[AN] Maaa, has it really been two months? Oh my... Well I have an excuse! A pathetic one, but it's an excuse... My inspiration up and left me two months ago. Bastard. It's a miracle that I managed to get this chapter done when I did, cuz I'm lazy. Like, if there was a lazy contest I'd win, no competition...
Anyway another quick notice: It will be some time before I'm able to update Love and Rock... I just dont have the will to write on it, or the ideas... I'm trying to finish it up, but my shonen-ai muse isnt with me. oo;;; DAMN YOU ASHURA! I think he's on strike or something...
And without further mindless rambling, here is chapter 4 of NiaCT! And once again, HUGE thanks to my beta reader Naoko2 for all her help! Luv ya like a sister! [AN]
.......Quick edit is the devil. -- Taking out my squigglies and asteriks... Bastard. -glares-
===============================================================
Rin glanced at the clock. 6 pm. The room seemed so empty... It was just her, little Shippo, and the Iizuki twins. Kikyo, Suikotsu, and Jakotsu had just left a few minutes ago.
They had insisted on staying, but Rin had sent them away with a smile, saying she could take care of things here. After all, it was just three kids... And their parents would come soon, ne?
Shippo had fallen asleep, Koushi just ran in circles, and Aikou watched her brother. Amazing how quiet they were...
Another half hour passed, and Rin sighed.
"Hi Rin!" A cheerful woman's voice reached her ears and she caught the sight of a black-haired female in a green skirt and white button up blouse walking in. A silver-haired, dog-eared man in a business suit came in behind her.
"Hello Kagome, Inuyasha." She greeted them cheerily, but kept her voice down.
"So how was our boy today? I trust he didnt get into any trouble?" Inuyasha Iizuki asked, glancing down at the sleeping red-haired fox boy.
"Nope, none at all. He was actually very good today." Rin smiled. Kagome seemed almost ecstatic.
"Wonderful!" The woman bent down and gently lifted her adopted son into her arms. "Hey Shippo honey..." She said softly. Shippo opened his emerald eyes and grinned brightly at the sight of his beloved mother.
"Mommy!"
"Rin says you were very good today, how about a treat when we get home?" Inuyasha offered, cracking the smallest of smiles.
"YAY!"
"Feh, c'mon then." A clawed hand ruffled the boy's hair, and the happy family went home after a thank you to Rin.
Their number had dwindled down to three.
Rin glanced at the clock yet again. 6:45. And it was so very quiet... Another soft sigh.
'Surely Iizuki-san will be here soon... How long can he make me wait?'
Obviously a long time.
-=-=-
Rin sighed, flopping back on a pile of mats in the corner. It was nine o' clock! Where was Iizuki-san?! The twins were curled up on the carpet under a blue and white sailboat pattered blanket, both fast asleep.
They should be at home in bed by now, the woman thought angrily. As should she! What kind of a father WAS this man?! First telling his kids to retaliate violently to whoever may bug them, then this! Ohh that man was going to get a piece of her mind when he finally showed up, she didnt care WHO he was... Nor did she care that he had a tough job, his children should come before anything! Couldn't he at least send someone to pick them up for him, I mean, he was rich right?!
Liquid brown eyes caught sight of a silver head of hair poking in the door. About time!
-=-=-
Almost nine o' clock. Sesshoumaru sighed irritably as his driver pulled the expensive black car into the parking lot of the Shikon Child Care Center. He actually felt bad about showing up so late, not that he would tell anyone that, of course. He had wanted to get the twins around five, then go home for some relaxing time with his family.
Unfortunately, it wasn't possible.
He had gotten away from the meetings around five o' clock, and returned to his office to get his briefcase. There he had run into his assistant Jaken with some "important" papers that needed to be reviewed and signed immediately. This had taken until around 6:30. Goddamn long documents!
After reviewing and signing or rejecting papers, he got rid of his annoying assistant by sending him to get him a Big Mac prepared by a female worker with a height no taller than 5 foot. On top of that, Sesshoumaru told him to only take left turns to get to the McDonald's.
Finally he had headed out to the parking lot where his driver should have been waiting for him. Should have being the key words. The driver was a good hour late because his mother had been taken to the hospital just as Sesshoumaru had called him to come.
Then after that ordeal, the car had gotten caught up in traffic, making him yet another 45 minutes late.
By the time he reached the SCCC, it was 8:45. Frowning at the digital clock, he wasted yet another 10 minutes berating and taking his frustrations out verbally on the poor driver.
When the driver had been reduced almost to tears, Sesshoumaru collected himself and walked inside calmly, poking his head through the door to the large room that the lobby led to.
He saw Miyazawa-san sprawled out on a pile of soft mats, looking absolutely exhausted and irritated, and his twins curled on the fuzzy carpet under a blanket, fast asleep.
-=-=-
Spotting the man at the door, Rin rose to her feet, eyes narrowed as she walked to meet him. She kept her voice low, but colder than she would speak to the parents of any child she took care of.
"Iizuki-san, do you realize what time it is?"
"Miyazawa-san, I do." He said, matching her icy tone. "Its nine o' clock. Or does this cheap place not have a working clock?"
Rin silently fumed, but refused to yell and wake up the sleeping twins.
"Iizuki-san, may I speak with you in my office? I have some concerns about your daughter."
"Of course Miyazawa-san." He silently followed as Rin led him to her office and took a seat on her desk. She hardly ever used her chair anyway.
"Sit." She gestured to the chair on the opposite side of her desk, meant for visitors. He sat silently.
"Now, what... 'concerns' could you possibly have about my daughter, Miyazawa-san? I have raised her to be a strong, independant, and intelligent girl for her age." He stated in a monotonic voice, gazing coldly at the woman in front of him.
Rin glared dangerously. "This afternoon, Aikou got into a fight with a boy named Seloce; your daughter was smacking him repeatedly over the head with a toy truck. She claims he was poking her brother."
"And? Miyazawa-san, of course my daughter is going to defend her brother. They havent been away from each other for longer than a couple hours since birth, and are extremely close." Sesshoumaru was indifferent about the whole thing. What did he care about some child that isn't his nor has anything to do with him?
"She -also- claims that it was -you- that -told- her to be mean if a child was supposedly mean to her or Koushi. I want to know if this is true, Iizuki-san." Rin's blood boiled. How could he act like this was nothing?! His daughter could have seriously hurt little Seloce!
"I did tell them that. I'm not going to let my offspring become weak push-overs, like the -human race-. They are high-class youkai, and will not be walked on by the filthy children of lower class working people."
'Ooohh him... If my establishment, my pride and my joy, the product of my labors, is such a low, FILTHY place why did you bother bringing your twins here?!' Rin thought, though she dare not say it aloud.
"I cannot believe a man would teach his children to be violent to others!" She was really angry now. "The boy could have been seriously hurt! From what I understand, he did nothing!"
"Hn. I did not teach my daughter to be violent per say. I taught her to defend herself and her brother, to be a strong person and I believe she is just that. It is obvious Aikou was provoked somehow, therefore I feel no sympathy for the other child."
"You heartless man!" Rin pointed an accusing finger at him. Sesshoumaru didnt even flinch. "I cannot believe you! Seloce is perfectly innocent and I have no clue what might have 'provoked' Aikou, nor why she would react how she did!" Oh yes... Rin was pissed. "When a child has problems, they should go to an adult for help, not respond for violence! It seems to me Iizuki-san, that you need to teach your daughter this."
"I believe, Miyazawa-san, that Aikou and Koushi are my offspring, not yours, and I will be raising them how I see fit." He stayed calm, cool, collected, as he rose from the chair, his height making him tower above the shortish woman. "Now, if you do not mind my interrupting your unnecessary lectures on parenting, I need to be taking the twins home. They should be in bed now."
He left her office and walked back to the play room. Koushi didnt stir as he and his sister were picked up and held in his strong arms. Only Aikou opened her eyes a bit and smiled.
"Daddy..." She said sleepily, snuggling against his chest. He simply nodded.
"Time to go home..." He said, his voice less cold when directed towards Aikou.
Heaving an exhausted sigh, weary from the day's activities, Rin drew her knees up to her chest, resting her chin on them. She watched Iizuki-san and the twins leave the building through the panel of glass set in the wall of her office facing the lobby.
-=-=-
In the car, on the way home, Sesshoumaru found himself smirking ever so slightly. That Miyazawa-san was certainly... intriguing. She most definately piqued his interest. Never before had ANYONE, let alone a lower middle-class working woman, spoken to him in such a manner. He found it... interesting, that she didnt cower and grovel at his feet, or worship him like an obsessed fan girl. This one actually had a backbone it seemed.
Iizuki Sesshoumaru planned on seeing her the very next day.
-=-=-
Rin managed to calm down before she locked up the building and drove home. Parking her car, she took the stairs up to her apartment on the third floor to work off some excess energy the confrontation had created.
Slender hands dug in her purse for her house key. She found it, and went inside, making sure to bolt the door behind her.
She let down her hair and brushed it, changed into some comfortable pajamas, and made a sandwich before she went to bed. She didnt really look forward to tomorrow, nor did she look forward to the inevitable: seeing Iizuki-san again.
Anyway another quick notice: It will be some time before I'm able to update Love and Rock... I just dont have the will to write on it, or the ideas... I'm trying to finish it up, but my shonen-ai muse isnt with me. oo;;; DAMN YOU ASHURA! I think he's on strike or something...
And without further mindless rambling, here is chapter 4 of NiaCT! And once again, HUGE thanks to my beta reader Naoko2 for all her help! Luv ya like a sister! [AN]
.......Quick edit is the devil. -- Taking out my squigglies and asteriks... Bastard. -glares-
===============================================================
Rin glanced at the clock. 6 pm. The room seemed so empty... It was just her, little Shippo, and the Iizuki twins. Kikyo, Suikotsu, and Jakotsu had just left a few minutes ago.
They had insisted on staying, but Rin had sent them away with a smile, saying she could take care of things here. After all, it was just three kids... And their parents would come soon, ne?
Shippo had fallen asleep, Koushi just ran in circles, and Aikou watched her brother. Amazing how quiet they were...
Another half hour passed, and Rin sighed.
"Hi Rin!" A cheerful woman's voice reached her ears and she caught the sight of a black-haired female in a green skirt and white button up blouse walking in. A silver-haired, dog-eared man in a business suit came in behind her.
"Hello Kagome, Inuyasha." She greeted them cheerily, but kept her voice down.
"So how was our boy today? I trust he didnt get into any trouble?" Inuyasha Iizuki asked, glancing down at the sleeping red-haired fox boy.
"Nope, none at all. He was actually very good today." Rin smiled. Kagome seemed almost ecstatic.
"Wonderful!" The woman bent down and gently lifted her adopted son into her arms. "Hey Shippo honey..." She said softly. Shippo opened his emerald eyes and grinned brightly at the sight of his beloved mother.
"Mommy!"
"Rin says you were very good today, how about a treat when we get home?" Inuyasha offered, cracking the smallest of smiles.
"YAY!"
"Feh, c'mon then." A clawed hand ruffled the boy's hair, and the happy family went home after a thank you to Rin.
Their number had dwindled down to three.
Rin glanced at the clock yet again. 6:45. And it was so very quiet... Another soft sigh.
'Surely Iizuki-san will be here soon... How long can he make me wait?'
Obviously a long time.
-=-=-
Rin sighed, flopping back on a pile of mats in the corner. It was nine o' clock! Where was Iizuki-san?! The twins were curled up on the carpet under a blue and white sailboat pattered blanket, both fast asleep.
They should be at home in bed by now, the woman thought angrily. As should she! What kind of a father WAS this man?! First telling his kids to retaliate violently to whoever may bug them, then this! Ohh that man was going to get a piece of her mind when he finally showed up, she didnt care WHO he was... Nor did she care that he had a tough job, his children should come before anything! Couldn't he at least send someone to pick them up for him, I mean, he was rich right?!
Liquid brown eyes caught sight of a silver head of hair poking in the door. About time!
-=-=-
Almost nine o' clock. Sesshoumaru sighed irritably as his driver pulled the expensive black car into the parking lot of the Shikon Child Care Center. He actually felt bad about showing up so late, not that he would tell anyone that, of course. He had wanted to get the twins around five, then go home for some relaxing time with his family.
Unfortunately, it wasn't possible.
He had gotten away from the meetings around five o' clock, and returned to his office to get his briefcase. There he had run into his assistant Jaken with some "important" papers that needed to be reviewed and signed immediately. This had taken until around 6:30. Goddamn long documents!
After reviewing and signing or rejecting papers, he got rid of his annoying assistant by sending him to get him a Big Mac prepared by a female worker with a height no taller than 5 foot. On top of that, Sesshoumaru told him to only take left turns to get to the McDonald's.
Finally he had headed out to the parking lot where his driver should have been waiting for him. Should have being the key words. The driver was a good hour late because his mother had been taken to the hospital just as Sesshoumaru had called him to come.
Then after that ordeal, the car had gotten caught up in traffic, making him yet another 45 minutes late.
By the time he reached the SCCC, it was 8:45. Frowning at the digital clock, he wasted yet another 10 minutes berating and taking his frustrations out verbally on the poor driver.
When the driver had been reduced almost to tears, Sesshoumaru collected himself and walked inside calmly, poking his head through the door to the large room that the lobby led to.
He saw Miyazawa-san sprawled out on a pile of soft mats, looking absolutely exhausted and irritated, and his twins curled on the fuzzy carpet under a blanket, fast asleep.
-=-=-
Spotting the man at the door, Rin rose to her feet, eyes narrowed as she walked to meet him. She kept her voice low, but colder than she would speak to the parents of any child she took care of.
"Iizuki-san, do you realize what time it is?"
"Miyazawa-san, I do." He said, matching her icy tone. "Its nine o' clock. Or does this cheap place not have a working clock?"
Rin silently fumed, but refused to yell and wake up the sleeping twins.
"Iizuki-san, may I speak with you in my office? I have some concerns about your daughter."
"Of course Miyazawa-san." He silently followed as Rin led him to her office and took a seat on her desk. She hardly ever used her chair anyway.
"Sit." She gestured to the chair on the opposite side of her desk, meant for visitors. He sat silently.
"Now, what... 'concerns' could you possibly have about my daughter, Miyazawa-san? I have raised her to be a strong, independant, and intelligent girl for her age." He stated in a monotonic voice, gazing coldly at the woman in front of him.
Rin glared dangerously. "This afternoon, Aikou got into a fight with a boy named Seloce; your daughter was smacking him repeatedly over the head with a toy truck. She claims he was poking her brother."
"And? Miyazawa-san, of course my daughter is going to defend her brother. They havent been away from each other for longer than a couple hours since birth, and are extremely close." Sesshoumaru was indifferent about the whole thing. What did he care about some child that isn't his nor has anything to do with him?
"She -also- claims that it was -you- that -told- her to be mean if a child was supposedly mean to her or Koushi. I want to know if this is true, Iizuki-san." Rin's blood boiled. How could he act like this was nothing?! His daughter could have seriously hurt little Seloce!
"I did tell them that. I'm not going to let my offspring become weak push-overs, like the -human race-. They are high-class youkai, and will not be walked on by the filthy children of lower class working people."
'Ooohh him... If my establishment, my pride and my joy, the product of my labors, is such a low, FILTHY place why did you bother bringing your twins here?!' Rin thought, though she dare not say it aloud.
"I cannot believe a man would teach his children to be violent to others!" She was really angry now. "The boy could have been seriously hurt! From what I understand, he did nothing!"
"Hn. I did not teach my daughter to be violent per say. I taught her to defend herself and her brother, to be a strong person and I believe she is just that. It is obvious Aikou was provoked somehow, therefore I feel no sympathy for the other child."
"You heartless man!" Rin pointed an accusing finger at him. Sesshoumaru didnt even flinch. "I cannot believe you! Seloce is perfectly innocent and I have no clue what might have 'provoked' Aikou, nor why she would react how she did!" Oh yes... Rin was pissed. "When a child has problems, they should go to an adult for help, not respond for violence! It seems to me Iizuki-san, that you need to teach your daughter this."
"I believe, Miyazawa-san, that Aikou and Koushi are my offspring, not yours, and I will be raising them how I see fit." He stayed calm, cool, collected, as he rose from the chair, his height making him tower above the shortish woman. "Now, if you do not mind my interrupting your unnecessary lectures on parenting, I need to be taking the twins home. They should be in bed now."
He left her office and walked back to the play room. Koushi didnt stir as he and his sister were picked up and held in his strong arms. Only Aikou opened her eyes a bit and smiled.
"Daddy..." She said sleepily, snuggling against his chest. He simply nodded.
"Time to go home..." He said, his voice less cold when directed towards Aikou.
Heaving an exhausted sigh, weary from the day's activities, Rin drew her knees up to her chest, resting her chin on them. She watched Iizuki-san and the twins leave the building through the panel of glass set in the wall of her office facing the lobby.
-=-=-
In the car, on the way home, Sesshoumaru found himself smirking ever so slightly. That Miyazawa-san was certainly... intriguing. She most definately piqued his interest. Never before had ANYONE, let alone a lower middle-class working woman, spoken to him in such a manner. He found it... interesting, that she didnt cower and grovel at his feet, or worship him like an obsessed fan girl. This one actually had a backbone it seemed.
Iizuki Sesshoumaru planned on seeing her the very next day.
-=-=-
Rin managed to calm down before she locked up the building and drove home. Parking her car, she took the stairs up to her apartment on the third floor to work off some excess energy the confrontation had created.
Slender hands dug in her purse for her house key. She found it, and went inside, making sure to bolt the door behind her.
She let down her hair and brushed it, changed into some comfortable pajamas, and made a sandwich before she went to bed. She didnt really look forward to tomorrow, nor did she look forward to the inevitable: seeing Iizuki-san again.