The Lonely Widow, Not so Lonely Anymore

Misao moaned softly on her couch, her arms moving above her head much like a cat stretched. Her eyes opened to stare up at the ceiling. Misao turned her head to stare at her gas heater, which was still on leaving the room feeling nice and cozy.

"When did I place that on?" Misao mumbled to herself and sat up on her couch. She stood up seconds later, moving closer and turning off the gas heater while yawning loudly.

As Misao walked past her mirror heading for the kitchen she stopped and noticed she was still wearing her evening dress and Aoshi's jacket. Misao's cheeks began turning a pale pink as her brain finally collected all the information together and worked out that Aoshi was the one who brought her home, not wanting to disturb her peaceful slumber. Misao finally remembered that she had fallen asleep against Aoshi feeling totally warm and comfortable at being that close to him.

"OH! HAZUKASHI!" Misao spoke to herself, her hands flying up to her cheeks trying to cover the redness as she still stared at her reflection. Her phone ringing snapped her out of her embarrassing thoughts and Misao sat down picking it up.

"Hello?"

"Misao, thank goodness your home! I was wandering if you could look after my boys today? There's been a family emergency I must attend to immediately. I know it is short notice but do you think you could?"

"That's no problem Yuki-san just send them right over. I've got Ayame and Suzume-chan today as well but the boys' play with them so everything will be fine. I do hope everything goes well with your family Yuki-san." Misao replied back in understanding about a family emergency. Those boys would be too young to understand; well the youngest twins for sure.

"Oh thank you so much Misao. I'll send them right over and knowing them they would be running because they haven't seen you for a few weeks."

"Hai, Hai…I better be going Yuki-san, Ayame and Suzume-chan have just arrived."

"Thank you so much Misao…and expect my rowdy boys very shortly. I'll call your house later on in the afternoon about the latest news and when to drop them home."

"Okay… Goodbye." Misao put down her cordless phone and made her way into the hallway and opened the front door for the two young girls.

"HI AUNT MISAO!" Ayame and Suzume-chan spoke loudly, a bunch of flowers thrust above Suzume-chan's head waiting for Misao to take it.

"Oh they are beautiful, thank you so much you two." Misao waved to their mother watching as she drove off heading for work. Ayame and Suzume-chan walked inside racing towards the lounge room to sit down on one of the "big" chairs together and wait for Misao. Misao was closing the door when she stopped as she heard her gate click open once more and a young boy spoke up getting her attention.

"You can't shut the door on us Aunt Misao." Misao opened it up more watching the boys' race towards her wanting a hug from her.

"Good morning to you too Hannya." Misao spoke hugging the other three boys to her and poking her tongue out at Hannya who was doing exactly the same thing to her. Misao stood up letting the boys in and spoke loudly getting the girls attention.

"Ayame-chan…Suzume-chan? Hannya, Beshimi, Hyotokko and Shijuksho are here with us as well. You'll be able to play with them all day." Misao watched two heads pop around the corner, big smiles crossing their lips at seeing the boys. They all exchanged their hellos while walking into the lounge room and sitting down either on the floor or on the couch.

"Hannya? Is something the matter?" Misao spoke quietly and softly to the young boy still standing near the door. His head was bowed, his scruffy but long bangs covering his big dark eyes away from Misao.

"You didn't hug me." He mumbled out, his head lifting up, those eyes pouting cutely up at Misao. Misao pursed her lips looking silently at him and then smiled ushering the young seven-year-old over as she crouched down to his level. Hannya wrapped his arms around Misao's neck hugging her as tightly as he could.

"I thought Hannya said he was too big for hugs these days." Misao spoke to the young boy watching as he pulled away staring up at her.

"Never for kachan and Aunt Misao's ones." Misao softly giggled and stood up walking into the lounge room with Hannya following closely behind her.

"Aunt Misao?"

"Yes Ayame-chan?" Misao replied to the young girl while placing the flowers in a vase on the coffee table. She had a confused look on her face obviously wanting to know something.

"Why are you wearing such a pretty dress?" Misao looked down at her attire and placed a smile on her lips answering Ayame-chan's question.

"Auntie Misao went out to dinner last night and fell asleep in her dress when she got home. It was really late and she was so tired too. Now, are you six going to behave yourself while I go change? Auntie Misao has a surprise for all of you…only if you're good though." Misao watched as they nodded their heads in unison. She left the room knowing Hyotokko or Beshimi, whom were the older twins would turn the television on to find some cartoons to watch.

* * * *

After a short time Misao finished up in her bedroom, grabbing her slip on shoes and headed back downstairs. She quickly went into the main bathroom checking her reflection in the mirror making sure she looked presentable.

Misao wore a pair of baggy black jeans that rested loosely on her hips, with a dark green long sleeved tank top and a short black jacket over the top falling to her hips. Misao brushed her long hair once more, placing some in a black clip, but letting the rest fall down her back in soft wavy curls. Once she was satisfied Misao moved into the lounge room remembering to take the dinner jacket with her needing to return it to Aoshi and apologise about not being as sociable as she usually is and for falling asleep against him too.

"What's the surprise?" Beshimi spoke turning the television off wanting to know. Misao moved around grabbing her sling bag and keys and then sat down answering Beshimi's question while placing on her shoes.

"Well I've decided that we are going on an outing. First we must make our way to the Yuban Shopping Center for a short time and then we'll go into the city and then to the park. We'll get some yummy take away food for lunch and later on, if you're really good I'll get us some ice cream. How does that sound to all of you?"

"YAY!" Ayame and Suzume-chan yelled excitedly and got off the chair and raced over towards the front door wanting to go right now. Misao stood up placing her sling bag over her head and right shoulder. She opened the door for the children letting them walk outside and locked it behind her.

* * * *

"Auntie Misao? Did you have a boy over last night?" Ayame-chan spoke and giggled when Misao raced over towards her tickling her, as Ayame had figured out that the jacket didn't belong to Misao, it being too big for her.

"No, Auntie Misao didn't have a boy over." Suzume-chan giggled as well joining her sister. Misao opened the gate for the six children and they walked down the street, Hyotokko and Beshimi running ahead heading for the nearest bus stop. Misao walked slowly, holding Ayame and Suzume-chan's hands with Shijuksho and Hannya walking on either side of them, taking up most of the footpath.

"WE WON!" Beshimi yelled loudly and Misao watched Shijuksho and Hannya race towards them yelling 'not fair' and 'we didn't know it was a race'. Misao just shook her head and sat down on the bench, picking up Ayame and Suzume-chan so they could sit and wait for the bus as well.

* * * *

"Auntie Misao can we go on the merry-go-round?" Suzume-chan spoke excitedly while jumping up and down in excitement as they entered the main area of the shopping centre.

"We'll be going to the park soon sweetie, Auntie Misao just has to go to a shop to pick something up and drop something off. I won't be long I promise. Wait a minute… Hannya, where are your brothers?" Misao questioned the quiet boy and turned her head in the direction he pointed at. They stood outside a toy store; hands pressed on the glass watching the electric steam train shoot past the window.

"You boys come here?" Misao spoke firmly but sweetly to the youngsters and they raced over doing what they were told.

"Aunt Misao do you think tochan would buy that for Beshimi and Hyotokko?" Misao stared down at Beshimi watching as he stared up at Misao waiting for her answer.

Yuki-san and her husband had been divorced for about 4 years now. Jinenji-san had been in an accident and was in and out of hospital for nearly two years. It put so much strain on Yuki-san, but at least they both talked out their problems and differences, deciding that it was best to end their dying marriage. Things were easier now, Yuki and Jinenji keeping in contact with each other making sure the boys always knew that they were first priority and spent plenty of time with both parents.

Misao had never seen them look happier. It took them awhile to tell their children fearing they would be extremely upset but the boys were rather good…Actually they never knew anything was wrong to begin with but their tochan and kachan where always smiling now so something had happened. What had been surprising to most neighbours was when the family would go on picnics together and Yuki-san's second husband and Jinenji-san's fiancé came along as well. It truly was one big happy family, the boys loving their second lot of parents…to them it meant more presents at birthdays and Christmas's and more outings as well. If tochan and kachan was happy…then so where the two sets of twins.

"You never know…isn't it Beshimi and Hyotokko's birthday coming up next month. I'll leave some clues for your mum and dad okay?" Misao smiled down at the boys watching as Beshimi and Hyotokko nodded up at her.

* * * *

"Auntie Misao, we've been to this store before." Suzume-chan pointed out as Misao held the door open for them watching as they moved around the store having a look at all this "weird" stuff as Shijuksho pointed out.

"Good morning Yahiko, is Aoshi around?"

"Good morning to you too. Shinomori-san is on the phone at the moment, would you like to wait for him?" Misao smiled at the young boy behind the counter and replied instantly back.

"I won't bother him, I just came to deliver this for him and to pick up some samples. Did he leave a small package for me?" Misao watched as Yahiko nodded his head and bent down looking under his counter for a moment. Misao took the box from the teenager and made her way towards the door once more.

"Arigatoo Yahiko, please pass on my thanks to Aoshi and do give him the jacket and my apologises. Are you kids coming?" Misao smiled at the teenager waving at him not taking notice that she happened to be missing one of the children whom had wondered off by themselves.

* * * *

Misao was now at the bus stop with the children waiting to head back into the city. Ayame and Suzume-chan kept standing on the bench thinking that every car speeding by was going to be their bus. It was due in about five minutes but that was too long for the youngsters.

"Aunt Misao? I think Hannya disappeared again…" Shijuksho, Hannya's twin brother spoke pointing out the fact that one of the boys were missing. Misao stood up immediately yelling out Hannya's name to see if he was hiding from her.

"Maybe he's at the nice man's store?" Suzume-chan spoke up and the children watched as Misao ordered them to hold hands and she began racing back towards 'Shinomori Renovators' making sure not to go to fast for the young children.

* * * *

Misao pushed the door open once more; puffing lightly at running, as were the children as she silently ushered them in.

"Stay right here. Don't move an inch you lot." Misao spoke seriously, her worrying at loosing one of the children making her completely nervous. She wasn't sure if he was still in the store or had wondered off to another as they left the shopping centre. Hannya had been doing this ever since he was three of four years old. Misao nearly had heart attacks everytime he popped out of nowhere scaring the living daylights out of her. On some occasions it nearly took her twenty minutes to find him wondering around silently by himself, not having a clue that Misao had become scared stiff that someone would grab him and take him away.

Misao made her way up the small hallway as Yahiko wasn't in the front and made her way down the dully-lit passageway when she heard Aoshi's deep soft voice. She really didn't want to interrupt him on the phone, but she had to ask him if he'd seen a small boy walking around here. Misao stopped at the open doorway, her eyes blinking at the scene in front of her. There sat Hannya on top of Aoshi's office desk watching with wide eyes at what was being displayed in front of him. Aoshi too sat atop his office desk, in the same cross-legged position as Hannya as he was teaching him how to make more complicated origami animals.

"H-Hannya!" Misao yelled racing over and picking up the boy hugging him to her in sheer desperation. Aoshi had been surprised watching as Misao held the young boy for dear life, her eyes closing, a lone tear falling down her delicate face at seeing the boy was all right.

"I'm okay Aunt Misao." Hannya spoke softly, his little arms wrapping around her neck trying to comfort her.

"I'm sorry I disappeared Aunt Misao. I'm sorry for making you worry so much." The little boy mumbled into Misao's shoulder and she finally calmed down a little standing him back on the table.

"He was worried about upsetting you Misao, but Hannya was a very good boy to look after. Yahiko said Hannya came with you and that it was best for him to stay here knowing you'd come straight here looking for him." Misao glanced over at Aoshi to see him move off of his desk and stand up towering over her slightly.

"Thank you for watching him Aoshi. I apologise for distracting you from your work." Misao spoke, her head bowing slightly.

"Its okay Misao, I'm not busy today and it was my pleasure looking after him. I assume you have somewhere to go? Here let me walk the two of you out?" Aoshi spoke knowing that Misao would take the young boy somewhere after coming to pick up her sample tiles. They walked silently down the hall and Aoshi watched Hannya walk over to the other five children standing in the middle of his shop.

"Um Misao? Why are they just standing there?" Aoshi spoke slightly confused as the children looked like small statues in his store. Misao giggled softly ushering the children out of the store and spoke once more before closing the door behind her and heading off once again, this time with all the children.

"The children were respecting my wishes for them not to move from this open area so I could tell that they were all here. Thanks again Aoshi. It puts me at ease knowing that Hannya was safe here." Aoshi sighed softly watching Misao walk off smiling happily and chatting to the jumping children around her. His eyebrows creased slightly wondering why Misao had no children of her own. She seemed to love children but maybe there was something wrong with her, indicating she couldn't have children of her own. Aoshi brushed the thought aside and spoke to Yahiko as he moved back into the main store having completely missed the small scene as he was out the back getting the latest order from the delivery truck.

"Yahiko I'll be stepping out of the office again. I'm on mobile and pager alright?"

"Hai Shinomori-san!" The young man spoke behind the counter watching his boss leave the store heading who knows were.

"SHINOMORI-SAN?" Aoshi turned around heading back to his shop's door watching as Yahiko handed him his black dinner jacket, which Misao had brought back for him.

"Misao-san said this was yours and that she thanks you and apologises for something as well." Aoshi nodded his head in silence and headed for the exit and towards his black Ute ready to go home for a couple of hours. That however was not possible as a small voice cut into his quiet thinking time, getting his attention.

"UNCLE AOSHI! UNCLE AOSHI!" Aoshi turned around watching Hannya race towards him and hug his legs, his little head lifting up a big smile crossing his lips.

"Looks like you have a fan." Aoshi watched Misao and the other five children walk over towards him.

"Aunt Misao can Uncle Aoshi come to the park too? Please?" Hannya practically was begging for Aoshi to come, his eyes pouting up at Misao waiting for a yes and then over at Aoshi hoping he would agree as well.

"Well that's up to Aoshi Hannya. Would you like to spend the day with me…with us?" Misao quickly corrected herself feeling rather embarrassed. Aoshi's eyes stared into her's and watched as a pink tinge cross her cheeks. He had caught her question to spend time with her, because in that split second where they stared silently at each other Misao had forgotten that she too had other company with her.

"Aunt Misao you're turning pink!" Suzume-chan spoke loudly looking up at her aunt worriedly. Misao bowed her head in even more embarrassment, her face turning redder but Aoshi pretended not to take any notice and moved to pick Hannya up placing him on his shoulders.

"I accept your invitation Hannya. I shall come to the park with all of you." Misao watched as Aoshi unlocked his car door for a moment throwing in his dinner jacket and then closed and locked the door once more, heading off with the other three boys walking beside him asking when was it their turn for a shoulder ride.

"Are you coming ladies?" Aoshi spoke a little louder, his comment making the two girls giggle and then they raced after him wanting to hold his hands.

"OBA MISAO? ARE YOU COMING?" Hannya yelled loudly and Misao nodded her head hoping her blush was down to a minimum and headed towards them and walked silently beside Aoshi, listening to Hannya tell his brothers and Ayame and Suzume-chan about the "cool" origami "Uncle" Aoshi had been teaching him to make.

Misao couldn't help but smile up at her new friend, smiling broadly as he chatted away to the children being open and carefree with them just like he was with her.

Aoshi was truly a breath of fresh air in Misao's life. Being around him made Misao's muscles loose their tension and made her fear nothing. Her heart lightened and fluttered when his deep voice and laugher reached her ears. He was breaking through her protective walls without even knowing it, securing a spot permanently in her heart…a place just for him…

* * * *

To be continued…

* * * *

Author's Notes: Whew! YAY! Go the kiddies! Anyway, thank goodness this part is over. Now it is time for more Aoshi and Misao cuteness with the help of the cunning minds of the children.

Hazukashi: Means embarrassing…

It won't be out for a bit, I'll be away for a week, no Internet…n stories…gomen ne...but I really need this break…ja ne…