Disclaimer- I don't own any of the characters.
AN: Characters are OOC. I reread the last line and realized that it made Misao seem like a stalker. She's not a stalker. She just has confidence that Aoshi will be hers.
Misao groaned and finished the last of her coffee. The one problem with watching Aoshi was the fact that she was always tired in the morning. She saw her friend Karou and walked over to her.
"You don't look so good." Karou said. "Another late night?"
"For your information, I'm coming down with something." Misao said as she stuck her tongue out at her.
"You've got something alright. It's called I'm stalking Aoshi Shinomori-itis."
"At least I'm willing to admit that I like him. Unlike someone who has a crush on a certain red head." Misao said. "You know, you can always take things into your own hands. Just go and kiss him senseless."
"I don't think so." Karou said with a laugh.
"God knows I'd jump on Aoshi if I could. Just try it."
"Try what?"
Both Karou and Misao jumped at the sound of Kenshin's voice. He and Sano were walking toward them.
"Try what?" he asked again.
"Nothing." Misao said looking at Karou and begun laughing. "Hey Sano, come here."
"What?" he asked as he moved closer to her.
"Turn around."
Sano looked at her strangely but turned around anyway. Misao jumped on his back.
"What are you doing?"
"I don't feel like walking. Carry me." she said. "Kenshin is too short to carry me comfortably."
"I heard that Misao."
"It's true, but I love you anyway. In fact, no one loves you more than me." she said and then grinned as she looked at Karou. "Unless you count..."
"Misao is that girl flirting with Aoshi. " Karou said interrupting.
"Where?"
She looked around but didn't see the girl or Aoshi anywhere. Karou, Kenshin and Sano laughed.
"Not funny." Misao said.
Karou wants to play does she, Misao thought wickedly. She got off of Sano and went over to Kenshin.
"On second thought, you're perfect to carry me."
She wrapped her arms around his neck. Before they realized what she was about to do, Misao jumped up on him. Kenshin had to quickly wrap his arms around her to keep both of them from falling. He stumbled slightly but he adjusted to her added weight.
"That's so much better. And your hair is an excellent pillow." she said. "It's the sexiest thing about you."
Both Kenshin and Karou's eyes went wide as Misao buried her face in his hair. Karou looked away so Misao smiled triumphantly. After a minute or so she got down.
"I'm not tired anymore." she said as she walked over to Karou and whisper. "Not so funny is it?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"That color green doesn't look so good on you."
"You are so evil."
"I know." Misao said giving her best wicked grin. "Like I said before, go jump on him."
"Misao Makimachi, please report to the principle's office." a voice said over the loud speaker.
"What have you done now weasel?" Sano asked walking over to her.
"Put you in a body bag if you call me weasel again."
Misao gave him a shove and then went to the principal's office. She sat down and looked at Mr. Jordan.
"What have I done now?" she asked as she sat down.
"You're entry into the art show...."
"Is a work of art." she said interrupting.
"It's pornographic."
"I disagree. I happen to think it's artistic and..."
Misao's mind drifted off as she continued to ramble. She knew the picture would get this response when she entered it in the art show. She didn't believe it was pornographic but she would admit that it was sexual. It was basically silhouettes of two bodies intertwined on a bed. The figures weren't defined and there were black paint slashes through portions of the picture, but it wasn't hard to see what was going on.
"I understand your point of view Misao but this is a high school art show. We can't have that here."
"Whatever. Can I take it with me?"
"Only if you keep it covered." he said. "I don't need parents complaining about pornographic pictures."
"No, the last thing we want is for the parents to complain."
Misao grabbed her picture and left. Karou, Kenshin and Sano were still waiting for her.
"So what did you do?" Kenshin asked.
"Enter this in the art show."
Misao uncovered the picture and held it for them, and anyone else in the hallway, to see. She heard some gasps and snickers coming from a few of the students. Kenshin and Karou's eyes went wide while Sano laughed.
"You didn't get in trouble for that?" Sano asked her.
"No." she said.
"Are you trying to get in trouble?" Kenshin asked as he covered the picture.
"Now why would I want to get in trouble?" she asked innocently.
"That tone of voice usually means you are." Sano said.
"Seriously, I'm not up to anything this time. I can't be. This weekend my father decided to have a little chat with me about my behavior." she said as she rolled her eyes. "If I don't behave, then he's going to make me live with him."
"Like you'd ever let that happen." Sano uttered under his breathe.
Misao glared at him but didn't say anything. He was right though. There was no way she was going to leave the Aoiya or Aoshi. Her father would have to forcibly drag her away. It didn't matter anyway. Her father would have to finally notice her first. And as long as he was busy with work, Cassandra, and everything that wasn't Misao, then he wouldn't. At that moment the bell for first period rung.
"Are we going out to eat in the cafeteria or go out for lunch?"
"Out."
"Sorry guys, I can't go." Misao said. "I have to finish a photography assignment. It's already overdue. I'll just get something from the cafeteria."
"Okay. See you guys then."
Karou and Sano went to their classes while Kenshin and Misao, who had the same class went to theirs.
"Everyone's coming to my house to study. You coming?"
"I can't. I promised to help Aoshi tonight."
Kenshin looked at her for a second and then turned away.
"Okay."
"What was that look for?" Misao asked.
"What look?"
"The look you gave me when I said I was helping Aoshi."
"Nothing."
Misao laughed slightly.
"We've been friends forever. That was your oh my god she's plotting on Aoshi look." she said "Or was it the when will she realize that it's never going to happen between her and Aoshi."
"Neither one." Kenshin said with a sigh.
"It still makes me feel like a lecture is coming." she said. "So who's it coming from? My best friend or fiancee?"
"Best friend." Kenshin said with a small smile. "I seriously doubt your fiancee would talk to you about your feelings for another guy."
Misao couldn't help but to laugh. It was not a secret that Misao's father wanted her to marry Kenshin, mainly because he was going to inherit a fortune. So everyone joked about them two being engaged. But Misao and Kenshin had been best friends since they were three years old and had never thought of each other as anything more.
"But for the record, I don't lecture." he continued. "I'm just..."
"Hey Kenshin, Misao. Do either of you have the notes from yesterday." a boy from their class asked interrupting them.
"I do." Kenshin answered.
"I guess we'll finish our talk another time." Misao said with a smile.
She went to her seat and sat down. To avoid finishing the talk with Kenshin, Misao rushed out of class once it was over. She didn't have any classes with him until after lunch so she knew she was safe until then. At lunchtime, Misao went to her locker to get her camera. She groaned when she realized that she had left it at home. She looked at her watch. She barely had enough time to go get it and take a few pictures to be turned in. Misao shrugged her shoulders and begun singing one of her favorite songs as she walked to her car.
"Even though I try I can't let go. Something in your eyes captured my soul. And every night I see you in my dreams. You're all I know. I can't let go" she sung.
She suddenly stopped singing and a smile spread across her face. Speaking of eyes capturing souls, she thought as she spotted Aoshi near his car. All thoughts of going to get her camera flew out of her head as she made her way over to him. Before she got to him he turned and looked at her.
"Need any help?" she asked.
"I should ask you that." he said nodding toward the painting.
"No, this is light. You want to see my newest painting?"
Before he had time to answer, she pulled off the covering. He looked at it and then back at her.
"You like it?"
"It's different from your usual work."
"I know. Sometimes you just have to do things that people don't expect from you." she said. "Come one, tell me what you think of it."
"It's interesting." he said.
Misao looked at him and smirked slightly. He wasn't going to give her the reaction she wanted.
"I call it Lovers Denied."
This time she noticed him react. It was only a slight tensing of his body. No one else would notice it but Misao had studied Aoshi long enough to notice the slightest change in him. It wasn't the reaction that she wanted but it was enough for now. Misao knew better than to push him too far otherwise he'd become even more distant.
"Enough about the painting." she said covering it back up. "What are you doing out here? Going out to lunch?"
"No. I came to get this so I could give it to you."
He pulled her camera out from the trunk and handed it to her.
"You left it by the door. I know you needed it."
"I was actually going back home to get it." she said. "You're a life saver. Thank you."
On the outside Misao was calm and collected but inside she was far from it. The little Misao who was hopelessly in love with Aoshi was a drooling mess.
Isn't he the sweetest thing ever? she yelled inside her head.
Yes!, she said answering her own question. He knew I needed my camera so he brought it to me.
Now if he'd only let me thank him properly.
Yeah, with a nice a kiss.
Followed by a week of sizzling hot sex with him, she thought wickedly.
Hehehe mind numbing sex with Aoshi. Oh yeah.
At this thought, Misao's mind went blank. Aoshi looked at her strangely as she went quiet and a small smile graced her lips.
"Misao, did I lose you?" he asked interrupting her thoughts.
She looked at him and wished that the ground would open up and swallow her. Here she was talking with Aoshi and she was spazzing out. Then again, she thought, how can I not spaz out when he smells so good.
"Never." she said with a smile. "Anyway, do you still need my help tonight?"
No, was the answer Aoshi knew he should say. But he honestly needed the help. Granted, he could always get Okina to help but Aoshi would rather look at Misao for two hours than Okina.
"Yes."
"Well, I'll be there. But for now I have to go take some pictures."
"Okay."
Aoshi turned back to rearranging the boxes in his trunk as Misao walked off. She stopped and looked at him.
"Aoshi." she called.
He turned back to face her and saw that she had the camera pointed at him. Before he could tell her not to, Misao snapped a picture.
"You shouldn't waste your film on me."
"Why shouldn't I? The camera loves you. You're gorgeous babe."
Even though she said it jokingly, they both knew that she was serious. Misao waved goodbye and walked off. He watched Misao walk away and shook his head slightly. Aoshi turned to lock his car and noticed that Misao had left her painting. He reopened his trunk and placed the painting in there. Before he closed the hood, Aoshi looked at the painting once again.
"Lovers Denied." he repeated as he ran his finger across Misao's signature in the corner.
The evil witch- I'm glad you like it. There is more to the fic. I hoped you liked the new part.
IrisKitsune- Here's the update. I'm trying my best to make this a good fic.
Spirit Demon- Thanks. Here's the new part. More coming soon.
