Disclaimer: I do hereby disclaim any right or responsibilities for the characters used in this story. All rights are reserved for the respective creator of Inuyasha, Rumiko Takahashi.
Royal Treatment
By Rikayu
Chapter Seven: Pancakes and Spilled Milk
It was too quiet. Save for the subtle sound of bowls and cups being placed back on the table, yes, it was definitely too quiet.
Awkward wasn't quite enough to explain his current situation, but that wasn't really surprising. The crown prince of Japan and heir to the Crescent Moon throne, Mikazuki Sesshoumaru felt out of place sitting down at the Higurashi dinner table and eating oden with his wife's family.
Since he and Kagome had arrived a few hours ago, the Higurashi family, if a little apprehensive, willingly offered him warm hospitality and readily welcomed him into the family. Sesshoumaru found the Higurashi family amusing, though Kagome's younger brother a tad bit annoying once the boy managed to gather enough courage to ask questions. However, everything turned strangely silent once everyone sat down at the dinner table.
As the prince poked at the pickled radishes lying on a small dish next to his tea, he thought back to earlier that morning. It seemed that his father had re-organized all his plans from a weekend visit to a month-length stay.
It took all Sesshoumaru's might not to twitch in annoyance at the dinner table as he remembered the talk. His father sat in his office chair with an innocent half-smile Sesshoumaru knew never to trust and simply stated that that opportunity would give Sesshoumaru a nice lesson about how the palace-life was very much different from civilian life.
"Sesshoumaru-san? Is everything all right?"
He blinked and turned to look across the table. Kagome's mother looked at him, her head slightly tilted and a bit of concern on her face. He watched her eyes lower to his bowl.
"You haven't really eaten much of your food…"
Sesshoumaru turned his head in a kind of headshake. "My apologies," he began politely, "I was just thinking."
The woman smiled. "Well, if there's anything you want, just ask, okay? You're part of our family now."
He inclined his head and lifted a few noodles to his lips with his chopsticks. It wasn't nearly as good as palace food, but Ms. Higurashi was an excellent cook. The saying about a good home cooking seemed true. There was only one problem…
"You're cooking is quite superb, mother-in-law. However, it is a bit saltier than my tastes…"
A deafening pause…
Did he say something wrong? After all, he was only being honest…
"Gomen, but you see Kagome prefers in a bit saltier and we've all gotten used to it. I'll keep that in mind next time, Sesshoumaru-san."
A sense of relief rolled through his limbs. During the silence, Sesshoumaru felt Kagome stiffen beside him. It was fortunate that Kagome's mother did not have her temper.
After dinner, the whole party retreated to the living room where Kagome's younger brother immediately switched on the television. As the little boy immersed himself in a show Sesshoumaru recognized to be a favorite of Inuyasha's as a kid, Kagome's mother laid out some tea and rice crackers on the coffee table.
Kagome sat next to him on the floor while her mother sat to the right of Kagome's grandfather, who sat at the head of the table. She was fiddling with her fingers as she wrapped her hands around her teacup.
"Well, I'm afraid we don't have an extra guestroom to offer, so why don't you go ahead and take my bedroom," Ms. Higurashi offered as she poured more tea into Sesshoumaru's cup.
"He can have my room, okaa-san! I don't mind sleeping on the sofa!" Kagome's brother said as he waved his hand in the air while his eyes were still glued to the television.
"No, Souta. You won't get enough sleep on the couch especially when you have to go to school. Let him take my room," Kagome's grandfather said before taking a sip of his tea.
Sesshoumaru shook his head slightly. "Nonsense. I don't think it is appropriate of me to take the bedroom of the head of the house and Kagome has stated to me before of your back problems. Neither do I think I should take your bedroom, mother-in-law. It would be in appropriate to take a lady's room from her. Seeing as sleep is important for focus in the classroom, I don't think it'd be wise of me to take Souta's room either."
Everyone paused for a second. Ms. Higurashi crossed her arms.
"Ano, we won't be very good hosts if we made you sleep on the couch…" she said as she stared at her tea.
Sesshoumaru let a small smirk on his face. "Kagome and I can share a room. After all, we i are /i married."
An audible choke resounded from both Kagome and her grandfather and hey hastily placed their cups down on the coffee table. Kagome's mother froze in her place while Souta sat in front of the TV oblivious.
Kagome looked up at him as if he were crazy and then turned back to her mother and grandfather. "I… uh… umm…"
Kagome quietly slid into her bedroom, tugging at the shirt of her pink pajamas. Her eyes immediately glared at the figure standing away from her next to her bed. Despite her hate for him at the moment, she was a bit surprised to see him look like a normal person.
His long silver hair was tied back in a loose horsetail while he wore a plain white tank top and a pair of black drawstring cotton pants. Kagome watched as he slipped into her bed and sat up against her headboard. He opened the book in his hand but turned his head to look at her with an elegantly raised eyebrow.
"Is there something you want?" he asked plainly.
Kagome puffed her cheeks and stomped forward, walking to the other side of the bed and grabbing a pillow into her arms. She then walked over to the bedside table next to Sesshoumaru and grabbed a magazine from the drawer. But before she could get away, Sesshoumaru's hand shot out and grabbed her wrist.
"Let go," she said, trying to shake his grip but to no avail.
"Where are you going?" he asked as he read his book, not even turning to look up at her.
"What does it look like?" she said as she rolled her eyes and turned to leave. "I'm going to go and sleep on the living room sofa."
Suddenly, Kagome felt a sharp tug on her arm and she toppled backwards to sit on the edge of the bed. She turned her head and glared at Sesshoumaru, who had apparently caused her to drop her pillow on the floor.
"You'll sleep here," he said, his eyes never leaving the book in his hand.
"No!"
Sesshoumaru looked up and closed his book. "It's improper to take a lady's room. Besides, if we are married, you should get used to sleeping next to me in the same bed."
Kagome mentally cringed and she tried again to get her arm back. "I don't care! Let go of me!"
"We can stay here, do this all night and wait for your arm to fall off, or you can lie down and go to sleep."
Kagome stood up defiantly only for her arm to be pulled down again quite painfully. "Stubborn. You know there's enough room for the both of us. I do not think your family would find me carrying you kicking and screaming back to this room any form of pleasant," she heard him say.
With a forced sigh, Kagome grabbed her pillow off the ground and threw the magazine back into the drawer. She swiped back her hand from him and angrily slipped into bed next to Sesshoumaru. She turned her back from him and laid her head on her pillow. She felt the bed shift and watched as the light reflecting on the wall dim. She scooted to the far side of the bed and closed her eyes.
Kagome sighed. Coming home didn't seem so exciting and relieving anymore.
The tickle of something soft against his nose and the lightweight and warmth against his chest slowly roused Sesshoumaru from his slumber. He drew whatever he was holding closer, inhaling the sweet scent of strawberries and cream. As he slowly opened his eyes, dark silky hair filled his view. The prince blinked a few times and drew his head back slightly until he realized what position he was in.
Sometime during the night, his arms had managed to wrap themselves around Kagome and pull her against his chest. He withdrew his hands and sat up on one elbow. He leaned over and glanced at Kagome's face.
His eyesbrows rose slightly as he stared at the soft smile on her lips. Her content expression puzzled him. She looked almost like an angel. He raised a hand to touch her face, but he shook his head and held it back. It was a good thing she was fast asleep for if she woke up and saw him studying her, she'd probably go ballistic. If one of her family members came in and saw the two in this position, then that would be a real problem. Not necessarily for him, but for Kagome.
Then, a thought suddenly crossed his mind. A smirk graced his lips as he sat up.
Sayuri sighed and carried a tray of pancakes, orange juice, and milk in her hands as she walked up the stairs. It was such lovely morning and since it was the crown prince's first morning here, she thought a nice breakfast would be proper. Besides, blue berry pancakes were her specialty.
As she stopped in front of Kagome's door, she shifted the weight of the tray so that she held it all with one hand. She turned the doorknob with her free hand and pushed the door in.
"Good morni--"
For a split moment, her whole body just froze. Then the loud sound the tray crashing to the ground snapped her back to reality before black ness completely took over.
Sesshoumaru immediately sat up and cursed inwardly. "Mother-in-law!"
Kagome groaned and shook the sleep away from her head. She placed a hand on her head and looked around, "What happened? What was that loud cra--"
Kagome's whole body tensed and she realized just exactly what she was using as a pillow. She positioned in a way that her body halfway on top of Sesshoumaru's torso, her chest pressed against his upper stomach and a leg draped over his leg.
It took about 0.5 seconds for a click in her head to tell her to move before she screamed and slapped him across the face.
TBC…
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