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Aoshi stood at the window, glancing at the scenery before him. At the age of twenty-four, he achieved what many haven't- being the CEO of Aoiya Co-operation, together with his three brothers. As the head office being located in the middle of the business district, he could see everything going on from the twenty-fourth floor of the building. That was something he never dreamt of ten years ago.

Fortunately for Aoshi and Hiko-san, the operation was a success. He had no side-effect from it and could once more hear properly. He allowed Hiko-san to adopt him, as a way of thanking him for sponsoring the operation. He never realized how powerful his adopted father was. He also never realized that living with three brothers, who were adopted one way or another could be pure living hell.

Not that he doesn't respect them, it was just that besides Kenshin, who was older than him, he constantly reminded himself, the other two brothers- Yahiko and Sanosuke usually pushed him to the brink when they were teenagers.

Right now, only Sano had the cheek to push him over the edge.

A knock interrupted his thoughts. "Come in."

He turned back to his desk, seeing his brother entering the room. The distinctive flaming red hair and the cross scar on the left side of his face made him smile. Kenshin was older than him and technically the boss of the company. Yet he behaved as if he was just merely an employee. Humble brat!

"Finish with your report Aoshi?"

Aoshi studied him, noticing the mischievous glint in his violet eyes. "Kind of."

"Hungry I suppose? It's one in the afternoon." Kenshin laughed as his stomach growled. "Want to go out for lunch?"

"As long as Yahiko and Sano aren't coming then I will be fine." Aoshi said.

"Ma, ma… they are not coming." Kenshin laughed sheepishly. "Yahiko went out for his graduation rehearsal in his school. Sano… well Sano isn't free. Let's go!" Kenshin said hurriedly.

"What's the rush?" Aoshi sighed as he followed

"I want to show you something really neat!" Kenshin turned back and he noticed that his eyes lit up again, with something naughty in his mind.

"Who's driving then?" Aoshi shook his head and went along with him.

"Me!" Kenshin said as he pressed the lift button.

"Fine." Aoshi said. "Your decision." With that, the lift door opened and the two of them went in, making their way down to the car park.

Aoshi relaxed in Kenshin's silver Mercedes Convertible as the driver confidently weaved in and out of the afternoon traffic. "Where are we going?"

"Somewhere you will totally fall in love."

"You are not pairing me up with another Sakura right?" Aoshi moaned. "Don't be a matchmaker Kenshin! Stick to your day job!"

"No, not with a person you dimwit!" Kenshin laughed. "You will love it! Trust me!"

Right, and trusting him is like passing money to a thief for safekeeping.

"Here we are." Kenshin said as he skillfully parked his car in front of a shop.

"I thought we are going for lunch?" Aoshi said as he came out of the car, sliding on a pair of sunglasses.

"We are. But first, I want to introduce you to a place call heaven- in your context I mean." Kenshin said as he came out of the car and locked it. "This is the place." He pointed at the shop in front of him and smiled. "Welcome to Mystic Bookshop! I hope you have a pen with you."

"Why?" Aoshi's eyebrow twitched.

"You might need it." Kenshin pushed opened the door. Aoshi followed him in, stunned by the content of the shop.

Books were everywhere. Each shelf in the store were stacked with books, from literature to science fiction novels, from political books to biographies, it was to him, a book heaven.

Aoshi took out his sunglasses and turned towards the cashier and saw a young man dressed in white sleeve shirt with dark blue jeans. His black eyes, with a tint of grayish specks studied him cautiously. But when he glanced at Kenshin, the man beamed at him. He watched the younger lad taking out a pen from his jeans and started writing and passed the note to Kenshin.

Kenshin laughed and nodded and wrote something back. Aoshi curiously watched the exchange of notes for a while before he asked. "Why are you writing?"

"He is deaf. This is the only way we can communicate. Actually, there is another way, but she isn't here at the moment." Kenshin said.

The lad suddenly held out a note in Aoshi's direction. He accepted it and glanced at the message.

'I'm Seta Soujiro.

Kenshin told me that you are his brother.

What's your name then?'

Aoshi took out a pen and replied back.

'Shinomori Aoshi.

How long have this shop been open?'

'For a week now.

Your brother was one of the first few customers who came here.

He mentioned that he has a brother who loves books. Are you the one?'

'You are quite right.

You have quite a wide selection of books.

It's quite impressive!'

'Thank you. I am sure Misao will be pleased.'

Aoshi looked up and at that moment, he saw a young lady entered a shop, holding a few plastic bags from a take-away restaurant. Soujiro's smile brightened and started signing at her.

The lady laughed and went to the counter, putting down the bags and signed back at him. When they were done, she turned to Kenshin and smiled. "Himura-san, it's great to see you."

"Same to you too." He could barely hear Kenshin. "The man behind you is my brother that I was talking about, Shinomori Aoshi."

As she turned to face him, he couldn't help but stare at her. Her long hair was neatly plaited into a ponytail. Her warm blue eyes lit up with laughter that somehow made him feel comfortable with her, which rarely happened during the first meeting.

"Makimachi Misao." She introduced herself as she stretched out her hand.

"Shinomori Aoshi." He said as he grasped her hand.

Her laughter did funny things in his body. "I know. Himura-san said so."

Aoshi noticed the way her hands fit perfectly in his and immediately let it go. "Sorry." Aoshi said as he turned away.

"Aoshi-san, please, when you speak, don't turn away from me." Misao said.

Surprised, he turned back. "Why?"

Misao gave a light hearted laugh and shrugged. "If you don't want me to write to you like the way Soujiro did with you, you have to let me read your lips."

"You are deaf?" Aoshi's eyes widened in shock.

"Yes." Misao suddenly turned away from him and walked to Kenshin. "Himura-san, I bought lunch for both of you. Do you still intend to stay here and look through the books that we have?"

"Certainly. Right Aoshi?" Kenshin asked. When Aoshi didn't reply, he smiled at Misao. "We will stay."

Take care everyone

A.N: The bold words shows that the note is written by a different person)

Joyful-x