AN: 'Candy' by Buck and utterly freakin awesome song!!!!! Moving on..

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Chapter 3: Are You A Kendo or a KenDon't!

Misao opened her eyes and smiled as she remembered what day it was. Jumping up she began getting ready for the day, full of energy that would give even the calmest squirrels a heart attack.

"Kendo club day!! Kendo club day! Aoshi-senpai picks a new Vice-Prez today!!" she chanted to herself in the shower as she did a little dance.

Aoshi merely grumbled and pulled the covers over his head more as he could vaguely make out her chipper singing. He merely closed his eyes and sighed as Misao padded out of the bathroom in uniform and jumped to the foot of her bed to put her shoes on.

Unable to sleep with Misao's not-so-silent movements, Aoshi grumbled once more and sat up, the covers pooling at his waist as Misao blinked at him and gaped at his bare chest. Bare muscular chest as Aoshi rubbed his eyes and got out of bed, clad only in black pajama pants that were riding low on his hips.

Misao gulped and looked away quickly, feeling her cheeks redden as Aoshi silently walked into the bathroom and soon Misao heard the sound of running shower water. Her mind began forming semi-lecherous thoughts as she wished to jump up and hop in there with him.

"Ah, you dirty dirty girl. Get your mind out of the gutter." she mumbled to herself and then felt the soft rumbling of her stomach and groaned. Grabbing her bed she left the room and headed for the cafeteria as a half-asleep Aoshi stepped out of the shower and yawned.

Today was the day he would decide on a second-in-command for Kendo Club. It was perhaps a good thing Misao had awoken him early, as now he had time to prepare. If only his team knew what those who wanted to be his second in command had to do. As if he would simply decide off the top of his head? No. He would judge on skill.

Putting on his outfit he glanced over towards Misao's side of the room, which was slightly messy and wondered how Misao could get up so early and still be energetic. Then again, he had heard rumors that Misao often fell asleep in her afternoon classes.

Not that it was going to damage Misao's GPA at all. Aoshi knew Misao was one of the top 10 students at Ajisai, him being the top student tied with Kenshin. He hated to admit it, but in certain studies Misao was actually currently outranking him, such as language. But Aoshi did not obsess it, and found it re-assuring at least that his current room mate was smart and not the Slacker King Sano.

Placing all the belongings he would need for the morning, he grabbed his boken and headed out of the room and stifled a yawn as his body craved sustenance in the form of his favorite beverage: green tea.

He mentally reviewed his day's schedule.

9 AM: Calculus 3.

11 AM: Astro-Physics

1:30 PM: English 4

3-5 PM- Free time, use for meditation and/or practice

5:30 PM- Kendo Club, decide Vice-President

7 PM- Dinner-study with Misao

8 PM- self-study English

11 PM- attempt sleep depending on Misao's noisiness

With everything in check, Aoshi proceeded on with his day.

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Misao glanced at the clock which taunted and teased her with the promise of 5:30 pm as she anxiously awaited kendo club.

'I hope I get it!! I hope he picks me!!!!'

She completely ignored the fact that she had been grinding her pencil against the desk until she heard a snapping noise. Her face flushed as she looked down at the broken remains.

Sinking lower in her chair, she scratched at her braid which she kept tucked in her jacket as she ignored her classmates' stares.

'Oh screw it, they already think I'm weird.'

Feeling her stomach grumble, she winced.

'Damn all this anticipation is working up my appetite! I better get a good lunch today. Oh, Aoshi-sama BETTER pick me for all the trouble I'm giving myself over this!!!! Oh to be his right-hand man...well girl...oh geez, stupid coffee.'

Her stomach's grumbling grew louder as she sank lower in her chair.

As lunch time came for Misao, she practically ran to the cafeteria tray in hand as she piled it up with food and snacks. Setting her hefty lunch down at a table, Sanosuke and Kenshin blinked as they saw the large amount of food.

"Geez Makimachi, been starving or something?"

"Ehh? Pipe down Rooster boy, I got a long night ahead with kendo club."

"Ah, that's right. Aoshi has to pick a Vice President de gozaru."

"Yep! And I'm shooting for it with everything I have!" she said, making a fist and crumbling a rice ball within it.

"How...ambitious." Sano muttered, chewing on a small fishbone.

"Well not to brag, but I think I have the skill necessary to be Aoshi-senpai's second in command."

"I don't think non-stop rambling and quick-talking are the required skills." Sanosuke teased and Misao repsonded by throwing a bran muffin at his head.

"Baka!! This is serious to me!!" Misao yelled.

"As it should be."

Misao stiffened and turned her head to see Aoshi sit down next to her and began laughing nervously.

"Aoshi-senpai! I....erm....I got to go!" Misao said, quickly gathering her things as she bolted out of the cafeteria.

Aoshi watched her go and shook his head and proceeded to eat his lunch.

"You know Shinomori, I think Makimachi has a thing for you." Sanosuke muttered, eating the Bran Muffin of Death Misao hurdled at him.

Kenshin choked a bit on his mashed potatoes and Aoshi glared at Sano.

"Oh come on Shinomori, you know you've heard things. I like Makimachi, don't get me wrong, but I mean he obviously doesn't go straight. He's a total blue."

"Blue?"

"It's a color scale. Orange/red means you're straight, indigo means you're bisexual, fuschia means you're bi but lean towards women, violet means you're bi but lean towards men, blue means you're gay, brown means you're metrosexual." Sanosuke explained.

"Where did you get that information from?" Kenshin asked.

"Honjou Kamatari explained it one night when we all went out drinking."

"That sounds like something Honjou-san would come up with, de gozaru."

"So you're saying Misao is a homosexual and is in love with me?" Aoshi asked, his voice laced with anger.

"Look Shinomori, I'm not trying to offend ya or Makimachi but come on. He acts like a freakin girl and especially around you. Why do you think he's so keen on being your second in command? I mean haven't you noticed the looks he gives you. Now I don't know about your preferences aside from what I hear, but last time I checked from our rooming days you were straight. Just keep this in mind."

Aoshi, who would normally respond with a punch for that, contemplated Sanosuke's words. He didn't want to think about it and yet....there was some odd amount of truth in the words. He wasn't sure how it made him feel though...if it was any other guy he'd most likely keep distance, but it was Misao. And for some reason, something about Misao...made him unsure of what to think.

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At five pm Misao burst into the gym for kendo club, realizing she was half an hour early and not even Aoshi had showed up yet.

"Alright! I can get some more practice in!"

Setting her bags down, she grabbed her bokken and got into a stance, and began practicing swings. She twirled with a grace few in the kendo club had. Though her small frame had some disadvantages, she had speed and dexterity that was extremely high. Her mind focused on the bokken, as if it was a extension of her. It wasn't just that she wanted to be close to Aoshi...she wanted to..needed to prove herself.

That she was more than this strange character who was random and loud. That she could do something, that she could be great. And this was the one thing she felt confident in, her skills in this club.

As she practiced, she didn't notice Aoshi's arrival as he stood in the gym doorway watching her move. Every thrust and turn she made, every stance....was amazing. He knew Misao was good, but he never noticed her amongst the others. In truth, he never really took time to notice that she had such skill.

She stopped, sensing Aoshi's presence and smiled at him.

"Aoshi-senpai! I was just practicing before we started."

"Aa. I could tell." he said, approaching her as he set his things down.

"I'm sure you know I'm aiming to be your second in command. And I also assumed you weren't going to make the decision so lightly just on thought. It would never be that easy with you."

He merely looked down at her, and for a moment he really could swear she was a girl. He shook his head and turned away.

"Astute as usual, Misao. It will not be easy."

"That's fine. I'm prepared for anything."

As the other members of the kendo club filed in, Misao sat down the mats and waited. Aoshi paced before them all and then stood still.

"As you all know, today I shall decide on a new Vice-President of the Kendo Club. If you think I am basing thing purely on thought, think again. It takes both brains and skills. A Vice-President must be able to almost if not match the skills of the President...me. Whoever wants the position must face myself in a match, and not just a simple kendo match. A real duel."

There were collective gasps as everyone knew Aoshi was the most skilled swordsman on campus. His techniques were growing legendary.

A few members stood, including Misao.

Aoshi called on his first opponent, a second year named Takanori Michiba.

The fight lasted three minutes as Aoshi dodged Michiba's strike easily and sent the boy to the mats.

His second opponent was third year student Uchiha Kyosuke. It was a longer match, but fifteen minutes later, Kyosuke was on the floor.

Aoshi fought a few opponents, until all left to challenge was Misao.

She took a stance ten feet away from him, and gazed at him with as least emotion as she could.

And then the match began. Misao realized right away Aoshi's blows held more strength and that he was fast. She was going to have to work around that. As they parried more blows, Misao knew she'd have to rely on evasion until she could think of something.

Aoshi for his part realized the same, and knew she was evading him to her best...and she was good at it. Because Misao lacked as much strength, she compensated with speed. Aoshi almost smiled. It was a good match so far.

As twenty minutes passed they were still fighting and Misao was glad that she had managed to get some hits in and that she was still able to move. It was time to being out some newer techniques. Sliding her bokken across her back, she twisted and hit him, sending him staggering back.

Aoshi was surprised. And thus he unconsciously began his most skilled technique, Kaiten Kenbu. A mixture of offense and defense. Attack with sword, defend with jujitsu. Misao stilled for a moment, realizing what was happening. She quickly attempted to block, but ultimately was sent staggering to the mat. She looked up at the ceiling, gasping for breath.

"Kaiten...Kenbu...what a technique.." she murmured.

Aoshi looked down at his bokken, and then at her.

That he had resorted to Kaiten Kenbu....

His decision was made.

Holding out his hand to Misao, he helped her to her feet and she staggers a bit, leaning on him for support.

"Makimachi Misao is our new Vice-President."

Misao's eyes widened and then they closed as she smiled.

And then the rest was a blur.

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Damn my brain is tapped. Sorry for shortness guys.