Darkness Returns

Chapter 7: Heat

Authors Notes: I do apologize. I had to put this on hold long enough to do paid work. I'll get the next chapter out as soon as I can.

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Darkness Returns

Chapter 7

Heat

Kairi had woken up that morning. It was a very big day. She pulled on her usual clothes at first. Going around grabbing everyone's trash from their rooms and depositing it into the much bigger dumpster out back. Even though she wasn't a slave anymore she still had weekly chorus. Just like the ninja did. Besides it was just trash on Thursdays and gathering the laundry on Tuesdays. She wasn't allowed to use the washing machine yet since she wasn't tall enough to reach the knobs. Sometimes she would help dry the dishes if she was done with homework. Although lately math has been bugging her.

Walking into the kitchen and picking up the large bag Nya had just pulled out of the can. She pulled it behind her and put it into the dumpster with some effort. She ran back inside and jumped when Nya picked her up.

"Bath, go! We gotta get me and you to the hairdressers!. Don't forget to wear a button up shirt!" She called after Kairi. She had picked out her clothing the day before to make sure she did in fact find her button up shirt and shorts. It was hot that day. She ran into the bathroom and turned on the water. Sliding into the tub she was able to have a small moment without stress that day.

She sat in the hairdressers chair and growled. The man that was doing her hair was throwing a fit about her curls. He wanted to cut it to thin it out. Nya told the guy that she wasn't her kid and she didn't have that sort of permission from her parents to do such a thing. The man wasn't happy about having to deal with a 'pregnant sitter' they left without there hair being done and had to find somewhere else to get there hair done. Nya knew the perfect place.

"Dareth!" Nya knocked on Laffy's door. Dareth peeked out and smiled.

"Hey there early birds. How's everything going at the temple?" He opened the door showing them in. Kairi had been there once before for her birthday which they had sung into the wee morning hours. Dareth ended up kicking them out because Kairi was asleep in Coles arms.

"We're almost unpacked. Mind you...Kai hasn't unpacked anything except his cloths, and phone." She said placing Kairi on a stool. Dareth pulled a table cloth around her front like a hair stylist would.

"Now I am going to have to cut the split ends off."

"Dareth..." Nya scolded.

"Oh I already got permission for the dad unit." His joke for Zane. It made him laugh. "It's not completely cutting her hair off. It's just the damaged pieces."

"The other man wanted to cut it all off because he didn't like my color." She ran her fingers through her hair. Dareth started to spray her hair lightly, and brush it out.

"Did he? That was rude of him. Kids your age are always going to have bushy hair. You can't just cut it off. At this age it needs to be trained and smoothed out the way you want it to be." He said motioning to his hair. "I didn't get this awesome hair to begin with." he said, starting to clip the ends off. It was barely even enough to warrant anyones worry. She seemed to smile at least until he was done with cutting and started to work the ribbons into her hair. She hated the feel of someone pulling at her hair. Finally she looked at the mirror and gasped. Dareth reached over and put a little blush, and lip gloss on her lips.

"There we go. Not too much. We don't want you out prettying the grooms."

"Too late." Ronin brought out a pot of tea and sat down some cookies and tea cups. "She already looks wonderful. But what about the clothing." Ronin asked.

"Its pretty!" Kairi said with a huge smile. "I picked it out myself." She looked so happy about it. Dareth couldn't help but smile too.

"I think this is the most I've seen her smile. Even during her birthday party."

"Maybe she just likes to play dress up?" Ronin offered her some tea. She excepted it and put a cube of sugar in and light cream. Turning the spoon quietly. No one could hear the spoon hit the sides at all.

"I take it she's taking edicate classes?" Dareth asked.

"No...Zanes has been teaching her. She's cute and good at it. Makes her dads proud. She's turning into quite a proper lady. That is until game night. She gets into it as much as Jay does." She rubbed her belly and sighed.

"Eat you something Nya. I don't mind striking up the grill for a moment." Dareth stood up and walked into the back.

"Thank you Dareth."

"How far along are you?" Ronin asked, putting a pillow behind her.

"Ah, just three months. I'm now past the 'morning sickness' phase. Which I'm glad because I couldn't stand up without wanting to run to the restroom or find the nearest bucket." She said sipping her own tea.

"Here ya go. Monte Cristo." He sat down with some syrup. Lately the sandwich is Nya's favorite.

Dareth leaned over putting a toasted turkey club in front of Kairi who smiled.

"Thank you Mr. Dareth. It looks very good." She pulled something out of her tiny purse and popped it into her mouth before continuing to eat.

"What was that?" Ronin asked, looking almost worried.

"Oh don't worry. She's lactose intolerant. We found out the hard way. Walking into the bathroom in the middle of the night to find her crying on the floor cause her belly hurt."

"Oh poor baby." Dareth watched the young girl run the cloth over her mouth before putting it in the middle of her plate. The sandwich was gone already.

"Well hopefully that'll tie you over till the reception tonight. We'll see you there." Ronin said as Nya looked in the mirror and sighed. Running her fingers over her cheeks.

"No amount of makeup will help these bags." She sighed. Dareth took her hand and spun her.

"Daww Nya. You know I'd do your makeup any day."

Ten minutes later both girls were getting into the car and heading back to the temple.