Author's Notes: I know. I know. Another fic...just...:shakes head and walks away::

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

The Wind and Sky Remember

Chapter 1: Blue Skies, Broken Hearts

With her pale forehead pressed against the glass of the car window, Misao watched as every sign of city life faded slowly into the open roads and soft greens of the country, and the large blue sky devoid of the familiar florescent lights that cradled city girls with their neon glow. Closing her eyes, she leaned back frowning against the pale cream backseat as she opened her eyes to the familiar brunette head of her older cousin Okon.

"Now Okina's very excited his little Misao will be spending summer with us so be warned, you WILL be bear hugged."

"Aa, I'll remember." Misao said half-heartedly, thinking back to the night before where she had hung out on the supermarket parking lot with her best friend, Kamiya Kaoru, just sitting on the hood of the car bs-ing.

"Geez, summer's going to completely suck without you around!! Why the hell does your mom want you to go the damn sticks anyway?" Kaoru asked annoyed.

"Cause with all this crap with Soujiro she thought it'd be 'best' for me to get away from the city. I don't know, maybe she's right. I really can't deal with all this."

"Yea, I guess. I mean first your mom catches you two fooling around, and then she makes you get tested and go on the pill, and then Soujiro freaking cheats on you...all in a week. But still, I'm going to miss you."

"You can always visit, Jiya loves young ladies." Misao murmured, taking a gulp of the beer she and Kaoru were drinking.

"Me? On a farm? I love you, but not that much."

"Bitch. You just don't want to leave Himura now that you're getting laid."

Kaoru blushed and quickly downed a beer.

Things had gone so complicated so fast in her life. She and her boyfriend Soujiro had been having sex for the past month, and her mother had caught them. Hence now Misao found herself on birth control. Not that she minded, but still...and then Soujiro cheated on her. It also didn't help that she had kicked the crap out of the slut he was screwing around with.

And then she had to come to terms that she was more pissed at being betrayed than actually heartbroken, since she thought maybe she loved Soujiro only to think maybe it was just convenient being with him.

She had only just graduated and already she was having a breakdown. And that's why her mother decided to basically send her away for the summer out in the country to her Jiya's farm. Where Misao 'would be away from trouble'.

She didn't want to go there. She hadn't been at that farm since she was a child and she had no grasp of farm life at all. She was comfortable in the city, she had her friends.

"Misao, listen. I know you probably heard a lot of nagging from Mariko-oba-san, but I just want to tell you I understand what you're going through. Imagine getting a sex talk from Okina, just completely wrong. You're young and you made a err in judgement so don't think anyone's judging you. Hell, I've done worse at your age." Okon murmured.

"Really? No shit, Okon." Misao mumbled back, recalling the stories of Okon's little escapades that her mother would vent out as a 'warning' for Misao to not end up like that.

And here she was banished to the proverbial nunnery.

'Damn Soujiro. What a bastard. I hope that bitch gave him an STD.' she thought venomously. She definitely was NOT going to miss him.

Fifteen minutes later they arrived in the large driveway of the light blue farm house as an old man and a brunette with a bun walked out and as soon as Misao stepped out of the car she felt her ribs crushed in a patented Jiya bear hug.

"Ah..J..iya...my..ribs..." Misao groaned out and was thankful when she felt him let go. He looked her over and and grinned.

"Ah! My pretty Misao is all grown up but still a little short, ne?"

Misao narrowed her eyes and frowned.

"I...suppose."

"Okina! Stop teasing Misao-chan! She looks so cute!!" Omasu said and smiled at her younger cousin.

"Oh I'm only joking! Well my dear, let's get you settled in! Omasu was just going to start lunch so I hope you're hungry."

Misao nodded.

"Enough to eat one of your horses."

"Oh go ahead, the stubborn bastards won't breed properly."

Misao halted in her step, blinking.

"Anou, he was joking." Okon murmured and Misao sweat-droped.

"Riiiiiight."

She had forgotten how many bad jokes her Jiya made but....seeing him...made her feel nostalgic and she realized she was actually glad to see him. She missed him.

Dragging a large suitcase up the stairs to the room she was staying in, she noticed her cousins and Okina had gotten all of her stuff and she plopped the suitcase on the floor, deciding to unpack later. She looked around the room, noting it was the one she had stayed in as a child.

Light blue paint, a white wooden dresser and vanity, a canopy bed with blue comforters and a large window. Her old dolls were still on their shelves and she couldn't help but smile at that, thinking of her 'tea time' with her dolls.

But she also felt oddly out of place. With a sigh, she headed back downstairs towards the kitchen, smelling the scent of rice and stew as Okon and Okina set out plates and bowls. Misao watched as Omasu opened the kitchen screen which led to the back and yelled out 'lunch', letting the farmhands know food was ready.

Misao picked a spot and sat, fidgeting with her sandals as a thin man with blonde hair and large man with cropped black hair came in and sat.

"Misao-chan, this is Shiro and Kuro, boys, this is our baby cousin Misao." Omasu said, clapping her hands on Misao's shoulder as she served some stew into Misao's bowl.

"Hello Misao-san."

"Nice to meet you."

Misao smiled politely.

"Ah, thanks." she murmured and stared at her sandals.

Now she felt REALLY out of place. There they all were in jeans and simple shirts and she was in her black capri pants and lavender sleeveless tees shirt.

Okon and Omasu seemed to notice their usually genki cousin was acting quiet, and looked at each other.

"Nee, Misao-chan, how are things in Tokyo?"

"Fine really. I just graduated and I start at Toudai soon so I'm a little nervous cause I'm not sure what to study but hopefully I'll figure it out. I think." she said.

"You should study archaeology! There's a totally good-looking profressor, Seijuro Hiko, who teaches there and oooooooooh! I wish I had taken his class." Okon said with a dreamy sigh.

"He's like 43, Okon." Omasu murmured.

"So?"

"That's creepy."

"Oh...shush."

"Girls girls, come on. Misao-chan, do you still pratice kenpo?"

Misao nodded, a genuine grin forming on her face.

"Sometimes, though not as much as I would like too because I've been busy but hopefully I can find some time now."

Okina chuckled.

"Well my pretty I hope you don't expect to do nothing while here because I have farmwork for you to do."

Misao blinked.

"Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh?! JIYA! WHAT?! Come on, I'm on vacation!!!"

"Now now Misao-chan, everyone does their share of work."

"But..but...I'm no good at farming stuff!!!"

"I'm sure you can easily milk a cow or collect eggs."

"Yea, or buy them at a store." Misao said, realizing she probably sounded childish in front of her cousins and the two farmhands.

Misao made a growling noise and continued eating her stew, almost pouting.

Then Okon looked up and clucked her tongue.

"Well look who finally came in."

Misao looked up and felt her jaw go slack.

Standing in the doorway had to be the most perfect example of the male species Misao had ever seen.

Tall and muscular, something she discerned easily as he only work jeans and seemed to be holding his shirt in his hand. He had lightly tanned skin and black hair that fell into his eyes in a sexy manner. She couldn't see his eyes well, but that didn't change the fact that he was good-looking.

"Aoshi, come on and take a seat and I can introduce you to my grand-daughter." Okina said with a smile and Aoshi merely nodded, putting his black shirt back on and took a seat across from Misao.

Blue. Like a grey-blue. That was his eye color, Misao noted.

"Aoshi, this is my grand-daughter Misao. She'll be with us for the summer."

"Um, hello. Nice to meet you." Misao squeaked out awkwardly, mentally grimacing at that.

"Aa. You too." Aoshi replied, and began eating.

Misao furrowed her brows. He had merely brushed her off. How rude.

"Nee, Okina, why not have Aoshi show Misao the ropes? He is our best farmhand and he's probably got the most patience for it." Okon suggested, and Misao paused and looked at her and then at Okina who nodded, liking the idea.

"Sounds like a good idea! Aoshi, any objection to that?"

Aoshi looked at Okina and then at Misao, his eyes piercing her for a second, then closing.

"That's fine." he murmured.

"Well, then that's that."

And with that her fate was sealed. Misao spent the rest of her meal trying to not glance at Aoshi and as soon as she was done she excused herself and headed for the safety of her room. Flopping onto her back on the bed she exhaled loudly.

"Oh of all the luck! Are those people crazy sticking me with that guy. Yes he's gorgeous but....kind of cold. Oh how am I going to get ANYTHING done? Shiiiiiiit...I should of stayed in Tokyo." she mused out loud, closing her eyes.

She felt a soft breeze float into room and heard the faint sweet tinkling of the copper wind chimes she had hung up as a child. For a moment Misao felt a stillness and peace she never felt in the city where all her stress and worries were locked away and there was just nothing.

Her peace was interrupted by a soft rapping on the door.

"Hai, come in!" she called out, sitting up on the bed Indian style.

She watched as her door opened and Aoshi stepped in and Misao felt her stomach drop.

"I came to inform that I'll be showing you plowing and tilling and where all the gardening equipment goes." he began, his voice holding a strange depth that was both soft and strong.

Misao merely nodded, biting her lip. Aoshi looked over her attired which made Misao blushed.

"And you should wear something suitable for farmwork."

And like a bucket of ice water she felt a chill.

"I'll see what I can manage, thank you very much Aoshi." she said, sarcasm laced in her words as she walked over and practically pushed him out of the room.

He merely glared at her and she shut the door hard, spinning on her heels and heading back to the bed as she shook her head and rolled her eyes.

"Tomorrow's going to be fun." she mumbled and laid back down, wondering when she became so sarcastic.

She was normally very genki and outgoing, but she felt so different from everyone, even her relatives, that she was acting oddly timid. Maybe in a couple days she'd be back to her senses, but at the moment she couldn't help but feel a bit depressed.

This place was a memory and it had been too long since she had been here. She yearned for the familiarity of Tokyo, the crowded streets, bright lights, where she belonged. If only she hadn't given in to Soujiro and had sex. Now she had screwed in another way.

Rubbing her eyes she played with the end of her braid and wondered if the rest of the summer was going to be like this. Perhaps she would make a effort to fit in more, though flannel was out of the question.

Her mind then wandered to Aoshi. He was older than her, that was a sure thing, and he seemed very....anti-social and detached. If that was the case then tomorrow would be even more interesting since she was essentially the enemy of all withdrawn people. She knew somehow he would probably only speak to her if necessary and thus Misao decided it was time to get back to her energetic self.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

As the warm rays of dawn's light illuminated the cobalt blue grey of the morning, Misao turned onto her side in her sleep as some drool fell from her parted lips. Blissfully asleep and blissfully dreaming her blissful morning was cut short by a loud knocking on her door.

Groggily opening an eye, she sat up and frowned.

"Go away!" she yelled out, and flopped back onto her back pulling the covers over her head. She groaned and curled into a ball she heard the door open and heard footsteps approach and cried out as the covers were jerked back.

"HEY! WHAT THE HELL?!!!"

"It's time to get up and start working." Aoshi murmured cooly as Misao grabbed the covers back and pouted.

"It's like...oh my God five-thirty! You are completely insane if you think I'm getting up this early!"

"You will get up if I have to drag you."

Misao crossed her arms over her chest and smirked.

"I'd love to see you try that big boy. Mr. I'm so Stone Cold and Scary! Oooh look at me I'm Aoshi!" she said sarcastically, imitating a dead-pan expression.

And promptly three minutes later she found herself hauled over his shoulder and placed under the shower as cold water sprayed over her black pajama clothed body.

"AHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

And thus morning had begun at the Aoiya Farm.

It was quite apparent to the other inhabitants that Misao and Aoshi's work relationship or general co-existence was going to be, in the least, combustive. When he instructed her on how to work the milking machines she merely rolled her eyes and deliberately seemed to spray Aoshi with milk. When she was attempting to use the tractor, Aoshi seemed to cause it to shift to cause her to jerk almost off of it.

By lunch she was spitting mad, and it wouldn't be long before either one stormed off or one ended up bruised, namely Aoshi. Okon, Omasu, and Okina all remembered Misao's temper as a child and knew she wouldn't hesitate to slap someone when angered.

Misao sat in her chair quiet and seething, which made her family even more worried. When the usually chipper Misao was silent and brooding, the world was very much doomed.

"So Misao, you catching on to the routine yet?" Omasu asked, trying to smooth out the situation.

Misao merely glared at Omasu, who almost dropped the pot of miso soup at the magnitude of pissed-offdom within Misao's eyes.

Aoshi for his part looked as if he was attempting to hold onto his last shreds of patience as he utterly ignored Misao. She shifted uncomfortably in her chair, not used to wearing overalls and work boots. Her braid was messy and she had smudges on her face and nose.

As Aoshi reached for a biscuit, he glanced for a brief second at Misao who was looking out the window. She looked....cute. When she wasn't being irritating. He mentally scolded himself. At eighteen this girl was already surely a terror to the world. He was twenty-three and didn't have the time to be baby-sitting the now former school-girl.

Soon enough the temporary calm of lunch gave way as Aoshi realized the horses needed to be fed. Leading Misao to the stables, he showed her where the feed was.

"This is the feed. I ration it out for them in the morning. You'll not need to ration."

Grabbing pouches, he hauled half of them into Misao's arms and ignored the annoyed look on her face as he led her to each stable stall and showed her how to feed the horses.

"It's important to make sure no hay gets into their oats."

"Oh I'll make a note of that." she mumbled as she mimicked Aoshi's actions and strapped the feed bag to a white horse.

Aoshi seemed surprised that she got it right on her first try, and Misao grinned.

"I used to watch Jiya do this everyday so I know what I'm doing. I'm not as useless as you probably think."

Aoshi merely shoved the rest of the feed bags into her arms and made a low growling noise.

"I was asked to show you how to do things, I did not volunteer. I do not have time to babysit some kid with a bad attitude who got kicked out of her house."

Misao's lips pursed as her shoulders slumped. It was worse than any physical blow.

"I...see. So Jiya told you then. How his precious grand-daughter got caught fooling around with her two-timing boyfriend? How my mother had me put on birth control. I guess I'm just some air-headed slut from the city aren't I? Well...maybe I am." she mumbled, and then ran past him out of the stables in a blur as Aoshi watched, instantly regretting his burst of anger.

Hadn't he come to this place because of his own dishonor and shame? He had been in a gang, and when his friends had gone to jail he had left to work here and re-shape his life. Who was he to judge this girl? She was irritating, but now....he almost understood why.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Misao kicked the trunk of the large dogwood tree, cursing as she finally slumped to a sitting position. She rested her chin on her knees as she looked out at the small lake frowning. Why the hell Aoshi's knowledge of her situation bothered her so, she could not fathom. She had just gotten so frustrated....she knew she wasn't cut out for farm life. Hell, she could barely handle her own life.

"Misao."

She tensed, hearing Aoshi's deep voice and moved the smallest bit as Aoshi sat next to her.

"I apologize. I should not have yelled at you." he said, staring out at the lake.

"Whatever." she murmured, trying not to look at him.

He sighed and glanced at her.

"I know you don't want to be here, it's obvious. When I first came here, I did not think I'd be suited for this lifestyle. It's hard, but you get used to it. Even enjoy it."

Misao snorted.

"Somehow I get the feeling you're perfect at everything you do. Or at least that's everyone here thinks."

Aoshi had to smirk softly at that.

"I'm no good at conversation. As you can tell. Misao, I think I understand what you're going through. I'm sorry I hit a nerve. You've been displaced here during a tense time. I should keep this in mind and have more patience with you."

"You sound like I'm a horse needing to be trained."

Aoshi blinked.

"I...."

Misao suddenly laughed, and it was the sweetest sound Aoshi had ever heard.

"Oh my...your face!!! I was only kidding, maybe. Anyway, I SUPPOSE you're forgiven as long as you NEVER wake me up before nine am EVER."

"That's unacceptable. Everyone is up at five."

"I'm not everyone."

"No...you certainly aren't."

Misao looked at him, as if in thought, then snapped her fingers.

"Say, how old are you?"

"Twenty-three." he replied.

"Hmmmm...I thought you were older at first, b ut twenty-three's not THAT much older. Anyway, I suppose we can make a temporary truce."

"Agreed."

"Though really, thinking I didn't have the sense to know about hay and feed bags."

Aoshi sighed and shook his head.

"You must have a hay fetish. You were getting angry when I didn't make the bundles just right and then you were obsessed with overtly cleaning it. Seriously, perhaps you want a roll in it?"

Aoshi made an awkward cough noise as Misao stood up and smacked him upside the head.

"Really, such dirty thoughts. And that was for pissing me off. I'm really a very nice person as long as you stay on my good side."

Aoshi watched as she walked away back towards the farm and shook his head, leaning against the trunk.

"It's going to be an odd summer."

OoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooO

Damn living in the sticks...but Misao is a straw hat...too kawaii