Disclaimer: Not mine. Save for anything you don't recognize.
Magnolia Blossoms
"Ahem!" The couple jumped, and tumbled off of the couch, their lips still fused together. Amaya Shina disentangled herself from her boyfriend, looking down, a little too terrified to look her seething employer in the eye.
"Out. You're fired," Seto Kaiba gritted. Amaya's mouth fell open as she wiped away the remnants of her smudged lipstick.
"What? Why?" she asked, her brown eyes blazing. She quailed under the man's icy glare. Her boyfriend scrambled to his feet as Seto took a threatening step towards her.
"I have received a call stating that Mokuba has injured himself. Currently, he is in his room, being taken care of by the maid. The maid has also informed me that you have no knowledge of the incident, leading me to the conclusion that you weren't paying attention. And from the scene I just walked in on, I find that conclusion to be quite accurate. Ms. Shina, you were hired to watch over my brother, but apparently you are too incompetent for that simple task. Now, I suggest you leave, before I bring in security," the young CEO snapped, brushing by her on his way to the stairs.
Amaya picked up her purse and stalked out of the room, heading for the exit. Her boyfriend followed, looking like a lost puppy.
Seto quickly headed to his brother's room, where he found Rosie, the maid, bandaging Mokuba's hand and part of his wrist. "You okay?" he asked, perching on the edge of the black-haired boy's bed.
Mokuba smiled up at the older man. "I'm fine, thanks to Rosie. No thanks to Amaya, though," he said, frowning.
"I fired her," Seto said, rubbing his temples. He could feel a headache coming on. Now he would have to find another caretaker for Mokuba, something that took forever.
"Hey Seto?
"Yes, Mokuba?"
"Can I choose the next caretaker? Please?" The brown haired man sighed. Mokuba widened his grey eyes, his lower lip trembling. Seto's resistance dissolved.
"I suppose." Rosie hid a smile as she left the room. The older Kaiba truly had a soft spot for his younger brother.
Mokuba brightened significantly. "Really? Awesome! Will you come to the park with me now?" he said, switching tactics quickly while Seto was in what seemed to be a generous mood.
"Mokuba, I have to work!" The lower lip quivered. A sigh. "Just for a little while."
"Yeah!" Mokuba cried out with a happy smile, hopping off of his bed and running out the door.
Callie grinned as her cousin climbed over her. "Aidan, I'm not your personal monkey bars, you know," she snapped teasingly. She felt the twelve year old hang off her left arm, and thanked every deity she'd ever heard of that the boy was so light.
"Yeah you are!" Callie stuck her tongue out at the blonde boy. He made a face at her, his hazel eyes laughing. An earsplitting cry rose from the sandbox, redirecting the older girl's attention. With a sigh, she slipped out of her cousin's grasp, jogging towards the scene.
"What's wrong, Sheri?" she asked, squatting down by the girl. Sheri looked up at her cousin, her hazel eyes watery.
"Sheridan got sand in her eye!" the seven year old exclaimed. Callie sighed, looking down at the small girl. It was no wonder she'd gotten sand in her eye. She was sitting with splayed legs, her bright blue shorts vibrant against the dull gold sand. She'd obviously been flinging sand around from the hole in front of her.
"It'll be okay, Sheri. Just keep blinking, and the sand will wash out. Come on, you can play with Aidan and I," Callie said, tugging on one of Sheri's small hands. She deposited the brown-haired girl by her brother, leaving them to their devices, but keeping a close watch on them. She closed her eyes for a minute, letting the golden sun warm her skin.
When she opened her eyes again, she sighed to herself. It was truly a beautiful day, with golden sunshine, a soft breeze, and lush green plants all around. She could almost taste the joy in the air.
"Callie!" She looked up, and noticed the black blur heading towards her at a breakneck pace. Mokuba skidded to a stop right in front of her, prompting a small laugh from the older girl.
"Hey Mokuba, what's up?" she asked, ruffling his long hair. She grinned as he batted her hand away with a miffed look.
"Nothing really." She frowned.
"Yeah? Then why is your hand all bandaged?"
"Huh? Oh, I cut myself on some broken glass when Ryo was somewhere else." Mokuba could almost feel Callie's anger surge, and realized he'd said the wrong thing.
"What? Of all the stupid, irresponsible, incompetent, morons of the world…!"she hissed,
"I agree." Callie blinked. She hadn't even noticed that someone else had joined them. She took a moment to study the man. He was tall, a good 7 inches taller than her, and his body was lean. His chiseled features were handsome, and his eyes were a striking sapphire, even if they were half-hidden under his chestnut bangs.
"Oh, this is my brother, Seto!" Mokuba said, beaming, and bringing Callie's attention back to him. Callie gave the young boy a smile, and held out a hand.
"Calandra Haveles. It's a pleasure to meet you," she said with a small smile. Seto studied her, and then grasped her much smaller hand.
"Seto Kaiba. The pleasure is all mine," he said, smirking somewhat. Callie raised an eyebrow at his tone. 'Flirt. He's a flirt.' she thought. She looked down as she released his hand, and felt another tug on her other hand. She smiled, and scooped up Sheri.
"What's new, Sheri?" she asked, holding the small girl on her hip. Mokuba grinned at the younger girl, who he thought of as a younger sister. Sheri smiled back at him.
"Sheridan wants to play with Mokuba," she said seriously. Mokuba smiled, and Callie let the girl down.
"Go on, then. If that's all right with you, that is," she said, looking up at Seto. The older Kaiba shrugged, impassive. Callie nodded to the curious Sheri, who squealed and took off.
"Be careful!" she shouted after the two. She watched them run off, and then turned back to Seto.
"Sister of yours?" he asked. Callie laughed.
"That little fireball? No way. I've only got one brother. Sheri's my cousin," she said. He raised an eyebrow.
"Does she always refer to herself in third person?" Callie nodded.
"Yeah. We're not really sure why. We're working on figuring it out," she said, looking up at the sky. Seto nodded, and then turned away, walking in the direction the children had taken. Knowing that she would be called if anything went wrong, she relaxed on a bench, taking in the sunlight.
Seto watched Mokuba play with the younger girl. Another boy had joined them, obviously related to Sheridan, since he had the same color hair. He pulled out his laptop, and began to type.
Sometime later, he stood and stretched, and walked over to the children. "Mokuba, it's time to go," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. Mokuba sighed, and took his older brother's hand. The boy waved goodbye to Callie, who smiled and waved back at him, her platinum hair shining in the dimming light. She went and joined her cousins.
Seto tugged on Mokuba's hand gently, leading the boy to the limo. They climbed in, and Seto pulled out his laptop again, intent on finishing his file.
"Hey Seto?"
"Yes, Mokuba?" The young boy looked up, and noticed his brother was still immersed in his typing. With a shrug, he continued.
"I want Callie to be my caretaker."
A/N: And that's where I leave you. I realize that Seto might be somewhat OOC, but hey, I'm trying. Also, he's 23, and Callie is 22, if anyone is wondering. First fic, (fanfiction wise, at least), so please to review…it makes me happy!