W A R N I N G : This is fluff, pure fluff and nothing but fluff. This
is what happens when Hikaru writes *too* much angst for *too* long.
You have been warned, proceed at your own risk.

-

"Now are you sure you're going to be all right, Misao-chan? I mean
after all..."

Misao laughed, showing Kenshin and Kaoru to the door. "I don't have a
child of my own, but I'm very good with them, as you know." Shaking her
head, Misao opened the door to the Aoiya, letting the cool breeze of
the Spring set in. "Don't worry about a thing Kaoru-san. Besides,
you'll only be away for the day. Kenji's a good boy, what could
possibly go wrong?"

Komori
by Hikaru

Part 1: Spitfires Have All the Fun

Aoshi awoke to the sound of a cry. His eyes snapped open quickly. Was
that- a baby cry? Groaning on how the sun had barley began to rise,
Aoshi slowly got up from his bed and walked over to his folded clean gi
and hakama. The sun began to show through his window. Scowling at the
bright light, Aoshi covered his eyes, trying to get a view of the sky.
A perfect blue sky. It looked as if it were a painting.

Again, the crying noise.

Wincing at the sound, Aoshi turned to the door. What the hell was
making that sound anyway? It sounded far too young to be Misao, and she
was the only one, other than he, at the Aoiya. Intrigued by the
mystery, Aoshi slid open the door to his room, walking ever-so quietly
into the hall. The crying was much stronger there. Tracing the echoing
cry, Aoshi finally came to the kitchen. It *was* a baby cry! Aoshi
furrowed his brow, wondering what was going on. Even if he stayed out
of the picture most of the time, he would have most certainly heard if
someone had a baby.

The door made a small swooshing sound as it slid open, revealing a
hilarious sight. A smile began to tug on Aoshi's lips just from
glancing in the room. There at the table sat Kenji, the Himura boy,
crying his eyes out while Misao, who sat next to him, wore about three
bowls of miso soup covering her entire upper body. A few pieces of tofu
stuck in her hair, and a gigantic miso splattering on her face,
obviously thrown by Kenji. It was apparent that Misao was having a
rough time. Aoshi had to restrain himself from just bursting out into
laughter. Clearing his throat, and struggling from going into
convulsions of laugher, Aoshi finally made his presence known.

Misao's eyes shot right to Aoshi's feet and slowly moved up his body,
praying that it wasn't Aoshi; even though she already knew it was. Once
her gaze met with his cold eyes, her eyes grew wide as she gasped
inward; panicking as if she had just seen a snake. "A-Aoshi-sama!" she
squeaked, squirming to wipe the miso from her face. "Aoshi-sama,
what are you doing up so early?"

"I was awakened by the sound of crying," he said trying to force his
laugher to his toes. "But it's very obvious to me now what was making
the sound." Aoshi folded his arms and leaned on the door frame, amused
by the whole situation. "So why is the Himura child here?"

Laughing nervously, Misao attempted to wipe off Kenji's face with a
miso covered towel. Kenji struggled back and forth, but finally gave in
to letting her wipe his face. "Kaoru-san and Himura are visiting their
acquaintance in Kyoto, and let's just leave it at that..."

"Again, *why* is the Himura child here?" Aoshi questioned, his amused
look all a memory. He sometimes surprised even himself how quickly he
could suppress emotion. It was no wonder that Misao would get so angry
at him at times.

Misao cleared her throat. "I'm taking care of him while they are gone.
And his name is *Kenji* Aoshi-sama. You could at least call him by
that. He doesn't know to answer to Himura!"

"Oi." Aoshi called. "Himura."

Kenji looked up to the tall man, his eyes bright as the smile on his
face. Who was this man? He'd never seen him before. Kenji reached out
to Aoshi, his arms straining to touch him from his position. Aoshi's
lips curved into a small smile as he bent down to pat Kenji on his
head.

Shaking her head, Misao sighed loudly and pushed herself away from the
table. "I give up!" Letting out a sigh, she then added bitterly, "He's
*too* cranky in the morning!"

Picking the small child up, Aoshi smiled fully now at Misao's
frustration. 'Payback for all those nights you kept me up Misao.' "No
he's not," he said motioning to how Kenji had stopped crying.

Misao glared at Aoshi. It was too early for this. She looked out to the
window to see the sun had just fully risen from its previous rest. The
sight of it made her eyelids heavy. "Che, why did Himura have to come
*so* early?" Misao turned to Aoshi- but he was gone? Her eyes
searched around the hallway frantically looking at him. The sound of a
baby laugh made her turn back the table, where Kenji sat in Aoshi's
lap.

Aoshi was hand-feeding him soup! Kenji wasn't throwing it- crying-
anything but- eating? Misao's jaw dropped in awe. "How did-how did
you-"

Raising an eyebrow, Aoshi looked to Misao, his cold mask once again
present. "I've had lots of practice." He muttered as he fed Kenji
another spoonful.

It was Misao's turn to raise an eyebrow. "On who?" Of course, Misao
knew the answer, but she liked to be reminded once in a while that
Aoshi actually did care for her; at some point in her life he had
loved her.

Aoshi looked up to Misao with a questionable face. Wasn't it obvious?
"A small spitfire, named Misao."

A warm smile grew on Misao's face as she looked at Aoshi feeding Kenji.
She let out a small chuckle. "Of course, I was more well behaved than
he is."

"How much do you want to bet?" Aoshi said, shaking his head as Kenji
finished his last spoonful of soup.

Misao scowled. As she stomped over to the two, her tiredness came back
to face. She knew she shouldn't have stayed up so late last night. She
knew that Himura was coming early, but jeez! Before sunrise? Misao
thanked the Gods that she heard him come in, since all the other
Oniwabanshuu had left for Osaka on a sight-seeing vacation. She sighed
as she plopped herself down on the ground. It was *way* to early for
all of this.

Sensing her tired chi, Aoshi looked over to Misao. For a moment, his
eyes flashed with a sense of longing. Her small figure, even though
exhausted, looked beautiful in the sun's reflection. The way the sun
shone directly on her skin made it seem as if it were glowing. Her soft
black hair, now without the long braid she had kept for so long, just
barely fell past her shoulders. Aoshi had to resist the urge just to
grab her and pull her close to him. The hunger for her throbbed in the
back of Aoshi's throat. He swallowed hard, finally pushing the urges
down. "Why don't you go back to sleep, Misao." He said in his signature
monotone voice. Before she could argue, he added, "I know you were up
late last night training."

Her yawn signified that Aoshi was indeed correct. Tiredly Misao bobbed
her head up and down and slowly walked out of the kitchen in the
direction of her room. "Behave you two," She called out as she walked
down the hallway.

Kenji looked up to his make-shift-baby-sitter, a look of confusion on
his face. Aoshi smiled, making a grin appear on Kenji's face as well.
"Daijobu Himura, we'll have fun." He then tickled Kenji under his chin.
Kenji giggled. Aoshi's smile grew a bit more, yet changed quickly to a
frown.

Once he had taken care of Misao, just like this. Had it really been
*that* long ago? Quickly, the hunger and lust for Misao emerged, as his
eyes filled with guilt. How could he think of her in that way when he
had raised and taken care of her ever since Kenji's age? It was wrong
for him to think that way! Aoshi closed his eyes sorrowfully. She was
still so young-

Kenji lightly tapped his hand on Aoshi's nose. He opened his eyes to
see the small child hitting him.

Could it be that the baby could sense his sadness and frustration?

Letting out a small muttering of gibberish, Kenji's face filled with
concern for his new friend.

Aoshi patted the child on his head, a small smile once again coming to
his face. "You're almost as quick as your Oto-san."

-

"Aoshi-sama!" Misao cried, holding onto the branch for dear life. Her
eyes were filled with tears, as they had been for the past few minutes
that she had been stuck in the tree.

Centering himself under where Misao was, a fifteen-year-old Aoshi
outstretched his arms. It was a wonder that he, the Okashira, still
held the responsibility to look after the five-year-old spitfire, also
known as Misao. "Hang on Misao-chan, just don't let go until I say," he
warned.

Misao closed her eyes to the long drop she was going to have to make.
She sniffed, trying to summon some strength. It didn't work.

"Okay, Misao-chan, just fall into my arms."

"You-Aoshi-sama won't let Misao-chan fall?" Misao said, in a shaky
voice. "Is long drop to the ground, it is."

A small smile appeared on Aoshi's lips, to which Misao returned. "I
won't let you fall, Misao-chan."

She swallowed hard. "Promise?"

"Aa." Aoshi locked onto Misao's tear filled eyes, giving her a sense
of trust and security. "I promise."

Closing her eyes tightly, Misao let go of the branch. She landed with a
soft *thud* right into Aoshi's arms. It was then that she began to cry
again, burying her face in Aoshi's chest. "Oh Aoshi-sama! Misao-chan
was so sc'red!"

"Shhh..." Aoshi said softly, cupping his hand to the back of Misao's
head. "It's all over now. I'm here to protect you."

Misao pulled her head away and looked directly into Aoshi's eyes, a few
tears still on her face. Aoshi softly wiped them away with his thumb.
Forcing her tears back with a hard swallow, Misao managed a small
smile. "Aoshi-sama always protect Misao-chan! `cuz Aoshi-sama *love*
Misao-chan, ne?" she said as she tightened her grip around him.

Rubbing his hand against her head, messing up her hair, Aoshi let out a
soft chuckle. "Aa. Daisuki, Misao-chan."

Jumping up and down in his arms, Misao wrapped her arms around Aoshi's
neck, in pure joy. "Daisuki Aoshi-sama! Misao-chan *always* love
Aoshi-sama!"

A hot feeling shot through Misao's body as she doubled over in pain.
She suddenly found herself lying in bed, eyes clasped down tightly.
Misao's head jerked back and forth, screaming in pain. His hand was
cupped around hers. Another nightmare. Another fever. They had become
more and more frequent ever since her parents and grandfather were
murdered. Unlike he, Misao couldn't suppress all the pain and
suffering. Unlike he, she suffered and experienced the agony of her
loss. And, in a way, he envied her. She could express her feelings and
he could not. Maybe that was what he found to be so appealing about
her. Her flame of life, even how dim that it was at this moment, called
to him. It was something he never had and yet she always un-selfishly
shared hers with him.

"A-Aoshi-sama?" She said, half asleep and half awake. Her eyes were
heavy from the lack of sleep she had gotten lately and red from all the
tears she had shed.

Aoshi lightly brushed the bangs out of her eyes. "Shhh... go back to
sleep, your fever is still high. You need rest."

"Aoshi-sama," Misao's eyes filled with tears again. "Mama and Papa...
they aren't... they aren't coming back again are they?"

Shaking his head, Aoshi closed his eyes. He too had suffered the loss
of his parents. He knew exactly how she felt. Again, their lives
connected. He could, despite his lack of displaying it, understand her
pain. "No, they aren't Misao-chan."

Misao shook her head. "No. No Misao-chan, Aoshi-sama. I'm too old to be
called that now."

Nodding in agreement, Aoshi muttered "Aa."

Misao tightened her grip around Aoshi's hand. "Take me to the tree
Aoshi-sama," she asked.

"But Misao-"

"Please?" he eyes pleaded with him.

Solemnly, Aoshi picked up Misao from her bed and carried her out to
Okina's garden, where the tree still lie. Still in Aoshi's arms, Misao
looked up to the leaves and picked one off the branch, twirling the
leaf between her fingers. "Aoshi-sama." Her eyes locked onto the
spinning leaf, "You and Jiya are the only ones I have left." Aoshi
remained silent. "Aoshi-sama," Her eyes locked onto his as she brought
her tiny hand up to his face.

"Daisuki."

The scene slowly drifted to Aoshi leaving the Aoiya with Hannya,
Beshimi, Shikijou, and Hyotoko. The leaves from the tree were a bright
orange and wilting from the tree, giving a feeling of death in the air.
"Aoshi-sama! Take me with you!" Misao cried.

"Misao, you are to stay here with the others." Aoshi said in his cold
voice, which Misao was all-too familiar with by now. The coming of the
Meiji era had changed him so much.

Misao stepped forward, tears welling up in her eyes. "But I thought you
loved me and never would leave me again! You all are my family! You
*have* to take me with you!" Misao ran towards Aoshi, only to trip. As
she fell to the ground, cursing under her breath, the tears began to
shed from her eyes. "I- I don't want you to leave me. Daisuki,
Aoshi-sama. Daisuki!" Her eyes clasped down as she shouted.

"Goodbye Misao." Aoshi said quietly as he and the others exited the
garden. Misao reached out for his fading figure only to catch
blackness. The world became dark, and yet Misao could still see Aoshi
walking away, leaving her. Forever.

What ever happened to the Aoshi that had saved her from the tree?

-

"AOSHI-SAMA!" Misao reached out, her eyes now open. Her room. She was
back in her *own* room. It took a moment for her brain to realize that
it was all a dream. As she calmed her breathing, Misao slowly scanned
her room. Everything was as it should. "It was-" she pressed her hands
against her body, confirming that she was indeed eighteen again. "-a
dream?" she questioned, taking in a deep breath.

Bringing her hand up to her head, she sighed. All those memories, they
hurt too much. For the past two years now she had just tried to forget
them, forget *him* or at least the way he used to be. The old Aoshi
was long dead and never was coming back. Now all that existed was a
shell, a shadow of the man he once was. "Oh brother..." she sighed.

"Speaking of which-" Misao stiffened as she remembered Kenji.

Misao sped out of her room to the kitchen. Her eyes scanned from the
top to bottom. No one. No trace of Aoshi or Kenji. Panic stricken,
she quickly yelled, "Aoshi-sama!"

"We're in my room, Misao." Aoshi's cool voice echoed through the halls.

Arching her eyebrow, Misao mindlessly walked to Aoshi's room to find
that his door was open. Peeking in she saw that Aoshi and Kenji rolling
a small ball back and forth. Kenji was giggling up a storm. Misao,
again, was shocked. Aoshi rolled the ball slowly back to Kenji, so he
could catch it in his tiny hands. Again, Kenji laughed, his rosy cheeks
becoming even brighter than usual. Misao let out her held breath. "Well
I can see that you two are fine."

Gurgling, Kenji nodded and slowly crawled his way to Aoshi, climbing
into his arms. Shocked, Aoshi looked down to the child, a look of
confusion on his face. Misao let out a small chuckle as she walked
into the room and sat down. "Hey, Chibi-chan, come to Misao-nee-chan,"
Misao sang, trying to get Kenji over to her. Kenji, frightened of
the older girl from earlier this morning, tightly held onto Aoshi's
gi, making the later blush in embarrassment. "Oi!" Misao folded her
arms.

"It's okay Misao," Aoshi calmly said. He softly nudged Kenji and
gently whispered, "Go on to Misao, Himura." Kenji looked questionably
to his new friend, and then did as he wished. Misao swooped him up in
mid crawl, taking him into her arms and holding him tight; in a longing
way, almost. She smiled at Aoshi, a glimmer in her eye. "I never knew
you were so good with babies, Aoshi-sama."

"I did a good job with you, didn't I?" he questioned, looking out to
the window. Outside was a bright blue sky, with birds flying in the
air. Spring in Kyoto was always so beautiful.

Misao flushed. "A-a." She stuttered, now faltering her sight from
Aoshi. She instead focused on Kenji, who now was playing with her hair.
He yanked hard, making Misao wince. Softly she pried his fingers out
of her hair and smiled. "That hurts Chibi-chan." Kenji smiled. Wrapping
her arms tightly around Kenji, she brought him in close, closing her
own eyes, envisioning a perfect future. "I always wanted to be a
mother."

Aoshi's head perked up, raising an eyebrow to Misao's comment. Was she
trying to tell him something? He cleared his throat and tried to change
the subject. "It's a beautiful day outside."

"Aa." Misao nodded.

Silence filled the room for many seconds. Even Kenji, despite him again
playing with Misao's hair, was quiet. Aoshi looked to Misao, locking
his eyes onto hers. "Why don't we go have lunch outside, just the three
of us?" He said, rising to a standing position. Misao was shocked. Why
was he acting so kind to her? It wasn't unusual for him to totally
ignore her for hours at a time. What had happened to him today?
Extending his arm out to Misao, who blushed furiously, Aoshi said,
"Let's go."

"A-a." She stuttered again. "That sounds like fun."

-

Author's Notes:

*crackles* Yeah, this was OOC *most* definitely. But FUN OOC, wouldn't
you agree? ^_^v hehe, just wait till Aoshi and Misao go on their picnic
with Kenji :D It is sure to be a sight to see!

The title, Komori literally means baby-sitter in Japanese. Yeah _
Those dictionaries my parents keep buying me come in handy sometimes.

*hugz the fic* This is very sugary and I love it. _ However I know
there was still some angst in there... just not as much as *usual*. In
fact, compared to the "normal" fics I write, this fic is angst free...
ummm yeah... _ Does that make sense?

Don't expect this to be updated too often, since this series is going
to be an escape for me when things get too dark _ Yet, I think this
fic is going to have another part and that's it... so it may be
finished by the end of April. It all depends on how much of Wind Storm
I complete ^^;;

If you hadn't noticed, this fic takes place somewhere right
before/after the omake comic of the Kenshin Kaden called, "Haru ni
Sakura" or "Cherry Blossoms in the Spring" which can be read at:

.

Misao has cut her hair and she and Aoshi are at least traveling
together. However, Aoshi's still as passive as ever *sighs* Aoshi!
Come on! Can you see how she loves you damn it!

Misao: You tell him Hikaru-chan!

Aoshi: ... *fears the next chapter*

Hikaru: As you should. *smug grin*

-

This fic was written for the entertainment of us, the Misao and Aoshi
obsessed. Hikaru made no profit from this fic and never will. The
characters of Rurouni Kenshin do not belong to her. Standard
disclaimers apply *here*.