Hello FF.net! Yes, its a miracle! Mage is back! -_- *dies* I've had major writers block on Love and Rock, but never fear! I havent given up! I wont leave it unfinished! ....Though it may take me another freaking year to update -_- my apologies.
Anyway, I dont remember how I got this idea, but here it is: Notches in a Cherry Tree. Title has nothing to do with fic, it just sounds cool. ~.~ Hopefully this'll keep my readers satisfied until I can finish Love and Rock.
****Big thanks to my beta-reader and one of my best friends, Naoko2, for all the help she's given me with this fic! I honestly dont know what I'd do without her, so this is dedicated to you Naoko-sama!****
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~Chapter 1: Run-Ins~
Ugh, 5:30 in the morning. Who woulda thought there even WAS a 5:30 in the morning? Surely no one in their right mind would be up at such a time, when it was still dark outside and the streets were quiet.
But I guess whoever thought that was wrong.
A car roared to life on Ookami Avenue early that morning and sped off down the street. The driver? Miyazawa Rin, a girl of no more than 20 who lived alone in a small apartment on Ookami Avenue.
Rumors in the small apartment building traveled fast. They say she talked to very few people in the building, but smiled often.
Rin had heard her neighbors talking about her, but she just shrugged it off. They didnt know her; few people really did. That's alright though, she thought. Let them talk. It didnt mean they were right.
She yawned as she pulled up in the parking lot of the small daycare center all the way across town where she worked. It was now 5:57 am. Finding the correct key on her keychain, she unlocked the door to the daycare and walked in. The building, small and cheery, with large silly murals painted on the walls and bright blue carpeting, was still dark.
Hm, she thought. Her co-worker must not have arrived yet. Delicate fingers flipped the light switch.
"BOO!"
"KYAA!"
A dark-haired head popped up in front of her. A dark-haired head was smacked down with a heavy purse.
"Oh my god! Jakotsu, you scared me!" A wide-eyed Rin dropped her purse and helped the unfortunate man stand up. Jakotsu rose to his feet and brushed himself off.
"S'alright, s'alright, I shouldnt have done that." He laughed. "I guess we should probably set things up now huh? The early kids get dropped off in roughly an hour."
"Yeah, youre right."
Both Rin and Jakotsu then went about their daily jobs, setting out coloring books and crayons and toys for the children to play with.
When they finished, it was 6:56 am.
~*~
7:15. The front door opened widely, and a small red-headed boy bounced in. Rin smiled as he immediately ran to her and clung to her denim skirt.
"Hey Shippo-chan!"
"Hi Rin-sama!"
"We wont be back til 7 tonight, Rin. I hope you dont mind." Shippo's foster father, Inuyasha Iizuki said, straightening his business suit.
"No, its alright! I'm sure Shippo and I will have lots of fun til then, ne Shippo-chan?"
"Hai!" He chirped happily.
Inuyasha nodded and left, his wife Kagome following.
"I wanna play ball! I wanna play ball! C'mon Jakky-sama, I wanna play ball!" Shippo bounced in circles around the tall man's feet, happily shouting.
"Alright, alright Kiddo!" Jakotsu laughed, putting his hands behind his head. Shippo sure was a bundle of energy today!
"YAAAAY!" Shippo dived into the red and yellow-painted toybox in the corner of the large, spacious room and found his favorite ball: a green rubber dodge ball with a large yellow star. "Catch!" The little boy tossed it at Jakotsu, or Jakky-sama as the children called him (since most couldnt pronounce his name), and it bounced off the walls and ceiling, knocking over a potted plant.
Rin sighed and rubbed her temples; today was gonna be a long day, that was for sure.
~*~
"KAGGYWAAAAAA! KOU MADE A MEEEEEESS!" A small, female voice echoed throughout the large estate, sending birds flying and small animals running.
The woman in question was one Kagura Saseko, a woman of 24 and employed by the owner of this house and the children she was responsible for.
A small girl of about 4 bounded up to Kagura, her silver hair dusted with brown powder and colorful sprinkles. Her large, childish gold eyes were narrowed in what the girl thought to be a scary glare.
"Go cwean it up a'fore I tell daddy!" The child pointed towards the kitchen, her other hand on her hip. "I figuwed out how ta use da speed dial yestewday!"
"Aikou, you little brat!" Kagura grumbled under her breath, moving cautiously into the kitchen to find a small boy of 4 balancing precariously on a stool, holding hot chocolate mix packages. His black hair, and his clothing were dusted in the mix, as was the floor and counter around him. A bottle of multicolored star sprinkles lay open and spilled on the counter.
The boy looked innocently at the enraged woman, gold eyes wide. "I just twied to make me and Sissy hot chocwate!... Wif spwinkles!" He added happily.
"KOUSHI AND AIKOU IIZUKI! GO TO THE BATHROOM NOW! YOURE BOTH GETTING BATHS!" Kagura screamed, stomping one high-heeled foot on the kitchen tiles.
"Haihai Bitchwady!" Silver-haired Aikou ran from the kitchen, giggling.
"Don say dat Sissy! You get in twouble!" Black-haired Koushi followed happily.
Kagura felt like strangling those little twin monsters, really she did. But if she did that, she wouldnt have a chance with their father... Goddamn kids!
She wet a towel and began cleaning up the chocolate powder and sprinkles, being careful of her perfectly manicured and burgundy painted nails. If she got any of this crap on her burgundy-and-white designer dress, there would be hell to pay!
Finishing in the kitchen, she deposited the towel in a hamper and stormed up to the upstairs bathroom, high-heeled white shoes making a racket.
What ever made her agree to take this job anyway? She didnt need money; her father Naraku was the second richest man in Japan, and Kagura had all she could ever want! So why did she deal with these brats? Simple. Because of their father.
The twins' dad was none other than Sesshoumaru Iizuki, CEO of Taiyoukai Corp. and the richest man in the country. Sesshoumaru was 28, but he looked fresh out of college. He had long silver hair that he kept in a low ponytail, and hard gold eyes.
Kagura nearly swooned at the mere thought of her employer. She had been so lucky to get this job! The rumors circulating at fancy parties and such told that Iizuki had recently began dating again.
His first wife had divorced him three years back for some reason or another, but Kagura could tell Sesshoumaru didnt care. Kagura didnt care either, since now she could get close to the billionaire and perhaps marry him. Then she would be the richest and most well-known woman in Japan! All she had to do was stay here a little longer and seduce him...
Splashing and yelling alerted the woman to her surroundings again, and a torrent of warm, foamy bathwater hit her face, causing her crimson eyeshadow and jet mascara to run in small rivulets down her face.
Two soaking wet four-year olds giggled madly, before making a break for it.
"YOU LITTLE BRATS! I'LL STRANGLE YOU BOTH! ITS ONLY NOON AND ALREADY YOUVE MADE MY DAY A FUCKING HELL!" Kagura kicked off her heels and chased after them, yelling things a toddler shouldnt hear. Tsk tsk, if only she had known who had decided to come home for lunch that day...
~*~
The silver-haired man parked his expensive car in the vast garage and walked inside quietly, using his youkai abilities to mask his scent. He wanted to surprise the twins today by taking them out during his lunch hour, and if Aikou or Koushi smelled him, the surprise would be ruined.
Red clouded his vision and a low growl escaped his throat. This youkai was -pissed off-. Hell, he was beyond pissed! (Unfortunately for Kagura...)
His sensitive youkai ears picked up the sounds of three sets of feet running, two children screaming, and one woman yelling obsceneties directed at HIS kids.
His growling increasing in volume, he phased into the hallway, catching the offending "nanny" as she ran. His twins ran behind him and immediately clung to either of his legs, cheering and yelling, "DADDY! DADDY'S HOME!"
Sesshoumaru picked up Kagura by the collar of her dress, holding her at arms length. His eyes were a frightening red, his lips curled into a snarl.
Yet he spoke calmly, his voice level and cold, without a hint of emotion.
And thats what unnerved Kagura most.
"Just what do you think you are doing, Kagura?" Slender eyebrows curved into a frown.
"N-nothing sir! We... We were just playing a little game, thats all! A... A game!" She stuttered, scared for once in her life.
"Yeah wight! She yewwed and scweamed and said she'd hurt us!" Aikou piped up, peeking out from her safe spot behind her dearest father.
"Kagura... You're fired."
"Wh-what?! No, you cant fire me! I'll do better, I swear!" She whined slightly, squirming in his grasp. He tossed her down.
"I shouldnt have hired you in the first place. I only did because I owed your father a favor. Now get out of my house and never set foot near my children or me again. Is this Sesshoumaru understood?"
"U-understood sir..." Kagura hung her head, defeated. Slowly she rose to her feet and walked out, giving Sess one last, wistful gaze. Her dreams of becoming the richest woman in Japan were dashed, all because of those demonic twins.
~*~
Sesshoumaru sighed as he heard the door slam shut. "Are you two alright?" He asked, his cold tone fleeing his voice immediately.
Aikou, the more talkative one, nodded. "Yupyup we is daddy! 'Tupid Kaggywa cant run vewy fast!" He patted her on the head gently.
"Why daddy home so eawly?" Koushi asked, running around in circles around his father's feet.
"I thought I'd take you two out for ice cream during my lunch hour today, how's that sound?" He smiled slighty.
"YAAAAY! ICEY CWEA--@_@" Koushi had run into a wall and now lay on his back.
"But, we cant go until we get you two get cleaned up and changed. I would suggest you hurry." He stated, taking in the sight of Aikou's wet pants and t-shirt, and Koushi's soaking hair.
"C'mon Kou!" Aikou grabbed her brother's hand and literally dragged the poor boy into the bathroom, dropping him in a puddle before she undressed and got into the tub.
Koushi soon followed suit, and the two were out of the bath in mere minutes, clean and cocoa-powder free.
Sesshoumaru towelled them both off and got them dressed in dry clothes, and then they were out the door.
~*~
Sesshoumaru sighed as he looked over at the twins happily licking their ice cream cones and watching pigeons. Noontime sun shone down, bright and warm on his face, hightening the greens and browns of the trees and grass around him.
He sat on a bench in the park, dilligently watching his kids, though part of his mind still wandered. Now that Kagura was fired, he'd have to either take a few days off to find a new nanny or... send them to a daycare until he got off work, and until he could find someone else to watch them.
The second option sounded more promising. He had some meetings this week that he couldnt miss.
But what daycare in this town would take two kids on such short notice? And what daycare could he really trust?
Vaugely he remembered seeing his half-brother Inuyasha and his brother's wife Kagome at parties, accompanied by a small red-headed child that called them 'Mommy' and 'Daddy'. He took a small address booklet from the inside pocket of his jacket and looked up Inuyasha's number. Mentally berating himself for having to call his worthless bastard brother, he punched the numbers into his cell phone and listened as it rang once, twice, three times before someone picked up.
"'Llo, Inuyasha Iizuki speaking." The sound of his brother's voice drifted from the cell.
"Hello brother." Sesshoumaru stated coolly.
"Sess. What do you want?" Inuyasha's voice hardened at hearing that the caller was his older half brother.
"You have an adopted son, and I know you must send him to daycare, since you and your wife both work. I had to fire Kagura today, and I have to get back to work soon. Where do you send your little whelp? I cant leave the twins alone."
"Whoa, you sure youre my brother? The Sess I know barely says 5 words per conversation."
"Shut up and answer my question."
"Kagome and I send Shippo to the Shikon Child Care Center downtown. Its a great place, he seems to like it there. And the owners, Rin and Jakotsu, are really qualified. Kids love em."
"And the address would be?"
"1803 Goshinboku Road, across the street from the Elementary School."
"That's all I wished to know. Good bye brother." Sess pressed the end button and put his cell phone away.
Shikon Child Care Center huh? He would have to check it out...
~*~
12:30 in the afternoon normally means utter chaos at the Shikon Child Care Center where Rin and Jakotsu worked.
Today's lunch time was no different.
"I WANT MORE JUICE!"
"HEY! SHE STOLE MY COOKIE!"
"DID NOT!"
Rin rubbed her temples. The job was hectic, but she still loved working here with her cousin Jakotsu and all the kids.
"RIN! We're outta paper cups!" Her cousin yelled from the other side of the room, where he was pouring more juice for some little girls. Rin almost laughed at the state he was in, compared to this morning.
Jakotsu's dark hair was down out of its loop, splattered with finger paints, and his clothes didnt look much better. A navy button up smudged with yellows, reds and greens, black pants covered in vibrant blues, pinks, and purples; Rin then decided that finger painting shouldnt become a regular activity.
"Okay, I'll go pick some up! You think you can handle things here? It shouldnt take me more than five or ten minutes!"
"Hurry! And get more Kool-aid mix while youre out!" He rushed to a corner where a crying 2 year old had fallen and tried to comfort him.
"Okay Ja!" Rin giggled and walked out of the main room, making sure to close the door firmly behind her. The building was seperated into two parts: the main room, where the kids spent most of their day at the SCCC, and then the rest was divided into a clean, bright lobby, and Rin and Jakotsu's offices, which were both wallpapered in finger paint drawings and crayon colorings that kids had given them.
Humming softly, she walked through the lobby, briefly glancing in one of the decorative mirrors on the walls. She was a mess, not much better off than her cousin! Stopping shortly to fix her dark brown hair a bit and tighten the small ponytail on the side of her head, she jogged out the door.
People stared at her disheveled, finger paint stained t-shirt and long denim skirt as she jogged to the grocery store nearby, but she didnt care. Most regulars in this area knew where she worked.
"Hello Rin-chan!" A young woman at a small fruit cart waved a hello as she passed. She had dark hair and an eyepatch covering one of her sparkling brown eyes. (A/N: yes, Kaede is younger. she is still Kikyo's sister)
Rin turned and began jogging backwards, waving back and smiling. "Hi Kaede-chan!" Kaede smiled once more and turned to help a customer.
Suddenly the small woman jolted, feeling her back collide with something firm, and warm. Two strong arms reached to take her shoulders and steady her, and when she craned her head back, two hard, amber eyes met her honey-brown gaze...
Anyway, I dont remember how I got this idea, but here it is: Notches in a Cherry Tree. Title has nothing to do with fic, it just sounds cool. ~.~ Hopefully this'll keep my readers satisfied until I can finish Love and Rock.
****Big thanks to my beta-reader and one of my best friends, Naoko2, for all the help she's given me with this fic! I honestly dont know what I'd do without her, so this is dedicated to you Naoko-sama!****
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~Chapter 1: Run-Ins~
Ugh, 5:30 in the morning. Who woulda thought there even WAS a 5:30 in the morning? Surely no one in their right mind would be up at such a time, when it was still dark outside and the streets were quiet.
But I guess whoever thought that was wrong.
A car roared to life on Ookami Avenue early that morning and sped off down the street. The driver? Miyazawa Rin, a girl of no more than 20 who lived alone in a small apartment on Ookami Avenue.
Rumors in the small apartment building traveled fast. They say she talked to very few people in the building, but smiled often.
Rin had heard her neighbors talking about her, but she just shrugged it off. They didnt know her; few people really did. That's alright though, she thought. Let them talk. It didnt mean they were right.
She yawned as she pulled up in the parking lot of the small daycare center all the way across town where she worked. It was now 5:57 am. Finding the correct key on her keychain, she unlocked the door to the daycare and walked in. The building, small and cheery, with large silly murals painted on the walls and bright blue carpeting, was still dark.
Hm, she thought. Her co-worker must not have arrived yet. Delicate fingers flipped the light switch.
"BOO!"
"KYAA!"
A dark-haired head popped up in front of her. A dark-haired head was smacked down with a heavy purse.
"Oh my god! Jakotsu, you scared me!" A wide-eyed Rin dropped her purse and helped the unfortunate man stand up. Jakotsu rose to his feet and brushed himself off.
"S'alright, s'alright, I shouldnt have done that." He laughed. "I guess we should probably set things up now huh? The early kids get dropped off in roughly an hour."
"Yeah, youre right."
Both Rin and Jakotsu then went about their daily jobs, setting out coloring books and crayons and toys for the children to play with.
When they finished, it was 6:56 am.
~*~
7:15. The front door opened widely, and a small red-headed boy bounced in. Rin smiled as he immediately ran to her and clung to her denim skirt.
"Hey Shippo-chan!"
"Hi Rin-sama!"
"We wont be back til 7 tonight, Rin. I hope you dont mind." Shippo's foster father, Inuyasha Iizuki said, straightening his business suit.
"No, its alright! I'm sure Shippo and I will have lots of fun til then, ne Shippo-chan?"
"Hai!" He chirped happily.
Inuyasha nodded and left, his wife Kagome following.
"I wanna play ball! I wanna play ball! C'mon Jakky-sama, I wanna play ball!" Shippo bounced in circles around the tall man's feet, happily shouting.
"Alright, alright Kiddo!" Jakotsu laughed, putting his hands behind his head. Shippo sure was a bundle of energy today!
"YAAAAY!" Shippo dived into the red and yellow-painted toybox in the corner of the large, spacious room and found his favorite ball: a green rubber dodge ball with a large yellow star. "Catch!" The little boy tossed it at Jakotsu, or Jakky-sama as the children called him (since most couldnt pronounce his name), and it bounced off the walls and ceiling, knocking over a potted plant.
Rin sighed and rubbed her temples; today was gonna be a long day, that was for sure.
~*~
"KAGGYWAAAAAA! KOU MADE A MEEEEEESS!" A small, female voice echoed throughout the large estate, sending birds flying and small animals running.
The woman in question was one Kagura Saseko, a woman of 24 and employed by the owner of this house and the children she was responsible for.
A small girl of about 4 bounded up to Kagura, her silver hair dusted with brown powder and colorful sprinkles. Her large, childish gold eyes were narrowed in what the girl thought to be a scary glare.
"Go cwean it up a'fore I tell daddy!" The child pointed towards the kitchen, her other hand on her hip. "I figuwed out how ta use da speed dial yestewday!"
"Aikou, you little brat!" Kagura grumbled under her breath, moving cautiously into the kitchen to find a small boy of 4 balancing precariously on a stool, holding hot chocolate mix packages. His black hair, and his clothing were dusted in the mix, as was the floor and counter around him. A bottle of multicolored star sprinkles lay open and spilled on the counter.
The boy looked innocently at the enraged woman, gold eyes wide. "I just twied to make me and Sissy hot chocwate!... Wif spwinkles!" He added happily.
"KOUSHI AND AIKOU IIZUKI! GO TO THE BATHROOM NOW! YOURE BOTH GETTING BATHS!" Kagura screamed, stomping one high-heeled foot on the kitchen tiles.
"Haihai Bitchwady!" Silver-haired Aikou ran from the kitchen, giggling.
"Don say dat Sissy! You get in twouble!" Black-haired Koushi followed happily.
Kagura felt like strangling those little twin monsters, really she did. But if she did that, she wouldnt have a chance with their father... Goddamn kids!
She wet a towel and began cleaning up the chocolate powder and sprinkles, being careful of her perfectly manicured and burgundy painted nails. If she got any of this crap on her burgundy-and-white designer dress, there would be hell to pay!
Finishing in the kitchen, she deposited the towel in a hamper and stormed up to the upstairs bathroom, high-heeled white shoes making a racket.
What ever made her agree to take this job anyway? She didnt need money; her father Naraku was the second richest man in Japan, and Kagura had all she could ever want! So why did she deal with these brats? Simple. Because of their father.
The twins' dad was none other than Sesshoumaru Iizuki, CEO of Taiyoukai Corp. and the richest man in the country. Sesshoumaru was 28, but he looked fresh out of college. He had long silver hair that he kept in a low ponytail, and hard gold eyes.
Kagura nearly swooned at the mere thought of her employer. She had been so lucky to get this job! The rumors circulating at fancy parties and such told that Iizuki had recently began dating again.
His first wife had divorced him three years back for some reason or another, but Kagura could tell Sesshoumaru didnt care. Kagura didnt care either, since now she could get close to the billionaire and perhaps marry him. Then she would be the richest and most well-known woman in Japan! All she had to do was stay here a little longer and seduce him...
Splashing and yelling alerted the woman to her surroundings again, and a torrent of warm, foamy bathwater hit her face, causing her crimson eyeshadow and jet mascara to run in small rivulets down her face.
Two soaking wet four-year olds giggled madly, before making a break for it.
"YOU LITTLE BRATS! I'LL STRANGLE YOU BOTH! ITS ONLY NOON AND ALREADY YOUVE MADE MY DAY A FUCKING HELL!" Kagura kicked off her heels and chased after them, yelling things a toddler shouldnt hear. Tsk tsk, if only she had known who had decided to come home for lunch that day...
~*~
The silver-haired man parked his expensive car in the vast garage and walked inside quietly, using his youkai abilities to mask his scent. He wanted to surprise the twins today by taking them out during his lunch hour, and if Aikou or Koushi smelled him, the surprise would be ruined.
Red clouded his vision and a low growl escaped his throat. This youkai was -pissed off-. Hell, he was beyond pissed! (Unfortunately for Kagura...)
His sensitive youkai ears picked up the sounds of three sets of feet running, two children screaming, and one woman yelling obsceneties directed at HIS kids.
His growling increasing in volume, he phased into the hallway, catching the offending "nanny" as she ran. His twins ran behind him and immediately clung to either of his legs, cheering and yelling, "DADDY! DADDY'S HOME!"
Sesshoumaru picked up Kagura by the collar of her dress, holding her at arms length. His eyes were a frightening red, his lips curled into a snarl.
Yet he spoke calmly, his voice level and cold, without a hint of emotion.
And thats what unnerved Kagura most.
"Just what do you think you are doing, Kagura?" Slender eyebrows curved into a frown.
"N-nothing sir! We... We were just playing a little game, thats all! A... A game!" She stuttered, scared for once in her life.
"Yeah wight! She yewwed and scweamed and said she'd hurt us!" Aikou piped up, peeking out from her safe spot behind her dearest father.
"Kagura... You're fired."
"Wh-what?! No, you cant fire me! I'll do better, I swear!" She whined slightly, squirming in his grasp. He tossed her down.
"I shouldnt have hired you in the first place. I only did because I owed your father a favor. Now get out of my house and never set foot near my children or me again. Is this Sesshoumaru understood?"
"U-understood sir..." Kagura hung her head, defeated. Slowly she rose to her feet and walked out, giving Sess one last, wistful gaze. Her dreams of becoming the richest woman in Japan were dashed, all because of those demonic twins.
~*~
Sesshoumaru sighed as he heard the door slam shut. "Are you two alright?" He asked, his cold tone fleeing his voice immediately.
Aikou, the more talkative one, nodded. "Yupyup we is daddy! 'Tupid Kaggywa cant run vewy fast!" He patted her on the head gently.
"Why daddy home so eawly?" Koushi asked, running around in circles around his father's feet.
"I thought I'd take you two out for ice cream during my lunch hour today, how's that sound?" He smiled slighty.
"YAAAAY! ICEY CWEA--@_@" Koushi had run into a wall and now lay on his back.
"But, we cant go until we get you two get cleaned up and changed. I would suggest you hurry." He stated, taking in the sight of Aikou's wet pants and t-shirt, and Koushi's soaking hair.
"C'mon Kou!" Aikou grabbed her brother's hand and literally dragged the poor boy into the bathroom, dropping him in a puddle before she undressed and got into the tub.
Koushi soon followed suit, and the two were out of the bath in mere minutes, clean and cocoa-powder free.
Sesshoumaru towelled them both off and got them dressed in dry clothes, and then they were out the door.
~*~
Sesshoumaru sighed as he looked over at the twins happily licking their ice cream cones and watching pigeons. Noontime sun shone down, bright and warm on his face, hightening the greens and browns of the trees and grass around him.
He sat on a bench in the park, dilligently watching his kids, though part of his mind still wandered. Now that Kagura was fired, he'd have to either take a few days off to find a new nanny or... send them to a daycare until he got off work, and until he could find someone else to watch them.
The second option sounded more promising. He had some meetings this week that he couldnt miss.
But what daycare in this town would take two kids on such short notice? And what daycare could he really trust?
Vaugely he remembered seeing his half-brother Inuyasha and his brother's wife Kagome at parties, accompanied by a small red-headed child that called them 'Mommy' and 'Daddy'. He took a small address booklet from the inside pocket of his jacket and looked up Inuyasha's number. Mentally berating himself for having to call his worthless bastard brother, he punched the numbers into his cell phone and listened as it rang once, twice, three times before someone picked up.
"'Llo, Inuyasha Iizuki speaking." The sound of his brother's voice drifted from the cell.
"Hello brother." Sesshoumaru stated coolly.
"Sess. What do you want?" Inuyasha's voice hardened at hearing that the caller was his older half brother.
"You have an adopted son, and I know you must send him to daycare, since you and your wife both work. I had to fire Kagura today, and I have to get back to work soon. Where do you send your little whelp? I cant leave the twins alone."
"Whoa, you sure youre my brother? The Sess I know barely says 5 words per conversation."
"Shut up and answer my question."
"Kagome and I send Shippo to the Shikon Child Care Center downtown. Its a great place, he seems to like it there. And the owners, Rin and Jakotsu, are really qualified. Kids love em."
"And the address would be?"
"1803 Goshinboku Road, across the street from the Elementary School."
"That's all I wished to know. Good bye brother." Sess pressed the end button and put his cell phone away.
Shikon Child Care Center huh? He would have to check it out...
~*~
12:30 in the afternoon normally means utter chaos at the Shikon Child Care Center where Rin and Jakotsu worked.
Today's lunch time was no different.
"I WANT MORE JUICE!"
"HEY! SHE STOLE MY COOKIE!"
"DID NOT!"
Rin rubbed her temples. The job was hectic, but she still loved working here with her cousin Jakotsu and all the kids.
"RIN! We're outta paper cups!" Her cousin yelled from the other side of the room, where he was pouring more juice for some little girls. Rin almost laughed at the state he was in, compared to this morning.
Jakotsu's dark hair was down out of its loop, splattered with finger paints, and his clothes didnt look much better. A navy button up smudged with yellows, reds and greens, black pants covered in vibrant blues, pinks, and purples; Rin then decided that finger painting shouldnt become a regular activity.
"Okay, I'll go pick some up! You think you can handle things here? It shouldnt take me more than five or ten minutes!"
"Hurry! And get more Kool-aid mix while youre out!" He rushed to a corner where a crying 2 year old had fallen and tried to comfort him.
"Okay Ja!" Rin giggled and walked out of the main room, making sure to close the door firmly behind her. The building was seperated into two parts: the main room, where the kids spent most of their day at the SCCC, and then the rest was divided into a clean, bright lobby, and Rin and Jakotsu's offices, which were both wallpapered in finger paint drawings and crayon colorings that kids had given them.
Humming softly, she walked through the lobby, briefly glancing in one of the decorative mirrors on the walls. She was a mess, not much better off than her cousin! Stopping shortly to fix her dark brown hair a bit and tighten the small ponytail on the side of her head, she jogged out the door.
People stared at her disheveled, finger paint stained t-shirt and long denim skirt as she jogged to the grocery store nearby, but she didnt care. Most regulars in this area knew where she worked.
"Hello Rin-chan!" A young woman at a small fruit cart waved a hello as she passed. She had dark hair and an eyepatch covering one of her sparkling brown eyes. (A/N: yes, Kaede is younger. she is still Kikyo's sister)
Rin turned and began jogging backwards, waving back and smiling. "Hi Kaede-chan!" Kaede smiled once more and turned to help a customer.
Suddenly the small woman jolted, feeling her back collide with something firm, and warm. Two strong arms reached to take her shoulders and steady her, and when she craned her head back, two hard, amber eyes met her honey-brown gaze...