Chalk Boards and Children - One
Usagi-chan
Usagi@tuxedomask.com
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~~~
Chiba Mamoru sat in his office pouring over patients files.
His desk lamp was on, the only light in the room. The
steady banging sound was the only noise that filtered
through the thick office walls.
"Oji-san." A tall brunnete walked into the office, without
knocking. Mamoru's head flew up and he looked at her.
"Hiai-chan." He greeted. She sighed and flopped into
one of the chairs across from him. Mamoru took his reading
glasses off and set them on the stack of papers in front
of him.
Her twenty seven year old uncle drove her nuts. He never
had any time for them, and she resented the fact that
she even had to live with him. Being in that house and
seeing her uncle everyday, was a constant reminder that
her parents were dead.
It had been over a year since her parents, and Mamoru's
older sister, was killed with her husband in a car crash.
Hiai and her two younger siblings had been moved into
Mamoru's house, but attended the same schools.
Hiai was in her second year of high school, at Juuban.
Both Kimae went to Juuban Junior High and Kaisai attended
Juuban Elementary.
"Oji-san, tomorrow is parent teacher night." Hiai told
him, knowing he wouldn't be able to attend with such
brief notice. He raised an eyebrow at her and glanced
at his calendar.
"Lucky you." He commented. "I'm free."
Hiai all but wailed in frustration. As far as she
was concerned, if her parents couldn't go, no one could
go. She had nothing against Moamoru personally, but he
had no idea how to raise children. He was a bachelor
and as far as Hia was concerned, he would be for life.
"What time is it at?" Mamoru asked, ignoring her
display of disappointment.
"Seven.." She mumbled, standing up. "You'll need to find a
babysitter for the younger two."
"They can come along, can't they?" Mamoru asked. Hiai
sighed.
"I supposed so... They'll have to behave."
"Kimae will keep an eye on his younger sister." Mamoru
told her. "And Kaisai is always well behaved."
"I guess." Hiai shrugged before leacing the arcade. Mamoru
turned back to his files and put his glasses back on.
~~
Dressed in a sharp black suit, Mamoru held Kaisai's hand
tightly as they headed towards the school with Hiai and
Kimae. Hiai was glad her uncle had such a trendy sense
of fashion. She knew her friends were always ashamed of
how their parents looked. She never had that problem with
Mamoru.
"Which way is your room?" Mamoru asked, politely. Despite
the fact that he had taken car of the three for almost a
year now, he was very uncomfortable with them, especially
the girls. He had no idea how to treat them and take care
of them and he relied in Hiai to help him.
"This way." Hiai turned and walked towards her room, without
saying another word. When they reached her classroom, she
turned in the door and smiled brightly at her teacher.
"Hiai-chan!" The petite blond woman smiled at her student.
"Tsukino-sensei, I want you to meet my Oji-san, Chiba Mamoru."
Hiai introduced, still smiling. Mamoru smiled atthe teacher
and shook her hand. He was completely awe struck with the
woman. There was something about her, theat he fell in love
with, instantly.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. Hiai is one of my brighter
pupils." Usagi told him. "Please, have a seat."
"This is my younger brother Kimae and my sister Kaisai."
Hiai gestured to each sibling in turn.
"Hello." Usagi smiled at the little girl and boy holding her
hand tightly. Mamoru sat at one of the chairs around the
circular table. He watched as Usagi bent down to Kaisai's
level and spoke to the little girl. He was fascinated at
how quickly Kaisai trusted the stranger. She never liked
people she didn't know, but Kaisai had taken to Hiai's teacher
quickly.
Standing again, Usagi turned her attention to Mamoru.
"I'm Tsukino Usagi." She told him, sitting across from
him. "Hiai-chan, if you take the younger two to the
cafeteria, you can all get cookies."
"Okay, Tsukino-sensei." Hiai nodded, knowing full well
that is was a ploy to get rid of her. Smiling, she took
her sister's hand and led the two out of the room.
"Is there anything you would like to discuss about Hiai?"
Usagi asked, facing Mamoru.
"Uhmm.. I'm not sure... Are there any problems?" Mamoru
replied. Usago bit her lip and folded her hands on the desk
top.
"Hiai seems rather.. I don't know how to put this. She
seems so sad... I don't know what happened, but I've often
found her crying during lunch, and she never truly seems
happy." Usagi sighed. "I don't understand."
"Her parents were killed in a car crash, less than a year
ago." Mamoru explained. "I was named legal guardian, and
I must admit, I've been doing a poor job. I don't have kids
of my own, or anyone to help me with them, I'm afraid."
"That's awful!" Usagi exclaimed, her hand covering her mouth in
shock.
"I'm a doctor at Tokyo Central, and I rarely have any free
time." Mamoru explained.
"Would you like help?" Usagi asked, impulsivly.
"What do you mean?" Mamoru asked, confused.
Just then, Hiai came back through the door with Kimae and Kaisai.
"Kimae-chan, do you play sports?" Usagi asked as the three
sat at the table. Kimae shook his head no.
"But I like basketball!" He exclaimed. Usagi laughed.
"Would you like to play in a league?" She asked. "I coach
one every Saturday. It's a bit into the season, but I'm sure
you can join anyway."
"I'd love to!" Kimae's eyes were wide. "Can I Oji-san?"
"Well.." Mamoru paused. "I'm not sure I'll be able to
drive you every week. My hours are erratic at best."
"I'll drive him." Usagi said.
"I couldn't ask you to do that." Mamoru replied.
"Your not asking, I am." Usagi smiled. "I'll consider that
yes then, and I'll be picking you up this Saturday."
Kimae was barely able to contain his happiness.
"Thank you Tsukino-sensei!" He beamed at her.
"Kaisai, what do you like to do?" Usagi asked. Kaisai
giggled.
"Dance like a ballerina!"
"Would you like to take dance lessons then?" Usagi asked.
The little girl nodded.
"I used to teach ballet, during high school and university.
I have a studio set up at home. I can teach you." Usagi
smiled at the little dark haired child.
"Really?" Her violet eyes went wide. Usagi nodded.
"What about you, Hiai-chan?" Usagi asked.
"What brought this all on?" Hiai asked suspiciously.
Usagi laughed.
"All children should do things they enjoy while they
can. What do you like?" She asked again.
"Painting." Hiai said suddenly. She didn't know what
had prompted her to do so, since she had never held a
paintbrush beyond kindergarten.
"Hmmm..." Usagi thought for a moment, then spoke. "A friend
of mine paints, Kaiou Michiru. Maybe she would teach
you."
"Kaiou Michiru? The famous Kaiou-san?" Mamoru asked,
sitting straighter.
"Famous? I suppose she is..." Usagi shrugged. "I met
her a few years back, when I was fifteen."
Mamoru glanced at his watch.
"We've kept you late." He commented. Parent teacher night
had ended about twenty minutes earlier.
"Its quite alright." Usagi smiled. "I'll let you know
tomorrow about Michiru-san, okay?"
Hiai nodded.
"Kimae, I'll pick you up Saturday morning around nine o'clock,
alright?"
"Yes, thank you Tsukino-sensei!"
Usagi smiled as the three children left, surrounding the tall
dark haired man.
'He's so in control, so emotionless..." Sighing, Usagi locked
her classroom door and headed towards her car.
~~
Saturday morning, Usagi rang the doorbell of the large house.
She waited patiently until the door was thrown open by a
furious looking Hiai.
"Hiai-chan!" Usagi exclaimed. "What's wrong?"
"He *said* he would do the laundry, but now I have
no clothes! The others are going to be here soon!"
She wailed as Usagi stepped in a shut the door.
"Your friends are coming over? For shopping?" Usagi
asked. A tired Mamoru stepped into view, looking totally
disaray.
"I tried, Hiai-chan. There aren't enough hours in a
day." He sighed.
"I don't care!" Hiai yelled at him. Usagi smiled slightly,
remembering her hysterics at that age.
"Okay, Hiai-chan, let me see what you've got. Where's your
room?" Usagi asked. Without a word, Hiai led Usagi up to
her bedroom on the second floor. Usagi opened the closet and
pulled out a pair of dark blue capri pants.
"What about these?" She asked.
"But with what?" Hiai asked.
"Hmm.." Usagi dug through Hiai's drawer and came up with
an orange tank top. "This, I think it looks nice!"
"He'll never let me out of the house in just a tank
top." Hiai replied bitterly. Usagi laughed.
"Wear this on top. He'll never know." Usagi handed Hiai
the jean jacket she had been wearing.
"Your jacket?" Hiai asked.
"Sure, we're about the same size." Usagi giggled.
"Oh thank you!" Hiai threw her arms around Usagi.
"I'll leave you tog get dressed now." Usagi left Hiai's
room and shut the door behind her. She went down the stairs
and headed into the kitchen where Mamoru was trying to
make breakfast for the two children sitting at the table.
"You never took home ec, did you?" Usagi asked, taking
the flipper from him. She poured the pancake batter he
had made onto the frying pan and began cooking them.
"You don't have to do that... I can.." Mamoru began.
"No you can't." Usagi laughed. "Go gather up all their
laundry and put it in the laundry room."
Nodding, Mamoru left the kitchen in Usagi's capable hands.
Usagi shook her head and quickly finished up the pancakes.
Once she had set a steaming plate of them in front of the
two hungry children, she set about cleaning the piles of
dishes.
When Mamoru returned, he found his kitchen to be spotless.
Usagi and three clean, dressed and happy children were
sitting at the kitchen table talking and laughing. He
paused in the doorway and watched the three. The scene
tugged at something deep within him.
"Chiba-san, I'm glad your back. Kimae-chan and I have to get
going or we'll be late. I'll have him back in about two hours,
and then I'll take Kaisai for her lessons, unless you have
other plans?" Usagi asked, standing.
"Nope." Again he looked around the kitchen. "You didn't
have to..."
"I know." Usagi smiled. "Come on or we'll be late!"
Kimae raced to the door to get his shoes on. Usagi laughed
and followed behind him.
Mamoru watched as the young blonde ushered the boy out of
the house before turning his attention back to the
table.
Hiai was dressed and happy, waiting anxiously for her
friends to show up and Kaisai was watching the clock,
waiting impatiently for Usagi to return.
Knowing he wasn't needed at the moment, Mamoru headed
towards his office to get to work.
~~~
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