It had been two days, twenty-three hours and fifty minutes since he last stepped Mystic bookshop. Aoshi counted as he set aside the financial statement of the company accounts.

He was going to grow crazy if he continued to stay away from her.

He carefully took out a book from the drawer and sighed. He kept it as a reminder that he almost lost his hearing. Seeing Soujiro and Misao at the bookshop showed him how would life be like if the operations he undergo long ago weren't a success.

Aoshi started at the cover of the book, recalling the days he spent lost and alone. He used to read it when he was in hospital to keep in touch in reality- that he might go deaf- and to deal with it when it came. Fortunately for him, the operations went smoothly, just like what the doctors said. But he never took for granted what he could have lost.

Hiko used to frown when he sees the book, wondering why he kept it even though he won't lose his hearing. Sano, who wanted to play a practical joke, took the book and almost thrown it away. If Aoshi didn't beat Sano into pulp, he might have tried it again.

Well, at least now, the book will once again be useful to him. He flipped open the book and saw the wordings on the front of the page.

-Be strong Aoshi

Tae-

He needed it now. He thought as he started recalling the signs he learnt long ago. It might come in handy when communicating with Soujiro and Misao. Then he won't have to resort to reading notes.

"Kenshin!" Aoshi heard his youngest brother yelling through the building as he stepped out of the office. Shaking his head, he headed towards Kenshin's office, which was just two rooms away from his.

"I need to get the book! Please, I promised Tsubame-chan that I will get the book for her. It's her birthday present."

"How am I to know where to get it?" Aoshi's face softened. It's funny how Kenshin tried to play dumb.

He could hear Yahiko's frustration and pictured him clearly even though the office door was separating him from them. "You know this bookshop lady in town, please help me get it. I will give you the money and the book title. Please buy it for me."

"Now why can't a guy like you- twenty years and counting- can't step into the shop and ask them?"

"KENSHIN! It's suicide for someone of my social status to enter a bookshop. It would be so uncool and on top of that… it's a place for nerds…" Yahiko trailed off.

Deciding to put him in his place, Aoshi opened the door and asked. "Nerds? Are you calling Kenshin and me nerds?"

Yahiko turned to face him. "Do you know how to knock the door instead of barging in?" He asked furiously.

"Ma ma…" Kenshin said, as a sweat started rolling down his forehead. "Aoshi, want to go for lunch?" He asked, changing the subject.

"My pleasure." Aoshi said, getting the hint. "Where would you want to go?"

"I am not sure you know… just…" Kenshin gave a dramatic pause between his words.

"Perhaps we should go somewhere far away from Mystic bookshop, a place where we can't pop by and get the book for Yahiko's girlfriend." Aoshi said somberly.

He chuckled when he saw Yahiko's face turning red. "Tsubame-chan isn't my girlfriend." He mumbled under his breath.

"Why then, then there is no hurry then?" Kenshin said in a singsong voice. "We can get it for you next week then, since I need to find the sequel of the book I am currently reading." Aoshi said nothing as he followed his brother as he walked out of the room.

"NO! Kenshin please…"

"But wait a minute Kenshin." Aoshi stopped and turned around. "Then again, I was thinking of finding something for a friend in Misao-chan's bookshop." When he saw Yahiko's eyes lit up, he smiled slyly. "Of course, I don't think I can go there and help someone buy a book, especially when he just called us nerds. After all, our social status is somewhat similar to his and we still visit the bookshop."

"I am sorry." Yahiko quickly said just as Aoshi was about to turn away. "I will do anything, if you just help me buy the book for Tsubame."

"Oh, it's Tsubame now, not Tsubame-chan?" Kenshin teased. Aoshi saw the wink that Kenshin gave him as they watched Yahiko turned into a deeper shade of red. It was clear that he was enjoying himself.

"Tsubame-chan will much appreciate it if I get the book by tomorrow. I can't go there because...because I am busy." Yahiko squirmed under the intense gaze of his brothers.

Aoshi gave a sigh. "I am busy too. That's too bad." He went into his office to grab his white trench coat and came out as he took out his sunglasses from his pocket and stared at Yahiko. "So you have anything else to say?" He asked as he was about to turn away.

"Wait…" He watched Yahiko hesitating for a while. "I will do your laundry and your housework."

"For two months." Aoshi said.

"One!"

"One month for me and Kenshin."

"No! I won't do it for Kenshin!"

"Then I guess the deal is off." Aoshi turned away. "It was great doing business with you though."

"Wait!" Aoshi looked back at Yahiko. "Okay, you win. I will do one month of housework and laundry for you and Kenshin." Yahiko gritted his teeth as he said it out.

"Deal." With that, the two elder brothers walked away, leaving Yahiko sinking down on the armchair.

"I hope Tsubame-chan appreciate what he did for her." Kenshin said as he went in the elevator.

"She will, if Yahiko ever tells her." Aoshi said, with a straight poker face. Aoshi pondered how to say what he had in mind out as the elevator door opened. "Kenshin…"

"I know. You want to see Misao-chan alone right?" Kenshin laughed when he saw Aoshi looking dumbstruck. "I am meeting someone for lunch. So you go ahead."

"Thank you." Aoshi said, thanking god that he had such a perceptive brother. With that, they spilt ways. He walked towards his dark blue BMW and waved at his brother as he sat down at the driver seat. Within a minute, he was out into the afternoon sun to meet Misao.

As his attention on the road wandered to Misao as he drove through the narrow roads. He wondered what was Misao doing right now, or whether she would miss him as much as he missed him.

But what he wasn't aware that as he approached the shop, Misao was crossing the road. Being absent minded, she failed to follow safety precaution and made sure the road was clear before crossing. After all, there were hardly any cars around the area around lunch period.

When Aoshi finally snapped out of his daydreaming, he realized that Misao was barely two car lengths away from his car and he was driving at 40 kilometers per hour. Jamming his brakes, he muttered a prayer that he won't hit her.

Misao was at the middle of the road when she felt chills running down her spine. She turned, watching a dark blue BMW car heading towards her direction. Her mind told her to move. But the lack of adrenaline caused her to freeze on the spot. She recognized the driver, even though he wore his sunglasses and could see his mouth moving, most probably cursing at her while jamming his brakes.

Not again please! Not again!

As she watched the driver trying to brake, bitter memories flashed across her mind. Please, not again. She prayed the words once more as she closed her eyes, bracing for the worst.

Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder. Misao opened her eyes to see the BMW merely inches away from her. Aoshi was staring at her with his sunglasses on. "Are you okay?"

Feeling numbed from what happened just now, Misao couldn't register what he said. All she wanted to do was to cry. Despising herself for feeling so weak, she shook her head and threw herself on Aoshi, not caring what he would think. What she wanted was Aoshi to comfort her and tell her everything was alright.

Aoshi flinched when Misao hugged him and started drenching his clothes. He wanted her to do that, but under different circumstances. His hands slowly enclosed around her as he brought her closer. He didn't like the fact that he was so careless when he was driving and almost knocked her down. He didn't like it that she was crying so hard and anything he said to comfort her will fall on deaf ears, literally.

The only thing he knew to do was to bring her to somewhere familiar, hoping that it would calm her down, and to park the car somewhere safe. Without hesitation, he slipped his left arm under her knees as he used the right hand to support her upper body as he lifted her up and walked towards the bookshop.

Misao felt the change in surrounding when she entered the air-conditioned bookshop. She looked up and saw Soujiro hurrying to her, worriedly looking at her. She was roughly dumped into his arms and felt Aoshi walked away from her. With her emotions highly strung, she sobbed once more, feeling a sense of dejection as she turned her head towards the door, watching him walked away.

It wasn't his fault that she was an emotional wreak. She should have been more careful. Soujiro scolded her once that she was too ignorant to the danger around her. She cried harder. It was a bitter lesson she learnt long ago. And she almost did it again. She was grateful as Soujiro slowly lowered her onto the floor and allowed her to continue crying on his shoulder.

'Are you okay?' Soujiro signed to her when she looked up when she finished crying. He brushed the tears away from her eyes and gave a sad smile. 'You are worrying me.'

'I'm fine.' Misao gave him a shaky smile. 'I'm sorry for worrying you.'

'Shinomori-san is waiting at the table. He doesn't want to disturb you and he also refuse to say what happened just now. Did he hurt you?' Misao shook her head. 'Then what happened? He looked so furious.'

Misao closed her eyes, trying not to cry again. Slowly, she explained the incident that happened earlier outside the bookshop. 'Baka!' Soujiro scolded her when she was done. 'What am I suppose to do if you were really injured?'

'I didn't.' Misao tried to smile again, but her effort fell flat. 'I'm lucky.'

'I agree. Shinomori-san is also lucky. If he knew what happened to you the last time, he would be extremely grateful that he could break on time.' Soujiro signed furiously. 'Next time don't do it.'

Misao started to tear again as she signed back. 'I won't.'

'Heck!' Soujiro cursed, letting out a frustrated sigh and hugged her again. 'I'm sorry Misao. Don't be mad at me.'

Misao shook her head, to show him that she wasn't. How could she? When he was always there to take care of her and be her friend during her darkest hour. He was right to reprimand her. Misao looked up, and her hand brushed lightly on his cheek. 'Sorry.'

Aoshi watched the tender exchange between Soujiro and Misao and his guts tightened. Could Misao be taken and dating Soujiro? He tried to bury the jealousy that was threatening to engulf him. Unable to stay silent any longer, he went to the counter to search for a notepad he saw three days ago. He then scribbled something on it and approached the pair.

'Is Misao-chan alright?

I could take her home to rest.

I'm sorry for causing her so much distress.

And this is the most I could help her.'

Aoshi watched as Soujiro reached out for a pen from his pants and replied his note.

'I think it's best if she rest.

I will give you her address so that

You can send her home.'

"No." Misao said as she signed her objections to Soujiro. "I am alright."

The two men exchanged glances and nodded. 'No, you are going back with him.' Soujiro hushed any of Misao's objections. 'It's for your own good. Please Misao.'

'But…'

'No buts Misao.' Soujiro kissed her forehead before he stood up, pulling her up along with him. 'For once, don't argue with me.'

Defeated, Misao nodded and went to the counter to take her belongings.

Aoshi watched the way she carried herself and started to worry. But he can't leave till he finished his errand.

'Seta-san, do you mind if you help me find a copy of a book

Entitled Message in the Bottle by Nicholas Sparks please?'

Soujiro looked at the note and nodded, and disappeared to the maze of bookshelves while Misao collected her things. Aoshi shook his head as he resumed watching her. How could someone as cheerful as her get so depressed. Was he responsible scaring her out of her wits? There was something bothering her and he won't leave her till he figure out what it was.

Misao tried not to be bothered by Aoshi's intense gaze. Why did he feel obliged to take care of her, knowing well enough that Soujiro could do the job? Why did Soujiro relinquish his role as her comforter to a mere stranger he met a few days ago? Strangely, she was glad that it was the case. She needed Aoshi now, needed him to hug her and soothe her rattled nerves, to be close to him and foolishly imagine him loving her.

Aoshi turned away as he felt Soujiro tapping his shoulder. Even though Soujiro was a head shorter than him, he knew that he was not intimidated by him, judging by the way he looked straight into his eyes. Take care of her. Soujiro silently said.

I will. Aoshi swore as he took the book that Soujiro gave him and paid for it. Giving him what is to him a reassuring smile, Aoshi gave a slight nod towards Soujiro before pulling Misao into his arms. When his arm slid around his waist, he slowly walked away with Misao by his side.

Homework, Schoolwork, tests and projects are getting the better of me. All these were actually typed long ago. So you could see how lagging I am. Well, just inform you guys. I might start another story with Kenshin that has a part running concurrently with this story. At least part of it would. . Two people proved read my stories and they were also pretty confused after that. So unless you guys want me to continue posting and leave you confused at the latter chapters, I might take forever to update this story! So just drop a review as well as your preference. Other than that…

Take care guys!

Joyful-x