Author's Note: What else can I say other than that Aoshi is so unromantic! And he keeps on messing up! Why can't he do things right? Will he finally succeed? HAH! Let's find out…
Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is not ours to own…
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Chapter 16: Crushed Spirits
"I-"
'…am finally going to say it…'
Misao's eyes were gleaming with anticipation as she listened intently.
Suddenly, a door burst open, and Enishi's head poked out.
"AOSHI! HEY AOSHI!" Enishi shouted, looking around. His eyes lit up at the sight of Aoshi.
"Thank goodness I finally found you! There's something I've been meaning to ask you, c'mon!" Enishi said, dragging a mortified Aoshi away. Stopping midway, he sweatdropped as realization dawned upon him. He slowly turned around and gave Misao a sheepish grin.
"Uhm… do you mind… if I… borrow him for a minute?" Enishi asked, his eyes pleading.
"Uh… no, not at all…" Misao replied.
"Okay… thanks!" Enishi beamed, closing the door behind him. The halls were empty, the silence deafening.
With a heavy heart, Misao stood up and sighed deeply. She entered the room, greeted by the same loud chatter.
"I said I'm sorry!" Enishi wailed, the gloomy Aoshi's back facing him. Enishi sighed.
"I'm really sorry… I didn't know that you were going to… confess to her…" Enishi said, his tone serious. Aoshi finally faced him, glaring at him.
"First Aika, then you…" He exasperated, closing his eyes in annoyance, his arms crossed. After a while…
"Fine. I forgive you." Aoshi hesitantly said, his eyebrow twitching. Enishi grinned widely and slung an arm over Aoshi's broad shoulders.
"I knew you couldn't stay mad at me for long!" Enishi said, ruffling Aoshi's dark blue hair.
"Don't push it." Aoshi said in a low voice. But Enishi could see through his disgruntled façade.
He forgave him.
"Hey guys! They're going to prepare our dinner now…" Aika announced to the girls.
"I wonder if the guys are hungry?" Megumi thought out loud. Suddenly, an idea struck her.
"Hey, I know! What if we help make dinner for the guys?" she proposed. Everyone loved the idea, well, except for Kaoru.
"Uhm… my cooking skills aren't so sharp…" Kaoru said uneasily.
"It won't be a problem! We'll be helping each other, after all!" Kairi said, pushing Kaoru out of the room.
"So, when do you plan on telling her again?" Enishi asked.
"I don't know… I don't want to think about it anymore. Every attempt fails…" Aoshi said grimly. Enishi smiled sheepishly, guilt crashing down on him.
"I heard that the ladies are cooking dinner tonight…"
Aoshi looked at him skeptically.
"This could be a good opportunity to… ehem… proclaim your undying love and devotion…" Enishi suggested, grinning evilly. Aoshi simply narrowed his eyes at him, but Enishi has great persuasion skills…
'Why is it that I always end up listening that guy!'
Aoshi grumbled inwardly. His eyes scanned the kitchen. Kairi, Tomoe, and Kaoru were on one corner, dealing with chicken and some white concoction he couldn't make out. Aika and Megumi were on the opposite side, cutting vegetables up. And Misao was…
…nowhere in sight.
Continuing his search, his nose picked up a delightful aroma coming from the other room. Lo and behold, there was Misao, her usually braided hair now put up in a high ponytail. She was concentrating on the dish she was cooking, therefore failing to notice the intruder.
"That smells wonderful."
Misao jerked her head to the side, startled.
"Oh, it's you, Aoshi!" she beamed.
"I didn't know you cook…" Aoshi said, looking over her head (as she is short) to examine the dish she was preparing.
"And I didn't know the rich and powerful Aoshi even dared to enter the sweltering kitchen!" Misao joked, earning a pat on the head from Aoshi.
"I'm not that high-maintenance…" He retorted, sitting down on a chair.
"Well, it's nice to know that… and what brings you here?" Misao asked, averting her attention to the dish.
"Well… I uh…" Aoshi started.
'Don't understand WHY I am confessing my feelings to the most important woman in my life in a kitchen, of all places! In a busy, smoldering, stuffy kitchen, for that matter! Her attention is divided between me and the dish! The ambience is really bad, darn it! This will not do… ah, but I don't want her answer to be affected by the mood of the place… her answer will be genuine if the place isn't romantic and all… but still, I can do better! Enishi… I want to strangle you…!'
"Uhm… Aoshi? You okay? Is the heat of the kitchen getting to you?" Misao asked, looking him over. Aoshi blinked. So she was finished with her dish as she bought a steaming ceramic pot over to the table where Aoshi resided in.
"Ah, yes, fine and dandy…" Aoshi replied, still disliking the ambience.
"You still haven't told me why you're here…" Misao said, sitting in front of him. Aoshi gazed at her fondly, making Misao blush lightly.
"Ah, right… well, since we were rudely interrupted earlier, I just… wanted to… tell you now… the thing I've been meaning to tell you."
Aoshi said rather nervously.
"Okay… well, shoot." Misao said. Aoshi looked at her warmly and smiled softly.
"Misao… I… uh… just… want to tell you that…"
Before he could say anything else, an ear-piercing scream shattered the silence.
"AHHHH! SOMEBODY! HELP!"
Black smoke soon entered the room where Misao and Aoshi was staying at.
"That must be Kaoru!" Misao said, standing up.
"I'm sorry, Aoshi, but… I'll go over and check on her first, okay?"
Aoshi nodded sadly and Misao dashed out of the room. He buried his face in his hand and let out a very frustrated sigh.
After all the excitement in the kitchen, everyone enjoyed their dinner (which consisted of pasta, vegetables, and no more chicken) and proceeded to their respective rooms.
'What is it that Aoshi wanted to tell me? And just why is it that we get interrupted every time? Honto… Aoshi… '
Cutting her thoughts short was Aika's excited voice.
"Misao, did you hear what I just said?"
"Uh… what? S-Sorry, come again?" Misao said. Aika sighed, exasperated.
"Alright… I didn't invite you guys here for nothing, you know… well, I'm going to have a party tomorrow evening – a formal party." Aika announced proudly.
"Aika… but… what about our-" Misao said.
"Not to worry, I have everything under control. I'll be taking you guys to one of my Mother's shops tomorrow and from there, you can choose your gowns. Oh, I'll buy the accessories you'll be needing, too. As well as getting your hair done – I've got everything covered." Aika said, winking at her.
"O-Okay… thanks…" Misao drawled. Aika happily skipped away, proceeding to announce it to the others.
"Then that can only mean that-"
"The girls will be wearing gowns!"
The men cheered excitedly. Aoshi kept his calm, uninterested façade on, but he was excited as well, as he was thinking of Misao.
"Sorry to burst your bubbles, guys, but… what and where are we going to get things to wear?" Enishi said.
And silence reigned.
Knock, knock.
"I'll get it!" Kairi volunteered, dashing to the door. Opening the smooth, mahogany door, she was delighted to see Aoshi.
"Aoshi!" she exclaimed, earning her a warm gaze and a pat on the head.
"Hello, Kairi. Is Aika around?" Kairi nodded and turned to call Aika.
Upon the mention of Aoshi's name, Aika jumped and immediately reported to the door.
"Yes? You called?" Aika asked, her eyes glistening happily.
"Yeah, uhm… do you have a moment?" Aoshi asked. Aika willingly exited the room, securely shutting the door behind her.
Author's Note: Ahhh… Aika's such a fangirl, you know! Pisses me off… haha! Not really.
Well… I'm sure you want as much action as I do, sooo… let's quicken up the pace, men! Haha!
Will Aoshi give up or persist? Will he finally tell Misao! Man, Aoshi, your style sucks! Haha! I'm just joshing with ya. Alright, let's move on.
Next chappie, next chappie!