Innocent Kisses in the Rain
Sesshoumaru's House, after school, Tokyo, Japan, August 6, 2004
"Hey, Sesshoumaru…" Kagome asked, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. She grinned when his upside-down figure shifted to accommodate for a returning, withering look.
It no longer had any effect, she was proud to declare as she flopped across his bed, staring at him as he typed something or another on his computer.
"You get a lot of homework, don't you?" She asked, suddenly distracted from her original cause. He renewed his glare - friendlily.
"Anyway… there's a festival being sponsored by our school taking place tomorrow, did you know?" She asked casually.
He gave her a tired scowl, but beneath it was amusement and curiosity.
"No, I didn't know. I do not go to your school." He stated cruelly; she blinked and sputtered for a moment before sitting up to glare levelly at him.
"Well, in all cases, there is a festival tomorrow and - well… I'd be obliged if you escorted me." She said with a grin.
"There are some bees that cannot be caught with either vinegar or honey." Sesshoumaru mumbled monotonously beneath his breath, typing furiously with a small smirk.
"You're such a grouch! Do you donate at Christmas? I'd have a much higher opinion of you if you came." Kagome stated, closing her eyes in annoyance but immediately cracking one open again to observe his expression.
He bowed his head another quarter of an inch over the keyboard, effectively shifting a curtain of hair in front of his face which was ruthlessly betraying his emotions at the moment.
"Are you incapable of a meaningful word?" He asked lightly, unable to keep the amused ring from his voice.
"No, are you incapable of a meaningful action?" Kagome challenged, crossing her arms defiantly over her chest.
He was about to respond when a click and 'whoosh' was heard as Inuyasha barged into the room thoughtlessly, intent upon Kagome.
Sesshoumaru gave him a contemptuous glare that clearly stated 'Aren't you supposed to be off doing unspeakable things with your own witch?' Inuyasha gave a disdainful snort but otherwise ignored the unfriendly look.
"Your mum called. You have to go home. She'd be 'very grateful' if Sesshoumaru gave you a ride." With that said, Inuyasha galloped out the door, completely disregarding Sesshoumaru's presence or his own intrusion.
Sesshoumaru sighed, his fist unclenching unconsciously.
She looked expectantly at him.
"I can give you a ride home." Sesshoumaru said, deftly leading the mouse to and fro across the screen, saving his work before standing.
She smiled, muttered a 'thanks,' before rising to join him.
The ride home
"So, tomorrow can you come?" Kagome asked cheerfully, watching the road with a smile on her face.
He looked at her before responding playfully: "I have prior engagements."
"That's interesting. Cancel them." Kagome offered, smiling all the wider.
He remained silent, and she was unsure if he didn't have an answer, he had and his silence meant 'no,' or he had and his silence meant 'yes.'
"Well?" She asked.
He glanced at her again before a faint smile curved his lips.
"We shall strike a bargain." Sesshoumaru declared, obviously pleased with himself.
"You have the 'I'm better than the world' look on, Sesshoumaru." Kagome grinned, but did not discourage his remark.
"You will participate in a project that I am beginning a week from now, and you will not indulge in any fantasies or gossip that I did this for any reason other than my own whimsical relief." Sesshoumaru stated, all in dry seriousness.
"What kind of project?" Kagome asked suspiciously.
"A mere paint project." He answered nonchalantly.
"How many hours?" She asked.
"We will be painting my bedroom." Sesshoumaru said, a gleam in his eye.
"Oh. Okay." Kagome said, agreeing readily.
"You will refrain from being the gossipy female that you are." Sesshoumaru said.
"… Hey!" Kagome exclaimed; she was rewarded with a smirk.
"Do you accept these standards?" Sesshoumaru asked. She slumped back into her seat and summoned a mock glare.
"Yes, of course, Lord Sesshoumaru!" She said, and he smirked wider.
He went as far as he could and then let her off, leaving her to walk the rest of the way in the dusk.
Despite everything, she grinned at him, and he returned it with a soft smile. She exited the car and jogged towards the barely-distant shrine steps.
He pulled away.
The festival
Kagome laughed as she started out the evening with a gigantic teddy bear.
"You're really good at that, Sesshoumaru!" Kagome laughed, hugging the chocolate brown bear with all her might.
They were both dressed appropriately for the school's festival.
Kagome wore a bright red kimono with golden designs glittering across the fabric with the absence of a pattern.
Sesshoumaru wore white hakama and haori, completely stoic in the unusual garb.
They made quite the odd couple, Sesshoumaru being at least a foot and a half taller than Kagome, the bear being at least a foot and a half fatter, and the mismatch of… everything else. But they were both having fun, even as well as one of them hid it.
"What is the point of this?" Sesshoumaru asked as a couple of pink-kimono-clad girls giggled past in a whirlwind.
"To raise money." Kagome explained simply.
"What for?" Sesshoumaru asked. She looked dumbfounded for a moment, and then shrugged. That was the end of that conversation.
Then she spotted a stuffed pig that had to have been at least two times larger than the stuffed bear --
"Sesshoumaru!" She exclaimed.
"We will be seeing each other again shortly." Sesshoumaru smiled.
Kagome seemed lost for a moment before…
"Oh." It struck her. She grinned, halfway between sheepishness and mischievousness.
"I'll just have you know beforehand though; I'm no painter! I'm not even an artist!" Then she left, dragging two armfuls of stuffed animals and toys with her.
He fought a grin that would not be dampened, and she returned it heartily.
"You're the best Sesshoumaru!" She cried, gasping as she almost dropped a fairly large fan on the ground.
He smiled in response.