Heaven's Intervention

Author's Notes: I know a lot of people like the idea of having this story done in Aoshi's POV. I was only intending that as an intro. However, the succeeding chapters will still be done in, somehow, Aoshi's POV but in a third POV. Do you get it? If not, just read on and you'll see what I mean. If it confuses you, just tell me so.

Disclaimers: RK does not belong to me. It's Watsuki-sama's wonderful creation. And I do mean wonderful. =)

Alarming

He had no idea it would be this tiring. When he went down to his office, he thought he was going to have an easy time doing work, ordering people around, shaking hands with clients, then just sipping coffee while reading today's newspaper. And boy, was he wrong. As soon as he stepped out of the elevator, his secretary, Omasu, greeted him then fell in step beside him and proceeded to recite today's schedule, as he automatically took papers from people and nodded to those who greeted him. When they reached the door of his office, Omasu is almost finished with her report as she opened the door for him. So, he entered and was about to close the door when Omasu reminded him of his earliest appointment.

"Shinomori-sama, meeting with the board at ten. Don't forget," she said. "And, oh! Miss Makimachi called earlier. She said to call her as soon as possible." With that, she bowed and closed the door.

He sighed as he put down all the papers he received and sat down. He hasn't been acting as owner for even five minutes and yet he can already feel the strain of being one. He reached the first piece of paper from his desk and quickly scanned its contents. He crumpled and threw it at the wastebasket, then reached into the next paper. He repeated this process several times, occasionally setting aside a piece of paper. After reading all of them, he called his secretary in.

"Hai, Shinomori-sama," Omasu said as she entered the office and bowed to him.

He motioned for her to sit down, then handed her the papers he saved. "Have those faxed to Sagara and tell him to send me a full report before the end of the day," he paused, glancing at her before continuing. "And connect me to Misao."

Omasu nodded. "Is that all, sir?"

"Yes. You may go now," he said.

She stood up and bowed before exiting the office.

Aoshi whirled his chair around and stopped when he was already facing the glass window. He surveyed the city spread before him, overwhelming his sense of sight with all the buzz happening below him. He was interrupted by the sound of Omasu's voice.

"Sir, Miss Makimachi on line two." Click.

He turned around, picked up the receiver and pushed a button.

"Moshi-moshi," he said.

"Aoshi-sama!" the woman on the other end of the phone said. "Arigatou for calling me back."

"I intended to call you today but you beat me into calling first," he said calmly.

If he were any other man, the woman he is talking to would have thought he was joking. But Aoshi rarely tells a joke, much less even smile at one. Nonetheless, she chuckled in response.

"Gomen ne, Aoshi-sama," she said a few seconds later. "Demo, I wanted to ask you a personal favor," she continued seriously.

Detecting this change of voice, Aoshi replied, "Anything, Misao. As long as it's within my power to do so."

"Arigatou gozaimasu," Misao said. "Ano, you've heard that my shop was broken-in, ne?"

"Hai," he replied. "I already sent Sagara into investigating that one earlier."

"Nani?! Demo, you didn't have to do that," she protested.

"I keep watch on all my friends, remember? And surprisingly, you've been having a lot of mishaps lately," Aoshi said, reminding her as if he was talking to a child.

She sighed. "I know. And that's part of what I wanted to ask you," she paused. "Aoshi-sama," her voice dropped, "I received a death threat this morning and, ano…"

"What?" Aoshi said calmly, his voice only raised a little, indicating vaguely a hint of his surprise or alarm, whatever it may be.

"Aoshi-sama," Misao pleaded, "don't make me repeat it. It's scaring me as it is."

"Gomen, Misao," he said, voice back to normal. "Continue. You were saying?"

She sighed, took a deep breath and said, "Ano, can you lend me one of your bodyguards for awhile? Please? I… I may sound paranoid and all, demo, I'm afraid to go out alone now. Even just outside my shop. I know I can defend myself against thugs and thieves and… demo, it's the first time I've had this kind of threat and I don't know if I can still react like I used to when I'm attacked now. Aoshi-sama, I don't like sounding like a wimp, demo, I can't help it right now as that's what I feel. So, ano… Aoshi-sama?" She ended, almost cracking up. But she didn't because she does not want Aoshi to know that it's already affecting her that much. It was already hard for her to ask his help and she does not want any more concern coming from him aside from the one he already has.

"Alright," Aoshi said finally, after a few seconds of silence. "I'll send Shikijou to you right away. But," he said, "you have to promise me that you'll call if there's anything, and I mean anything, that you find suspicious or alarming. Alright?"

"Hai," Misao answered, as her fear is slowly lifted from hearing Aoshi's calm voice and command.

"On a lighter note," Aoshi continued, "do you have a date already for tonight?"

"Iie," she said, hope, replacing the remnants of fear, was evident in her reply, as she awaits what Aoshi will say next.

"Will you go as my date, then?" he asked. "It would serve as a double purpose for me. One, I can keep my eye on you the whole time. Two, I'll be enjoying my own party more as you'll keep me entertained with your ramblings."

"Aoshi-sama!" Misao exclaimed, laughing at what he said. She couldn't believe that Aoshi would grace her with words that would resemble a joke. But then, his voice still didn't change from his calm one so she is quite sure she is not hallucinating. "Hai," she replied finally, after calming herself, "it would be my pleasure."

"Good," he acknowledged. "I will pick you up at five. We will dress at my residence so better have your dress delivered at your boutique before that time."

"Hai. And, Aoshi-sama," she paused. "Arigatou."

Aoshi grunted his welcome and they bid each other goodbye. After replacing the receiver, he spoke to Omasu and asked her to send Shikijou in.

A/N: I would like to thank those who reviewed. I hope I get more after posting this chapter. =) Anyway, Omasu, if I remember correctly, is one of the Oniwabanshuu who lives with Misao in Aioya. She's the one with the short hair. Shikijou is another member of the Oniwabanshuu and he is the one who uses a chain sort-of weapon. Any corrections will be accepted. Again, thanks for reading.

A/N take 3: To Jason M. Lee, megami no ushi, Noa, SGG-chan, and Diablo: Gomen for the mistakes and arigatou for correcting me. I only remember Okon and Shiro well from the four minor members of the Oniwabanshuu and I had to guess who I wanted Aoshi's secretary from the two remaining names that I researched. Well, you saw that I guessed wrong… hmmm, that must be the reason why I fail my quizzes in school! XD Moving on, for Shikijou, I was not feeling well when I typed this so I must have read u as an n since I know that I have that one right. =D And for Vesca, you guessed right! It was a good novel and I was inspired by it. I'm glad someone else has read that book and recognized it as my concept for this story. Arigatou again for all you reviewers! Ja!