Author's Notes: BLAHHHH!
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Chapter 3: Therapy
"Misao, I have physical therapy tomorrow afternoon and will require you to drive me there and be there at the end of my session."
Misao blinked as she poked her head into his study.
"Oh? Need me drive you, do you?"
"Aa." he murmured from behind his laptop.
She smiled at the thought and clapped her hands together.
"Sure thing Bossman."
He frowned, looking up.
"Misao, do not call me Bossman."
She laughed at that and gave a thumbs up, walking back in the kitchen and making noise.
Aoshi paused again.
"What are you doing, Misao?"
"Making dinner!" she called out from the kitchen.
"What?"
"Calm down, I grew up at a restaurant!" she yelled sternly, as the clattering in the kitchen continued.
Curious and somewhat frightened at what the petite girl would do to his kitchen, Aoshi made his way slowly into the room, surprised by the pleasant scents filling the air.
"What are you cooking?" he asked, sitting at the island counter.
"Italian, a meat dish called braciole."
"What..is it?"
"Flank steak cut thin and filled with bacon, cheese, parsley, bread crumbs, rolled up and sauteed in onion broth, stock, wine, and served with white rice."
"It...sounds interesting."
"It's very good, one of my favorite dishes. It's expensive to make though, which is pretty lucky for me that you're loaded."
He gave her an unamused look.
"I also took the liberty of making a soup."
"Expensive too?"
"Feh! Bouillon and noodles? Hardly."
"Sounds plain."
"But very tasty. Don't be a snob, Aoshi-sama."
He smirked at her and watched as she set a bowl before him and ladled out some soup. He tasted a bit, and deciding he liked it, continued eating.
Setting a bowl for herself, Misao began to eat.
After the soup was finished, Misao cleared the plates and served the braciole. Aoshi cut a small
piece and ate.
"This is...very good."
"Why thank you, Aoshi-sama! Your enthusiasm is compliment enough."
She happily dug into her own plate, eyeing him as he ate.
"While you're in therapy, I've got a kunai practice so try and NOT need me for half an hour."
"I don't pay you to learn to wield knives."
"No, you pay me to be witty and give you a proverbial kick in the ass."
"I pay you assist me in my daily needs, Misao."
"Ooh, you make me sounds like a prostitute." she mused, taking a happy bite of rice.
Aoshi choked on his food, and gave her an incredulous look.
She laughed at that.
"Your face just now was priceless!"
He merely looked away from her while she smirked.
Life with Misao was definitely...unpredictable.
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Walking into physical therapy, Aoshi frowned. He truly hated being there. One of the therapists approached, saying hello to him and then glancing to Misao.
"Oh, Shinomori-san! Is this your girlfriend?"
He made a soft 'hm?' while Misao had, what was to Aoshi, the most amusing deer in headlights expression.
"I..No no! I'm Aoshi-sa...Shinomori-san's assistant. Just here to drop him off!" she said, laughing nervously.
"Well I commend you, miss. Shinomori-san here is a bear indeed."
"I am here you know. I can hear you." Aoshi interjected.
"Well now that you're here let's put you to work." the therapist said, tucking strands of brown hair behind her ears.
"Aa." Aoshi murmured half-heartedly.
"Now now, Aoshi-sama, be a good boy and place nice with the other kids. I'll be back in 30."
He shot her a grumpy look which she knew to mean she was getting yelled at later. Sometimes her humor was really misplaced.
Blowing him a mocking kiss goodbye, she twirled his car keys in her hands as she exited the building.
"She's a very nice young woman, Shinomori-san. I think she balances you out well."
"Again, Shuurei-san, she's my assistant." Aoshi interjected as he made him way to a leg weight lift.
"That's what I meant. What did you think I meant?" Shuurei-san asked, arching an eyebrow.
It was then Aoshi decided womankind somehow communicated telepathically on how to act to annoy him.
"Now stop scowling and change into your gown."
"Therapy uniform." Aoshi corrected.
"Whatever makes you feel better." Shuurei-san murmured.
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Misao drove towards the dojo, windows down blasting the radio and singing along to J-pop as she wondered why Aoshi was so cranky about therapy. She knew he'd probably be tired and a bit sore, but he was being almost...childish.
Pulling into the dojo parking lot, she parked and turned the car off and made her way inside.
"Ah, Makimachi-san, hello."
"Hey Sae-san. I'm just here to practice kunai."
"Ah okay, I'll sign you in. Have fun."
"Thanks." Misao said with a smile to the brunette as she made her way to the room with the practice dummies and pulled her kunai case out of her bag and unrolled in, holding four in each hand to warm up.
Misao had been practicing knife throwing since she had been five, starting with darts, then shurikens, and moving on to kunai. She had always wanted to learn to use a sword, but her Jiya insisted she stick to smaller weapons.
Flinging the knives, she grinned as they hit the target.
She always started flinging four in each hand, and then after fifteen minutes switched to eight in a hand.
It was tricky and she had to take care not to slice her fingers as she was slightly obsessive over keeping her knives sharp and clean.
She tried to focus but couldn't help but wonder how Aoshi was doing. It was silly as he was an adult but she WAS paid to assist and look after him.
'Oh sure....you worry cause it's your job...' her mind spoke.
"Ah shut up you." she grumbled to herself throwing her kunai, then removing them from the target and getting in pose to throw again.
Just as she was going to throw, the ringing of her cell phone caught her off guard as her knives embedded into the wall.
"AH! WHO'S CALLING!?!" she growled.
Digging through her bag, she grabbed her blue cell and pressed the talk button.
"Hello?!"
"Anou, Makimachi-san! This is Shuurei-san from the physical therapy center. I need you to come here right away. Shinomori-san is rather agitated moreso than usual."
"He....I'll be right there."
Quickly grabbed her kunai and placing them in their leather case, she grabbed her bag and raced out to the car, blasting out of the parking lot quickly.
She nervously tapped her fingers against the steering wheel when she hit red lights but soon enough found her way there.
Meanwhile inside, Shuurei-san was trying her best to calm Aoshi down.
"Shinomori-san please! I know this is difficult but its for the best! You can't just quit and throw a fit!"
"I am the one who pays your bills!! I refuse to continue!"
"Shinomori-san, I am authority here and this is for you own good!"
"I don't care!" he yelled, stumbled as he tried to get away.
"AOSHI-SAMAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!" Misao's voice growled as suddenly something whizzed past his head and embedded into the wall next to his head.
Three kunai.
Very sharp kunai.
His eyes widened as he turned his gaze to Misao who was huffing and puffing, her face red.
"Here I rushed here thinking it was an emergency because you are throwing a TANTRUM?!"
"Misao..." he began, but she cut him off.
"Now I SWEAR you will listen to Shuurei-san and finish whatever the hell she wants you to do for today or I promise you I WILL NOT MISS with these!" she said, waving a fistful of kunai as Aoshi gulped.
"Fine." he finally mumbled, and Shuurei-san breathed a sigh of relief.
"Now Shinomori-san, get back to the leg lift press!"
Aoshi slowly walked there, and Misao noticed he was practically limping.
"Shuurei-san, is this really difficult for him?" Misao asked when Aoshi was out of ear shot.
"Yes, it's difficult, but not impossible. It may be tiring on him, but it is beneficial to heal. He just doesn't...I know he's capable but he just gives up. I don't think he really believes it will help."
"Well I guess I'll have to threaten him every week from now on."
"Most likely. He really is a good-looking person. It's a shame he's so sullen. I'm sure he's capable of being a nice person."
"He is, when he's not being an icy bastard."
"Well, I guess he's never going to get over it."
Misao blinked.
"Shuurei-san, how did Aoshi-sama get hurt?"
Shuurei-san turned her gaze to Misao.
"He didn't tell you? Honestly, you're his assistant. Two years ago, Aoshi was attacked and mugged by some yakuza hooligans. They shot him twice in each knee. His cartilage, nerves, bone...there was a lot of damage."
Misao looked over to Aoshi, who was slowly doing his required exercise and felt her throat constrict.
"No wonder...thank you for telling me."
"It's no problem. As a therapist I can say this: I think you are also good for his therapy."
"I...just do what he asks."
"Yeah, but your personality is a very good compliment to his. You're energy is good for him, also your pushiness."
"I...thank you."
"Well, back to our patient."
Shuurei-san went back over to Aoshi, watching as he finished.
"There Shinomori-san, you're free to go."
Aoshi merely looked at her gloomily and stormed out of the building.
Shuurei-san shook her head and handed Misao Aoshi's belongings.
"Good luck."
"Thanks."
Misao huffed as she made her way to the car, tossing Aoshi's things into the backseat as she slammed the car door shut.
Starting the car, she pulled out of the parking lot.
"I cannot believe you threw a tantrum. That seems too childish for you." she said, her voice laced with annoyance.
"You threw knives at me. I should fire you." he countered, his voice also holding an angry edge.
"Oh please, no one else would put up with your attitude but me." she said, and if she wasn't so pissed she would have regretting saying those words, and the way it made Aoshi's eyes freeze a bit more.
"I'm sure the same can be said of you."
"Oh this coming from a man in a gown."
Aoshi looked down and frowned, realizing he was still in his therapy gown.
He didn't respond.
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Later as Misao had time to cool off and realized just how drained and sore Aoshi was from therapy, she felt guilty. She had to use all her strength to help him to his room so he could rest and she had yelled at him for throwing a fit?
Sitting in the kitchen and ignoring her cup of tea, she sighed.
She wanted to apologize, but wanted something more than words.
Having changed from her gi and shorts to khaki cargo pants and a plain black three-quarter sleeve shirt, she kicked her sock-clad feet against the stool leg.
Checking the clock, she realized it was time for Aoshi's medication. Pouring him a cup of tea and adding ice, Misao grabbed his medicine and headed for his room.
Knocking softly, she entered.
Aoshi glared at her, obviously still annoyed at her.
"It's time for your medication." Misao said, setting down the glass on his night stand and opening the bottle.
Aoshi's hand covered hers and took the bottle from her.
"I can do it myself. I don't need you for this." he muttered.
Misao blinked, and bowed her head.
"I..I'm sorry, Aoshi-sama. For earlier too. I'll leave you alone." she murmured and turned to leave.
"Wait, Misao."
She turned around, and watched as he motioned for her to sit next to him.
"I...apologize too for my behavior. You did not know what to expect."
"But I shouldn't have been so annoyed. It's my job to assist you. I...you were in pain. I should of understood."
He looked away.
Misao noticed he was only wearing black pajama pants and bemusedly thought something like that would make her blush a week or two ago.
Somehow she was used to seeing Aoshi shirtless.
But it was still...breathtaking.
"It was not that painful." he said.
Misao balled her fists.
"I had to practically lift you up the stairs because you couldn't walk, let alone stand. How you even got to the car is beyond me!"
Aoshi's eyes seemed distant.
"I've grown used to the pain."
The way he said it, and the look on his face... it almost made Misao's heart break and so she wasn't thinking when she moved her hand to brush across his cheek to turn his head to face her, or the way her thumb absent-mindedly stroked his cheekbone, the way she stared at him with such...emotion as their gazes met for a long moment, and she wasn't thinking when she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him.
"You shouldn't have to get used it, Aoshi-sama." she murmured, and Aoshi froze in her embrace.
He couldn't recall the last time he was ever hugged.
And having her pressed against him, so soft, smelling like tea and flowers...
"Misao."
His voice brought her senses back, and she quickly let go on him, her face red.
"Ah, I'm sorry, Aoshi-sama! I just got a little ...carried away and my family's a hugging family and..I..."
He pressed his hand against her mouth.
"That is quite enough. You do not need to explain. I think I've gotten used to expecting the unexpected where you are concerned."
"Um, thanks?" she muttered when he removed his hand.
"I should probably take my medication now."
"Yes! You should!" she said, watching with crossed arms as he took his pill.
He reached over to grab something from the night stand and Misao watched wide-eyed as he pressed a button and a wooden panel slipped up to reveal a 30 inch TV.
"Aoshi-sama, you've had a TV in here all this time?!"
"How else do you think I pass time after therapy?"
"Work. You are a robot salary man."
He shot her an unamused work.
"Perhaps, but after therapy I cannot find my mind is clear to work."
"So you slack off. Who knew. Makes me proud."
He momentarily ignored her as he turned on the TV and flicked through the channels until he hit the movie channel.
"Oh, Casshern! I wanted to see that!" Misao cried out suddenly, as the pre-showing ad appeared on screen.
Aoshi left in on that channel as minutes later the movie began.
"Wasn't there some old cartoon Casshern?" he asked.
"Casshan: Robot Hunter. This is a remake. It's done by a fashion photographer. Everyone said it was really good. And the soundtrack has Hyde and Hikki-chan on it."
"Hyde. Enough said."
Misao laughed.
"Even you've heard of Hyde! Well, there may be hope yet."
"Misao...we live in Japan. How can I have NOT heard of him?"
"Touche."
She settled comfortably against the headrest as they watched the movie.
As it grew later, Aoshi had dozed off but Misao was so engrossed in the movie, and the silver-clad black haired, blue eyed bishounen that she hadn't noticed and soon enough she had dozed off too.
When morning came, Aoshi awoke and rubbed his eyes, blinking as he noticed something warm pressed against him.
He looked to his side to see Misao curled on her side next to him, blissfully asleep.
Sitting up, he stretched and winced at his sore muscles and joints.
Gently he shook her shoulder.
"Misao, wake up."
"Mmm...five more minutes." she yawned, brushing his hand away.
"Misao!"
Her eyes fluttered open and she sat up, rubbing them.
"Whaaa? I'm up!!!"
Yawning she noticed her surroundings and her sleepiness disappeared.
"I...You..."
"You must've fallen asleep after I had." he explained.
"I...I'm sorry!"
He sighed.
"It's okay Misao. Just don't...make it a regular thing."
"Um, right." she murmured embarrassed, getting up and walking back to her room.
Aoshi looked into the hallway and sighed.
Despite what he said, it had been nice waking up to Misao by his side.
He wasn't sure how that made him feel.
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There. I updated.
Sleeepy....