Title: Okinawa Afternoon

Rating: PG

Warnings: Unbeta-ed, spoilers for Ep 50/Epilogue

Genre: General, mild humour, slight romance

Word Count: 1067

Main Character(s): Kai, Mao, the unnamed twins

Ship(s): Implied Kai/Mao

Summary: When he looked up, he saw Mao smiling at him in a way that made him feel uncomfortable and warm at the same time.One shot.

Disclaimer: Blood+ is copyright to Production IG and Aniplex.

AN: I wanted to write about the twins and Kai but somehow Mao wormed her way into the story as well. The twins shall remain unnamed until IG officially names them.

It wasn't something that had been very valuable, rather it was something that could be easily replaced. Still, there had to be a lesson learnt from it and so, he had administered the lesson; just a spank, really. What he hadn't counted on was the horrible feeling that followed after it. He wondered if his father had ever felt that way when punishing them.

The tears had stopped, some half an hour ago but the accusing look in those eyes had not. The sulk was more adorable than fierce but he doubted they'd be pleased to hear that, and they'd hidden themselves away from him and everyone in his late brother's bedroom. He didn't know what they were doing in there but he was sure he didn't want to know.

"It can't be that bad," said Mao, from her seat at the counter. She sipped at her tea.

She'd recently returned from her trip overseas. Somehow, all that travelling she did during the last few years had given her a wanderlust. She took off with Okamura every few months to some place or another. She claimed to have a budding interest in journalism but he thought she just wanted to travel and see the world beyond their small city.

"How would you know?" Kai growled at her, glaring at the counter top. He could see his reflection on it and funny, he was actually frowning.

"I have a younger sister about their age," replied Mao, waving her hand at him imperiously. "You did what you have to. Stop brooding about it."

"Did you saw how they look at me?" His tone was aggrieved. He couldn't believe how she so easily dismissed this.

She looked at him with a blank expression. His brow furrowed even further. She sighed, reached over the counter and smacked him on the shoulder.

"Ow! What was that for?" He rubbed the sore spot, glare intensifying.

"Idiot. They're children; they won't hold a grudge against you. Sooner or later, they'll come running back to you because they know that you didn't mean to really hurt them at all." She shook her head, then rested her chin on her hand. "Honestly. They won't hate you for it, you know. They know you love them and mean well."

"How do you know all this?" Kai went back to the dishes in the sink.

"My sister," she answered, simply. "When my dad punished her, she'd go off crying or sulking but after a while, she'd be all smiles again with him. The girls are like that. You're just feeling horrible because you're a real softie at heart." She smirked.

He scowled. "Urusai."

She merely smiled at him sweetly.

He grumbled under his breath as he rinsed the dishes, the soft clinking and sounds of running water filling the restaurant cum bar. Music floated from the small radio at the back; it was playing one those Okinawa island song. Very few people came to the bar for drinks, even fewer came by to actually dine here. Not that it mattered much; Red Shield had paid him a sizeable stipend for his part during the last few years, and they were still paying him regularly.

There was a thumping sound at the back and two identical faces peered out from the doorway; one have eyes as blue as the summer sky and the other as red as rubies. Otherwise, the faces could have been drawn and cut from the same cloth.

"Konnichi ha," called Mao, cheerfully, waving. "I got you both something from my last trip."

Excited at the prospect of presents, the twins darted out from behind the door, their faces alighted with eager smiles. Kai watched in bemusement as they held out their hands expectantly. Mao chuckled, digging into her bag and dropping two small, neatly wrapped packages into their hands. They immediately clutched their presents to their chests, clearly delighted.

"Oi, oi," said Kai, leaning over the counter, looking at them. They turned their attention to him. "Did you two forgot something, hmm? Like 'thank you'?"

The realization dawned on their faces and they turned to Mao, bleating out a thank you to her for the presents.

Mao laughed, amused by them. "You're welcome."

"Kai!" cried one of them, bouncing on her tiptoes. "Look! We got presents!" She waved hers in the air and ran around to behind the counter. Her sister followed.

"Kai, can we open them?" said the other, looking at him hopefully.

"Please?" they chorused.

"I told you, call me Dad," he said, absently. He was struck by how quickly they had forgotten about the incident earlier and had forgiven him for that. They were now standing before him, the sulks and accusations gone from their eyes, looking at him with that adoration in their eyes he'd come to grown to like.

"Kaaaai!" they said, voices blending together in a beginning of a whine.

"All right, all right!" He relented, laughing. "You can open them."

They squealed with glee, running off towards the stairs.

"No running in the house!" he called, belatedly after them. Not that they heard him, from the rapid thuds that could heard upstairs. He shook his head, smiling fondly a little. When he looked up, he saw Mao smiling at him in a way that made him feel uncomfortable and warm at the same time. "What?"

"Nothing." She slung her bag over her shoulder, sliding off the bar stool.

"Hey," he said, watching her stop and turned around. The sunlight filtering in through the window lit a fiery halo around her frame, making her hair appear a lighter colour than usual and giving her skin a golden tone. He swallowed a little. "Um, thanks."

She looked at him for a beat then went back to the counter, leaned over, and kissed him lightly on the lips. When they parted, he found himself gazing at her and feeling that warmth grow. She gave him an impish smile, flicked his nose, turned and flounced towards the door, calling over her shoulder that she'd be dropping by later for dinner and he'd better not burn the food. The door closed with a slight tinkle of the bell above it.

He stared at where she had sat, found himself smiling in that way she had earlier and turned back to finishing the dishes. He'd made sure that tonight would have her favourite dishes.

Owari.