Glazed Affections
It seemed the morning rush was beginning to die down as Aoshi headed out the back. At first I really couldn't handle the horde of customers walking into the store and had to race out back to grab him for extra help. It amazed me how he did this on his own, but it seemed his customers didn't seem to mind if they had to wait because they'd break into a short conversation with Aoshi instead. They complimented him on his ever growing popularity and of course how great the confectionaries, breads and buns tasted and smelt.
"Domo arigatou gozaimasu." I spoke happily and bowed lightly to a customer as they exited the store. When the door shut I sighed lightly and closed the cooler door not wanting any of the tasty treats to go off. Oh man, I'm so freaking tired. I'd been in a busy restaurant and such, but I never knew this would be so much hard work!
"Misao?"
"Eh?" I darted my eyes to Aoshi who now had his white jacket over his black shirt and funnily enough he actually wore one of those bakery hats as well. It looked quite weird on such a tall handsome man like him, but he was one of those professional types after all, so I guess he'd wear the entire outfit with perfection.
"Grab one of the drinks from the fridge and go out the back and have a break." Who was I to refuse that as I ducked under the counter grabbed my sugar fix and then made my way through the kitchen and preparation area to open the back metal doorway and sat down on a milk crate. With eyes closed, back leaning against the cool wall since this part of the delivery alleyway never got any sun it seemed, I slumped my shoulders and began to relax…
XxxxxxxxxxxX
"Misao…?" I mumbled hearing my name…and it really sounded like Aoshi was calling out to me. Not to mention there was a persistent shaking of my shoulder and so I groaned trying to swat the hand away and grumbled aloud.
"Two more minutes Aoshi-sama…"
"Sama? Since when did you wish to refer to me as that?"
"Eh?" Snapping my eyes open I found a pair of green eyes looking down at me. Was that humour in them? Two more minutes Aoshi-sama… Kami-sama I didn't just fall asleep did I?
"You fell asleep, I came to see what was taking you so long." Shimatta! This is not happening! Sleeping on the freaking job! Good going! Instantly standing up, nearly knocking into his firm physique I bowed and apologised.
"I'm so sorry, I guess I'm just not used to being up so early. I'm sorry please don't fire me!" The usual energetic Misao that many knew me as was nowhere in sight as I clutched pathetically to his white jacket and bore pleading ocean blue eyes up at him. I really needed this job. And I really wanted to be around him. Wait, where the hell were these thoughts coming from?
"Could you watch the front while I take a break?" He wasn't going to fire me? Oh thank you Kami-sama!
"YES!" I shouted and ran into the store and to the front area not once looking back. I just acted like a freaking child in front of the most gorgeous man I'd ever clung to. Oh Misao could you be any more pathetic? I sighed aloud as I leaned against the counter as my eyes roamed the empty shop front. As I looked about the place I noted a cartoon of soft drink next to the fridge and thought to occupy myself with restocking it. Moving under the counter I opened the fridge doors and started with stacking the Coke, hot bottles to the back of course.
As I "happily" stacked away, thoughts being occupied on what time I'd get off or for the fact I'd never really questioned how much I would get paid or how he was going to pay me it was all interrupted by the chime of the door. Turning around I saw the cutest girls I'd ever come across. They were dressed in matching denim shorts while their shirts were ironically promoting this very bakery as I read the 'Shinomori Delights' across the front of them. One girl had her hair in pigtails while the other had two little plaits hanging over her shoulders. Their big brown puppy dog eyes stared widely and innocently up at me and then I looked up further to notice a beautiful woman dressed in a maroon shirt and a long black skirt. I eyed her silently as she placed a pair of stylish sunglasses on top of her head. My brain finally decided to kick in, as I had been doing nothing but staring owlishly at potential customers.
"Thank you for coming to Shinomori Delights, can I help you?"
"You work here?" Came the question from the woman with long flowing black hair as she flicked some over her shoulder in doing so. Hmm, she seemed kind of snobby to me and I closed the fridge doors before answering.
"Yes, I started today."
"He never mentioned any of this to me."
"He…? You mean Shinomori-san? Is he expecting you? I can go get him if you like?" I watched the girls jump up and down as though confirming a yes that they'd like to see Aoshi and the woman smiled, placed her hands on top of their heads while I moved under the counter and out the back. The metal doors were still open and I stepped outside to see Aoshi sitting exactly where I was, head back against the wall and…eyes closed. Oh, he looked really good to touch just resting quietly there. Moving forward I stood in front of him, my eyes not once straying away from his sculptured looks.
"Could you not stare at me while I'm resting Misao?" A sudden heat rushed instantly to my face when eyelids peeled open to reveal dark green almost hazy eyes and I gulped down the lump in my throat before remembering why I'd come out here in the first place.
"U-Um, you have some visitors." And with that I rushed back inside. Man he was like a freak of nature, always knowing what I was doing. Mou, how embarrassing!
As I occupied myself with placing some of the caramel tarts onto a smaller tray, I dared not look over at Aoshi as he came out the front and moved under the counter to greet his visitors.
"Since when did you decide you needed help?" Not even a hello? That's damn well rude of her to do that…and in front of little kids too! Rolling my eyes at my own thoughts I was trying not to be too noisy and seemed to be failing miserably at it too.
"I don't recall ever having to answer to you Megumi." Wow such a pretty name for a pretty woman. Hmm, they are on friendly terms to. Probably like his girlfriend or something. Wait, there are kids here too. Oh crap! Don't tell me his freaking married! Dammit I've been ogling a married man! That's like so damn creepy of me!
"Ne Uncle Aoshi, do we get to make cookies with you today?" The eldest girl questioned with a pouting look on her face before the youngest chimed in. "Yeah Uncle Aoshi, like you promised us?" U-Uncle? Phew! I felt my shoulders slack from tension at hearing them refer to him as Uncle Aoshi. Hehehe…that actually sounded really cute for him too. So that meant this woman was…his sister then? Well I can sort of notice the similarities in them. Shiny jet black hair, smart presence even if their attitudes are different and they are both tall in there own right too.
"Aa…" Came the quiet mumble from Aoshi as I smiled lightly when the young girls latched themselves onto his legs. Ah, he seemed to have this cold appeal about him, but these two adorable girls could see straight through it. Is he really a big softie underneath?
"YAY!" The girls yelled happily together before the little conversation was interrupted by the door once more as a man with gravity defying brown hair walked inside wearing white trousers, black shirt and a white jacket.
"Oi, oi…you dare latch onto your Uncle when I'm here? You girls are hurting your old man." He voiced in a playfully hurt voice snubbing the young girls that instantly ran over to him and with hands raised as they wished to be picked up.
"Tochan gomen!" They spoke as their naivete didn't pick up the fact their father was playing with them and a light smile graced my lips when he tickled his young girls before picking them up and placing them against his hips. Ah, the brown hair and eyes was truly he for sure.
"Really anata, must you make a scene in front of a new employee." I swear I made an 'eh' sound escape my throat as all of a sudden several eyes turned to me. I had become the centre of attention and smiled awkwardly before grabbing up another empty tray which used to be filled with custard tarts and was going to escape out the back.
"Aoshi I expect better manners from you then this! Mou, don't mind my silly younger brother here, I'm his sister Megumi, this is Ayame and Suzume and this is my baka husband Sanosuke."
"Its nice to meet you, I'm Makimachi Misao." I voiced before bowing lightly to them and then my eyes drew back to semi hidden green ones which were staring into nothingness as Aoshi seemed to ignore his older sisters antics.
"You got an assistant Shinomori? And she's even cute too!" Eyes widening lightly I bowed my head and spoke of nothing as I went out the back. "Man I hope she can change that gloomy look on your face because I'm getting sick of looking at it."
"Really Sano you shouldn't embarrass her like that, but you are right, Aoshi does need to smile a little bit more. I'm sure he's been running himself into the ground without having help before so this'll be good for him."
"Why are you two talking as though I'm not even in the room?" Came the bland question, which I had to suppress a giggle from escaping my lips because of it. It seemed he had a pretty nice family and that made me happy for unknown reasons.
"Anyway Sano and I have to hurry or else we'll miss the connecting flight." Connecting flight? I wonder what that was all about? Moving back out the front I observed as Megumi-san hugged the young girls before placing them on the ground after they'd been hugged by Sanosuke-san. "You girls will take care of your Uncle right?"
"HAI!" They confessed with hands turned into fists as though they really meant it. A smile broke onto my face as I watched Aoshi dump a hand each on their heads as his sister and brother-in-law waved and then ran outside to get into the cab that was waiting for them. It appeared he was quite the popular Uncle with these two. As we watched the cab drive off, I turned my eyes to the lightly frowning girls. I guess they were missing their folks already and so it was time to replace those frowns with happy smiles!
"Ne Ayame-chan, Suzume-chan, are you hungry?" I watched as they moved closer to the counter and nodded simultaneously while looking up at me.
"I bet, you both want donuts right?" I was purely going on a guess but thought because I loved donuts when I was young (even though I still do now but we won't go into that) and watched them nod their heads affirmatively. Darting my eyes over at Aoshi I found him just standing in the background as though analysing how I'd go with being around kids. I'm sure many would say that if he looked close enough I was often placed in situations that made me out to be a child at times and seemed to have the figure of one too. Though we won't even begin to open up that huge ass can of worms. Now, back to where I was. I watched in interest as Aoshi pointed to Ayame and mouthed something to me (which hooray for me I actually understood) before doing the same to Suzume and that's when I finally caught on to what he was trying to do.
"I bet you'd like one with pink icing on it Ayame-chan and you Suzume-chan would like a chocolate one with sprinkles ne?"
"Sugoi Misao-san you can read minds!" I winked at them before bringing out two donuts and handed them to the ecstatic girls.
"Well only minds that belong to two very special girls." I watched as they bit into them before turning to face Aoshi.
"Uncle Aoshi, oishii!" They contorted happily with icing smudges on their chubby faces. I couldn't help but giggle and then my eyes flickered over to Aoshi and I could have sworn there was a smirk on his face. As we watched the young girls run through the counter gap, not needing to duck since they were short I quietly watched Aoshi bend over to do the same to keep an eye on the girls before my hand reached out to stop him from heading out the back.
"It suits you Shinomori-san." At the slightly confused expression which I locked into my memory as something different to witness on his face (and the fact he looked really cute doing it) I continued on, boldly I might add. "That little smirk I mean. It wasn't quite as invincible as you hoped…because I caught it." With that I turned my eyes to a customer walking into the store and greeted them happily. Thank goodness the customer had saved me, as I didn't have to look up at Aoshi to see what his response to my words would have been. Don't get me wrong, I could stare at him all day, but that would be my undoing as I was already beginning to slip up. Flirting with your boss, naughty Misao!
XxxxxxxxxX
"Misao its time to close up, can you flip the sign on the door?" I nodded affirmatively as I made my way to the glass door and did just that and then locked it so no one could come inside. I looked inside the coolers and realised there was still quite a few caramel tarts, some 'death by chocolate' slices, numerous donuts, pastries and custard tarts as well and wondered just what he would do with them. Heading out the back after doing that Aoshi stood near the counter with two young girls sitting atop of it. Sure it wasn't very hygienic but he'd fix that up after making cookies with the girls. I turned my head in the direction of a timer going off and went to go see what was cooking. I noticed as I pulled the door open that cookies were already being baked and placed on some mittens and then pulled out the tray. Heading on over to the girls who would surely be happy about seeing yummy choc-chip cookies I hummed happily as I headed on over to them.
"Misao-san look out for the e-" A gasp burst through my lips as my right sneaker connected with something slippery on the ground and to try and thanks to my lack of balance as they day wore on I went one way and the tray went the other. I heard the loud clatter of the tray connecting with the ground and began cursing myself as I fell forward, arms flailing about the place as I did so. I was just never going to live a normal life in front of Aoshi it seemed as I did everything to make myself look even stupider in front of him. However, my fall to the floor never occurred as I crashed into a deliciously taut body while my knees hit the ground. Peering up at Aoshi I found him on his knees, my face very close to his as his warm breath mixed with my own.
And then…to my utter horror…it started…
"Uncle Aoshi and Misao-san sitting in a tree…" Ayame-chan decided to begin singing as I remained in Aoshi's firm grasp, his icy orbs not once breaking from my wide look.
"K-I-S-S-I-N-G…" Suzume decided to play along and join her older sister as well. It appeared they sung this lots for the fact Suzume knew how to spell that bloody word.
"First comes lo…"
"Suzume enough…" Aoshi's deep voice interrupted as he pulled me to my feet and I knew a bright blush was on my cheeks and it only faded slightly when Aoshi let go of me. Oh my heart was pounding heavily as I looked over the pouting girls because their Uncle had just ruined their song. Glancing at the mess on the ground I snapped into action grabbing a plastic bag, brush and a dustpan from the back bathroom.
"You girls keep decorating while I help Misao." I closed my eyes trying to calm myself as he headed on over and kneeled besides me as he picked up the larger pieces of the cookies and threw them in the rubbish bag. Just remain cool Misao. Oh whom the fuck was I kidding! I was like the 'Queen of Uncool' in front of him.
"Are you sure you didn't smack your knees too hard on the concrete?" His calm quiet voice questioned me as I kept my head bowed and shook it not having the guts to answer him fearing my voice would come out as a small squeak. Besides I was becoming distracted at his musky scent and the fact that two teasing girls began to hum that tortured song again!
"Girls…" Came the stern warning and the bakery went eerily quiet. To tell you the truth, even if the humming was to embarrass me I would have preferred it instead of the quiet that enveloped the two of us. I grabbed a particular half-snapped cookie when I felt a warm hand go for the same one. Darting away instantly like some lovesick 13-year-old, I muttered an apology and instantly stood up taking the cookie from him and rushed out the back to throw the bag into bins in the alleyway.
"Misao could you start packing up the left overs into boxes and by the time we finish cleaning up the girls biscuits should be ready and we'll be able to escort you home."
"But…" I tried to reason with him but he had his back to me as he took the tray towards the oven and spoke his explanation to me.
"I would much prefer it if we could take you home. Besides I will need to grab your bank details from you so I can transfer payment into your account, if you'd like to continue working here that is." I watched the tall gorgeous man turn to face me now, his baker's hat off and his white jacket unbuttoned. I couldn't help but throw a thousand-watt smile over at him.
"I'd love to continue working here…if you'll have someone as klutz ridden as me though."
"Sure…" came the light response and my heart flipped in my chest as he walked on over, his firm hand dropping onto my shoulder before he took it away and grabbed Ayame and Suzume from the bench and placed them on the ground.
"You two want to help Misao bring the cakes back here?"
"Do we get a cake for it?" Ah, how clever of them to bribe him so.
"Aa…" Aoshi murmured before they raced over towards me, big smiles on their faces and so I lead them out the front. As I was placing caramel tarts into a box I decided to be sneaky and get the girls point of views on my new boss.
"So, you girls staying with your Uncle Aoshi this evening?"
"Yep, mummy and daddy have gone away for business…or something and so Uncle Aoshi watches us at night, but Gensai-ojiichan comes and looks after us when Uncle Aoshi goes to work at like two in the morning."
"But we don't know he leaves cause we are still sleeping. We just wake up and find that Gensai-ojiichan is making us breakfast." Suzume piped up after Ayame had given me her personal spill.
"I see, so you girls get your own rooms in your Uncle's place? Wow that's pretty lucky ne?" I spoke once more but watched the girls shake their heads negatively at me.
"Nope we get to sleep with Uncle Aoshi in his bed and he reads us stories or makes one up and stays awake until we fall asleep. It's a really big bed with lots of cushions and we can jump on it as much as we like and Uncle Aoshi keeps us warm at night as we make him stay and sleep in it with us too!" And this is where I had to refrain myself from going 'awe' out loud…and only for the fact that Aoshi was now standing at the entranceway between the shop and the preparation area.
"You girls finished confessing all to Misao? Your cookies are ready."
"YAY!" They happily voiced, forgetting to help me with the rest, not that it mattered as I boxed everything up and then stood up to smile as Aoshi thrust Suzume and Ayame back out into the main shop as it seemed we were going out the front.
"I'll just place these in the fridge and grab my things together." I voiced and headed out the back. The place was spick-and-span and smelled like cookies as I headed into the bathroom and threw my flour scented jacket back on. This 'Shinomori Delight's' shirt was now mine after all so I needn't change, as I'd take it home and wash it for tomorrow. Grabbing my bag I turned off the light and headed for the front.
"Shall we go?" I nodded quietly and then lead the way towards my apartment building. As we slowly strolled the quiet streets of Tokyo, somehow I had ended up giving Suzume a piggyback ride while Aoshi gave one to Ayame.
"So what do you think of Tokyo?" He was starting a conversation with me? Yattaa!
"Well I always wanted to live here but Jiya loved Kyoto too much so I remained there until I finished high school and applied for university here. He kicked up this huge fuss of what did Tokyo have to offer that Kyoto couldn't but I knew he was just sad that I was leaving. I thought it best to just write and call and not depend on him too much as this was my decision to come here and look after myself after all. I'm so glad you gave me a chance and gave me this job." I spoke gratefully and flashed a winning smile up at him but found he was staring off in the other direction. Dammit!
"Well this is the place. Did you want to come up or wait down here?" I spoke as we stood outside the apartment building.
"We can wait down here." Aoshi remarked and I nodded my head before running inside the building. Great now I had to remember exactly where I placed my bank details. Good going Makimachi for not unpacking fully even if you've been here for like two weeks now.
Racing up the three flights of stairs I came to my door and unlocked it before heading inside. As I rummaged through my draws a hand clamped onto my shoulder and I let off the loudest scream which would have woke the neighbours…hell maybe even the entire street! Trying to remember my defence classes I spun around as I moved into a defensive stance only to see a pair of concerned blue eyes looking me over.
"K-Kaoru don't do that to me!" I cried out as I placed one hand over my pounding heart.
"Where have you been Misao-chan? I've been calling your cell for hours! I was worried!" Ah, that's right I hadn't let her know I'd gotten a job or anything. Taking a deep breath I continued to look through my draws.
"I got a job yesterday and today was my first day. Wait, how did you get in here?"
"I know the manager." Was Kaoru's reply and I made an 'oooooooh' sound before opening up the linen closet which was full of boxes and rummaged through them as well. I couldn't believe I was stupid enough not to memorise my bank details.
"I'm glad you got a job Misao, but who's the guy with the kids?" Blinking over at Kaoru I realised she must have been staring out the window looking for when I would return and so I thought I'd better explain quickly as I found the bank details for Aoshi.
"Oh they aren't his, they belong to his sister but her and her husband have gone away for a bit and so he's looking after them…oh and he's my new boss. He runs that bakery in the city. You know the one called Shinomori Delights."
"Oh my god he's that hunky guy!" Kaoru bellowed loudly and I could have sworn I heard footsteps heading for my opened door. "So tell me Misao, when do you plan to jump him?" My mouth literally dropped to the ground and my eyes widened in horror as Aoshi was standing at my doorway with two very sleepy girls in each arm. Fuuuuuuuuck I was certain he must have heard every word Kaoru had said.
"U-Um…Kaoru…" I tried as I began waving my arms about the place, trying to get the freaking woman to shut up but she wasn't paying any attention.
"Oh come on you're already blushing about him after one day, so that means you must think he's totally hot!"
"Have you got those details for me Misao?" I quickly found scrap paper and scribbled down my details, scurried over to place it into his blush jeans pocket (well he had no free hands!) before watching him nod his head as a good night and then left heading for the stairs once more.
Closing my door I slid down to the wooden floorboard, my flaming tomato red head now in between my updrawn knees while Kaoru cackled loudly in the lounge room.
I was ready to die.
# To be continued #
Authors Notes: Oh yeah I'm freaking on a roll this weekend. I've completed another one-shot at Shinobi-Love called 'Fame, Sex and Everything in Between' and now only have the sequel to another one-shot 'Feel Me Up – Misao' also at Shinobi-Love to create called 'Feel Me Up – Aoshi' and then I can go drown in doujinshi. Well hope you enjoyed and please continue to be patient with my slow updates.
