The Art of Dating

Over the weeks Mio learned a lot from Ayase, more than she thought she would. Ayase was quite knowledgeable about men but not only men, people in general.

" See how she turns her body away from him, when he's speaking". Ayase said and Mio nodded.

" That is a clear sign she doesn't like him. So you need to watch a person's body language to find out how they feel about you".

Mio and Ayase were 'people watching' as Ayase described it. Mio was fascinated by this as she had always heard of body language but never put it into practice. Ayase even had her go out on mini-missions, to try and get a guys number.

Of course, Mio found this extremely tedious.

" See that guy over there" Ayase pointed to a cute boy with a blue checkered shirt.

" Try flirt with him".

Mio pulled a face and Ayase smiled her usual ambience smile, but Mio couldn't help but think that Ayase was taunting, behind that smile.

Picking up her bag Mio sauntered over. She had perfected a walk that suited her and immediately caught some of the nearby male's attention.

" Hi," Mio said smiling shyly and tucking her hair behind her ear. It was a cute gesture that Mio saw many other girls in town do.

The boy looked shocked, wondering if she was talking to him.

" Me?" he said.

" Yes, you silly" Mio laughed lightly and smacked him on the arm.

She had initiated bodily contact with him. He nervously returned her laugh and stretched out his hand.

" I'm Naso, nice to meet you".

Mio took his hand, she gripped it with just the right amount of pressure and looked into his eyes saying " I'm Mio, nice to meet you, Naso."

Naso blushed, he spoke to Mio who laughed at his corny jokes and when Mio decided that she needed to leave, he asked for her number.

Mio enjoyed how smoothly everything was going until, a girl with short hair and wearing a sports outfit came out.

" Big brother Naso!" she said running over and clinging to his arm.

Mio stepped back as the girl eyed her.

" Who's this?"

" Ah, Maya..." Naso looked apologetically in Mio's direction. " This is Mio".

"Mio" Maya said she pouted putting on her best cute look and making her eyes big.

Mio wanted to smack the girl for ruining her mission and said.

" Oh, Naso is this your little sister. She looks just like you". Of course, Mio knew they weren't related the poor girl was clinging onto Naso pushing her bosom into his arm.

She also had that sparkly-eyed look in her eyes. That told Mio that this girl was totally infatuated with this guy.

" I'm not his sister!" Maya said.

"Oh" Mio responded, wanting to stir the pot she said, " Then what are you?"

" His girlfriend?" Maya's face went red and Naso tried to shrug her off.

" N-no I mean".

" Ah, now I know why Naso didn't ask for my number. Who knew he had such a cute girlfriend. I'm so sorry" Mio said putting on her best-acting face.

" Don't misunderstand me. I'll get going now. Have a good date and by the way, you guys make a great couple."

Mio then skipped away, watching the red-faced Maya let go of Naso and Naso looking away from her also red-faced.

Once Mio returned back to Ayase who was sitting near a window at an ice-cream shop, Ayase asked.

" Are you having fun?"

Mio smiled and ordered a chocolate-chip cookie ice-cream.

" Very much".

Ayase had a beaming smile on her face.

" So I'm not so bad am I?"

Mio looked up at Ayase and then cleared her throat.

" Well, you're better than I thought. Plus I learned a lot from and about myself spending time with you so... I'm sorry for how acted before".

Mio bowed her head in apology and Ayase looked pleased.

" Don't worry I'm not after your dad's money".

Mio looked up wide-eyed at Ayase.

" I know why you acted that way and I understand. So now that we know each other we should at least be friends or I could be your big sister."

Mio's ice-cream arrived and she quickly shoved a spoonful into her mouth, looking away.

Ayase was amused by her reaction.

" Big sister, you're my age" Mio protested still scooping ice-cream into her mouth.

Ayase sat back, " If it's a matter of seniority, you should know" she leaned forward, " that I am thirty-five".

Mio dropped her spoon.

" No way" she couldn't believe it.

Ayase looked to be at least in her twenties so she had assumed they were peers but now...

" How can you look so young?!"

Ayase flipped her hair, " Well when you exercise, have good skin care and smile. You too can look like me when you're my age".

Mio grabbed Ayase's hand.

" Big sister teach me your ways".

Ayase was elated to have won Mio over and said: " I'll teach you everything I know".

Mio became very close to Ayase over the months she had left at her home. She even saw with her own eyes that Ayase despite her obvious sex appeal was a truly genuine person.

She was just very confident and Mio had mistaken that for wanting to replace her mother.

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The day came when Mio had to leave and head to the main city, where the Deeks clan resided.

She stood ready to board the plane and waved. Ayase in her iconic red dress waved and shouted.

" Remember, guard yourself and have fun!"

Hong and Long cried lamenting her departure. Mio's father was the most serious and sad of all.

Before she boarded he had told her:

"Mio, be careful. Don't die and most of all don't die trying to protect all of us. If you have to, run, we will all understand but don't stay if it means that you will be in danger".

Mio boarded the plane.

She sat down and suddenly felt her hands shake. She was nervous, afraid and worried about her family.

Clutching her hands to her chest she breathed in.

" It's for them" she whispered.

She wanted to protect her family, even though she had tried to escape from them. Mio couldn't deny that she loved everybody in the Lotus clan and she knew that they loved her.