Swimming Lessons (job,solo)

Job info:

Takumi looked at the kid he was teaching to swim. The kid was not cute, and in fact looked very bratty. "Come one, we're going to start you off in shallow water. You'll be able to touch the bottom here." Said Takumi. "No. I want candy! Give me candy first!" Whined the bratty kid. The brat stamped his feet and screamed. "It's bad to eat before swimming, kid. You'll get a cramp. We wouldn't want to drown, now would we?" Takumi was smiling, but inwardly he wanted to punch the kid extremely badly. The kid kicked him in the nuts. Takumi cried out in surprise as the kid cackled with laughter. This kid really was a little brat. "Come now... no candy." Wheezed Takumi, face twisted in pain. His eyes were watering from that kick to the balls... He wanted to grab the kid and shake but managed not to. With another pained smile Takumi got the kid into the water.

The kid splashed around in the 3 foot deep water. "So how do I swim? Teach me how to swim!" SPLASH! The kid threw water in Takumi's face. Takumi splattered as he tried to blink water out of his eyes. "What was that for, kid?!" He yelled. "Because you're a sucker! Ha ha, I got you good!" Takumi clenched his fists under the water, he was in deeper so he could demonstrate more easily. He wanted to smack this kid... but then he wouldn't get paid. He couldn't have that... he needed jewels to pay rent. Takumi spat words at the child with venom. "Listen up you brat. Listen to me or else you can forget going with your father. He won't take you if you can't swim." Takumi was practically growling these words, face twisted in rage. It was all he could do not to hit the kid right now. The kid looked at Takumi and saw he was serious. "Sorry." He said in a quiet voice.

"You gonna listen now?" Asked Takumi. The kid nodded silently, perhaps a bit scared of Takumi's outburst. Takumi took a deep breath and nodded. "Good. Now first things first you're learning to float." Takumi reeled off a quick list of instructions, and then demonstrated how the child would do it. The kid nodded and tried it out. The first time he sunk like a stone, and stood up coughing and splattering. "Try again, but this time try this." Takumi demonstrated, floating easily in the cool water. He didn't like water most of the time... but this was nice. Especially now that the kid was listening to what Takumi was saying. With a contented sigh he swam lazily circles, hoping the kid would follow his lead. He let the cool water glide over his skin, relishing the cool water on this hot day.

The kid tried to follow Takumi's lead, but simply ended up splashing around noisily and without much success. "No, more like this." Said Takumi, demonstrating once more how he had been swimming. The kid tried once more. It was clumsy, but at least he wasn't splashing around like a total fool anymore. "Again. Do it until you're confident you know how." Ordered Takumi. The kid obeyed, trying a few more times, stopping to take a break, starting again, and repeating the whole process several times. "Good... good. Now do it again." Said Takumi as he observed. The kid was learning... he wasn't quite there yet but he was learning to be sure. A feeling of pride was beggining to make itself known to Takumi. He had managed to get the brat to listen, and got him swimming fairly decently. With a sigh he flicked his wet hair out of his face.

"Okay. Take a break, I think you're done for now." Said Takumi. Upon hearing this the kid climbed out of the water and instantly headed to his towel, where he promptly collapsed. Takumi smiled and climbed out of the water as well, toweling off his wet hair. Takumi told the kid to go put his usual clothes back on before going to change himself. That hadn't been so bad.. now to drop the kid off at home and get paid. He walked the kid home, smiling all the while. He had finished his job, and it hadn't been all that bad. He dropped the kid off, accepted payment, and starting walking home, his cloak now firmly about his shoulders. He counted the jewels, seeing that there wasn't much. He didn't mind though. He did need money, but not badly enough that he would ask for more money from this small family.