Recap:: Full time babysitter wanted to look over fourteen-year-old tech enthusiast. Provides full benefits and generous pay. If interested, come to 22 Shinjuhime Court on the morning of October second and promptly eleven o'clock.
No previous experience is necessary.
You smiled to yourself, gazing up into the sky. "Cha ching."
Back when I met you, I didn't have a clue.
"Twenty-two Shinjuhime Court... looks like this is the place." you mumbled to yourself, parking your moped amidst the sea of cars parked in front of the house. If you could even call it a house. It looked like a palace from the outside, whoever this kid was, he was privelaged. So why were they looking for a sitter off the streets? It looked like they could easily afford someone world-class... or something like that.
"Oh, you've gotta be freakin' kidding me." you groaned, upon reaching the manor gates. There was a line a mile long leading out of the house and onto the sprawling grass lawn in front. Apparently a lot of people thought they were good for this job. Well, at least you could walk in there with at least some experience under your belt. You were the oldest of three girls, your little sisters Karin and Michiyo were still in high school, as a freshman and a junior. Growing up with them had been quite the experience, so you were sure you could out-sit any other schmoe here.
"Excuse me?" you felt a tap on your you shoulder, and you turned around to face an older woman, probably around the same age as your mother, "Is this where the line ends?"
"Oh, yeah." you answered, nodding your head, "You trying for the spot, too?"
"Of course." she smiled, "I've got twenty years of sitting under my belt, I'm sure I can handle any fourteen year-old lad. How long have you been babysitting, dear?"
"I dunno." you shrugged, "I've got two little sisters, so I'd say about nine years. Say, do you know whose house this is? This is insane - I bet my whole apartment is the size of one bathroom."
"Why, no, I'm afraid I don't." she said, "I just answered the newspaper ad. I hear that whoever they are, they're desperate."
"Really, now?" you mused to yourself. What was up with these people? They must be really picky...
"Excuse me!" someone yelled out over a megaphone from the head of the line. It sounded like a kid. "We would like to have anyone who can operate a cell phone, email, or a Helio, and is under the age of twenty-five to come to the front of the line. Anyone who does not fall into that category, I'm sorry to say this, but your services are no longer required. Have a nice day, and thank you for coming out!"
'Now's my chance!' And you took it while you still had it. You snatched up your bag and bolted to the front of the line, pushing your way through the crowd of elders, some grumbling about how they had only just turned twenty-six, and that they still looked seventeen. Father Time was on your side today, as you slid into the front spot in line, prepared to rock this kid's world.
"Sorry, thank you for coming out." you heard that same child-like voice again, this time coming from a short fourteen year-old boy, with long dark hair, and pretty grey eyes. He was escorting out a girl about your age, who was crying her eyes out as she was escorted off the premises. "Are you next, miss?"
"Yes, I'm Ren Kuroki." you said, holding out your hand, "And you are...?"
"Mokuba!" he grinned, shaking your hand, "It's nice meeting you, Ren. Come on inside."
And with that, he took your hand and led you into the manor. And you were right - one of the bathrooms was definitely the size of your entire apartment. You really wanted to know who this kid's parents were - you were sure you would recognize them from the news, or something.
"Seto!" called Mokuba, pushing the door to a large library open, "I've got the next girl."
Wait, what? Seto?
"Seto Kaiba." you monotoned, completely floored. He glanced up from his paperwork, looked back down, and then back up again, studying you closely.
"You look familiar." he said, picking up a pen, "Where have I seen you before?"
"Long time, Kaiba, we went to the same high school." you said, shaking his hand, "I haven't seen you since graduation. You sat next to me in the ceremony, remember?"
"Mm." he grunted, nodding his head, "Well, sit. Let's get down to business."
And sit you did, plopping down across from the two brothers on a comfy couch.
"So, could you please state your name, for the record." The elder Kaiba began, crossing one leg over the other and clicking his pen.
"Ren Kuroki." you answered. You weren't surprised he had forgotten. Rich guy like him, probably had a lot more important things on his mind.
"Age and date of birth?"
"Nineteen, and I'll be twenty on November first."
"Do you have any living parents or siblings?"
"My mother and father, Miwa and Kazuma Kuroki, and my little sisters, Karin and Michiyo."
"Do you have any previous babysitting experience?"
"Nine or ten years with my younger sisters."
"Can you cook?"
"Fairly well."
"And are you good with computers?"
"Sure, I can take one apart and put it back together, no problem." you said.
"And are you prepared to watch my little brother twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, whenever your services are required?" asked Kaiba, deadly serious, "This little boy is all the family I have, you must understand, and I can't have anything happening to him while I'm not around."
He gave you the evil-eye and you had to suppress a shudder down your spine. "Yeah, of course, I understand." you nodded, "I've got little sisters too, y'know."
"Don't worry about impressing Seto, Ren." Mokuba grinned, "He's just here for the intimidation factor. All you really need to do is impress me. Just be yourself. I have a few questions for you, too, if you don't mind."
"Ah, sure, no problem." you nodded, feeling a bit more at ease. You liked this kid. For growing up rich, he seemed really nice.
"Okay, so, what's your favorite band?"
"It's a tie right now between Reel Big Fish and Roper." you laughed, "I like that bubbly American ska."
"Okay." he grinned, "Favorite color?"
"Purple."
"Gaming platform?"
"Easily a PC or the Nintendo DS."
"Movie?"
"Kung-Fu Hustle."
"Food?"
"There's nothing better to me than frozen pizza."
"Television show?"
"Most Extreme Elimination Challenge."
"I like her, Seto." Mokuba grinned, and you couldn't help but smile back. Yes, yes! This was perfect! You practically had the job already...
"Mokuba, are you sure?" his brother asked in a whisper, and you suddenly felt as though a thousand ton anvil had come crashing down on you. You still had this guy to take into consideration. "I want you to think long and hard about who you want to be your babysitter. We may find someone better than her."
"Seto, you know her!" he whispered back, "You went to high school together, and it may as well be someone you know and that I like, than someone random off of the streets. I like her. A lot. She's really cool, I think I'd have a lot of fun with her."
The pair conversed for a while more, while you sat there on the couch, feeling completely out of place in your blue jeans and layered yellow and amaranth tops.
"Welcome aboard, Miss Kuroki." said the elder Kaiba, reaching out to shake your hand.
"Seriously?" you asked, laughing a bit as you grasped his hand, "Oh, thank you so much, Seto, you don't know how badly I needed this job."
"Mm..." he grunted. Always the quiet, moody kid. He hadn't changed a bit since high school. "We'll be starting you off on a monthly salary, so your first payday will be the first of November. We'll be starting you off on two hundred dollars an hour, and we'll go from th--"
"Excuse me, did I hear that right?" you asked, cleaning the wax out of your years, "Correct me if I'm wrong, but did you say two hundred dollars... an hour?"
"Is there a problem?"
"None whatsoever!" you blurted out, "Actually, that's fine, absolutely fine. When do I start?"
"Now. I have to get to work." said Kaiba, gathering his things together and heading out of the study, "Mokuba, be sure to show her around. Miss Kuroki, your first task is to get all of these people off of my lawn."
"I..."
"Bye, Seto!" said Mokuba, running to hug his brother as he made for the door. The elder Kaiba stopped, laid down his things, and kneeled down to hug his little brother tight, a good, lasting hug. "Have a good day at work, big brother."
He rose to his feet then, ruffling his younger brother's hair, sparing him a kind smile. "Have fun, Mokuba."
"Well, Mokuba, I do believe that was the first time I have ever seen that boy smile." you joked, as soon as Seto was out the door.
"Yeah, he's usually really cold to just about anyone but me." Mokuba laughed, "Don't worry, you'll grow on him. But it has been a while since we've let anyone into our world."
You 'hmm'ed, scratching at the back of your head. These were some peculiar people, all right. But with pay going at two hundred bucks an hour, who could complain?
"Well, I suppose I should get these people off of your lawn." you said, throwing the front doors of the manor open and snatching up the megaphone, "You all have sixty seconds to get off of this property before I release the dogs!"
"Hey, Mokuba?"
"Yes, Ren?"
"Do you guys have dogs?"
"Nope."
"Okay, I thought so." you nodded, speaking again into the microphone, "Those dogs are hungry for flesh, people!"
Of the horrible agony you would put me through.
Well, that's it for part two! Liked, didn't like? Tell me why! I'm definitely open to crits on this one. Thanks to everyone for getting this far. Rates, messages and picks are love love love!
