Chie: There will only be 3 more one shots coming to this collection, then I'll mark it as complete. From 2021 onwards I'll no longer post any new stories on this website. More info on my profile. Thank you for understanding.
Drabble Fifty-Eight – Future
Prompt: Wrapping Paper
Setting: Canon Divergence, Reunion
Genre: Christmas Fluff
725 Words
Sesshoumaru held his breath. Carefully, he folded the bit of wrapping paper around a corner, one agonising millimetre at a time.
It was his fifth attempt and he was hanging by a thread.
This time, he was finally going to make it.
He only needed to take care of this one corner, tuck the paper neatly and apply the tape and success would be his.
It would be sweet.
He could almost taste that wonderful victory on his tongue.
And then his finger slipped.
As they had done countless times before, his claws sliced right through the flimsy material, making a ruin of all his previous efforts.
Rage engulfed him.
He tore away the sorry remains of wrapping paper, a murderous growl rumbling in his throat.
Whoever had invented wrapping paper needed to be taught a lesson.
A long, torturous and fatal one.
He flexed his hand as a deadly green glow threatened to make its appearance – a power he'd had no need to utilise for a century, now brought forth by wrapping paper.
Sesshoumaru took a deep breath. Tried to rein in his homicidal urges.
He was in this whole damn predicament with the wrapping paper to begin with because he needed everything to be perfect for his first Christmas with Kagome.
He doubted she would approve of a rampage of death and destruction.
Sesshoumaru focused on that thought.
Took another long breath.
Gritted his teeth.
And pulled another sheet of wrapping paper towards him.
xoxoxoxo
They'd enjoyed a lovely dinner, complete with fried chicken and followed by the traditional Christmas cake.
The fact that Sesshoumaru had gone to such trouble preparing this all was heartwarming; his apparent knowledge of the typical modern-day Christmas customs more than a little baffling.
It shouldn't be, of course – he'd probably been observing these Christmas traditions for a much longer time than Kagome had.
And she had seen first-hand the changes the centuries had wrought in him.
But every now and then, she would suddenly realise all anew that Sesshoumaru was here and now, in her time, and the past and present would collide in her head.
And sometimes, still, the past would overwhelm her, to the point where for some brief moments the present slipped away entirely.
Today, though, Kagome was firmly rooted in the moment.
She beamed at Sesshoumaru.
"You've done such a wonderful job today with all of this."
Sesshoumaru stared into his wine.
His face was impassive as always, but Kagome could read his microexpressions well enough now, could spot that faint flush of his cheeks.
"I needed everything to be perfect," he intoned evenly.
"It has been," Kagome assured him. "Thank you for the lovely evening."
"Don't thank me yet, we haven't even got to the best part."
"What's the best part?" Kagome asked, her curiosity perking up.
Sesshoumaru cleared his throat. "The presents."
Kagome's smile froze. She squirmed in her seat.
She did have a present prepared, but she had no idea how Sesshoumaru would react to it – and if he might even accept it.
Because though they had grown very close very fast since their unexpected reunion, there were some very big lines they had not crossed.
The friendship had bloomed and grown into a strong bond.
But was there a future for them, beyond that?
Sesshoumaru got up from his seat and rounded the table.
Wordlessly, he offered Kagome a present.
He had clearly wrapped it up himself, which warmed her heart. She wasn't sure how he had succeeded to make a rectangle look so lumpy, but it tugged at her heartstrings.
She took the gift and tore open the paper, eager to see what he had given her.
The present was a brown box that rattled suspiciously in her hand.
Curiosity growing, Kagome opened the box.
Inside, there was a smaller box.
Kagome stilled.
Blinked.
Picked it up, her fingers trembling.
Fumbled a few times to pry it open.
Stared at the gleaming ring.
Blinking back tears, Kagome looked up to find Sesshoumaru kneeling before her, his golden gaze boring into her in question.
Gasping out a sob, Kagome picked up the ring and slipped it into her finger.
She slid out of her chair as Sesshoumaru pulled her close, as she wound her arms tight around him.
They came together in an embrace, their hearts pressed against one another.
