At Aoshi's Expense
(*Author's Note: It is recommended that you read Whispered Goodbyes for this fic… but by no means is necessary. There are really no spoilers here in, and the approximate timeline for the fic is sometime after the Kyoto Hen story arc. So if you don't know how that ends there are some mild character spoilers…. You have been warned. Of course I'm not cool enough to create these characters, Watsuki did. So don't sue this poor in debt college student who's an obsessed fangirl. ^_^x)


 

Misao sipped at her tea enjoying the daily ritual that Aoshi and her shared. This was the only time of day they really spent any time together, mainly over tea. Try as she might, she couldn't get a smile on his statuesque face. She had at least for now, given up on telling jokes, and had begun concentrating on practical jokes.

It was something of an Oniwabanshuu tradition to play jokes on one another it was fun, and a good way to test your skills to the utmost. She and Okina had been in an ongoing war, but little did Aoshi know that they had decided on a temporary truce to go after him.

Misao smiled to herself and suppressed the incessant urge to giggle and gave Aoshi a happy smile.

"It's beautiful today isn't it?"

"So desu." He said over his tea. (pronounced So des, and it means it is so, or if you want to , so it is.)

"Aoshi, would you help me pick up the supplies for the Aoiya today?"

Aoshi mulled it over as he sipped his tea, savoring the tea.

"Hai, Misao-chan."

Misao smiled happily. "Arigato!"

Yes! The combination of the sedative and the manual labor should have him out cold tonite

They finished their tea in a fairly companioable silence, broken by Misao from time to time when she'd lean over and try to find a ticklish spot on Aoshi, or she'd make a funny face.

"AOSHI! I'm gonna make you smile! One of these days you shall succumb!," shouted Misao as she laughed maniacally.

Aoshi merely looked blankly at her, and blinked in shocked confusion.

Soon enough the tea was gone, and the two left on their errands, Misao left giving a very subtle wink to Okina who gave her a subtle signal of approval as he stroke his beard conspiratorily.

Misao enjoyed making Aoshi do the manual labor, he was so predictable in some regards. He would carry anythign Misao asked him too, as she carried the lighter things, balancing them precariously, and enjoying the little balancing exercise she was giving herself.

She purposely took Aoshi on the longest route possible during the hottest part of the day, he merely walked in quiet beside her as he carried his burdens.

They returned to the Aoiya late, well after dinner, Okina had left their food in the kitchen, by the stove to keep it warm.

Misao dropped hre packages with a thud and helped Aoshi unload his packages onto the shelf in the kitchen, then took their meals into the other room.

She handed Aoshi his dinner and some chopsticks.

"Arigato."

Misao smiled and replied softly, "doo itashimashimate."

They both dug into their dinners with a hearty appetite. Aoshi yawned from time to time throughout the meal. Misao kept herself in perfect control and asked innocently, "tired, ne?"

"Hai, I guess those errands just wore me out."

"Why don't you finish up and go to bed, I'll clean up in here."

"Arigato Misao, I appreciate it."

He finished the last few bites of his meal, got up and said in parting to Misao, "Oyausmi Misao."

"Nite Aoshi-sama," she replied with a vibrant smile.

She kept herself in careful control until Aoshi was out of earshot and giggled evilly. She gathered the dishes with glee, went to her own room to change her clothes and gather her props for the evening.

She waited anxiously with Okina, fidgeting with this and that, and the rest of the Oniwabanshuu slowly but surely came in giving Misao sly winks.

After a few hectic hours of waiting, the Oniwabanshuu went to go to their victim.

* * *

Aoshi stretched to the comofrting warmth tht surrounded him, and sighed contentedly, nestling closer into the warmth. As his sleep fuddled, drugged mind slowly woke, he came to the realization that he wasn't alone in his room.

His eye flew open with a start as he searched the room, only to find the trespasser ontop of him asleep. He recognized the sleeping head to be that of Misao.

Nani?

Aoshi tried to gently disentangle himself only to realize with another start that he was completely unclothed beneath the blanket.

With rising fear he scanned the room and saw heaps of his and Misao's clothing spread around.

Oh no, I didn't…. I couldn't…. what happened?

Misao was only feigning sleep, glad that her hair was covering her face as she felt him start awake, feel him squirm uneasily, and hear the increases in the not so solemn beat of his heart. She smiled half to herself, and murmured sleepily into his chest.

"Aoshi-sama…"

Aoshi tensed and laid absolutely, completely rigid when he heard Misao speak, and then even more so when she nestled closer to him. She was on top of the covers wearing a robe.

He looked at her with wide shocked eyes, as she sleepily blinked open her eyes and looked into his.

"Ohayou gozaimus, Aoshi," she whispered in a breathy happy voice.

"Ohayou Misao…..," he muttered in an automatic monotonic response.

Misao smiled congratutalting herself on her great acting job, and concentrated. She raised a hand to his face and gently brushed the bangs out of his eyes.

"Last night was wonderful, Aoshi…," she looked at him with indescribale eyes and emotions mirrored there.

"Um… ano….."

Misao was rewarded by seeing the shocked Aoshi look even more shocked as he quickly turned 13 shades of red, and altered back to white.

Aoshi swallowed a very audible gulp and in a shaky voice asked, "Exactly what happened last night?"

Misao chuckled, "Very funny…. You're serious aren't you?"

She replied with hurt in her voice and hurt in her eyes.

Aoshi looked shame-faced, "Gomen, but I don't recall a thing after dinner…"

Misao quickly sat up and pulled away, her back to him.

"BAKA!" Misao screamed as her hands wrapped around her knees, Aoshi could see the shaking of her shoulders.

Misao……

"I'm so sorry Misao… "

He started to hear slight sounds from her, and then she couldn't stand it anymore and broke into very loud laughter.

She's laughing?

Misao turned to look at Aoshi tears of mirth in her eyes and stuck her tongue out at him.

"Baka, consider yourself pranked."

"NANI!?"

"You heard me, I ahven't played a joke on you for years, it was long overdue."

"But…. You undressed me!"

"I didn't do the deed, I got some male help. Who'd want to see you anyway!"

Misao turned away and started picking up both of their clothing, hiding the blush.

I was so temtped to peek, should have done so why I had the chance

The ends of Misao lips curled up ever so slightly.

"Misao, I am going to kill you for this…." Aoshi said in a grating angered voice as he began to rise from bed.

Misao laughed merrily, "I wouldn't do that if I were you, Unless you want to give me a good view of your body."

Misao was rewarded with a crimson red blush, and she laughed wickedly.

"Now before you kill me, I need a head start, so I'll just appropriate your clothes."

She smirked at him and smiled merrily, Aoshi threw a pillow at her which she easily ducked.

"GOTCHA!," she sang with laughter in her voice as she skipped out of his room, his clothes in tow, passing some of the Oniwabanshuu in the hall and giving them a thumbs up sign.

"MISAO!" Aoshi screamed, as he got up the blanket wrapped around him searching for some clothes to get her back.

Misao ran into her room, and changed quickly, very thankful that they had the foresight to put all of Aoshi's clothes out in the laundry tubs... so they should all be sopping wet about now. She ran out of her room, through the gardens where they did the laundry, dropped off the one unwet pair of Aoshi's clothes into the soappy water, and ran before he managed to find something to wear.

It was definitely worth it. Oh the expressions on Aoshi's face!

"MISAO!"

Misao looked up to see Aoshi from one of the Aoiya's windows, a blanket wrapped around him.

"What did you do with all my clothes?!"

"They're in the wash getting cleaned!, " she cirrupped at him gleefully.

"Misao, I'll get you, of that never fear." She saw the narrowed gleam in his eyes and knew he meant what he said....

UH oh.... but it's worth it, I think he'll feel more accepted to have things go back to the way they were before he ever left.... not to mention it'll keep me on my toes

Misao smiled at Aoshi and winked, and cheerfully skipped out of the Aoiya to find a spot to hide for a while.

The End



 

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