Hi I am back sorry for updating so late, I'm a lazy bum. hehehe.

I would like to thank: Aleeza, shuiede, Engel Star 13, len, jeez, crossfire, kafka013, ttv, fans and Charmed Wolf for their reviews you guys were very helpful and motivating.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters from Rurouni Kenshin, I just adore them. 

Chapter 2

As Beshimi entered the living room bringing the guest along with him, the only thing that Aoshi saw was a short woman that might come up to the level of his chest. She had her dark blue black hair tied in pony tail and she was wearing a light blue long sleeved top and a white skirt that stopped just below her knees. But there was one thing drew his attentions towards her mostly were her wide sea green eyes. For a moment he was lost in those eyes which lacked of something that he couldn't figure out but he was snapped out of the trance with the sound gasps heard in the room.

"MISAO?" Mrs. Makimachi exclaimed.

Aoshi looked around to look at everyone in the room only to see the Makimachis stunned by the appearance of their youngest daughter, who had put on a small smile on her heart shaped face.

"yes it is me mother. I just wanted to give you a surprise" Misao at that moment can feel the scrutiny and curiosity behind the stare of her own family and the guests present, for her sudden appearance.

"Misao, wha…." Morio started but was cut of by Megumi.

"Father" her voice was tinted with anger. Misao gave Megumi a stern look.

"Father I think Misao is tired from the journey, why don't we just let her rest"

"right" her father agreed.

"Beshimi, please take Misao to her room" Megumi called out

"No need for Beshimi I remember very well where my room is" Misao said and turned to go towards the stairs leading up, but she stopped and turn around and asked "Oh I hope no one will mind if I join you for dinner?"

"Why..ofcourse not ?" said Morio, while Megumi was fuming "What the hell is she doing here?" she thought. Meanwhile the other in the room felt the tension that was built between the family and Misao. Except for Aoshi's mother who was too busy thinking where she has seen Misao before.

Misao didn't miss out the tension either. She was being able to feel the awkwardness of not being wanted to be seen by her own family. "this is all her fault. I know she did everything to keep me away from them." she felt like crying her heart out "No, I wont cry, never again just as I have promise myself that very day".

Flashback:

"Beshimi when did they say that they will be back?" Misao asked impatiently waiting for her parent to return from the show held at Megumi's School where Meg has decided to participate in playing the piano.

"oh don't worry Makimachi san they will be back on time" Beshimi replied.

"but time is running out, I have to catch my plane within the next 40 minutes, you know it takes time to reach the airport, and how many times will I tell you not to call me that, just simply call me Misao, we are friends after all, at least today coz I'll be leaving for New York and I don't know when I will see you again"

" you are just too generous, Mak…umm Misao" he changed the name as Misao glared at him.

"Oh god just look at the time" She gasped but couldn't figure what to do as the rest of her family wasn't there yet.

"I don't think you should wait anymore, you should start right now. You will have your friends waiting at the airport".

"Oh Beshimi do you think they have forgotten."

"I don't ..think so. they might go straight to airport to see you" he said hoping that it becomes the truth. "oh makimachi san, I just hope they don't break your heart but unfortunately the chances are great" he thought because of Megumi who has always been trying to distract their parents from Misao.

Misao reached the airport and waited for her family, while her friends Kaoru, Kenshin and Sano were there to say goodbye to her. She kept on waiting until she had no time left, but they never came so see her. She cried quietly all through out the journey, she just couldn't stop the tears from falling, though she tried hard, she just couldn't.

When she reached New York and settled down she received only one letter and of course replied back. But that was all she heard from her family, yet she kept on writing to them and even tried to call them but they were not at home or they were too busy. She doubted whether her parents even knew that she called.

She understood that it was all the doings of Megumi, why? she has absolutely no idea. So, she had promised herself that she will not shed a single tear, never no matter what. She was sick and tired of crying.

End of Flashback--

She will remember them forever even though has tried to forget so much of the pain. When she reached her room she actually found the door locked. She turned around as she heard someone clearing his throat. It was Beshimi holding a key in his hand, the key to her room.

"I was actually ordered to keep it that way" he said sadly

"but unbeknownst to them I have kept it clean whenever no one was at home" he continued as he unlocked the door. "There you go. Every thing is as it was"

"Thank you, Beshimi" she said in a very constricted voice.

"who?" she asked all of a sudden

"I beg your Pardon" he asked not understanding

" who ordered you to lock it?"

"well….I…the..alot happened that day when it was ordered…she actually told them that you didn't… care for them….so they shouldn't either and.."

"And?"

"Your parents were both sad and angry that they couldn't think properly and actually agreed to it" he finished silently, even couldn't stand to see her in pain anymore, but he did, just as he did before. Then again he knew Misao is strong.

Misao heard it all, her heart ached in pain. She felt like shouting herself out telling everyone what she felt. Telling them that what they thought was wrong, but she couldn't because she knows they wouldn't believe her. "then why am I here? why? to be pushed more into darkness? to learn how much they hate me? do they truly hate me?" she felt foolish now for coming back here.

"No as I am here already, I will not let HER see that I am in pain. She will never be able to break me. Never." with that thought she drop her hand bag on her bed and went straight to the bathroom to have a quick shower to wash of all the pained emotions that was visible on her face. She cannot be seen like this.

While Misao was at her room, the living room was still filled with the aura of shock and tension and was bit silent until..

"Oh well now that Misao seemed to be able to succeed in what she wanted to do..that is surprise us all, you should be happy that she is back" Reizo said.

"Ah yes of course we are, we just didn't expect her to be here right now actually" Morio said with a fake smile on his face.

"Oh My ! now I remember where I saw her before" Aoshi's mother exclaimed.

"What do you mean by you saw her before?" Reizo asked

"We were just talking about her. How could I forget about her?"

"well yes we were talking about her not being her.."

"Oh no no. I was just telling you about the designer in New York, who designed this dress, and she is the one." she said with a huge smile on her face and that simply stunned everyone.

"Oh no way.. I …" Megumi said.

"Are you actually saying that Misao is the one who designed…oh god I think I need a glass of water." stood up and walked away stiffly.

Aoshi was actually enjoying the whole drama and curiously wondered about the mystery behind the tension within the family, the sudden appearance of their youngest daughter and how come they didn't know that their own daughter was actually a successful owner of a store of her own designed attires in New York. But what more intrigued him was the individual in question herself, he just couldn't forget those beautiful eyes, that looked at them as if it was asking for something, something they wanted dearly "but what?" He was pulled out of his thoughts as Beshimi walked into the living room announcing that dinner was ready.

They all settled down at the dining table for dinner just at that moment Misao walked in and all the eyes turned to her.

"umm I hope I m not late." she asked

"No not at all, you are right on time, we were just starting" her mother said trying to give her a smile. "Take the sit beside Megumi"

As she sat down she looked around the table and saw Mrs. Shinomori giving her a bright smile which she return.

" I guess you don't remember me" Mrs. Shinomori said.

"Oh no I do remember you…umm Mrs. Shinomori right?" misao said. With that Aoshi's mother became more happy.

"I can see that you have taken good care of that dress. I did say that it suits you well"

"ah yes and Megumi agreed to it"

Misao cocked her left brow at the new information "Really" and slowly turned look at Meg who has actually found something more interesting in her plate than the conversation at the very moment.

"Oh my how silly of me I didn't actually introduce the other guest to Misao, I was so surprised, actually we all were" her mother said with a nervous smile.

"umm that is Reizo Shinomori, I don't know whether you remember or not he is your father's best friend and you already know Mrs. Shinomori, and that is their son Aoshi, Megumi's Fiance".

Misao perked up at that "WHAT" Megumi smirked "now it is time for you to be surprised"

Misao looked from her mother to Megumi and then turned to guy sitting opposite to Meg.

"you mean to say that Megumi is engaged?"

"Yes…we thought you knew, Megumi did mailed you an invitation card"

"but I didn't get any such mails". "Liar" thought her father with pure hostility.

"Oh I guess the mail service is making a lot of trouble these days" said Megumi.

"yes, I think that is it.." saying that Misao glared at her.

They continued with dinner and both Aoshi's parents started to ask Misao several questions about how she have come to open the her store. They were surprised to know that she actually did it without any help of her parents. She didn't want to reveal to anyone of her hard life in New York but they kept on pushing on how she did it all. She said that she didn't want to depend on them anymore, she wanted to do it all by herself through the hard way, just like her father did trying to put up his own business in the beginning -covering up the truth for the sake of her family- though her parents wanted to help her . Aoshi listened to it all with great amusement "youngest daughter of the Makimachi's working as a waitress and many other small jobs. ha what a laugh". he didn't know whether to believe in them or not.

Sometime later the dinner was over and they all sat at the living room again. Misao sat on the sofa opposite to Aoshi while Megumi clung to his arm. As Misao looked at Aoshi she realized how good looking he is, and how good the couple looks "well I guess Megumi has found a trophy for herself I don't know about the guy, he seems quiet, a bit too quiet, creepy. Who knows maybe he does like Meg, I never denied that she is beautiful, but a bitch as well" she stood up from her sit excusing herself and walked out of the living room.

As she was thinking to herself what would happen after the guest live, the torment she will have to go through while facing her family with the truth, she didn't realize another figure looming over her.

"Makimachi san" called a deep cold voice that could shivers through one body.

"HUH….OH my…Shinomori san should you scare me like that?" Misao asked catching her breath from the scare she got from Aoshi.

"…"

"how can I help you?" Misao asked calmly though she was annoyed that he didn't offer any apology.

"Congratulations on your success in business Makimachi san"

" Oh thank you, and please don't call me that, just call me Misao, after all you are going to be my brother-in-law, a part of my family"

"hmm part of your family?...somehow there seems to be something missing….Misao san in this family of yours something regarding…." he gave a pointed look at her which has helped to spread a shiver of fear through her body as the ice blue eyes pierced into her own eyes . She didn't want anyone to know anything about the gap between her and her family. Specially not him, she doesn't want to be the reason behind a broken relationship it will only worsen the situation she is in right now.

Aoshi could see the fear in her eyes, which made her look very vulnerable and he was sure that she didn't want to show such emotions "too bad you cant hide it from me"

Misao looked away, composed herself and tried to make a face as if she doesn't know what he is talking about " heheh really, I don't know what you are talking about, every thing seems fine too me and where is Meg"

"she is on the phone" he replied avoided knowingly the fact that Misao has turned the conversation to another way.

"Oh..ok" misao said nervously and silence fell over them. but it was soon broken by Misao.

"how long have you known Megumi?"

"A month"

"eh… but isn't that too short time for going straight for an engagement?" she asked all confused. and he just nodded his head. "I don't understand.."

"You don't really know anything now do you, they didn't really say anything to you did they?" he smirked and Misao kept quiet silently fuming at her own failure to avoid the very matter she doesn't want to converse about "its none of your business" her want to shout at him.

" It is an arranged marriage Misao san and as I am about to be a part of this family I believe I have the right to know what I am getting into?" he said coolly as if he just read her mind and Misao didn't really know what to say to him she was confused of what to do.

Meanwhile, Megumi has finished talking on the phone and realized that Aoshi was not at sight thus went of looking for him into the other room and found him talking to Misao. That was the last thing that she would want for Aoshi to be close to Misao. "I must do something" "Aoshi, Darling, I have been looking for you all over the place, here you talking to Misao".

Aoshi turned around at his fiance's call feeling absolutely irritated. "What is it Megumi?"

"oh please don't be angry, I know how much you want get acquainted to my sister but I want spent sometime before you live" she said and pulled him away from Misao. As they left the room Misao gave out a huge sigh.

"Aoshi, I must tell you something" Megumi said

"…."

"just don't go near Misao she is nothing but trouble" Megumi said as Aoshi cocked his brow.

"I don't hate my sister but she has given us nothing but pain, she has deliberately stopped all communications with us, my parents had mailed her so many times but she has never mailed them back not even a single call and she didn't even come to our engagement after all I have done for her" She said with a sad expression.

"I know she has received my invitation but she didn't come on purpose only to hurt us, I never spoke about her because it hurt so much to even think about it all, oh Aoshi you have to believe me, I just fear that who knows why she is here now, after such a long time. I just don't want her to hurt my parents anymore. I just thought that you should know about this before we get married and the sooner the better and I hope this will not spoil our relationship, please try to understand." Megumi spilled it all out and hugged Aoshi who didn't really know what to do, and obviously didn't know whether to believe Megumi or not, he just has to find out. He didn't know why it bothered him but he needed to know the truth.

It was time for the Shinomoris to live, as they all stood outside saying good bye to each other Misao was feeling the growing tension within herself. She looked up to see Aoshi staring at her knowing that its not going to go well after they live her alone with her family somehow he sympathized her for her situation, but then again he knows very well not to jump into conclusion without knowing the truth. As the Shimomoris left, Misao closed her eyes and turned around and walked into the house to face the torment.

To be continued…