"Well Rinku, it's not our biggest room…But you get your own bathroom at least." Sakura shrugged showing the yo-yo child the available room. "But a little guy like you doesn't need that much space, right?" She winked.
"No way! It's perfect! Bigger than my last room."
"Great, let's go down stairs with Aki, and discuss your lease."
"My what?" The child asked, crinkling his nose.
"You know," Sakura smiled leading the boy down stairs. "Your lease, your contract. It's kind of a legal document saying that you have to pay us a certain amount at a certain time or face prosecution."
"Oh right! Rent!" Rinku grinned nervously. I only have about 200 bucks saved up…But that should be enough to get me through a few months right?
"Oh look who's here!" Sakura smiled walking downstairs.
"Chu?"
"Hey there little mate!" The Aussie waved.
"Aki!" Rinku glared. "Did you!"
"Hey, now!" The mage pouted holding up her hands. "I didn't call him or anything he just dropped by."
"Sheila's right, Rinku. I stopped by the house and you weren't there so I walked down the road to here to see if Aki knew were you be runn'n off to."
"…Oh."
"And what's this I hear? You planning on moving in here?" The Mohawk demon asked.
"That's right." Rinku grinned puffing out his chest. "I'm old enough right. I can handle it! So Aki, let's discuss my lice!"
"You mean lease?"
"Uh…Right! I was just joking!"
"Of course," The dark haired demon smiled sitting down. "So here's what I see. A nice kid like you, friend of a friend and all…I'll start you off at $200 this month."
"Deal!"
"And starting off next month you can start paying the regular rent."
"The…regular rent?"
"Yes," Sakura smiled. "We cut you a cheap deal for your move in month but by November you'll be expected to pay $450 every month."
"4-450…dollars?"
"Correct." Aki smiled. "That's about average and then you know there's always your extra expenses."
"Extra expense?" The young adult gulped.
"Of course Rinku." Aki frowned. "You have to pay your utilities after all. You may have the room at 450, but you still need the electricity, water, cable, phone…Not to mention money to buy your food, appliances, and clothing."
"I guess I would need food…" Rinku mumbled.
"Well of course!" Sakura smiled. "Everything okay?"
"It's just….a tad out of my price range."
"Oh!" The mage sighed. "Well you could always take up a second job."
"A second job?" I don't even have a first!
"Sure, it's easy." The elemental waved. "Just work everyday, including weekends. Every pay check should help you afford all the things you'll need."
"All week! What about my free time!"
The three adults began to laugh.
"Free time? It's part of being an adult Rinku. You have to give up some things to survive. I mean by moving in here, you technically are saying you accept all responsibility as an adult." Aki reminded.
"That's quite a deal you got there mate. Hell if I weren't in a lease with the other blokes I might move into this place! You sure cut him a great bargain Sheila."
"Thank you." Aki smiled. "Now Rinku, if you'd just sign on the dotted line…"
"Are you all insane!" Rinku shouted. "What's wrong with all of you! I'm just a kid! Sure I may be getting older, but not old enough to accept doing all of this on my own! What kind of landladies are you two! And you!" The youth glared pointing at the Aussie, "What kind of friend or role model are you anyway! If you really cared about me you'd be convincing me to come back home! Just how drunk are you today? Huh?"
"…Pretty close to sober actually."
"Huh?"
"Jigs up kid." Chu grinned. "Before I asked you to come home, I wanted to make sure you understood it was best for ya first."
"…I was tricked?" The brunette asked, watching the three adults nod. "Well even if I'm not moving out, I'm still mad at you! You forgot what today is!"
"It's your 75th birthday right, mate?"
"Huh? …You remembered?" Rinku blinked.
"Of course! In fact that's why I came back looking for you. I wanted to take ya out for ice cream…Still take you out, if you're up for it."
"Yeah! Let's go!"
"You Sheila's coming?"
"If it's on you…" Aki smiled, putting away the lease.
"Sure!" Sakura cheered.
Space Divider Space Divider Space Divider Space Divider Space Divider Space Divider
"Why are we at Genkai's?" The yo-yo boy asked.
"Natsumi's been staying here while she's in living world. I thought we'd pick her up to get ice cream with us."
"Oh…" Rinku shrugged sliding open the temple door. "Hello Natsu…mi?"
"SURPRISE!"
"Huh?" Looking around the living room, the child was shocked to see not only his room mates but also Genkai, Siren, Natsumi, Susuga, Botan, Yusuke, Kurama, Kuwabara, and even Hiei had been dragged in. "What's all this?"
"Well…" Yusuke blinked. "I thought it was birthday party, but if it's not then I gotta go return something before the store closes…"
"But I thought you all-"
"Forgot?" Suzuka interrupted. "Did you really think we could do that Rinku?"
"You have been reminding us for the past five months after all." Shishi muttered.
"So food or presents first, Rinku." Touya asked.
"…Did Shishi make the food?"
"No I did." Suzuka smiled.
"FOOD!" The child grinned running for the kitchen.
"What is this horrible stereotype going around about my cooking?" The samurai yelled.
So all in all, a birthday was celebrated and a lesson, though corny, was learned. Take your time growing up kids. You may want to be adults, but when you look back years later, you'll be glad you took things in stages. After all memories of childhood years help sustain the dreaming adults of today.
"That was great! Thanks a lot!" The 75 year old grinned, as he and the others walked into their house.
"No problem lad!" Jin grinned still on his sugar high.
"Happy Birthday Rinku."
"And many more." Touya sighed sitting in the recliner.
"Hey Rinku, why don't you put the rest of the cake in the fridge, okay?" Suzuka suggested.
"Okay!"
Touya smirked opening his novel. "3…2…1"
"PUPPY!"
"Are you sure about this?" The bird demon cringed.
"Come on Shishi, every kid needs a pet. You agreed it would help teach him responsibility."
"Fine."
"Is this for real?" Rinku grinned coming out of the kitchen carrying a golden retriever pup.
"If it ain't ye be carr'n round one hell of an imagination!" Jin grinned, petting the dog.
"It's only real, if you accept full responsibility."
"Duh, Shishi!" Rinku grinned hugging the dog. "Come on pet him!"
The samurai sighed extending his hand to pat the dog.
CHOMP
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!"
"…Well." The ice shinobi sighed closing his book. "It just wouldn't be a birthday in this house without a trip to the emergency room, would it?"
Owari
Well, I hope everyone can tell me the moral of this story?
Rinku: Never let Shishi cook!
Exactly! Sorry if it was a little cheesy, but another story done. Now maybe I can go back to work on my Disney World fic. I love writing about these characters, and I have a lot more ideas in mind…maybe another one involving Rinku, because the short people deserve attention to. So no stealing, no flames, and no suing. I hope you all enjoyed please read and REVIEW! Do it, it's Rinku's birthday!
-Siren
