Mirai Babysits

Mirai couldn't believe she was tricked so easily. That brash Yozakura had bested Mirai in a fight and her snide boasts wormed their way into Mirai's ear. The stunted shinobi bared her fangs in return and hissed that she was twice the woman Yozakura ever would be and what's more is that she'd prove it by being a better mother. Neither of the young ladies had, or were willing to make, any children of their own just yet so Yozakura suggested Mirai babysit Minori for the evening.

 

So the two made a bet. Easy enough, Mirai thought to herself, how hard could it be to take care of a teenage girl? There was only a year between the two girls so Minori would do her own thing while Mirai enjoyed a peaceful catnap. Little did Mirai know how hard it was be to make sure Gessen's problem child behaved herself. Yozakura went and enjoyed a night out while Mirai was trapped in hell.

 

First challenge was dinner. Mirai had picked up a lot of useful cooking skills from her time spent with Yomi and with the fancy ingredients available to Gessen's elite team she prepared a healthy meal with ease. The first struggle was getting Minori to the table and like a faithful sheep dog Mirai chased Minori all over the place until the girl was rounded up and safely in her chair.

 

Minori meticulously picked at her meal until she carved out the pieces she liked and left a pile of things she refused to eat. Mirai had to make sure she ate every bite "Eat your vegetables."

 

"No way! They're yucky!" Minori blew a raspberry at Mirai.

 

Mirai glared back at Minori "Eat them, now!"

 

"No!" Minori puffed up her face and threw the remnants of her dinner at Mirai. "No!, No!, No!, No!, NO!"

 

With catlike reflexes Mirai opened her umbrella and cowered behind it until the pitter-patter of vegetables ceased. She cautiously lowered the umbrella and saw Minori out of her chair and headed towards the freezer. "Where are you going?"

 

"I'm gonna have ice cream!"

 

"If you go near that freezer I'll riddle you with bullets!" Mirai pointed her umbrella at Minori. The girl huffed and ran away sulking. At the very least it gave Mirai enough time to clean up this mess before Minori's bath. Mirai thought it would be easy to convince Minori to have a bath but Mirai would have to drag her in and actually wash with her. Mirai couldn't fathom why Minori would want to skip a day of bathing just to play more especially when they have access to such a luxurious bath.

 

It was time to rinse off before before entering the bath and Mirai turned around to find Minori brandishing two massive water guns. "These are way more fun then the shower!" Minori handed Mirai one to even the odds and immediately hosed the cat-ninja down. Mirai spluttered and writhed against the barrage of water and fought back until she thought she had Minori pinned down. Instead Minori ran for the door and raced down the ninja room halls naked and soaked.

 

Mirai covered herself with a towel and chased Minori around with a pale look of horror on her face. They went up and down and around in circles until eventually Mirai chased Minori all the way back to the bathroom and into the tub. Minori actually dived into the water. At least she was bathing. Mirai joined Minori and got to at least enjoy a moment to relax in piping hot water. Even with the high speed chase it was preferable to bathing back at the renegade hideout.

 

With bath time over Mirai gave Minori some time to herself and as bed time came closer Mirai prepared for the worst. She gave Minori the signal to pack up her toys and head to bed but each time Mirai would put something away Minori would stare her down with a glum look and take a toy out of the chest. This kicked off a childish fight that sent Minori's toys all over and slowly wore down Mirai's resolve.

 

"Why won't anyone listen to me!? You won't even listen to me!" Water started to pool in Mirai's eyes and she desperately tried to stiffen her quivering bottom lip. Minori curled into herself and quietly watched as Mirai broke down; she wondered if it was all her fault. "I try to do nice things and be good but everyone just ignores me! Even you!" A tear rolled down Mirai's cheek and Minori started to weep too.

 

"I be good." Minori blubbered. She hated being bossed around but she hated making a girl cry even more. One-by-one Minori started to pack her toys back in the chest to make good on her word. Mirai gave a soft smile and lent a hand. They soon had the floor clear and it looked cleaner than ever.

 

Minori got ready for bed. She put on her pyjamas and didn't even complain about brushing her teeth even though the toothpaste tasted funny. As a reward Mirai gave her a bedtime story; a happier retelling of the first arc of Rapunzel the Shinobi. The tale of a ninja-princess living happily ever drifted Minori to sleep.

 

Too tired to continue any further Mirai went and found herself the comfiest couch she could find and dozed off too. When Yozakura returned home she found Mirai curled up with red around her eyes. She could tell what had happened after all she had that same experience many times before. Rather than wake her Yozakura covered Mirai with a blanket and tucked her in "I told you being a mother isn't easy."