"Thanks for the ride!" Misao shouted from her doorway as Stella and Danielle drove off.
Fridays. She loved them. No school the next day. Time to relax.
Aoshi was home. The Legend was parked in the driveway, as if he had just gotten back. In the old days, she used to shout her presence and he'd greet her, but lately...She didn't even bother.
Which was why she nearly jumped when she saw him in the kitchen while she tried to get a snack.
"Aoshi...you're home..."
"I said I would return on Friday," he responded calmly. "Did you not receive my note?"
"I got it." Misao tossed her bag on the counter. At Aoshi's warning glance, she shoved it onto the stool. His features relaxed. Misao blinked when she realized what Aoshi was doing.
Her guardian had always been interested in origami. When she was little, he used to make paper cranes and other animals for her. Misao stepped closer to his position by the counter, to see rich blue shapes neatly arranged in a diamond formation.
"Is that the Blue Angels?" she asked, pointing at the shapes.
"You remember them," Aoshi responded.
"Last time I saw them I was eleven. Of course I remember them," Misao giggled. "Jiya thought one of the pilots was cute..."
"So did you, if I remember correctly," Aoshi said. The way he said it, in that monotonous voice of his, he could have been talking about cloud formations.
Misao laughed. "I was stupid then." Ever since she was a little girl, Jiya, her grandfather, and Aoshi had taken her to an air show every time one was in town. She cleared her throat, remembering where she was. She was supposed to be mad at him. Hell, she was always mad at him. But times like these...when she remembered the man he was several years ago...before he got absorbed in work..."Oh yeah...Dr. Takani called while you were gone. She left a number for you to call her back." Misao pointed to the white board on the fridge.
Aoshi raised a brow. "The same Dr. Takani who locked herself out of her Lexus?"
Misao nodded. "That's her." They were actually having a conversation. Aoshi actually spent the last three minutes talking about something other than school. Was he feeling sick or something?
"I see." Aoshi began folding paper again.
Silence. Curiosity got the better of her.
"Are you still going to ask her to the Navy ball?" Misao asked.
"You heard her answer," Aoshi responded, adding several creases along the paper.
"Why did you ask her, anyway?"
Aoshi paused in his folding. "I don't like being set up."
"What?"
"Set up," he repeated. "Every time I go, my superiors somehow bring their single female relatives."
Weird. "So...you ask someone who hates your guts to go with you so your superiors think you're unavailable?" she asked.
Aoshi lifted his gaze to study her briefly before continuing his folding. "Her father is one of the guest speakers at the ball."
"Okay." She frowned. "I still don't get it...How does this...?"
"Promotions are about appearances, Misao," he said flatly, as if he disliked the concept.
She never knew that. Misao watched as Aoshi placed his latest folding behind the others. Then she took that and placed it elsewhere on the counter, far away from the diamond formation.
At Aoshi's slight tilt of the head, she quickly explained, "There are only four in the diamond formation. Blue Angel number five and six do their own thing while the first four stick together." Then she arranged the diamond formation. "And they look too far apart in scale formation...they're supposed to have eighteen inches between each wingtip...so in this scale, they'd look like..." she made a couple adjustments, "...that."
He arched a brow. "If anyone ever doubted your Navy brat background, they wouldn't now..."
"Was that supposed to be a joke?"
"No. Merely an observation..." Aoshi began to gather all the paper in a neat pile. "How was your quiz?"
"What quiz?" Here it comes, Misao thought.
His eyes narrowed slightly. "Yesterday's quiz."
"How'd you know I had one?" Misao pressed.
"You left your planner out."
"And you looked through it, right? Thinking that you could?" she challenged.
"It was open," he said coolly. "Anyone could read its contents."
"Um...no...a person has to actually concentrate to read, a person just doesn't see the notes if it's open," Misao countered. "You're always looking through my stuff! Why don't you just attach a microphone to me while you're at it so you know EXACTLY what's happening at school?!"
"Watch your tone, young lady," he said sternly.
"Watch my tone?" she echoed. "What about yours? Oh wait...you couldn't have one if you tried!"
"Why are you acting like this?" he demanded quietly.
"I could ask you the same thing!" Misao lashed out. He went through her planner, she knew it! "I can't believe you...going through my stuff, telling me what to do...you aren't even here half the time! Who the hell gives you the right to-!"
"That's enough," Aoshi cut in.
"I can't believe-"
"I said that's enough," Aoshi interrupted. His blue-gray eyes flickered with some emotion. Anger, exasperation...
Ooh, she wanted to hit him. She wasn't sure where, just as long as it hurt. Instead she yanked her bag off the stool and stormed to her room. She viciously tossed her bag on the floor, grabbed a pillow from her bed and began to beat the other pillows with it.
That arrogant, cold-hearted...Grrrrrrrr...He made her SO mad! Somehow she just KNEW he was going through her things all along but to hear him finally say he was...Grrrrr...She wacked again.
"Aloha!" a petite Japanese woman wearing a sleeveless muumuu called out with a smile. She handed the husband and wife fresh flower leis. "Tradition in Hawaii is to kiss after you place the lei around the neck."
The couple happily obliged.
"Sit anywhere you like," the woman gracefully gestured to the long tables set in front of the stage at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel.
"Auntie Kyoko, you are enjoying this too much," Megumi spoke up as she greeted her aunt with a brief kiss on the cheek.
"Someone has to greet the guests," Kyoko Kuniyoshi responded. "So how is my favorite niece today?"
"I'm your only niece," Megumi laughed.
"All the more why you're my favorite," Kyoko teased. "Is that bull of man also known as your father giving you a hard time?"
"He means well," Megumi replied.
"There's a reason why Eizan and Yuji are on the mainland, not here," Kyoko said pointedly. "Speaking of which, how are those crazy nephews of mine?"
"Busy," Megumi responded. "But Yuji told me over the phone that he started seeing someone-"
"He finally emerged from that lab of his?" Kyoko asked in disbelief. "Aloha!" she greeted another visitor.
"And Eizan has been seeing the same woman for a year now..."
"Someone finally tamed him," Kyoko giggled. "So when are you going to follow your brothers' example and start dating? Yuki and I started a betting pool to see which three of you gets married first. Don't let me down, sweetheart."
Megumi rolled her eyes. How just like her aunts. "I hope you bet a little, Auntie. You'll see nothing on this side of the country."
Kyoko pouted. "Honestly, I did like your ship mechanic several years ago. A little crude, but he had the sexiest voice."
Megumi's jaw dropped. "I can't believe you said that!"
Kyoko laughed, her voice like tinkling bells. "Well, he did. A man like that could seduce with his voice alone..."
Megumi bit her lip to keep from laughing. "We had our moments..."
"Hi, Dr. Megumi!" Kaoru called out, walking beside her husband, with two teenagers trailing behind her.
They were all dressed in comfortable shirts, shorts, and sandals.
"Aloha!" Megumi and Kyoko called out simultaneously.
"It's nice to see you again," Kenshin Himura greeted, tilting his head in respect.
"You remember Yahiko and his friend Tsubame?" Kaoru gestured to the teenagers behind them.
"Of course," Megumi responded warmly, giving Kaoru's student a fresh flower lei while her aunt chatted with the Himuras. "Now, Yahiko, you know the tradition..."
The young man's face immediately went beet red. So did his pretty young friend's.
"Oh...that...that's okay," Tsubame stammered.
"But you have to," Megumi teased. "Why go to a luau if you don't follow the Hawaiian way?"
Yahiko carefully placed the lei around Tsubame's neck and quickly kissed her cheek. If it was possible to blush anymore, the teenagers did. Then Tsubame's turn. More blushing.
Megumi laughed softly as the four went off to find seats.
"That boy's going to have to fess up," Kyoko said absent-mindedly.
"He's just shy," Megumi responded. She glanced down the path, her eyes widening just a fraction. The casual observer wouldn't have noticed, but very little got past her darling aunt. "I'm going to check with the bartender...maybe start serving drinks..."
Kyoko opened her mouth to protest but the action died as her niece walked away, the dark blue pareo she wore billowing around her knees. Kyoko frowned.
"Hi. Is this the luau?" a teenage girl's voice spoke up.
Kyoko turned to see a teenager with short black hair dressed in a white tank top and blue board shorts. She was pretty and trendy, judging by the toe rings and platform sandals at her feet. At her side was a tall man dressed in a pale gray collared shirt and blue jeans. Not too rugged to give him the outdoorsman look, and not too soft to appear feminine. Handsome features chiseled from perfection. A sly smile curved the side of her mouth. Was he the reason her niece decided to run off?
"Aloha," Kyoko greeted warmly, handing them each a flower lei.
"Wow, cool!" the teenager exclaimed. "I usually get fake ones at luaus..."
"Hi, Kaoru! Himura!" Misao waved before making a beeline towards them.
Aoshi quietly followed his ward, who had taken a seat across from the Himuras. She still wasn't speaking to him. It had only been a day. She'd get over her temper soon enough.
"It's good to see you, Misao, Aoshi," Himura greeted.
Aoshi nodded.
While Misao chatted away with Kaoru, Yahiko, and Tsubame, Aoshi took the seat next to her.
"What brings you to the luau?" Himura asked.
"I have some time off," Aoshi responded simply.
When Aoshi had first come to Pearl Harbor, he had been working on a case with Himura as his contact. Back then, he had his four men with him...Beshimi, Hyottoko, Shikijo, and Hannya. Over the years, the two men had been acquaintances, occasionally running into each other on base, in Honolulu, or Waikiki.
Aoshi leaned back in his seat, surveying the area. A stage was set up at the front for dancers, with seven long tables lined perpendicular to it, a food table with metal containers was set to one side, and a refreshment stand was perched beside it. The bartender there was currently giving a husband and wife some mixed icy drink. Several tropical trees and shrubs surrounded the area, giving the area a secluded feel, even though the thirty story Royal Hawaiian Hotel loomed in the background.
"It's good to take some time off," Himura spoke up, smiling.
"I don't have a choice," Aoshi responded.
"Oh." Himura grinned sheepishly. Then, as if to make small talk, said, "I've been taking ukelele lessons."
"Is that so?"
"Yes." Himura nodded enthusiastically. "It's really fun. I'm terrible with music...but it's really fun."
Aoshi remained silent. He wasn't as adventurous when it came to hobbies. Ukelele brought images of old Hawaiian men with loud shirts. Or Elvis Presley.
"Aloha, everyone, and welcome to the Royal Hawaiian Luau," a voice announced.
Their attention was drawn to the Pacific Island woman on stage with a microphone in her hand. "Before dinner, we'll be showing you what kind of preparations are done to make this luau. If you all will follow Nele..." She gestured to a young woman in the back. "She will give you a tour of our little beach...show you where the pig is baking...how to make flower leis...and how to crack a coconut."
Aoshi merely sat as everyone got up to attend the various demonstrations. The area was now empty, except for the bartender and himself.
"Not interested in the demonstrations?" a voice queried behind him.
He turned his head slightly to see Megumi standing several feet away. She moved forward, gracefully sinking into one chair away from him, placing a cup of fruit punch in front of him.
"Here. It's David's specialty," she gestured towards the bartender.
"I don't drink alcohol," Aoshi informed her.
"It's non-alcoholic," she responded.
They sat in silence for several minutes.
"I called several days ago...but you were at work," Megumi began.
"I heard," he replied before taking a sip.
"Listen..." She sighed. "I'll just get right to point...I know I said that I don't Navy men...even for one night...but...I need you to escort me to the Navy ball."
A wry smile crossed his lips for a brief second. "Last I recall, you didn't."
"Things change," Megumi replied automatically. "Are you going with anyone?"
"No."
"Then...?"
He let her trail off before saying, "Why?"
Megumi frowned slightly. "Why what?"
"Why do you need me to go with you?"
She looked away. "Because everyone I thought of so far can't handle it. And my father is planning to set me up with some officers that I don't really want to meet."
"Am I correct in assuming that every person you've thought of so far will be intimidated by your father?"
She nodded. "Except you, of course. So, will you?"
"Tell me about your father."
She pushed a strand of black hair aside. "What do you want to know?" she asked quietly.
"Why he's selecting escorts for you."
"Well...like I said, if I show up with someone...anyone...they won't be good enough. My father, being in his position, knows almost every single officer on base. The person could have graduated with a B- average in high school, and he'd complain about it. However..." Megumi paused. "You graduated highest honor in high school, top of your class at the Naval Academy, and two highly respected officers continually served as your mentors prior to your Navy service. You are well versed in Navy and international law, as well as a great contribution to Naval Investigative Services...and you could probably find more information on my father than he'd want you to. Do I need to go on, Commander?"
"I see you learned about my background..."
"Only because I wanted to know more about the man who thought I was a drug dealer," she retorted.
Point taken. He nodded before drinking again. "All right."
"All right what?"
"I'll go with you."
Relief crossed over her features. "We'll have to meet up before the ball...have dinner..."
"You never said anything about meeting before the ball," Aoshi cut in.
She studied him shrewdly before saying, "Why did you ask me the first time?"
"For appearance's sake."
"What?" she blinked. Then realization dawned in her eyes. "Oh...I see...a lieutenant commander in his early thirties...still single...no doubt your colleagues have plenty of female relatives...And what better thing to do than show up with the daughter of Pearl Harbor's medical facilities commanding officer..."
"Something like that..."
"All the more reason we should have dinner together before...we'll need to come up with some strategy on how we're going to tolerate those four hours," Megumi responded. "Besides, I've never known anyone to turn down a free meal..."
She was paying for this one? When he thought about it, it seemed logical...they didn't really know each other and if they were going to go through with the business arrangement, snarling at each other at the Navy ball was the last thing they needed.
"Fine."
"Hi, Dr. Takani!"
Megumi looked up and gave the teenage girl a smile. "Hi, Misao. How are you?"
The teenager had a plate full of tropical fruit. "Okay..." Aoshi didn't miss the curious glance she had back and forth between he and the female doctor.
"Why don't I introduce you to the performers..." Megumi rose to her feet.
"You know them?" Misao asked, setting her plate at the table, apparently forgetting about the tension between he and Megumi.
"My other aunt runs a halau not too far away...I used to take lessons, so most of the performers were in the class with me. They tend to do this in their spare time..."
"You know how to hula?" Misao blinked. "That's a cool-looking dance."
"Just some basics. Were you interested in learning?" Megumi asked, laughing. "I could tell my aunt to give you a discount on lessons..."
Misao glanced at Aoshi.
He replied, "No."
His ward's blue eyes narrowed slightly. If Megumi noticed that between them, she said nothing.
"I think it's REALLY important to learn about other cultures," Misao raved, as if to goad him on.
To which he responded, "I'll think about it..."
Misao set her jaw and pasted a smile on her face. "Well, I'd love to meet the dancers..."
It was quiet on Sunday. After the luau last night, Aoshi had dropped Misao off at Stella's since the three girls were having a sleepover. Misao wasn't going to arrive until later that afternoon, so that left the house all to himself.
Not that he minded. Today, Lt. Williams would be preparing for her mission tomorrow. They were to meet early on base tomorrow to cover any last minute instructions.
Suddenly, the phone rang.
Aoshi easily walked towards the phone, picking up the handset. "Hello?"
"Uh! I SO cannot handle this! She is giving me THE MOST difficult time! I've NEVER encountered such a troublesome thing in my life!" a male voice practically shouted into the phone.
"Who is this?" Aoshi asked.
Some scuffling sounds, curses, squeals, thuds, echoed before...
"Sir?"
His eyes rounded. "Williams?"
"Yes, sir. I'm with the cosmetologist...he...he claims that there's no hope for me..."
Aoshi sighed. His junior officer's first step in the new mission was to get a new appearance so she'd attract their target.
"I'll be right there..."
Aoshi surveyed the salon in downtown Waikiki. The salon was lined with several chairs, all with women sitting in them getting their hair fixed or makeup done. Four women above the age of forty, a seventeen-year-old and her best friend...And...His junior officer. Who was engaged in a shouting match with a man he could only assume was the cosmetologist. He had never met the man, but he did speak to him on the phone on Friday. Aoshi gathered a breath for patience before making his way towards them. While most men would shudder at the idea of being in a salon, it made no difference to him. A job was a job.
He positioned himself directly in front of her chair. Her back was to him, but he was in the cosmetologist's line of sight. The cosmetologist was probably in his late twenties, wearing a fitted white T-shirt and blue jeans.
"They're fine, thank you, I don't need some Ricky Martin wanna-be looking amoeba telling me what I should and shouldn't get rid of!" she exclaimed.
Aoshi arched a brow.
"You need seriously help, honey, and I know that-" He stopped short when he caught sight of Aoshi.
Williams caught his reflection in the mirror and gasped out loud. She spun the seat around to stand, nearly stumbling to her feet.
"Sir! I didn't know you were here!" She grabbed the chair's arm for balance, only to lurch sideways. If the cosmetologist hadn't caught her arm, she would have fallen onto the hardwood floor.
"Sit down, Lieutenant," Aoshi ordered calmly.
"Yes, sir," she murmured, carefully settling back into her chair.
"Thank God you're here!" the cosmetologist exclaimed. "You shut her up!" He glided forward, holding his hand out. "It's nice to meet you in person. Miguel."
Aoshi shook his outstretched hand. "Lt. Commander Shinomori."
"That's much too long," Miguel joked. "Don't you have a first name...or a nickname?"
"Then Commander is fine," Aoshi responded.
Williams snickered, stopping once Miguel glared at her. She glared right back. At her commanding officer's clearly waiting for an explanation facial expression and body language, she cleared her throat.
"Anyway...we seem to be having a problem, sir, with my appearance."
"Isn't that the truth?" Miguel scoffed. "This woman has the worst hair I've ever seen. It's such a beautiful brown...but it's limp...no shine...but SO many split ends! Who...Who...Who treats their hair this way?"
"But-"
"And she doesn't know how to put on makeup," Miguel added. "Of all the-"
"I thought I made it clear during our phone conversation that you were supposed to make her look presentable," Aoshi responded.
"I am!"
"I am trying to do research under the guise of a normal, attractive woman, not some beauty pageant contestant!" Williams argued.
"You have no estrogen in your body. I am more feminine than you!" Miguel exclaimed.
Her jaw dropped. "Why you-!" She jumped out of her chair, which caused the cosmetologist to squeal and run behind Aoshi for cover. She was practically mashing her teeth together.
"That's enough," Aoshi ordered. He focused his gaze on her. "Sit down."
"Yes, sir..." She obediently settled in her previous spot.
"And you get back to work," he told Miguel.
"But..." Miguel stammered.
"Williams, do what he says for now, deal with it later."
"Yes, sir."
"But fixing her up is impossible! I have to do hair, makeup, AND clothes!" Miguel argued. "She's beyond help!"
"What would motivate you to work?" Aoshi asked, exasperation tinging his voice.
"Well..." Miguel started. "There is a Janet Jackson concert coming up soon...Front row tickets and backstage passes are a HUGE motivator..."
"Done," Aoshi agreed.
"Sir!" she gasped.
Aoshi turned away. "I'll see you tomorrow at seven hundred, Lieutenant..."
Terms:
Blue Angels › Navy's flight demonstration team who perform around the world to promote the Navy. The Blue Angels currently fly the F/A-18 Hornet jet in their demos.
luau › Hawaiian feast (but I think you guys knew that)
lei › necklace made of huge fresh flowers (that too..., but just in case...)
pareo › like a sarong
