Romancing the Artist
By: Shin Sankai
A/N: For some reason this came to me as I indulged in watching the X Japan 2009 Hong Kong Concert for like the 5th time. Although Hide not there made me sad, but Hide-Plushie and how much Yoshiki hugged it was so freaking cute! Anywho, onto the chapter – which I think after this there is only about 2 chapters left and it'll be finished. I think after this, the next old…and I mean really old series I'll be working on is "Himura Designs". I only just noticed it has not been touched for six years! Geh!
Misao awoke to birds chirping as she lay flat on her back on her futon. She had had all sorts of dreams relating to run-ins with Aoshi's wife Tomoe as she accompanied the artist/author to sign his divorce papers. Of course some had gone quite well – her running away with Aoshi – and then others had not gone so well. She'd either been stepped on by Tomoe who had once again lured Aoshi into her spidery web or she'd embarrassed Aoshi so much that he'd left the both of them standing there watching him disappear. Misao wasn't sure which one was worse.
Her thoughts left her when she heard movement downstairs. Okon and Omasu would surely be up – probably had been for hours now, but the noise was in fact coming from the room below hers – the room Aoshi was staying in. It seemed he was packing his things, getting ready to head back to Tokyo. Misao herself rolled out of her futon, grabbed a spare set of clothing and her toiletries and headed downstairs towards the bathhouse. She had voiced that Aoshi needed her and since the sun was already shining in the sky and he was up, he probably heading towards the bathhouse or the dining room for breakfast, Misao thought it best to get ready and pack her things upon her return from bathing.
Fresh from her bath, her long blue-black hair pinned messily atop her head and donning a pair of black jeans and a red button down shirt that rested at her hips, Misao padded towards the dining room, her stomach demanding breakfast.
Sliding the shoji across Misao was greeted with stares and a round of 'good mornings'.
"Ohayo…" Misao nonchalantly replied back. She sat in her usual spot and gratefully accepted the food Shiro passed to her – he being one of the two chefs and general handyman that resided at the resort. After several mouthfuls and the fact it was far too quiet in the dining room Misao questioned the occupants, "Has Aoshi eaten breakfast yet?"
"He has indeed Misao-chan. I suggest you pick up the pace, since he informed us that his transportation to take him back to Tokyo would arrive in an hour or so."
"I'm already packed, not that I need to take much since I think we are only staying in Tokyo for one night."
"And just where will the two of you be staying for the night?" Misao's eyes widened behind her soup bowl at Okon's blatant question.
"EH?" Misao squeaked out, noticing that her grandfather's eyes, plus Shiro, Kuro and Omasu's were now trained on her. "How am I supposed to know?" Misao mumbled as she shoved more food into her mouth, trying to detract the stares from her.
"Perhaps Aoshi will allow you free accommodation for the night at his place?"
"If not, I'll just go to a hotel and besides, its not like I'd sleep with him – it's hardly the occasion to try."
"You mean you've thought of sleeping with him?" A blush graced Misao's cheeks as she stood from the table.
"Thank you for the meal." As Misao left the room, trying not to listen to the snickers coming from within, she was so thankful Aoshi had beaten her to breakfast.
"Excuse me Misao-san," Misao turned to look at the elderly lady who took care of the reception area of the resort. "A guest has arrived for a Shinomori-san. He was not in the book, so I thought he would be a guest of yours"
"Ah, please show them here Akiko-san, I'll get him for them." The elder lady bowed to Misao before sliding the shoji closed.
"Within an hour my ass Jiya." Misao grumbled as she headed towards the guest room Aoshi occupied and knocked on the shoji.
"Hai," Aoshi's deep voice echoed through the paper.
"Akiko-san says a guest is here for you. I presume it's our ride to Tokyo?" The shoji slid across, Aoshi stood there with duffle bag in hand.
"Are you ready to go?"
"I'll just grab my bag."
"I'll bid your family farewell for now." Misao nodded and headed upstairs. Dear god if this wasn't awkward she didn't know what was.
Returning with her bag, Misao found her grandfather at the side entrance shoji waiting for her.
"Aoshi-kun has already thanked us for the hospitality we've shown him and is waiting for you by the car."
"Well, I'm off." Misao grinned and placed on her shoes, but stopped when Okina placed a hand on her shoulder. "Nan desu ka?"
"Judging from your small bag, I doubt there is a dress in there for this evening?"
"I'm not going to the function to party Jiya." Misao sighed in exasperation as Okina began to give her a small lecture on presentation no matter who these people were and placed some money in her hands, not taking no for an answer. "Okay, okay, I got the message Jiya. No drinking or flirting with the guests, love you, bye!" Misao ran out of her home and headed for the carpark. It didn't take her long to see Aoshi leaning against a sleek red vehicle. He gave her a small wave and Misao trotted over, stuffing the money into her jeans pocket just as the driver removed themselves from the car.
"Geh, Me-Megumi-san!"
"Long time no see Misao-chan."
"You two know each other?" Aoshi questioned the women before him and watched as Megumi placed on a rye smile.
"Eh, ah, hai, we have a mutual friend." Misao reasoned with the confused Aoshi. "How do you two know each other?" Misao questioned back.
"This handsome gentleman happens to be my idiotic brother."
"Ah I see," Misao's brain was slow at comprehending such information and her eyes widened as she moved her blue orbs between the two beauties in front of her. "EH? Come again?"
"It is as Megumi says, minus the idiotic comment." Aoshi commented with narrowed eyes glancing over at Megumi.
"But…your surnames…" Misao questioned again while Aoshi took her bag and placed it into the boot of the car and then opened the back door for her.
"Takani is my mother's name, she passed away when I was a small child and I've never thought of changing my surname legally to Shinomori. I probably should one day."
"It is not necessary, you'll be the idiot wife of Sagara Sanosuke soon enough." Misao watched the interaction between Megumi and Aoshi play out as they got into the car and closed the doors. She couldn't help but giggle at their antics but stopped soon enough when two pairs of eyes turned to look silently back at her.
"Ah, gomen, I'm just jealous is all. I wish I had a brother or sister to interact like that with."
"What are you saying Misao, aren't Okon and Omasu like sisters to you?" Aoshi questioned and observed Misao scratch the back of her head.
"I guess, but there is no way we could muck around or anything, they know I could hit back twice as hard."
"I don't blame them Misao-chan, with you knowing martial arts and all."
"You know martial arts Misao?"
"Ah, well I haven't practised in a long time, but I did study ninjutsu for quite sometime. That and wielding some weaponry."
"Really, that is quite fascinating indeed. I'd like to hear more if you care to tell me?" By now Aoshi had twisted in the passenger seat, his intense eyes focused on Misao.
"Ah, well…" Misao began to tell Aoshi about her family history, how ninjutsu and the art of wielding different weaponry went back many generations in the Makimachi family. Though her family had passed away, Jiya had allowed Misao to learn both arts, not wishing for her to be cut off from any connection to her family heritage.
"Mou, you are such a tomboy Misao."
"I'm not a tomboy…" Misao pouted and grumbled, hands folded over her chest at Megumi's remark.
"Do not pay attention to the driver Misao," She watched Aoshi get smacked across the head for the comment, but he continued on without blinking. "Please continue…"
So the drive back to Tokyo wasn't as awkward as Misao had thought it would be, though she had arched an eyebrow and paused when Aoshi brought out a paper and pen. He had asked to borrow some of her memories and knowledge for a new story idea. Who was she to say no to her favourite author, especially if he was going to write again? She did feel sorry for Megumi as she did have to endure her and Aoshi talking about history and martial arts, but only a little…
"Alright you two love-birds, we are here." Misao didn't know when she dozed off, but she found herself starring at an art gallery as Megumi had parked in the loading zone. She made sure not to comment on what she referred to her and Aoshi as considering he didn't and instead just got out of the car. Misao followed suit, thanking him for once again opening the door for her and then followed him quietly into the Gallery.
"Well, look whose back." Misao came face to face with a man taller then Aoshi and a lot broader too. He had long black hair drawn into a low ponytail and equally dark intense eyes. Wet clay caked bits of his hands as he stood away from his workstation.
"Misao, this is my Uncle, Hiko Seijuro."
"You mean our Uncle." Megumi reiterated and stepped forward, giving the elder man a kiss. "How are you doing old man?"
"Watch the old man business." His eyes turned to Misao and he gave a small smile. "Its nice to meet you."
"It's a pleasure." Misao replied, "My sister is madly in love with you. She owns several of your works."
"So you know him from art magazines, but not Tomoe from entertainment ones."
"Well, Omasu takes every chance to show me which pottery piece she has ordered while Okon just mutters to herself over her magazines. You've got a better chance at finding out the gossip between actors and singers from Jiya then you do me. At least I knew who she was when it was pointed out to me."
"In any case, I must be heading off." Megumi interrupted the quarrelling duo and waved farewell. Misao stood in the gallery as Aoshi walked after her wishing to speak with her for a moment.
"Would you like a tour?" Misao starred up at Hiko and negatively shook her head.
"I'll look around on my own, I don't want to interrupt your work." With that said it didn't take long for Hiko to immerse himself in his clay. Misao began to walk around, noticing this wasn't just Hiko's gallery but Aoshi's as well. She took long hard looks at his works, finding some a bit odd, while others were just down right beautiful.
"Misao?"
"Eh?" She turned to see Aoshi stranding there with her bag in his hand. "Ah, thanks." She blinked several times when he held out a wrapped package for her. "What's this?"
"As you know Tomoe is holding the signing in a very popular hotel having an over the top function taking place and I wasn't sure if you had an outfit for the evening so I asked Megumi to get you something."
"I can't possibly take this!"
"It's just a loan from Megumi. The dress belongs to her."
"Ah, in case you hadn't realised, Megumi and I aren't exactly the same…err…shape."
"I know." Misao's eyebrows furrowed. She wasn't sure if Aoshi was telling her she wasn't curvaceous enough or whether he'd been secretly checking her out. "You can relax and not worry about trying to find something, Megumi found this dress in the back of her wardrobe. She isn't one for throwing any of her dresses away."
"Um, thanks, I guess…"
"If you do not wish to…"
"Iie," Misao remarked, interrupting Aoshi as she took the package with a smile. "I'll be sure to thank her tomorrow."
"Feel free to look around as much as you want. If you get tired…or bored, feel free to come upstairs."
"And what's upstairs?"
"I live here."
"Ah, I see… Once I'm done admiring your works…and Hiko-san's I'll come up."
"I'll take your stuff." Misao nodded and watched the way Aoshi headed so as not to get lost. When he was out of sight, Misao continued on her solo tour of the gallery.
Misao hadn't realised hours had gone by as she had been starring at a charcoal sketch of a young girl with a crown of flowers on her head. Hiko had come up to inform her, while scarring the living daylights out of her in doing so, that he would be closing the gallery for the evening. She had wished him a good night and then headed up the stairs to Aoshi's apartment.
Opening the door, Misao was greeted with an open plan living, dining and kitchen area. The room was simple but stylish, appealing to Misao's likes instantly. She looked left to right to find no signs of the owner at all. Instead of calling out to the man, Misao went on an Aoshi hunt. There were several doors that were closed so she opened and closed each one, coming in contact with the bathroom, a spare room which was littered with boxes, the master bedroom shrouded in darkness and the laundry. Misao had her hand on the doorknob of the last closed door and slowly and quietly opened it up. There for her eyes to see or more or less ogle was a shirtless Aoshi standing at a very strong easel with a rather large canvas resting on it. She knew he was concentrating extremely hard for him to not notice she was there as he sketched out whatever was floating in his head onto the stark white canvas. The lines were faint, but Misao was sure it was the outline of a girl.
She didn't wish to interrupt him and instead backed out of the room, taking one last look at his perfect tanned skin, a soft golden glow about it due to the afternoon sun streaming through the window. Closing the door Misao headed back to the lounge room and stood in front of a bookcase. Her eyes and hands mapped out what made the man tick book wise and stopped instantly on the novels he had written. There was an old book he had first written before becoming famous, which was now out of print, that contained short stories and Misao instantly took it from its place, curled up on the couch and began reading.
"Do you like my works that much?"
"GAH!" Misao jerked in surprised, heart thumping as Aoshi leaned against the backing of the couch, looking down at her curled form. "Ah, gomen, I didn't want to interrupt and when I was snooping I saw this and just…" Aoshi shook his head, not asking her for any excuses.
"It's quite alright. Though you must have been engrossed in the book for I'd already walked passed twice having used the bathroom already." Misao finally took note that Aoshi was dressed in dressy black trousers and a black silk shirt, though it was currently unbuttoned. "I have a taxi coming to pick us up soon, so if you'd like to freshen up…"
"Say no more, I'll get ready." Misao grabbed her things and headed for the bathroom, thanking Aoshi for the spare towels.
Misao had never really been one for dressing up or placing on makeup, but as she starred at herself in the mirror in Aoshi's bathroom, she didn't think she looked half bad. Megumi's dress was a rich royal blue Chinese dress, with a high mandarin collar and two silver dragons that splayed artistically across the silk material – one positioned at the front of the dress and the other at the back. The splits up the side of the dress had Misao a bit worried, but she thanked the lord she had shaved the night before, though she thought her legs could do with a nice tan. Shaking the thought from her mind, Misao brushed her loose hair, clipped some of it up and then left the bathroom, taking her duffle bag with her. She dropped it near the couch and began placing on the black flat shoes, the only dress type shoes she owned. Misao stood up, brushing the material over her slender form and was impressed that the design seemed to give her a fuller bust and turned her eyes to the clicking of a door.
For several moments Aoshi and Misao did nothing but stare at each other. The man was drop dead gorgeous in all black attire. His hair was still damp, several strands of his bangs brushed away so you could stare mesmerising into deep green-grey orbs. The musky cologne he wore wafted to Misao's nostrils, the smell very calming and yet sexy at the same time.
"You look very beautiful Misao." There was no hesitation in Aoshi's words as he headed towards the prone young woman.
"Ah, you too." Misao's lips couldn't help but quirk into a smile when she watched Aoshi make a slight 'tsk' sound while shaking his index finger at her.
"No, no, no, it's handsome for men, not beautiful." Misao laughed and gazed down at Aoshi's outstretched hand.
"Are you ready?"
"Are you?" Misao questioned back, her sharp eyes catching the small shake in his body due to nervousness.
"That is the question of the evening." Misao didn't ask for an exact answer and instead took Aoshi's hand, allowing him to lead the way out of his apartment and towards the next step in getting his life back on track.
To Be Continued…