Title: To Share or Not To Share
Author: Priestess Skye
Word count: 1,003
Genre: Romance, fluff
Rating: PG-13
Note: This is in special thanks to Youkai Yume who is allowing me to use her 'Everyday Love' series as picture prompts. Check them out at youkaiyume . deviantart . com (minus the spaces). This particular one is from Everyday Love 3 - Jealousy
He was a heartless jerk. Completely heartless. Totally heartless. There wasn't a damn thing in him that told her he had a heart. Oh sure, he gave her the world when he could, but he wouldn't let her have the one thing she really wanted.
A puppy.
Okay, she didn't really want it, but they were oh so adorable when they were shopping earlier that she couldn't help but ask for one. They way they yipped and played while they were in the too small box, the way the brown one's ears perked up and the way his little face quirked at her as she spoke to it, the little pink tongue that insisted on giving her a bath when she brought it closer to her face. In that single moment it melted her heart and despite the work she knew was involved in buying one, she wanted it.
Of course the ice lord himself wouldn't budge and was firm with his 'no' when she turned her eyes on him.
"Why not?" she demanded as she held the puppy close, reluctant to let it go. "I'll take care of it."
"No."
She muttered a few expletives under her breath, knowing he could hear them but suddenly not caring about the impression she had made upon him. His eyes widened at the words but she could see his feet were still set in. He was not about to budge. "Look at him," she pleaded, holding the little dog up for Sesshoumaru's inspection. "He's all alone, has no home and we can give him a good one. He'll be happy with us."
"No." His voice held firm, as did the stony look in his eyes. This was the man who gave countless dollars to various charities across the city and country, including charities that involved the proper care and treatment of animals, both domestic and wild. While she knew money was no concern of his and he had plenty of it go around, surely he must feel something to give to these charities. It wasn't simply because they were a tax break. He had a choice.
She changed tactics, hoping to appeal to the softer side she knew was there, the side that treated her as if she were his queen. "Tell me why?" she asked instead, keeping the dog in hand. A sudden thought occurred to her and she put the dog back down into the box to play with the others. "Are you allergic?"
She could see the lie in his eyes as she asked her question and wondered if he was going to take advantage it. Very few knew how to read him but she had become quiet adept having seen him both at his best and his very worst. Nibbling her lip, she waited. What would she do if he lied to her? Until this point they had been completely honest with each other and it was one of the things she relished the most about their relationship. She could say anything and he would be completely forthright in return. "No," he answered and she smiled, pleased that things hadn't changed. Looking at the dogs with an inscrutable look, he continued. "Dogs pee."
Dogs pee? Surely that couldn't be it and without thinking, she began to laugh. It had to be the most absurd answer she had ever heard. Grabbing onto Sesshoumaru's arm, Kagome tried to hold herself up as she covered her mouth in restraint. Judging by the scowl on his face, her giggles were not helping the situation. "Every living thing pees, Sesshoumaru. I hate to break it to you, but you do as well and yet I keep you with me, and vice versa. Try something else."
"They make a mess," he tried again.
"So do I. I don't miss those looks you give me when you catch me baking early in the morning. You look at me as if to say 'who is this girl covered and white and what has she done with my kitchen. I'm sure there are days you regret me walking in and ruining your orderly lifestyle."
"Never," he replied vehemently, the intensity and fire were back in his eyes, replacing the irritation she saw there before. The look never failed to cause her stomach to flutter about in anticipation and not for the first time, she regretted being outside and not in their house near a bed. Blushing at her thoughts, she turned away from him again, lest he begin to read hers and drag her away. They weren't finished discussing the dog yet.
"Then seriously, why? If you give me one good, valid reason, I'll never bring the puppies up again," she pleaded, taking his hand in hers. "I promise. Just tell me why."
The war within him was oblivious to all who stood by, but not her. She could see the conflict within and knew he was trying to find the right words to state his reasons without stripping him bare. "Dogs require love on top of what you already have to give," he murmured, patting the pup on the head just once. The conflict, she realized, wasn't with the dog, but with himself. She could see he was actually quite sympathetic to the plight of the puppy.
The corners of her lips twitched slightly as she realized where this was going, and she wanted to hug him for it. Very rarely was he ever infallible, yet today he seemed to be a bit vulnerable, an adjective that she would never have used to describe Sesshoumaru. She grinned. He was jealous. "And?"
"And," he growled. "I said no."