Glazed Affections

"We're here! We're here!" Suzume chimed from her seat, bouncing happily as she watched the supermarket come into her line of sight from our parking space. I unclipped my seatbelt and got out to help Suzume out while Aoshi helped Ayame. Ah, it was like we were some cute family. Don't even think like that Makimachi. That was going way too far. Besides he's your boss, he's not interested in you. Sighing lightly after helping Suzume out of Aoshi's jeep I locked and closed the door before watching the tall handsome man stop to look both ways (the girls mimicking him) before crossing the carpark road heading towards the entrance of the supermarket.

"What do you girls want for dinner?" I listened to Aoshi question his nieces whom where now each attached to a hand of his, they practically skipping along side him thanks to his long strides. Ah they were so damned lucky to be attached to him, even only with hands and so innocent too!

"We want Uncle Aoshi to cook us okonomiyaki!" I listened to them cheer loudly as the four of us headed into the shop, Aoshi grabbing a trolley before he glanced down at the brown haired girls and corrected what they said.

"You would like, not you want, so what do you say?" Ah, he'd soooooo make an adorable father!

"We would like Uncle Aoshi's to cook us okonomiyaki, pleeeeeeeeeease?" With large puppy brown eyes pleadingly looking up at him, I don't know if Aoshi could resist, I know I wouldn't be able too. I watched him lift each girl into the trolley and then headed towards the vegetables section. Ah just the sight of the three of them makes me want to squeal in glee and shout to the heavens:

KAWAII DESU KA?!?

"Misao?"

"Eh?" I snapped from my thoughts noticing Aoshi had stopped to wait for me as I stood in the entranceway, hands fisted to my face in a very immature way. Blushing profusely I caught up to him and hummed lightly as Aoshi grabbed vegetables and handed them to Ayame and Suzume who would place them on the bottom of the trolley they were standing in.

"Don't you have any of this at your house?" I couldn't help but question and watched icy green orbs flicker over at me as Aoshi handed cabbage to Ayame.

"I'm buying for four people, not one Misao, so of course I don't have all of this at my house." Hmm, he only buys for one? That meant…that meant…NO girlfriend! Yattaa! You go Misao, you have a chance with sexy baker man here after all!

"Misao-san, why are your hands thrust in the air?" Ayame decided to question me, which I got odd looks not only from Aoshi and Suzume but several other customers near by.

"Ahahaha just stretching. You know if you don't stretch you'll be as short as me when you grow up." Oh man Misao, could you be anymore pathetic then that? I chanced a look at Aoshi to see his lips were slightly quirked up and I bowed my head at the sight of it. Oh just great, my stupidity was amusing him.

"I don't wanna be short, I wanna be tall like Uncle Aoshi!" Suzume yelled, hands stretching high above her head while she bit her lip.

"Suzume, your mother did not teach you to speak like that." I blinked owlishly at the sternness of Aoshi and as Suzume's eyes welled with tears as though thinking her Uncle was angry with her, I noticed a softness in Aoshi's gaze as he dropped his hand on Suzume's head. "Being short isn't all that bad. Look at Himura?"

"That's right!" I piped up knowing I didn't mind being short even though being next to Aoshi I felt miniature. Damn it'd be so hard to just kiss him suddenly. Unless I just tapped his back when he wasn't paying attention, make him turn to face me and reef him down by his jacket. Oh now there's a thought! Wait, what did he say earlier? Himura, he knew Kenshin?!?

"Ah, you're right Uncle Aoshi, Uncle Ken is short!" Suzume giggled happily, the welling of tears all of a sudden gone. With that settled I watched Aoshi move on as he headed down an aisle, which contained pasta and sauces, the vegetables already in the trolley.

"Wait, you know Himura?" I couldn't help but ask as I caught up to Aoshi who was placing thin noodles into Suzume's hands.

"I take it you do as well?" He remarked back to me.

"You saw his fiancée at my apartment." I replied and watched a look of slight confusion move across his face. Don't tell me the idiot had already forgotten the fiasco! "You know the woman that blurted out how I wanted to…" Stooooooooooooop right there Makimachi, do not proceed any further as you are already making yourself die of humiliation as it is. With cheeks flaming I waited for realization to hit Aoshi.

"So that was his fiancée? I've never met her before and…that was not what I had expected of Himura." And with that my humiliation left me as I cracked up laughing.

"I know Kaoru-chan is so boisterous that I had to wonder if she smacked her head when she picked such a quiet and 'housemaid type' in Himura. Kaoru-chan can't cook or clean to save her life, so it made me ponder on whether she half chose Himura because he cooks and cleans." I continued to giggle away.

"And you don't think its because opposites attract?" Opposites attract, yeah sure, if only that was for me and you Aoshi-sama. Oh no, there's that 'sama' again! Crap! Don't look at him, you know you'll loose yourself. "By the way, can you cook and clean?" My eyes grew wide at his sudden question as he picked up some okonomiyaki sauce and I nearly tripped on my own feet while he was at it.

"Of course I can!" I instantly replied as though disappointed that he didn't have faith in me that I'd pick up something while working and growing up in a restaurant. And then it came out, unsuspectingly as well. "Are you trying to make us opposites so we attract?" The trolley stopped immediately and my eyes grew wide as Aoshi turned to gaze at me. I bit my lip not sure what in seven hells came over me to say such a thing!

"We already are opposites Misao." I stood in the aisle, mouth agape as Aoshi headed off, nothing more voiced at what I had stupidly blurted out. What the hell was that? It was like he wanted to give me hope that there could be a chance for us. Chill Makimachi; let's not take anything of what is said too seriously. After all he could be humouring me. Yeah, he's humouring me for sure.

"Misao-san, isogu!" Snapping out I picked up my pace to the waving hands of Suzume wanting me to catch up as Aoshi now stood in a check out line to leave. I helped unload the trolley of its contents with the girls' handing me the stuff and wouldn't dare look up at Aoshi. He was sure to see the flush on my cheeks already. I wonder will I ever not blush in his presence?

XxXxXxXxX

Time passed and we'd arrived at Aoshi's place and it was an apartment building to be exact as we parked underground and then took the lift upstairs. He lived on the 4th floor of the building and we headed for a mahogany door with the number 16 in silver numbers on it. With keys jingling I watched Suzume opened the door with Aoshi holding her up while bags were surrounding his feet. The stubborn 'half mute' didn't want me to carry anything! As the door unlocked, Ayame helped push the door open and I quickly grabbed bags from Aoshi's feet…all of them…in fact. With a smile on my face I headed straight inside and followed Ayame's voice as she directed me towards the kitchen. His place was nicely furnished and quite fashionable…and very clean too.

Placing the bags on the counter in the middle of the small to medium sized kitchen I was pulled away as Ayame decided to give me the grand tour, Suzume however, decided to stick with her Uncle like glue as she sat on a bench chatting a mile a minute away.

I half listened to Ayame jabbering away as she pointed here and there and instead admired Aoshi's place. It really was very nice. The lounge room was decorated with browns, blacks and cream furniture and stylish ornaments. There was a sofa and two chairs, a low coffee table that would be used as a low dinner table as well. There was a nice entertainment system set up with a large television screen and surround sound too. There was also a nice sized window that looked over part of the city as the cream coloured curtains were drawn open giving me a night time view. Being pulled away from the lounge/living room I was then shown the laundry, bathroom and toilet (which both were immaculately clean, though the toilet seat was up) and then we came to another closed door in the hallway.

"I'm too short Misao-san, open the door for me." I did as she asked and I stared into what was an office. So that's what happened to the second bedroom in his apartment and why Ayame and Suzume slept with Aoshi in his room. A computer sat turned off on a black wooden desk with a printer, scanner, speakers and a radio sat nearby as well. There were also a couple lamps and two filing cabinets as well. The curtain was drawn closed, but the place was relatively neat with only a few folders placed near the mouse on the desk.

"Your Uncle has a very nice place Ayame, now why don't we see if he needs help with cooking ne?" I voiced with a smile on my face before closing the door and heading off. I was in the kitchen in no time watching Aoshi chop cabbage, but before I could voice anything I was unsuspectingly pulled away.

"Eh, Ayame-chan what…?" I found myself in front of another closed door, to the left of the kitchen (if I was standing in it) and just off the living/lounge room.

"Ayame, are you behaving?" Aoshi's deep voice broke through the apartment and Ayame yelled out a 'yes' before making me open the door. In front of my eyes I was gazing into Aoshi's bedroom. There was a queen size bed before my eyes with a black and red comforter thrown across it. Four pillows and two cushions had been thrown on the bed also and a few clothes that weren't Aoshi's were lying on the floor. There were also bags on the floor near the built in robe (which obviously belonged to the girls) and to the right of me there was another cupboard, a set of draws and also a bookshelf. The curtain which was a really dark blood red was closed but it appeared a lamp on the bedside draw had been accidentally left on.

"Ayame what is so interesting that yo-" I listened to Aoshi, who was now standing behind me stop in mid question as I looked into his room. Turning half around I found his eyes slightly wider as he brushed past me and closed the door shut so I couldn't' suss the room out any longer.

"It's messy in there…" He remarked before eyeing Ayame who bit her lip up at him. "Did you two forget to pick some things up?"

"Gomen nasai Uncle Aoshi." She mumbled out, pouting cutely up at him and I know I would have crumbled at that look but Aoshi was used to it and instead I watched him swoop down and pick Ayame up. She squealed in delight as I observed Aoshi throw her over his shoulder.

"Don't get angry at them, I'm not judging you on how your place looks. Besides your room is tidier then mine and I don't have two misfits occupying it with me." I voiced and smiled brightly up at Aoshi while leaning against the counter in the kitchen. He turned to gaze at me, a lopsided smirk on his face as he placed Ayame on the counter besides Suzume who was licking a spoon.

"What are misfits?" Suzume voiced with chocolate around her mouth and I cracked up laughing at the sight. Ah, it was so tempting to pinch their cheeks!

"Man, your sister and her husband must have a ball with these two."

"I think they want to try for a boy." Aoshi replied while giving a spoon with what looked like chocolate on it to Ayame to keep them busy.

"Try what?" My eyes met Aoshi's and I giggled before humming as I decided to help him out and make the batter for the okonomiyaki with eggs, flour and some chicken stock. With all the ingredients, minus any seafood because the girls weren't seafood lovers just yet, I watched as Aoshi turned on his hot plate and then brought out a bowl and let the girls pick what they wanted in there dinner. How easy it was when they liked the same things such as cabbage, noodles, spring/green onions, chicken, beef and pork.

With all the ingredients in the bowl Aoshi mixed in some batter before placing them on the hot plate with some vegetable oil on it so it wouldn't burn. The girls cheered happily as we all watched Aoshi work his magic in the kitchen.

"And you Misao?" He questioned me and I picked everything that the girls were having, but I also added aonori, beni-shoga and katsuo-bushi to mine. I just loved the smell of Okonomiyaki cooking. I was sure to ask him to do this again, with the girls present to sucker him in more and to try everything with squid, octopus and shrimp next time.

Getting the girls off the counter I asked them to help me set the coffee table so we could all sit around it and opened draws with plate settings, knives and forks. Aoshi ended up handing mayonnaise and okonomiyaki sauce to Suzume and two glasses to Ayame since she was older and would be a little more careful then her younger sister. With that done Suzume raced back to Aoshi wanting to carry the juice herself for once and Aoshi allowed her while double-checking to make sure the lid was secured properly on the bottle. I decided to investigate his kitchen a little more and found stakes of green tea in the cupboard above the kettle.

"A lover of tea I see." I remarked and watched him side glance at me as he calculated when it was right to turn all the okonomiyaki over.

"Aa, it's relaxing." He remarked plainly and ever so calmly. I rolled my eyes before making a pot of tea without his consent knowing he could probably do with a cup or two since he seemed to be quite the collector. I decided to stick with the normal blend even though he had different flavours in the cupboard.

With the aroma of tea filling the air I took a place mat, the pot and two cups with me to the table where ironically Ayame and Suzume were already sitting on cushion (since they were small and all). It wasn't long before Aoshi headed on over and placed their dinner in front of them.

"Itadakimasu!" They voiced aloud before fighting over the okonomiyaki sauce before Aoshi pried it from their hands and poured an even amount over their food. I laughed lightly and walked over to the silent man as he stood at the hotplate waiting for ours to finish cooking.

"They really are adorable." I voiced quietly as I watched the girls eat before Ayame dived to the television remote and switched it on and to a children's channel.

"I don't see them a lot, so it's nice to have company every now and then." He didn't see them a lot? That sounded so sad that he always seemed to be alone and I wanted to hug him. Back off Makimachi, no touchy feely moments or you'll get carried away like usual.

"I see…" I heard myself mumble out before taking my own plate, watching Aoshi turn off the hot plate as we headed for the coffee table. I sat next to Suzume who was making quite a mess in her eagerness to eat her Uncle's cooking and watched as Aoshi sat down next to Ayame.

"Itadakimasu…" I spoke aloud and then placed mayonnaise and sauce on my okonomiyaki before digging in myself. I really was hungry as I became too preoccupied with entertaining Ayame and Suzume that I missed out on lunch. Within the first bite it was a fact that this baker was one fine cook for sure.

"It's delicious Shinomori-san!" I voiced aloud watching as he nodded his head in silence before taking a bite of his own.

"Suzume take smaller bites, the okonomiyaki isn't going anywhere so there is no hurry." I listened to Aoshi voice to his youngest niece and observed as he leaned over the coffee table to cut up her okonomiyaki into small pieces. With him leaning over so far I could have sworn part of his hair was going to fall into Suzume's orange juice and so without thinking (which was very much a Makimachi Misao thing) I leaned forward, hand 'accidentally' brushing the side of Aoshi's face as I tucked a couple long strands of his silky bangs (and yes they were silky) behind his ear. He jerked upright, a half empty orange juice glass falling over and spilling most of its contents while I flushed in slight embarrassment once more at my forward actions. Yeah good going Makimachi!

"I'm sorry, I'll grab a cloth." I voiced aloud and instantly stood and raced to the kitchen to get some wipes to clean up Ayame's spilled juice.

"Ah, Uncle Aoshi the juice went into my food!" Ayame spoke in a displeasing tone of voice, brown eyes dewy with the usual 'guilt affect'. I wiped the coffee table clean while Aoshi questioned Ayame if she wanted him to make her another okonomiyaki.

"No, I'm full, but you have to let Misao-san stay and read a story with us." Oh man, she was good. I loved this girl.

"After you two shower and then I'll think about it."

"Oh please Uncle Aoshi, pleeeeeeeeeeease?" I laughed lightly as I collected the dishes together while Aoshi hauled the girls towards the bathroom.

"You are quite popular." I listened to Aoshi voice quietly as he headed past the kitchen for his bedroom to get the girls their night clothes. As I found the detergent I placed some into the sink before turning on the hot and cold water.

"As are you Shinomori-san." I replied to him, my back to Aoshi as he headed past. I could feel his eyes on me and really wanted to know what he was thinking but instead continued to wash the dishes.

"Uncle Aoshi! Uncle Aoshi!" And instead of him retorting to my earlier comment he was being called away as Suzume yelled that Ayame was hogging the soap. As I gazed at the ornaments around the kitchen and the drawings (done by the two girls) stuck to the fridge I couldn't believe how much fun I had been having with these three. Who would have thought that me (randomly says what they are thinking without realizing it me) and such a quiet but stern man who only spoke when he felt like it or if and when it was necessary would actually get on well together. I really was starting to like him more and more.

XxXxXxXxX

With the girls all clean and dressed in light green and pink PJ's it was time for Aoshi to excuse himself so he could shower also and only for the fact he had two "misfits" teasing him about smelling like cookies and okonomiyaki. A very weird combination indeed.

"Misao-san, come on already! Uncle Aoshi won't get mad, honest!" Suzume and Ayame voiced as they pulled me "reluctantly" towards the slightly ajar door of Aoshi's bedroom. Within seconds I was in the room and helping the girls make the bed since they said they did such a bad job of it this morning. I then observed as they climbed up on it and jumped happily about before fluffing the cushions and pillows and then patting a spot on the bed obviously meant for me. I got onto it with a little bit of caution of how Aoshi would see this and sat upright against the headboard with the two lamps on either side of the bed shining light on us.

"Ayame-chan…? Suzume-chan…?" Came a muffled voice from the main area of the apartment.

"In here!" The girls cheerily voiced and I visibly began to sweat.

"What did you two do with Mi- Oh…" I listened to Aoshi as he stopped in mid sentence and needn't continue as I bit my lip and glanced over at him. I desperately and I mean desperately tried not to gawk at how good he looked. There he was, hair damp, with water droplets falling from his spiky bangs and rolling down his neck and chest to fall beneath his plain black singlet while he had on a pair of white baggy shorts. Oh god…he was so…yummy! I'd never seen a man so unclothed like this before in a long time I'd practically forgotten how good it looked, but Aoshi seemed to be the icing on the cake for sex appeal for sure! Calm Misao, remain clam, this was all a dream. You aren't in his house, in his room with him staring silently at you and having just come from a shower. No, no, no, it was not possible.

"Uncle Aoshi come sit, we want Misao-san to read us the story!" OH MY GOD IT WAS TRUE! I WAS IN AOSHI'S HOME!

I watched Ayame tug on the material of Aoshi's shorts making him head to the bed. I felt the mattress move under me because of his heavier weight and before I knew it Aoshi was shoved right towards me, his chest pressing into my right shoulder as he placed his arm onto the headboard to steady himself since Ayame was now in his lap. Suzume was conveniently sitting in my lap, she prying the book open to coerce me into beginning to read. I of course had to take several deep breaths at the musky scent of Aoshi creeping into my senses as he sat so damn close to me.

And so I began, a little shaky at first…

"O-Once u-upon a time…"

XxXxXxXxX

A slight pressure pressed at my shoulder as I abruptly stopped from telling the usual 'damsel in distress who was waiting to be rescued by her prince charming' story and glanced to my right, eyes widening as I found a head of silky black hair in my line of vision. I peered quietly down at innocent brown eyes that happened to be gazing at their Uncle as well. Aoshi…had fallen asleep, head resting 'comfortably' at my shoulder as he slumped into me and against the headboard. Deep breaths Makimachi, deep calm breaths.

"Uncle Aoshi fell asleep." Suzume decided to state the obvious and I nodded my head in agreement. He was so…young when he slept. There was no frown on his face and instead his features were slack and made him look younger. He was most certainly a mystery that needed to be solved for sure. With all the sternness he had during business hours and the softness within him while he was his precious nieces just made me think he was like…

A crunchy soft batch cookie…

"How do you get a crunchy soft batch cookie?" I stared widely down at Suzume who voiced that to me. Ack, I couldn't believe I said that aloud! Oh thank Kami-sama he didn't hear it this time as instead he shifted slightly in sleep but never awoke. Boy, he really must be tired with all the work he does, but then I remember his sister looking all incredulous at him for finally getting an assistant. I must be the first. Should I be honoured? Staring down at him it was truly amazing at how much talent and pressure he could place himself under.

"U-Um well, you see, your Uncle has all these crunchy bits, which makes its hard to get through, but deep down he has a sweet softness that you marvel in and enjoy."

"So, you wanna eat Uncle Aoshi then?" I choked slightly at that innocent question as my hentai mind threw it completely into another meaning. I coughed lightly and instead flipped the page to continue on with the story.

"Lets continue on and leave him be ne?" I quietly whispered and went back to reading not giving the girls' a chance to ask me anymore questions. I was already flipping out as it was, my heart hammering in my chest as I felt Aoshi's silky strands brush my bare shoulders and arms as I had taken my sweatshirt off earlier in the evening and was now in a plain blue tank top.

XxXxXxXxX

"…and they lived happily ever after. The end." I happily voiced, but my voice was lowered because of 'sleeping beauty' at my shoulder and then I looked down to the girls to see if they had enjoyed the story or not. It had probably been read to them a thousand times and that's when I noticed Suzume had her eyes closed, she leaning into my stomach and chest with one thumb in her mouth. I looked over and found Ayame was dead asleep as well, she having pulled the comforter up and leaned happily (a content smile and all) against Aoshi who was still resting against my shoulder, but by now his arm had fallen from the headboard and was slack against my left shoulder (hence the rapid heartbeat).

Oh god… I was stuck in Aoshi's house, in his actual bedroom with him sleeping right beside me! I was in hell! No, I was in heaven and hell. Just chill Makimachi, just place the book down, lean casually against him and close your eyes. I couldn't escape fearing I'd wake the three of them up and so I screwed my eyes shut trying to sleep with them.

How the hell was he going to react in the morning? How the hell was I going to react? How the hell was I ever going to get any sleep with him right next to me? Calm Misao, clam down, breath evenly and you can do this. It's a piece of cake. All you need to do is relax and just count sheep…or count…

1 Aoshi-sama…

2 Aoshi-sama…

3 Aoshi-sama…

4 Aoshi-sama…

5…..Aoshi…sama

6…Ao…sama….

# To be continued…#

Authors Notes: Ah, well it got stuck in my mind so I thought I'd do another chapter of this instead of Pretty Man and Aishiteru. I'll get to those eventually, but I had fun doing this installment so I hope everyone enjoys. Oh and pre-warning there is lemon in the next chapter, but of course will be edited out because of the rules at Thanks for reading!