Convivial

By: The Hatter Theory

No Diet Day

Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to Inu Yasha

AN: This was originally slated to be posted May 6

Update 1/2


"Get dressed," Sesshoumaru told her.

"I am dressed," She retorted, relaxing on the couch with a novel she had purloined from his growing collection of mysteries. After weeks and weeks of studying and going over her presentation, she decided a break, a real one, was in order.

"So you are. I suppose jeans wouldn't go amiss."

"Amiss for what?"

"Your celebration dinner," He answered blithely.

"My what?"

"You completed your last final yesterday."

She nodded. It had been utter murder, especially given her stress from the fire, but she felt that she had done well on it.

"I think you deserve a reward for your diligence."

"What?"

"There's an event I have procured tickets for."

"An event?" He was being exceptionally obtuse, and it was worrying her.

"Well, I can't cook here," He reminded her, making her blush hotly. Though the chemical smell was gone and they had gone over different cabinet designs, nothing had been settled on. The blackened cabinets still hung in the kitchen, a reminder of her mistake.

"What should I wear?"

"It's a sort of food tasting. Something comfortable."

She already was comfortable, but she doubted he would want to be seen with her while she was wearing her yoga pants and a tank top. Nodding, she got up from the couch and walked up to her room, stretching her back as she did so.

Jeans seemed too casual, and when she looked at her skirts she was surprised to find that she had only denim skirts, nothing very nice. Which left her dresses. The only one she had bought in recent months had been the one she'd worn on white day, and that was far too extravagant for a simple food tasting.

But she went through her others and picked out a simple sky blue sundress, shrugging off her clothes and quickly changing. A quick look in the mirror and she decided to leave her hair down, although she gave it a quick brush before grabbing a pair of sandals. She was slipping one on when she opened the door to her room and felt it stopped. Looking up she saw clawed fingers reaching over the side.

"Sorry," She mumbled, stepping out. He nodded, eyes flicking to her attire before a smile tilted up the corner of his lips.

"Is this alright?"

"Perfect," He told her, offering his arm for support while she slipped her other sandal on. He was dressed in jeans and a simple cotton shirt, making her rethink her choice. But once she had her shoes on he was leading her down the stairs and to the door, taking a moment to slip on the bracelet that hid his features.

When they got in the elevator she nudged him in his side.

"So what sort of shindig is this?"

"Different restaurants have come together to show off their skills and to have a small sort of festival. It's purely to try and outdo one another and gain more investors, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy the food," He chuckled. The elevator stopped and opened, and Kagome repressed a groan.

Jigen stepped in, eyes narrowing on her as he shuffled into the corner.

"Hi," He muttered.

"Hello," She greeted, feeling almost badly for what she had done the other day. Sesshoumaru however, remained silent.

"So you live in the penthouse?" Jigen asked, eying Sesshoumaru sceptically.

"I own the building."

"Yeah right," Jigen scoffed.

"Sesshoumaru," Kagome whispered, sensing the youkai tense. She wrapped an arm around his waist and leaned against him, a nudge to remind him that they were in an elevator.

"Your parents pay your lease, and you are only one violation away from said lease being terminated. I'm hoping your next party provides the excuse the building administrator needs to remove you."

"Why don't you kick me out?" The boy asked, crossing his arms and looking haughty.

"Because I don't have time to deal with the paperwork compiled by brats like you, I have hired people to do that for me," Sesshoumaru answered, voice apathetic as the doors opened. He walked out, and she kept a clipped pace to keep up with him, arms still around his waist.

"Sesshoumaru, what's wrong?" She asked, surprised by the vehemence of his reaction.

"The moment you said hello to him his scent changed."

Well that was telling, she thought sarcastically.

"He's an idiot Sesshoumaru, and if you let him ruin my celebration dinner I'm going to going to spray your whole room down with that catnip spray Souten got Shippou as a joke."

He paused for a moment, looking down at her before his eyes widened.

"You really would do it, wouldn't you?"

"I've insulted your mother, survived helping someone give birth and burned down your kitchen. Of course I'd do it," She informed him smartly.

His laughter was one of the most rewarding experiences of the last month and a half of hell, and she squeezed his middle, allowing him to lead the way outside. They walked in companionable silence, him gently leading her through the crowded sidewalk. After five or six blocks, she had lost count, they turned a corner and she was surprised to see two large tents taking up most of the park.

"Shall we?"

"I suppose we should. It would be a waste if we didn't, especially since I could be working on my presentation," She teased. He made a disgruntled sound, leading her over to the tent and presenting their tickets. They were welcomed into the tents after donning wristbands.

The next four hours she was treated to cooking demonstrations from three different culinary schools and several restaurants. The samples given out were all superb, each enjoyed with smiles. At one point Sesshoumaru brought them both a glass of wine and they walked around, full and enjoying the almost show like quality of the event.

When they paused in front of a booth where a man was basking in the adulation of the crowd, Sesshoumaru made an amused sound, drawing the chef's attention.

"Sesshoumaru, is that you?" The chef asked, eyes widening.

"It is," Sesshoumaru confirmed.

"It's been too long. Everyone, this is one of the best chefs I have ever had the grace to work with."

"I thought you said you were never a chef," Kagome murmured.

"Only because he couldn't stand the customers," The chef laughed heartily. "He quit within a week, and left me high and dry," He added, his tone a mockery of accusation.

"It was better that I leave before offending another of your customers, not to mention the critics."

Kagome wondered about the story behind that, but the cheerful man -youkai, she noted after careful scanning, feeling the subtle pulse of youki- was blustering and demanding Sesshoumaru come behind the table.

"I want to see if you've let it all go to waste."

"I haven't," Sesshoumaru amended.

Kagome had seen Sesshoumaru the Warrior, Sesshoumaru the Alpha, even Sesshoumaru the Lonely. But she had never seen Sesshoumaru the Showman. And there was no other label for what he was doing as he accepted a chef coat and began working with the other youkai, relaxed and even joking with him.

Items were cut and tossed and sauteed and flambeed, everything done with a flair that was she had never seen him use when cooking in the privacy of their home. The small crowd that had gathered grew, and she heard not only the compliments on their antics, and tossing pans full of food back and forth counted as nothing else, but the sly comments about the 'young chef' that several women and not a few men made.

"Chefs are always the best lovers," Someone whispered.

"I've heard. I've never seen him before. Maybe he's a new student of Komo's?"

"I'd have heard about it, I eat there twice a week."

The blatant observation of Sesshoumaru made her bristle, and by the time the two youkai finished she was ready to snap at everyone that Sesshoumaru wasn't even a chef.

Except he came over to her with a smile and presented her with a small plate. The portion was tiny, but it looked too good to pass up. She accepted the plate and the fork he offered and took a small bite. It was still hot, but it didn't dull the sweetness or the bite of some seasoning unknown to her.

"This is delicious," She murmured, offering him a bite on the fork. He took a curious bite and nodded thoughtfully.

"Perhaps too much paprika."

She made a noise and rolled her eyes, crowd forgotten. It was as if they were in their own kitchen again and nothing strange had been said.

"You are such a show off."

He smirked, removing the chef coat and turning to the other youkai, trading a passing comment.

"If you ever decide to come back-"

"I won't," Sesshoumaru interrupted. "I have found a much more appreciative audience."

"I can see that," Komo chuckled, turning back to his improvised kitchen and immediately fielding questions about Sesshoumaru.

Grateful to slip away, she continued taking delicate bites of the dessert, humming appreciatively now and again.

"Thank you," She said, offering him another bite, which he took and gave a hum of his own.

"For?" He asked a moment later.

"I really needed this."

And if 'this' referred to the treat for surviving finals or for interrupting her almost outburst at the presumptuous whispers, she didn't say.