The Nanny, Chapter 1:
"..You mean you're going to take the job?"
Kagome grimaced, twirling her index finger around the cord of her phone. Yeah, a wired phone, an old relic of the past that her mom refused to get rid of. She leaned against the kitchen counter, arms folded across her chest as he held the reciever with the crook of her neck, "I don't really think I have much of a choice. It's just going to be for the summer, I think. All I'll be doing is keeping two kids. One's seven and the other is four. How hard could it possibly be?"
"Kagome!" The voice scolded, "It's not just any job! We're talking about a multi-millionaire that has money pouring out of his ass! He could have any certified nanny of his choosing- professionals at his fingertips…but he settles for you, a freshmen with a summer to spare? You need to be careful. This doesn't feel right."
"His wife chose me. I haven't met him yet…I mean, she sort of unnerved me, but she seemed nice enough." Kagome gnawed her lower lip, adverting her gaze to the nearest window. Outside, her brother and grandpa were busy carrying statues and clay models from the well-house. Since her father died, meeting ends around the house resorted to her mom returning to work and picking up odd jobs wherever she could, "Maybe, I don't know, but the pay is not bad, not bad at all. It could really help around here….I think I'm going to take it."
"It's your call. I just worry about you, you know…?"
"Of course, and I'm worried too, Sango. Honest to Kami I am, but this isn't just about me. I need to at least try pulling my weight around here…"
"I understand, I do, just be careful, okay?"
Xx
Extra Uniform and clothes. Check.
Working Shoes and slippers. Check.
Tie. Check.
She was ready, as ready as he could be. She waited patiently at the front of the large oak colored doors that seemed to spread yards away from her. The house was huge on the outside, more than huge, really, like the overly exaggerated homes of rich characters on old sitcoms. Only, this family wasn't the cliché stuck up, fur wearing, out of touch assholes that represented rich people on television. These people were the real deal…or she hoped.
Hopefully, they didn't end up treating her like complete trash.
She frowned, but managed a forced smile once the door slowly opened. It revealed the face of an elderly woman, stout and rounded, an eye-patch covering her left eye. Despite the pleasant smile Kagome figured she was adorning, she was met with utter terror when the old woman nearly jumped out of her skin, "...Oh..Oh Kami…by the heavens…" Her hands came up, shielding her trembling lips.
The lady looked as though she'd nearly seen a ghost. Kagome blinked hard once or twice before her brows furrowed, "W-What..is there something on my face?" Did she look…bad on her first day? Was she inappropriately dressed?
Crap. They were stuck up weren't they?
"Grammy, who is it?" The door was pushed further aside and out squirmed a little girl, large brown orbs gazing up at Kagome before they too went wide as saucers. Her arms came up and over her head as she made a mash dash for the older girl's legs, "Mommy! You're back! Mommy!"
"M-Mommy?! What?!" Kagome wobbled, nearly falling off balance before attempting to pry the girl away from her, "Whose mommy!?"
"Back child, into the house, go!" Kaede, seeming to thaw from her frozen stupor, reached for her granddaughter, forcing her back into the open door behind her despite the child's whimpering protests. She abruptly pulled the door shut, her lips pressing in a thin line. "Why have you ventured here? What do you want?"
Oh, so they were rich AND crazy. Great. She would have the looney family, "I think…I think I'll go now…" She retreated a step hesitantly, being sure to evade the woman as she reached for her.
"Oh no please…please, pardon my behavior….You just…you look familiar is all."
Familiar enough to get called mommy. Something told her it was best if she just walked away and headed back to the subway. Every fiber in her body screamed at her to leave- just as Sango said…but the money. She needed the money. With a long sigh, she took her eyes from the woman at the entrance of the door and then gazed at the mass expansion that was the front lawn, fountain included.
She didn't know what to do.
"You're the new nanny, I gather…" Kaede folded her trembling hands behind her back, "You must forgive my granddaughter Rin. Her mother died a few years ago. She…sees her face in several strangers. Worry not. I will handle her…Do come in, would you?",
Xx
"How's it going so far?"
Kagome huffed, rolling out on her back on the bed provided for her- a spare room out of many she assumed, one on the ground floor nearest the kitchen, "…I didn't realize I'd have to live here. It's a twenty-four house gig. I got the weekends off though and I plan to head home on those days." She murmured into the phone before turning over on her stomach, "The house is huge, super huge though. It's so beautiful Sango…high walls, marble floors, everything is so…so."
"Expensive." Her best friend cut in, "Why aren't you busy doing nanny stuff anyway?"
"Well, the grandmother is here and is currently with the children. She wants me to wait until 'she' comes home before I do anything. Supposedly, he and the misses are gone on business, but it's about time for them to be home soon…" Her eyes wearily glanced at the clock that rested on the farthest wall.
"Nervous?"
"A little, but only because I think they're as weird as you warned me about. Why, do I have any other reason to be nervous?" Slowly, she sat up before slipping her feet into her shoes.
"Uh, duh. He's TOTALLY gorgeous- a hotty with a body! How dense are you?"
Kagome rolled her eyes, "If that was the case, why didn't you try to take this job?"
"As if. You know that Miroku needs my help around the shrine these days-"
"How do you know what he looks like anyway? I don't even know what he looks like." If he looked half as good as his wife did, he was just as "gorgeous" as Sango was making him out to be.
"Do I hear a stitch of jealousy?"
"Oh c'mon Sango, how do you know?"
"Fine, fine! His son used to frequent the dojo. Not sure why, but the kid had a couple of friends that trained with us I used to see him from time to time. When you mentioned his last name, it didn't take much to guess that it was the same guy. I mean, a limo practically brought the kid by there every Tuesday and Thursday."
"..What does he look like?" Now, she was getting curious.
"Total babe, let me tell you…"
All of her thoughts fell short once a soft knock hit the door.
"Uh, I gotta go! Talk to you later!" She said in a rushed whispered before shooting to her feet. At the door was the older woman, Kaede who, unlike previously, was smiling at her- damn-near beaming…for some strange reason. "They have come back. Come, follow me."
Xx
"Well, you sure do look the part." Kagura's hands propped on her hips, crimson eyes becoming heavily lidded as she stared at the house's new nanny, "Plain, thin, not harsh on the eyes, but not fetching either…You're perfect."
Oh, that was why she was hired out of teams of professional nannies and more qualified candidates. Kagome could feel her brow twitch. She bit her tongue, her hands balling into fists at her sides.
"And meek. Again, an excellent fit. Girls, this is your new nanny. I heard that you met Rin already." She did not seem to give the little girl much thought, more occupied on the cowering child behind her, "Come now Kanna, stop this nonsense…"
Large tears welled up in Kanna's eyes before they begin to slide down her cheeks, "No!" Her fingers were nearly digging into Kagura's dress.
"I'm Rin!" The little girl from before hopped in front of Kagome, a hand extended, "Pleased to meet you!"
Kagome could not help to smile. She knelt down, gently shaking the offered hand, "I'm Kagome. It's a pleasure to meet you Rin…"
Rin's attention seemed to leave Kagome as she pointed towards Kanna, "That's Kanna! She's really, really shy though."
Kagura managed to pry Kanna off of her dress, lifting her by her arms as she more or less forced her into Kagome's hands, "Here, special delivery…they're your trouble now. Dinner is served at 5. They are to have their baths at 6. Bedtime at 7:30. They are to wake promptly at 4 in the morning to prepare for dance practice before they head to school. Chop, chop."
Xx
Tired.
That was the only word that described how she felt. The girls were finally in bed, bathed, fed, and as completely exhausted as she was. Kanna cried herself to sleep while Rin merely passed out after running circles all afternoon around the both of them.
They were truly…a handful, but at least they were well mannered and respectful. They weren't bratty kids and were very obedient, thankfully. If they had attitudes on top of their mother's foul one, Kagome was not sure if she was going to be able to endure the days
There was still the incident of being mistaken for someone's mother and being told she looked familiar. It was nagging at her, gnawing at the far recesses of her mind…aggravating her. Maybe she did look familiar to them, like a relative or something…but there was the way in which the old woman stared at her earlier…with so much adoration and…love, was it? It was as if she'd known her for years.
It was strange.
She removed her shoes, holding them in one hand as she pulled the girl's bedroom door shut. Finally, peace and quiet. She dug her phone out of her skirt's pocket, realizing that she has two missed calls from hours prior, Sango and her mother.
She did forget to call home, didn't she? She'd call the moment she had a bath and returned to her room. Meanwhile, texting would have to do. She didn't necessarily want to wake anyone- if they were asleep anyway. It was nearly 8:00 that night, and heck, it felt later than that. The halls were dark, only illuminated by lights in distant rooms, but it wasn't hard finding her way back to hers. So lon g as she headed towards the kitchen, she was right on target.
She had yet to see Kagura for the majority of the day, only in going and coming, and the woman did not seem particularly interested in even acknowledging her or the kids. She was too busy prancing around the house and giving the rest of the maids and butlers orders to stay in one place for too long. Supposedly there was some important occasion that required the house to be in order.
Well, at least Kagura- Ms. Kagura decided to pay her double. It was pay she could not refuse.
That was the good that came out of all of this mess. Double the pay meant that it was all worth the effort.
With the type of money they were offering, she was sure she'd be able to pay for her first semester of university, if she was lucky at least. The hall finally opened up to the grand staircase their led to the front door. That particular area of the house was better lit than the rest. Maids and more workers were busy cleaning and buffering the floors to pristine, seeming to work in utter silence.
There wasn't a talkative bone in their body, Kagome figured.
Maybe Kagura was doing the same to them too- offering them money they could not refuse in exchange for their dignity while she paraded around like some sort of queen.
However, their silence did not stem from their wariness of Kagura. No. It was directly caused by the figure making his way up the stairs, the man of the house Kagome assumed- the total hott-…hott- Dammit Sango was right.
W-What was his name again…Sesshomaru?
She swallowed hard, continuing on her way towards her room, offering him a subtle nod of her head- merely wanting to get the encounter over and done with. Why? Well, her shoes were off, her tie was slung over one of her shoulders, and she looked a disheveled mess. She was nowhere in Kagura's proper uniform code she droned on and on about in the interview.
She figured that it was enough- figured that many it was late and he wanted to return to his room, figured that he would not want to be concerned with just another house attendant. He had his wife to get to after all….didn't he?
Didn't he?
Her arm was grabbed and she was halted in her steps.
It was him.
If she had yet to get a good look at him before, she received her chance. She could not skitter by like she wanted, no. Both of his hands were on her then, grabbing her by the upper portion of her arms, bringing her close, nearly off of her toes.
Kagome's eyes were large as she gazed into the stoic exterior that was her…current employer. Primal, golden eyes were intently peering back into her own, his face still…though he was searching for something. She could not help how red her face has become. Kami. Kami. Kami. He was close. He was really close.
There was the slight furrowing of his brows.
"…S-Sesshomaru?" She tested the name, though it was nothing more than a silent whisper on his currently deaf ears. She swore she saw pain cross his face, even if it was for a mere half second. "Let..let me go."
"Sesshomaru. I see you've found the nanny." It was Kagura's voice, loud and clear as she leaned against one of the stair's railing- a glass of what Kagome assumed to be wine in her hand.
That seemed to grab his attention.
Kagome was released, immediately pressing herself against the nearest wall, eyes flickering between the two. Her heart was going to jump out of her ribcage. Why the hell was he looking at her that way? Why…why did he grab her?!
"Who is she? Where did you find her?"
Such a voice would more than likely intimidate any woman that was unfamiliar with him, though Kagura was not dissuaded. She merely shrugged, "She filed her application online with the agency. I pulled it." A simple answer for a simple question, she figured.
"What is going on with you people?!" Kagome could not help blurting out, "What is it, what?! What is it about me that always has you…staring so?! What is it?" She'd had enough of the odd behavior and strange looks. She was going to get to the bottom of it.
"Her." Kagura casually said, flipping up the light switch that she was adjacent too. The entire front of the home became bright, revealing the imposing portraits of men and women, perhaps former inhabitants of the house. Above the door, unnoticed before was the long picture of a woman…beautiful...truly….beautiful….a woman that seemed to be Kagome.
Kagome immediately felt sick to her stomach. Who…was…that?
Kagura could not help the small smile that touched her ruby-colored lips.