Pairings: Aoshi and Misao and the mention of Misao and Soujiro, Megumi and Sano.

Disclaimers: Yes it's true, Aoshi-sama doesn't belong to me, nor does RK in general.

Disclaimer 2: The creation and story of "Pretty Woman" isn't mine either. I borrowed its idea, but decided to switch the roles around for my favourite coupling, with many differences here and there but still trying to stick with the general plot of Misao like Richard Gere's character and Aoshi like Julia Roberts's character. You'll understand as the story progresses along.

Author Notes: Something weird is up with the website as 'question marks', 'exclamation marks' and so on at the end of characters saying or voicing something do not appear. This is not the fault of my own but of whatever this website is doing, so if you need to complain then please do so to them.

Story Started: 24th January 2004

Pretty Man

Xx Makimachi Tea Shrine Office – Tokyo 8am xX

"Okon-san, how are the local residences taking to the Tea Shrine so far" A female voice spoke on a hands free cell car phone as she drove in her midnight blue jaguar to her office in Tokyo City.

"Its going extremely well Makimachi-san. I was called by Omasu-san last night saying you had gotten in from Kyoto, so I presume the penthouse at the 'Hiko Royal Suites' is to your liking." There was a sigh from the woman driving the car as she quickly changed lanes.

"Is there not a single penthouse on the bottom floor of any hotel Okon-san"

"I apologise Makimachi-san, but I searched everywhere."

"Not to worry, I just won't bother about going out onto the balcony for my entire stay here. Listen I'm pulling up so I'll talk with you soon." The woman in the jaguar parked near the curb, a doorman coming to open the door for her.

"Thank you." She spoke, her long hair swinging behind her in a neat braid. She was dressed in a form fitting navy blue pantsuit with a white blouse underneath her jacket and black high heel ankle boots. She carried a black briefcase and walked through the automatic doors, her jaguar being taken care of and driven down to the secure parking lot in the basement of the building. The building was not a skyscraper but only five levels high. This was enough though, for the Tokyo branch of the Makimachi Tea Shrine.

"Ohayoo Tsubame-chan." The woman with the long braid spoke while smiling at her youngest Tokyo employee who happened to be the front entrance receptionist.

"Ohayoo gozaimasu Makimachi-san. Here's some messages for you, most from Takani-san I might add."

"When do I not get messages from her Tsubame-chan" The woman replied sarcastically and in turn brought a round of giggles from the receptionist. The phone rang however and she immediately quieted down, picking it up and greeted the unknown person on the phone,

"Good Morning, Makimachi Tea Shrine Office, this is Tsubame." Brown eyes stared over at ocean-blue belonging to Makimachi-san and mouthed 'Takani-san'.

"Tell that impatient woman I'll call her in twenty minutes."

"Takani-san are you there? Yes, Makimachi-san has only just arrived and will call you in exactly twenty minutes. Thank you for calling."

"That should give me a bit of peace for a moment." Makimachi-san mumbled to herself before hitting the lift button to head up to her own office.

The lift doors dinged; Makimachi-san stepping out to be greeted by another secretary only this one was standing and walking towards her to give her a friendly hug.

"It's been forever Makimachi-san, how have you been"

"Now Okon-san, I've asked you a million times to call me Misao. You've known me for forever. I mean come on, Jiya helped raise you too when he was still alive."

"That is true, but I thought it best while we were in work hours to respect your position as owner of the Makimachi Tea Shrine." Misao pursed her lips at this, then smiled and nodded her head.

"Alright, but if I ever hear Makimachi-san after work hours I'll kick your butt."

"Understood…" Okon spoke with a laugh.

"Now down to serious matters I best call Takani-san before she pops a blood vessel." Misao spoke while heading into her office and closing the door. She placed her briefcase beside her leather desk chair and sat down in it. The computer was turned on and then she was just about to pick up the phone when it actually rang.

"Yes…"

"Makimachi-san, it's Takani-san again." Misao rolled her eyes and mumbled for Tsubame to put her through.

"I said I'd call you in twenty minutes. What part of twenty minutes do you not understand Takani-san" Misao replied in a serious tone of voice.

"Yes well this just couldn't wait Misao-chan." Misao bristled at the "chan" as she hadn't been called that ever since she was 16 when her Jiya was still actually alive. He had died of a heart attack when she was 18, leaving her to take over the Makimachi Tea Shrine business.

"So what's the emergency"

"You know how Sano and I broke up; well I did something really terrible."

"Wait a minute? This is the emergency? I thought you were going to tell me something important." Misao replied exasperated, mentally adding she didn't have time for this.

"This is important Misao" Misao sat up at the tone in her voice. It was like she was beginning to break down.

"Okay, calm down Megumi and tell me what you did wrong."

"Well Sano and I called it quits as you know, but I felt so frustrated and…and I had a one night stand." Misao pursed her lips at that. At least she didn't cheat on Sagara-kun or else she would have yelled at the woman. Sagara seemed like a bit of a bum at times but he was generally an all round nice guy. Actually it was funny how mushy he went over Megumi all the time that she couldn't help but laugh at them. Of course Misao ended up getting her just desserts, as Sagara-kun would call her a goody two shoes little virgin girl as Misao herself never went out on dates. That always got her into wanting to pound his head in, but was held back by a laughing Megumi. After all Misao didn't look like she was 22 years old and in truth she hadn't had a date in a long time.

"People have one night stands all the time Megumi so…"

"Yes, but this is…different…"

"How so" Misao couldn't deny she felt like she was "out of practice" having had only one serious partner in her 22 years, but that had ended when she got into Kyoto University while her boyfriend went off to travel the world. She never did get to finish university, hell she never even started as her priorities fell onto now owning and taking care of the Makimachi Tea Shrine business thanks to her late grandfather leaving it in his will to hand it over to her.

"It…it was a…a male prostitute."

"Ehhhhhhhhh" Misao yelled into the phone not expecting that.

"I feel so…so awful now, so degraded having done such a thing." There were sniffles on the end of the line, Misao's eyes widening as she tried to get her shock under control to try and console the woman on the other end.

"Megumi, did you…use protection"

"Of course I did! I'm not stupid"

"Well good, now get over it okay? It was one night, never to happen again and you don't have to worry about catching some form of disease because you were smart."

"Misao, what about Sano" Misao sighed, logging into her computer hearing it do a little sing song chime basically saying it was ready to be used and decided to give Megumi some more advice.

"Look, you broke up, you didn't cheat on him. This…erm…prostitute guy obviously knew it was a one time thing and you won't go back for more either. Now I suggest you take a nice shower, stop your stubborn ways and go get your man back."

"Misao…"

"Megumi, face it you're hopeless without that bum of a guy. Talk it out with him and I'm sure he'll understand. I bet Sagara-kun has had plenty of one-night stands. Though he is gruff Megumi, you two are good together and besides he really does love you, I can see it. Now off you go and let me get my work done." She laughed lightly and then hung up the phone. Always good at giving others advice but was hopeless in the "love" department herself. How'd that work? Misao sighed shaking her head and glanced at the time, her eyes growing wide as it was already 9:30!

"Damn you Megumi" She yelled and quickly got to work looking over the figures of the Tea Shrines in Kyoto, Tokyo and Osaka for now.

Xx On the outskirts of Tokyo City xX

A pair of tanned legs, nicely firm and muscled moved over the edge of a single bed and was placed firmly on the brown carpet. A lean muscled body followed, arms resting on knees while black bangs fell into closed eyes. A radio blared music and a hand reached over to smack it so the room was silent once more. The man's hand ruffled his head of hair, eyes opening to reveal an odd shade of green-grey. The mysterious man stood up, sheets falling away from his naked body as he moved to his clothing to get dressed for the beginning of his own day.

About five maybe ten minutes later he was walking out the door and heading for the stairs only to stop when he heard a certain creepy voice belonging to a man he detested.

"Oi Yukishiro, where is your buddy Shinomori with my god damn rent money"

"How the hell would I know what that guys up to? We aren't friends Kanryuu." This Yukishiro spat, white-silver looks spiking up in all different directions. He wore round rimmed glasses over his turquoise eyes and dressed all in white.

The man that was going to come downstairs, ended up back tracking his steps and headed back into his bedroom, locked the door and headed for his window where he knew the fire escape was. In truth he wasn't one for running away, but this Kanryuu guy was not good news, so he'd hold off on his payments for as long as he could and just to piss him off even more.

Out on the small fire escape, he kicked the steel ladder with his black boots and watched it slide down to the ground floor of the run down apartment building. He took the ladder steps two at a time, jumping the last two to hit the concrete with his boots with a solid thump. He placed on a white jacket over his black muscle shirt and walked off, numerous people glancing his way as he did so, having watched him climb down the ladder from the very beginning.

Xx Time passes – 5pm in the Evening – Makimachi Tea Shrine Office xX

"Makimachi-san, this is a surprise." Okon-san spoke watching Misao walk out of her office with briefcase in hand. There was a drawn look on her face and Okon couldn't help but pass up the opportunity to tease Takani-san like Misao usually did.

"Was the phone conversation with Takani-san that long and drawn out" Misao gave a small smile and shook her head negatively.

"I just don't feel like myself today, perhaps I should rest up at the penthouse and have an early nights rest."

"You really mustn't be feeling yourself to not to stay here well past 8pm."

"That is true. Well I shall see you bright and early tomorrow morning though." Okon nodded her head, eyes frowning slightly as she watched Misao leave. Perhaps the stress of running the business at such a young age was finally weighing down on her.

Xx Ground Floor Reception xX

"I'll see you tomorrow Tsubame-chan."

"Um, hai, see you tomorrow." Even Tsubame was confused as to why she was leaving early.

Misao stepped out of the building, noticing her jaguar was already waiting for her and mentally thanked Okon for having called while she was obviously in the lifts. She thanked the doorman, got in throwing her briefcase on the passenger side and took off. She placed the hood up on the jaguar as it was quite cool this early in the evening and kept driving, not realising as she was deep in thought that she had missed the turn she would need to take to get to the Hiko Royal Suites.

"Oh shoot, god damn Megumi making me think about her and that male prostitute, I missed the turn off" And Misao thought things couldn't get any worse, because they just did. Her lovable jaguar she always drove when she was in Tokyo decided to throw a fit, churning and jerking as it came to a sudden stop, unfortunately in one of the seediest parts of Tokyo.

"Damn…" She muttered and hopped out, but not without taking her briefcase with her and opened it up to bring out her cell phone. She leaned back into the car, popping the engine bonnet and lifted it up to have a look inside. Her ocean-blue eyes looked clueless at the engine of the car and dialed a directory number on her cell phone.

"Good evening, I'd like the number for a tow trucking company please." A piece of paper and a pen was brought out as she scribbled down the number repeated over the phone to her.

"Thank you." Misao dialed the number but only received an engaged signal. Her head bowed, leaning against the side of the car and tried again, but of course with no luck.

"Hey honey, whatcha doin' in a place like this" A greasy looking punk guy with tattoos all over his body asked Misao. She in the end eyeballed him for a moment before waving him off with the flick of her wrist and tried the tow trucking company again. However, the greasy punk didn't take this well.

"Hey honey, don't be like that, come have fun with me and my buddies here." One of the punk's lackeys grabbed her wrist and pushed her into the side of her car, jerking the cell phone out of her hand as it crashed to the pavement splitting into pieces.

"Hey! Let go of me this instance or I'll…" Misao's chin was lifted up, the main punk not listening to her "threatening" ways and instead moved closer as though ready to force a kiss upon her pink lips.

"Kuroto, I suggest you let her go…she is mine." Came a deep emotionless voice. The punk known as Kuroto turned around to eye the taller man who was walking towards himself and the woman he was currently harassing.

"Heh, was only havin' some fun with the girl." He let go of Misao and began walking off, his lackeys following close behind but gave the mysterious man who stopped it all the "evil eye".

"Someone like you doesn't belong in an area of Tokyo like this." The deep voice spoke again and Misao's ocean-blue eyes lifted up and stared into a pair of intense green-grey ones. This man was holding his hand out to Misao, wanting to help her up properly as she still slumped against the jaguar. She took his hand without a second thought and stepped back onto the pavement to get a better view of him. He was definitely over six-foot tall that's for sure. He had silky jet-black hair and long bangs hid most of the colouring in his eyes. His face was finely chiseled and not a shred of emotion could be seen on it. To top it all off his body was lean and masculine; the clothing he wore accentuated this very fact. He so happened to be donning a pair of heavy black boots, leather pants that told the female eye he had long sculptured legs, which looked damn fine in leather and a silver buckled belt held them low against his waist and hips. He wore a plain black muscle shirt and a plain white dress jacket over the top. Misao gulped lightly having been starring at him long enough but couldn't help it as he turned out to be a damn fine good looking guy.

"Ano, arigatou…" Misao mumbled lightly, her eyes shifting from his gaze - shying away from the intenseness of it more like it. What was with that look?

"You should get out of here. It is not safe for a young girl like you to be around in this area."

"I'm not a little girl pal! And I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself thank you very much" A finely shaped black eyebrow belonging to the mysterious man arched at the way this woman snapped at him. He watched on in curiousness as she bit her lip looking around the street as numerous people walked by, she especially noticing a woman wearing an insanely small skirt and a mini top which practically exposed her cleavage for the entire world to see.

"So which part of Tokyo am I really in? I'm guessing this isn't the richest most suave part of the city right"

"I said its time for you to go. Many men will try and pick you up, even going so far as to harass you like that Kuroto did. You're lucky I work this area or else something worse could have happened to you."

"Excuse me? What do you mean by pick me up" Her eyes gazed up into his and then caught the woman who had walked past before as she was taking some money from a guy and hopping into his car.

"Y-You mean, I'm in a…and you're a…a…"

"Male prostitute? A gigolo? I guess they would be familiar names to me."

"I…I…" Misao stepped back, having not been prepared for this startling news from this mysterious guy and gasped when the heel on her ankle boot slipped off the pavement, she ready to go crashing to the ground in a very ungraceful manner. Misao however did not hit the ground as she first thought and in fact opened her eyes to see the green-grey eyed man's face closer to hers. His arm was around her waist stopping her from having fallen over. Wide ocean blue did nothing but stare into green-grey. Green-grey did nothing but hold the young woman to him a little bit longer.

"Eh, Shinomori you're working quickly tonight. Already swept a beauty off her feet." Misao watched as the guy who had been holding her now had a name…or last name she suspected and went with him as he lifted himself up properly and let go of her. Misao just knew she would be blushing. Curse her stupid haywire emotions! She watched as this 'Shinomori' turned around and addressed the man that had interrupted their "moment" together.

"Are you taking notes Yukishiro" The man with white-silver hair and the white outfit snorted and continued on his way knowing he'd never get a chance with that woman as she had stopped on this block…and this block was not his.

"Come with me, I'll hail you a cab."

"But…my car…" Misao spoke while being dragged away from her jaguar.

"It'll be fine. They know it's my area and if they touch anything in this area they will be punished."

"They…who's they"

"The other men, my rivals for picking up women or are you really that dense" Misao bristled at that and slapped his hand away from her own. He was so damn cocky and so rude and really sexy and it was pissing her off.

"Here's your ride woman." He spoke while flagging down a cab.

"Come back to get your car in the morning and preferably with a male friend if you have any." He opened the door at that and Misao got in slamming it closed while mumbling 'stupid jerk'. She eyed him as he walked off, hands in the pockets of his form fitting leather pants and his white jacket blowing in the evening breeze as he headed back to 'his area' as he had called it. Misao mumbled the Hiko Royal Suites to the driver and turned her eyes back around to gaze at this mysterious Shinomori guy. Damn, those leather pants suited him well. Misao smacked her head with her hand trying to rid her mind of that very thought, but as the cab driver pulled away from the curb a command flew from her lips.

"STOP…" The driver did exactly what Misao said and she hopped out of the car. Standing on the pavement, cab door open, Misao yelled out to the retreating man.

"Wait a minute" He stopped, but never did turn around. Misao gulped as she walked towards him, her eyes gazing at his broad back as she spoke again.

"Would you like…to come for a drive" This time he did turn around, glancing down at the woman who's head only rested at mid chest level on him.

"Can you pay" Misao's eyes widened at that simple question and then she absently nodded her head, her eyes never leaving his semi hidden ones. Silently watching as he buttoned his jacket closed and then walked past, the prostitute headed for the cab.

"Are you coming" He questioned her and Misao jerked into walking mode and sat in the back of the cab on one side while he took up the other. Misao mumbled a 'lets go' to the driver and this time he was off without any further interruptions.

The both of them stared out their respected windows and Misao began to fret. What the hell was she doing? She had just invited a complete stranger to her penthouse in one of the most exclusive suite apartments in Tokyo and not only that, he was a freaking male prostitute!

Xx To be continued xX