Disputes

Kamatari had barely had time to enter his dorm and relax in the room's only armchair when the youngest member of the Makimachi bloodline barged in, disturbing the tranquil atmosphere. Wondering what could possibly have upset Misao this time he mentally prepared for a long session of ranting. With practiced ease he hastily removed his late grandmother's vase to a safer location than its compromising position on the small cabinet beside him. Meanwhile the braided bundle of fury had begun her tirade.

Kamatari was lost after thirty seconds.

"I keep telling him that there's nothing to worry about, but does he listen? No! It's always Misao don't do this, don't do that! I'm going to wring his neck. No, wait, I'll-"

"Woah, woah, slow down girl. All I hear is white noise. Now take a deep breath and start over; slowly this time," Kamatari spoke evenly, once again sitting comfortably in the loveseat.

Inhaling soundly Misao closed her eyes and when she opened them again some of the flames had dulled in the sea foam colored irises. "Okay, so I've scarcely seen my boyfriend for a whole week and we were going to meet up yesterday to finally spend some alone time with each other. But because that greasy bastard, Saito, decided to spring a surprise exam on them and Aoshi being Aoshi feels the need to study until sunrise, he cancels our date, because heaven forbid that he scores one point from full pot; which is impossible to get in that prick's class anyway." It was no secret that history professor, Saito Hajime, took great pleasure in torturing his students with unexpected assignments; just to make sure that they were paying attention in class. Any protests were met with the same statement; 'Studying was for idiots and weaklings'.

"So you're angry because your hunk decided he'd rather read about old geezers than get laid?" Kamatari frowned slightly, trying to piece things together.

"No! yes…maybe. But that's not the main reason!" Misao stressed.

"And what is?"

"I'm getting there!" She glared dangerously. "Anyway, feeling downright miserable I go to drain my sorrows at the Shirobeko. But drinking alone is way too emo, so I call Kaoru to share my misery with her."

"Oh how are things going with her and that gorgeous fiancé of hers?" Kamitari smiled pleasantly, momentarily cutting her off track.

Misao narrowed her eyes and placed her hands on her hips. "Watch it Tari, Himura is a very committed man, not to mention Kaoru would kill you."

The gorgeous male waved her off. "Come on now Misao darling, you know I would never do something like that to Kaoru-chan. But you can't blame a guy for fantasizing." He winked impishly at her.

She grimaced. "Okay stop right there, despite belief, Himura is all male. Trust me I've seen the proof." She shuddered slightly, recalling last years 'shower incident'. It also confirmed the redhead's hair color was indeed natural.

"Double eew!"

"Your point?" Kamatari looked at her innocently, glossed lips formed in a questioning pout.

Misao covered her eyes and muttered. "Never mind."

"So you talked to Kaoru," he said, returning to their initial topic.

"Right," she nodded, collecting herself to tell the rest of the story. "Well eventually my battery died and there are only so many wandering hands a woman can smack away, so I decide it is about time to head back. And this is when Kami-sama decided to smite me." There was a dramatic silence. "I've barely reached my room when that stupid, obsessive-"

"Temper honey, temper," he warned in a sing song voice, inspecting his perfectly manicured nails.

Slanting her eyes at him as he absentmindedly started working at the tips of his flipped out shoulder length hair, Misao cleared her throat irritably. "Sorry I mean my charming and huggable boyfriend comes at me like a raging bull and accuses me of 'irresponsible behavior'!"

Kamatari let his hand fall back into his jean clad lap. "Sweetie, however tempting the image of a worked up Aoshi seems; both you and I know that he would never commit himself to that raging bull thing."

Misao was practically breathing fire when she turned upon him. "Kamatari I'm doing the telling! If I say Aoshi was a raging bull, he was a raging bull!"

"Yes, yes, please continue."

"No more interruptions?"

"No interruptions."

"Promise?" She eyed him critically, obviously not entirely convinced.

"On my love for men I swear," Kamatari voiced dully, raising his hand in the air.

His answer seemed to have pleased her enough, as she calmed down somewhat. "Where was I…? Oh right, he blames me for being reckless. Hello, how was I supposed to know that he was going to call and apologize at the exact same time my phone had a blackout? Besides, I never asked him to turn the entire campus upside down to search for me. I told him he was being an overprotective jerk and, well, I think you get how it went from there."

He tilted his head slightly gazing wonderingly up at her. "It's sweet of him to be worried, don't you think? Really Misao, you have one of the planets finest specimen at your beck and call, I can't see what there is to complain about."

"You're completely missing the point!" Misao snapped hotly.

"I know Mi-chan, I'm only joking."

"Well don't, I have serious issues here. My boyfriend is trying to act like my dad; do you know how disturbing that mental image is?" She scowled.

Kamatari shrugged. "So kiss and make up. You know what they say about make up sex."

"And how exactly will that solve my problem?" She wasn't entirely sure what to make of the mischievous expression he was giving her.

"Trust me dear, if I lend you my newest set of lingerie, all future troubles you may have will be forever gone. Not that it will look as good on you as it does on me bu-ut…" the transsexual trailed off.

"Oh Kami, you are so gay," Misao grumbled.

"You know it," her friend beamed.

Before the young woman could make any further comments a familiar ringtone began playing from the confines of her pocket. Even the name on the display was one she had come to know very well.

"It's him isn't it?" She bit her lip uneasily and bobbed her head. "Well what are you waiting for? Answer," he urged, looking pointedly at the still beeping device in her clenched hand.

"Thank you Tari," Misao whispered, capturing him in a tight hug.

"Anytime hun," he smiled friendly, pecking her lightly on the cheek. "Now go, shoo, before Goth boy starts making assumptions again." He waved her out the door.

"Kamitari, the love doctor strikes again," he grinned to himself, leaning against the door. Whistling merrily he went over to the single hot plate to reward himself with some freshly brewed tea.

Besides he just remembered he had an important phone call to make himself.