Title: He Said/She Said
Genre: Romance
Rating: G
Pairings Represented: Sesshoumaru/Kagome Romantic
Theme: Set #1, Theme #68, "Games"
Word Count: 502
Warnings:
Universe: Alternate Universe
Groaning, Kagome kept her head down as they made their way through the scrum, trying to avoid the various microphones, tape recorders and cameras. She had awoken yesterday feeling unsure. Midway through the evening, she felt beautiful and cherished. Going to bed last night, she was giddy as a school who had been kissed by her first crush.
And now?
Well, she was ready to let her fists fly and hope that one of them connected with one of the many instruments blocking her way. Somewhere deep inside she had known this would happen. Miroku had warned her, warned them both, and yet Sesshoumaru insisted on playing by his own rules. The picture on the front page of USA Todayas well as the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner had told a story worth more than several thousand words and now it seemed like every reporter across the country wanted the scoop. They wanted to get to know the woman who not only had been caught eating dinner with the top Presidential candidate, but had been caught dancing intimately with him as well.
She just didn't have any answers, though. Everything was too new to her, too fresh, and she was just too close to the situation. Ignoring the scathing look from Miroku, and the smug look from Sesshoumaru, she had taken her coffee into her own bedroom to start the day. Now however, she had to fight her way through the crowds just to make it to his photo op and she wanted to do nothing more than curse and swipe at Sesshoumaru for putting her in this situation.
She had warned him last night, hadn't she? And he took it all in stride, insisting they could deal with whatever was thrown at them.
"No comment," she bit out as one reporter shoved his microphone a little too close to her mouth. She had received her instructions from Miroku this morning and she would follow them to the letter, not giving the reporters in the scrum one iota of information that could be used against them.
Oh, she knew Naraku would have a field day with this. She also knew that, if he tried anything, Miroku would be right back on the attack. It was a game of 'he said/she said,' where the rules and roles were constantly changing. For the first time ever, she realized how truly daunting it could really be.
Spotting the rest of the team beyond the doors, she picked up her step, pushing her way through the crowd. Normally she wouldn't be so rude as to physically push people out of the way, but today she just didn't care.
And, Kagome swore to herself, there would be more pushing once she got through those doors. Narrowing her eyes, she spotted Sesshoumaru sitting on one of the plush chairs inside, reviewing his notes for the speech. Oh yes, there would be some pushing, she thought, as she regarded the situation he put her in. He wouldn't know what hit him.
Title: Damage Control
Genre: Romance
Rating: G
Pairings Represented: Sesshoumaru/Kagome Romantic
Theme: Set #1, Theme #040, "Uncompromising Attitude"
Word Count: 570
Warnings:
Universe: Alternate Universe
Sesshoumaru's ears were still ringing at the end of the day from the blistering he had received from Kagome earlier when they finally had a moment alone. Truth was, in part, he deserved it. He knowingly made a move that he knew would garner attention. But that wasn't why he had made the move, and he took the time to inform her of such. The rise of the slight blush on her cheeks was endearing as she finally came to understand what he was trying to tell her.
The media could go to hell on this, he thought. He had never played by their rules and he wasn't about to now. It was the opinion of the public that mattered in the election. But Kagome's opinion of him mattered even more to him. He was beginning to understand that, even if he lost the election to somebody like Naraku, as long as Kagome still supported him, in the end he still won.
"Give me something to work with," Miroku demanded as he was trying to string together a formal statement in response to the media frenzy earlier. Sighing, he tried not to lash out at the man as he was pulled out of his thoughts. After all, Miroku wouldn't be his campaign manager if he couldn't do the job.
"That is your job. You figure it out," he instructed as he poured himself a cup of the tea they had room service bring up earlier. While it was not as hot as he liked, it would still do the job of calming him down for the night.
Watching his friend set the pen and paper aside, he took a sip of the tea, not in the least surprised by his next comment. "Off the record," Miroku began, as he stared Sesshoumaru in the eye. "From one long-time friend to another. Where is this going with Kagome? Is she just a fling?"
Angered at the connotation, he had to take a step back and evaluate his reaction. Righteous indignation was something he had never worn before and he was unfamiliar with it. Still, the question was valid. Miroku had been friends with him long before the days of Kagura, as well as the endless slew of women who had made his acquaintance afterward. Regardless, he didn't need to think about the answer. He knew it instinctively, had known it.
"No," Sesshoumaru stated unequivocally, knowing it was all he needed to say.
Nodding, Miroku picked up his pad of paper and began drafting the statement he knew would need to make its way to the public. "We'll need to redefine her role here. She can no longer simply be an aide, though you've never really introduced her as such to anybody. But it would destroy your image to have you seeing an aide. She can be a girlfriend on the trail helping you, or something along those lines, but we'll need to put her on equal footing with you now."
"Do what you need to do," Sesshoumaru conceded, inwardly smiling. She may have tried to fight with him tooth and nail earlier regarding his antics with her in the public eye, but he had no intention of stopping. And now with Miroku working his magic, he knew he wouldn't need to either.
No, she wasn't going to get her way in this, he smirked. But he would, most definitely, get his.
Title: The Big Softy
Genre: Romance
Rating: G
Pairings Represented: Sesshoumaru/Kagome Romantic
Theme: Set #1, Theme #039, "Wandering"
Word Count: 736
Warnings:
Universe: Alternate Universe
Breaking away from the group, she made her way through the streets of the small town, looking in the windows the various shops. While she loved the excitement and glamour of a big city, she also loved the small homey feel of a little town in Podunk nowhere. The culture between the two was vastly different, and so were the issues they each faced. Looking across the street at the small building that was designated as City Hall, she could still see Sesshoumaru with the mayor through the front window. In a society where politics was often done behind closed doors and deals made in the backroom, it was nice to see something so open and accountable to the people. There seemed little the mayor could get away with.
Her new role took some getting used to she realized, as she could no longer hide behind the scenes. Wherever Sesshoumaru went, she was more than likely standing next by his side, except for today, when she was shooed away by the mother hen of a mayor and told to amuse herself. At first Kagome was offended, until she realized just how small the mayor's office was. Seeing Sesshoumaru, Mayor Kaede and Miroku crammed in the office made her sigh in relief at her forced departure.
But this didn't mean she couldn't do some work herself. While Sesshoumaru was stuck inside, she took the time to stop and speak with the people on the street, surprised that many of them knew who she was already, and that none of them condemned her as she thought they might. It was one thing to be dating an older man if he was only a few years older than you, but Sesshoumaru had a good thirteen years on her. It wouldn't surprise her if many people looked down on that. There were times when she, too, questioned the age difference, only to remind herself that age was, indeed, just a number; it didn't necessarily make the man.
If anything, she thought with a blush, it made him more experienced in these worldly matters she was still trying to figure out. He was so different from Kouga, not quite as rash and outwardly emotional, though she could see the potential in his eyes, the way they would sometimes sparkle, or darken, when looking at her. It was enough to give her butterflies in her stomach at times. Especially lately when they would catch a moment alone, without the press, the team, or even Miroku.
It would be just the two of them in their own little world, and it was enough to send her into a swoon if she let it. Lately it seemed as if all she wanted to do was dance, with him or alone; she just wanted to dance to expel some of the excess energy within her.
Seeing a small child looking in the pet store window at puppies she couldn't help but smile fully. It was a reminder of how good life truly was and how innocent so many people seem to be, despite the negativity that seemed to surround so many of them. This was what she was working for, she knew. They were working to find a leader who would protect this innocence, help foster it, and erase the constant negativity that filled the place.
Startled out of her thoughts, she turned to see Sesshoumaru standing next to her as he placed his hand on the small of her back, something she was becoming increasingly familiar with. Without looking at her he bent down to talk to the small child that had enraptured her, causing her own heart to melt. He continually surprised her with his infinite patience as many wouldn't put up with the incessant questions from the little girl.
"I thought children were beneath your station," she whispered to him once the girl and her mother disappeared around the corner.
"She reminds me of my niece. She's about the only child I can tolerate on a daily basis. I have no opinion as to the rest."
"Softy," she murmured as she was pulled into a quiet corner between two buildings, a smile on her face. He could say what he wanted, she knew, but there wasn't much he could hide from her. Just as she could read the intent in his eyes now.
Smiling, how could she resist?
Title: 'Mine'
Genre: Romance
Rating: G
Pairings Represented: Sesshoumaru/Kagome Romantic
Theme: Set #1, Theme #020, "Encounter"
Word Count: 340
Warnings:
Universe: Alternate Universe
Like the alpha dog looking out for his bitch, Sesshoumaru wanted to seethe and growl at the rival now standing before Kagome, holding a small bouquet of flowers. They weren't much to him, a couple of daisies that looked like he stole them out of some old lady's yard. That was, if it was even the season for daisies. Nonetheless, Sesshoumaru was not pleased.
And Kagome, he knew, would not just tell him to bugger off, although he could see that's what she clearly wanted. Standing at a distance from the duo, he tried to focus on the group of veterans he was speaking with, knowing that he could do nothing until his talks were over.
Feigning disinterest, he kept one ear on the pair of them and the other trained on Shippou and the veteran soldiers; a few from World War II, more from Korea, and several from Vietnam. It was amazing how a good day like yesterday could turn so foul in just twenty-four hours, and yet, he continued to move forward, speaking with the people, pleading his case to those who would listen. Kagome had such faith in him he couldn't let her down. Still, in this instant, he was ready to throw it away to remove that man's hands from her person.
Until she did it herself. Inwardly pleased, he watched as Shippou addressed the last of the concerns regarding their foreign policy before excusing himself, but not before catching the knowing eye and wink from his Vice-Presidential candidate. Not deigning to even snort, he ignored the man and made his way toward Kagome, intent on staking his claim.
Wrapping his arm around the petite girl, he ignored her glare as he extended his hand in greeting, his eyes displaying a different sort of message.
'Mine.'
Satisfied that his message got through, he continued to play the role of the apt politician, and learned what he could about this new stranger. Kouga would soon learn, he vowed, who held the prize. And he wouldn't let her go.
--
Disclaimer: The characters of Inuyasha do not belong to me, they belong to Rumiko Takahashi. The newspapers mentioned in this piece do not belong to me, they belong to their respective owners.