"Mama!"
Kagome poked her head out of the kitchen, wiping her hands off on her apron. "Welcome home! How was school?"
"Mama, we need to plant a garden!" Rin bounded down the hallway, forgetting to take off her shoes in her excitement.
"A garden? But Papa already gets his vegetables fresh from—"
Rin shook her head. "No, a flower garden!"
"Oh, one of those," her mother said with a grin. "Well, we can start researching what supplies we'd need, and you can choose which seeds you want to plant, but it'll take some time to set it up."
Rin was immediately crestfallen, clutching at the straps of her yellow backpack. "But I need them for tomorrow!"
Kagome internally groaned. Her daughter tended to leave things until the last minute, field trip forms crumpled in the bottom of her bag or suddenly remembering needing to wear specific colours for a school event. If this was for some forgotten project, she would be out of luck.
"Why do you need them for tomorrow?" she asked, kneeling in front of her.
A soft smile lit up Rin's features, the expression making Kagome's heart swell in turn. "I want to give them to Jinenji."
Kagome bit the inside of her cheek to keep from grinning. "The new boy in your class?"
Nodding enthusiastically, Rin swung her back around, pulling out a carefully folded piece of paper. "I've been taking notes, and he likes flowers the best!"
Kagome gave the girl's side ponytail an affectionate tug. "Then we definitely need a garden."
"But you said they wouldn't be ready—"
"They won't," Kagome said, tapping her chin as she got to her feet. "But we can still order the supplies while we make some flowers. I think your grandmother has a few origami books in her library."
Rin let out a loud cheer, then wrapped her arms around her mother, hugging her tightly. "Thanks, Mama!"
"Who knows?" she mused, winking at her daughter. "Maybe your new friend will want to come over and help us plant the seeds once the soil is ready."
"I was not aware we required more indoor plants," Sesshoumaru said, leaning overKagome'ss shoulder as she went over the order on her laptop.
"We don't. Rin wants to plant a flower garden," she replied, scrolling down the list.
He raised an eyebrow. "There are three flower shops within a fifteen-minute drive of the house."
Kagome chuckled, then submitted the order so he couldn't argue. "It's for a boy."
He blanched, as she knew he would, blue eyes lighting up with mirth as she turned the chair around. "It is too soon."
"She's twelve." She crossed her arms, enjoying the sudden dishevelled look of her mate as he ran his claws through his hair.
"I am not ready," he said, giving her a desperate look.
"Says the guy who asked me to marry him two months after we met." His pale face made his pink ears stand out more, Kagome's grin widening.
"That was different—we are adults." He began to pace the room, but Kagome only laughed as she leaned back in her chair.
"I had the same response, though."
Golden eyes narrowed. "I seem to recall you giving that answer for close to a year."
"Serves you right for being so persistent." She'd been startled and wary, considering she'd only been working for him for a month, and dating him for less than that. But he hadn't given up, turning it into an anniversary of sorts and proposing on the same day every month.
He'd done a doubletake when she'd finally said yes.
"It isn't even like that," she relented, cutting him some slack. "He's new to the school and is being bullied by some of the other kids. You should be proud of her."
Sesshoumaru finally stopped pacing and sighed; whether it was one of resignation or relief, Kagome wasn't sure, but his shoulders relaxed all the same. "I am always proud of her."
"Then don't worry so much." She specifically left out the part where Rin had blushed when she'd informed her mother that she wanted blue flowers to match Jinenji's eyes.
"I will also always worry," he sniffed. "Especially when love at first sight seems to run in the family."
"Oh, I don't know." Kagome held up her arms, pulling him down as soon as he was close enough. "Seemed to work out pretty well for everyone involved."
"As you have reminded me of on a regular basis."
"All three of you blew off the idea. Serves you right."
Sesshoumaru slid his cheek against hers, then kissed her temple. "And I stand by my decision to do so. Had I not, I would not have been returning to my car at the precise moment you were in need of my assistance."
Kagome hummed softly, cupping his face as she smiled up at him. "My hero."
"As I will always be."
