With Love

Chapter Thirty-four: Enrolling

Kagome accepted the papers being handed back for her. She grumbled at how fast Sango had pulled away. Not like she’d had time to come up here yesterday and get the papers before hand to fill out. And the stupid ass secretary had refused to give Sango more than two copies. Stupid system and their stupid rules. It’d taken her a fucking hour to finish signing her child’s life away. There was still some time before the new school year began. She wanted to walk around and see how much had changed. “Thank you,” She took the birth certificate from the woman and noticed the odd look. What?!


“Mommy I got to peepee.” Midoriko tugged on her mother’s pants. She really had to go number two but felt embarrassed to admit it out loud. She’d been sitting here holding it for so long she was going to pop. What was taking so long, it was just school. “Please, mommy I gotta go bad.”


“Okay sweetie,” Kagome smiled at the woman before taking her daughter’s hand. Now where were the bathrooms? The place had changed since she’d attended. Figures they’d add on and make it nice after she’d left. Her shoes clicked down the hall as they walked. They passed by a male teacher which kindly gave them directions. Next left and second door on the right after the library. Okay, there was the library and Yusuke was standing near it. What was the toushin doing here? He was leaning against the wall wearing a blue shirt and jeans. She tried to smile as they approached.


“Hey,” Yusuke grinned seeing the miko approaching. He eyed the little one at her side, the little replica of the mother. The girl gave him a timid smirk before looking up at her mother in a knowing expression. Kagome nodded and walked around him without speaking. “Wait, if you are going in there could you check up on my daughter? She’s been in there a few minutes. Not sure if I should go in or not. Don’t want the school to expel me for sneaking into the girl’s bathroom and all that. She’s the only one in there I believe. Her name is Kameko, you’ll know her when you see her.”


“Okay,” Kagome pulled her own daughter into the restroom. Midoriko let go of her hand and rushed to one of the stalls. The door shut as Kagome went in search of the other child. When had Yusuke sired an offspring? Or was it a stepchild? “Kameko? Are you in here hun? Your daddy sent me in here to check on you.” A noise came from the furthest stall, three down from the one her own child was in. She knocked on it calling for the girl again. This time she got an answer as the door swung open. Kameko was already taller than Midoriko so Kagome would put her around the age of four or so. Yusuke’s deep brown eyes were looking back at her in confusion. Other than that she looked like Keiko. Okay, she knew who he’d had her with. “Is everything okay?”


“I can’t get my dress zipped up. I think it’s stuck.” Kameko frowned at the pretty lady. She had a nice smile but that didn’t mean anything. She didn’t move as the woman asked her to turn around so she could fix it. “Is my daddy outside?”


“Yes, he’s waiting for you.” Kagome heard the toilet flush as she struggled with the damn zipper. Finally it gave and went up to close the back of the pink dress. The girl looked nervous as she turned back around. “So, are you going to school here?” A positive nod, “Really? You know I went to school with your daddy.” That got the girl to smile, showing a missing tooth on the bottom. Okay, so even asswads like Yusuke could have adorable kids. Midoriko was going up to the sink to wash her hands. “Come on, let’s wash our hands.” Kagome escorted her to the sink Midoriko had turned on. Nice, they’d even lowered the sinks for the kids. She could remember getting her entire shirt wet one day when she’d been trying to wash her hands. She’d gotten in trouble, accused of playing in the water when it’d been an accident. Nothing was said as they dried their tiny hands off.


“Hi, my name is Midoriko, what’s yours?” She smiled at the other girl. “I like your dress. I got one just like it at home but not as pretty. I wanted the ruffles but momma said no.” Who was the little girl and why was her mom letting her come out with them? Could she be friends with her? She liked Youko and Shippou but they were boys and didn’t like kittens and dolls.


“Thanks,” Kameko went for her father as they stepped out into the hallway. “Daddy, she your friend?” Her daddy didn’t have many friends to play with. He was always working and she didn’t have a mommy. What would it be like to have another girl to play with?


“Something like that. Thanks for bringing her out for me. So what brings you here? We just got done taking the entrance test. Trying to get her into four year old kindergarten but they said they might not have enough openings. I didn’t see you there. Or has she already taken the test?” Yusuke looked at the little fidgeting girl next to the miko. She was so tiny, even for someone her age. If she was the same age as his own then she was still very petite. His daughter was kind of tall for her age but not by much. “Are you ready to go to school?”


“Yes, sir,” Midoriko looked up at the man addressing her. Her mother nodded for her to be polite and answer. “But I’ve already been before. I was in two different classes at my other school. Mommy says I’m going into number one.” She held up one finger, her middle.


“Yeah, you sure do take after your mother. So the first grade huh, wait how old are you? You can’t be no more than four.” Yusuke looked over at Kagome in confusion. There was no way the child had seen two years of school already even if she’d started at the age of four. His daughter was four it’d make this one at least five if not already six. “Don’t tell me you had her in those daycare classes before she could even walk.”


“No, she’s done preschool and kindergarten. Midoriko is five, she’s just a small girl.” Kagome scowled at him as she practically saw the fucking lightbulb going off over his head. ‘Yeah figure it out already, see if you can add.’ She knew it had happened when his eyes flickered down to the child then back at her. “Don’t you dare say a word, not here.” She wouldn’t be confronted by him in front of her daughter. She felt a tugging as Midoriko tried to get her attention.


“Mommy, can they come with us?” She turned to the other little girl. “Mommy was going to take me to get some ice cream, you want to come? Please,” she turned back to her mother and pouted. She didn’t know any other girls. There had been some in her old classes but she’d moved away. It’d be nice to have someone to play with.


“Um, that’s up to her father hun. I don’t mind but you’ll have to ask him.” Kagome could see the sheen of tears forming. Great, what the hell was she going to do? She didn’t want to say no but really didn’t want to discuss anything with the toushin either. She met his eyes and knew it was going to happen either way. He had some questions he wanted answered. Fine, “Want to come along? I figure after making her sit in the office for an hour she deserves a treat. I’m sure Kameko deserves one as well after doing her best on the test too.”



Kagome felt the dread thicken as the two girls ran further away leaving her alone with the man. The park was filled with kids since the day was so nice. Both girls had their ice cream in hand but were lost in their own little world. It warmed her heart a tad to see her daughter enjoying herself. It didn’t help with the conversation she knew was about to happen. “Stop glaring at me and just fucking ask already before I deck you one. One would believe you were plotting my early demise with that look you are wearing.”


“What the hell would you have me ask? Is she Hiei’s? I think your attitude answers that for me. I wouldn’t have thought so upon first seeing her but now. She’s so small but hearing her talk she isn’t as young as mine. Then again Hiei is small and so are you, any kid you two would have would be little. Why the fuck haven’t you told him? I know you haven’t because we never stopped being friends. He has no fucking clue that he’s a father. Don’t you think he had a right to know?” Yusuke couldn’t imagine if Keiko hadn’t told him. Of course she had at first and had wanted to get rid of it. He’d told her not to, that he wanted it. She’d carried the child to full term then signed over all rights to him as soon as the baby was born. He hadn’t minded, he loved his child.


“I think you of all people should know the answer to that one Yusuke. Since you know him so damn well. Need I remind you the way Hiei acted when I played around about skipping my period? He’d told me before how he felt about kids. Then to end it all off do you have any idea how we broke up?” Kagome stopped in her tracks to confront him. Let him condemn her, she’d done what she had to. “Did he tell you that I told him that I loved him and he threw it back in my face? Told me that if I wanted anything more than a quick fuck then I better find it elsewhere. Then he proceeded to dump my ass and let me know he wouldn’t be talking to me ever again. Why did I leave? Because I was pregnant for someone that didn’t want me and sure the hell didn’t want the child I carried. Sure, he doesn’t know and that might be a mistake but I was young and scared. I did what I felt was right at the time.”


“Sorry, I didn’t know all that.” What the fuck had Hiei been thinking? If he’d said all that then why had he been upset finding Kagome had left? She’d told the guy she loved him and he’d tossed it back in her face? He knew she’d been anything but a casual fuck to Hiei so why would the man purposely tell her that she was? “She does look a lot like you though. Except she’s cuter, your attitude though. Most kids don’t learn to flip other’s off before they are teens you know. Teaching her young?”


“Yep, just in case we ever ran into you. Thought I’d prepare her for jerks, see she knows how to spot em. Besides she’s having a good day. Most days she acts like Hiei. You know moody, silent, and a royal pain in the ass. She gets along great with Sango’s boys though. Well, Youko most of the time but I think that’s because Shippou is kind of withdrawn like Sango. I’d have to say Youko acts more like Kura....” She slapped her hand over her mouth as she caught herself. Fuck! The toushin stiffened, oh crap! She couldn’t believe she just said that. Oh bloody hell, the shit was about to hit the fucking fan.


“Like who?” Yusuke crossed his arms, he wasn’t about to let it go. He hadn’t known Sango had two boys but he was pretty damn sure he knew exactly what she’d started to say. “Out with it Kagome. You were about to say Kurama weren’t you? What the fuck did both of you skip town knowing you were pregnant? Why the fuck didn’t Sango say anything? I can understand why you didn’t tell Hiei but Kurama would have accepted a child despite some of his ways. I can’t believe either of you two. Are both of them for him?”


“Yes, they are fraternal twins. And don’t you dare say a fucking thing to her either. I didn’t know she was pregnant until after we had already left. To be honest if she did know then I don’t blame her either. You weren’t there, so you have no right to judge. He might have accepted he’d put it there but how do you think that would have affected her? Having to be around him due to a kid, having to watch him slut himself around? You have no idea what your stupid friend did to her. She fucking loved him and he tossed her aside. Who the hell do you think she was talking to when she gave her speech? But I didn’t see him standing up and returning the sentiment.” Kagome knew she was in for it when she saw Sango again. She’d end up skewered. “Look, it’s in the past and I don’t want to go there okay. She’s done the best she could and so have I.”


“Fine but I think you two should come forth with it before they find out by someone else.” Yusuke let it drop at that. It wasn’t his business what had happened in the past between both couples. He had his own child to raise. “Look, I’m sorry I came down on you. I’m not sure how those two will feel about it, I just know that my own is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. I can’t imagine not having her.” He pointed to the two now sitting together at the fountain. “I think they like each other.”


“Yeah, they do. It’ll be nice for her to have a girl friend to play with.” Kagome did smile when they swapped cones. Her and Sango had done the same as children. Maybe it was time she started letting her daughter get close to others. She had no plans of moving again, this was home. “You know, I was thinking about taking her to the movies on Saturday some time. She wants to see the new mermaid one that came out. If Kameko hasn’t seen it yet I’m sure Midoriko would love to have her come along. If you promise to share the popcorn I’ll even let you sit with us.”



Sango took a left as the light turned yellow. She was already late, dammit. Yukina would have to be handling the interviews by now. She’d wanted to be there for these. Even with the paperwork done it’d taken that slow ass woman too long to get it all okayed so she could leave. How hard was it to enroll two kids? She’d taken them both to her parent’s house to visit while she went by work. She had to log all the recent shipments and get everything straight in the books. As soon as they got the employees taken care of and hired there was still a few last minute details to take care of. It’d still be a week or so before she could even think about opening up.


How much worse could her day get? A soft tapping noise was the answer. She reached to turn down the radio to see where it was coming from. “Shit,” everything happened at once, all the lights flashed on the dash then went dead. The engine went next, her hands gripped the wheel. A quick glance to the right she saw no other vehicle in the right lane. It was hard to get the damn thing to move in order to get the wheels to turn so she could get out of the road. She managed to get diagonal onto the thick grassy shoulder before finally coming to a rolling stop.


She made a desperate attempt to restart the vehicle. Nothing. Great, first thing she had to do was call and inform Yukina. The koorime answered on the second ring. It relieved her some to hear the woman say she’d take care of things. Then she gave her the number of the auto shop her and Kuwabara used. The little woman was such a lifesaver. Hanging up she dialed the number she’d been given. She got an answer on the fourth ring, “Hello. Yes, my van decided it wanted to take a major shit on me and I’m kind of stuck. It won’t start, it just died. I need it to be towed and either fixed or blown up.”


“Yes ma’am. Can I get your location and I can be right out to collect the vehicle.” The voice sounded familiar to her. She told him where to find her, not like she’d be hard to miss. Of all the days for this to happen to her. At least she’d gotten her kids to her mother’s. Being broke down with them would have been hell. Youko would be bored in under five minutes and Shippou would instantly start worrying. “I’ll be there in about ten.”


That done she downed the window to let in some fresh air. Damn, this meant no air conditioner. She’d be sweating like a hog before they got here. It better not be anything major or she would blow the fucker up. Why didn’t Kagome or Botan ever have car trouble? It was always happening to her. She was sure Kagome had never even gotten a flat tire before. The jacket had to come off, or she’d keel over. It was tossed onto the passenger seat leaving her in a plain white tank top. It had looked just fine under the dress jacket. She should have worn a skirt then she could be hiking it up right about now.


The denim was plastered to her legs by the time the tow truck came pulling up. No one got out, it automatically started backing up in front of her in order to get ready to tow the vehicle. “Bastard could at least let me get the fuck out first.” She snatched her purse and phone to step out. Let it be something simple, dead battery, loose cable. She stopped seeing the man that stepped out of the truck. No wonder the voice had sounded familiar. “Touya?” It had to be him, the blue hair was longer but the same shy smile greeted her. “Well, I’ll be damned. Wait, scratch that, that much is obvious. Think you can help me?”

Kurama signed the last order form as the knock sounded on his door. “Come in.” he adjusted the stack of papers as Touya came inside. Hadn’t he gone to pick a vehicle up? Whatever it was it had to be quick so he could get back to work. “Is something wrong? Or do you have the paper work from the tow in?” The ice apparition had said some lady had called swearing about her car breaking down. Most people swore when something broke on their only means of transportation. He got several people in here a month with attitudes. Not liking how much it would cost to fix the problem. Or getting pissed off when he couldn’t fix it. When some dumb ass blonde doesn’t realize that her car needs water and lets it go so long that the block cracks there was nothing he could do for it. Except replace the damn thing, which cost.


“Yes and no, I got the car in but I got a tad problem. I checked it out for her and it’s no wonder it crapped on her. I got the information in the computer already but not sure if I’m right. Thought I’d ask you.” Touya wasn’t sure how the man would react knowing it was his high school ex standing out there. He’d told her she could wait in the office while he checked it out but she’d walked outside to talk on her phone. He’d been shocked to see that it was Sango. When had she come back to town? Not that anyone would have told him anything. He rarely talked to anyone but Jin these days and kept to himself.


“Okay,” Kurama got up to follow him back outside. If one of them wanted his opinion it meant something serious and wanted to make sure before they started quoting high costs to the customer. He stepped out to find all of his men standing around in a tight little corner talking. What the fuck where they doing? They hadn’t noticed his presence yet. Touya shifted next to him nervously and shrugged. What were they all gawking at? He stormed over to the group and raised his voice, “What the hell are you guys staring at? Whatever it is I hope it’s worth risking your jobs for. I don’t pay you to stand around gossi.....” His breath caught as the woman turned to the side. It was her, she had matured into a woman but he’d recognize her anywhere. Her hair was shorter but he took in every line of her face as she spoke on the phone.


“Um, I wasn’t sure if you knew she was back in town.” Touya came up behind him drawing his attention away from the woman unaware of the display. “Her van is over here though.” Touya kept talking as his boss came without speaking. The hood was still up and he reached inside to pull out a piece of rubber. “From what I can see she lost her tension pulley, then her belt went for a ride and got caught in the engine and eaten. I’ve looked but I can’t find the pulley anywhere. My guess is it’s on the road somewhere. So what do you want me to tell her?”


Kurama stepped beside him and peered under the hood. Touya had already begun removing parts of the worthless belt. He had one for it but he didn’t have the pulley on hand. “Go tell her that I can have the part in a few days and see if she’s willing to cover the bill. If so then we’ll call her when it’s ready.” He went under the hood to find the main section of belt that was still attached. It’d take some time to get it out but there wasn’t much he could do before he got the other part. His eyes stared blankly at the missing pulley, his mind drifting. He hadn’t been expecting to see her this soon. He took a deep breath and tried to think about something else. Yes, think of Shizuru, his girlfriend. He was happy with her, they had the perfect relationship. She came over when he asked her too. After dating for years she’d never asked him for anything more serious than he was willing to give. They had a great time together and their sex life was never dull.


“I need to grab a few things.” Sango was mainly speaking out loud so no one would stop her. Touya had said they usually didn’t allow anyone back here. Tough shit, she needed her briefcase and her bag. She easily spotted the red hair that was under the hood. The head didn’t come up as she walked by and to the passenger door. She should have known better than to go anywhere Yukina would suggest. Kurama was her fucking cousin go figure she’d send her to the place Hiei was probably still working at. Hearing Touya speak the fox’s name had made her suddenly feel like hurling. There was no way he was in there. Yet, she had her proof, what other guy by the name of Kurama would have that color of hair? Not too mention the way Touya had spoken. As if they were doing her a favor, she was bloody well paying them to fix it.


She’d already called her mother to come fetch her. They should be here shortly. Until then she’d go wait on the corner like a good little hooker. She shoved her phone back in her purse and snatched up the briefcase. The bag was slightly heavy since she’d been taking things in to decorate her office. Her mother was going to drop her off and she’d get Kagome to pick her up later. The coat was the last thing she grabbed. A hand came out to take the bag, “don’t, I got it.” She didn’t mean to snap but knowing he was so close Touya got the brunt of her anger. He had to know it was her but he’d yet to acknowledge her. “Thanks, this is all I need. Just call me when it’s fixed, don’t matter what it costs I got it covered.”


“Okay, sure you don’t need a ride. I’m sure I can give you a lift.” Touya moved out of the way as she stormed by him. The van door was slammed hard enough to cause the vehicle to shake. His boss hadn’t lifted his head from under the hood either. That was rather rude of him. He watched the girl stop once she was on the side walk. The bag was sat down and she stood there waiting. Damn, what had happened to the girl he’d known in high school? She’d never been that bitchy.


Sango felt the sting of tears as the minutes ticked by. Where the hell was her mother? If the woman so much as brought up the subject of their father again within the next twenty years she’d strangle her. Tell him indeed! He was still acting like she didn’t exist. The day he’d dumped her in the high school parking lot she’d fallen into the category of all the other bitches he’d fucked. Someone for him never to speak to again or acknowledge. Fine if he didn’t want to date her anymore but it’s been years and she was still getting the same treatment. She was a fucking customer and still he hadn’t bothered to speak. Screw him, her kids didn’t need a father like that. She wouldn’t have either one of her sons growing up to be complete bastards.


Botan peeled at the nail polish as the pump hummed away. Damn, how long did it take to fill up a tank? If that old fart didn’t stop staring she was going to light a match and torch his ass. Didn’t he have anything better to do with his time? Wash his window, drive the fuck away? Someone was without manners, this place hadn’t changed much. She was a day early but she missed the girls. She wondered how the kids were doing. They had to be registered for school by now since it was to start next week. She’d called Kagome a few days ago to let her know that everything was finally taken care of. It had taken a lot longer than originally planned. The miko had said that as soon as she arrived they’d be opening up the bar. Sango’s diner had already opened and was booming.


She needed a drink, she’d already paid for the gas on her card. A bottle of water would hit the spot, it was too damn hot out. She closed her tank and glared at the geezer still staring. She was damn sure she felt eyes on her ass on the way inside. Even the clerk gave her some looks as she walked back to the drink section. Not like she was wearing anything revealing. The shorts were kind of short but none of her ass was hanging out. She did have on a bikini top but it was modest, the flip-flops didn’t make her look appealing. Her hair was down but windblown from the long drive. She grabbed a bottle of water and went to go pay. Loud music entered the station as the door opened, the geezer was back.


Her eyes swung to the car that had just pulled in with the stereo going. First she admired the car, a convertible mustang. Then it was the woman, very elegant. Even with the top down not a single hair was out of place. That was what her Aunt Natsumi would have called a high class broad. Even down to the rock she had on her finger. What kind of man had that for a wife? She dropped the bottle of water seeing the man sitting behind the wheel. The crimson eyes were trained on the woman he was speaking to. Holy shit, this wasn’t how she wanted to confront him again. They appeared to be in a serious conversation. Neither had bothered to get out of the car yet.


She wouldn’t run though, oh no. “Stop staring Gramps, you’d have a coronary.” The clerk laughed at the comment but Botan watched as the woman shrugged her shoulders and went to examining her face in the mirror. Yeah, like any of that makeup had come off, would take a spatula or a chisel. Had he told his wife about them, she doubted it. As she stepped out she stopped long enough for them both to glance up to catch her watching them. Crimson eyes met hers and her stomach dipped. Stupid fucking bastard, he didn’t deserve to have the effect on her. She heard the woman scoff at the look and make a crude comment about stupid little girls. Botan snapped her eyes to the bitch. Well, she might be considered young but she wasn’t stupid. She smiled at the woman as she walked on by speaking loud enough for both to hear. “That really hurts coming from a horse humping cunt.”


“What the fuck does that mean?” The voice screeched causing all those in the parking lot to look in that direction. Botan kept walking towards her car. The woman would figure it out eventually. After being with Koenma and a few others she knew that Naraku fit the phrase. The sorry bastard was hung like a horse, let his little wife wonder just how she knew it. She could see the two arguing as she pulled out of the station. She felt better, she’d go have a beer. Score one for Botan. A grin remained on her face as she drove to the new house. If Kagome was home they’d have to celebrate.


Next Chapter: A dinner invitation, a meeting and a bill..... Please read and review.