Author’s Note: To Kettering...because I was an asshat online and this metallic priestess is really genuinely sowwy.
::hearts and weepy shoujo eyes::
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Chapter 3: Tea and Make Up
The day had arrived, and Aoshi was as best prepared as he could be for the imminent battle. It could be vicious. It could be trying. There could be casualties.
Yes. It was the day of the school festival. Which meant battling Misao.
She was not going to win this year, he simply refused it. Still.....his time had been taken up by granted Kenshin that favor...
Hopefully Yahiko would be keeping an eye on Misao and would report to him constantly of her activities. He knew she’d been shopping around art and fabric stores and even lumber yards.....
It was dumb luck that he got stuck helping Kenshin, which was taking up valuable spy on and bust Misao time. Still, he did have his minions. He sighed as he pulled on the dark green yukata, tying the sash as Kenshin knocked and walked in.
“Aoshi, you almost ready?”
“Aa.”
Kenshin was dressed in a red yukata with white powder on his face, his red hair masked by a black wig.
“Once again, thank you for the help.”
Aoshi sighed.
“I still don’t see why I was so needed in this role.”
Kenshin smiled nervously.
“Well, you are a popular figure in this school and the role required someone who was good with swordplay on a level that I am.”
“I see.” Aoshi murmured, picking up a compact of white powder and began applying it to his face.
Kenshin waved as a signal of parting, and left the room sighing.
If Aoshi ever knew Kaoru and Misao roped him into asking the Student Council President to distract him...
“The things we do for love.” he sighed, thinking of Kaoru and how cute she did look in her costume.
And if worse came to worse, he could always confess Misao was the reason Aoshi got roped into doing it.
Kabuki theater acting as a woman.
Aoshi liked dueling with Misao on a political level anyway.
It wasn’t just Kenshin subverting Aoshi’s anger. Really it wasn’t.
“Oi Himura!”
Kenshin looked up to see Kaoru and Misao approaching.
Both girls were wearing what looked to be 19th century inspired dresses, Kaoru’s being a red lace bodice with heart shaped neck line and a chiffon petticoat looking skirt and Misao wearing what looked to be a tight black corset with purple and blue ribbon shot through it and a billowing black satin skirt.
Both had their hair styled old fashioned.
“Those are great costumes. You sure did a good job sewing them.” he said, smiling.
“Yea, all that hard work paid off. Anyways, you should stop by for tea after your show.” Misao said, glancing around.
“Don’t worry. He’s getting ready. But I would suggest you two head back over and get your booth started. I’m sure he’s got spies.”
Misao and Kaoru chuckled.
“You mean Myojin? He’s no problem.” Misao said with a smirk.
Kenshin blinked.
“You didn’t.....”
“Oh I didn’t do anything to him. He’s being pleasantly distracted by Tsubame over at our booth. Divide and conquer, my dear Himura. Know thy enemy.”
“Orooooooooo...Misao-chan...”
“I’m a ninja, what can I say. Come on Kaoru-chan, time to go to work and make our class the bestest ever.”
“Way to butcher grammar.” Kaoru retorted as they walked off.
“Shut up and keep walking.”
Kenshin watched the two go.
Misao and Aoshi. Both strong figures and deviously intelligent....if they ever combined forces....
“God help us all.” he muttered as he rolled his eyes.
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Misao smiled at her handy work. She had really outdone herself with this one, and the fact that Aoshi never figured her out...
Staring at the pretty white washed lattice working shot through with fake red and pink roses and the quaint tables that made the room look like a Victorian parlor, she smiled.
Check-freaking-mate, Aoshi.
She had gotten the idea from reading, and thought a twist on tea would be interesting. Cafes were always popular, and this was an interesting twist. It was challenging, it took a lot of work and lot of avoiding Aoshi (which was more hard on her than she cared to admit), and a lot of long nights constructing the decorations.
But it was paying off as she looked at how much success the class was having. Everyone was admiring the creativity and efforts her class had put into it, and as much as she headed much of it...it was really a team effort.
Some told her and accused her of being a natural born politician. She was a natural leader with the charisma and brains to boot. She always merely shook her head at them and smiled saying ‘maybe’.
Only one other person really knew what she felt she wanted to do.
“So many people keep saying I should go into politics or something with the way my brain works.”
“It’s a thought. But I take it you don’t have your heart set on that?”
“Perceptive as usual, Mr. President. I enjoy school politics and all, it’s really a game to me in the end. But as for a career...I think I’m better at designing things. Setting scenes.”
“True. You do annoyingly manage to pull off impressive things at the school festival.”
“Psh! You just wish you had my talent. And anyways, I don’t think most people would believe I’d want to be something like a scenic designer as opposed to a lead position.”
“I think it makes sense. You’d get to boss people around to help build your vision. You do it at school almost everyday.”
“And you try to stop me often. Really Aoshi, if anything you’re the politician.”
“That is not the path for me.”
“Then what is, pray tell?”
“Something...”
“Aoshi!”
They had been sitting in the Aoiya having lunch one Sunday when that discussion had occurred. It had been two months ago.
Misao took a breath and picked up her tray, ready to work.
This year her class would shine brightly one more time.
And then next year she’d make the whole school shine with her leadership.
Cause really, who’d not vote Misao for president?
Somewhere deep in the dark corners of the AV club booth a boy with spiky white hair sneezed.
Adjusting his glasses he sighed.
“Darn that Makimachi! I was sure our AV Club Girls on Film would make the booth the best! Grrr!”
And thus the creepy otaku named Enishi pouted and clutched onto his Cutey Honey doll.
“Ahh...Makimachi-san...you won’t tell Shinomori-san I wasn’t doing as he asked right?”
Misao looked down at the spiky haired freshman and smirked.
“Nope. My lips are sealed, kid.”
Yahiko smiled gratefully and returned to his tea.
“You realize the minute Shinomori-san gets over with kabuki he’s heading straight here.”
Misao waved a hand.
“Well by then it’ll be too late and I’ll deal with that ogre when it happens.”
Yahiko sighed.
“And I shall make a hasty retreat.”
“You mean make out with Tsubame-chan?”
Yahiko blushed.
Misao just gave him a cheeky smile and walked away.
Pestering the kid was fun, but she had work to do.
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An hour later Misao managed to sneak away from her class’ booth to pop over to the kabuki theater, which had already begun. As she snuck into the back of the theater, she saw Aoshi and Kenshin on stage, both dressed as women and currently beginning a stand off. Misao had to give the drama and kendo club credit for their combined efforts and creativity.
A kabuki version of Lady Snowblood was brilliant.
She grinned.
Green yukata, some yen.
Face powder. A bit of yen.
Seeing Aoshi dressed as a woman? Priceless.
She watched as the two began circling each other with false swords and began fighting. She crossed her arms and was thankful that the lighting prevented Aoshi from noticing her. And thankful for the photography club snipping pictures of the kabuki theater.
To always have Aoshi dressed as a woman on film.
Misao wasn’t sure her grin could get any bigger.
Everything was going perfect.
Slipping out and back to her booth, Misao noticed Kaoru rushing up to her.
“Misao-chan, we need more biscuits!”
“Hmm, send Tsubame-chan. It’ll get Myojin out of here too.”
“Okay. You realize kabuki ends in twenty minutes.”
“Yes. Yes I do. Trust me.” Misao said, holding up her wrist to reveal her thin black banded watch.
“Well...”
“Well? He’s going to come here, and I WANT him to come here. I want him to see I’ve won and he’ll never hold me down. He’s too late really. He underestimated me. All his little traps and spies...I know how he operates better than anyone else.”
“You guys are like a married couple sometimes.”
Misao blinked, her mouth opening.
“W...I...huh?!”
“I dunno, you two are so in snych with each other’s thoughts and you guys love to argue way too much. You guys are just kinda like an old married couple.”
“E...Eh?” Misao blinked again, and walked away.
It wasn’t so much that Kaoru said it that startled her...it was that she could EASILY picture her and Aoshi as an old married couple.
All they had was casual sex and healthy competition!
Sure they didn’t actually hate each other and got along very well when they weren’t plotting...
But....But...But..
But what?
Unwilling to think more on the subject, Misao went back to serving tea and greeting people.
She was both anticipating and dreading when Aoshi would arrive. It would mark her triumph. It would mark her doom.
He would be pissed, that was for sure.
Just to what degree....she wasn’t as certain.
The minutes were ticking by.
Soon enough there was a shuffle of more people, and Misao recognized them as a the kendo club.
And then she saw a familiar flash of red hair....
And soon enough she would see....
Ah yes. Tall and in dark green. Blue-black hair. Powdered face set in a deep scowl and icy blue eyes narrowed at her.
Ah yes. The dreaded promised time had arrived.
Giving Kaoru a look, Misao set her tray down and scurried towards the door and stopped next to Aoshi, who was taking in everything.
He looked....rather unhappy.
She made a soft groan and walked out the door, waiting for him to follow.
And he would.
If they were going to have it out, it was best to do so in private.
She could hear him following, and bit her lip as she walked to where she knew the school was deserted.
The newspaper lounge in the basement. It was quiet and secluded enough for him to yell or whatever at her.
She opened the door, and he followed, waiting as she shut it.
She crossed the small space of the lounge and sat, her dress making a swish noise as she sat on the couch.
“Okay Aoshi, go ahead. Lay into me.” she said, crossing her arms and waiting for his tirade.
He didn’t yell.
He glared, and slowly crossed the room.
Misao gulped.
The look in his eyes.....so....fierce and dark.
Okay, he was startling her just a little. Granted she knew he would never physically hurt her...but...
He looked a bit scary at the moment.
He was before her seconds later, glaring down at her before he hauled her to her feet and slammed his lips against hers.
Misao blinked but quickly lost herself in the almost brutal onslaught of Aoshi’s kisses.
Aoshi was angry indeed, but did he really expect anything less from Misao? He knew her better than anyone else, knew her personality and how she thought. He half-expected this from her even with all his carefully laid plans.
His pride and ego were a bit battered still.
So he decided, following her to the basement after seeing her handy work. There was always one thing he ALWAYS had the advantage in and defeated her.
Shifting so he was seated on the couch with her in his lap, he quickly reached under her skirt to find her underwear, only to meet bare skin.
He almost grinned against her lips.
No underwear. She must’ve been thinking about meeting up after the festival. As she wrapped her arms around his neck, his hands moved her thighs apart and Misao practically squealed, breaking their kiss apart as she buried her face into his neck when his fingers parted her folds to seek the bundle of nerves at the crux.
She moaned, an almost purring growl as he worked her mercilessly and as he slid a finger into her she was writhing and panting above him.
She wouldn’t beg. Never.
He liked that about her.
She knew that he could tease her and work her up all he wanted, but in the end he’d want it just as much.
And he wanted her. Now.
Moving his hand from her wet heat, he tore at the sash of his yukata and parted it enough to free his straining member as he moved her skirt aside and grasped her hips, positioning her against him as he slammed fully into her with a groan.
He could feel her nails scratching lightly against his shoulder blades as he moved her up and down on him, their hips colliding messily and their gasps coming out breathlessly.
His grip tightened as he once more lowered his lips to hers, his tongue seeking out her mouth as he continued to thrust wildly up into her until he felt her trembling and then she broke away from his kiss, her voice breaking as she moaned softly in release.
He felt his own body tremble, the base of his spine almost go stiff as he came and shuddered against her.
Their breathing heavy, Misao rested her gace against the crook of his neck as his hands moved to encircle her waist.
“This...doesn’t mean...you’re off the hook.”
“Yea well.....you’re still wearing make-up. And you taste like green tea.”
Aoshi paused, realized he was indeed still wearing face make up.
And he noticed when Misao shifted her head to face him, some had smeared on her face.
“Come on Aoshi. You have to admit. I do good work.”
I will admit nothing, Misao.” he murmured, holding her.
It was nice....he missed being this close with her. She sighed, raking her hand through his hair.
“You know, the festival is almost over. Which means weekend. And I do owe you still I believe. You could...perhaps...spend the weekend?”
“As in more than just one day? You usually hate me being around for more than a night.”
“Well, when we have exams yeah and when I’m plotting. I don’t hate it! I just PREFER it that way. And anyways, so what if I’m changing my mind? It is a woman’s prerogative. Besides...I....miss seeing you.”
“You see me almost everyday.”
“You know what I mean!” she said, lightly slapping him on the shoulder.
He let her get off of him as he stood and re-tied his yukata.
“Yes. We’ve been busy. It would be nice to spend the weekend with you, Misao. I’ll need to stop home for clothes first.”
Misao snorted.
“Why?”
He was silent for a moment, then smirked lightly.
“Good point. I will meet you at the school gates after the festival is over. And Misao....don’t think you’re not getting punished for your actions.”
She sighed and shrugged her shoulders.
“I didn’t expect you to be so easy on me.”
He finally did smirk.
“I won’t be this weekend.”
She blinked and laughed.
“Well, perhaps we need to get some duct tape and whips on the way home?”
“...........”
“I was kidding.”
“...............”
“Aoshi! Go wash off that make-up. I have to get back. Good thing you didn’t leave any marks on my neck.”
“So what if I did?”
She paused in her stride on the way out.
“Maybe I’d want people to see it. Maybe people would assume we’re dating and get their heads scratching.”
“As opposed to what we really are.”
“You mean friends with benefits?”
“That’s a nicer way of saying we’re fucking.”
She shrugged.
“Well, I guess everyone assumes we’d be doing the respectable and polite thing- dating. As opposed to the fun and naughty thing we just did.”
“This is all rhetorical anyway. No one would suspect it.”
“Kaoru-chan thinks we act like an old married couple actually.”
Aoshi almost made an expression Misao wanted to say was surprise.
“She did?”
“Yea, cause we like to argue and know how each other’s minds work. Well anyway, I’ll meet you later. I really have to get back.”
She waved a goodbye and left, and Aoshi moved to go sit back on the couch, thinking about the conversation.
An old married couple.
It wasn’t the concept that had him slightly offset. It was how easy he could picture marriage to Misao that shook him.
And how much....he wanted....more.
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one more chapter to go!!