[Chapter 2] You're such a Scrooge.
Kagome and Ayame both looked up from their tree decorating as they heard and elated, "Papa!" from Rin as she bolted from her chair towards Sesshoumaru. She was intercepted inches before barreling into his immaculate suit pants with her peppermint candy coated fingers.
"Hold your reindeer honey! You don't want to get your dad all messy. Come on. "Kagome lead Rin over behind the service counter to get some wet-naps while she mouthed 'Sorry' to Sesshoumaru.
He raised and eyebrow at them while following not far behind. "What's she doing here? She should be with Kaede." He asked curiously.
Kagome answered while wiping the candy residue from Rin's face and fingers, "Well she tried to find you first, but she was in a hurry and Ayame and I had an okay time with her. I'm guessing it must have been an emergency."
Rin stepped in to help explain, "Yeah papa. Ms. Kaede got a call and it made her all worried and stuff", she frowned at the thought before brightening up again, "But I had lots of fun here! And I helped decorate see!" Rin tried pointing while Kagome was still getting the last bit of candy from her fingers.
"Hold on Rin, lemme finish", Kagome said while giggling.
Sesshoumaru wasn't paying attention as he turned his cell phone on and checked to see if he had any missed calls. His eyes widened in surprise when he saw he indeed had eight missed phone calls and two voice mails, all from Kaede.
Ayame checked her watch after finishing the decorations on a tree done all in blue. "Kagome I have to get going, it's ten after. Are you gonna be alright?"
"I'll be fine. Part-timers will be here soon anyway. Go ahead."
Ayame jumped happily jingling the bell on her elf hat, "Thanks so much!" she turned and started trotting off to the break room, "Bye Rin! Good Night Mr. Taisho!" she shouted over her shoulder.
Kagome turned as she heard an aggravated sigh from Sesshoumaru's direction. She saw him standing there with his cell phone to his ear in one hand and his other hand pinching the bridge of his nose with a scowl. "Is everything okay?" Kagome asked in a concerned tone.
"No", he answered plainly sounding very aggravated. He then stalked toward the service desk and beckoned Rin impatiently to come around the desk, "Come Rin, we must be going."
"No, wait!" she quickly protested, "I have to put the star on the tree before we go!" She grabbed onto Kagome's hand and pulled her over to where the mostly empty boxes of decorations and pulled a red glittery star out of one box. Rin reached up to Kagome, silently asking her for help in reaching the top of the tall tree. Kagome was unable to deny the big brown eyes gazing pleadingly at her. She stooped down and picked Rin up around the knees, enabling the girl to be as tall as possible while still being somewhat stable.
Sesshoumaru pinched the bridge of his nose in slight annoyance. He really wanted to go home and relax. Working near the holidays was always more stressful and the last message from Kaede had stated she wouldn't be back in town or able to watch Rin for at least the next five days. He sighed as he looked over at the two girls making a sight of themselves by teetering back and forth. A tiny ten year old balanced atop a five foot tall Japanese woman was not the way to go about getting a star on the top of an eight foot tree.
He stalked over to them and promptly plucked Rin from Kagome's grasp. He balanced the small girl to sit on one of his shoulders while he held her steady, allowing her to be a whole foot higher then she had been in Kagome's grasp. He felt Kagome's small hand on his forearm and looked out of the corner of his eyes to see what she was doing. She was balanced on her tippy-toes, the hand on his forearm for balance, while she had her other hand on Rin's back to help her keep steady as she chewed her lip with a worried expression on her face. His thoughts were broken from his studying of her expression by a flash from behind them and a cooing noise.
They all turned to see and old woman holding a disposal camera with an expression of adoration written on her face. "Ooh, such a precious family!" she cooed before she scurried off through the department distractedly browsing through the merchandise again. Sesshoumaru once again pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance while he set Rin back down on the ground and took her hand in his.
"Goodnight Kagome", he said gruffly as he turned and pulled Rin's hand slightly for her to follow, "Rin we must be going now." He really wanted to get his things and get home; this day was quickly grating on his nerves. He gritted his teeth as Rin once again protested leaving Kagome.
"Wait, Papa!" she turned back to Kagome, "You said you were gonna go for hot cocoa, can we come with? Please?" she turned pleading brown eyes back and forth between her father and Kagome hoping it convinced them.
"Rin, I think your daddy really wants to get going. Maybe another time." Kagome answered somewhat hesitantly hoping to alleviate the awkward situation she felt they were now stuck in. Rin pouted even more and Kagome felt a little guilty for having to turn the girl down.
Sesshoumaru bit the inside of his cheek as he looked down at Rin's beseeching expression and distractedly checked his watch. Dammit! It was quarter after six already and he had meant to leave by six; he still had to close up his office which would take at least another fifteen minutes because it was clear across the building. He looked over at Kagome and back at Rin before making a decision, according to his messages Rin had been okay with Kagome for almost an hour before he showed up another few minutes wouldn't hurt.
"Kagome? Would you mind taking her with you to the cafe in the food court? I have some things to finish. I could meet you in 20 minutes?" he silently hoped she would say yes knowing he would finish his duties faster if he was alone thus allowing him to return home quicker. To his pleasure, she agreed and quickly took Rin off to the break room so she could clock out and pick up her coat.
Twenty minutes later Sesshoumaru was looking over the small crowd by the cafe from his elevated vantage point on the escalator. He spotted them quickly, Kagome standing out vividly in her elf hat and white wool coat and green tights, and made a b-line for them when he reached the main floor.
When Kagome spotted him approaching, she led Rin away from their table and towards Sesshoumaru. He didn't fail to notice that she carried an extra paper cup in her hands.
"Hi!" she smiled and greeted cheerfully while Rin just smiled at him with a chocolate and whipped cream mustache soundly dried onto her upper lip. "I didn't know if you liked hot-cocoa so I took the liberty of getting you something else. It's Caramel Apple Cider, hope you like it." She held the cup out to him and he took it with a nod.
"Thank you", he said as he took an experimental sip, careful not to let the cinnamon stick fall from the cup as he did. He had to admit it was quite good, he might come down and get the specific drink again sometime.
Soon they found themselves standing outside the mall doors about to say there farewells when Rin darted off into the courtyard to make snow angels. Sesshoumaru sighed; he was getting tired of all these delays.
Kagome playfully elbowed him when she heard him sigh, "Oh let her play for a bit. You're such a Scrooge!" she giggled a bit and then resumed watching Rin play.
Sesshoumaru looked over and frowned at her. She really had no idea that the playful insult hit him a bit hard. He had once upon a time enjoyed the holiday season. He was about to turn away from her to watch Rin as well when he heard her speak.
"So did you hear from Rin's babysitter?" she asked, trying to strike up a conversation.
He sighed again as the troublesome issue he hadn't figured out a remedy for yet was brought up. "Yes, her daughter was in a car accident. The girl will be all right, but Kaede won't be in town for a week. I'll have to find someone else to watch Rin until she returns."
Kagome thought about it for a moment, "You need someone to watch her nights for the next week right?" he nodded, "I could watch her." She stated simply.
He raised an eyebrow at her in question. "Don't you have to work nights as well?"
She shook her head, "No. A day shift girl needed someone to switch with her so she could be off at night to help her mom with holiday things. So you could bring her to work with you for me to take home and then pick her up at night."
He nodded in understanding, "That would be most helpful. Thank you."
She smiled at him and nodded before they exchanged phone numbers and she gave him her address. He then gathered up Rin, they all said their goodbyes and parted ways. Rin being too tired from playing to protest leaving this time.