Authors Notes: has been having troubles, hence why this took awhile to get onto the Site. In this chapter, Aoshi and Misao speaking together will now return to normal using the usual "…" as Aoshi lets it slip out. Enjoy!

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Aoshi wiped his creased brow of sweat, the day becoming humid as storm clouds collided through the sky, but no rain had fallen yet. He'd not opened his window for fresh air, having locked himself in thoughts as he painted the lake with the sunset streaming through the clouds. It was all being done in watercolour so concentration was necessary. Aoshi would kick himself if he ruined it as he'd been at it since he finished the meal Misao had brought him. His paintbrush dropped from the painting as she came back into his thoughts. He'd not watched her doing his laundry like he did yesterday and drowned away in his work. Aoshi had to prove to himself that he wasn't a lost cause thanks to Tomoe. Now though, as he concentrated on something other then his painting, he picked up no sounds coming from inside or outside the lake house. Placing his brush into the water tin, Aoshi moved out of the room and down the corridor, his head turning to look into the family room to see everything was spick and span, a fresh set of logs against the opened fireplace, the chairs facing it and the cushions fluffed and plump. The next place to look was the kitchenette but it was void of Misao too. That is when Aoshi heard the distinctive sound of the hammock creaking lightly and headed for the screen door, prying it open as he stepped onto the porch and looked to his right. There she was, lying back within the hammock and reading a book. The only other noise that could be heard was the rustling of leaves through the trees thanks to the breeze and of course the rumbling of the thunder as the clouds drew closer.

Aoshi hadn't meant to scare her, but his hand had let go of the door and it clacked against its frame, startling Misao as she looked over at him and thanks to her sudden movements she promptly lost her balance in the hammock and fell out of it, her slender frame smacking into the floorboards. Her hands had moved in quick reflexes to catch her from smacking her head, she dropping her book and loosing the page she'd been up to. Aoshi was over in a flash, helping to pick her up. Her palms were lightly scraped, but it appeared nothing was broken.

'I didn't mean to slack off, honest! I was just having a little rest. Okon and Omasu had me up at the crack of dawn helping them at the resort. I got all your washing done before the rain would fall and the family room is cleaned. I didn't want to come and disturb you beca-' Aoshi had dropped his finger to her lips, stopping her from her rant and quietly helped her to her feet. He bent down and picked up the book, it having dropped facedown and the description on the back was oddly familiar to him. When he flipped it over his eyes grew slightly wide behind his black bangs.

"You like to read these kinds of books?" Misao tilted her head and observed as his eyes darted between the book and her face. He placed it back into her hands and watched as her lips parted in a small 'o' shape, as though understanding what he had said.

'He's a great author! Though he's not published many novels, when they do come out they are on a league of their own. The way he brings out the characters it feels so real, like every emotion within the story, the author has felt. I always get sucked into the plot, about the straight-laced unfeeling male whose world is thrown upside down when the female lead comes into it. You can feel their anguish, their hatred and then beneath that you feel the burning of a deadly passion that grows between them. The way it's woven into the storyline and then erotically takes over as they fight their own battles, their own feelings and yet always seem to end up together. It sucks me in completely. I'm always holding my breath at each turn of the page, even when this is the third time I've read it. I'm always gasping in hope that they'll survive through the tale, even though I know the bittersweet ending. Okon said the author is going to be publishing a new novel this year. I can't wait!' Her face had lit up as she babbled away and then quickly she stopped, one hand rising to scratch at the back of her head, a nervous laugh taking over. 'Ah, you probably don't know what I'm saying.'

"Arigatou…" He'd never met someone who'd read his novels before. And the way Misao rambled on about what she felt when she read them; it felt astounding to hear it. He'd never bothered about going to launches or signings, but right now, as Misao had rambled on about one of his books, her heartfelt words lodged instantly into his heart. The feeling was indescribable and all he could think to do was thank her, but he'd accidentally voiced his gratitude back to her in Japanese.

"Huh?" Misao murmured as she blinked up at the man before her. 'Arigatou…' Her eyes instantly went wide, she taking a step back, her mouth parting open and her right index finger pointed shakily at him. "Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh? You speak Japanese!" Misao characteristically yelled in pure shock. It didn't take long for a bright flush to smear across her face. He understood everything that she had voiced. The book plummeted to the ground, landing with a thump on the floorboards and her hands rose to her lips, hoping to conceal the gasp that had escaped, but Aoshi had heard it in any case. Misao quickly ducked her head, eyes closing in mortification as she ran around the quiet man and rushed down the steps, heading off down the dirt road not once looking back.

Aoshi had watched her go, deciding to not go after her as it appeared she was running back down the mountain to the Resort. It was probably best that she didn't return as she was messing with his mind. Aoshi once more picked up Misao's book and took it inside, placing it onto the coffee table within the family room and moved to the fireplace. The air was getting chilly so he began a small fire, controlling the heat of it as he placed more logs onto it, allowing the medium sized room to be filled with the flames' warmth. He sat in one of the wooden cane chairs, cushions plump against his back and picked up the first novel he'd published. Carefully his fingers glided through the pages, picking up sentences here and there as he flipped through the hard cover novel. Aoshi hadn't been paying attention to the time, as it grew darker, the rain had begun to fall since his eyes had landed on pencilled notes within the novel. At the end of each chapter, it appeared Misao would comment on the feelings she felt when reading it. Finally reaching the end of the novel, Aoshi flipped the last page,

"What kind of person is the author? To be able to portray such sorrow and passion at the same time, they must know both very well."

"Do you?" Aoshi shut the book, his head snapping over his shoulder and around the backing of the cane chair as he found Misao in the archway of the family room. He hadn't even heard the screen smack against its frame, too lost in what Misao had been writing. Looking over at her, she was dripping wet, hands wringing nervously in front of her. "Ah, I forgot my bag." She mumbled, eyes drifting to the floorboards beneath her muddy bare feet, toes scrunched. She'd run away, with not much clothing on and no shoes on her feet and yet was able to make her way back here in the dark. She intrigued Aoshi so much, but right now all he did was stand up, placing the book on the coffee table and headed towards her.

"You should dry off or you'll freeze to death." He murmured, hand brushing her shoulder, fingers feeling the slickness, coldness of her creamy skin. He took the stairs two at a time, moving into this bedroom to grab some spare towels something of his for her to wear. He came back downstairs to find her shuffling on the spot, not wanting to move as she'd brought muddy footprints into the house and adorably chewing her bottom lip. Aoshi wordlessly handed the items to her and pointed to his drawing and painting room for her to change in. "I'll heat up some water for your feet." Misao dumbly nodded and watched him walk off into the kitchenette. As he went off to do his thing, she tried to walk on tiptoe, not wishing to leave any mud lying around and stripped from her clothing. It was safe to say that Misao was drenched all the way through, but she was not removing her underwear even if they were damp. There was no way she would feel anymore vulnerable then she already did in front of him. Placing on the long sleeved button down green shirt Misao couldn't help but brush the stop satin material against her skin. It smelt like him, smelt of his musky cologne and she pressed the long sleeves that hung over her hands to her face. The shirt fell mid thigh against her and as Misao looked down at the pants he'd so kindly gave her, she knew even with the drawstring they would not fit her petite frame. Taking in a deep breath Misao padded out of the room and back into the family room where she found him crouched by the fire, testing the waters warmth with long callused fingers.

"Ah, the sweatpants…don't fit." Misao muttered, darting her eyes from his intense green gaze, as he looked her over in his shirt. He knew it would engulf her small frame, but he couldn't help the feeling that he felt at seeing her within his clothing.

"Come sit by the fire, I'll wash your feet." Misao shuffled on over, remembering to clean the floorboards of her mess tomorrow and sat in the chair he offered to her and dunked her feet into the warm water. She let off a happy sigh at the warmth, even if her feet stung a little. She had to hold her breath, one hand instinctively clenching the cane chair arm when his hand griped below her knee, picking up her left foot and dragged a cloth between her toes, around her heel, over the top and then slightly up her shin to rid her porcelain skin of mud.

"Ah, I can do that myself." Misao stuttered out, jerking her foot away from his experienced hands and wordlessly took the cloth from his relenting fingers. Once Misao was finished in her cleaning, Aoshi handed her a towel and took the basin of brown water away, emptying it down the kitchenette sink. He returned to find Misao curled in the cane chair, legs drawn to her chest and the chair closer to the open fire. His orbs, which did not miss much (minus the whole Tomoe affair) caught sight of a small shiver from Misao and opened a set of drawers near a bookshelf. He pulled out a red blanket and unfolded it before dropping it wordlessly over Misao's shoulders. She jerked at the soft feel and gave him a small smile in thanks. He knew it would now make her feel more secure as now she wasn't sitting in his house in just her underwear and one of his shirts.

"You should dry your hair." Aoshi remarked and handed the third and last towel he'd brought down with him. Misao took it from him and tried to drift off in her mind and not think about the simple fact that he was sitting merely inches from her, watching her undo the plait of her hair and then caress her fingers through it as the warmth in the room began to dry it nicely. As Misao dried it as best she could with the towel, she placed it around her shoulders not wanting to dampen the blanket and sat looking into the flames of the fire, the heavy blue-black mass of her hair cascading about her. The flames cast shadows over the wooden beams of the house, they dancing about the two of them, she could almost get lost within them, however her blue orbs finally flickered down to her book and then over to the quiet man sitting opposite her. His long legs were drawn out in front of him, one ankle crossed over the other. With the cushions behind his back, he was slouched slightly in the chair, arms crossed against his chest and his eyes, those mysterious pretty eyes had flames dancing within them as he did not divert his gaze from the fire.

"Are you…" Misao stopped when those emerald eyes locked onto her sapphire gaze. The way the light played over him sent butterflies directly to her stomach…and other regions. "…truly the author?" Misao quietly questioned, her left hand fingering the thick novel softly.

"Aa…" Misao took in a deep breath at his response.

"Wow…" Misao couldn't help but murmur. Here she was, practically naked, sitting by the fire with him beside her, his eyes only focused on her. "Wow…" Misao repeated again, not knowing what else to say.

"Thank you." Misao's eyes darted to his, surprise held within their depths at his softly spoken words. "For reading my books." She blinked several times, not sure if there had been an abashed smile flitter across his lips as it'd come and gone too quickly.

"Ah…yeah…" Her cheeks tinted pink as Misao remembered how she rambled on about the book and then when she caught him reading aloud the last note she wrote within the novel. The room fell silent except for the wind howling outside, the rain coming down in torrents now, its strength splashing against the windows in the family room. "Um…" Misao stuttered again, desperately wanting to start a conversation as the friction in the room felt too heavy to her. "Can I ask…your name?"

"Aoshi…" He muttered deeply as he starred at the now shy Misao. She was lost within the blanket, her chin propped on her knees and her large sapphire eyes peering between spiky damp blue-black bangs. "Shinomori Aoshi is my name." He was surprised when beneath the folds of the blanket a hand was freed as Misao held it out to him, a light smile on her lips.

"Its nice to meet you Shinomori-san." He took her hand in his, feeling the softness, the warmth of it as his thumb rubbed absently over her palm. He felt her shakily draw away, hiding it back within the depths of the blanket and dropped her head onto her up drawn knees once more.

"There is no need for such formality…Misao." He blinked, just as she did at the way her name rolled off his tongue. His voice was deep, velvety smooth and the murmur of her name had rumbled erotically within his chest. It had caught the both of them by surprise. Quickly Aoshi cleared his throat. "Aoshi is fine." She nodded her head and was thankful that her growling stomach broke the awkwardness. Even though she flushed, she found that Aoshi too felt a little embarrassed by the way his stomach chimed in, merely seconds after her own. She rose from the chair, the blanket falling away from her shirt clad body.

"I'll make us something to eat." Aoshi's eyes caught the flap of his shirt as it lifted up against Misao's thigh as she stepped over the blanket pooling on the floor and saw the hem of her sky blue underwear. He darted his eyes away, sinking further into the chair and closed them tightly shut. As the logs cracked away, letting off soft popping noises here and there, his ears were well trained on the soft amount of noise coming from Misao in the kitchenette. He could hear the way the knife connected with the chopping board as she chopped up vegetables once more. And then there was the sizzling of oil hitting the frying pan as she set to work in creating dinner for them. The sound grew softer as he drifted off, the warmth of the fire getting to him.

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Hearing a tray hit the coffee table Aoshi snapped his eyes open, a little startled at the interruption and found Misao standing near him. A small smile was on her lips, slightly apologetic from waking him. She handed him a large bowl filled with steamed rice and stir-fried vegetables. He took a set of chopsticks from her and blinked silently as she placed part of the blanket over his legs, trying to not feel the way her small hands patted the material against his thigh as she tucked it between his left one and the arm of the chair.

"It's getting colder, so I thought we should share the blanket while we ate." Aoshi received a closed lipped smile and didn't say anything to that. He froze from placing a mouthful of food into his mouth as Misao dragged her chair closer, placing the other half of the blanket over her and then began to eat herself. They sat side by side, eating their large meals and while Misao had water, she had brought a pot of green tea for him. They both sat in companionable silence (for once) and stared into the fire, metal chopsticks clinking every now and then against the rim of their bowls.

As Misao was the first to finish, Aoshi being a much slower eater then her, she glanced over at him and then back to the fire and then once more over at him.

"If you have something to say, you should say it." He voiced softly as he'd caught several of her silent glances throughout the dinner they shared. He placed a carrot into his mouth just as he glanced to the side to watch Misao's lips part open.

"You're a bastard you know that." That had definitely startled Aoshi as he diverted his gaze to Misao's narrowed look. "All this time you could speak Japanese and yet you didn't say a thing. You had me think you were a Westerner." She was seriously pouting at him…and looking oh so adorable in doing so as her arms were folded over his shirt, the baggy material parting open against her slender neck and collar bones. Aoshi had to compose himself.

"I never said I couldn't speak or understand Japanese, you assumed I didn't. There is a difference." Misao wanted to bite back a remark but her throat closed shut on her. He did have a point.

"Still, that was very mean of you." She mumbled out, loosing the fight to be angry with him.

"You only say that because you are embarrassed."

"I AM EMBARRASSED!" Misao yelled and then quickly pulled the blanket to her chin as she had it resting on her up drawn knees once more. "You heard…everything I said." Her voice became soft, meek even and Aoshi let off a sigh. Yet again her adorableness was messing with him.

"I won't bring anything up about what you said." Aoshi shifted in the cane chair to look directly at Misao, observing as one of her sapphire eyes cracked open to glance over at him. "I promise." When she nodded her head, Aoshi went back to eating the last of his rice. When he was finished, he had to lean between the both of them to place the empty bowl on the coffee table, his body moving closer to Misao's blanketed one and she couldn't help but breathe in his musky scent. Aoshi poured himself a cup of tea and brought the steaming liquid to his lips, rearranging himself back into the chair.

"So, ah, how'd you come up with the penname Shi-kun?" Misao once again tried to make small talk with him. She didn't think he was one for chatting but she had to try right?

"It is what my sister usually calls me."

"That's really sweet."

"Sometimes…" His eyes found Misao's tilted head and Aoshi felt compelled in some strange way to elaborate further. "Its odd still being called that when one is 28 and the older sibling by four years."

"Don't think like that. It just means she loves you very much." Misao listened to a soft 'hmm' come from his closed lips as though he wasn't too sure about that. She couldn't help but shrug and then chat away once more. It was after all, within her nature to be chatty. "I sometimes wish I had siblings so I'd hear endearing words like that from them."

"Only child?"

"Yes. The only family I have left is my adoptive grandfather. I lost my parents and grandfather when I was very young, so I can barely remember what they look like. Jiya was an old friend of my grandfathers and took me in when I had no one else."

"I'm sorry…" Aoshi watched Misao wave her hand absently.

"Its okay, I've had a wonderful upbringing. Those that run the Onsen down the mountain have become my family. I love them very much, though sometimes Okon and Omasu really work me like a freaking machine!" Misao fumed and she was surprised when a quiet chuckle resonated through the room, her large eyes focused on Aoshi as one of his hands had risen to try and conceal the deep rumble from within his chest.

"You…are an interesting person Misao." All Misao could do was lightly blush. It sounded so wonderful to hear him laugh and then compliment her at the same time.

"Ah, you're not so bad yourself." Misao mumbled in return.

"Handsome I would think."

"You said you wouldn't bring anything up!" Misao couldn't help but screech as she leaned forward, lightly smacking the author before her, trying to not feel the warmth of the blush on her cheeks. She stopped instantly when his hands had caught her wrists and their eyes locked. There was a soft lopsided grin against his mouth, Misao finding out that he seemed to enjoy embarrassing her. Turning her head away in a sulking motion, her heart began to pound heavily when his hand lost grip of her right wrist and instead glided those very fingers against her cheek, turning her head back towards him. Misao gulped when those fingers tilted her chin up, his deep green eyes peering down into her own, his face leaning ever so closer as though any second now he would press his mouth heatedly against her own.

"It is getting late." Aoshi throatily murmured as he rose from his chair, bending slightly over as he effortlessly scooped up Misao. She was instantly stiff within his arms…and very light too. He glanced into her extremely wide gaze and started for the stairs heading towards his bedroom.

"What are you doing? Put me down!" She was back to her fiery self it seemed, as she wriggled within his firm grip, trying to break from his firm hold of her.

"Taking you to bed." Aoshi had to conceal a chuckle that wished to escape his chest (never having felt like he could feel this free before) at the way she froze once more, those eyes starring up at him, her porcelain cheeks stained unbelievably red.

"You…I…we…I mean…" Aoshi now confirmed she could definitely be rendered speechless at his actions. His foot pushed the bedroom door open and he placed her gently onto the mattress. "NO WE CAN'T! I…I'M YOUR MAID!" That instantly stopped Aoshi's good mood at being able to tease Misao and knowing instantly she would bite back at him. She was buried within the red blanket, a sort of frightened look on her face and his light grin disappeared instantly.

"You are not my maid." Aoshi grit out, hating the fact that Misao seemed to think of herself as his fucking servant! Though he hadn't done much to help her out over the couple days she'd been here though. "I was only teasing Misao. You are, after all, very easy to tease."

"Bastard…" Misao growled out and leaned into the pillows on the bed.

"No matter how experienced you are with your hiking, I will not allow you to leave in such weather." As though to emphasise Aoshi's rational thinking, a loud clap of thunder cracked heavily over the house, making the windows rattle and Misao jump in surprise.

"You can have the bed, I shall take the spare futon in the closet downstairs." She observed him move about the room, grabbing clean clothes and then he headed for the door.

"U-Um take this with you." Misao kicked the blanket from her body, rushing over to thrust it into his hands. "Y-You might get cold on your own."

"Then would you allow me to sleep up here with you so I won't get cold?" Aoshi had no idea where this kind of flirtatious behaviour was coming from, but didn't mind it as it truly messed with Misao…and in a good way he hoped. He felt his lips twitch as she began to bite her bottom lip once more.

"You're teasing me again…right?" Aoshi bent slightly over her short height, taking a quick glance into her sapphire eyes as he leaned in close, lips brushing against her earlobe as he murmured goodnight to her. When he straightened up, pulling the door closed he felt slightly cocky that her cheeks reddened at the mere touch of his lips against her lobe and the sultriness of his voice drifting into her ear.

For the first time in a long time Aoshi felt like he could truly be himself again…with a little extra character of course. He pulled out the futon, grabbing one of the spare cushions as a pillow and began to undress within the firelight. To think he had a woman just upstairs, a complete stranger no less and he wanted her…so very much he did. The firelight greedily crept over his bronze skin as Aoshi pulled on a long sleeved plain black shirt and lifted a pair of black slacks up his legs to have them rest loosely against his hips. He needed to force his bodily functions to calm down. This is exactly how he started his supposed relationship with Tomoe, falling heavily and quickly within it, mainly basing it purely on sex alone and not thinking things over. He would not screw up like that again, especially with someone like Misao, someone who was the complete opposite to Tomoe.

"Oyasuminasai…" Aoshi murmured and got into the futon, pulling the blankets over his body. Tomorrow would come quicker then he thought and for once Aoshi anxiously awaited its arrival as his eyes slipped closed.

The usually in tune Aoshi never did take note of Misao departing from the entranceway and head silently back upstairs.

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(To be continued…)