AN: I probably shouldn't start a new story when I've got so many unfinished, but I got an idea for this one from an advert for a show on tv. Not quite sure how it's going to turn out just yet, but bear with me for now. Let me know if you have any ideas or suggestions. Apologies in advance for any bad spelling or grammar in this chapter ^_^

Chapter 1

The front doors of a large building opened and a seemingly never ending stream of children poured through the doors into the play area outside. Several adults walked out behind the children and smiled as they watched several children ran to the swings and climbing frames. While some children played, others ran through the open gates to where their parents waited with smiles and open arms. An hour passed and only a few children were left in the grounds. The group of adults who were outside initially had dwindled in number until only two sat on the bench beside the open doors in the late afternoon sunlight.

The quiet afternoon was interrupted when a lone figure walked through the gates and towards the two women on the bench. His approaching form caused them to giggle girlishly and blush madly as he directed his unwavering gaze at them. He came to a stop in front of them and looked them up and down in silent distaste.

"Where's Taiki?" he asked in a deep voice.

"Taiki Takahashi?" one of the women asked. He nodded. "He's inside; I'll get him for you."

The man nodded and moved away from the one remaining woman who sat on the bench. Looking out over the play area, he saw that there was only one child left and she sat on the swings, rocking gently back and forth with a book open on her lap, eyes intent on the text. He smirked as he watched the girl and remembered his own childhood which he spent secluded and buried in books. Still lost in his own memories, he watched as the little girl raised her head as a car pulled up to the gate. A smile spread across her face as a woman got out of the car and walked through the gates. She dropped her bag and book on the ground as she got to her feet and raced towards the slim woman.

The woman was dressed in a business suit which would explain why she was late picking the child up. Her dark hair was pulled back into a bun at the nape of her neck and her heels clicked along the surface of the pavement as she walked through the gates. Seeing the figure running towards her, she leaned forwards and opened her arms with a broad smile. The little girl ran straight towards the woman and flung herself in her waiting arms, wrapping her own small arms around her neck.

After a moment, the girl pulled away and the man could hear her talking excitedly about her day. Although he would never admit it, he was warmed by such an obvious display of affection for one another. His amber eyes followed the pair as they walked over to the swing where the child had left her bag. However, moments later, his attention was caught when he heard a joyous shout from the school's entrance. A little boy with silver hair and amber eyes to match his own raced towards him.

"Uncle Sesshoumaru!" the boy said excitedly.

Sesshoumaru bent over to pick the small boy up as he made his way to the gate, but didn't say anything. The boy, obviously used to his uncle's silences, wrapped his arms around his neck and settled himself comfortably in his arms as they moved across the play area. Looking around, Taiki's gaze fell on his one remaining classmate who was also walking towards the gate. He tugged gently at his uncle's hair.

"What is it?" Sesshoumaru asked as he stopped in his tracks.

"Can I say good bye to my friend?"

Nodding, Sesshoumaru put the boy down and watched in amusement as he ran towards the little girl on the other side of the play area. The two females stopped as the boy approached and the woman stepped back to lean against the low wall nearby as the two children conversed happily. Sesshoumaru approached soon after and nodded as the woman smiled a greeting.

"Still so much to talk about after spending the whole day together," she said in a quiet, almost musical voice which carried undertones of amusement.

He nodded. "He should have been outside keeping her company."

The woman laughed melodiously and lifted the child's open bag to reveal several books. "Akiko is far to involved in her books."

"That is a good thing."

"It is." There was a pause as the two adults watched the children. The woman turned to look at Sesshoumaru with a vague smile and nodded towards Taiki. "Your son?"

He shook his head. "Nephew."

"He looks so much like you!"

"So does my brother unfortunately." The woman laughed again and Sesshoumaru looked towards the girl. "Your daughter?"

The woman nodded and smiled broadly as she looked at the little girl. "Yeah." There was another pause in conversation before she spoke again. "I'm Rin Nakamura, by the way."

"Sesshoumaru Takahashi," he said and extended a hand which she shook in a firm, yet gentle grasp.

Rin nodded and looked down when she felt a tugging at her hand. She knelt down to look at the girl. "Are you ready to go?"

Akiko nodded with a shy look up at Sesshoumaru as Rin stood up and picked up the child's bag. Taking the child's hand in her own, Rin smiled up at the taller man beside her.

"It was a pleasure to meet you, Sesshoumaru. Perhaps we'll meet again sometime," she said with a smile.

"Perhaps," was all Sesshoumaru could think of saying as he stood transfixed by her radiant smile.

He stood beside Taiki as he watched the two females walk away towards a car. Sesshoumaru couldn't help but admire her figure as she bent over to secure the child into one of the back seats of the car. As she stepped back and closed the door, she looked back over at them and waved before slipping into the car and driving away. Sighing softly, he led Taiki towards the car and repeated all the actions he had seen Rin do only moments before. As they drove away from the school, Sesshoumaru decided that maybe volunteering to pick his nephew up from school wasn't such a bad thing after all. ­­­