Part Three: Paris
Chapter Twelve:
When we arrive a car picks us up, and drives us to our new home. It pulls up to a beautiful old townhouse that stretches into the sky. Small balconies littering its front, sleepy cats peaking from behind closed windows.
We're on the very top floor, our minuscule apartment comes fully furnished. The place itself is one giant room with a tiny balcony. Tucked into a corner lies a small kitchenette, with just enough space for one person to cook.
Sesshoumaru finished lugging all our belongings into the room, and leaves them piled in the corner. I take this chance to call Japan.
I already told my mom what I was embarking on, and she could not stop telling me how proud she is of me. She hollered for gramps and Souta to come talk to me and congratulate me on my promotion, and my chance of travel.
Of course I left out the part where I was living and sleeping next to Inuyasha's full demon brother, but I'll tell them eventually, if ever.
Part of me wondered how they would react while the other part never wanted to find out.
Standing on the balcony I watch as the city awakes slowly. Our little apartment overlooks a small side street filled with scooters and tiny cars. Just across the street I can see a small courtyard connected to a group of buildings, and I envy them and all their greenery.
"Well, what do we do now?" I ask climbing onto the mattress, I look into his eyes.
"We sleep." He drapes his arm over me. Voice dripping in exhaustion.
"We should explore!" He grunts as I try to escape.
"Mmmm...we should sleep." He moans pulling me to his chest.
"But we just got here!" Another grunt.
"Explore tomorrow. I'm asleep, you can't leave now."
"You make this so difficult."
"Not difficult, sleep." He lets out a long breath and I sigh.
"You promise, we'll go tomorrow?" He moans.
"I'll hold you to it."
xxx
I call Mel to make sure she's taking good care of Moichi, and promise to keep in touch while we travel.
We leave to explore and discover our new home.
The side street that our apartment is located on leads to a main square filled with all the necessities of life. Small shops line all sides and I have trouble reading and deciphering all the signs.
Trees line all of the walkways we travel on, the still green leaves fresh with the residue of a beautiful summer. On the tail end of every breeze that kisses my face I can feel the promise of fall.
Sesshoumaru drags me into every single store related to kitchen supplies. He says that my kitchen gadgets are repulsively old and outdated. So, he buys pots and pans, utensils and spatulas, baking trays and mixing bowls, all while I stand around and listen to him speak French.
The way he speaks is so beautiful, so fluid.
We emerge from yet another shop, heavily laden with packages.
"He says we can get fresh bread at the bakery down the lane." I sigh. I really need to learn how to speak French.
"Let's get some good wine too."
When we get back home he cooks for me and we eat on the floor, looking out onto the city as it comes alive, lights twinkling in the dark night sky. We let the balcony doors stay open to let the night in.
"I start my new job tomorrow." I whisper as we lie on the mattress in the living room/kitchen/dining room.
"You'll do fine." He whispers kissing my cheek.
"You seem so sure." I laugh, burying my nose into his neck.
xxx
I lie stuck between dreams and reality that seem so close. That stupid in-between where everything starts to melt away. A breeze blows in through the open balcony windows and hits my bare shoulders causing a shiver of cold to run down my body.
"I don't want to wake up yet." I moan, covering my eyes. I can feel the sun shining in from the open doors, but it does nothing to warm my chilled body.
"Is it a bad idea to call in sick on your first day?" I've wrapped the covers right around me, creating my cocoon and I refuse to vacate it anytime soon.
Sesshoumaru approaches with caution, whipping the blanket off of me. "UGH."
"You needed to get out of bed at some point. I thought I would speed up the process." I groan, sticking my tongue out.
"Maybe if you weren't such an angry sleeper, you would be more personable in the morning." I see him smirk before returning to his cooking on the stove.
"I'm an angry sleeper?" He nods. I take over one of the skillets on the stove. He's been busy this morning cooking up a feast.
"Yes, you stole all of the covers last night and growled when I tried to get them back." He stares at the omelet.
"What? No way?" He nods again. I place the last pancake on the plate before adopting a confronting position, placing my hands on my hips, spatula still in my left hand.
"I don't believe you." He smirks before taking the other pans off the stove.
"You're very childish in the mornings." He laughs.
xxx
Work is one long translation lost in space, although my French has gotten marginally better within the week, it's still rather poor. I struggle with small things like directions and somehow it gets lost in translation when I ask someone to hang something a certain way.
We've met our neighbors on either side of us and they're a lovely bunch of people. I manage to get myself to and from work every day, and I only got lost once.
On one Wednesday evening, I came home to Sesshoumaru cooking up a storm in the small kitchenette, with Chopin playing loudly. He heard me come in, but was too enthralled with what he was doing to acknowledge me just yet. So, I stood in the doorway and watched him.
He dances between multiple pots on the stove, making sure they all stay at the right temperature. His hair swings behind him leaving a black trail wherever he goes. I can see the smallest peak of silver coming in just at the root. The demonic marks I love so much remain uncovered when we're home.
Crossing the threshold I close the space between us and plant a gentle kiss on his lips, my boldness making me blush and turn away after I realize what I've done. At that he grabs hold of my chin gently, and returns my affection.
"Thank you." I whisper as he hands me my plate.
We sit, shoulder to shoulder on the balcony and I welcome the warm summer breeze. Sesshoumaru looks at me before looking back over the city.
"For what?" He whispers back.
"For coming with me, for keeping me safe. For keeping me company. For everything."
xxx
End of Chapter Twelve
