-AN- Here's the other half of my double update, simply because you all are special! D And because I sorta kinda owe you all an extra chapter... Oo; -/AN-
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Rin carefully placed everything back where it was when she found it, turned off the lights and left the apartment, locking the door behind her and placing the key back under the mat. She hurriedly got what she went out to get, and returned to the SCCC with the bags.
The groceries were put away, and a slightly anxious Rin went about her busy day, awaiting the time when Iizuki Sesshoumaru would come to pick up the twins.
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Sesshoumaru's day, in all honesty, sucked. Jaken was unable to go to the meeting in Sesshoumaru's place thanks to some schedule conflicts, so Iizuki himself was forced to meet with that insufferable Onigumo Naraku.
Sess and a few officials of his company, along with his lawyer, and Naraku and HIS company officials and lawyer met in a cozy, carpeted room with windows lining the western wall.
The meeting hadn't gone well.
Naraku kept pressuring and pressuring, talking in that smooth tone of his, trying to convince Sess to agree to the merger. But the silver-haired man's will was strong and he wouldnt be swayed by the vile hanyou. No, Taiyoukai Inc. would stay Taiyoukai Inc. and the Iizuki family would stay in command, no matter what.
The meeting ended abruptly when Naraku stormed out in a huff, swearing to put Sesshoumaru out of business.
Sesshoumaru knew it would be a hard thing to do, but he didnt doubt the hanyou's money, fame, or connections. If anyone could bring Taiyoukai Comptuers Inc. to the ground, it was Onigumo Naraku of Miasma Corp.
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Sess sat in his office, listening to Jaken drone on about the following week's schedule, not really paying attention. His eyes continued to drift to the clock, watching the hands move. He swore that clock was broken, it was going too slow.
'4:50.... 4:51... 4:52... Aw come on, hurry up!' He mentally begged the blasted contraption. After today he just needed to go home and spend some quality time with the only good thing in his life: his twins.
"And Thursday you have a meeting with Kaimei Ashura of Southern Technologies Incorporated about the plans for a faster, more reliable desktop. Friday you need to speak with the employees about blah blah blah..."
'Did Jaken just say 'blah blah blah' or am I starting to lose it? Gah, hurry and let it be five...' Sesshoumaru thought, nodding dully at Jaken.
4:57... 4:58... 4:59... Fi-- Oh damn. Did that damned clock just turn back a minute?!
'Victory is mine! 5 pm at last!' Sess thought, rather OOCly, but hey, these are his thoughts, does anyone know what he's REALLY thinking?
He rose from his desk and put his things in his briefcase, now ignoring Jaken completely. He walked calmly out of his office, nodding once to his secretary, and was met by his driver in the parking lot. At least he'd be on time to pick up Aikou and Koushi today!
Sesshoumaru got into the back of his fancy limo, settling himself on the cushioned leather seats, and told his driver to hurry to the day care center. They arrived in roughly fifteen minutes.
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Five o' clock. Rin, Suikotsu, Kikyo and Jakotsu hurried about the building, making sure the little ones were clean and had their coats and other belongings. About 5:15 was when the daytime rush ensued, as most parents got off work at about five, then had to drive over here.
After the rush was over, about 5:25, Rin relaxed a little and set about picking up the room. Once again, little Koushi was more than happy to help.
The woman smiled as Koushi swept crayon stubs into a cardboard box, happily singing whatever words came to mind. Aikou watched him from her spot on the floor, blinking large gold eyes.
Rin sat cross-legged by Aikou, smiling warmly. Aikou hadn't misbehaved since the Seloce incident and now Rin was trying to patch up things with the young girl. "Is your brother always this hyper?" She asked with a laugh.
"Yup. Iz scawy sometimes." Aikou said. She didnt seem to have any hard feelings towards Rin anymore. Rin giggled a bit.
"Anyway, lets hope your dad isnt late today, ne?"
"It's not his fault he was late... Daddy's weally busy."
"I know, he probably is..."
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Speak of the devil, everyone's favorite silver-haired youkai stepped silently into the room, his golden eyes settling on his twins. Aikou was talking with Miyazawa-san, and Koushi was happily putting away crayons and singing a bunch of nonsense.
He almost smiled, but caught himself. At least the twins seemed to like it here now...
He cleared his throat, as no one seemed to notice that he had arrived.
"DADDY!" Both Koushi and Aikou squealed happily, running to him and clinging to either of his legs. He patted their heads, nodding.
"Hello you two, had a good day?"
"Yup!"
"Yup!"
Miyazawa rose from her spot on the floor and approached Sesshoumaru slowly. "Ano... Iizuki-san... Can I speak to you in my office for a moment?"
"You arent having problems with Aikou again are you?"
"Oh no, not at all! She's been an angel all day!"
"Alright then. Let me take the twins out to the car, I'll be back in a moment." His voice was cool as normal, but a bit less so than yesterday.
Taking each child by the hand, Sesshoumaru led them out to the limo, closed the door, and walked back in to Rin's office.
Rin sat cross-legged on her desk and nodded for Sess to have a seat in the chair provided, which he did.
"What did you wish to speak with me about, Miyazawa-san?"
"I just wanted to speak with you about yesterday..." She wouldnt meet his golden stare, averting her brown eyes to the corner of the desk she sat upon. "I shouldnt have yelled and I should have been more understanding, but I'm not apologizing because you should have at least called. I realize you're probably very busy and arrived when you could, but our number is listed in the phone book and I'm positive a big businessman like you has a cell phone."
He regarded her with a cool stare. She was an odd one, this Miyazawa Rin... Reprimanding him like he was a small child...
"Then allow me to apologize Miyazawa-san." He said coldly, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. Rin nodded, and took a piece of paper and a fat purple marker off her desk. She scribbled three different phone numbers on the paper and handed it to him.
"The top one is the phone number of the day care, the second is my cell phone number, and the third is Jakotsu's cell phone number. Please, if you're going to be late again sometime, at least call and let one of us know.
"I hope we haven't gotten off to too bad of a start, Iizuki-san... Jakotsu and I really do appreciate your business, and I hope you'll continue to send the twins here..." She added, glancing at the ground.
"I see no reason why I should find a new daycare for the time being. Now, I really must be getting home Miyazawa-san." He stood regally from the chair and nodded to the woman.
"Hai, sorry for keeping you."
"It's quite alright." He stated calmly, and exited the office. This one wasnt like other women he had encountered, that was for sure.
'Maybe... If the twins like her, I could hire her to take care of them during the day as live-in nanny... She seems qualified...' At least, with Rin and the twins around, things at the Iizuki manor would never be boring...
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Sesshoumaru sat cross legged on the carpeted floor of the twins' bedroom and watched them get out one of their favorite board games to play, Candyland. Aikou set out the board and pieces and Koushi shuffled the cards happily.
Sess smiled a bit as they started the game, Aikou going first, then Koushi, then him. It was times like these he really enjoyed, spending time with his small family. They were fine like this, the twins didnt seem to miss their mother. Of course, they wouldnt. They were only a year old when she divorced their father and left, taking a large amount of his money and property.
But sometimes he wondered. If they hadnt divorced, would Aikou and Koushi's mother be sitting right across from him, playing the game with her children? Would she stay home to take care of them? Would she take them places, and spoil them?
Probably not. That vile woman he had been married to would probably be abusive or ignore them. Or avoid them like the plauge, like she did now.
He almost sighed softly, wishing he had never met that woman, but in a way glad he had. If he had never married her, he wouldnt have his precious twins.
It was funny, really. Sess never wanted to marry her. It was all publicity, no love. She was a beautiful, famous model, and he was a rich, powerful CEO. He never had love for her at all, not even after the twins were born.
A year later, she left. Sess couldnt have been happier she was gone. For three years, he acted like he and his kids didnt need a mother and wife, not at all.
'Maybe they do need a mother...' He realized now, looking down as Aikou took her turn. Koushi giggled happily and drew a card, then moved his piece, winning this round, which he proclaimed excitedly and ran around the room. Aikou shouted for a rematch and set everything up again.
'I cant raise them myself, as much as I wish I could. We've done fine so far, but what about the years to come? I want a normal life for Aikou and Koushi...'
It wasnt fair. Sess had so much to worry about nowadays: problems at work, getting Naraku off his back, making sure he had time for the twins, finding a nanny, and now getting back onto the dating scene. It wasnt fair at all.