." Misao darted her surprised blue eyes over at Aoshi as he didn't look up at her when he voiced that. "I've eaten there a few times when I lived in Kyoto myself. It's a nice restaurant, very friendly in fact."

"Wow, this is a small world." Misao mumbled back.

"I'm finishing shortly, would you like your own personal tour guide?" Misao couldn't have been happier as she showered Aoshi with a bright smile.

"Really? You wouldn't mind me tagging along?"

"I've had worse company." Misao couldn't help but whack him on the arm for that jab and couldn't help but feel her heartbeat lighten at this very man. He was just so different from Soujiro and everything she was used to in life. "Now, now Makimachi-san, there is no need to beat an employee. Anyway, I know cheap tourist spots so what do you say?"

"I'd love that!" Watching Aoshi nod his head Misao took her stuff back from under the counter of the bar and toweled her hair dry from one of the towels she was given by a poolside employee.

"Hiro-san, would you mind taking over for me, I'd like to leave earlier today." Aoshi spoke as he'd gone down to the poolside bar section. He observed as Hiro looked up, his eyes roaming over to where Misao was placing her sarong and tank top back on and arched his eyebrow in Aoshi's direction.

"You got it my man." He remarked and made a small whistle sound as he did so. Aoshi's thin line of his lips didn't change at all, knowing it was pointless to try and defend himself with 'its not what you think' as there had been a few rumours moving about the resort that he was quite the 'lady killer'.

"Are you ready?" Aoshi spoke having moved around the bar leaving it in Hiro's capable hands and walked beside the short young woman. He was only dressed in his leather pants and a pair of shiny black shoes. As he walked with Misao, Aoshi caught the sight of one of the poolside employees making wild gestures with his eyebrows and as they passed, with quick reflexes that could hardly be seen by the human eye the man ended up in the pool, numerous customers thinking he'd just tripped on his own feet, but Aoshi knew what it really was.

"That's not nice at all Aoshi-san." Aoshi glanced down at Misao as he guided them through reception towards the staff area so he could grab his things and was pleasantly surprised she had opted to call him by his first name.

"What are you talking about Misao-san?" He retorted back taking her first name as well…and liking how it rolled off his tongue too.

"I saw you trip him into the pool." His eyes widened slightly at her words but spoke he of nothing and instead entered the 'staff only' room, but was back in minutes with a plain white shirt (unbuttoned) and a bag slung over one shoulder.

"So where are you taking me?" Misao voiced, she feeling a certain genkiness in her voice and in her stride. She had not felt this free in spirit for a long time and loved it as she practically skipped alongside the tall man.

"To the beach, but not just any beach, it's a secret beach." Aoshi played along, this not his normal character at all and wondered why this woman had brought forth an "easier" Aoshi Shinomori he had not felt since his teenage days in Kyoto before tragedy began.

"Ah, sounds exciting!" Misao chirped happily and hummed as she followed Aoshi towards the beach.

"Wait, I know this route, my villa is just over there." Misao pouted and pointed in the direction where she was staying and her eyes grew wide when there was a low chuckle by her side.

"You really are different…you know that?" He remarked before taking her hand and guiding her down into the sand (in the opposite direction of her villa) and Misao's face pleasantly flushed as he did so. Misao followed her "tour guide" obediently and felt the cool rush of the waves against her feet and the edge of her sarong as she silently walked in the water with him, Aoshi not carrying that his socks were getting wet. Glancing her eyes down at their joined hands Misao couldn't help but feel at ease in his presence. She'd known the guy for merely hours and yet here she was holding his hand and feeling as free as a child with him. Misao lifted her eyes when she bumped into Aoshi's side, ready to apologise for not paying attention and instead gaped at the scene in front of her.

"What the hell? A freaking dead end!" She hollered and then observed Aoshi let go of her hand as he began climbing the rocks. Once he was stable on one of them he turned around, shirt billowing in the breeze as his right hand was out towards her.

"Take my hand." He softly remarked, Misao doing nothing but eyeing it silently. "I'll keep you safe Misao-san." Her heart hummed at those words, wishing to all the gods that someone (perhaps even him) would say that to her in such a loving manner that would make her burst into happy tears knowing she would be loved and cherished, but of course this was reality and reality wasn't that simple. Instead Misao decided to reach out for the broad man, her petite hand clutching his as she gasped lightly being pulled from the warm sand and onto the slippery rock surface.

"Close your eyes." Came the murmur just above her and Misao placed full trust into Aoshi as he guided her over the rocks (she cradled in his arms bridal style) as he jumped here and there, Misao shrieking every now and then thinking Aoshi was going to drop her. Once she felt the warmth of sand again Misao darted her eyes open and gasped at the scenery in front of her. This part of the island was completely deserted of any other human being. What was presented before Misao was the scent of salt in the air, the clear blue waters of the endless ocean and the soothing sounds of waves crashing against the shore. Palm trees swayed in tune to the cool breeze and Misao couldn't help but drop her bag and take of her shoes as she stepped forward, never having seen such a sight before her very eyes.

"It's like everyone says."

"Perfect one minute…paradise the next." Aoshi finished for Misao, watching her eyes turn to look up at him before she ran off, her footprints digging into the sand and her laughter mixing with the breeze as she twirled about the place. Aoshi placed his bag on the ground beside Misao's and bent to take his shoes and socks off. After that he headed off after the freely skipping Misao and sat down in the dry sand to watch her antics. It wasn't long before Aoshi turned his face to the sky, the sun shining on his tanned features as it lowered to the horizon. In wasn't long before the sun was blocked by Misao's shadow and Aoshi jerked his eyes open when cool water was splashed in his face, Misao having cupped some in her hands and walked carefully over to do her deed. She laughed gaily, Aoshi feeling his heart twitch slightly at the carefree way she acted around him before his lips turned into a small grin.

"I'll get you back for that." Aoshi remarked as he took off his shirt and dumped it on the sand beside him.

"Oh yeah, how would you…AH!" Misao shrieked as unsuspectingly she was thrown over Aoshi's shoulder as he ran to the ocean and dumped her effectively in it, he now knee deep in the water himself. Misao came up spluttering, hands brushing thick bangs from her eyes before she began splashing the barman effectively.

XxXxXxX

Time passed, the sun now half set as Aoshi trudged the both of them over the rocks and back to "civilization". Landing effortlessly in the sand Aoshi placed Misao on her own two feet and silently began heading for the lights of the villas and the resort.

"I had a great time." Misao spoke, her hands clutching the white shirt around her as Aoshi had given it to her to ward off the sudden chill in the air.

"And it was cheap, don't forget that." He remarked as they headed up the pathway, it breaking off in three ways to head for certain numbered villas or straight to the resort.

"Aoshi-san I really wa-"

"Misao-chan!" Two pairs of eyes snapped in the direction that voice came from as Soujiro came rushing over, a very unpleasant look on his face.

"Where have you been, I've been worried sick!" He remarked while pulling Misao to him not liking the tall man in front of him one bit.

"I was walking around with my tour guide." Misao remarked, feeling herself pry her hand away from her partners.

"Do all tour guides walk around dressed like that?" Soujiro remarked as the stress of the first day here was wearing thin on him.

"Actually I usually walk around naked, but Makimachi-san paid me not too." Aoshi was non too pleased that this guy was trying to size him up and down as though he was not good enough to be in Misao's or his own presence. It didn't help Soujiro's behaviour when Misao laughed aloud at this man's words as she pulled her partner away.

"Come on Sou, let's get going alright?" Aoshi watched the two of them leave, his frown deepening on his face as he headed for his own home and without his white shirt too.

XxXxXxX

Stepping inside the villa Misao had to listen to Soujiro ramble on and on about how unpleased he was with her.

"He's just a barman Sou and he was only joking as well."

"I thought you said he was a tour guide?"

"He's both in fact." Misao spoke as she headed into the bathroom to untie her tangled hair so she could wash it.

"Why would you wander alone with him of all people?"

"I asked to join him and I was lucky that he allowed me to. You know I'm not good with English and so when he finished work he showed me around the beach. I'm glad he didn't mind another Japanese person being around him. Besides, where is the harm in that?" Misao hated arguing with Soujiro. In the end she would always say 'I'm sorry, you were right', but tonight she wouldn't dream of relinquishing herself to him like that. For once she had been free of any thoughts and actually had fun and no one was going to take that away from her, not even her fiancé.

"It seems a little suspicious to me Misao, you aren't even wearing your ring!" Misao snapped her eyes to her finger, it actually being true and smacked her head at her stupidity. Stepping out of the bathroom Misao sat on the bed behind Soujiro and threw her arms around him, her head resting against his.

"I went swimming today, I didn't want to ruin it…or loose it for that matter. Look I'll shower, place it back on and then we can go for a nice walk along the beach. When was the last time you looked up at the stars?"

"Alright…" Misao smiled as Soujiro had for once agreed with her suggestions and so she headed off, hair falling past her pert bottom as she closed the bathroom door to take a nice warm shower.

Xxx Time Passes xxX

"Alright Sou, I'm ready so lets…" Staring at Soujiro Misao found him dead asleep and she sighed as she walked on over to him. His laptop was still on, but he was resting against the headboard of the bed and lightly snoring. Sighing lightly Misao saved his work and turning off the laptop to place it on the small table in the corner of the villa and threw the sheets over him.

"Good night Sou…" Misao mumbled and headed out of the villa, not needing to lock the door because he was there and headed down to the beach herself. Standing at the shore, the calmness of the water was bliss to Misao as she dug her feet into the sand. She was wearing a plain blue spaghetti strapped dress with a certain white shirt over the top. Not even Soujiro had realized that it didn't even belong to her. As Misao walked off, heading left this time, she clutched at the material, the musk scent floating towards her senses.

XxXxXxX

"Misao-san what are you doing out this late?" Snapping her eyes up Misao found herself right in front of Aoshi…a very lesser dressed Aoshi at that. Misao stared around, not a single villa (except the one positioned behind Aoshi) from the resort was in sight as she had wondered off on her own.

"I'm sorry, when I ponder I begin to walk off by myself and just randomly end up somewhere." Misao then darted her eyes about the place as she tried not to ogle Aoshi in nothing but a white fluffy towel.

"It's a bit cool, come on inside." Aoshi remarked from the porch of the villa and with hesitant steps Misao ended up moving up the three steps and then inside the cozy villa as her eyes gazed about the place, she noticing a lot of ornaments and pictures of Japan hanging from hooks or on shelves.

"This place is secluded from the other villas, numerous employees live on the resort, but I'm the only one out this far." Aoshi spoke and thought it best to actually place on some clothes as he headed into the bathroom. What he didn't realize is that as Misao moved around, she walked straight past the door, her eyes looking into the mirror to catch a glimpse of his firm buttocks before being covered by briefs and olive green shorts. With her cheeks reddening, Misao turned her attention to a particular photo with five guys and a magnificent view of mountains and scenery behind them.

"Is that…you?" Misao remarked, pointing at the black haired teenager in the picture with a low ponytail draping over his left shoulder.

"Mm, I went hiking with friends and climbed on Mt Fuji-san. It's quite an experience."

"Do you miss Japan?"

"All the time." Aoshi remarked as he sat on his bed, one leg drawn up as he placed his chin on his knee, eyes following Misao about his place as she casually eyed his belongings.

"And you've never thought about returning?"

"What is there to return to?"

"I don't know, perhaps them in the picture maybe?"

"They're dead." The villa fell silent, Misao chewing on her lip at the snappy reply from Aoshi, her eyes moving over to his shirtless form once more sitting on top of his comforter.

"I'm sorry…"

"It was a long time ago." Aoshi remarked, not liking the way the conversation had turned all of a sudden. Clearing his throat he dropped his leg to the wooden flooring and stared over at Misao, finally noticing she was wearing his shirt over a very nice casual dress that showed him her curves nicely.

"Your fiancé didn't look too pleased."

"Don't worry he was just tired that's all. I actually wanted to go for a walk, but after showering he'd already nodded off so I left him be and began walking and thinking. Such is my life I guess, always thinking, always going off on my own."

"I could walk with you." Misao's eyes darted to Aoshi at that remark. "If you would like some company that is." He continued on, but Misao shook her head negatively and instead sat on the only chair in the villa next to a small table littered with postcards from all over the world.

"Is it alright to stay here…with you?" Shyly looking up from her twisting hands in her lap, Misao watched Aoshi quietly nod his head and then turned it in the direction of where a kettle was now whistling.

"Would you like some green tea?" Aoshi questioned and began to make a pot of tea, but didn't get any further then placing the leaves into the pot before he felt a pair of hands glided up his sculptured back. Misao didn't know what had gotten into her as she turned the bartender around to face her, her hand guiding his face down to hers.

# To be continued… #

Authors Notes: Well if you would like the extended version, please come and join the ShinobiLoveAdultsOnly Mailing List as that is where the rest of it is displayed.