Pretty Man
Stepping out of the train Aoshi rushed to shelter with no luggage (since he never brought any) as it was raining in Kyoto as well. His eyes scanned a local map situated on a notice board, glancing every now and then at the address of Misao's place. To be truthful he hadn't once thought on what he was going to say to her and instead worried himself to sleep. Aoshi after all hadn't slept a lot after his last sexual encounter with Misao.
With his white jacket buttoned Aoshi flagged down a cab and climbed into the back, calculating how much it'd cost him to get to Misao's place or as close as possible. It appeared he'd be two maybe even three blocks away from her place but that was okay, he was a fit guy and could walk. It also came to Aoshi's mind that he was turning up with nothing and this didn't sit well with him.
XxXxXxX
Finally the ride was over and Aoshi found himself in the middle of the central business district of Kyoto and lucky for him it was "late night shopping" where businesses stayed open for longer then usual. With directions to the apartment tower Misao's place was at, Aoshi quietly thanked the driver and took shelter like many others without umbrella's from the pouring rain. His narrowed eyes scanned the shops lining the busy street and found himself standing right in front of a clothes store. Though he had to admit he liked his usual attire, he supposed a surprise was in order for Misao and not just him showing up looking sloppy and wet.
Stepping into the store Aoshi stared around at numerous customers looking him up and down for split seconds before he observed a sales woman come towards him.
"Are you looking for anything specific?" She voiced nicely to him and Aoshi was beginning to like Kyoto a little better then Tokyo. Searching his pockets to see how much cash he could scrounge up, Aoshi felt his back pocket on his leather pants and feeling a slight "bump" in one of the pockets. Pulling out an envelope he opened it up, all the while knowing the sales clerk was blinking over at him waiting for an answer and found the money he'd given Enishi to pay for their rent in the very envelope. The turquoise-eyed male must have slipped it to him while he was shell shocked at seeing Megumi at their apartment building.
"I'd like an outfit for this amount if possible." Aoshi remarked flashing the cash at the smiling woman whom nodded her head and showed Aoshi to the men's section and began bringing out trousers and shirts.
XxXxXxX
"How are you going Sir?" Came the woman's voice as Aoshi was just placing on the jacket of his choice of outfit. Coming out of the change room, he witnessed the sales clerk and a couple of female customer's blush in his direction, staring him up and down in his attire.
"I'd like to wear this now." He voiced and placed the tags for the clothing into the woman's hand while she handed him a store bag to place his normal clothing in. Aoshi was surprised he'd even got change back from the ordeal and quietly nodded his head in thanks before exiting the shop, only to come back inside and purchase a black umbrella with the change.
With his clothing taken care of, Aoshi couldn't care less about the attention he was now receiving and continued on his way up the business district, his eyes now set on the apartment tower two blocks from where he was. However, as Aoshi walked down the sidewalk, he suddenly stopped and stared into a florist. Every single flower known to Japan and some exotic ones were currently lining the windows and the outside area of the florist as Aoshi checked his cash flow, found there was enough money left over for a single red rose bud. From the bunch that sat outside in a bucket of water, Aoshi picked what he hoped was the "prettiest" like the one he had given Misao in the apartment the day she thought he was naked. The blushing woman behind the counter wrapped it in clear foil like paper with red hearts on it and handed it to Aoshi. He was non-too pleased about the hearts, it making him look like a romantic sap, but then Aoshi contemplated that very thought. He'd just travelled thousands of miles, was now walking three blocks to Misao's apartment and would then have to go up 20 floors (since the penthouse apartment she lived in was on the top floor) and if that wasn't romantic enough (as well as he having changed from his comfortable attire) then he didn't know what was.
Once more Aoshi left another store, umbrella covering him from the pouring rain as he waited for the traffic lights to change. He was now only one block away and it was apparent to him as he finally took notice of his inner being, his stomach was churning and his heart was currently lodged within his throat.
XxXxXxX
Stopping just in front of the rotating doors Aoshi paused to gather his thoughts, thinking on what he was going to say when Misao answered her door but was suddenly pushed into the rotating door with a group of tourists who would be staying in this very building. It appeared it was not only used for permanent residency but also for tourists to rent out for numerous weeks on end. Aoshi glared at them, but of course they weren't paying attention and he stepped into the perfectly marbled tiled and very polished floor and looked around. It was like another 'Hiko Royal Suites' and Aoshi scanned the place before finding and heading straight for the elevators.
"Which floor Sir?" A young man voiced and Aoshi mumbled '20' before leaning against the mirrored wall of the lift and waited for his floor to 'ding'.
XxXxXxX
It didn't take long before Aoshi stared down a long hallway. Their must have been at least 8 or 10 executive penthouse suites' on this very floor and Aoshi headed for the one down the very end and paused at the closed cream and gold plated door with his hand raised.
Taking in a deep breath Aoshi closed his eyes as his knuckles connected with the thick door. He could have sworn the sound echoed down the corridor, he instantly snapping his eyes open to see if anyone would come out of their homes to see who was standing in the hallway. It regularly happened where he was, but Aoshi shook his head and reprimanded himself for thinking so stupidly. This was Misao's place and it was far better then the shit hole he lived in or used to live in. Fisting his hand, teeth now grit in slight impatience, Aoshi knocked once again. Not a sound could be heard from the inside of Misao's place. It was apparent, Misao was not home.
"What do I do now?" Aoshi mumbled to himself before fishing through his shopping bag, rose now clenched between his teeth as his eyes searched for the pins he kept hooked at his belt around his leather pants. They were used for emergency situations and this was Aoshi's emergency. He placed the bag down, did the same with the rose but a bit more carefully and then began to pick Misao's lock. He was multi-talented after all and within minutes there was an echo of a soft 'click' and Aoshi turned the knob helping himself into Misao's home.
The place was dark, she obviously hadn't come home yet and Aoshi headed into the lounge room and placed on a lamp to navigate so he wouldn't knock anything over. Her place was stylishly furnished with trendy ornaments and of course the latest technology. Aoshi noticed the second bedroom was used as an office and couldn't help but peek into her master bedroom to see it decorated in dark purples and blacks, a queen size bed standing out in the middle of the room.
"I could handle this…" Aoshi muttered to himself as he moved over to Misao's stereo back in the lounge room and began to snoop some more. It was in his nature to do so. Flicking through her CD's he came across an interesting one (smirked at the memory of it) and took it out of its cover and loaded it into the CD stacker. With everything set it was now time for Aoshi to wait and wait he would as he perched himself into one of the recliner chairs, one ankle neatly crossed over the other and the rose within reaching distance.
Xxx Elsewhere in Kyoto xxX
Misao stepped into a cab, her outfit damp as she'd not expected to be caught in a rainstorm and took a last glimpse at the graveyard and the shrine she'd just finished visiting. She had asked the cab driver to wait for her and would pay him top dollar so she didn't have to back track.
Once Misao arrived, she did nothing but kneel in front of her grandfather's shrine, water pouring over her and yet she didn't seem to notice. A large amount of life was beginning to extinguish from deep within her heart and Misao knew it had been Aoshi. As usual Misao visited Okina's shrine to see if he was happy with what she was doing with the Makimachi Tea Shrine business and in certain circumstances she could almost feel his approval at her decisions. However, the spiritual energy that had loomed around her not too long ago was full of worry.
'I'm fine Jiya, just need some rest.' Misao had voiced but the spirit was still not happy. 'I just miss him that's all.' Misao had confessed to the shrine, knowing that even though she'd wept for Aoshi her heart didn't seem to want to let the memories of her time with him go. From when he listened to her play the piano, to the way he lavished attention on her, to teaching her swimming and to the night they went to the Noh Theatre in Nagano. He'd been so stunned at being able to fly on a plane and a little nervous as well. Misao had liked treating him to things and places he'd never been to or experienced before. It made her happy to see him just a little bit happy and carefree, even if it was rarely given with a smile. Misao just knew she had touched Aoshi more then anyone else probably ever had and not just sexually, but emotionally as well. Also, Aoshi cleaned up real good and Misao wanted him that way and in his leather pants. Was that too selfish? Was she asking for too much of him? Was it all too fast? How could that be possible when every step she took with him felt like the right one?
"Miss, you're home." Jerking out of her thoughts Misao kindly thanked the cab driver, gave him a generous tip as well as the fare and grabbed her luggage from the trunk. Ocean blue eyes turned to focus on an elderly man smiling kindly at her while he took her baggage inside the lobby.
"Welcome home Makimachi-san. How was business in Tokyo?"
"It was productive indeed Genzai-san. It's good to be home though." Misao kindly replied and headed inside and to the lifts along with the elderly employee.
"Do you need help with those, Makimachi-san?"
"I should be alright, thank you Genzai-san." Misao voiced and waved goodbye to the man before being transported to the 20th floor.
Wheeling her luggage down the corridor, Misao sifted through her leather backpack for her keys and opened the front door.
The place was doused in darkness, just the way she left it. Leaving her luggage in the hallway and kicking off her black slip on shoes, Misao moved into the kitchen and looked in the fridge. All that was in there was out of date milk and some cheese, which looked like it was ready to grow mould. Sighing at the emptiness of her fridge as well as her home, Misao closed the door and began to unplait her hair. She walked towards her bedroom, flicked on the light and grabbed a pair of black and blue satin pyjama's and headed towards her bathroom.
"You sure do take your time coming home Misao." Stopping instantly from heading towards the bathroom, Misao's eyes widened and turned in the direction that voice had come from. She finally made out a figure in the dark before hearing a rustle as the said figure leaned over to turn on a lamp. She watched, her breath hitching in her throat as Aoshi, the man she had supposedly left in Tokyo, stood before her. He was dressed smartly and oh so sexily in a spitting image of the suit he wore to the Noh Dance with her in Nagano. The only thing missing were the polished shoes, gloves and the trench coat. His silky hair was slightly ruffled as though he'd fallen asleep and Misao's eyes finally trailed down the masculine physique before her and caught a single red rose bud clutched tightly within Aoshi's grip.
"Wh-What are you doing here?" Misao stuttered out, her hands fisting in the chiffon top she wore. Her pyjama's had dropped to the floor when she heard Aoshi's voice. Misao herself was dressed in a burgundy chiffon skirt with a black overlay and what looked like embroidery down the bottom of it and a plain chiffon top with see through ¾ length sleeves.
"Megumi slapped me and told me to run after you, so here I am."
"Megumi did what?" Misao gasped out her eyes not being able to stay focused on Aoshi's intense gaze and instead wandered over his body once more.
"There are so many things I want to say, but with you standing in front of me, nothing is going to come out the way I want it to." Aoshi voiced calmly when in all truth he was far from being calm. He watched ocean blue eyes finally return to his and the next words left his mouth in a rush. "I'm a bastard." Misao's eyes widened at that comment and she was ready to voice otherwise but Aoshi's hand lifted up while he slowly walked towards her. "I've never known anyone like you before Misao and even when I was with you there was always doubt in my mind that I wasn't meant to be beside you, with you in any way. I don't have your educational background and I'm not full of riches and manners at all. I felt that my being with you would forever tarnish you professionally and personally."
"Aoshi…I…" Aoshi however lifted his finger, placing it against Misao's ruby lips as he shushed her quietly, he wanting to finish what he needed to say as he held the red rose bud before Misao's very eyes and never once looked away from them.
"You said I was your light, but I wanted to ask, perhaps even plead with you if you could rescue me from the darkness of myself Makimachi Misao?" Ocean orbs watered as Misao let out a small sob, taking the rose instantly while she fell into Aoshi's chest.
"Does this mean I'm forgiven? I'd only just started trying to win you back." Aoshi murmured into Misao's hair, marvelling at the way it shaped around her pale face and curled at the ends because of the rain and humidity in the air.
"Well that was a pretty damn good start." Misao muffled into Aoshi's suit jacket before getting herself together as she stared up at him once more. There was a quirk of her lips as she brushed down the labels of Aoshi's coat.
"Not bad for choosing it in less then half an hour right?"
"I don't know whether to keep you for statue purposes looking all spruced up like this or…"
"Strip me from the attire and gaze upon me naked everyday?" There was a flush instantly on Misao's cheeks at his words and the image it created. Misao instantly smacked him, eyes slightly narrowed as she gazed up at him challengingly.
"Don't ruin the moment Aoshi. You still have to fully win me over."
"Aa…" He murmured before pulling Misao towards the coffee table where he reached down to press play on a remote. His now soft green eyes focused on Misao's curious look as he placed out his hand, the familiar sound of a guitar and drums in the background began to play. "Will you dance with me Misao?" She took his hand, being drawn into his warm embrace as the sound of Josh Groban's song 'My Confession' began playing, but once more, just like in the penthouse in Tokyo, a deeper voice fell over the lyrics perfectly as Aoshi began to sing to Misao once more.
I have been blind, unwilling to see
The true love you're giving.
I have ignored every blessing.
I'm on my knees confessing
That I feel myself surrender
Each time I see your face.
I am staggered by your beauty,
Your unassuming grace.
And I feel my heart is turning,
Falling into place.
I can't hide
Now hear my confession.
I have been wrong about you.
Thought I was strong without you.
For so long nothing could move me.
For so long nothing could change me.
Now I feel myself surrender
Each time I see your face.
I am captured by your beauty,
Your unassuming grace.
And I feel my heart is turning,
Falling into place.
I can't hide
Now hear my confession.
You are the air that I breathe.
You're the ground beneath my feet.
When did I stop believing?
Cause I feel myself surrender
Each time I see your face.
I am staggered by your beauty,
Your unassuming grace.
And I feel my heart
Falling into place.
I can't hide
Now hear my confession.
I can't hide
Now hear my confession.
Hear my confession
Misao smiled into Aoshi's chest, arms clinging to his back as the guitar and drums continued to play while Aoshi hummed into her ear. As the song ended Misao found Aoshi wouldn't let go of her and continued to hold her close, his upper body slightly hunched as he buried his face within the top of her head.
"You know, Jiya once told me that to experience and treasure the wonder that was Tokyo, one had to bring a piece of it back home."
"So, I'm a souvenir?" Aoshi muttered as he pulled away from Misao slightly.
"Well, lets just say you are one to keep for always." Misao rewarded Aoshi with a bright sunshine smile before pecking him lightly on the cheek. "Actually I remember Jiya telling me that wherever I would go I should never hold back and never have regrets. I'll never regret being with you Aoshi."
"I like the sound of that, but of course not as much as you moaning my name." Aoshi watched as Misao blushed furiously at his comment before smacking him lightly on his forehead with her rose.
"What a way to kill the romantic atmosphere Aoshi." Misao gulped lightly when a sexy grin crossed his lips as he stole the rose from her clutches.
"You want a romantic atmosphere?" Aoshi questioned, his eyes plunging deeply into the depths of Misao's as he dipped her backwards. "You got it." He muttered in a deep sultry voice as he listened to Misao's breath hitch in her throat as his lips pressed fully over her own, kissing her for all she was worth and that was a lot.
Quickly bringing Misao back up, before she fainted Aoshi pressed the button for the stereo once more, the song coming on once again as he whispered a 'thank you' to Misao and held her tight, making sure to never be so stupid about his decision to be with her ever again. And Misao? She was blissfully smiling and taking in Josh Groban's sweet lyrics that Aoshi felt for her.
I have been blind, unwilling to see
The true love you're giving.
I have ignored every blessing.
I'm on my knees confessing
That I feel myself surrender
Each time I see your face.
I am staggered by your beauty,
Your unassuming grace.
And I feel my heart is turning,
Falling into place.
I can't hide
Now hear my confession.
I have been wrong about you.
Thought I was strong without you.
For so long nothing could move me.
For so long nothing could change me.
Now I feel myself surrender
Each time I see your face.
I am captured by your beauty,
Your unassuming grace.
And I feel my heart is turning,
Falling into place.
I can't hide
Now hear my confession.
You are the air that I breath.
You're the ground beneath my feet.
When did I stop believing?
Cause I feel myself surrender
Each time I see your face.
I am staggered by your beauty,
Your unassuming grace.
And I feel my heart
Falling into place.
I can't hide
Now hear my confession.
I can't hide
Now hear my confession.
Hear my confession
Life had just gotten a whole lot more meaningful and exciting for the both of them.
Xxx They Lived Happily Ever After xxX
Authors Notes:Well how about that for an overly fluffed up ending? Thanks to all of you for the wonderful response and reviews towards this story. Special thanks to Silver-chan for helping me with ideas and giving me naughty inspiration throughout the series. Its been interesting while it lasted but its over and done with and how sweet an ending it was! Well I liked it, but I'm not sure about anyone else. Ah, I even listened to 'My Confession' five or was it six times while finishing it off. It's been fun so see you again with another story update or two!
Disclaimer: Pretty Woman and My Confessions aren't mine, I burrowed them from the masters that created them and thank them for the inspiration.
Story Completed: 9th of February 2005.