Heaven's Intervention

Author's Notes: OMG! I'm alive! Hurrah! I'm sorry for being very slow in updating. I really am a slow writer, especially since there are times that I find it very hard to convey what I want you readers to see. But anyway, here's the chapter. As promised, something about the plan regarding Misao's welfare is revealed. And some Aoshi-Misao fluff, likewise some thoughts of Aoshi regarding the whole mission. :D

And a reminder… This is AU so OOCness will come out and jump you. I'm trying to keep them in character but… Well.

Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin and all known characters from the animé, movies, oavs and/or manga are not mine. I'm merely borrowing them characters for my active imagination. The character of Mutsumi here, however, is mine. Also, this is inspired by Jude Deveraux's An Angel for Emily.

Working on the Plan

After several weeks of torture to Chou which was being taken care of by Kaoru, Misao had gotten quite comfortable hanging out with Soujirou and Kamatari. She had had them accompany her to her boutique, showing them drafts of her designs and the actual creations. They seemed very interested in knowing how she works, and she gladly told them how, in bits and pieces, every time she has the chance to talk to them. Especially with the chaos of her upcoming fashion show, which will launch her new line of dresses for women who have more years tucked in their cards.

But those times of trying to gain some new friends were limited, as Aoshi suddenly seemed to want her presence in almost every single business-mixed-with-pleasure lunches, dinners, and even breakfast. Omasu would call her to get ready and 'wear something nice' with twenty minutes at the least preparation time before his silver, heavily tinted car would roll onto the street of her apartment.

Just like today, Misao was lazily stretching on her bed, the sheets tangling with her limbs, when the phone on her bedside table rang, startling her and fully wakening her up. She wanted to groan as she reached for the receiver but truthfully, she was very pleased. She got to see her Aoshi-sama more often than she did since she and her grandfather moved out from the Shinomori Mansion. So, who was she to complain? But then, it's still so very early in the morning.

Groggily, she picks up the phone and muttered almost incoherently, "20 minutes?" fully expecting Omasu to be at the other end. So she was startled one more time when a very male voice answered back.

"Really, Misao," Aoshi said with a subtle hint of amusement in his voice. "You want to see me that soon after last night?"

Last night, he didn't immediately take her home after having dinner. He took her to a teahouse where they stayed for more than an hour. Misao babbled on and on. Aoshi would nod and his lips would move very slightly to form a smile of sorts when she tells a funny story. What made it rather peculiar and made her blush when she thought about it now, was that his eyes never left her. The only times they did was when they made an order and when he paid their bill.

"Aoshi-sama!" she exclaimed and then giggled. "Iie. I thought it was you who wanted to see me already," she said jokingly. It seemed that over the past weeks, Aoshi has melted, and so she didn't have much qualms over joking with him. Even a little bit of flirting was not that strange anymore as he seems to flirt back in his own icy, stoic way.

"Hmmm," he muttered, in lieu of a laugh that was clearly evident in his voice. "Omasu is currently doing an errand for me so I'm calling." He paused and Misao heard the muffled voice of Hanya telling Aoshi about a meeting with Kenshin in 20 minutes. "Anyway, Misao. I guess you heard. I have a lot of meetings scheduled today so I won't be able to see you. Shikijou will be there in 2 ½ hours to accompany you to your shop and wherever. Ok?" he continued, his voice becoming brisk.

"Hai," she said softly, careful not to voice out her dismay that she won't be seeing him for the day.

"Right." And before she could utter another word, he hung up the phone, and she dimly heard Hanya on the background reminding Aoshi of the time.

Sighing, Misao slowly put down the phone and laid back down. She has gotten used to seeing Aoshi everyday since her boutique has been broken into, even if it was usually just for an hour or two, with his business associates usually present. At first, she was puzzled as to why Aoshi wants to be with, rather, see her everyday when before, he only calls for her when he needs a new suit, when there's a dinner with friends, when there's a party and he needs a replacement date, or when he is hosting a party. But lately… she sighed again. It was still early to ponder such confusing thoughts. So, she closed her eyes and went back to sleep.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"Soujirou," Misao called out as she bent over her table and shuffled various papers.

The young model poked his head into her office. "Hai?"

Still bending, she motioned for him to do the same and when he complied, she pointed to one of the papers, which showed one of her designs.

"You'll be wearing these on the show," she told him, as she leafed through the stack and pointed out to him various teenage boys' clothes.

"Makimachi-san, these designs are already being sewn?" Soujirou asked.

"Mmm," she nodded. "I usually draw them and bring them over to the seamstress or tailor right after."

"Oh."

"Why?"

"I'm just interested if there are some drawn that are still in progress and open for modifications," he said with a shrug.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"You make me want to scream," Kaoru threatened, her eyes blazing with anger as she looked at Chou who was glaring back at her.

"Aren't you screaming now?" he answered back, jutting his chin out.

Eyes widening, Kaoru looked at him with disbelief. "Why… You… Do you want to get kicked!"

"You've said that a hundred times before and you never once did it."

"Are you sure you want to continue this?"

"You've said that before, too."

"Are you trying to provoke me?"

"Aren't you already?"

Misao has heard enough for the day so she moved forward to where the two (and all the other models) were.

"Please, it's too early for that," she said, earning identical glares from the two. She just snorted at their actions. "Kaoru, I'll handle them for now. Just make sure all the other clothes are being prepared already. We have less than a month and only half are done. I have to see the effect on them."

Kaoru looked indignant. "Are you bossing me around!"

"Yes. Is there any problem?" Misao answered evenly.

A look of disbelief crossed Kaoru's face before she breathed out with disgust. "Fine!" And she stomped away from the ramp to disappear at the stairs connecting the lower floor to the offices above.

Misao shook her head at Kaoru's retreating back before facing the models. She eyed them one by one, her eyes resting a bit longer on Chou's with a decisive glint on her eyes, before clapping her hands for their attention.

"Ok! Let's have a rundown of the order of the show," she said briskly as she paced slowly around the ramp. "First would come the summer dresses and loose-shirts. Then the swimwear, then the formal summer wear, and lastly, the new line for women." The models nodded when she looked at them. They were actually more afraid of her than at Kaoru for she's stricter and more prone to throwing a fit when things don't go her way.

She nodded back. "Let's have a look, then," she said, then motioned to Shikijou to start the music.

On cue, the models strutted on the catwalk, one by one, some wearing Misao's creations, others wearing their own as their assigned clothes have not been sewed yet. Eyeing the models critically, the designer mentally ticks off the persons who need improvement. She doesn't show any outward reaction but the models know better. After everyone has walked on the ramp, Misao stood up from her seat and approached the end of the ramp where the models gathered.

Giving them all a once-over, she then narrowed her eyes and looked at the offenders one by one as she told them of their mistakes.

"You're slouching."

"Too cocky."

"Wide steps."

"You were in a hurry."

"You weren't focused."

At long last, she looked at Chou and her eyes narrowed even more. All the other models tried hard not to grimace at the sure loud exchange of biting comments and retorts.

"I don't know how Mutsumi-san thought you can be a model. Maybe she wasn't looking when it was your turn to walk down the ramp. Your steps are narrow. You looked like you're going to trip at your own feet. You need to lift your upper torso and free your arms more. Your gaze was just straight, you don't look at the audience. You lifted your head too high it looked like it would snap off from your neck."

Misao paused as she took a big breath and Chou took this as an opportunity to have his say.

"She thought I had potential. But it seems that you, oh-esteemed designer and that owner of a tanuki are bent on being blind of it! I don't know what I did that made me deserve this kind of treatment. You may be the designer but-"

"Oh, you don't know, do you?" Misao cut in. She was already seething when he dared talk just because she ran out of breath. And what about those accusations? How dare he! "The only potential I see in you is your height! You appear too arrogant for my designs and-" She stopped mid-sentence when she felt an all-too familiar presence behind her before it even spoke just seconds later.

"Misao."

She turned around, a smile spreading across her face as she looked at the newly arrived person in the room.

"Aoshi-sama. What are you doing here?" she asked as she stood on tiptoe to give him a peck on the cheek.

Aoshi let his eyes sweep around the room first before focusing again on the petite girl in front of him. "Lunch," he said simply and he watched as Misao's face lit up.

She turned back to the other occupants of the room and announced, "Two hours, everyone." Signaling to Aoshi that she'll be back, she quickly went to the room where the clothes were and came back out minutes later talking to Kaoru on her phone.

"I gave them two hours, ok? … Yes, yes… Shut up, Kao… Fine… Bye." She turned off her cellphone and grinned at Aoshi. "Let's go."

-.-.-.-.-.-.-

They were dining at Little Rome, a quaint little restaurant that boasted of authentic Italian dishes and atmosphere. It was modest in size, with little tables scattered around, perfect for intimate dining. But it's one of those restaurants that's hard to get a table in, and whose reservation list extends up to a weeklong. But Aoshi Shinomori didn't have any problems getting a table for two. In fact, he didn't even have Hanya call the restaurant in advance to warn them of his coming. The moment his car pulled in front of the eatery, the management and staff scurried to prepare a table in a corner and hurried to the entrance to meet the computer tycoon and his guest.

Lunch was a light-hearted affair, with Misao providing the usual entertainment of chattering non-stop about everything, pausing only to feed herself once in a while. Aoshi would only nod or grunt or say one to three words to convey that he was listening. Over dessert, the petite designer decided that she's going to make the stoic man in front of her talk.

Steering the conversation away from her, she asked as she paused spooning some gelato into her mouth, "Ne, Aoshi-sama, aside from your usual boring work like signing papers and meeting officials, what's keeping you busy these days?" She grinned at him, as if urging him to answer her question before finally eating her ice cream.

Aoshi put down his glass and looked like he was contemplating his answer. "Dating, I suppose," he said finally, before he began eating his own dessert, a cheesecake.

Eyes widening, Misao felt a mix of jealousy and hope as she looked at him. She had to ask "Who?" which came out in a very girlish manner, as curiosity filled her.

Pausing midway in taking a bite, Aoshi looked at her meaningfully, telling without words who he was dating, before continuing to eat the cake, his eyes still on hers.

Almost choking on her ice cream when the meaning of his gaze sank in, the designer felt her cheeks heat up and her grin widen. Thank Kami the lights were a bit dim in their place and the shades were drawn down to block the noon sun.

"Eh?" was the only word she could utter at the moment, unless her heart cooperates and slows down to its normal beat, and her face tones down to its normal shade. It sounded like a squeak, too, as she couldn't stop grinning.

Forever maintaining a cool mask on his face, though his eyes showed amusement, he took a piece of his cake and offered it to the blushing Misao. "Taste?"

Surprised at his gesture, she struggled to find her voice and some words, her mouth opening and starting to say, "Uh..." before she got cut-off by the gentle push of the cake into her mouth. Unable to do anything else, she clamped her mouth shut and chewed on the cake, all the while imagining her face to be as red as a ripe tomato.

Aoshi remained to be unfazed, as he continued eating what was left of his dessert. He barely showed any emotion throughout the entire exchange, save from the momentary twinkle in his eyes. But inside, he was a surge of emotions. He was amused at his companion's lack of speech from his casual announcement. He had been debating with himself on whether to act out his intentions to her or remain passive, just like the human whose body he possessed, the Aoshi Shinomori.

He hasn't found out yet who wants Misao and Angel Michael has already talked to him several times, reminding him that the mission was supposed to be short, that he should have discovered who it was already. He has also been alerted on his actions regarding his ward, that he should not get too close for he'll be leaving her once the mission was completed. Aoshi was not sure but he thought he heard a worried tone from the head of the angels. He was trying very hard not to get close, but the opportunity to be with the ward he cared for the most was too much to disregard. She was there, right now, and he liked how he could make her smile, blush, stammer…

He was falling for her and that's forbidden, taboo in the laws of their heavenly realm. Guardians and wards were supposed to stay like that: one who protects and one who needs protection. Never crossing the line between utmost concern and love. That's why missions such as this were very rare, especially when the two were of the opposite genders. Because the consequences of crossing that line would be hard, maybe even damaging to both the guardian and the ward. Recollections of each other were erased, leaving gaps and lapses in their memories. The angel would be given a new ward and the human would be assigned a new protector. The angel would never glimpse the ward's face ever again even if he already can't remember anything. They may sound inconsequential but even after all that, they would always have a lingering, empty feeling that something's missing, something's lacking. They wouldn't be able to pinpoint it and they wouldn't feel completely happy, fulfilled, even as years, hundreds even, would pass by.

But despite knowing this, Aoshi felt himself pulled towards the bubbly Misao, who has now overcome her sudden shyness and was babbling on again as if nothing out of the ordinary happened. The only indication from her that something did happen was her refusal of eye contact with him and her sudden blushing whenever she caught his eyes' perpetual gaze on her.

Overall, the perky designer was mentally jumping up and down and screaming with delight at the development of her relationship with the stoic man. Whereas, the computer genius was having a mixed feeling of happiness, amusement, concern, confusion, and apprehension on what would be the outcome of his mission.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-

The few lamps that were lit in the room barely illuminated the dark chamber. Several shadows moved eerily on the walls and the flickering lights would create a ghostly appearance on the occupants of the closed quarters. The room was furnished with low chairs and tables, lining the walls, facing each other. Seven of them were occupied, all waiting silently. There was an elevated portion at the end of the room, where an armchair was position amidst a backdrop of spring in old Japan and huge jars stood on either side of it. Three persons were sitting on their heels, heads bowed, their right hand fisted against the floor, and their left fisted over their heart. A woman stood at the left side of the armchair.

It was a gathering of perhaps the most feared and ruthless group in the underground world.

A door sliding open and close was heard and two sets of footsteps followed. From behind the framework appeared a tall man garbed in black gi and hakama, a sword attached at his side. His long, black hair was tied up in a high ponytail, a few bangs framing his smooth face. A petite woman, with short hair that was pulled into a bun, followed him. She was wearing a loose red, long-sleeved shirt, loose black pants, and a white scarf tied on her neck. She stopped at the edge of the platform while the man continued on up to sit at the armchair.

A moment of silence followed as the man, the leader of the group, examined everyone in the room, his gaze lingering at the three individuals kneeling down in front of him.

"Have you earned her trust?" he asked.

A young man and woman answered together. "Hai."

Raising an eyebrow at the lack of response from the third person, "And why are you silent?" he demanded.

"I…"

When he couldn't continue, the leader started standing up when the woman standing on his left touched his arm and began whispering.

"Stupid, arrogant fool!" he bellowed, and the other occupants visibly blanched before glaring at the fool.

"But we will proceed as planned," the leader told them as everyone turned their attention back to him. "In one week, we will take her… and we'll be paid handsomely. Right?" he looked at the woman standing near the platform.

An evil grin broke out on her face. "Hai."

"Good. You may now all go."

All the occupants of the room took their leave, except for the woman who stood on his left. A bandaged hand grabbed her face, pulling it down to his.

"Shishio," she murmured, before their lips met in a bruising kiss.

Last Notes: Before I forget, I just want to warn you that the main reason why Misao's in danger in the first place may sound too shallow. I never really realized it until I was writing the last part of this chapter. ; Oh, well. You've been forewarned. Explanations on why it is shallow will come when the time for Misao to go poof comes. Before I forget, I just want to warn you that the main reason why Misao's in danger in the first place may sound too shallow. I never really realized it until I was writing the last part of this chapter. ; Oh, well. You've been forewarned. Explanations on why it shallow will come when the time for Misao to go comes.

Thank you for reading!