DISCLAIMER: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin.

I AM ON FIRE! lol I wanted to update twice before school starts and this is my third update with another chapter half way written. But, the scariest part is, I only planned for this story to be five chapters long and I'm already on chapter eight with no end in sight. I have no clue how long it will take to finish this story. Well, read on and expect more author's notes at the end. Enjoy!

midnight song

ps-the numbers through out the fic are where I had some insane/cute author's comments to make or info for the reader so if you want to read them they are with the ending an's and are marked accordingly. I've just had complaints before about them taking away from the story so I moved them.

" "-talking

' '-thinking

:: ::person on opposite end of phone conversation

8/11/04

Misao spent the rest of the day cleaning. She had to do something to keep her mind off of tomorrow's events.

She started with the kitchen. Then, she cleaned the living room, her room, and the bathroom. She worked straight through lunch.

Finally, around five o'clock, Misao collapsed on the couch. Just laying there, she stayed until she drifted to sleep.

RING! RING!

For the second day in a row, Misao was awakened by the sound of a phone.

Opting to stay put, she tried to ignore the phone.

'It better not be that stupid Fox again!'

RING! RING!

'But, what if......it's Aoshi? No way. But still!'

Misao shot up at that thought and raced for the phone.

"Hello?"

::Misao?::

"Aoshi? What's the matter? Is something wrong?"

::No:: 1

PAUSE

"Aoshi, if nothing's wrong, why did you call?"

::I wanted to make sure you were okay.:: 2

"Oh! I'm fine. Really, I am."

::Okay.::

"Thank you for calling to ask."

::Aa.:: 3

PAUSE 4

::Misao?::

"Yes?" she questioned hopefully.

::Where do you work?::

Misao's rising hope fell. Maybe he wasn't planning on asking her for a date.

"Tokyo Blooms."

Aoshi had noticed the excitement in her voice, but, now, it was gone. 'Maybe,' he thought, 'I shouldn't go through with it.'

::Aa......Good-bye.::

"Bye," said Misao, thoroughly disappointed. Seconds later she heard the dial tone.

Placing the phone on the coffee table, she headed towards her room.

Grabbing her pajamas off the still unmade bed, Misao quickly changed. She crawled onto the bed after turning out the lights. Using the remote on the nightstand, she switched her CD player on and set it to her favorite radio station.

Misao curled up on the bed and pulled the covers up to her chin. Giving in, she cried herself to sleep.

The alarm clock began to go off at quarter till six. Misao dragged herself out of bed, hitting the off button of the alarm on the way to the bathroom.

She turned on the light and headed for the shower. Turning the tap on to heat the water, Misao shed her clothes.

Stepping into the shower, Misao washed her hair. Five minutes later, Misao turned off the water. She grabbed the towel thrown over the top of the shower door.

Drying off, Misao placed on her dark blue robe. She grabbed the white towel from the counter and wrapped her hair in it.

Exiting the bathroom, Misao headed towards the kitchen. Reaching the kitchen, she put on the tea kettle to heat.

Misao retrieved a cup and saucer from the cabinet along with her favorite tea mix.

She placed everything on the island and left the room for the bathroom. In the bathroom, she brushed out her hair.

Misao returned to the kitchen just in time to hear the kettle whistle.

Preparing her tea, Misao sat at the island. She grabbed the manga she had placed there the day before and sipped her tea as she read.

Glancing up to check the clock, Misao realized it was twenty after six. 'Shit!'

She jumped up, tossed down the book, and set her empty tea cup in the sink. Next, she emptied the kettle and set it back on the stove to finish cooling.

Hurrying into her bedroom, Misao grabbed her uniform out of the closet. She tossed it on the bed. She untied her robe and let it fall to the floor.

She quickly dressed in the uniform, which consisted of a green, yellow, and white plaid miniskirt with a yellow sweater-vest and a white button-up shirt underneath.

Hurrying into the bathroom, Misao brushed her teeth and threw her hair into a messy bun. 'Skip the make-up for today, I'll go to the dojo after work.'

Flipping off lights as she went, Misao grabbed her work-out bag in her room and headed to get her purse and coat. Grabbing both, she locked the door before leaving.

Misao practically ran for the bus stop at the corner. Reaching it, she dug into her purse, searching for her watch.

Her cell phone rang as she was securing the strap. Immediately fishing it out, she flipped it open after reading Satioh-san on the id.

"Hey, Tokio."

::Misao. Why didn't you call yesterday! Hajime said to expect your call.::

"I'm sorry, Tokio. Yesterday wasn't a great day."

::Why? Did something happen with your "mystery man"? Spill little cuz.::

"Nothing happened."

::Yeah......right. Sure.........I believe you.::

"Tokio, cut the crap. It's the truth."

::Somehow, that doesn't surprise me.::

As they conversed, Misao's bus pulled up. She boarded the bus with the rest of the passengers, flashing her bus pass to the driver.

"Why'd you really call, Tokio?"

::Hmmm......so you realized there was more to it than my expecting your call?::

"Slightly. So, spill, cuz," she said, mocking Tokio.

::Alright, you win. I got a phone call from my mom yesterday. Well, you know how protective my mom is of you since your mom, and dad, died.:: 5

"And?"

::And, she's getting into town tonight to visit for a week. She wants you to come to dinner the day after tomorrow.:: 6

"That's fine. It always is."

::That's not all.::

"Not all?"

::She wants you to bring a friend, a GUY friend. Hopefully, a boyfriend.::

Bad, bad me. It's such a bad place to leave off, BUT I promise the next chapter will be out before Monday. The next chapter is actually over half way written. It just needs finished and typed up. Monday, would be the day school starts. Joy, joy. rolls eyes At least, I'll be a senior. YAY! I even had my senior pictures done this morning. And only one more day of babysitting hell to go! That's my favorite part of school starting. Um, a little word of warning. I'll be talking an honors English class in which I will be doing a lot of writing. So, I may end up burnt out on writing. I'm hoping not, but this is essay stuff and that always makes me hate writing. Creative writing is great. I have fun with that, but at my high school we don't have that. cries I so wish we did. Enough about that.........Please REVIEW.

AN's

1. Don't we all love Misao's reaction? It's rather like her to overreact, especially when it comes to Aoshi. Look what love does to one. Hehe)

2. The Ice Block shows emotion!? faints Gotta love him. No, really, you have to. I demand it.

3. Now, THAT was more like Aoshi

4. I guess it would be hard to talk on the phone with Aoshi-sama. He's too quiet for his own good sometimes.

5. Their moms are/were sisters for this story.

6. They went clubbing Sunday night, she missed work Monday, and the current day is Tuesday. This would mean the dinner would be on Thursday.