A/N: Okay, there seems to be some confusion on the pairings. I guess I didn't make this clear earlier.

Aoshi and Misao's relationship is purely filial. Aoshi and Megumi's relationship is neither purely platonic nor exclusive. If you want to know what I mean, continue until the fanfic is finished. ^_^

Terms: O-4 = designation for a lieutenant commander's salary as stated by the US Navy.

Jutting his chin out, Aoshi carefully ran a razor over his lower jaw. He glanced to his right to see his ward sitting on the sink counter, her legs kicking back and forth as she peered at the contents in his cabinet. She was always full of energy, curious as a kitten. He could always count on her to lift him up whenever he had a hard day at work...or when they were younger, school.

"So where are you two going?" Misao asked as she picked up a bottle of cologne.

"Aloha Tower."

Misao unscrewed the cap of the container and waved it under her nose. "Ew. This is disgusting..."

He smirked. "Okina sent it to me last Christmas as a gift..."

"I hope not all Spanish cologne smells like this..." She put it away.

Aoshi rinsed his razor off under the water before removing any leftover shaving cream from his jawline. Misao handed him a towel. He stroked his jaw, inspecting his work, before taking the bottle of aftershave she held out. She grinned as he patted his jaw and chin with Whitewater Falls.

"You look good, boss. She won't be able to resist."

He shot her an amused look as he buttoned his long-sleeved, loose white cotton shirt. "This isn't what you think..."

"Oh really?" Misao grinned again. "Going out at night, you're getting dressed up, aftershave and all...looks like a date to me."

He paused, frowning at his appearance. "I'm giving a message, aren't I? Maybe I should dress down-"

"No, no! Dr. Takani likes to look nice, and she'll probably like it if you look nice, too," Misao argued. "You want to get on her good side, right?"

"Yes..."

"Then you're fine," Misao chattered on. "You know, if things work out with you and Dr. Takani, then I won't have to find you a girlfriend for Valentine's Day..."

"There's nothing to 'work out', Misao," Aoshi pointed out. "I'm just taking her out to dinner."

"And dancing."

"And dancing," he echoed. Where was she going with this?

"Why?" She leaned forward.

Aoshi sighed as he rolled up his sleeves. "Does there have to be a reason?"

"Yes. You just don't take any woman dancing, Aoshi. This is you we're talking about. Women usually have to get to date number four to go dancing," Misao pointed out.

"I saw an opportunity and I took it," he explained, tucking his shirt in his khaki slacks. "Simple as that."

"Right."

"Misao..." Aoshi straightened his collar. "Why are you overanalyzing my actions?"

She shrugged.

He looked at her for several moments. "Would you believe I'm nervous?"

Her eyes widened. "Why? Like you said...it's not like you're dating her hoping to get with her. This is Dr. Takani here..."

Exactly. He didn't know what to do with her. One minute she was throwing herself at him, the next she was colder than the North Pole. However, she was pleasant towards mutual friends and his ward. Which one was the real her? "My social skills with women are less than the average man's..."

"You can say that again..."

"You didn't have to agree so quickly," he admonished.

Misao grinned, then her eyes widened as if she recalled something. "What time do you get off Wednesday?"

"Usual time...why?"

"It's college night. Lots of recruiters are gonna be in the cafeteria bragging about how their colleges are better than others." Misao scrunched up her nose. "It's a field day for you...you get to convince me how important college is..."

"College is important. You not only acquire knowledge for a future career, but you also learn more about yourself," he pointed out.

Misao sighed. "What a boring speech...I know Jiya didn't use that on you..."

"Okina never had to convince me to go to college," he reminded.

"Of course! Look who I'm talking to!" Misao hopped off the counter as Aoshi made his way out of the bedroom to the front door. "And try to say one nice thing to her tonight..."

"Why?" Aoshi's eyes rounded slightly.

"Think of it as practice for your Valentine's Day girlfriend!"

He groaned inwardly. "Misao...I don't need-"

"You need a love life. Might loosen you up," Misao insisted, picking up his wallet from the kitchen counter and tossing it to him while he grabbed his keys from the hook behind the front door.

He easily caught the leather wallet in one hand.

Misao opened the door for him as he slipped on shoes. "You're going to be late."

"Call my cell phone if you need anything," Aoshi instructed. "Do you know the number?"

"Aoshi! I have it memorized!" she scolded.

"Right. Don't forget to-"

"Aoshi!" Misao shook her head. "I've been home alone a lot, you know! I'm sixteen! I'm not a kid!"

"Right." He ruffled her hair and headed out the door, calling behind his shoulder, "I'll be back around eleven!"

"Good luck, boss!" She waved at him as he climbed into the Legend.

***

He stood just outside the Aloha Tower Marketplace, waiting. He was a little early. Aoshi surveyed the area, noting the different passersby. He could list the number of females and males who passed by. How many were under the age of forty. How many were Caucasian. Asian. Then he grimaced. He wasn't at work, there was no need to keep track of those things. Maybe Misao was right...he did need to loosen up.

He caught sight of Megumi, walking in his direction. She was wearing a white sleeveless pantsuit. The neckline nearly covered her collarbone before flowing to her shoulders. It was a fairly modest outfit. Her hair was piled loosely on her head, several strands framing her face. White sandals wrapped her delicate ankles. Apparently, she hadn't seen him yet, because she stopped by a palm tree twenty feet away. Megumi glanced at her watch and turned to look around.

Instantly, his opinion of her modest clothing changed. Her entire upper back was exposed, except for two white straps that curved from her shoulders to meet the bodice of the shirt which rested at the small of her back. She certainly knew how to get attention. But she carried herself with an untouchable air. Aoshi was starting to notice that several male passersby were staring. Yet none of them went up to her.

The nanosecond after he snapped his jaw shut, she caught sight of him. He hadn't even realized that he had been staring. Her pink painted lips lifted in just a hint of a smile.

Aoshi kept a neutral expression as she made her way towards him. He was hoping she hadn't caught him looking at her. That would probably fuel her flirtatious behavior even more. It was just skin, after all. He wasn't like other men who surrendered to their hedonistic sides. He prided himself in being a man with self-control, who found a woman's mind far more appealing than her looks. Although...some women apparently were blessed with both...

"Hello, Commander."

"Doctor."

It was rather formal of them to speak to each other that way. He swore sometimes she did it to taunt him. An officer's title could be spoken respectfully or disrespectfully. He could do the same to her.

The dinner/dancing party was several floors up, in a wide open room with large glass windows overlooking the water. Off to one side, a DJ played a variety of ballroom music. After they were seated, Megumi surveyed the room. Plenty of couples and friends had gathered that night.

"I just...wanted to make one thing clear," he spoke up quietly. "This is just dinner."

Her eyes widened in shock. "I thought that's what's happening. Is something else going on that I'm not aware of?"

"No, just-"

"Did you think after this I'd want to see you again, again, and again?"

He cleared his throat.

She leaned towards him over the small table so several inches separated them. "Or that I'd invite you over to my place so we could watch the sunrise together?" she whispered, her eyes dancing with laughter.

"I get the point," Aoshi retorted.

She studied him, grinning.

"What?" he asked curtly.

"Just wondering if that ever happens to you..."

"What does?"

"You getting invited to women's places after dinner only to wake up next to them just before sunrise," she commented, tapping her chin with one polished fingernail as she leaned back, studying him carefully. "I wouldn't be surprised, though..."

"I'm sure you've woken up to more sunrises than I could in a lifetime," Aoshi responded.

Her delicate eyebrows rose. "Well, you certainly are modest..." Then she smiled. "I like that."

He cleared his throat. "I thought we agreed that this was just dinner..."

"Who said it wasn't?" she quipped.

"Are you always like this?"

"You tell me. You're supposed to know everything about me, right?" she countered.

He mentally shook his head and studied the wine list out of pure curiosity. That and he didn't want to meet her gaze. And he didn't want to see her eyes on him. It made him feel strangely uncomfortable. He found his eyes lifting to her face, seeing her gaze outside with a thoughtful expression. He looked outside as well, seeing the stars in the sky. When he had been out at sea, he remembered standing on the deck of the ship, looking at the stars. He had known where the ship was going, but he always marveled how sailors centuries ago used the stars to navigate themselves. At the corner of his eye, he saw her turn to look at him.

They had ordered their meal before they were seated. The two would study the dancers on the floor, the view outside, hardly saying anything. Aoshi didn't mind the silence.

"So how did you meet Kenshin and Kaoru?" Megumi asked.

He blinked. That was certainly a neutral topic. "Work. My first assignment in Pearl Harbor, I was investigating some personnel who might have been providing information to contacts in other countries," he explained. "Himura helped me get around Pearl Harbor during this investigation. I met his wife not too long after that. Misao got along with them instantly." He grew quiet for a moment. "You?"

"I actually met Kenshin first several years ago during a rotation in the emergency room. He had broken his leg. Several months later, he and Kaoru married and I met her during an annual checkup. We started talking and had been friends ever since."

After their food arrived, they sat in silence for several minutes while eating. At least, she ate. He took several bites. He was that nervous. Which made no sense at all. The dating scene wasn't that foreign to him. He should be acting as he did on any other date. Correction. This wasn't a date. It was dinner with the opposite sex. So why did he feel off-balance?

She leaned forward and said brightly, "So...tell me how you became an intelligence officer."

He studied her for a few moments. It was almost as if she knew what he had been thinking. His career seemed to be the only thing he could talk about. Did she know that?

"I just decided one day to become an officer. The lifestyle suited me and it was something I wanted to do." Aoshi watched her set her fork down so she could listen intently. "My guardian and Misao's grandfather...as you know...were also part of Naval Intelligence."

"Born and bred a naval officer," she murmured. "Did they push you into the career at all?"

"Not exactly. I chose the career myself...the fact that they had known me for so long just helped me get into the academy..."

"Did you like it there?"

He shrugged. It had been four grueling years of naval history, physical fitness, and education. He didn't regret any of it. But the academy wasn't for everyone. He had seen several of his classmates drop out within the first week.

"It takes a lot to do what you do. It isn't easy...gathering all that information, processing it, using it for future reference..."

"I imagine medicine isn't that different..." he said quietly.

She nodded once before looking away, out to the water. "No, it isn't."

Silence. Again.

"You picked an interesting place for dinner," she suddenly spoke up.

"What makes you say that?"

"I never imagined you enjoyed ballroom music..." Then she smiled. "Do you dance, too?"

"I learned a long time ago," he said quietly.

She grinned. "Oh really? How-?"

"My ex-girlfriend."

She blinked. "Oh. You...You had a girlfriend?"

He looked at her sharply. "You say that as if it surprises you."

"Oh...just...I am surprised. You seem such a busy person, that's all..."

She was making fun of him again.

Suddenly, Megumi put her napkin on the table and stood up. He looked at her curiously, his eyes widening as she tugged at one of his hands. He stayed rooted to his spot.

"We're going dancing," she announced.

"Since when?"

"Since now."

"I'm not sure if I even remember how to-"

"Well, now's a good time to see if you remember how to dance."

Aoshi yanked his hand back, but she wouldn't let him. Sighing, he rose to his feet and walked behind her as she moved to the square hardwood section that served as the dance floor. He held her at an appropriate distance, one hand at her shoulderblade, the other holding her hand at her shoulder level.

Nothing. Megumi looked up at him in alarm. "What's wrong?"

"I'm waiting for the beat," he responded.

She fought back a laugh, her eyes widening as he began to move. It wouldn't do to look clumsy while dancing.

She hadn't danced in so long. Megumi remembered dragging Kaoru and Kenshin to a dance studio to learn. Kenshin always got embarrased and Kaoru stomped around instead of shifting gracefully. So Megumi had stayed because she had so much fun. One of her dance partners she had dated for a while, but nothing went further.

Apparently, Aoshi hadn't forgotten his basic dance steps as the Latin beat blasted through the speakers. As he pushed her into a turn, she recalled how exciting dancing could be. She spent so much of her teen and early adult life in school that she hadn't had time for much recreation.

At first, she was a little hesitant about being in proximity with a man she could barely call an acquaintance. She didn't think he was actually going to dance with her. But her confidence grew as the song continued. Even if she hadn't danced in so long, she hadn't forgotten what she learned. Everything else seemed surreal, she was focused on his movements, her movements, and the music. What an incredible rush to feel so free and alive.

When the song was over, she couldn't help but smile at him. Yet his features still stayed in that impassive expression. She didn't care, though. "Well...it looks like you do remember..."

Something flickered in his eyes before he turned away.

She felt a tap on her arm. Turning, she found herself looking at a man with a long black ponytail, wearing a tight fitting black and purple shirt and black jeans. He gave her a friendly smile.

"Hey, would you like to dance?" he asked as cha-cha music began.

She glanced at Aoshi. "Do you mind?"

The man in tight clothes looked back and forth before stepping back slightly. "Oh...I'm sorry...I didn't know she was with you, man."

Aoshi shook his head. "She isn't. You're free to dance with her." Then he walked away.

Shrugging, Megumi turned back to her new dance partner.

She certainly seems to be enjoying herself, he thought as he watched her from their table. Megumi's new dance partner reminded him of Miguel, who had helped Theresa's image.

She was already halfway through the third song. He wasn't really her date, so she could dance with whomever she wanted. She looked as if she really enjoyed dancing. She probably hadn't been aware of it, but her eyes lit up and her cheeks had been pink. He had been aware of every action she did. Surprisingly, she had some self-control. He thought for sure she'd take advantage of the situation. Yet, she didn't make any advances or make fun of him. At least when she had been dancing...

When she came back to the table, he arched a brow. "Done already?"

She shrugged one shoulder, smiling. "We'll see."

Aoshi glanced at his watch. "I need to get going..."

"So soon?"

Was that disappointment in her voice? "You're welcome to stay," he offered. "But I told Misao I'd be home by eleven."

"It's ten twenty." The music changed to a slow song that didn't require intricate steps. She turned to him. "One more dance."

He sighed. "But-"

"It's just one dance. You can spare two minutes."

And he was on the dance floor again. He held her at an appropriate distance, several inches separating them as he led the dance. Surprisingly, she was a fairly tall woman, for the top of her head reached his mouth.

When she tilted her head slightly to look at him, he lowered his eyes to meet her gaze.

"I had a good time tonight," she said.

To which he shrugged and said, "It's probably not as unique as your other outings, but you're welcome."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing."

She sighed and stepped away slightly. He lowered his hands. "I don't believe this...After all this, you still think you know everything about me!" Megumi went back to their table and snatched her purse before heading to the door.

He caught up with her quickly. "I don't understand what-"

She took the stairs, and he followed at her heels. "You can't possibly be that dense," she responded.

What was her problem? He could tell by the tense set of her shoulders that she was angry. Angry, frustrated, upset. Maybe all three? He frowned.

She shook her head as she exited the tower, stopping for a moment. Then she turned to face him. "You know what your problem is?"

He opened his mouth to reply but was cut off. Not that it mattered. She was going to tell him anyway, judging by the look in her eyes.

"You feel this need to know anything and everything," she continued. "And you always want people around you to know that you know everything. I don't think you even realize it." She crossed her arms, her eyes flashing. "I came here tonight because I wanted to get to know you. If I had known that...well, it doesn't matter anymore." Then she shook her head, sighing. "I have very little patience for a man's immature attitude..."

His eyebrows rose. Immature? He had been called many things during his life as an intelligence officer. Ruthless. Uncaring. Cold. But immature?

Before he could say anything, she abruptly turned to walk away as she called back, "Good night, Commander. Thank you for dinner."

Such a cool, polite tone. And just as insulting. He watched her walk away before stalking to his car.

When he got back home, he headed straight to his room, not even saying hi to Misao as he passed by her bedroom.

He had been attempting civilty when one mild comment caused the woman to snap. He started unbuttoning his shirt when he heard Misao pause in the doorway of his room.

"Don't ask," he said quietly.

When he glanced over his shoulder, he saw her eyes widen in surprise mixed with curiosity.

"Don't worry...I won't now," she assured.

Yet she stayed in the doorway. Aoshi ran a hand through his black hair and motioned for Misao to come in. She carefully took several steps inside before settling on his neat, made bed.

"That bad?" she prompted.

"I thought you weren't going to ask."

"A few seconds ago I wasn't." She grinned.

"Dr. Takani seems to think she knows everything about me," he said in a neutral tone. "So-"

"Just like how you seem to know everything about her?" Misao pointed out.

He narrowed his eyes.

"It's pretty obvious." Misao moved forward so that she was lying on her belly, her feet kicking back and forth, chin propped in her fists. "You swear she's some creature of the night who goes around stealing men's souls, but she isn't that bad..."

His lips twitched in a brief smile. "That's an interesting analogy..."

She pursed her lips in thought. "You know...we're gonna have to fix your attitude before Valentine's Day..."

"What is wrong with my attitude?" Aoshi asked, a slice of irritation in his voice. "She said something similar-"

"She said you had an attitude problem?" Misao laughed.

"If you want your allowance for the week, you better stop laughing," he threatened.

Immediately the laughing ceased. He took great pleasure knowing that he had that edge over her.

"Right. Okay. Well." She cleared her throat. "Maybe you just have this thing against women...I mean you haven't been serious about anyone since Renee. I can't help but think that maybe you think just cuz she cheated...you have no reason to trust women..."

"I'm not bitter, Misao. It-"

"But it makes perfect sense." She wrinkled her nose in thought.

"Now you think you know what's going through my mind."

"This is me, remember?" Misao kicked her legs back and forth. "Hey, I have an idea. Kaoru told me that she, Himura, and Dr. Takani are going to be around Waikiki during my college night. Why don't we take them out to dinner?"

"We?"

"You're the one who has the O-4 salary," Misao responded.

"Fine..."

"Good. I'll call Kaoru and invite her along. You invite Dr. Takani."

"But why-?"

"Okay, it's settled. I'm gonna watch TV. Bye!"

He shook his head as she left his room. He wondered about her attention span sometimes.

***

"I think this facility needs to be expanded. I'm trying to speak with as many physicians as possible concerning this matter..."

"I agree with you. I wish I could have some influence on this hospital's operations, but unfortunately, I'm only a contractor," Megumi responded.

"Every physician's voice matters, believe it or not. I've already spoken to the emergency medicine department...they are adamant about expanding the facility. The only trouble is that once we receive government funding for expansion...how will the work be done without interfering with patient care?"

Megumi watched as Dr. Tokio Takagi walked towards the window. She had great respect for the officer in charge of Pearl Harbor's pediatric division. From what she knew, Dr. Takagi was very dedicated towards children in and out of the naval community. She worked closely with Lt. Greenleaf in the public affairs office and often helped him arrange field trips to Pearl Harbor and its facilities.

"Well, that's unusual..." the older woman commented.

"What is?" Megumi got up from her desk chair to join the other physician at the window.

"We don't have a training facility nearby, so why...?"

Megumi's eyes rounded in shock as she and Tokio peered through the blinds of her second story office window. Jogging through the parking lot wearing a white sleeveless shirt and what appeared to be navy blue track pants was...What's he doing here? Megumi thought.

"He looks very familiar..." Tokio studied the figure carefully.

Megumi turned away.

"Hmm..." Then her fingers snapped. "Ah! Now I remember! That's Lt. Commander Shinomori. He and my husband work in the same building...I've seen him several times when I meet Hajime for lunch..."

"I...wouldn't know," Megumi answered. Well, it wasn't technically a lie. She didn't know that Dr. Takagi had seen Aoshi around several times. But she had met the woman's husband. He wasn't exactly high on her list in terms of favorite people. Turning, Megumi settled in her seat. "As you were saying about the facilities?"

"Hmm? Oh, yes. Well, as I said earlier, it'll be difficult to-"

She was interrupted by the phone on Megumi's desk. Megumi pressed the speakerphone button so she could hear the receptionist's voice.

"Yes?"

"Dr. Takani, you have a guest."

"Could you tell them to wait? I'm in a meeting with Dr. Takagi..."

"Well...he...he's already on his way to your office, ma'am..."

"I take it that this is an unexpected visitor," the older woman mused.

"I'm sorry..."

"No, it's all right. I remember when Sagara used to drop in unannounced."

Megumi couldn't help but smile. Sanosuke and Tokio's husband never really got along. Several years ago, when she and Sano started dating, Commander Hajime Saitou worked around the docks of Pearl Harbor. He specialized in weapons inspection until he got promoted to a more admin position at NIS headquarters.

"He was quite a character," the older woman commented casually.

"Yes. He's getting married," Megumi announced.

"No!"

Megumi laughed. "I saw him not too long ago while he was here visiting..."

"That's wonderful," Tokio exclaimed.

"I think so, too. Any one of these days I should be receiving a wedding invitation."

Dr. Takagi's delicate eyebrows arched. "That's very mature of you two to stay good friends. Not many people can do that these days..."

Knock, knock.

And the door opened. Megumi shouldn't have been surprised to see him standing there. She sighed and looked up in alarm as Tokio immediately began to move towards the doorway.

"Ma'am," Aoshi nodded towards Tokio. Megumi noticed that although they were the same rank, he addressed her formally. "I don't mean to interrupt, but I need to speak to Dr. Takani."

"Of course," the other woman nodded. Then she smiled, offering her hand. "I'm Dr. Tokio Takagi. My husband works in the same building as you...but I believe you work in different divisions at NIS..."

He accepted her outstretched hand. "Commander Hajime Saitou is your husband," he stated. At her nod, he continued, "We've met several times...Lt. Commander Aoshi Shinomori."

"It's a pleasure to meet you." Then she turned to Megumi before exiting. "We'll continue our discussion later, Megumi. Oh...tomorrow is Rebecca's baby shower in the pediatrics lounge at four-thirty..."

"I'll be there," Megumi promised. This was why she enjoyed working at Pearl Harbor. All the personnel treated each other like family. They dropped the formal attitude of officer and subordinates. The upper management didn't, though. But she rarely interacted with them. The personnel felt that the camaraderie promoted patients' health and trust in the staff. Then she turned to the man standing in the middle of her office. She looked so pristine in her blouse, skirt, and lab coat as opposed to his workout wear. "Were you at the base gymnasium?"

"NIS is only a mile from here. It's required that all NIS personnel engage in three hours of physical activity per week. I usually prefer to run, and I decided to come here today," he explained.

"Oh..." Well, that was odd. He had to be here for a reason. He could have jogged in the other direction today. Why jog towards the hospital?

"I'll make this simple, Doctor..." he began. "Wednesday is college fair night for Misao. She suggested that after, all of us go to dinner. She's already invited the Himuras."

Megumi blinked. "Oh. Well...Sure. If that's what Misao wants..."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm not the type of physician who will only interact with her patients when they come to the hospital," Megumi retorted. "That's not what a family doctor is. Tell Misao I'd be glad to go and give me all the details tomorrow."

"Doctor-" he began.

"I have things to take care of," she cut him off, sitting at her desk and opening a patient's chart. "You know your way out, Commander."

After a moment, he abruptly turned to go, closing the door of her office with a little more force than necessary.

Ooh, that man aggravates me...she thought. She didn't understand him at all. Sometimes she swore he was trying to be nice, other times it seemed as if he deliberately wanted to find some faults within her. She knew she wasn't perfect but who went hunting for people's bad traits? What was his problem?

NEXT! Misao's college night and the long-awaited father/daughter dance! What kind of school does she want to go to? What will she wear at the dance? And will Aoshi and Megumi EVER get along?