Bringin you guys another late chapter :). My birthday is tomorrow, turning 17, woot! I tried to edit this myself. I'm horrible at it. I do not own the Joker or anything's he's been in, Inu Yasha for that matter as well.

A Simple Request

Chapter 16- Life Can't Always Be A Cup of Tea

Kagome angrily slashed, or rather attempted to slash, at Chorei. How could he go on a business trip ACROSS SEAS of all places, without telling her. Growling in both frustration and anger, Kagome brought the wooden sword down heavily, effectively missing her target. She was taking, or failing to take, her anger out on the agile butterfly demoness, but it was proving useless. Said demoness snickered as she dodged another stab. Why was she angry at Chorei? The vile insect had yelled at her puppy after all AND he followed her advice like a good little doggy!

Heaving and puffing, Kagome took a very small break while she gathered her breath before picking up the unbelievably heavy weapon above her head and slashing again, this time finding herself on her back with the breath knocked from her. Her muscles were sore and she was beyond sweaty. Lunch had came and gone and Kagome was famished. Chorei had been beating her ass WITHOUT touching her since about nine this morning, and it was nearly four in the afternoon!

The hybrid demoness stayed on the floor with Chorei now standing over the tired demoness, her amused dandelion eyes dancing in mockery while Kagome's chest moved up and down with sporadic, tired breaths. "Are you well enough to continue Kagome?" She questioned with a smirk. The grumbling Kagome avoided the question.

"No, I think you fractured my ego." Chorei's eyes seemed to boil in laughter. "What about Rin and Shippo? It's near dinner time and-,"

"Nice excuse and wishful thinking. The children are well taken care of, no need to worry. Jaken is taking care of them." Kagome groaned.

"But I'm hungry!" She whined pouting her lips and batting her eyelashes.

"What are you seven?" Chorei questioned with criticism, "Get up and start acting like an adult. You're fifteen centuries old come June." Kagome rose slowly at the insult. Not because she was offended, but her muscles were seriously protesting. Surely she couldn't do another day of this tomorrow.

Rin calmly sipped her pretend cup of tea, releasing a content sigh afterwards. "Exquisite taste is it not dear Shippo?" She questioned setting her cup down slowly and carefully before smoothing the white gloves on her hands then placed them in her lap.

"I must say it is preposterously delicious. Did you blend it with honey suckle?" Shippo questioned like a stuffy professional person as he straightened his clip on bowtie.

"You wretched brats quit talking nonsense and release me this instant!" A pudgy man yelled angrily as he rocked a miniature pink plastic chair side to side with his rant.

"Tis quite a drafty day outside isn't it dearest?" Rin continued, pointedly ignoring the outburst as if it never occurred. Shippo shivered slightly with the emphasis.

"Why I must agree with you milady, would you like for me to close the balcony doors?" Rin smiled beautifully and nodded as Shippo stood.

"Be a dear and close the curtains for me too, would you?"

"Why anything for a pretty lady such as you Miss Rin." Rin blushed, closing her eyes as she calmly sipped 'tea'. The sound of a plastic chair dragging against marble rang in her ears and she sat the china tea cup down.

"Squeaky hinges aren't they? I've been asking Jaken to fix them, but I guess he hasn't gotten to it yet because of his busy schedule."

"What the devils are you talking about you demon spawn? I order you to release me at once or-," The rest of the man's orders went ignored when a piece of duct tape was slapped across his mouth. Jaken's now muffled screams were ignored as the balcony doors were slammed in his face and the blasted kitsune stuck his tongue out at him before closing magenta curtains. The old servant cursed any God that was listening. Why did Lord Sesshomaru leave him with these troublesome spawns?!

Shippo returned to his seat with a triumphant smile. "Now where were we?"

"I do believe we were on discussing the topic if frogs should be allowed to talk." Shippo nodded his head at Rin's reminder, his eyebrows coming together in apparent thought.

"Oh yes, yes. I remember now. Well, frogs are especially pesky creatures. They do nothing but help spiders rid the world of insects and some of them poison us. So what reason do they need to talk besides to tell us, 'Hey this bug tastes like chicken'?" Rin smiled and nodded in agreement.

"Darling, you have an excellent argument. I do believe this completes our show for today. Perhaps you could turn off the camera?"

"I do suppose I could." Shippo stood and walked over to the video camera on a tripod standing at the doorway. It's view contained an excellent site of the majority of Rin's room and her balcony. Smiling to himself, he turned the device off and removed the clip-on bow tie from his shirt. "We are so getting an 'A' on our project!" Shippo exclaimed high-fiving Rin who easily smiled in agreement.

"It was your idea Shippo. You're a genius!"

"Oh come on! You thought of the theme and suggested recording it instead of writing an essay! Don't give me all the credit." Shippo retaliated vehemently. Rin blushed prettily and the room was enveloped in silence. She had realized how close in proximity their faces were and was unsure what to do. Shippo shyly bent down as he watched her close her eyes before he closed his and pecked her on the lips.

Rin's blush deepened tenfold and she opened her eyes to find her favorite kitsune gone. She frowned and began putting away her tea collection, pausing only briefly to touch her lips. Shippo had given her their first kiss!

Kagome both groaned in pain and moaned in relief as she sank deep into a scalding hot bath. Chorei worked her to the bone, literally! She sighed in content as her hair floated around her and the hot water worked to relax her muscles. The steamy water rose to her face, creating a slight blush on her sun-kissed cheeks. She swore the bath felt like a trip to heaven and it was suddenly luring her to sleep as well. Kagome frowned, shaking thoughts of sleep out her mind. She hoped Rin and Shippo had made it through today without any problems. She scoffed mentally against herself. Of course Rin had, she was probably used to this, but at least the charming girl had kept her Shippo company.

Kagome smiled to herself as she scrubbed with the soapiest rag she could create. Rin was a darling girl. She immensely enjoyed company, but had relative no one, where as Kagome went out her way to make sure Shippo was never alone. Sighing, Kagome rinsed off, released the drain, and stepped out onto a towel before pulling another to dry off. Sesshomaru always had the most comfortable towels in the world and they were large too! She made hurry to dry off and quickly put on one of his shirts. She felt the stress of her body disappear as his scent embraced her senses.

Placing the wet towels in the laundry bin, Kagome dragged her body to Sesshomaru's bedroom and collapsed on the bed. She honestly had no way of knowing how she had climbed onto the high bed, but she also wasn't complaining. Sighing, she let fatigue claim her as she wrapped herself in Sesshomaru blankets, drifting to sleep nearly instantaneously while wishing to fell her mate-to-be's presence soon.

Glowing amber eyes watched their dark-haired beauty succumb to sleep in his bed. It had been a long day for him, and even longer for her. The exhaust was practically echoing off her through their courting mark and he wondered how the hell was his former babysitter training her. The daiyoukai cleared his head from the thoughts and placed it in a file marked none of his business which he created to damper his natural curiosity. Cautiously, he broke into his own room and join his hybrid in bed. The daiyoukai would leave before she woke and she would never know he was here.

He brought her closer to him and burrowed his face into her collar bone, deeply inhaling where her scent was strongest. Sesshomaru released his aura and allowed it to wrap around her, furthering the depth and comfort of her sleep. She released a blissful moan and snuggled into his embrace. The daiyoukai released a sigh of ultimate comfort as her aura wrapped around him like a plush blanket. His tense hold slacked and his muscles relaxed. Before the mighty dog demon acknowledged what was going on, he joined her in a peaceful slumber.

The sun trying to invade his corneas caused Sesshomaru to wake with a start. Glancing down, Kagome was sprawled across his chest, sleeping contently with a light snore. When had he fallen asleep? Growling mentally to and at himself, Sesshomaru gently removed her from his body and slid from the bed. His eyed widened a fraction as Chorei's aura came closer. Not wanting to be caught disobeying orders as an insolent pup would, the daiyoukai fled, transforming into his ball of yellow light as soon as his feet touched the balcony. That was too close for his own good.

Kagome sighed and turned over. She was blissfully half-asleep, but slightly irritable. She could have sworn Sesshomaru had been in bed with her, but she was irritable because she knew it had only been wishful thinking. "Stupid puppy," she muttered under her breath, pulling the covers over her head. Sleep had just began to claim her once more when the blankets were suddenly ripped from her. Kagome cried out in protest and mock pouted.

"Rise and shine sleeping beauty! Time to take a shower, get dressed, and get your kids ready!" Kagome frowned slightly, placing a pillow over her ears to mute out the noise. She felt herself being promptly lifted out of bed and dropped softly on the floor. The female hybrid hissed as her bare skin came in contact with the freezing floor.

"You already killed me yesterday you vile woman! What more could you possibly want?!" Chorei giggled behind her hand in amusement as she placed Kagome's clothes on the bed.

"What I want is for you to do your daily routine then fix breakfast for Rin and Shippo." Kagome groaned before sobbing creatively on the floor.

"Why must she treat me this way floor?! You wouldn't mistreat me would you?"

"No it wouldn't, so up and moving now. If you aren't up in five minutes then don't expect to sleep tonight." Chorei exited the room and Kagome mimicked her silently from the floor. She stretched with enthusiasm, mind set to get up and get moving when she realized the cold floor was doing her thigh muscles some justice.

"See, I knew you could do no wrong floor." She smiled with lazy content as she patted it gently. Sighing once more, she rolled into a sitting position and sighed again as she rested her head against the bed while 'gathering her strength'. Chorei popped her head in the room moments later, a frown clearly painted on her face. "Did you not hear me?" Kagome smirked through half-lidded eyes.

"I heard you perfectly clear boss lady, so clearly I heard a loophole. You said up. You didn't say on my feet or in the shower. Simply up, and I am simply sitting up." Chorei's eyes narrowed dangerously causing Kagome to chuckle nervously. "You can leave! I'm awake and woo, look at the time! Time for a nice steamy shower and minty toothpaste!" Losing her playfulness slightly, Kagome's smile faded into a small smirk. "Will you have the kids ready by the time I'm out and in the kitchen?" Chorei nodded and Kagome stood, grabbing her clothes, and walking past the motherly demon and into her own room. Chorei waited until she heard water running before she spread her aura across Sesshomaru's room.

The sneaky puppy was here after all last night, but it was clearly after the hybrid had slept. She frowned. He wasn't doing any harm by keeping her aura familiar with his. In fact, he was helping her contain her aura in her sleep. The silly puppy probably didn't know what he was doing yet again; he justified his desire to be near her as missing her presence.

Kagome smiled to herself as she scrambled eggs. She had already fixed pancakes, sausage and bacon, so this would be the finishing touch to their grand breakfast. Humming to herself, she scooped the cooked eggs onto their plates and sat the frying pan in the sink where hot, sudsy water awaited. Kagome waltzed over to the refrigerator and poured orange juice into two glasses then took a deep breath. "Rin and Shippo, Come Eat!!" She yelled between cupped hands at the top of her lungs.

She picked up their plates and cups and set them at the bar. They were eating in the kitchen today because it was smaller and well, they didn't need Sesshomaru's huge business table. Kagome frowned at the thought of her daiyoukai. He hadn't even attempted to call. Well, not that she would know. Pausing, she was beginning to think that Chorei was purposefully keeping her busy. She was gaining her breath to yell for the troublesome duo again when thundering footsteps echoed in her ears, vibrating the ceiling, and then shouting began.

"I'm gunna get there first!" A voice clearly Rin's exclaimed.

"No you're not, I'm way ahead of you!" Shippo's voice clearly boasted. There was a loud thump akin to jumping at a fast pace sound and Shippo's agitated shout followed soon after. "Hey, that's cheating!"

"You didn't say no cheating!!" Rin exclaimed giggling. Kagome jumped at the sound of an elephant blowing through its trunk and Rin's complaints soon after joined the noise. "HEY! Now THAT'S cheating! There's no transforming in the house!" It was the melodic tune of the elephant noise that Kagome took as laughter from her kit and apparently Rin did as well. "That is not funny!" Rin shouted with a pout, "I'm telling Kagome!"

Kagome hung her head in defeat as they skidded into the kitchen, obviously traveling too fast because they were heading right into the pantry. A vein protruded angrily from her throbbing temple as she encased their bodies into a dark purple barrier, her lips tightly drawn with a pent in lecture.

"(S)he started it!" They yelled in unison. Kagome sighed.

"Nuh-uh!" They defended looking at each other then back at Kagome still talking together and poiting at one another. "You started it!"

Kagome opened her mouth, only to be interrupted. "No I didn't, you did!"

Anger steadily growing, Kagome attempted to open her mouth again, "Stop copying me, we both know it was you!"

A vein angrily showed on the other temple and they both turned to her again. "I didn't do it Kagsies!"

Kagome's face cracked a insane smile, but it wasn't a 'ha ha I'm the Joker' kind of smile. "Uh-Oh…" The two of them gulped and slid into their barstools, staring into the face arranged plate of food in front of them before feeling guilty.

"Uh-Oh is right you two! Have you been taught no manners to be destructively running through the house like you just were in the early hours of the morning?"

"But-," Rin interrupted earning a warning glare.

"No buts Rin, you started this and-," Shippo smiled reaching under the table to poke her triumphantly.

"See I told you that-," Kagome gave him the same glare, using her aura to move his seat and food away from Rin as she snickered behind her hand.

"Shippo, you know better than to use your kitsune magic in the house and you participated in the event so you are just as guilty if not more." Silence enveloped the two trouble makers. "Now eat your breakfast before it gets cold so I can drive you bickering bunnies to school." They giggled and did as told while Kagome released a long sigh of relief.

She hadn't disciplined Shippo in quite a while and it now took the breath of her with an added Rin. How the hell was she going to manage two demonic kids on her own without Sesshomaru for three months?! She cursed him to hell in her mind and fixed herself a glass of orange juice.

Somewhere in Italy, Sesshomaru sneezed.

Inu Yasha watched his brother sneeze multiple times. "Jeeze bro, someone must be talkin about ya."

"So it seems. What made you stay in Italy?"

"One of my goons-," He stopped at the death glare Sesshomaru was penetrating him with. Clearing his throat, Inu Yasha continued, "One of my… friends… warned me that Naraku had people lookin for me."

"This caused you to die your hair brown?"

"Yup and wear a concealment spell."

"That has been the smartest thing you've done thus far hanyou." A blush graced his cheeks at the praise.

"Whatever, you're still alive so it must notta been."

"I obviously doubted your intelligence with the previous compliment. Such circumstances would never occur."

"Feh. Has Usagi taken over you yet?" The hanyou questioned with a smirk.

"No, why would they?"

"Because Kagome's workin for 'em!"

"Was." Sesshomaru replied with a twitch of his lips.

"Huh? Whaddya mean was?"

"From my understanding, she is no longer under the employ with the Usagi Co. You are beginning to prove your incompetence once more." Inu Yasha glared at him then his face struck one of suspicion.

"What are you doin knowin 'Gome's business anyhow?" Sesshomaru's facial mask nearly slipped. The question had caught him off guard.

"She was under the employ of a competitor, I would be slacking in my position as a business owner if I did not." Sesshomaru answered smoothly. It wasn't a complete lie, but it would fancy his brother from making a scene and possibly blowing his own cover. Though the green contacts did throw even Sesshomaru off.

"So why aint she workin there no more?" The hanyou questioned rashly.

"Clearly you have taken to watching morning cartoons again rather than the world news." Inu Yasha's eyebrows rose into his bangs, forgetting the insult.

"What happened to her?!" He demanded under hushed tones, hazel-green eyes studying his brother. The daiyoukai raised a silver eyebrow gently.

"It is not my duty to report to you the happenings of a simple human woman. There is an entity called the Internet which will rely such information you are seeking." Inu Yasha scowled.

"You fuckin bastard, why cant you just-," The hanyou stopped mid-sentence, his eyes nearly bulging from his eyes. "Did you just joke with me?" He questioned as if he was clearly hallucinating. Sesshomaru's eyebrows disappeared into his hairline.

"Perhaps you are beginning to finally utilize your brain. The human's brother went on a killing spree when he could not locate her at her apartment. He was captured by the police, however Naraku intervened and kidnapped his own daughter. Her brother is rumored to have joined forces with the bastard hanyou." Inu Yasha growled and clenched and unclenched his fists.

"Where is she?" He questioned, his eyes hardening with resolve.

"I cannot say. I assume she is doing the smart thing and lying low. If she deemed it necessary, she would contact you." The hanyou opened his mouth to object before closing it again.

"You're right. We need to work together for these next three months. I have a feeling these people are gunna fight dirty to find her, and we need to discover all their aliases. I already have leads that two of Naraku's brothers still remain. One half brother is in the USA under an untraceable name, and they have one barely royal female demoness in Virginia somewhere." Sesshomaru rose an eyebrow. He nearly instantly agreed.

"What does this human woman have to do with this Sesshomaru?" Inu Yasha rolled his eyes.

"Quit being an ice pricked asshole for once. She can help you get to Naraku." Inu Yasha stood abruptly and threw down a card with his number scribbled sloppily on the back. "Call me if you need me, I already have your number and I'll call you if anything of criminal interest comes my way." Sesshomaru nodded his head to his brother who returned the gesture before turning on his heel and leaving, his chestnut brown hair hanging lazily at his shoulders.

Scoffing, Sesshomaru opened his laptop, his eyes softening when a picture of Kagome met his eyes. He would need to be home next saturday for Christmas.

There you guys have it. Some of my underlines didnt show up, and I'm too lazy to go over them. Guess who the half-brother is! He might be makin an appearence next chapter. Him or the demoness.

Ya'll can pretty much guess who she is.

Anywho, Reviewer's Corner:

inuyasha1818- Thanks for the praise :). Trying my best, or atleast attempting to!

And there we have it folks. I will try to update Cold as Fire sometime within the week. Prom on the 9th, birthday tomorrow. Reviewing for tests starts near the 15th, and tests near the 25th, so I'll be busy =/. Then its summer, and you'll have rare, fat chances of an update then.

Love and Leave Love,

Mouse or SillY