Pretty Man
Aoshi had been blissfully sleeping amongst the clouds when all of a sudden that comfortable image was shaken from his mind and his blurry eyes opened to see someone standing over him, calling out his name while nudging his bare shoulder.
"Ohayoo Aoshi-sama…" Came a sweet voice and Aoshi blinked several times as he found Misao now kneeling beside the bed, her young face in his line of vision. Aoshi finally registered he had moved to Misao's side of the bed and had claimed it as his own. It had just been so warm and he'd been so cold on his side and he thought nothing against moving to that warmth in his sedated mind. Aoshi hoped he had not kicked Misao out of her own bed, but when he looked her over, dressed in an ever boring dark coloured business suit, this time it being black and not navy blue, he realised she'd obviously been up for awhile.
"What time is it" His sleep laced voice croaked out.
"Its quite early." Misao spoke and watched Aoshi lift his wrist to bring it closer to his face as he squinted to read the time on his watch.
"Then why wake me" Aoshi muttered while yawning before placing his head back down onto the fluffy pillows. Instantly a flower scent (obviously from Misao's shampoo) assaulted his nose. Misao placed on a small smile, Aoshi not even seeing it thanks to him having his eyes closed, as she looked him over.
"How old are you Aoshi-sama? If you don't mind me asking that is."
"Twenty-six…" He mumbled out before turning on his side to face Misao's still kneeling form.
"Really? You don't look it."
"I'll take that as a compliment, but you don't look twenty-two either." Aoshi retorted back, while blinking his eyes open more to focus them on Misao's tense form. "I'd say about twenty or twenty-one for you." Ocean blue eyes lifted up to gaze over at Aoshi. He did nothing but watch as Misao leaned forward, planting a light kiss against his forehead.
"I know your lying, but thanks for that." Misao got up and Aoshi quirked an eyebrow when he noticed there was no redness in her cheeks. He was really wearing off on her that's for sure. "Well I'll be pretty busy today, so I decided to set a task for you." Misao spoke while she was rummaging through her briefcase.
"Oh" Aoshi blinked several times when Misao came back over, having sat down on the edge of the bed, as he now leaned against the headboard and had a Gold Card thrust into his face.
"Shopping for whatever you need. I won't have you wearing those leather trousers you call clothing all the time."
"I see…" Aoshi murmured before reluctantly taking the card from delicate fingers.
"You don't seem too pleased about what I've set for you." Misao spoke, her eyes never catching the downcast ones of Aoshi as he twirled the Gold Card in his hands.
"Shopping sucks at Himawari Drive. No one wants to serve me even when I've got the cash to buy all the shit clothing in the stores."
"So they were mean to you. Is that what your telling me in code language"
"Does having to restrain myself from punching out some pretentious bastard answer your question" Aoshi sarcastically replied. His eyes finally darted to Misao's when he felt her smooth hand cup his chin lifting his face up to her direction.
"I'll give you time to shower and then we're going shopping together. Places on Himawari Drive aren't nice to anyone. In fact all they want is money and fortunately for you I have something they can never resist and that's a Gold Card." Aoshi watched Misao leave before getting up himself and heading for the bathroom.
XxXxXxX
Aoshi came out dressed in leather pants, muscle shirt and his black boots. His white coat was not needed, as it looked like a nice sunny day from the balcony and before he could even head for where the food was sitting perfectly on the dining room table, Misao grabbed his wrist and dragged him towards the door.
"Can't I at least ge"
"You can buy your stomach something later, but right now we are on a tight schedule so move it."
Xx Himawari Drive xX
Aoshi's eyes narrowed everytime a snobby pedestrian stared strangely between his leather clad self and the immaculately dressed Misao. Its not his fault that Misao was holding his hand, walking a little in front of him as she dragged him down one side of Himawari Dive and straight into a men's clothing store.
"I'd like to speak with your manager please." Misao spoke in a professional business voice, her hand now freeing Aoshi's knowing he wouldn't run like hell out of this store. She still however eyed him cautiously as he gazed around the large store; a small frown replacing his usually teasing smirk when he eyed several looking turtlenecks you'd never see him in.
"I am the manager of this store, so how may I help you Miss" Came a croaky voice belonging to an elderly man. He was dressed immaculately in a grey suit and tie.
"My dear friend here is in need of clothing, both casual and formal. I have heard that this store can cater to tall man like him so I would presume this is correct."
"Yes this is true, we have a wide range of trousers and jeans for long legged men such as your friend here. Seeing tall men these days is quite rare but we still provide for all our customers needs."
"My friend is a little shy when it comes to clothes shopping…" Misao's ocean blue eyes caught narrowed green-grey before she continued on. "So I want you to take extra special care of him and provide him with whatever he needs while I'm on the phone."
"I assure you he will be in good hands. Come this way young man." Aoshi reluctantly followed the old geezer as he waved for him to sit down in a cushioned chair before his eyes widened slightly in surprise at having several items of clothing thrust into his face with several employees talking to him at once.
Xx Time passes by… xX
After having several conversation's with Tsubame, Okon and Megumi, Misao had shaken her head negatively several times when Aoshi's eyes glanced her way to see if any of the clothing suited his physique in her opinion. Misao also had to refrain from laughing several times at the threatening tone in Aoshi's voice at several items being thrust into his arms. It had either been "are you trying to make me look gay""if you even think about placing that frilly shirt near me I'll kill you" or "I already told you orange and pink are not my colours five minutes ago". Such a stubborn man he was, but some of the men's clothing Misao even had to "irk" at because of the colouring or the design of them.
Misao was just placing her folders into her briefcase when she caught Aoshi coming out from the dressing room. He was in black jeans, slightly baggy, a plain white shirt and an opened button down shirt over the top with a white tiger on the back. It was nice casual wear and though colours such as black and white seemed boring to many these days and yet Aoshi suited them very nicely.
"That outfit suits you well." Misao spoke and watched Aoshi eye her through the three full-length mirrors in front of him. He turned when Misao looked down at her sterling silver watch.
"Well I've got to head into the office, but I'll meet you back at the penthouse at 5pm. I'm taking you some place nice and relaxing and not too far from the hotel either."
"No business meeting then" Aoshi questioned and Misao shook her head.
"Now you have fun dear and don't get lost." Aoshi said nothing to that and watched Misao turn slightly around to get the attention of the manager.
"Shiro-san, I'm leaving him with my card and in your capable hands so do look after him for me." She received a smile and a nod from the manager and then ocean blues eyes turned up to look into piercing green-grey orbs.
"Thank you…" Misao spoke softly as she clasped one of Aoshi's hands and gave it a light squeeze while smiling brightly up at him. After that fleeting touch she was gone, but those two words spoke volumes and Aoshi knew exactly what they meant.
"Shinomori-san, next outfit please." Aoshi sighed as he headed back into the change room and slid the curtain across. Though he wouldn't be paying for any of the clothing, shoes and accessories he would be buying this day, it was still pure torture.
XxXxXxX
Aoshi walked down one side of Himawari Drive, balancing several boxes in one hand while the other held several bags. Several women walked by, smiling at him as though trying to grab his attention but Aoshi's eyes were mainly focused on the store to his left. It was the store with that pompous asshole inside. Aoshi placed a cruel smile on his lips as he walked inside.
"May I help you with anything Sir" Came a man's voice, but Aoshi glared at him, hearing him 'eep' lightly as he placed down his bags before his eyes flickered over to the man he really wanted to see.
"Do you remember me" Aoshi spoke darkly, the man turning to look up at him, his eyes widening knowing exactly who he was. "You know the other day I was going to punch you but I held back because I didn't want to waste any time on the likes of you…and you know what"
"Wha-What" The short man stuttered.
"I have time to spare now." And with that spoken Aoshi punched the guy before he even knew what was coming to him. There were small screams from women with their husbands, but Aoshi paid no such attention, grabbed his bags he had placed near the front entrance and left the store with a slight smirk on his face. He felt so much better after that.
Xx The Penthouse, Hiko Royal Suites xX
Aoshi sat the wrong way over one of the dining table chairs, as he leaned heavily over the long backing of it, his legs straddling the seat and looking intently at the small grandfather clock hanging on the wall. As the big hand hit the twelve and started to chime five times, Aoshi heard the distinctive sound of the door clicking and then being pushed open and closed. Misao had her head bowed, not paying any attention as she dumped the plastic coded key in a nearby dish on a table and walked further into the penthouse, her eyes fixed on shuffling through some bulky mail items.
"Welcome home Misao-sama." Misao's eyes lifted up and the mail hit the floor.
"ARE YOU FREAKING NAKED" She yelled at the top of her lungs. Her eyes roamed over Aoshi's bare chest, arms and legs, thinking the inevitable when he slowly got to his feet only the backing of the chair still "hid" him.
"Say it any louder Misao-sama, I don't think the entire building heard you." Aoshi responded sardonically as he drew one leg over the wooden chair and smoothly made his way to the flushing young woman. Misao's orbs quickly peered down at the tight black boxer briefs Aoshi was wearing that left little to the imagination of his equipment hidden underneath. His body was lean and firm and well tanned with tight muscles over his entire chest, arms and thighs. She flushed even more as her eyes roamed back to his boxer briefs.
"Why Misao-sama, do I detect by your blush that you perhaps like me with barely nothing on" Aoshi taunted in a husky voice, his hot breath fanning over her reddened cheek and into her left ear. Before Misao could come up with a pitiful excuse something red was thrust into her face and she blinked several times, stepping slightly back to get away from the close proximity of Aoshi.
"It made me think of you when I saw it all by itself in the flower store." It was a perfect tiny red rose bud that had not yet blossomed. Misao scrunched her face up slightly. Was he trying to say she hadn't blossomed yet? Her eyes gazed up at his to discover no mirth was held in them, just uneasiness as though she was going to reject his gift. Well at least Misao thought it was uneasiness since it flickered away before she could understand what it truly meant.
"Um, thank you…" Misao spoke softly as she took the thornless rose bud from Aoshi's fingers.
"So, what did you have planned for this afternoon"
"Oh right, I'm taking you to the 12th floor so…" Aoshi followed Misao as she trailed off and headed into the bedroom to see bags and bags of clothing littering the bed. Aoshi leaned against the doorway, not caring he was almost in the buff and yet smirking in victory at the soft pink flush present on Misao's cheeks as she continued to sift through the bags trying desperately not to gaze back at him without a reason to do so.
"Place these on and then we shall be off." Aoshi took the clothing and headed for the bathroom as 'ordered'.
XxXxXxX
"So I presume with me wearing these, the 12th floor would contain a pool" Aoshi spoke while looking down at his attire. He was dressed in black board shorts, resting comfortably against his hips; the drawstring tied in a knot and was accompanied by two deep purple vertical strips running down the outer sides of the shorts. He also wore a black singlet and a pair of flip flops.
"Your assumption astounds me Aoshi-sama." Misao spoke grabbing his attention as his eyes flickered in her direction. Was that his Misao-sama? Aoshi had to do a double take as he had just referred to Misao as his. There was no time to think of that right now and instead it was his turn to ogle her silently. Misao was dressed in a pair of extremely short white shorts that accentuated her long slim creamy legs. She also had what seemed like a plain black bikini top on but a navy shirt was in fact covering most of her chest area from his viewpoint.
"You are looking awfully casual, I am most surprised." Aoshi voiced while snapping himself out of his trance. Lucky for him Misao hadn't even been paying attention to his pointed stare thanks to the files she was sorting out on her desk.
"Well since you're finally out, lets get going." Misao spoke slipping into a pair of bathroom slippers and headed for the door with a bag slung over her shoulder. Without any hesitation Aoshi took it from her, being the wonderful gentleman that he was and followed Misao's back all the way to the pool area, with the occasional glance at her backside as well. Not like he could help it when she was the one that was wearing the small shorts that fit her like a glove.
Xx The 12th Floor – Adult Swimming Pool Area xX
"Well here we are." Misao spoke as she pushed the doors open. Aoshi stared around the large area. It was like a tropical forest setting only indoors. There was a spa off to one side, a sauna in another direction and of course the large swimming pool in the middle complete with fountain, certain sections to just sit and laze around in or you could sit up at the poolside bar, which wasn't open. Aoshi tore his gaze away at the sound of a poolside chair moving and watched Misao sit down on it rummaging through the bag Aoshi had dropped in surprise at looking around the place in awe and watched her pull out two towels and what looked like a thick novel.
"You are not swimming" Aoshi questioned as he walked over and decided to annoy Misao a little and sat himself down at the end of Misao's lounging chair, making her squeal in fright as his weight knocked the chair onto two legs and made Misao fall straight into him.
"You should really thank me for catching you Misao-sama." Aoshi conversed and quirked his lips into a small smile. He received a scowl from Misao and let her free herself from his hold as he got up, the chair falling back on its normal four legs and not two. Aoshi stood near the edge of the pool and noticed Misao was blushing yet again. Perhaps he should start counting how many times he could make her blush in one day.
"I feel like reading at the moment, so go jump in and I hope you don't drown." Misao muttered the last part sarcastically and eyed Aoshi turn around and watched him take off his shirt and dump it on the ground.
"You know for that mean remark, I'm going to have to take you with me." Misao's eyes widened at that and watched Aoshi draw nearer.
"No! I don't want to go in" Misao yelled frantically, dropping her book and scrambling to her feet. The only object between her and Aoshi was the plastic pool chair she had once occupied.
"There is no need to act so childish Misao-sama."
"You're acting like the childish one, trying to push me into the pool! I was being sarcastic! You should know that since you do it all the time to me." Misao was seething. What the hell was she going to do if he…
"AAAAAHHHHHHHH" Misao screamed as she was effortlessly caught in Aoshi's firm grasp and thrown into the pool. She landed with a loud splash and arms flailed in all directions. Aoshi was about to laugh at Misao and tell her how much she looked like a drowned weasel when he finally realised she wasn't doing this for fun.
It appeared Misao didn't know how to swim.
And in he dove, scooping Misao up and into his strong-arms and walked her (since the area wasn't deep for him) back to the edge. Aoshi placed Misao flat on her back and gazed down at long wet bangs falling into her closed eyes. Her chest heaved for air, her pink lips parted to catch in much needed oxygen, which in fact was now currently taken away from her once more. Aoshi had brushed Misao's bangs away from her eyes and bent down, his lips brushing fluently over hers remembering her taste well. Ocean blue eyes snapped open and Aoshi lifted his head, his lips only two inches away from Misao's swollen ones.
"What the hell do you think your doing? I was breathing you moron and didn't require your version of CPR" Misao fumed up at him, orbs narrowing as he held a tiny smirk on his lips.
"I know you didn't Misao-sama." What the hell could she say to that"I'm merely wondering why you didn't tell me you couldn't swim, it would have saved me from worrying." Misao eyes flickered up and into Aoshi's at those words. "About getting smacked in the face by you swinging your arms around like a complete lunatic of course." He quickly added. Why was it that Misao made him feel like a complete idiot and made him say the first thing that popped into his head? Worried about her? That was completely preposterous and yet slightly true to some extent. If something had happened to her, he wouldn't know what to do. Though he was just hired by her to be at her "beck and call" she was extremely fun to tease and her emotions were completely chaotic and he liked that…a lot.
"Of course…" Misao muttered as her eyes roamed over his face as he still leaned over her. Droplets of water clung to his spiky wet bangs, moving down his cheeks to drip off his chin and onto her. There was an odd expression crossing Aoshi's face and Misao tilted her head not sure what it was and not even sure why the hell she had not pushed him away from her yet.
"Are you going to slap me" Aoshi questioned softly, Misao having not been looking into his eyes but rather the way his mouth formed those words. They looked so tempting and without a second thought Misao's arms lifted up and went around Aoshi's neck crushing his lips back to hers. There was a slight groan from the man above her and Misao quickly pulled her lips away, flushing bright red and turned her eyes shyly up to gaze in Aoshi's.
"I…I…" Was she trying to apologise again for succumbing to his seductiveness?
"Leaning over the edge of the pool is not very comfortable at all Misao-sama. Perhaps I should just lay over you entirely instead." To think Misao's face couldn't flush anymore because it most certainly did. Misao quickly sat up at those words, her feet dangling in the water and heard Aoshi's deep but soft laugh. She crossed her arms, her head turning away as she sulked to herself.
"Would you like me to teach you" Her eyes darted back to Aoshi's, noticing genuine helpfulness resting within those beautiful eyes of his. His hands rested on the edge of the pool on either side of her thighs.
"We'll play a game."
"A…game" Misao spoke cautiously not sure where this was going and whether or not she'd actually like this 'game'.
"Yes, a game." His eyes glittered in the lighting around the pool and Misao gulped in nervousness. She gasped softly when he easily picked her up, his arms going around her waist and brought her back into the pool leaning her flushed body against his muscular one.
"Don't let go of me." Misao spoke as her wide eyes stared into Aoshi's, her arms wrapping around his neck almost choking the life out of him. Aoshi couldn't help but smile gently at Misao, making her blink in astonishment at actually catching a smile that wasn't mocking her.
"I won't let you go until you tell me to." Aoshi confessed softly. Right now at this very moment, with Misao crushing herself to him and her eyes wide open and looking extremely frightened and innocent she was just so adorable he did the only thing he could think of that would initially calm her down.
Aoshi kissed her.
Probably not one of his smartest moves, Aoshi had finally realised since Misao so happened to be the first woman he ever began to crave the touch of. Even if it was a nudge on his shoulder, a squeeze of his hand or her swollen lips moving perfectly against his, he still couldn't believe how much she was affecting him. Instantly he felt Misao's shoulders relax and then her entire body. The flutter of her fingers danced in his jet-black hair and so he pulled away.
"The game…" Aoshi took a breather for a second. "The game is…if you become tense or try to argue with me…you will receive that again." Misao flushed lightly, her lips parting as though going to say something but Aoshi interrupted her. "I have realised that even though it has only been a couple of times, my kissing you seems to turn you to jelly."
"IT DOES NOT! WHY I OUGHT TO…" Misao got no further in her argument as Aoshi's lips pressed firmly against hers silencing her and instantly Misao knew she was beat. He was a damn fine kisser and lord knows what else!
XxXxXxX
It had been a couple of hours and Misao wanted to call it quits. Sure she was doing okay in her swimming lessons but she had received several breathtaking kisses from the ever-serious Aoshi. She had been confirmed that his so-called game was no joke and absently wondered whether he had done this with any other woman. Misao mentally slapped herself for that. He was not with any other woman but her so it was time to stop thinking about all that.
"My hands are turning all prune like, so I think its time to go." Misao spoke softly as she pulled away from the safety of Aoshi's arms and floated over to the edge of the pool only using her legs to kick her there. She must have looked quite stupid in doing so though she didn't care. Misao was amazed she had actually lasted this long, but then when she tensed or complained there was always kisses to look forward to. She scowled to herself at thinking on those thoughts and lifted herself out of the water.
Aoshi for his part thought it hadn't been such a good idea to play that game since he had only just invented it right then and there. Misao was quite the responsive woman and thus he succumbed to her, but of course never would he admit that out loud. Fancy that, the Aoshi Shinomori succumbing to a woman! What was the world coming to?
Aoshi's assumption of this "getting close to Misao to figure her out" was not good as his eyes caught her slim but nicely shaped body leaving the water now only clad in her matching black bikini set. The shorts and shirt had been "weighing her down" as Misao had claimed and thus she had taken them off, much to Aoshi's secret delight. Aoshi gulped as he got a very nice view of Misao's pert bottom and extremely long legs and decided she looked good wet.
He swallowed the lump in his throat and got out of the water himself, immediately taking the other towel and placed it over his. Aoshi was trying to keep his peeping eyes off Misao's young body. This was very bad news for Aoshi to find out about himself as he registered just what his body was feeling, a lot of lust for Misao. This was something that had never happened to him before. He was the one to turn women on and yet this small slip of a woman was turning him on!
In truth as Aoshi silently followed Misao, he didn't know what to do. He knew what Enishi would do, but he was definitely not Enishi. Nor could he begin to turn cold and indifferent on Misao because she was paying for everything and look where he was staying as well. There was no Kanryuu to watch out for and no freaking women trying to stork him either so that was a bonus. Not only did he have those reasons but there was also the slender pretty woman that hit the lift button to head upstairs, her sparkling ocean blue eyes glancing up at him once as she smiled brightly at him before turning back to face the doors.
"I can't wait to get upstairs and have a nice warm bubble bath." Aoshi's eyes widened slightly at Misao's genki words. As he stiffly entered the lifts, resting his back against the cold metal of the steel lift walls, he absently heard Misao voice the penthouse to the lift operator. His mind however couldn't get passed Misao in a bubble bath or more importantly Misao naked with bubbles falling over her smooth creamy skin.
Aoshi confirmed it now. He was in trouble…serious trouble.
Xx To be continued xX
