"So!" Dante tilted his magazine so he could look his interruption in the face, "what are we doing today daddy?"

"You are doing homework," Dante pointed to the mass of papers piled on the floor of the apartment, "that's the reason we're staying home today, so you can turn in all of the work you've been putting off."

"Maybe I won't. I mean, who wants to get into fifth grade anyway?" Yuki looked at the papers with distain.

"My daughter will not be a fourth grade drop out," Dante returned his attention to the magazine. He tried to read one of the many cologne adds to seem engrossed in the literature but Yuki didn't budge. "Seriously kid, get to work."

"But I don't want to!" Yuki whined, elongating each word.

Dante narrowed his eyes in annoyance, "tough shit."

"Hmph." She returned her attention to her work. There was a stack of worksheets, three prompts for 1 paragraph essays and lists of math problems she had to do in order to get a 4.0, because of course Trish would accept nothing less. Yuki had been tested earlier this year and her intelligence was off the charts, so Trish had made it clear that there would be no excuses for anything less than an A- in all subjects.

Dante returned his attention to his magazine. After about 15 minutes he began to nod off until the sound of paper ripping jarred him awake. He looked down at his daughter to find that she was methodically tearing up her worksheets.

"Yuki! What the hell do you think you're doing!"

"Solving the problems." She stated mater-of-factly.

"Damn it Yuki!" Dante yelled, exasperated. He riffled through the desk until he found a roll of tape. "Put it back together." He tossed her the tape.

She caught it, looked at it, then set it aside. "No."

Dante was surprised at her answer. She had never pushed his authority this far before. In fact, she was usually pretty good about listening to him, at least when he was serious.

"Yuki. I'm not going to ask again." He leveled his gaze on her.

She scoffed, "you just did."

"I swear to god Yuki if you don't knock off the attitude I'm going to put you in time out like you were five." Dante really didn't know what else to do. There was no way in hell he was going to hit his daughter and she was already grounded for putting her work off for this long. Besides, he was reluctant to take away things she liked for something as stupid as this.

Yuki took the threat as a personal insult. "And what exactly do you think that would accomplish?"

"Hopefully it will remind you to listen to your father. Now are you going to do your work or not?" This was a dilemma. Yuki really didn't want to be put in the corner, that would be mortifying. But in her eyes, this was a challenge, and she had never been one to back down or submit.

"No." She narrowed her eyes and waited. The ball was in Dante's court.

"Fine." Dante stood, grabbed Yuki and walked to the dining room. He positioned a chair to face a corner and set her in it. The entire time Yuki didn't utter a word, but Dante could tell she was upset by the fierce blush on her face. "9 minutes," he said and left her to stew. He returned to the living room and looked around him. There was worksheet confetti everywhere. He sighed. Today should have been a breeze, he was going to relax at home until Yuki finished her work and then he had a surprise for her. That gave him an idea. Nine minutes later Dante spun Yuki's chair around and knelt down in front of her.

"Ok," Dante began, "I have a deal for you. If you tape your work back together and finish everything, I have a surprise for you."

Yuki deliberated a moment. She could accept this deal and save face, because technically she didn't back down. "Deal," she shook her father's hand enthusiastically and hopped off the chair.

It took less than an hour for Yuki to finish all of her work. She threw her pencil down with force. "Done!" She got up and ran to Dante, almost jumping with excitement. "What's the surprise?"

Dante motioned towards Yuki's bedroom, "go put on your shoes and a jacket." Yuki just about jumped out of her skin she was so excited to be getting out of the house (she had been grounded for over two weeks so far and had another one to go). She got ready in record time and was in front of Dante once more. Dante stood with a grunt, crap he was getting old, and followed Yuki out the apartment.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Yeah, when I eventually get to writing the next chapter, it's going to be about Yuki playing paintball and OWNING the guys twice her age. Sorry this chapter took so long but I've really lost inspiration and I'm not entirely sire where I'm going to take this. Thanks so much for reading and please review!!!!!!

3 familiar-abyss