3) 'Fanning' you out
By: Ochako107
Standard Disclaimer applies
Kenshin waved good bye to his last student and began walking home. It was beginning to get late and didn't want Misao walking home late by herself. He knew his sister was very good with her fists and protecting herself, but couldn't help his brotherly instincts.
Looking into the parlor the redhead thought, 'Hum, she's not here. Maybe she went home early today.' Kenshin started from home. Yet, passing by, going the opposite direction, Kaoru also started home. They missed each other like boats passing by in an open sea.
Kaoru began skipping along happy to be free. Yet, she wanted to know this girl Aoshi helped home. He's never done something like that and was curious. Suddenly, she bumped into an old woman.
"Ah! Sorry, let me help you up." Kaoru scratched her head, "Oh, I'm sorry I wasn't watching where I was going. Are you alright?" The old woman got up and dusted herself.
"It's okay dear, no harm done see? Oh! It's you!" She exclaimed remembering her sapphire eyes and raven hair. "Poor Kenshin, he kept looking for you, you know? He quit at the shop though and works at the local dojo now. You should visit him. Well, I must go now. Bye, sweetheart!" And she left leaving Kaoru to compute all this new information.
Kaoru was practically beside herself. 'He's still looking for me too? No, no stop thinking so wistfully, baka.' She shook her head and continued home.
Kenshin got home and was surprised his young sister still wasn't home. "Misao! You home?" He called. 'Must have stopped somewhere.' He thought. To pass time, he emptied his pockets and started making dinner with a small tune under his breath.
An hour passed, it was 6:00 already and he began to worry. Then he heard the door open and Misao giggle.
"So, your sister has been looking for this guy? She sounds like my brother. Oh hey bro, this is Aoshi, he was nice to come with me to the store and walk me home! He's so nice and he saved me today so can he stay for dinner? Please?" Misao said in one breath. Kenshin looked over her shoulder (which was not hard considering she was shorter then him) at the tall man, probably a year or two older that him. He decided to ask Misao about this 'save' later and just be polite. He also noticed the giant coat she was wearing.
"Sure Misao. Hello, Aoshi, I'm Kenshin; Misao's older brother that I am." He bowed politely. Aoshi knew that name, but where?
"Do I know you?" He asked.
"Oro? Uh, no I don't think so," Kenshin smiled and scratched the back of his head, "but this one would like to know you more which we eat dinner that I would."
"But I do not want to intrude."
"Please, Aoshi??? Think of it as a thank you from me!" Misao laughed giving him those big, deep puppy eyes. "Pleeeassse?"
Now how could he say no that that?
Aoshi merely nodded and they all sat down. They ate dinner and Misao explained to Kenshin what happened to her job. He didn't say anything until she was finished though behind his smile there was concern written all over the place. Aoshi just watched Misao and glanced at Kenshin once in a while. They really didn't look alike, but figured it was because they were half siblings just as Misao had told him.
Kenshin finally spoke up clearing his throat, "Well, Aoshi, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for saving Misao today that I certainly do."
"Not a problem. Your sister is a lovely person with a strong will." Aoshi replied and gave Misao a half smile. She blushed whild covering her face. "I must be going now. Thank you for dinner." He kissed Misao's hand and left with a quiet 'click' of the door.
As he disappeared from the foyer, Misao began to float on cloud number nine. 'Omg! He is so hot! I feel like I'm in a good fairy tale! Did you see that girl? He kissed your hand and his lips were so soft!' She stood staring at the door, heart eyes, big sighs and the whole nine yards. Kenshin saw this and chuckled to himself. Deciding to retire for the night, he let Misao daydream.
Kenshin patted her on the back. "Night, Misao."
When he finally returend home, Aoshi stood in front of his house thinking for a moment while unlocking his front door. 'Her hand was really soft and her eyes danced every time she looked at me.' He opened his door and was surprised to see Kaoru sleeping on the couch. He kissed her on the forehead and went to bed. As he undressed, he realized Misao had his coat still. He grinned, 'Gives me a reason to see her again.'
The next morning, Kenshin woke up. He dressed and came out seeing Misao with breakfast. "Oro! Misao?"
"I woke up early and decided to cook. I couldn't sleep long. Oh, I've got to find a job today so I'll leave soon." Really, she wanted to find Aoshi and return his coat. She got up, kissed Kenshin, and fled to the door.
"But today's Saturday." Was all Kenshin said while the walls rattled and his cereal bowl fell over from the door slam, signaling Misao the Tornado was gone.
The day before, Misao found out the complex Aoshi lived in, but didn't know which house was his. Misao rubbed her feet from all the walking around aimlessly. "It's times like these I wish I could afford a car." She saw a woman walking her dog and asked if she knew Aoshi.
"Aoshi? Umm... Oh! Kaoru's brother, yes, they live down there." She pointed to the tall white house with red shutters down the street. Misao brushed her off-white dress with red daisies decorating the edges, and rang the bell.
Kaoru woke up hearing the bell. She quickly fixed her hair and answered it. "Yes?"
"Hi! I'm Misao and was looking for Aoshi. He forgot his coat the other day and I'm returning it." She offered.
Kaoru was surprised to see this pretty little thing and nodded. She let Misao in. "His room is right there. Why don't you wake him up? Don't worry I do it all the time. Just go on!" Kaoru suggested.
Misao laughed, "Are you serious? I don't even know you!" Kaoru swatted the girl playfully on the shoulder.
"I like you Misao. I'm Kaoru, Aoshi's sister. Now go wake the bum up." She pushed Misao into the slightly darkened room and closed it. Misao blushed. 'Well, do what you were asked to do.' She gave an earsplitting yell and began to dive onto his gray sheeted bed with a large lump nestled in the middle.
Aoshi's head popped up and widened to see Misao pounce on him. He groaned from the small weight impailed upon him and rubbed his eyes. Their faces were so close, as Aoshi just stared at Misao trying to focus in the dim light.
"Good morning Aoshi! I brought your coat see?!" She held it up.
"Its 8:30 Misao."
There was a long silence then simultaneously they began laughing. Aoshi narrowed his eyes. "Fine, I see how it is. You want to play like that?" And he flipped Misao over as they wrestled playfully. Misao kicked and laughed manically while Aoshi kept successfully pinning her down. They finally stopped and panted after Aoshi claimed he had had enough.
Kaoru peaked her head inside. She found them panting on the floor Misao laughing and Aoshi with his eyes closed as if he was meditating. "Am I interrupting something?" She laughed. Misao turned bright red and sat up to fix herself. Aoshi chuckled with that deep voice of his. Kaoru stopped her fun and stared at Aoshi. 'He's never laughed like that in front of people.' Kaoru thought, 'Maybe this girl is different.'
"Hey, Misao, wanna go out with Aoshi and I?" Kaoru asked.
Misao nodded, "I'd love to!" Later the three departed. Then, Saitoh appeared holding the morning newspaper and a fresh cigarette in his mouth. He saw Misao and grinned like a wolf making Misao quiver slightly.
"Kaoru, you have a friend?" He smirked.
"Actually, she's Aoshi's friend. Misao, this is our uncle." Misao shook his hand; it was as cold as ice.
"Aoshi, you have a girlfriend? 'Bout time anyway." Aoshi's face hardened in distaste. He pushed the girls out the door and replied impassively, "Bye." before shutting the door.
"You know, how come he lets you have a girlfriend, but won't even let me have a boy that's a friend?" Kaoru pouted as they walked down the street.
Misao blushed, "Am I your girlfriend, Aoshi?"
Aoshi glanced at her sea-green eyes. She smelled of light vanilla and summer. He wanted to hold her in his arms and steal a kiss. Of, course, he thought better of it, being the ice block Shinomori Aoshi and all, that was not something he did. "You heard my uncle; I have a girl that is a friend." Misao's hopes diminished but didn't complain. Aoshi could read her thoughts as she frowned but couldn't quite find the words to tell her how he felt. He gave her a smile. "But who knows what can happen to friendship?"
Misao grinned up at him and laughed. "You're a real smooth talker, Aoshi."
"It's a gift." Misao kept laughing as Aoshi couldn't help but lift a corner of his lips as he watched her glow with content.
Kaoru just nodded. She'd never seen her brother so emotional or happy before. She sighed, 'Where are you Kenshin?'
Not far away, Kenshin was at the dojo. There was a light sweat over his toned body. His eyes flickered amber as he thought of the man who touched Misao. He attacked the boards again. Since Misao went out for the day, he decided to work on his sword skills. His grandfather gave him the reversed-blade sword to inherit. He learned all the skills and mastered the art. He attacked again. 'Damn, need more boards.' He thought. So he left to the storage room.
Kaoru remembered then, what the old woman told her the day before. "Um, Aoshi?"
"Aa."
"Do you know a dojo in town?" Aoshi shook his head no.
"Oh! I do! My brother works there! Misao piped in. "I like to train there. I specialize in throwing knives and kempo. Why?"
"Um, I don't know... do you think we could go there? I mean, I'd like to spar with you. I specialize in fan swords." She kind of told the truth but really she wanted to see if Kenshin worked there.
"Of course! Follow me!" Misao squealed. She ran off as Kaoru and Aoshi followed. She stepped inside and breathed. "I love it here! You can just get away for everything. Okay, ready Kaoru?" Misao pulled out a pair of dark blue gloves with a shell in it, covering her knuckles. She appeared with ten knives between her fingers, and flung them at a dummy across the room. Direct hit.
Aoshi watched with fascination. Actually it was kind of a turn on. Kaoru nodded to Misao and pulled out her fans. They were as light as paper but sharper and stronger then regular metal. Misao's flexibility was great but Kaoru was faster. Her fans were decorated to look like regular paper fans. They were really only to protect her, not really for combat like Aoshi's swords.
Aoshi sat down to watch the girls fight. 'This should be interesting.'
"Get ready Misao." Kaoru said taking out her fans and fanning them open.
"I am SO ready." Misao appeared with ten more knives, ready to be launched. They began and Aoshi was surprised how fast they were. Kaoru ran up and began attacking, yet Misao flexed out of her reach. Misao threw knives after knives at Kaoru. She carried a lot since she seemed to throw a dozen every second, but missed Kaoru as she was too fast. They were really at it, running, jumping, flipping, dodging, and screaming.
Kenshin heard some clamor and ran to the exercise area. He found Aoshi leaning on the partition watching the match before them.
"Hello again, Aoshi, what brings you here?" Kenshin asked. Seeing all the knives scattered through out the room he asked, "Don't tell me Misao's here." He said frowning.
"Yup."
"And she's fighting?"
"Yup."
"Against who, may I ask?"
"My baby sister." Aoshi replied coolly. Kenshin just took a seat next to him and watched the mix of blurs, yelps, colors, and knives before him.
The girls jumped down from the air and panted. Misao was facing Aoshi and Kenshin, while Kaoru had her back to them.
"You're good." Kaoru said closing her eyes.
"You too." Misao whispered gasping for air. Kaoru twirled around Misao, almost like a dance and held the fan to her neck.
"But not good enough. Game set." She closed her fans and backed up.
"How'd you do that? Your way too fast!" Misao didn't even see her move.
"My secret." Kaoru laughed. "It feels like the wind carries me and helps me feel the attacker. Almost like floating..." She smiled at the younger girl, "Anyhow, good match. You're very talented and good with those kunai."
Misao wiped the sweat off her brow. "And you're very good with those fans and swiftness. Oi! Aoshi, wasn't it a good match?" She chirped. Aoshi crossed his arms across his chest and nodded.
"Misao, what are you doing here?" A new voice came. Misao's eyes widened.
"Hey there, Kenshin, I'm just showing Aoshi and Kaoru your dojo. Kaoru said she wanted to spar with me and we did! It was nothing like sparing with you-"
"Kenshin?"
"Miss Kaoru?"
Kaoru spun around to see a red haired man with lavender eyes that widened. She dropped her fans and gaped in shock. Kaoru held her breath and felt dizzy for a moment, forgetting to breath. Kenshin felt his body go limp as he examined the beautiful tessenjutsu woman before his eyes. 'I finally found you.'
Thanks to everyone who reviewed or/and read this fic! I'll try and update sooner, just be patient. Till next time: have a great day!