Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin or its characters.

Title: Baking Cakes

Status: 2/?

Whoa. I finally got this done. This one wasn't as funny, but I hope you enjoy it anyway –grins- Poor, poor Aoshi!

Constructive criticism welcome.

-

Misao paced furiously around Aoshi's room, a frown on her innocent face. She was quite put out that her Aoshi-sama hadn't let her sit on his lap. But then again, she wouldn't really want to at that particular moment. She eyed 'The Bulge' curiously. When she had asked Hannya, ("Hannya-kun, why does Aoshi-sama have a bulge there?") he just muttered something before scuttling away. The only words she was able to catch was "stiff" and "I don't want the okashira to yell at me again."

Misao stopped briefly to gaze openly at her idol. So what if he was stiff? Wouldn't that just make it easier to sit on his lap? Sometimes his back was too…too bendy and she would often wake up with sore muscles after falling asleep on Aoshi's shoulder. But her intelligent 6-year old mind told her that she had missed the point and was now going around in circles. Well, she knew what to do. She'd ask Aoshi-sama directly. After all, he didn't look like he was meditating, and… was that blood dripping from his nose? Suddenly he stood up and ran out of the room. Misao scowled. She'd just have to ask Omasu and Okon instead.

-

The whole Aoiya went deathly silent. It was during one of those moments where everyone just quietened down that little Misao had popped the question to Omasu and Okon. All would have been somewhat okay if Misao hadn't asked while they were serving the Aoiya customers. And she had asked in such a loud voice, so it was no wonder that the majority of their customers were sitting there like lifeless, wooden toys.

Well, who wouldn't, if a 6-year old girl bellowed at the top of her lungs, "Okon! Omasu! What does being stiff mean? Aoshi-sama's got a big bulge here," (here she indicated the area and the size) "and I asked Hannya-kun what it was but all I could hear was 'stiff'." Heck, the tiny pout on her face would have been cute and causing customers to squeal if she hadn't said all that at maximum volume.

"Eh, Omasu, why is everyone quiet? Okon?"

"Ehehehe…" Omasu laughed nervously, her hand behind her head in an embarrassed fashion. "Maybe Hannya thought that what was stiff— maybe he was talking about—" she looked desperately at Okon, who hastily yelled out her input, which she thought to be helpful.

"—a tree!" Everyone fell over and deadpanned.

Omasu coughed lightly and ushered Misao out of the restaurant, saying, "Maybe you should take a bath and then stay in the house. After all, it is a very hot day."

Again, Misao's natural instincts knew that they were hiding something from her. So off she went to find her next victims – Kuro and Shiro.

-

"Ne, do you know why Aoshi-sama has a big lump here?" Again Misao gestured to the lower region of the body, causing Shiro to nearly cut off his thumb. "Hannya-kun said it was stiff or something like that." This time it was Kuro who shouted in pain. It appeared he had grated some skin off his thumb. Both men gave each other faltering looks.

"Well, you see, Misao-chan— Ouch! What did you hit me for?"

"What do you think you're doing? A little girl shouldn't know of those things yet."

"But she asked!"

"She still shouldn't know."

"She's going to learn eventually."

"So let her learn later."

"Um…" Misao's timid voice was unheard. Taking in a deep breath, she yelled with all of the strength she could muster, "WHY WON'T ANYONE TELL ME WHY AOSHI-SAMA HAS A BULGE BETWEEN HIS LEGS?!"

All was silent. It was so quiet a pin drop could be heard, or in this case, a cup shattering on the hard, kitchen floor.

Three pairs of eyes turned to the intruder.

"I-I came to get a cup of green tea."

No response from Shiro and Kuro.

"Aoshi-sama, no one will tell me what this," she emphasised 'this' by attempting to prod him in the lower region of the body. (Lucky Aoshi caught her hand before she could poke him.) "—is." Misao's tiny voice had broken the awkward silence, but had also, again, brought on another period of awkward silence.

"Um," was all Aoshi could say. He shot Shiro and Kuro a meaningful look which clearly screamed out 'save me from having to do this! What did I do to deserve this? I'm innocent!' It was just too bad that they were sprawled out on the floor, out cold. But then again, if he was going to explain an embarrassing topic such as this, he'd like to keep his dignity and pride intact. And so he began his talk with Misao, with a dignified clearing of the throat.

"These are called family jewels or family heirlooms." He felt proud with having said that. He hadn't expected to even say that with such fluency and confidence. Thank goodness that his voice was now lower and deeper than it was two weeks ago, when he had tried to explain to her 're-PRO-duc-TION'.

"Air-looms?"

Aoshi shook his head. It looked like he'd have to go for the 'analogy method' again to explain to her.

"Let's try again." A blush spread across his face. "In my pants, no, every man's pants, there lives a small mouse."

"Your family air-loom is a mouse?"

"Forget about the family heirlooms for now."

"Okay."

A fly buzzed maniacally around the room.

"Is that it?" Misao's eyes were wide open, shining with the… the inquisitive eyes of a 6-year old child.

"That's it."

"So the bulge was a mouse."

Aoshi nodded his head. Finally something had sunk in!

"Does Mr. Mousey ever come out to say hi?"

Aoshi Shinomori, aged 16, okashira of the Oniwabanshuu fell to the ground and was unconscious for the next two days.

Author's Notes

Heh. Analogy wasn't that great this time. I didn't really want to delve into that area HA HA HA. But still, I had fun writing it! Errr, and is it Oniwabanshuu or Oniwabanshi or Oniwaban? I've seen so many variations and I have no idea which one it is…

And just for the count, I want to know if I should continue this as a collection of one-shots featuring Misao growing up and turning to Aoshi to teach her.

Review?

-Duckii Mustang-