Dine and Dash

Prompt: That hurt

Universe: AU

Genre: Comedy

965 Words

Sesshoumaru sipped his sake and looked around the table. Though he was glad all the details of the contract had been decided on, he didn't particularly enjoy dealing with his business partner. Matsuda Kouga was an annoying person, brash and simple-minded, and inebriation did little to improve his unpleasant personality.

Sesshoumaru didn't care for all that rowdy bravado, though everyone else – even Jaken – seemed to be having a good time; laughing together and exchanging stories and anecdotes. Well, that was to be expected, Sesshoumaru supposed. This was a celebration after all.

He was the odd one out in this present company, but then, he'd never been a people person.

The door slid open and a waitress walked in, dressed in a modest, dark blue kimono. She was smiling politely as she knelt on the tatami and set her tray on the corner of the table.

"Did you enjoy your dinner, sir?" she asked.

"The meal was excellent, thank you," Sesshoumaru replied, watching as she started to collect the empty dishes. Really, the food had been the highlight of his evening. "Do send my compliments to the cook."

"I shall, sir," she promised with another small smile. "Are you ready to order dessert or should I send you another cask of sake?"

"I feel my party has had enough to drink," Sesshoumaru said dryly, casting a fleeting glance at Kouga's grinning red face. "Just bring us an assortment of daifuku and two pots of tea, please – one of black and green each."

"Very well, sir, I'll be right back." She bowed her head politely.

Sesshoumaru looked at her tray, stacked full with the plates and bowls, and wondered if a woman of such slender build was even able to lift it up – but she rose from the floor with practised ease, bringing the tray with her. Somehow, she managed to keep it perfectly balanced, and Sesshoumaru felt mildly impressed as he watched her walk away.

Staring into his drink, Sesshoumaru wondered if it said more about him or his companions that he'd had a more meaningful conversation with the waitress just now than he'd had with any of them in the last forty minutes.

Sesshoumaru leaned back and took another sip of his sake. He only had to endure this for another thirty minutes or so.

A rattle interrupted the flow of conversation and laughter in the room; Kouga's knees had bumped against the table as he stumbled to his feet. He grinned foolishly and then loudly announced his urgent need to visit the bathroom.

Sesshoumaru's nose crinkled in a grimace of distaste.

Kouga staggered across the room. The sliding door rattled as he yanked it open, swaying on his feet – and then a loud crash and a surprised shriek rang in the air.

Sesshoumaru cursed and jumped to his feet, pushing past Kouga who was blinking owlishly at the wreckage.

It was the waitress from before, her polite smile replaced by a grimace of pain as she lay sprawled in a puddle of tea and squished daifuku.

"S'ry, didn't see ya there," Kouga offered helpfully before he wandered off towards the restrooms.

Sesshoumaru gritted his teeth and knelt to help the poor woman up. "Are you all right?"

"Fine, sir," she said in a tight voice. "I'm sorry, I'll get you a new serving right away."

The waitress stooped and started to clean up the mess, but Sesshoumaru would have none of it.

"I can tell you are not fine. Surely someone else can take care of this." He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and started to firmly steer her towards the kitchen.

She followed him, surprisingly docile, and it didn't take him long to notice that she wasn't putting her full weight on her right foot. Twisted ankle, probably, but that wasn't Sesshoumaru's only concern.

They exited the corridor and arrived at the restaurant's main area, where another waitress was serving the tables. She stopped in her tracks to gape at them.

"Kagome-san, what happened?"

"Just a little accident, Rin-chan. I dropped my tray down the corridor, could you please go clean it up?"

"Of course, Kagome-san, right away!"

The waitress rushed past them and Sesshoumaru helped Kagome into the kitchen.

A red-haired youth sprung to his feet and stared at the two of them, his mouth agape.

"Woah, boss, are you all right?"

"I'm fine, Shippou-chan. Rin-chan's down by the Camellia room, can you go help her?"

"You sure you're not the one who needs help?" he asked, one eyebrow arching.

"Positive, Shippou-chan."

"OK, boss, I'm going."

"Kaede-san, I'll need a new serving of daifuku, please," Kagome told the cook.

"What happened?"

"I dropped the tray."

"You never drop the tray," the old woman frowned.

"My inebriated imbecile of a colleague knocked her off her feet," Sesshoumaru explained. He glanced at the waitress out of the corner of his eye. "I think she should go to the emergency room. She hurt her ankle and she must have burned herself after being doused with hot tea."

Kaede studied them and pursed her lips.

"I agree. Kagome, you should go see a doctor, just in case."

"But –"

"Just go, we can handle the rest of the evening."

"I shall accompany her," Sesshoumaru decided.

"Oh, no, you've already done plenty –"

"I insist. All this is my associate's fault after all. I'll call us a taxi, you can go change into dry clothes."

The waitress studied him for a moment, her blue eyes inquisitive, before finally she nodded in agreement.

"All right, sir."

"Sesshoumaru," he corrected her.

A small smile touched her lips.

"I'm Kagome."

"Nice to meet you – though I wished it would have happened under better circumstances."

She shook her head and laughed, a pleasant, bright sound.

"Thank you for everything, Sesshoumaru."