A.N. You guys take yourselves for granted. Definitely. I love you all so much and adore your reviews (so much to the point where I print out some of my favorite my reviews and have a wall of ones that I loved lol) so when I take these hiatuses, I do so only because I need to. I'm a person who can't work well under stress and would have been dishing out angst ridden crap for almost half a year, so I've been straightening out my life as best as I can with those months I took off. Those who have been with me since Delightfully Disastrous know my whole 2005 summer keeps popping up this way and that and my home life hasn't been that great, but my New Year's Resolution is to finish all seven of these stories within '07. I hate to break my resolutions so you all won't see me taking another break for awhile.

So just for today, I'll play Santa. Merry Christmas! Here's my present to you all.

Thank you for the encouragement and support. I rely on you guys for that –wink- so in exchange:

Here's this chapter. Made extra long and with extra care:

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Simply Business

Chapter Eleven

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(Tsuki)

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Kagome didn't know how long she sat there with her arms around Sesshoumaru, but it didn't feel long enough, as she finally had to detach herself.

"Why don't you go eat something, okay? I made soup." She tried to say that with a cheerful tone, but failed almost miserably.

When Sesshoumaru wasn't his sarcastic self, it was hard to be happy-go-luck. And that was something which no one had to tell her was strange, because just a few days ago, that exact same sarcasm was enough to get her bawling.

Sesshoumaru nodded a bit, in response to her question.

"Come on." She grabbed his hand, her small hand barely able to grasp his bigger one and pulled him into the kitchen.

Kagome sighed, wondering what could possibly be wrong with the woman—Sara, that affected his so.

Sesshoumaru had left a while ago with Shippou to go see Sara to the airport.

It was just her and Rin who never came back down after she went up stairs.

Maybe something was wrong with her.

But what? Why was she so upset?

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(Tsuki)

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Sango looked disappointed when the car pulled up to the tall building that served as her work area.

Mirouku stopped the car. After a still moment of a pregnant silence, Mirouku turned to her and asked, "Shall I walk you in?"

Sango smiled at him, "It'd be a delight."

He gave her a boyish grin that caused a light blush to suddenly stain her cheeks, and Sango quickly opened her door, to hide her flushed face.

Mirouku's chuckle alerted her to the fact that he had indeed seen her face.

She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, "Just get out of the car, Mirouku."

Mirouku let out another chuckle and quietly got out of Sango's car. With a mischievous smirk, he locked the doors and crept behind the car to Sango's side.

With a grin he whispered, "Boo."

Sango jumped and let out a squeal. "Ah!"

Mirouku laughed and wrapped his arms around her.

"I hate you! You jerk!" Sango laughed while trying to school her face into an angry expression.

His breath tickled her neck as he laughed softly, his raven bangs mixing with her brown locks, when he moved in closer, "Did I scare you, Sango?"

She reached her hand up and reluctantly pushed his face away, "No way..." Her sentence hung in the air waiting to be continued.

Sango had been about to call him by his last name, but the fact that she had no idea what exactly it was stopped her. It was like not knowing whether or not a person wore boxers or briefs. Curious and waaay too embarrassed afraid to ask…

She did not even know his last name and yet she was so infatuated with him.

God was she insane.

Mirouku smiled again and after a moment, he released her. "Come on, we can't spend all day out here."

Sango abruptly opened her mouth to ask him the question that was bugging her, but the only thing that left her mouth was, "Boxers or briefs?"

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(Tsuki)

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Kagome sat with her head in her hands at the kitchen table.

Ring…

"My phone is ringing." Kagome sat staring at the flashing device on the table as it let out another shrill ring.

Ring…

Her hand crept over and picked it up, "Yes?...Oh? …Okay thanks….Bye."

She mused. "Hmm."

Her mom had called to remind her to bring any laundry that needed washing. Every time she went back home, her mom always attempted to make things easier for her and Sango.

Every time she went back…

Went back…

"Oh my God!!!" she banged her head against the table. "I never told Sesshoumaru!"

There was a soft padding behind her.

Kagome turned around to see Rin walking towards the kitchen, Gome tagging along. She was rubbing her eyes.

She worried the bottom of her shirt.

Kagome ran a hand through her hair. "Rin are you sure you're okay? Please tell me if something is bothering you. You know you can tell me anything."

Rin bit her bottom lip, "Rin… is jealous."

The raven haired girl blinked and gestured Rin forward, "Jealous? Why?"

Rin sniffed, "Rin is afraid that Kagome will love Shippou more than she loves me. Rin does not want that." Kagome left her seat and pulled the child into her arms.

She gave her a small tap on her nose. "That's what how you down? Rin, sweetie, no one can replace you, but I'm not going to just ignore Shippou. I care for both of you equally and I refuse to play favorites."

Rin furrowed her brows, "But Rin was there first."

Kagome smiled, "Still," Kagome ruffled Gome's fur before guiding Rin to the chair. She sat her down, "It doesn't mean that you've lost any of my love."

She poured her some soup. "Now hurry up and eat, so we can go have some you and me time. Okay?"

Rin smiled slightly, "Just us?"

Kagome nodded happily, "Just us. But you have to promise to be nicer to Shippou. He'll be living here for awhile because his mom has to go away. Besides things are way more fun, when there are more people."

Rin played with her food for a bit, before meeting Kagome's gaze, "Will Shippou be… like Rin's brother."

Kagome laughed, "Yep…and I'll be the older sister."

Rin smiled and happily and put a spoonful of soup in her mouth.

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(Tsuki)

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Shippou bounced happily on his mother's lap, "And then Kagome spun me around like this," he lifted his arms and moved about in his mother's arms.

Sara laughed, "The girl from this afternoon I'm guessing? Well I'm glad you had fun. You'll be spending a lot of time with her so I'm glad you're getting along."

Sesshoumaru scoffed, "The girl could get along with a rock. Do not be too surprised." His tensioned had eased as soon as Sara had stepped into the car and he had felt able to be more of his sarcastic self.

Shippou looked up at Sesshoumaru with an incredulous look, "Rocks talk."

Sara giggled, "Sesshoumaru was being silly Shippou."

Shippou made an 'o' with his mouth. There was a short pause in conversation, before Shippou decided something needed to be asked. "Are we there yet?"

Sesshoumaru cringed. The boy had asked the same question seven times beforehand. Sara suddenly frowned and joked reprimanding, "If I come back to find that you placed him up for adoption, Sesshoumaru…" she let the sentence hang in the air.

"I wouldn't dream of it."

Shippou suddenly tugged his mother's arm, "So where is momma going? You haven't said. And why can't I go too?"

Sara smiled slightly, "I'm going to stay with your Uncle Inuyasha. I'll be gone for a long while doing grown up stuff, so I decided to leave you with Sesshoumaru and Kagome because I thought you'd have more fun here."

Sesshoumaru kept his eyes on the road as Shippou nodded, "Oh. What kind of stuff is grown up stuff?"

Sara poked his cheek, "Hey, why so inquisitive today? Why don't you take a nap? We'll be driving for twenty more minutes, so I'll wake you up when we get there. Okay?"

Shippou yawned a bit, reminded just how tired he was, "But I'm not tired!"

Sesshoumaru snorted as within the next minute he dozed off.

Shippou was the embodiment of the reason why Sesshoumaru could never work with children…

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(Tsuki)

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Kagome plaited Rin's hair into a neat French braid and both of them sat down in the living room with Gome as a frozen lasagna dish was heating in the oven.

Kagome had let Rin do her hair and now she was sporting a head full of scrunchies only Crayola could generate names for.

The doorbell rang then.

She had ordered a pie of pizza for the two of them to snack on while they watched a movie.

She wasn't sure when exactly Sesshoumaru and Shippou would be home, but they were going to wait up for them.

Kagome let Rin piggy back to the door since she wanted to help pay the delivery boy.

Standing outside the door, was a black haired man with dark eyes and bright vibrant red lips.

Kagome blinked as she looked him over. Why was he so familiar?

He was wearing the delivery uniform…but was that makeup?

"Oh! Aren't you the chick that was hanging all over that silver haired cutie from BK? I still have dreams about that one." He blushed and Kagome's jaw dropped.

Kagome set down Rin, "Go set up the movie, kay?" Rin skipped off to get the movie and put it in the DVD player. Kagome turned back to Jakotsu, ""You're just here to deliver the pizza right? No homicidal intent?"

She cringed at the remembrance of his appearance at Burger King.

Jakotsu rolled his eyes, "Oh please, as if I'd have the time. I have at least three more houses to get t-Oh my God! Is that the Little Mermaid? Can I watch with?"

He gave her the puppy eyes and Kagome sputtered, "What about your three other runs?"

Jakotsu sighed, "I guess I do have to do those."

Kagome felt a little guilty since he seemed like he wanted to see it. "How about this, I'm sure you can come watch it with me and my roommate tomorrow." It wouldn't hurt to invite him to watch it.

'If it were anyone else, I wouldn't offer, but A: He was noticeably uninterested in girls. B: Sango would be there. And she's better than any black belt.'

Tears sprung to his eyes, "Really? You'll do that for me? Even after I almost stole your boyfriend?" He handed her the pizza. "Here sweetie. Half price. I insist."

Kagome smiled, "Well. Thanks…Here's my address." She wrote down the school address and her room number.

Jakotsu blew her an air kiss, "Ta ta dear! See you tomorrow. By the way, I love the hair. Very cute!" He hugged the slip of paper and skipped off. Kagome waved, a little taken aback, "Bye?"

And when he was in his car driving off, Kagome suddenly blushed and yelled after him, "And he's not my boyfriend!"

She closed the door behind her and plopped down on the couch as Rin started the movie. Rin happily took the box, "Nee-chan's friend?"

Kagome half shook her head and half nodded, "I guess? Let's watch the movie, okay?"

Rin smiled and nodded. She cuddled up against after Kagome turned off the lights, and Gome joined the two.

Rin let out a loud 'eww' when she saw Ursula and sunk deeper into Kagome's one armed embrace. They got all the way to the scene where Ursula gained the trident from the contract, before their movie night was interrupted.

Suddenly the door opened and the lights flicked on.

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(Tsuki)

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Sango brought her hands to her mouth.

'I think…my face… exploded.'

Mirouku looked at her then at his pants. He repeated the process.

His hands moved to the zipper. "Want to find out?"

Sango sputtered, "W-wha? …N-no…?"

Mirouku laughed, "I'm only kidding." He patted Sango on the head and continued, "So unless that actually was your question-why don't you try again?"

Sango smiled a bit, "How would you like to have tea with me and my roommate, Kagome tomorrow? She was at the dinner but you two weren't really properly introduced…."

Mirouku grinned, "Much better question. I'll be glad to. I'll stop by at your school, tomorrow."

Sango smiled.

Mirouku inwardly sighed, 'And here I thought Sango was getting bold. I would have been happy to oblige.' He pouted.

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(Tsuki)

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Rin jumped into Kagome's arms as both girls screamed.

Kagome shut her eyes and screeched, "Jakotsu's come back to kill me!" Gome barked a few times at the screaming.

"What. The. Hell?"

Kagome stopped screaming and opened her eyes, "Oh…Sesshoumaru. Hi…"

Rin continued to scream, "It's Ursula!!"

Kagome laughed nervously and tapped Rin's shoulder. "It's Sesshoumaru, honey. There's no Ursula."

Rin stopped screaming and jumped up and hugged her father's leg, "Daddy saved me! Yay!" Sesshoumaru was Holding a sleepy Shippou, but he used one had to pat Rin's head.

"I suppose you all had fun then…"

Gome yipped and Shippou stirred. He rubbed his eyes, "Gosh Gome! You're so loud!"

Kagome laughed as Sesshoumaru dropped Shippou on the couch. "I need an aspirin…and a gun."

Kagome got up and followed him into the kitchen, "Aww. You don't mean that. I mean what would you do without me."

She suddenly paled and gave a nervous giggle, "In fact, let's not think about that."

Sesshoumaru snorted, "I would get a few more hours of quiet, Rin would not have nightmares about…Ursula? And I would not have a dog…"

Kagome grinned, "Hell that does sound great! You know, that's why I gonna take the weekend off and go down to see my momma!"

Sesshoumaru frowned, "What?"

Kagome smiled, "Well you know, home is where the heart is."

Sesshoumaru's frown deepened, "So?"

Kagome shrugged, "…And I misplaced mine?" She blinked and mentally repeated her words. She tried to make it somewhat sound like she had attempted to make the thought sensible. "Or something? So I need to find—Let me go home damnit!"

"Who is Jakotsu?" Sesshoumaru poured himself a glass of water before scouring the pantry for the box of Advil.

Kagome poked her index fingers together, "Remember Burger King?"

The bottle of Advil, Sesshoumaru held shook as he shuddered.

"Yeah, apparently he delivers."

Five white tablets were poured into his large palms and he shot them back with water.

"And I would reduce my chances of overdosing on Advil. So I insist, go home."

Kagome grinned, "This went better than expected!"

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(Tsuki)

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Rin paused the movie after Kagome left and returned to her seat on the couch. She shyly avoided Shippou's gaze. "Sorry."

Shippou blinked, "For what?"

Rin sniffed, "Rin thought you were stealing, Kagome-nee-chan away from me…But Kagome-nee-chan said she likes us both and we can both have her as out nee-chan."

Shippou grinned, "Good, cause it wouldn't be any fun if we weren't firneds. Momma said that I'm going to be here for awhile."

Rin smiled back, "So no hardly feelings right?"

The red-head nodded, "None at all!"

Gome suddenly came up with her food bowl in her mouth.

Rin gasped excitedly, "Wanna feed Gome with me?"

Shippou nodded excitedly as Rin retrieved the bowl. Rin grasped Shippou's smaller hand in hers and hand in hand the two headed into the kitchen, Gome padding happily behind them.

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(Tsuki)

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I had a party with this chapter, but next chapter will be a sweet sixteen lol. Jakotsu and Kagome and Sango and Mirouku. Mwuahaha. Does it get any better?

And Rin and Shippou made up! I'm so happy.

Next chapter covers what happened the night before 3

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays,

Mikazuki Tsuki