Disclaimers on everything that I don't own.

Letters,

By Winterwing3000

Dear Aoshi-sama,

'Kaa-san decided to send me to a girl's camp this summer, just so I could have first-hand experience in survival when lost in the mountains or forests, not that that will ever happen. You must be wondering why, but I'm pretty sure that you already know the answer.

It's because I know that you'll always find me.

Anyways, my first year in middle school was a bit nerve-wrecking. And I really don't like the uniform. A short blue skirt with a matching white blouse. And we have to wear long stockings with dress shoes! I can't run in those, especially when I'm late for class. Kaoru-chan is in a different class, so we don't see each other often, only during lunch so I guess I get pretty lonely at times.

Is this what you go through during your time in high school? Did you meet Hannya-kun and the others here as well?

Your 'kaa-san told me that you were accepted into Princeton, MIT and Tokyo University. Congratulations! Though, I've always wondered why you didn't immediately go into Harvard the year after you were accepted. I personally didn't want you to go, because I'll be missing you a lot.

Well, I've enclosed a small birthday gift for you Aoshi-sama. Just so you don't forget your own birthday! I'm sorry that I can't celebrate it with you this year, since you're in Princeton right now. I hope you have a happy 22nd birthday and enjoy your present!

Love always,

Misao

Dear Misao,

I thank you for your considerate gift. I shall be carrying it with me always, in case I should forget the time.

Yes, I met Hannya and the others in middle school. However, because of the different circumstances back then, girls and boys were separated in the school so there were no quarrels or such.

My refusal to Harvard was because that it was too far from home. Princeton isn't much better, but still only a 10 hour flight from here to Japan. And of course, Hannya and the others are here as well. I also need a three year break before returning to my studies.

I apologize for this shortness of this letter due to the many essays that I am currently working on for tomorrow evening. However, I give you my word that I will write a much lengthier letter to you next time we communicate.

Sincerely,

Aoshi

"Oi, Aoshi! Another present from our dear little Misao-chan. But… I guess she isn't much of a –chan now is she? She's grown into quite a young lady… won't you say, Aoshi?" Hannya said, smirking somewhat as his eyes twinkled with mischief.

"Aa… Arigatou, Hannya." Aoshi mumble, ducking his head to look at the small box directly so that his best friend does not see the minor pinkness on his cheeks.

Grabbing a letter opener, he slid the blade through the masking tape and removed the Styrofoam cushions. Inside, there was a golden picture frame with simple carvings and an abstracted picture inside of it.

Cutouts from various pictures of him and Misao were somehow constructed into a 10x6 photo with a small 1x1 inch square at the corner. Picking it up, he peered closer to read the small red font.

"A & M, 2getha alwaz"

He shook his head and allowed a small laugh to escape his lips at the silliness of the incorrect spelling.

Deep inside, his soul was warmed.

AN: Hoped that everyone liked this chapter! The next one should be up by tomorrow night or Thursday afternoon, depends on my mood.

Moonjava: thank you thank you thank you!

Cry baby: hm, yeah, it is a 'fluffy fic' as you call it. It'll be my first time at trying to write something without angst for an angst-ridden coupling like Aoshi and Misao.

Your fan, and I meant it: eheh, email me and I'll let you know. And I guess you can assume that Megumi married Sanosuke, but there are canon couplings (such a Megumi x Kenshin). And they could pass for cousins. Tall, elegant, black hair, er… and other things. And don't forget, this is AU, anything can be possible.

Mandella-sama: Thank you. And as for your three questions. 1.) No, Aoshi doesn't live very far away. Technically, he lives in the neighborhood, but Tokyo is a really big place with apartments and such, so it seems that he would live farther away from Misao. 2.) No, they're not related. I don't consider writing relationships where the lovers are siblings or family-related. And as for their meeting… hm… I'll answer that in a later chapter, much later. Finally, 3.) Yes, it is possible. If he were born at the beginning of the year (he's born in January), he could enter school during the summer classes in April and work his way up. I'm practically taking the SATs during 16, since I was born right before the school year starts.

legolasEstelstar: Eh, I'm trying to avoid a really deep plot because then I'll have to start analyzing their relationship and get into really deep detail about it. My goal for this is to take things lightly and try to form a really small plot that circles around romance and humor. But thank you for the suggestion. I'll consider it thoroughly while I write another AxM fic in the near future (or really deep into the future). And as I've written on the summary, it is only 10 chapters, so things will be going rather rapidly. But at this rate, I might have to cut it down even more. Perhaps 8 chapters rather than 10? If so, I'll add a few bonus chapters. Lol, what does Hannya call Aoshi? Well… that's a secret! –winks-

MoMo-ChAn1: Lol, I guess that this is a bit of a different view from my perspective on their relationship, but soon, it'll change. I'm trying to make things grow between them from when they were young to when they're all matured. Well, more on Misao's case actually, since Aoshi's pretty much an adult during her 7th birthday. And yeah, AU is much easier to write, since I doubt that Aoshi and Misao have been secretly exchanging letters throughout their lives after Aoshi left Aoiya with the others.