Pretty Man
"Arigatou, Misao…" Aoshi muttered with the smile still on his face. Without even knowing it she had lifted a weight he couldn't bare alone from his shoulders.
"You…you're smiling!" Misao had gasped softly, large sapphire eyes blinking owlishly up at the mesmerizing glow in Aoshi's features by a mere gentle smile.
"Because of you…" He softly remarked once more and then let go of Misao's face and hugged her once more. It felt so good to hold her close again that Aoshi's smile widened. Not too long ago he had felt like he was drowning in a pool of his own emotions, but the mere sight and touch of the young woman in his lap made him swim to the surface and show her just a little bit more of what he was like underneath his hard exterior. "Always because of you…" Aoshi lightly confessed again, his lips moving to caress Misao's forehead before he buried his nose into her damp hair.
Silence moved through the lounge room before Aoshi felt the shaking sensation of Misao's body and quickly pulled away. His eyes widened, his throat dried up as he observed tears spill down her cheeks.
"Misao, what…" Aoshi was unable to finish as moist salty lips kissed his own before Misao pulled away only to bury her head into his black shirt.
"Yokatta… I thought I was the only one. I thought only I felt this way when being around you." Misao hiccupped a couple of times before murmuring more confessions of her own. "I began to change, to open up more, to feel special again. Thank you for staying with me Aoshi." Hugging her silently to him, Aoshi felt relief wash over his body and instantly blurted out his first thoughts.
"Everything will be fine. I'll take care of you Misao."
"Eh?" Misao remarked as she pulled away from Aoshi, her hands lifting up to brush the remains of tears away as she tried to look at Aoshi whom in fact was now silently mortified at letting slip that confession. How stupid was he to say such a thing and at such a time when they both seemed so vulnerable. Aoshi bowed his head and turned it slightly away from Misao's view point. His long bangs covered his green eyes from view and he never noticed Misao catch her breath as a sudden heat flushed across his cheeks. He, the usually stoic and in control man, had become embarrassed in front of her. Aoshi would definitely never live such a moment down. The silence grew around them, but just rolling the words around in her head, Misao felt the beat of her heart quicken and desperately tried to get herself under control. It wasn't long before she lifted Aoshi's head up with both her hands.
"You sounded just like my Jiya." Misao whispered softly before pecking the blinking gigolo on the nose. "I've always wanted to hear someone say that, especially a male so then I would never forget the sound of such caring words."
"So, I'm like your grandfather then?" Aoshi felt his heart slow down to its normal thump against his ribcage as his nerves began to calm down. Misao did not respond to anything he truly confessed behind those words and for that he was thankful. It seemed she only wanted to remember her grandfather, but Aoshi was fine with that. Misao's laughter broke through his thoughts and even over the top of the rain as it began to slow down to a light shower.
"Nope, my Jiya was never this sexy!" And then it happened. Aoshi began to laugh, his eyes closing, his shoulders shaking and a small smirk forming on his mouth. Misao at this point was mesmerized by him at the hearty chuckle escaping his lips. It wasn't his low teasing one, but a proper chuckle that Misao felt her eyes brighten towards. She observed as Aoshi opened his eyes and watched her gulp down the lump in her throat. Just staring up at him she felt awestruck at the glint within those ice crystal green orbs. To her observation it seemed Aoshi was content and perhaps even happy!
"I should hope not or else I'd think you were pretty strange thinking your grandfather was sexy." Receiving a bop on the head for that comment, Misao once more hugged Aoshi as her arms wound around his upper chest. Their bodies molded together as the tension had fully broken. "Should we eat before the food goes cold?" Aoshi quietly voiced, not truly wanting Misao to leave his lap but when her stomach answered for her with a loud rumbling sound, he let her go. She was blushing and glaring down at her stomach, but Aoshi remained quiet and began dishing out the meals on the tray Himura had brought up earlier on.
A long silence, but not an uncomfortable one passed between Misao and Aoshi before she silently eyed her companion as he stood up with soup bowl in hand and walked to the balcony door. The rain was still falling while a breeze wafted through the penthouse. At the feel of the cool breeze and a gentle spray of light rain, Aoshi's eyes closed as he breathed in the pure scent.
"I love rain." Misao blinked silently at the back of Aoshi as he stood between the light of the penthouse and the darkness of the night. The brightness and darkness suited his character well. Misao noted the tone in Aoshi's voice as it seemed far away, but she knew he wanted to reach her with whatever he was to admit. "Every time the rain came I felt instant calmness within me for I knew that if I stood within it, drenched myself all over, there was no way that any bad sins I had created would affect me the next day. I always thought the rain washed away the dirt from everything while bringing along with it new life. Because of those thoughts, I felt that if I drowned myself within it, then all my dark thoughts, all my past and sometimes the present would disappear. I would always hope that when the next day came I would be forgiven and would get the chance to relive over and over again." Aoshi died off for a moment to collect his thoughts, but felt an unexpected shove to his back. He stumbled out onto the balcony and into the downpour, his soup bowl shattering to the concrete ground as he lost his grip on it. Aoshi's eyes bore back into Misao's as she had been the one to push him.
"So let's drown you in rain to release you of past worries. Let me help free you." Aoshi remained in his standing position, rain beating against his head, while droplets slid down his face and dropped off his chin, just like what was happening with Misao. He blinked numerous times, eyelashes spiking at the dewiness against them before watching as Misao stepped forward, her hands gripping the black long sleeved shirt before she slowly pulled it up and over his relenting upper body.
"Misao, what are you doing?" Aoshi softly replied as he stood shirtless on the penthouse balcony. The rain hit his once warm skin and instantly he began to get goosebumps, but his eyes would not break from Misao's.
"You wish to forget what happened last night? You wish to wash the sadness away right?" At feeling Aoshi tense and his eyes move away from hers, Misao smiled lightly before her hands rested against his hips. "Last night was definitely something I don't want to go through again, but I want you to hear me Aoshi and I mean really hear me, from my heart to yours. I don't understand what happened to you and I'd like to understand, but if you cannot tell me then that is alright as well. Instead I need for you to believe me when I say that I don't hate you." Aoshi took in a quick intake of air, head tilting to the sky to wash his face with rain. How good it felt to hear those words from Misao.
Aoshi finally dropped his chin down to his chest and opened his eyes at the feel of Misao pressed up against him. He couldn't describe the feeling that rushed through him at Misao's honest words and the fact she was now pressed against him, her slick wet body against his half clothed one. Though his heart eased at Misao's words, his mind was plagued with random thoughts as worry began to eat at him just as his lips parted.
"We should have never met." A tense body was now against his own as Aoshi observed Misao slowly pull away from him, a look of utter disbelief captured on her face. He had definitely surprised her with those words. She looked ready to cry or was she ready to slap him? Aoshi however, gave her no choice as he held her in place and quickly spoke once more. "That was my very thoughts after taking you by force. When I visited Enishi, he told me something that ate at my very soul and when we got back to the penthouse and I saw you, I turned back into what I had been from the very beginning…a prostitute."
"Aoshi…"
"Let me finish!" Misao's eyes grew soft at the strain that escaped Aoshi's lips. Whatever had happened it was going to come out whether Misao wanted to hear it or not. Just the pain that leaked slightly through Aoshi's voice, Misao wanted to take it away, but silently watched as he broke away from her and moved to the small amount of shelter near the balcony door.
"I never wanted to be a prostitute or a gigolo with you. From the first minute I saw you, you were different from everyone else. All you had wanted was a companion, something I had never been to anyone before. I felt happy to be with you. I felt wanted. I was astounded that even though you knew what I did for a living, you still asked me to stay with you. To me as time passed, it was never about the money. All I wanted…was for you to know that someone was here waiting for your return." Misao's eyes pricked with tears as she slowly walked towards Aoshi who had now descended to the ground, hands cradling his head while his eyes seemed unfocused as he delved deeper into himself. "When I left you downstairs at the bar, I went up to see Enishi. At first I wanted to see how he was, but everything went wrong. He was high and instantly he knew that I'd slept with you. I don't understand how the topic came up or how he figured it out, but he had said I broke my one rule that I always kept faithfully until you. He had said I'd turned you into a slut."
"IIE!" Misao yelled as she kneeled in front of Aoshi, her hands cupping his as they held his face up. Ocean blue pools would not break from green ones, until Aoshi nodded his head lightly; making sure Misao knew that he understood that she didn't feel like one and had never thought of herself as a slut when she was with him.
"Its alright, I thought about it so much over the next few hours that I began to wonder if it was true and in fact I know it wasn't. You wanted me and I wanted you and that was all that mattered. That was all that I cared about. Money never came into my mind about this, but when you asked me, I felt sick to my stomach remembering what I was. When I'm with you I forget what I truly am."
"Then don't do it anymore. Get out of it before it's too late." Misao responded in a desperate voice which made Aoshi chuckle.
"That is what Enishi said. He had asked whether this is what I truly wanted out of life. He questioned me on whether I can go back to my normal ways when you leave Tokyo."
"Ca-Can you?" Misao softly asked, her hands dropping away from Aoshi.
"Truth?" He responded and watched Misao nod her head. "I'm not sure. I've changed because of you and that scares me."
"You are scared?" Misao spoke softly, leaning forward and pressing her forehead into Aoshi's up drawn knees.
"Mm, but don't tell anyone. I've never opened up to anyone, not even Enishi that much, but he's known me for years that I'm sure I don't need to say anything for things to slip by. He doesn't tell me if I have revealed myself because he knows I'll become defensive, but with you, it's so easy to let go. With you I can just be me."
"You are so much like Megumi-san." Aoshi shot up his head at Misao's words and nudged her slightly as though wanting to see the truth in her eyes. Misao however, would not move from her bent over position.
"She always wants to be tough, but when we are alone, I see her crumble because she is not with the man she loves. Sagara-kun, though he's a bit of an idiot at times, he was the only one to ever want Megumi the way she was. He knew she worked too much, he knew he'd hardly get to see her at times, but that didn't matter just as long as he got to be with her. Sagara-kun loves Megumi, but she was too afraid that he'd leave her just like her own father and her step father. Because of those fears she drove him away."
"She shouldn't say such things."
"Why not?"
"Because this Sagara is not her father." Misao's head lifted up at that. "I'm not one to talk about letting the past go, but perhaps one day I might find her and tell her who I am. I wonder everyday whether she would smile at seeing me…or whether she'd frown like she always did. Sometimes I don't wish to think of it and therefore I don't. I lock away all past thoughts, but when I saw her, when I saw her with Kanryuu I couldn't allow her to be with him a moment longer. As long as she stays away from that side of town she should be safe. Kanryuu doesn't take women walking away and refusing him very well."
"I think we should head inside." Misao muttered as she lifted her head. She had no idea how many worries were eating away at Aoshi, but realized he was so much more then she had first thought. How she wanted to tell him to stay with her, for always, but her stubbornness grew and she kicked the thought away.
"You dry off first, I have to call Okon in regards to how today went in the office." Misao spoke completely changing the subject from the depressing way it was headed.
"Make sure you do too." And even in his stoic ways there was a side to this man that just made Misao melt all over again. It was as though he never even realised that his words were spoken in such a clear and soft way that you could actually hear the concern laced through it. He was such an enigma that Misao wanted to decode no mater how long it took her. Perhaps he might not ever be 'decoded' but for now, as long as she was with him, she'd try and pluck as much as she could from the tall man.
Getting up they headed inside and closed the door. Sending droplets of water to the ground, Misao quickly headed for the bathroom along with Aoshi just to grab herself a towel to stand on while she dialed Okon's number at her desk. The bathroom door remained open and Misao watched Aoshi move from bedroom to bathroom with attire appropriate for sleeping. It wasn't until he was changed and in the bedroom with the door left open by a mere crack that Misao felt it safe to call.
"You better be home or else." Misao grumbled to herself as she dialed another number that she knew off by heart. This idea might backfire dramatically on her, but Misao hoped against all hope it wouldn't. Finally hearing the voice on the other end, Misao held a small smile against her lips.
"Are you free tomorrow Megumi-san?"
Xx In the bedroom xX
Aoshi himself had changed into a pair of grey slacks and a button down shirt which only had the last three buttons done up. He sat cross-legged on the bed and was flipping through the channels on the television situated on the dresser table. His hair was spiked up everywhere, not bothering to brush it when he was only going to sleep and thought on whether to go see what Misao was doing, but because it had to do with her business he didn't wish to get in the way. So settling back against the headboard Aoshi sat up and watched a show only to have his eyes droop every now and then as he began to full asleep.
Xx Penthouse bathroom xX
Misao was busy trying to blow dry her hair and was now dressed in blue satin boxer shorts and tank top as her sleepwear. Finally stepping out of the bathroom and complaining silently about sore arms, as she stepped into the bedroom ready to tell Aoshi that tomorrow was going to be a day of fun but haltered at the door at seeing his sleeping face. The remote was held loosely in one hand resting in his lap, while his head was slightly bent and tilted to the left. Damp bangs fell over his closed eyes as he sat slumped against the headboard. He must have truly been worn out.
Making her way to the bed, Misao moved onto it and pried the remote from Aoshi's yielding fingers. She sat close to him, watching how his features softened dramatically when he was sleeping. She lifted up her hand, lightly tracing them down his face as though memorizing every feature of him in sleep before dropping her hand to lean forward and place a lingering kiss against his lips. How she had softened since he had come into her life so suddenly. How would her friends, family and colleagues react if they knew she was shacked up with a gigolo? Misao hated the thought because in truth, as time slipped by she only began to think of him as just Aoshi Shinomori.
Staring at his slumbering form, Misao couldn't help but lean forward once more as she rested her ear against his beating heart. How it lulled her to wanting to fall asleep with him. She moved away and turned off the lights and the television before moving back to where she had been, resting against his chest. She didn't know whether she had awoken him or not and Misao wasn't even surprised when she felt movement against her as Aoshi lifted up his arms from his sides to encase her in his light embrace.
While Misao remained against him she began to wonder what life would be like if she woke up to having him by her side every morning. He had already confessed he did not know how he would go with not being around her when she left Tokyo, but what Misao had secretly kept to herself was those exact thoughts as well. She felt so safe, so secure that she didn't want to leave his arms, didn't want to leave him. How could she entrust her feelings to him without the fear of being rejected? Misao shock her head lightly against him clearing the doubt from her mind. No matter what, she knew that something in her had changed because of him. Her heart, it grew lighter just being around him and that was a feeling she did not wish to loose.
Time was slipping by and Misao would have to find a way to pluck up the courage to ask him to drop everything and come with her. Would he drop everything? Would he come with her? Misao felt her heart pound in anticipation of asking him, but only when she felt the time was right. Would there ever be a right time to thrust her heart into the arms of this man? Misao wasn't sure, but she knew that tonight wasn't the time for these thoughts. In fact nervousness was churning in her stomach for she was planning.
Tomorrow would bring many things and Misao hoped she had not over stepped her mark for all three parties involved. She hoped all would go well for tomorrows outing.
"Oyasumi Aoshi…" Misao whispered softly to her companion before pulling the blankets up their bodies and immediately met Aoshi in her dreams.
Xx To be continued… xX
