Well, this is my first non-humor Kenshin fic, so…

Beat me!

Lash me!

I'm yours to command!

*Hack*

Ano…now that that's out of my system, let's go with a brief summary. First off, I don't own any of this. Second off, a lot of what I write as fanfiction is something I actually dreamed up. Literally. I dreamt this entire story. Let's just say that I read a little too much of the manga and it saturated all the way down to my poor deprived REM center, causing me to obsess about his Bishounen-ness Aoshi and his so ever so kick butt girlfriend Misao. So sue me, I have nothing better to dream about, alright? Little fact about me, I love Aoshi/Misao pairings as much as I love Kenshin/Kaoru ones, maybe even more so, because it's so hard to find a good Aoshi/Misao whereas everybody and their brother has some kind of romantic tension between Kenshin and Kaoru. Damn it, we got enough in the show!

Let me know what you think, seriously, all the little mistakes and everything because, sometimes, you need someone to give you a different perspective on what you write.

Warning: Okay, we all know what Misao called Kenshin when she got mad because he wouldn't answer her questions…

=^_^=;;; { That was so WRONG Misao-chan! Not nice to call Kenshin-cutie a transvestite and a cross-dresser and a…}

…and I intend to keep her in character so be prepared for some creative insults.

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[Leaving the dojo…]

Aoshi and Misao walked. The trees passed by and the Tokyo disappeared around a bend. Glancing back, Misao gave a little sigh. When would she be able go back there? Giving a sidelong glance at Aoshi and suppressing a small smile, she decided that she was happy enough just as she was. What more could she want? Aoshi by her side, the wind in her hair, the knowledge that her friends were safe and sound…and alive. The world was a wonderful place and there was only one thing that could make it better in her book…if only Aoshi would smile. At that instant she spotted a stand of young tree's, their leaves waving gently in the wind. What better way to get Aoshi-sama's joy of life alive again then to point out how happy everything else was?

" Look Aoshi-sama!"

[Some time later…]

" But I don't understand!" Misao said, looking expectantly at her 'grandfather'. " We don't…there's nothing left to…why!?"

" I don't know myself Misao-chan. He just left. Took only his clothes and left a note saying not to worry, he'd back soon."

" But it's my eighteenth birthday tomorrow! He just left! Just like that! I…I…"

" Misao-chan…"

" Well fine! If he wants to leave then fine! I'll be the commander in his stead. Not that there's ANYTHING left to worry about, but if he wants to play the 'I'm commander so trust me' bit then I can play like nothing's changed too!"

" Misao…"

" Don't Misao-chan me. I'm going to my room."

She stomped out of the room, holding back the anger that had grown in her chest when she heard that HE'd just up and left. In the two years since she'd left Kaoru and the rest of the gang, she hadn't grown all that much, making her believe that she was destined to stay this short and underdeveloped.

' Grandpa said that I'm a late bloomer. He said that I'd develop when my body was ready…'

She let loose a choked sound from her throat. ' I bet if I wasn't scrawny he'd see me differently…that jerk. That stupid, thick, dense, fool headed, meditation crazy bastard. Well fine then. I don't care if he comes back tomorrow or if he doesn't ever come back.'

Her back straightened and she went into her room, sliding the door shut behind her.

[The next morning…]

" Grandpa."

" Yes?"

" Let's go visit Kaoru's dojo."

" Ano…Misao--"

" Call me the commander!"

[Cut to Kaoru's dojo…]

" Misao-chan! How are you?" Kaoru walked towards the approaching girl and held her arms out. " You've grown a lot since I last saw you."

" Kaoru-san! Did you get my letter?" Misao gave Kaoru a hug and looked around. " Where's Himura?"

" Mmhmm. I got your letter. You and your grandfather are welcome to stay here. We'll talk about thickheaded men when there aren't any present.

" Oro?"

Kaoru laughed and Misao couldn't help but smile. At least one of them had gotten through to the man of their life. Then she got a glimpse of an orange haired youngster looking at her from behind Kaoru's legs. Kaoru smiled and picked up the small boy. " Do you remember Kenji?" she asked politely. " I know it was such a long time since your last visit."

Misao bowed to the small boy and smiled. " He looks just like Himura, only he's got you in his eyes, if that makes any sense."

Kaoru smiled at her and handed the squirming youngster over to Kenshin. " Kenshin, can Misao and I talk, she came all this way…"

Kenshin gave her a happy smile* and hoisted the little one onto his head where Kenji promptly pulled his hair.

" Kenji!" Kaoru scolded, giving a stern look at the youngster. Kenji just grinned and patted the offended hair.

" Gomen Oto'o-chan," he chirruped, kicking his heels and smiling at his mother.

" Kaoru-dono, it's alright. We're going to do the laundry right Kenji?" Kenshin bounced his shoulders a little when he said Kenji's name, causing the small boy to laugh and clutch his dads hair all the tighter.

" Hai!"

" Come on Misao-chan, those two…"

Misao grinned at Kaoru, a sweatdrop as she observed Kenshin oro-ing around a corner, Kenji kicking Kenshin with his heels. Sliding open a door to a spare room, Kaoru beckoned Misao to sit at a cushion opposite her.

" So, the esteemed commander of the Oniwaben group has decided to pay my humble dojo a visit," Kaoru said, settling herself onto her own pillow. " It must be something truly grave to make her ask for my advice."

" Well…it's Aoshi-sama---"

" Hold it," Kaoru said, holding up her hand. " Forgive me, but I'm NOT the right person to ask advice about the matters of the heart. It took a year, me getting kidnapped…several times, and him thinking I was dead to make Kenshin realize that he had feelings for me."

" But it only took you a year and a half! It's been forever for Aoshi-sama and I. I haven't even seen him smirk, much less smile. And besides, you…you…"

" Misao, what you need right now is some tea. Why don't we go to the dining room and get some? Kenshin always has some hot water ready. After that we can discuss thick headed men and their tendency to drive the women who love them crazy."

Misao laughed aloud, her face peaceful. She was among friends. They would understand her dilema, what she was feeling, why she was so confused inside. But at the same time she was envious. Kaoru was married to her love, they had a son, a child of their own.

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*--You know what I'm talking about. Little Mr. I'm a Rurouni smile. The one he always pulls when he and Kaoru are in an emotional moment and that makes half his rabid otaku want to pop him one in the mouth.

Rabid Otaku: " You idiot! For the love of Kami just kiss her! GAHHHH! BAKA BAKA BAKA BAKA BAKA!"

*POW!*

And they need a new television, seeing as the one they have now has a fist shaped hole punched through it. Kenshin can be hazardous to your health. He should come with a warning sticker.

Anyway, Aoshi's going to get his butt whipped in this fic. Isn't that great? Misao will finally get her day in the sun! Her cloud nine! Her baka guy, meditation edition.

Misao Makimashi