The Snow Angel by SunsetMiko

The Hiring

Chapter 205 - The Hiring

*Solar Wind* (Stella's Soundtrack Challenge)

The blizzard has mostly passed, although some of the wind remained. The sun shone bright in the sky, and so Kagome decided the children could go outside to play, properly bundled up, of course. They had been cooped up inside for too long, and they had a lot of energy to burn. It was also the perfect opportunity to tell the two kitsune hanyou that they were officially hired.

"Mama, I don't need all this stuff," Shippo protested as Kagome wrapped a scarf around his neck. "I'm a demon, remember?"

"Demon or not, you're still my baby," she teased gently. "And you are not playing outside in just your regular clothes!"

She turned her focus to Rin, making sure the human child was adequately covered from head to toe. She would get cold a great deal faster than Shippo would, and the miko would have to watch her face like a hawk to know when she became overexposed to the cold. She didn't need frostbite on her little nose, and blue lips were a sign that she needed to be warmed up, pronto.

The two kitsune assisted her in making sure the two were completely ready before heading outside. Kagome had even made sure to find warm clothes for the twins. Even hanyou needed warm clothing, and their usual apparel was threadbare at best. The miko bundled herself up as well before leading a small parade outside.

The children instantly bolted into the gardens; eager to make a snowman, something Kagome had explained to them a few days prior. The miko found a bench with a good line of sight of where they children were playing and gestured for the girls to join her.

"Aiko, Aika, do you have any questions about what your duties would be if you are hired?" she asked them, even though she had already decided they were perfect. "Any concerns you might have about your ability to do the job?"

"No, My Lady," Aiko replied. "We are certain we can do all that you and Lord Sesshoumaru have asked of us."

"We do have a question, however," Aika said nervously. She knew it wasn't their place to pry but they were insanely curious.

"Go ahead," Kagome said with a bright smile that eased Aika's nervousness slightly.

"How did these children come to be in your care?"

"Oh, that's a long story," the miko replied. "Shippo was orphaned by the Thunder Brothers, who wanted a jewel shard his father had. He actually tried to steal the shards from me so he could defeat them. One of them kidnapped me, and Inuyasha saved me, killing them both. Shippo has been with us ever since. I love him like he's my own son."

"A human choosing to take in a demon child?" Aiko said absently, in awe of what Kagome had done.

"I'm not like any human you've met before," Kagome replied with a sparkle of mischief in her eye. She would likely never tell them about her true origins, as the fewer people that knew the better, but they would learn soon enough that she was different.

"And Rin?" Aika asked, now even more curious.

"Sesshoumaru found her. She was an orphan, too, in a village that didn't take care of her, but left her to fend for herself. She was trying to help him, but then wolves attacked her village. She was killed, and he brought her back to life with his sword. After that, she never left his side. When we got together, my kit became his and Rin became mine."

"Trying to help him? How could a human child help a demon?" Aika asked.

"That's not important." She didn't need to go around telling everyone that Sesshoumaru had been gravely injured. She knew he wouldn't appreciate that in the least.

"So he considers her his?" Aiko asked, hoping to keep Aika from prying when it was obvious the Lady would say no more on the subject.

"Yes, he does."

"A human adopting a demon and a demon adopting a human. The two of you were truly meant for each other."

Kagome smiled. "Yeah, I think we were. So, as a family we have discussed our options and have decided you guys are hired. You're officially their nannies." Kagome gestured towards the children playing in the snow.

"Really?" Aiko practically squealed, and Aika rolled her eyes at her sister's overexcitement.

"Thank you," they both said together.

"We won't let you down," Aika said firmly. They had earned a position in the Western Palace, something everyone had told them was impossible, and they were also being given a plot of land for their people. All in all, it was a trip well worth making.