Title: Key Preparation

Prompt: Dokuga Contest's Cherry on Top Challenge #24-Green Tea

Genre: Comedy/General

AU/CU: Alternate Universe

Rating: G

Warnings: None

Word Count: 1,158

A/N: The first chapter of Shred. This is a flash forward for a fic of mine called Dirt, though it's not necessary to read it before this. ;)

Summary: The Taisho family prepares for their weekend trip to the motocross track.

KEY PREPARATION

"Are we sure we have everything?" Kagome asked Sesshomaru as she glanced around the interior of their motor-home.

"Yes," Sesshomaru answered.

"Plenty of blankets and pillows?"

"Yes."

"My gear for the weekend and Toshi's? We brought him several sets right?"

"Yes."

"His and Sakura's toys? Sakura's playpen? The ice-chest?"

"Yes," Sesshomaru answered grinning at Kagome. "We have everything."

"Except for the food and drinks," Kagome corrected.

"Which we're stopping to get on the way there," Sesshomaru said, offering Kagome his hand to help her out of the motor home.

"I guess we just have to worry about the rig," Kagome said, heading in the direction of their factory provided, in-closed and fully equipped motorcycle trailer that was hauled with a semi-truck, which Koga would be driving.

Sesshomaru grabbed her hand and pulled her back towards him. "My dad, Koga, and I have checked and re-checked that we have everything and anything we could possibly need," he assured her.

"We have plenty of racing fuel? An extra clutch leaver or two in case I crash and snap it off the bike like I'm prone to do."

"Yes, but you're not going to crash. Hopefully," he added with a laugh. "I'm bringing back-up bikes for the both of you. I have enough spare parts to completely build a bike from the ground up. There's nothing I haven't thought of. Trust me." He kissed her forehead. "We have everything."

Kagome sighed and hugged him. "I'm just worried that we'll forget something."

Sesshomaru shrugged slightly. "There's nothing we could forget that my parents couldn't bring us in the morning. Plus there's the Rock Star Suzuki team rig or a Yamaha shop only a few miles down the road from the track."

Kagome laughed at how Sesshomaru had said 'Yamaha' like it was a dirty word. "Then I guess all there is to do is grab the kids and then hit the road."

*SHRED*

"Okay, you guys have your list and we have ours," Kagome said as she tossed her purse into the shopping cart.

"List? What list?" Koga teased.

Kagome shook her head. "The grocery list you were supposed to make so you two don't end up buying the entire store."

"Sheesh, we know how to shop for food," Inuyasha scoffed. "Give us a little credit."

"We're only going to be at the track for two days," Sesshomaru reminded his cousin and younger brother.

"All you really need to pick out are some snacks," Kagome added.

"We know," Koga stated with a sigh before pushing the shopping cart he and Inuyasha were sharing towards the aisle with the chips.

Inuyasha followed a few steps behind him with Kagome watching them closely. "It always makes me nervous turning those two loose on an innocent store," Kagome said before digging her list from her purse.

"Why?" Toshi asked glancing from his mom to his dad.

"They don't exactly know how to behave in public," Kagome explained.

"They're idiots," Sesshomaru added, earning him a look from Kagome.

"Come on," she said, quickly changing the subject as she pushed their cart towards the beverage aisle. "Let's start with the drinks. What would you like Toshi?"

"Red Bull," he answered with a grin.

Kagome laughed and glanced over her shoulder at Sesshomaru, who was holding onto Toshi's hand, with Sakura, who was fast asleep, held securely between his arm and shoulder.

"He's learning how to promote his sponsors," Sesshomaru stated proudly.

"That's fantastic." Kagome smiled. "However, I don't think four-year-olds need to be drinking Red Bull. How about Gatorade?"

"The red kind!" Toshi insisted.

Kagome nodded approvingly. "Red Gatorade it is. Sess, any requests?"

"Some of that Sobe Green Tea."

Kagome actually stopped so she could turn to look at him. "So you're the one that's been taking them."

He shrugged the shoulder that Sakura wasn't drooling on, "They were in the fridge and we were out of everything else."

Kagome shook her head, remembering a conversation they'd had when she'd brought the green tea home, how Sesshomaru had claimed he didn't like it. "We've had other things to drink in the house for a while and my Sobe has still gone missing," she mused aloud with a hint of a smile. "You like it, don't you?"

"It's tolerable," he answered with a smirk, allowing Toshi to pull him towards an end-cap full of candy.

"My favorite!" Toshi announced, grabbing a handful of Gummy Bear packages. "Can I have 'em?"

"You can have one," Sesshomaru laughed pulling half a dozen packages out of Toshi's little hands.

"But-"

"Aww, let the kid have whatever he wants," Inuyasha said, stepping around the end of the aisle.

Toshi's face lit up, hoping his parents would listen to his uncle.

"He can have one," Kagome said taking the package of Gummy Bears Sesshomaru handed her.

Inuyasha gave her a half smile and knelt so that he was closer to Toshi's height. "Tell you what; if you win your motos this weekend I'll buy you a whole box of Gummy Bears."

"Really?" Toshi asked excitedly.

"Yep," Inuyasha nodded.

"Don't tell him things like that!" Kagome hissed. "It doesn't matter where he places in his motos this weekend. He's supposed to have fun."

"But a little incentive never hurt anyone," Inuyasha pressed. "He's got a big last name to live up to."

"You're a horrible uncle," Kagome said in annoyance.

"Agreed," Sesshomaru added.

"I just want him to do well this weekend," Inuyasha defended himself. "If he wins this qualifier, he's eligible for the regional, and then nationals."

"It's his first race and he's four," Kagome reminded him. "If he finishes, you should be happy."

"Hey, no matter what the little punk does I'll be proud of him," Inuyasha promised. "I just think it'd be awesome if he won."

"I'm gonna win," Toshi announced, causing the three adults to smile. "My bike's real fast."

"Only because you ride it that way," Sesshomaru said, ruffling his son's hair.

"I'm going to ride like you," Toshi continued, wrapping an arm around Sesshomaru's knee. "So I'll win."

"Of course you will," Sesshomaru agreed, grinning.

Kagome glared at Inuyasha momentarily before turning back to her cart. "Okay, back to shopping so we can get to the track sometime tonight."

She headed down the aisle and once she was a safe distance away, Inuyasha grabbed another package of Gummy Bears from the shelf and turned towards Toshi.

"What are we going to do this weekend?" he asked holding the candy just out of Toshi's reach.

"Win!" Toshi announced happily.

"Right," Inuyasha said, handing the candy to his nephew.

"Kagome's going to kill you," Sesshomaru warned him, unable to suppress a smile.

"Shut up," Inuyasha scoffed. "You know you want him to win just as much as I do, so don't pretend any different."

Sesshomaru nodded and three headed down the aisle after Kagome, Sakura still sound asleep on Sesshomaru's shoulder.