Prompt: Malfunction
Genre: Innuendo
Rating: T
Warning: Nothing to worry about, this can happen to any guy…
Summary: Kagome and Sesshoumaru must overcome a personal setback.
*****
Snowflakes fell gently outside in the chilly December night. Inside, their first winter holiday together was quickly becoming a disaster.
As the festive instrumental music played quietly in the background, Kagome looked over at the less-than-happy-spirited demon in front of her. Their bedclothes and the soft glow of the multicolored twinkle lights were inharmonious with the upset and depressed feelings hanging in the room.
She did not need her empathetic miko powers to know she had a very disgruntled daiyoukai on her hands. He was not only irritated, but confused, hurt and a little sad as well.
"Sesshoumaru, sometimes these things, well, they just happen…" she began.
He held up a clawed hand, stopping her speech. "These things do NOT 'just' happen to THIS Sesshoumaru."
She knew his head was in a very bad place when he began referring to himself in the third person. "This sort of thing could happen to anyone…" she continued.
He put his hand back down and turned away from her, looking off into the corner of the room. He was the ultimate perfectionist and it did not sit well with him to be unable to perform such a simple task for her.
She tried again, wanting to reason with him. "This really isn't the disaster you are making it out to be."
"I have failed you." He said dejectedly. "It has ruined our evening together."
"You haven't failed me! Don't be so melodramatic. You can't possibly think that you are the only one who has had to deal with a… a minor hiccup like this!"
"You personally know of others?" He asked, a little sarcastically.
"Well, not personally, no, but I have heard stories."
"Hn."
Kagome was trying to not lose her patience. This was not the confident male she knew and loved.
"Look, I'm willing to try again tonight if you want, or we can wait until tomorrow and make another attempt at getting it up."
He appeared to be thinking about her proposal, but made no outward sign of making a decision. She tried a different tact.
"Could it be that it is just a little too big? Would it help if I held it steady for you while you try to put it in? What do you think? Is the size of it part of the problem?"
By now he was used to her rapid-fire style of questioning. He waited patiently for her to become still before speaking.
Cocking one eyebrow at her, he said, "You are complaining about the size of it?"
"I'm not complaining about the size. I was merely suggesting that you can't expect to automatically know the right way to fit it in there when it is your first time!"
He neither agreed nor disagreed. Really this should have been far simpler than it was turning out to be. Even though he had not felt the need to follow the assembly instructions for the tree stand, this disaster should not have happened.
They continued to stare at the partially-decorated fir tree lying on its side on the floor of the living room, its lights still blinking merrily.
Kagome knew he had not read the directions, but she wanted to salvage what was left of his pride and their evening. "Obviously the tree stand is defective and has malfunctioned. We'll simply get rid of it and buy a better stand tomorrow."
Gratefully grasping at the shred of dignity she offered, he took her into his arms and kissed her deeply. Kagome sighed as his kiss rapidly became passionate and she felt a part of him that never needed help, rise to the occasion.
A/N: Posted Dec. 14, 2008. This won first place, hooray! :) Thanks for reading!
