Author's Note:

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Chapter 2: Lessons in Outcast Etiquette

Misao sorted through her locker aimlessly, not really looking for any object in particular, but more so lost in thought. Her mind was a jumbled jigsaw of scattered pieces all centered around one relevant fact.

Shinomori Aoshi had kissed her.

And she had...oddly....liked it a little.

Scratch that... a lot.

Feeling her cheeks redden she suddenly felt fingers against the back of her neck and was startlingly turned around by none other than Aoshi himself.

"Shinomori-senpai?" she squeaked out, feeling half irritated at the scene it was causing, and half thrilled.

"Shut up." he murmured and slammed his lips against hers as he pressed her back against the locker, molding himself to her as a small moan escaped her throat.

"Misao-chan!!"

She could see the crowd of people around them and heard...Kaoru's voice.

"Misao-chan...MISAO!!!!!!!!!"

Misao blinked, and looked to her right to see Kaoru waving a hand over Misao's face.

"What the hell were you spacing out for? Geez. I called your name like seven times."

"EH?! I...."

It had all be a daydream?!!! This was bad. She should NOT be having fantasies about that tall, gothic, pervert.

'That's fine, but you can hate a person and still fuck them.'

His words echoed in her already troubled mind as she shook her head and sighed.

"Anyway, have you found a date yet for the dance next weekend?" Kaoru asked, and Misao shook her head.

"Meh, I don't think I'm going to go. Dances are starting to get....boring."

Kaoru gasped mockingly, putting a hand to her chest.

"Makimachi Misao not go to dance! Such social blasphemy!"

"Knock it off, Kaoru-chan. I'd really rather stay home and paint my toenails or something."

They walked down the hall towards the library and Kaoru sighed.

"This is how it starts..."

"How what starts?"

"The...change. First it's backing out of social appearances, then it's wallowing around...soon...black nail polish. Next thing I know you'll be listening to Buck Tick or Malice Mazinger."

Misao shot her a deadpan look.

"I am not turning into a goth you moron. I just don't feel like going."

"Ok ok. Crap, then who'll I talk to besides my Kenny-pooh? Megumi will be busy making out with Sano."

"Well can't you help you there. Isn't Kenshin friends with Saitoh Hajime?"

"Yea."

"Isn't Saitoh like dating Takagi Tokio?"

"Yea, and your point is?"

"Hang out with her." Misao stated as they sat down at a library table in the back corner for study hall.

"I don't know. She's nice and all...but...she's...odd. She wears like spikes and always wears black and stuff."

"So? She seems to get along well enough with everyone. Stop being a snob."

'Oh yeah, real one to talk there, Misao. You can enjoy a kiss but hate that it came from Shinomori Aoshi cuz of who he is. Real hypocritical of you.'

"I...suppose. I don't know!!" Kaoru sighed, flipping her violet ponytail over her shoulder as she pulled out a notebook and began doing her English notes.

Misao for her part rested her head on her forearms and slumped against the table surface, yawning.

"Didn't sleep well?"

"Not really. Had weird dreams."

"Like what?" Kaoru asked.

Misao hid her blush and mumbled 'nothing' as she closed her eyes.

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Aoshi sat on the windowsill of the empty storage room and looked outside as he smoked, breaking his five days of being cigarette-free. But damn if he didn't need one.

What had he been thinking?

He had kissed Makimachi Misao, someone supposedly above him on the social ladder. And he enjoyed it immensely. At first it was just to shock her and make a point....but then...he was more aroused in that one kiss than he'd ever been in his entire life.

What was it about that short spitfire that turned him on like that?

She was a challenge, yes. Attractive? Undeniably. Perhaps it was the allure of the un-attainable. The desire to possess someone supposedly perfect. And bring her down to his level. Show her something more. Something in herself she wasn't aware of.

He really did want to corrupt her somewhat. He suspected she wasn't at all as innocent as she tried to appeared. Hell, he knew otherwise. He knew about last year. How she and Sanosuke had been friends since junior high and then one night at a party last year had gotten drunk and ended up having sex. It was her first time, according to Sano, and it was immediately regretted and so their friendship had been fractured somewhat.

They weren't as close.

Not that it made a difference to him. That she wasn't a virgin wasn't much of a big deal. It wasn't as if she slept around. From what he gathered, Misao hadn't slept with anyone since. When everyone ignores you, you overhear interesting conversations. If only people knew that Shinomori Aoshi was one of the most well-informed students at Watsuki High.

The blackmail he could use was astounding, and yet he did not. He didn't want anything from anyone.

Well..only one person.

He wanted Makimachi Misao and what better way to pass by the time of senior year? She would be a challenge, but he would get what he wanted in the end. He could be very persuasive, and he one thing going for him.

She had liked the kiss too.

"Oi, Shinomori."

Aoshi turned and saw Sano walk towards him and made room for him to sit.

"What's up with you today? You've been out of it more than you usually are."

Aoshi tossed his cigarette out the window and smirked.

"I've found a new hobby so to speak."

"Aside from smoking?"

"Aa."

"And this hobby is?"

"Let's just say I'm going to destroy an aspect of the social ladder."

Sanosuke blinked.

"What?"

"Don't worry about it, Sagara."

And with that he stood up and walked away.

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Misao looked at the sliding doors with wariness, knowing she had to step inside at some point. But HE was in there, waiting, biding his time. Ready to torture her. Slumping her shoulders she walked into work and saw the current sexy bane of her existence bagging and tensed as he glanced over at her and winked.

He freaking winked.

Ignoring him, she walked past to find out which register she would be on and was thankful it was Express, which meant no bagger. Walking over and signing on, she was dismayed that Aoshi decided to spend their shift glancing at he and smirking.

Bastard.

She did her best to ignore him until their mutual work break where she did her best to scurry to the back only to have him on her heels like an overbearing shadow. Slamming the door to the back alley she finally turned around and glared at him.

"What the hell are you doing?! Do you plan on driving me insane?"

"It is an intriguing thought, but no. I have other plans for you."

Misao blinked, and then narrowed her eyes.

"You sadistic sicko!! Just because you kissed me does NOT mean that I'm going to fall at your tastelessly booted feet and beg for more."

Aoshi looked at her...and chuckled. Which pissed Misao off even more.

"Misao, one: you enjoyed that kiss as much as I did, and two: you will be begging in due time. Now do you really want to waste this valuable time away prying eyes fighting? While it is somewhat stimulating, I can think of other things."

"W...What?"

Aoshi stepped closer to her and grabbed her by the hips, pulling her close as one hand lifted to the back of her head until his lips brushed against hers.

"If you truly do not want me at all, you'll push me away." he murmured before pressing his lips sensually to hers as she widened her eyes.

She wanted to push him away, she should, it was the smart thing to do and yet....as her hands went to his hard chest to push, she couldn't help but curl her hands against his chest and press closer as his lips assailed hers, and his tongue probed into her mouth, teasing hers as she made soft purring noises to match Aoshi's muffled groans.

She could feel something pressing against her stomach, and that was when her attention snapped back into focus and she pushed away, her chest heaving for breath as she looked at Aoshi, startled and aroused.

"Why do you keep doing that?"

"Because I want you. And you want me. Simple as that."

"No it is NOT simple as that! I barely know you.."

"We've lived across from each other almost all our lives."

"You're too weird..."

"But women like mystery."

"And you're a freaking goth weirdo outcast who in general hates the type of person I am so why the hell are you getting obsessed with me?"

"I said I wanted you, not that I was obsessed with you. There's a difference."

Misao felt oddly stung by that, but merely balled her fists.

"What the hell do you want from me?!"

Aoshi closed his eyes, a small smirk forming on his lips.

"As I said, it is rather simple. I want you...and you obvious want me even if you don't like me. What I suggest is we do something about it, to..let out our attraction."

"So basically you want to have some sort of secret rendevous type of scenario?! Are you insane?"

"Probably. But it's logical. We don't talk at school, so no one would suspect it. We have work and out of school time. You enjoy what we've been doing, don't deny it. Why not continue? No one needs to know."

It was crazy and absurd...and yet. He had..some merits. No one would ever think she and him would be getting any kind of physical...no one from school ever went to the market... they could make out and no one would ever know.

'So you'd want to be a slut like that who fools around?'

'But....this feeling...this wanting....it's getting out of control...I need to do something!'

"...Okay."

"What?"

"Okay, I agree. We still won't talk at school and you tell no one about it, BUT, we're only going to kiss okay?"

Aoshi shook his head and almost laughed.

"If you say so, but you will change your mind."

"We'll see Shinomori-san. Now our break is over." she murmured and went back inside, with Aoshi following her.

'So she thinks it'll only be kissing? Like hell it will. I know she wants me too. Getting mixed up with a prep like her...maybe I am insane.'

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Classes start in two weeks. Not sure how my productivity is going to be. Sometimes I work better during school than summer. Oh well.