Disclaimer: I got sick of the standard one for a while. Anyway I don't own Rurouni Kenshin or any of its characters or the Korean television series, Full House (I now have a full set of it, wee!) Got it?
Chapter Six: The Smiling Publisher/Film Marketer
"Wow! I've never been to a party like this before! It's so lavish and full of sophisticated people!" Misao exclaimed to Aoshi excitedly as they entered the large air-conditioned tent that Unlimited Magazine had rented for their fourth anniversary party.
The tent was filled with people. The magazine's sponsors' booths on the right side of the white tent while its left side was occupied by a buffet, provided by the caterer and a mini bar that served free drinks to its guests. The center of the tent was filled with round tables where some of the guests stayed and socialized in.
"Hey, do you know where the publishers Kenshin invited are staying?" Misao whispered as she and Aoshi moved through the crowd.
"You'd have to ask Kenshin for that." Aoshi answered and walked fast across the tent, making Misao hop just to catch up with him. She grabbed his arm to catch up with him.
"Let go of me." Aoshi requested after she grabbed his arm and tried to tug it away from her unsuccessfully.
"Well you shouldn't walk so fast, it's hard to run fast while wearing these shoes." Misao retorted and sighed. "Sometimes I feel like you're trying to lose me or something." She added in slight annoyance.
Aoshi ignored her and continued on but more slowly this time. Misao was right because he really was trying to lose her. The press was here and he didn't want them making up stories of having an illicit affair just because he was taking Misao to the party; it didn't help that the engagement articles several newspapers had published wasn't solved yet. Hopefully, once they said their greetings to Kenshin, he could leave her with him and find a table and eat. He didn't really enjoy mingling around and trying to socialize.
He sighed inwardly, wishing he hadn't agreed to let Misao come with him, but there was no use, from the short time he knew her, he already knew how persistent and stubborn she could be. If he hadn't let her come with him or forbid Kenshin from giving her an invitation, she would probably be sneaked in as she had said and be caught by security and blurt out that she was with him, which might smear his image.
He scrutinized Misao from the corner of his right eye. She had prepared herself quite well for the night. She wore a powder blue dress that reached up to her knees and wore three inched heeled white sandals that made her reach up to his shoulder. She had even shed her usual plait and pinned it up and even placed some make-up on, if only Aoshi wasn't feeling vexed at her that night, he might have even thought that she looked cute.
"Aoshi-sama, where are we going?" Misao whispered, jolting him out from his thoughts. He frowned at her.
"Misao, please don't use the honorific on my name in public, We don't want anyone else to know about our agreement." He chided.
Misao shrugged. "Fine then…look! There's Kenshin and Kaoru! Aren't you trying to find them?" Misao pointed out. Aoshi turned to her direction and started walking near the mini bar where his two friends were standing. They were talking to man a little taller than Kenshin and had his back towards Misao and him.
Kaoru was the first one who noticed them. She waved at them eagerly. "Aoshi-kun over here! You too, Misao-san." She called.
Kenshin halted his talk with the man in front of him. "Aoshi, Misao-dono, I'm glad to see the both of you tonight."
The man Kenshin was talking to, turned around and smiled at Aoshi, shocking him as he recognized him. The man was a few years younger than him and had light brown hair and cerulean eyes. Aoshi felt like kicking himself inwardly, of course he would be here. He was a film marketer and the vice president of Kenshin's publishing company.
"Aoshi-kun, I'm glad to see you here tonight, it's been a long time since we last saw each other." He greeted him with his trademark smile.
He inclined his head to him. "Good evening Soujiro." He greeted the man, who had lived at the same house and grew up with him when they were still both independent.
"Aoshi, I heard you haven't visited Aoiya yet? Don't tell me that you and Jiya are still not speaking to each other." He sighed and finally noticed Misao and smiled again. "Good evening to you too Miss, are you a friend of Aoshi's?"
Aoshi spoke before she could. "Soujiro, this is my friend Makimachi Misao, Misao, this is Soujiro; we grew up in the same house."
Misao nodded at Soujiro. "Are you like his cousin then?" she asked.
Soujiro shook his head. "No, after I was orphaned, Aoshi's family took me in. I grew up with him." He explained.
Aoshi cleared his throat as he resumed his introduction. "Soujiro happens to be the Kenshin's vice president and a former publisher of novels."
Misao's eyes sparkled with glee. "You used to publish books?" she asked eagerly. Soujiro nodded.
"Misao is herself an aspiring writer and has hopes of publishing her first novel. She has been looking for prospective publishers." Aoshi explained.
"Oh really? I may know some people who would love to publish your novel, why don't we sit down and have a drink and you can tell me what your story is about, that is if you don't mind Aoshi?" Soujiro asked him.
Aoshi nodded to show his permission. Misao squealed.
"Yes! Thanks! Shall we go Seta-san!" she chirped and walked off with Soujiro leaving the other three alone.
Kenshin smiled. "I didn't know Misao-dono was a writer. I hope she goes far." He remarked.
"Speaking of publishing, Kenshin, it's almost time for your speech, let me accompany you to the podium." Kaoru said.
Kenshin shook his head and laughed nervously. "No, I can go there by myself Kaoru-dono, besides I think Aoshi needs company."
Kaoru shook her head and tiptoed to fix Kenshin's collar. She inclined her head to Aoshi and smiled. "Now, Kenshin, you know Aoshi, he prefers to be alone. Besides, you need some fixing up before the speech." She pouted.
Aoshi spoke, even if it pained him to speak what he had to say. "Let her go with you Kenshin, she is right, I am fine by myself." He smiled forcedly.
Kenshin's look turned serious. "Are you sure Aoshi?" he asked.
"Aa,"
Kaoru tugged Kenshin's arm and started to lead Kenshin away. "See I told you it's alright with Aoshi-kun, come let's go, we don't want you to be late for your speech. Don't worry I'll never leave you behind." She smiled at Aoshi. "See you around Aoshi-kun."
Aoshi's smile slowly faded as he watched the two of them walk away. He headed to the bar and asked for glass of white wine, the painful truth in his mind.
Kenshin was very wrong about how Kaoru felt for him.
888888888888
"I see," Soujiro remarked as he sipped from his glass of champagne. "So what happened after Miki thought that Aki was only using her and that he loved Kana?"
"Well, Miki ran away from their house and tried to kill herself but was stopped by her friends Souske and Miyu. They convinced her to move on and find someone else but while helping Miki move on, Souske falls for her even if Miyu is his wife and tries to divorce Miyu but Miyu threatened to kill herself and blame him for her death if Souske ever leaved her. Meanwhile, poor Aki is trying to search for Miki but is discouraged by Kana because she wanted Aki to love her not Miki." She sighed. "Unfortunately, Kana does not realize that the man she gave up loving, Kenchi is now in love with her." she narrated and looked at Soujiro, who had just burst in laughter. She blinked in confusion.
"Hey, why are you laughing Seta-san? That part wasn't supposed to make you laugh." She asked.
Soujiro stopped laughing and wiped the tears from his eyes and smiled at her. "It wasn't? But I thought your book was a farce of those confusing and sterotypical soap operas."
"Huh? I said that it may seem like a soap opera but it isn't like your regular soap opera." Misao explained, her face expressing slight worry.
Soujiro still smiled but his cheeks flushed. "Ah, I'm sorry for that Misao-san, but I do think your story is very interesting. Please continue."
"Well…let me remember what happens next…" Misao drummed her fingers on top of the table then snapped them. "That's right! Well you see, Kana discovers that she is pregnant from a one night stand that she had when she was drunk, not knowing that Kenchi was the one she slept with but she claims that Aki is the father and made out that they slept together, which breaks the hearts of Kenchi and Miki, who has heard about the news after running into Kana in the…"
A blare from the tent's speakers interrupted them. A man had appeared on the podium and introduced Kenshin.
"Looks like you'll have to continue this later Misao-san," Soujiro whispered. "I need to listen to Himura-san's speech."
Kenshin smiled and shook the hand of the man who introduced him and took his place to the podium and started speaking.
"Good evening everyone and I would like to thank everyone who came to the celebration of Unlimited's fourth anniversary party." Kenshin paused until some of the guests stopped clapping. "I would have never thought that Unlimited would be this successful when I first started it but this would never had happened if it weren't for the help of so many people who believed in the magazine in the first place and have been incredibly supportive. I thank you all and I am very glad to announce that Unlimited shall continue on for many more years after this!" Kenshin paused again as the tent was filled with applause and started again as it began to die down.
"Unfortunately, I won't be with Unlimited during those years." This time, instead of applause, gasps and whispers were what filled the tent and Kenshin did not pause again. "Yes, I am planning to leave Unlimited next month to move to America where I'll be teaching. Fortunately, I have found someone who I trust will be capable of running it and will continue its success. Please welcome, Seta Soujiro."
Misao gasped and turned to Soujiro. "Seta-san, you're replacing Himura!" she exclaimed and stood up and started clapping.
Soujiro looked a little shocked. "Me?" he said incredulously as he stood up and walked to the podium while the rest of the guests stood up along with Misao and cheered and clapped for Soujiro. Cameras from the press started flashing as they eagerly snapped photos of Unlimited's new president.
Up front, Soujiro's hand was shook by Kenshin and the editors of Unlimited magazine, who had arrived in front to meet Soujiro. Soujiro smiled and took his place on the podium and started his speech.
888888888888
Kenshin smiled at Soujiro one last time and slipped away undetected from the stage. He passed by one of the exits located at the back by tent. He heaved a sigh and knew that he definitely needed some fresh air. He leaned his back on the tent wall and closed his eyes and started inhaling and exhaling. The light summer winds blew on his cheeks, cooling him nicely.
"Kenshin,"
Kenshin opened his eyes and turned to face the tent exit where she stood, he had sensed Kaoru following him as soon as he had slipped away but had ignored it. Now is the time to tell her about their relationship.
Kaoru was not looking at him as she spoke. "Kenshin, you're leaving, why didn't you tell me before this?"
"I wanted you to enjoy the party without any worries in your mind Kaoru-dono."
Kaoru looked up from the grass, which she had been staring at since she started talking to Kenshin, and looked at Kenshin. "What about us Kenshin? How can we stay together if you're in America?"
"I'm sorry Kaoru-dono."
Tears started to appear in Kaoru's eyes. "Are you…br…breaking up with me? Why? Is it because of the distance? I can always go with you! I can visit you!" she almost shrieked.
"That's not the reason…"
"What is it then?" she interrupted furiously, her tears reaching her cheeks. "Is it because of our age difference? I thought you didn't care about that Kenshin!"
Kenshin walked over to her slowly, not saying a word and embraced her tightly. "No, it's not that. You'll understand one day Kaoru-dono." He released her and walked back to the exit. "You'll forget me soon enough Kaoru-dono, don't worry Aoshi will always be there for you, I know you'll be very happy with him." He told her.
Kaoru gasped. "Aoshi? Happy together with Aoshi?" she repeated incredulously. "What do you mean?"
Kenshin released her and looked away. "He cares for you Kaoru-dono."
"So this is the reason why you're leaving me?" Kaoru voiced out angrily as tears started to fall from her eyes. "Because of Aoshi? Because he loves me? You're leaving me because you want to give him a chance to have me?" she questioned furiously.
Kenshin sighed and faced her. "Kaoru-dono…"
She did not let him finish and pushed him violently away from her, sending Kenshin against the tent. She turned to face him before she reentered the tent.
"Aoshi-kun does not love me! I'll ask him myself!" she screeched out to him and entered the tent.
"Ask him, herself?" Kenshin repeated to himself as he pushed himself away from the tent when he suddenly realized what Kaoru was planning to do.
"No, don't do it Kaoru-dono!" he voiced worriedly as he hurried back inside the tent.
The last thing Aoshi needed was another scandal, he needed to stop Kaoru or his career might be forever ruined.
888888888888
Misao skipped to Soujiro eagerly after the crowd around him disappeared. She gave him big grin.
"Congratulations on your promotion Seta-san!" she greeted cheerfully. "I was quite surprised that Himura-san was quitting but I feel happy for you!"
Soujiro smiled gratefully. "Thank you Misao-san, I never expected to be the one replacing Kenshin."
"Soujiro." A deep voice came from behind him. Misao smiled at him.
"Are you going to congratulate Seta-san, Aoshi-sa…Aoshi?" she asked. "Can you believe that the boy you once lived with is now the president of Unlimited Publishing Inc. which means he now owns the magazine that gets the dish on celebrities like you?"
"Yes, I do." Aoshi answered her dryly and turned to Soujiro and nodded. "I wish you luck on your position Soujiro, I do hope that you'll be able to balance it with your film marketing career."
Soujiro smiled. "I believe I will be able to do so but I'll be quite busy. It'll also be a good way to promote the films I'm …"
"Aoshi-kun!" a loud female voice interrupted them, surprising Misao a little as she saw Kaoru approaching Aoshi vehemently, her eyes and cheeks red. Behind her Kenshin followed her, pleading desperately.
"Kaoru-dono, please don't do this!" Kenshin begged.
Kaoru ignored Kenshin and stopped just right in front of Aoshi and seemed oblivious to Misao and Soujiro's presence. Her eyes were blazing and her fists were clenched tightly as she spoke.
"Tell me Aoshi-kun, do you love me? Answer me!" she demanded furiously. Soujiro's eyes expanded in surprise as he stared on while Misao gasped and tried to continue sipping her drink. She had a good feeling that Aoshi's answer was going to be yes.
Aoshi's face expressed a mix of shock and frustration when he heard Kaoru's question. To Misao's surprise, he remained speechless when Kaoru spoke again.
"Answer me! Answer me damn it!" she demanded even louder, attracting some members of the press and other guests who stood nearby.
A look mixed with irritation and determination appeared on Aoshi's handsome face. Suddenly, he didn't seem speechless anymore and he opened his mouth to answer her question.
"I love you so much!" he yelled angrily. Kaoru glared at him as he answered, her face showing no surprise. Misao gulped down the last of her drink and tried to slip away unnoticed, feeling extremely uncomfortable. She wasn't used to Aoshi yelling.
"I love you so much!" Aoshi yelled and grabbed Misao's left hand before she could escape. "I LOVE YOU MISAO!" he added as he exploded, shouting even louder and grabbed Misao's chin with his hands, bent down and crushed his lips onto hers.
Misao gasped against Aoshi's lips as he kissed her roughly. His sweet cinnamon scent filled Misao's nose as his warm and soft lips pressed against her, giving her one of the most passionate kisses she ever felt. To her surprise, she felt her eyes close and opened her mouth when he started an open mouth kiss. She felt his tongue slip inside her mouth as it started to explore it, jarring her out from the daze she entered when he started kissing her. She flipped her eyelids open and pushed Aoshi away from her, surprising him.
"Aoshi-sama, you bastard!" she shrieked when the full realization of what just happened hit her. To make it worse, she noticed several people from the press snapping pictures of her Aoshi and what just happened. She gave Aoshi the strongest punch she could give on his stomach and ran as fast as she could out of the tent.
888888888888
Aoshi looked away as he felt members of the press push towards him, snapping their cameras and asking their questions.
"Shinomori-san, is she your fiancée?" a journalist shouted over to him.
"When are you getting married?" A reporter asked after shoving his microphone in front of Aoshi.
"What's her name Shinomori-san?" a female photographer had yelled to him.
"WILL YOU ALL STOP THIS!" a loud and stern voice came from behind Aoshi.
Suddenly the once noisy mob that surrounded Kenshin had became silent as Kenshin walked in front of Aoshi, his face stern and his eyes full of fury.
"This is a magazine party! Not some press conference!" he shouted furiously. "If you want to talk to Aoshi, do it somewhere else and some other time! Now be off!" he ordered angrily.
To Aoshi's surprise, the group of reporters, journalists and photographers followed Kenshin and moved slowly away from him, some of them with resentful faces. Somehow he could understand why they went away. Kenshin could be terrifying whenever he lost his long and patient temper. He saw Kenshin turn to Soujiro and whispered an order to his ear. Soujiro nodded and left the two of them alone quickly.
Kenshin turned to Aoshi, a different emotion on his face. "Aoshi, are you alright?" he asked worriedly. "I'm so sorry. I didn't expect my break-up with Kaoru would be that bad."
"Kaoru? Where is she?" Aoshi questioned as he scanned the room, it seemed that Kaoru has disappeared.
Kenshin looked around and sighed. "I think she left. She had done a really mean thing to you, but Aoshi…" he paused. "Do you really love… Misao?" he asked seriously.
Aoshi narrowed his eyes at Kenshin. "I'm going back to my house." He muttered and strode past him. How was he supposed to solve this new scandal now?
888888888888
Misao bent down to remove the straps from her right sandals. It had been impulsive of her to run from Aoshi that night. She had only realized it as she sat in the cab on her way home that she didn't enough money to pay for the fare and had to make the driver stop at the bus stop so she could walk the rest of the distance home, which was very difficult at the fact that she was wearing three inched heels. Unfortunately, she realized as she reached her house, that the house keys were with Aoshi and she would have to climb the wall surrounding her house to get inside.
"Stupid and idiotic Aoshi-sama!" she muttered as she took of her right sandal and began on the straps of her left one. This was the end of their agreement as his maid. She was going to run away from that bastard and go into welfare until she could find a part-time job. Once she published her novel, she planned to buy her house back and kick that jackass out of her house forever.
Misao took of her left sandal and hanged them over her shoulders and started to climb the wall. She almost slipped at her first try but was able to reach the top successfully with a few scratches. She sat on top of the wall and wiped the sweat from her head.
"Enjoying the view Misao?" a voice asked from below.
"Ah! Aoshi-sama!" she yelped and almost fell down when she saw the man below, watching her intently. "How… did you…arrive so fast?" she stammered.
"I drove my car soon after you left and passed you by when you were walking towards here."
Misao huffed. "You could have opened the door for me so I could have gotten in easier." she grumbled.
Aoshi gave her a slight smirk. "It was more amusing to watch you to try to climb over the wall."
Misao scoffed sent him a fierce look. "Asshole," she murmured to herself. "Anyway move aside, I need to pack because I'm leaving. The deal's off. I'll come back and pay you back and buy the house back once I get my on hands on some money."
Aoshi didn't move. "You're not leaving because I have a proposition to make that will earn you your house back in a much easier way."
Misao didn't look impressed. "Oh, really, what is it then?" she asked mockingly.
Aoshi cleared his throat and looked up at Misao, staring straight into her eyes.
"I want you to be my wife Misao."
ANNOUNCEMENT!
A/N: This is the second to the last sort of fast update I'm going to make because I just started school last June 15, I'll be going back to school (Yeah school starts in June here) and I'll be taking a break of hardcore fanfiction writing, which I've been doing this vacation so don't expect fast updates but do please review! They're very encouraging and receiving them will make me feel like typing. I'll also try to work on my stories during Friday and Saturday evenings if I'm not busy and I'll post the progresses on my profile, anyway please read and review my new RK Aoshi/Misao fic Heaven's Clampdown! Getting reviews for that encourages me to write more chapters for that fic and this one too! About Kenshin and Kaoru, I did say that I will try to explain them more but not here yet but I will but can you tell me what you want to know so I'll be able to explain it in the future? Thanks!
One more update after this before I fully bury myself in schoolwork and training, I can't leave you with a cliffhanger like this for this long! On to the replies!
Rkfan: Ah! Don't kill me! Joking. :P Anyway thanks, I'm glad that I'm keeping you entertained.
Unknown: Thanks for liking my fanfic! Don't worry Aoshi will realize that sooner or later.
Angee: Thanks! Yeah I actually don't like Aoshi being cold to her too but he's like that for the story.
Rachel: I think it will, I love happy endings!
Crossfire: Hey! I'm glad that you're happy that I updated.
Microburst#16: Sorry for another cliffhanger! I will explain K/K more; don't worry and thanks!
Smiley's Chaos: No I won't! Heheheh, joke lang. Ang sarap mo kasi asarin eh. :P
LegolasEstelstar: I'm sort of basing the K/K part in the manga because I think it's cool well anyway Sano and Megumi did suck last chapter! Don't worry; Misao won't let herself be tricked by them again.
Insomnia's Child: Heheheh, I hope no one has flamed you yet but thanks for reading Kaye! Magtrain ka sa Sabado! Joke! Ang kulit ko noh:P
Bishounenluver: Thanks for liking it! Here's the next chapter:D
Crystal: Thanks! I'm not sure when I can bring you that part but I'll try to!
MarieL8: Thanks for the great reviews! Yeah I should have used fatherly (only realized it now, sweatdrops) You should watch Full House! It's still showing on the local channels or if you want, you can buy the pirated dvd set of it hehehe.