Romancing the Artist

By: Shin Sankai

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"You were not joking about the location." Misao voiced as Aoshi helped her out of the car, her eyes gazing up at the skyscraper before her.

"Everything always is about her." Aoshi responded back in an emotionless voice as he and Misao walked up the stairs and were guided through the doors by a hotel employee. Misao followed Aoshi as he seemed to know exactly where he was going; unfortunately their destination was halted by security guards.

"I'm afraid this is an invitation only function Sir." Green and blue eyed one another before Aoshi reached into his pocket and pulled out a cell phone. Misao had never seen it before, but when you were couped up in a place situated in the mountains, cell phones weren't exactly necessary.

"Tsuchiya-san, would you mind coming to reception to escort me through, I never knew I needed an invitation to signing my own divorce papers." Aoshi flipped his phone shut and pocketed it before turning to gaze down at Misao, escorting her to a lounge chair. "He'll be here shortly."

"And Tsuchiya-san is…"

"My lawyer…or family lawyer I should say. He handled Hiko's divorce well so my Uncle recommended him to me."

"Hiko-san was married?!"

"Ah!" Misao watched as her artist/author companion raked a hand through his black hair. "That was meant to be a secret." Misao let off a small giggle, her hand clasping Aoshi's as she pat it lightly.

"It'll be our little secret now."

"Sorry to have kept you waiting Shinomori-san." Aoshi rose shaking the hand of his lawyer and Misao rose to her feet when dark eyes glanced her way.

"Tsuchiya Makoto, allow me to introduce you to Makimachi Misao, a friend of mine." The lawyer bowed to Misao, she doing the same, before continuing on with business.

"I've reserved a private room for you, away from the party to go through some matters with you. Yukishiro-san at the moment is preparing for a speech, so you will not be interrupted if we do this now."

"Then let's get it over and done with."

"I must warn you, she has requested your presence."

"Of course she has."

"I have agreed to her request, but once we've finished our business of course, not that I informed her of that decision."

"You are as sneaky as Hiko informed me you were."

"It helps keep my clients happy."

Misao followed quietly behind as the two men interacted, they passing by the security guards and into the main hall where the party was being held. People were everywhere and because of her height, Misao was fast loosing track of the two men in front of her, she being swallowed up by the crowd congregating near the entranceway. She was just about to call out to Aoshi when someone grabbed hold of her hand, pulling her away and she went stumbling into a man the same height as her.

"Is that really you Misao-chan?" Blue eyes rose as Misao righted herself and stared into another pair of blue eyes and hers widened.

"S-Soujiro…"

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"Just through here Shinomori-san."

"Misao I'll just…" Aoshi stopped when he turned around to see the young woman was not behind them.

"I'm sure she is fine Shinomori-san. I suggest you read over the documents, making sure everything is as you requested. Once you are satisfied with the documentation and you've signed them accordingly, Yukishiro-san would like to speak with you for the last time on the balcony." Aoshi took in a deep breath, Misao's encouraging smile flashing through his mind.

"Let's do this."

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"It really is you Misao-chan, wow, you've certainly changed. Never would I have imagined you in something like this…or in a place like this as well."

"My business here is not your concern."

"Don't be so heartless Misao-chan, come let's have a drink."

"I actually came with someone this evening."

"Oh? And where are they?"

"If you hadn't of pulled me off my path, I'd be with him now."

"I'm sure if he cared about you, he'd come looking for you." Misao's eyes narrowed at the rude comment from her childhood sweetheart.

"Don't you dare lump my companion in the same category as you Soujiro, you know nothing about him."

"My category? And what is my category Misao-chan."

"You know Soujiro, our past is in the past, it will never be revisited so let's just go our separate ways and forget about it alright?"

"You are so selfish Misao-chan."

"I'm selfish?!" Misao felt eyes on them and quickly dragged her ex-boyfriend away from the crowds and out onto the balcony. "You have some nerve saying that to me."

"It was a joke Misao-chan, relax a little would you."

"That right there is a classic example of why we broke up years ago."

"Misao-chan come on, I was just…"

"Actually no, you want to really know why we broke up, it's because you never listened to me."

"Oh come on Misao-chan…"

"This is exactly what I'm talking about! Everything was about what you wanted or needed and never once did you ask what I wanted or needed. You never even allowed me to explain why I wanted to move back to the resort, you just went off on a tangent and that was that."

"If you must go down this path," Misao was in fuming mode, Soujiro making it out like she had been the one to dredge up their past. "then please tell me why you choose your family and the resort over me?"

"Jiya was diagnosed with a heart condition and cancer."

"I…I'm sorry."

"It's a little too late for that now, but he's on the road to recovery. What happened between us really doesn't bother me anymore, in fact I've never thought about it until I ran into you tonight. Though our relationship ended terribly, we did have nice memories, I cannot deny that. However, my life right now, there is just no room for you in my heart anymore."

"You…are in love with the guy you came with tonight?"

"Honestly, I don't know. All I know is I'm no longer hurt by what occurred between the two of us. Just being around him has healed my heart. When I think about him or when I see him, my knees go weak, my heart pounds and I cannot break away from him. My heart is filled with thoughts just of him."

"That sounds like love to me." Misao couldn't help but laugh a little at the seemingly jealous remark that Soujiro made.

"Maybe it is, but you know, I'm actually looking forward to finding that out. I've come to realise that he is quite a challenge, but I do so love a challenge…and I think in the short time we've been together, I've actually got under his skin and he mine." At the look in Soujiro's eyes, Misao shook her head knowing exactly what he was thinking. "I'm not talking about sex Soujiro. Frankly what I do is none of your business, but I respect and trust in him like no other, which I find both frightening and exciting since I am not one who easily trusts in others, but then he too is the same. Perhaps we are made for each other, I don't know, but what I truly like about him is the fact he allows me the chance to voice my opinion, so he can understand what I'm thinking and feeling."

"He sounds like a good man."

"He is a good man."

"Misao-chan, listen, I know it has been a long time and you probably don't wish to hear this, but I am sorry for hurting you."

"There is no need for apologises, its long since passed. We are different people now, so let's just say our goodbyes and be done with it."

"Goodbye, Misao-chan."

"Farewell…" Misao watched Soujiro leave the balcony and move back amongst the crowd. When he was out of sight Misao let off the biggest sigh she hadn't realised she was holding in.

"That was entertaining." Blue eyes darted into the darkness, gazing at the other end of the balcony, trying to find out just who had been listening in on the two of them. "I would appreciate it if you had your quarrel with my staff member in your own personal time."

"Perhaps you need to speak with your staff member for he was the one to interrupt my evening."

"Is that so? Then I apologise on behalf of Soujiro." Misao watched the person come out of hiding, her eyes widening and lips parting at the woman standing before her.

"Yukishiro Tomoe."

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"Is everything that you requested written in the paperwork Shinomori-san?"

"All I wanted was the security that she could not take my home or the Gallery away from my Uncle."

"That and also to leave you alone correct?" Aoshi nodded in kind. "I have made sure to outline several points as per your wishes. I have also made sure that if Yukishiro-san wants to have any contact with you, tonight being exempt, she is to come through me first, but I believe after you farewell her for good, she will not do so."

"Thank you for all your help Tsuchiya-san." Aoshi bowed to the man before signing the documentation accordingly.

"Would you like to celebrate your newfound freedom over a drink?"

"Perhaps another time; I really should find Misao."

"Personally speaking, Makimachi-san is a much better choice for you Shinomori-san."

"I never asked for your opinion Tsuchiya-san." Aoshi observed the man laugh as they both left the private room, Tsuchiya having placed the divorce paperwork into his briefcase.

"Remember that Yukishiro-san is waiting to speak with you."

"Where was I to meet her again?"

"She should be waiting on the balcony. Now if you ever need my services again…"

"Let's not do this again." Aoshi farewelled Tsuchiya and made his way through the crowd towards the balcony for his last ever communication with Tomoe.

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"Oh, you know who I am? I should thank you for following my career then."

"I never said I followed you, I just know who you are thanks to my sister buying gossip magazines."

"You really shouldn't believe gossip magazines."

"Unless it's the one that revealed your affair," Dark eyes narrowed at Misao because of what she voiced. "Though they never did publish it like that, considering not many know you were married."

"So you are indeed the woman that showed up with my husband."

"I think you really should start getting used to referring to him as your ex-husband."

"And where is he if you are supposedly with him this evening?"

"Where else would a man be if he's come to sign his divorce papers?"

"That was not in the agreement; he was to speak to me first."

"And you seriously believe lawyers always tell the truth?"

"No one dares go against me!"

"You just keep thinking that."

"You little bitch; you dare speak to me in such a way."

"That's right; I am a bitch, but not as much as you." Misao quickly grabbed the hand which was about to smack her. The woman may be taller then her…and bustier, but if there was one thing she was good at, it was defending herself. "I speak how I please and in this instance, you get no respect for you have shown none to me. You also get no respect for the way you've treated Aoshi."

"Don't presume to know our history together."

"Believe me when I say I don't want to know your history together. I've seen enough of what you've done to him to warrant not needing to know the rest."

"How dare you! There are two sides to all stories."

"Yes, there is, but how dare you Yukishiro-san. If you claim to know Aoshi at all then you should have understood his character. He is not an easy man to figure out, but guess what; in the short time we've been together I've already discovered one of his most hidden thoughts." Misao observed Tomoe pull away from her, irate at what she was saying. "He loved you." Tomoe gasped at her words. "In Aoshi's heart of hearts, he truly did love you. He may not have voiced it, for you were too busy only thinking of yourself, but guess what…he did. And you, who claim to have history with him couldn't even identify with such a feeling from him."

"You are just messing with me."

"I'd be more then happy to say yes I was, but truth be told, he did love you, but you've blown your one and only chance with him." Tomoe was about to bit back, but wasn't quick enough as Misao continued forth with her rant. "And in actual fact, you were messing with him. If he is not what you like, if he doesn't do what you want, if it's not convenient for you or within your schedule, then your husband was not needed at all. He deserved…deserves better then that."

"And what, you can give him what I couldn't?"

"There is so much I could say in response, but we do have an audience."

"Eh?" Misao turned her eyes, remaining calm on the outside, but her heart was pounding a mile a minute when out of the shadows came Aoshi himself.

"A-Aoshi!"

"I am not an object that you can pick up and toss at your will Tomoe. It took me quite a long time to come to this realisation, but finally I accept this realisation."

"With the help of that…that thing I bet!" Misao's eyebrows furrowed when Tomoe had pointed to her, referring to her as the 'thing'. This woman, no matter how famous she was, was seriously close to getting the crap kicked out of her where Misao was concerned. She did hold back though, for Aoshi was now gazing over at her.

"Please do not refer to my companion as a thing. The qualities I see within her outweigh the ones I saw in you." Aoshi moved his eyes back to Tomoe's. "Let us be honest and admit that all we had going for us was the sex." Misao fidgeted slightly when Aoshi pointedly voiced this with no emotion held in his voice whatsoever.

"But, we had so much fun together didn't we?" Misao grit her teeth. This woman was now playing with her, teasing her that she had been having so much sex with Aoshi. She was in serious need of a good slapping now.

"Do you think that sex alone would sustain me?" Misao's eyes widened at Aoshi's blatant response. She would have burst into fits of laughter if he wasn't being so serious. "Sex wasn't all I wanted from you Tomoe. If you knew me at all, if you understood my works, you should have realised that deep down I am quite the romantic at heart."

"But, you never said anything!" Tomoe tried to argue with the man before her.

"When have you ever allowed me to take the lead?" As Misao watched on, it appeared Aoshi needn't go further as Tomoe snapped her mouth shut.

"We can always give it another try? I can compromise with you." Tomoe slid her hands over Aoshi's chest, moving them around his neck to draw his face or more importantly his lips to her own. She could do no such thing as she was stopped by the very man, his strong grip pulling her arms away from his body.

"Our lives are not meant to intertwine Tomoe. I am not the kind of man who can stand in the background as you go about your business. I have my own life to lead, my own goals to achieve."

"But we can…"

"I will not be swayed by you ever again." Misao listened to Tomoe gasp at Aoshi's stern words. "I have no room in my heart for you anymore." Dark eyes widened and began to glisten with tears, but the man before her was not falling under her spell. "What happened between you and your colleague, I no longer care about. It took awhile, but my heart has begun to heal and it's because I've been with someone who treats me like I matter to them. I will not be so foolish to be betrayed again…and this time I am certain this will not happen." When intense green eyes turned to look over at her, Misao felt the heat rise in her cheeks and butterflies scatter about her stomach.

"It's time for you to give up Yukishiro-san." Misao walked over to the two of them, coming face to face with an enraged actress, once again catching the hand that was going to strike her.

"Misao…"

"It's alright, I'm not going to attack her; I'll only hurt her a little." Misao watched Aoshi's eyebrow rise as if to say: Isn't that the same thing?

"Let go of me, I'll call security."

"We're leaving anyway, but I'm giving you my parting gift." Misao pulled on the actress' hair, she not really liking catfights, but this woman was just so damn annoying that she had it coming. Misao grinned at the hiss that came from Tomoe's lips as she yanked the woman to her smaller height.

"Wh-What do you want from me?"

"I've already got what I want from you."

"Eh?"

"He's mine now." Misao let go, watching Tomoe sink to the ground. After dusting off her hands, Misao turned to face Aoshi, observing a look of complete shock on his face. "What, I said I wouldn't hurt her, she has a speech to do after all." Misao moved closer to Aoshi, her shaky hand grabbing hold of his larger one.

"Tomoe, this is goodbye for real this time. I've finally gotten what I came for."

"A-Aoshi…" Tomoe watched as he gazed down at Misao, her eyes widening at the smile that graced his lips.

"Let's get out of here." Aoshi nodded at Misao words, the two of them leaving the balcony, hand in hand and not once did they look back.

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The ride back to Aoshi's place had been unbearably quiet. When they got to his place they walked up the stairs in silence and at this very moment Misao was sitting on the couch while Aoshi was in the kitchen making a pot of tea. He poured the tea into two cups and walked back into the lounge room, placing them on the coffee table and sitting himself beside the fidgeting Misao.

"He's mine now?" Misao felt a blush rise to her cheeks as Aoshi just had to repeat the words she said to Tomoe.

"I…I'm really sorry about that. I knew you were near the balcony before we began to argue about you, but Soujiro had set me off."

"Soujiro?"

"Ah, my…partner from years ago. The one I spoke of that wanted me to choose between him and my family."

"I remember you speaking a little bit about him."

"I was loosing sight of you and Tsuchiya-san. I was about to call out when Soujiro pulled me away. We began to argue, so I took him to the balcony so no one could hear us. Unfortunately Yukishiro-san was already there waiting for you, but Soujiro got me so worked up I didn't feel her presence. So in the end…she got the rest of my anger and frustrations at how easily Soujiro thought I'd forgive him."

"So, your situation was much like mine, though he didn't have an affair, but what he asked was still unreasonable."

"I…guess so…"

"Did you forgive him?"

"It doesn't really matter if I forgive or not, what has happened has happened. He did finally apologise, but I felt nothing when he voiced it to me. In the end I just said there was no room in my life for him anymore. Ah!" Misao observed Aoshi jerk at her sudden cry. "What the hell am I doing talking about myself?" She hadn't known what came over her when she leant forward, her lips brushing lightly over Aoshi's slightly parted ones. "Ah, um, Happy Divorce…" Misao was pleasantly surprised when Aoshi began to chuckle. The sound was rich and deep and filled the empty apartment making her beam a thousand watt smile up at him.

"Thank you for defending me."

"What did I say before? You need me." The apartment fell silent and Misao began to fidget once more. Had she said the wrong thing?

"In more ways than one it would seem." Aoshi voiced after a prolonged silence.

"Eh?" Had she heard correctly? Aoshi continued to stare across at Misao, gazing deeply into her large ocean coloured orbs, her cheeks turning pink, her moist lips parting to draw in quick breaths. She made his heart thump heavily within his chest…and it had never done such a thing in all his life.

"You really do work a number on my heart Misao." He watched her blush darken when he picked up her hand to splay it across his chest, allowing her to feel the beating of his heart beneath his ribcage.

"Ah, um, I should start thinking about where I'll be staying this evening." Misao shot to her feet, ready to flee the man when he too had gotten to his feet and faster then she could react, he embraced her from behind, his face turning to rest in the crux of her left neck and shoulder region.

"Don't go."

"Eh?" Her heart began to pound, her knees grew weak and butterflies were dancing throughout her entire body.

"Stay with me?" Misao felt herself being turned around, her eyes peeling open to gaze upon smouldering green eyes.

"Do you think…we should be doing this?" Misao's answer came in possessive lips falling upon her own. She all but drowned in the sensation Aoshi was evoking from her as he left no room for discussion.

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To be continued…

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Author's Notes: This was by far the hardest chapter to write…and I am so glad its over and done with now. I know I left it at such a scene, but this isn't a 'lemon' story, so everyone will have to use their imagination.

Please take note that Chapter 10 will be the end for Romancing the Artist. Most has been written in note format, so please wait patiently for the final installation when I get the chance to work on it.