Heaven's Intervention
Author's Notes: I'm alive! *lolz* Gomen ne, for the long update, minna. Demo, I've been struggling with problems on how to put into words what I've been imagining to happen with this fic and also because I'm quite busy with some other things. However, here it is, the next chapter. :)
I've gotten quite, erm, confusing with the first part as it often changed in POVs. I hope you won't get confused. Then, I've tried to concentrate on one POV per part of this chapter. Just tell me if it's confusing so that I'll try some damage control. =P
Anyway, Misao Silent-mode asked me if there's another angel here in this fic aside from Aoshi. The answer is no. There are no other angels that walk the earth except for Aoshi in this fic. I hope that answers your question although I'm curious as to who you thought was the other one. Then, tesuka-chan asked what really is Aoshi's company all about. Generally, they develop computer systems and software. They develop hardware and software. They also have some security system that you'll find out later that Kenshin uses. :D
Disclaimers: Nope. Not mine. *sigh* Except for, ahem, me. You'll get why as soon as you start reading. :)
The Party
Aoshi tore his eyes away from the window to nod at his chauffeur. Seconds later, the door was opened by Hanya, and Misao and Omasu went out first and followed him to the lone yacht waiting at the dock. Aoshi came last and lingered for a bit to issue last minute instructions to Beshimi and Shikijou.
"Alright?" he asked the two.
"Hai," Beshimi and Shikijou answered at the same time.
With a nod, Aoshi headed to the dock while fastening the buttons on his coat to keep it from flailing wildly with the wind. He looked up to see that Misao had positioned herself on the side of the yacht while Omasu and Hanya were nowhere in sight.
She was leaning on the rail. Her ebony tresses whipped wildly by the blowing wind. The ends of her shawl flapped behind her. Her loose pants ruffled against the air. She looked like she was enjoying the cool January wind on her face.
And he had never seen anything more lovely than what he is watching right now.
He almost stopped in his tracks to observe her more. But reminding himself on the task at hand, he moved on and climbed the yacht. He gave the navigator a nod as he called out to Misao to get inside.
It was a short trip. Ten minutes and men were already tying the yacht to the dock. The passengers went out and Misao held back to admire the view before hurrying to catch up with Aoshi. Hanya and Omasu already went ahead to do their designated tasks.
Aoshi led Misao through the garden to the side door of the mansion. She hasn't been to the island after she and her grandfather moved out, but she still remembers much about the place to know where they're heading.
The mansion is surrounded by a vast garden, with pathways leading to the two docks at the left side and front of the house, to the helipad at the right, and to the open area at the back, in the center of the main garden. Flowers and shrubs of every kind grew there. Trimmed hedges lined the pathways. And sakura trees softened the glare of the setting sun.
He led her to the study and held the door open for her. It looked like she had remembered when she was little, if not more filled with books. She was standing behind a table and from there, she could see the whole room clearly. Bookshelves lined the two sides of the room and paintings and pictures were showcased at the wall facing her.
"You can admire the whole house all-over again tomorrow," Aoshi said, earning a startled look from her and a sheepish grin. "But for now, we must get dressed," and he opened the other door for her.
He was leading her to the stairs when quick footsteps were heard followed by a bellowed, "Aoshi!"
They turned around to see a tall woman hurrying her steps to get to them. She is garbed in a light pink mid-length dress that sparkled with beads and sequins sewn to it. Her short flyaway blue-black hair bounced about her shoulders. Although she is almost running to reach them, her appearance projects calm. But her eyes prove otherwise as blue embers flashed underneath curled lashes.
She stopped her stride when she was mere inches from Aoshi. She stared at him, almost eye-to-eye with the help of her high heels, took a deep breath, and…
"How dare you do this to me! How many times do I have to tell you that I'm sick and tired of preparing your parties for you?! You told me that the last year was the last, but what did I see the moment I stepped into this house? Problems! Kuro was up on his toes trying to decide what dessert he'll make that you're going to like. Whether he should bake a cake, toss some fruits, or make sweet onigiri! Then, Shiro started nagging me on how he will direct the guards and escorts around the house as soon as I told Kuro what to make! I'm already a married woman, for Kami's sake! I shouldn't be allowed to have this burden! It's only the start of the year and you're already giving me headaches and…"
She was jabbing her forefinger to Aoshi's chest as she talked. Aoshi merely looked at her with no emotion as he listened, and as soon as he had enough, he grabbed her hand and kissed her cheek to shut her up.
Her reaction to his affection was to put her hands on her hips and frown at him.
"Am I or am I not your wife?" she demanded.
"You're my cousin," he replied smoothly.
"Then find one already!" she shouted as she threw her hands in the air in frustration. "I know I'm the only cousin you'll ever have but by God! Find yourself a woman! I can't always hold the responsibility of playing hostess at your and my husband's parties. And both of you have one every…"
"Mutsumi," Aoshi interjected.
"Ano, Mi-san," Misao said at the same time.
Having been cut-off for the second time, she glared at Aoshi before turning her head to smile warmly at Misao.
"Gomen ne, Misao," she said, pecking the younger woman's cheeks. "I was going to greet you earlier but my anger got the best of me and…"
"Imouto," Aoshi interrupted. "The party?"
Mutsumi glared at him again. "That's the third time, Aoshi. You're going to pay for that somehow as soon as I thought of how. And what room?" she asked as she had already taken hold of Misao's hand and had started leading her up the stairs.
"Princess," Aoshi answered as he slowly followed up.
The two women disappeared after turning right at the top of the stairs while he continued forward.
~*~
"Iie, Okon. Place it there… That's right," Mutsumi was saying to her personal assistant as she instructed the woman on how to do her hair while probing on her private life. "Are you sure, Misao?" she asked her again as she turned back to her and peered at her through the mirror. "You're already in your mid-twenties and you still haven't got a boyfriend! Okon, twist it…"
"Demo, Mi-san," she answered as Mutsumi continued her instructions to Okon. "No decent guy has approached me ever since I became famous. All they want is to be associated with my fame," she told the older woman as she turned her head sideways to inspect her updo. "Besides, no one has reached my standards."
"Your Aoshi standards, you mean?" Mutsumi teased her, as she dismissed Okon with the order to bring her daughter to her.
"Mi-san!" she protested as she stood up from the vanity mirror and let Mutsumi inspect her.
"Good… Perfect," were the praises she got. "Now, all we need is for Aoshi to…"
"Mi-san!"
"Maa, maa," Mutsumi said and grinned at her. "By the way, I've already told Kaoru about this and she'll be the one to tell Sayo." She paused as she looked into the mirror to smooth her dress. "I've discovered some new models and I've arranged for them to meet all of us on Monday. One of them is quite old," she continued as she motioned for her to follow her out of the room. "Almost my age, but, she'll be perfect for that new line of yours."
"Mmm…" she replied, following Mutsumi out the door and closing it behind her.
They slowly walked on the hallway, discussing several matters on the same subject when they were met by Aoshi carrying a small bundle with him that struggled out from his hold when it saw them.
"'Kaa-san! Oba-san!"
"Pai," she exclaimed as she scooped the little girl into her arms and gave it a kiss. "Ne, how old are you now?"
"Ummm…" Pai thought as she looked at her mother who smiled at her encouragingly. "Two…?" and held up two fingers for them to see.
"Very good!" and she gave the girl another kiss.
"I hate to interrupt your playtime but guests are already starting to arrive," Aoshi announced and he turned on his heels to go down.
"Well… let's go, shall we?" Mutsumi asked her with a grin.
She just shook her head with a smile which made Pai notice her piled hair and now tried to poke it with her fingers. She dodged it by craning her neck but the girl only giggled and tried harder.
"Come now, Pai," Mutsumi said and took her daughter down. "Let's go and greet oji-san's guests, ne?"
"Haaai," was the reply and the two women laughed as they both held the girl's hands and started down the stairs.
~*~
Businessmen and women from all-over Japan came. Prominent figures from different sectors like actors, actresses, singers, models, designers, and some others arrived. People milled around the garden while waiters and waitresses wove through to offer champagne or hors d'oeuvres. Men dressed all in black lined the perimeter of the island and women in black gowns saw to the needs of the guests.
Misao rarely strayed from Aoshi's side as he conversed with one guest to another. She always interrupted the conversation when it starts to move to something business-related with some excuse she makes up just to refrain Aoshi from getting all mum. She knows that he wants to forego any thought of business for tonight and she's determined to give him that. She entertained him with funny stories; from the time she had left the mansion, even the things she observed in her everyday life. If she couldn't get him out from a discussion, she would silently step aside and would soon be accompanied by Omasu.
There was one time, however, that neither Aoshi nor Omasu was with her. She found herself, instead, in the company of Shura, a famous designer three years her senior.
"I'm so glad we finally meet formally," she said enthusiastically to the other designer.
"Ah, yes," Shura agreed as she looked at her up and down. "Well, how's business doing?" she asked her as she handed her a glass of champagne.
"Thanks," she murmured and took a sip. "It's going very well. I didn't expect it to go well even after three years," she admitted shyly.
"Really?" was the other woman's reaction with a raised eyebrow and a half-smirk, half-smile.
"Uh-huh… You were my idol when I first started, you know. I wasn't sure I'd make it big but…" she was interrupted when somebody bumped into her and made her turn her head around. "I'm sorry, where was I?" she asked as she looked back at Shura and lifted her glass to drink.
~*~
Aoshi was talking to Kenshin Himura, Sanosuke Sagara, and Tsunan Tsukioka, close friends of his. They were discussing different topics concerning their business and personal dealing with one another but it always seem to go back to one particular topic.
Himura is the owner, CEO, and president of the fastest growing chain of shopping malls in Japan. They have been friends ever since their schooldays and one of the few people who know him well to know what is on his mind and how to gauge his temper.
Sagara and Tsukioka are the descendant's of his late father's lawyers who took over the latter's law firm immediately after passing the bar. The two were always dragged by their respective fathers to the Shinomori mansion when his father calls for a meeting. They became constant companions then, although not as close as he is with Kenshin. He has his deepest respects for Tsunan, though, for being able to capture his cousin's wild heart.
"I need your men to inspect the system tomorrow, Aoshi," Kenshin was saying to him.
"You've told me that three times already," he told him, as he sipped on his champagne.
"Yes, I did," Kenshin replied as he shook his red hair from his face. "I just wanted to remind you. Your mind has been wandering," he added knowingly.
He just quirked an eyebrow and looked at his friend placidly before turning his attention back to the raven-haired beauty he's been watching all night.
"When are you going to cut that hair of yours, ne, Kenshin?" Sanosuke asked as he tugged the redhead's ponytail
Kenshin fingered his hair before answering, "Kaoru likes it… and I kind of like it, too," he said with a grin.
"Right… And now… I see the ice man's warming up," Sanosuke teased him as he slapped his back.
"Shut up, Sano," he replied but never glanced at the man.
Kenshin and Tsunan laughed as Sanosuke just grinned and shook his head.
"By the way, Aoshi," Tsunan spoke up as soon as the laughter died down and he looked at him in return. "Where's Omasu? There are some papers that I need her to look up."
"She's with Misao," he answered automatically. "And don't you have your own secretary? Why do you need mine?"
"The papers are within your office," Tsunan replied.
"And Omasu's not with Misao," Sanosuke informed then. "She's with the tanuki," nodding his head towards Kaoru's direction.
"She not…" he trailed off as he looked at Misao. She's wearing a dark blue halter gown with a long slit at the right side. However, as he stared at her, he noticed a dark aura surrounding her, which darkened when somebody had bumped into her. He can't pinpoint from whom that aura is coming from, as his powers are not in their full capacity, but he knows that he or she is near Misao and that his ward is in danger.
"Shit!" he cussed softly and immediately left his friends to make his way quickly to Misao's side just as she had started lifting her glass up.
"Misao," he said as he took her glass from her to prevent her from drinking and handed it to one of the waiters passing by with a silent command. "That's enough alcohol for you tonight," he told her when he saw her startled look. He gave her a small smile to soften his order before turning to acknowledge her companion.
"Shura," he nodded.
"Mr. Shinomori," Shura said with a smile and extended her hand.
"I'm sorry but I have to take Misao from you," he said as he shook her hand.
"That's alright," the designer said with a smile and bowed to him before walking away.
Misao was staring at him with confused eyes.
"What?" he asked her softly as he began leading her to Omasu and Kaoru's side.
"Naze?" she questioned him.
He sighed. "Just a bad feeling," he answered as they neared the two women. "And promise me that you'll always be accompanied by friends, alright?"
She looked at him as if she wanted to argue but instead she answered him, "Hai." And she left him to join Kaoru and Omasu.
He stared at the three women who chatted happily before turning his back and returned to his three friends who he left earlier.
Last notes: I just couldn't resist including myself here. I just couldn't! *grins* The inspiration for my hairstyle would be Yuna from FFX-2. So, just imagine what her hair looks like. :) You might also notice that Aoshi used imouto as a form of affection for me. It's just that. An endearment, since they treat each other like that. And yes, some progress on the danger that Misao is facing. Arigatou for reading and please review. Ja!