Prompt: Experiment
Genre: Humor
Rating: K+
Warning: Don't try this at home.
Summary: Kagome experiments with a parlor trick… as seen on T.V.
*****
Sifting slowly up from the depths of blissful slumber, Kagome reluctantly opened her eyes and tried to make sense of the darkness. She searched out the clock on the nightstand next to her mate and inwardly groaned as the display [2:36 a.m.] filtered through her dissipating sleep-fog.
She was unfortunately wide awake, but it was nowhere near time to get up. This was especially irritating as it was the weekend and she could have slept in. Past experience told her it was useless to try falling back to sleep. These bouts of insomnia were infrequent, but she recognized the signs and resigned herself to it with a soft sigh.
Spooned to the back of her warm and deep-breathing male, she was reluctant to get up and find something to read until a more reasonable hour presented itself. Instead she craned further over his side to gaze at his beautiful face, illuminated by the glow of the clock, while he slept.
How like an angel he looked, his features relaxed and serene, dark bedroom eyelashes resting on striped aristocratic cheeks. Even though the light was faint, she could see movement beginning under the lids. He was shifting into a REM sleep cycle, the one usually conducive to dreaming… and suggestion. An idea formed in her mind, and she decided to run a little experiment.
Placing her mouth next to his elegant ear, she whispered to him, "Sesshoumaru… can you hear me?" She peered at his face for any kind of recognition or sign that he had heard.
He slept peacefully on.
"Sesshoumaru." Her voice was louder and a little more insistent.
It was a fine edge she walked, trying to tap into the subconscious mind without waking the subject. The objective was to keep him under, but at the same time have him aware enough to pay attention and remember her words.
"Hn…?" He frowned minutely and rolled onto his chest.
Kagome stifled a giggle and sidled closer to him, encouraged by his reaction. She had seen this type of hypnosis done in a movie and didn't believe it could actually work, but it was worth a try just for the fun of it. She knew exactly what she would ask of him, as it was something that had always been a bone of contention between them.
"Listen carefully to what I say…"
*****
That morning she was impatient for him to wake up, so she cheated a little bit by making breakfast early. Flapping a dish towel, she wafted the odors out of the kitchen and down the hallway toward the open bedroom door. She knew if the smell of fresh coffee didn't rouse him, the scent of frying bacon would.
Her efforts were rewarded as she heard him take a huge inhale of the enticing aromas and then emit a loud groan as he stretched out his sleep-cramped form. Sizzling bacon and eggs were sliding onto the plates as he padded into the kitchen, still stretching toward the ceiling.
"Good morning!" she chirped happily.
"Mmmm… good morning," he replied, kissing her forehead and peering with interest at the plates.
Everything was perfectly arranged. His newspaper was folded neatly by his place and fresh-cut flowers in a pretty vase sat in the center. Kagome set the two laden plates down across the table from each other. Sesshoumaru held out her chair as she settled into her place, and then seated himself.
She was watching him with too-bright eyes. It puzzled him somewhat, but she often had little tricks up her sleeve and he knew he would be advised in due time. He picked up his coffee cup for a sip, and then took a fork in hand to tuck into the delicious food in front of him.
"Aren't you going to read the paper?" she innocently asked. "Check out the business section?"
He looked at her quizzically. "I may later… I thought I would talk to you while we eat breakfast."
Kagome's eyes grew impossibly large. This was not his usual morning "hn." It was so unlike him, she could only stare. He never ignored the paper; in fact he usually had it open and stuck to his nose before coffee was poured. She could not believe her nocturnal 'suggestion' that he talk to her more, tell her his thoughts, really worked!
She felt so giddy she could hardly eat. It was incredible that the demon who so seldom spoke was going to converse with her in sentences, phrases, and paragraphs even! She gazed adoringly at him, listening with rapt attention as he chatted to her over their morning meal.
He talked all through breakfast, and the whole time she did the dishes. He followed her everywhere in the house, to the bedroom, the laundry room and even stood outside the bathroom, expressing his every thought and feelings.
He lectured her on the plants chosen for their front flower garden all during lunch and ranted about people who let their dogs run loose as they walked through the park. He spoke non-stop about his political views on policies at home and abroad all through dinner and commented through the entire movie she put into the DVD player that evening.
Kagome wouldn't have minded so much if she could have gotten a word in edgewise, but she never got the chance to say much more than, "Uh huh, I…" before she was cut off by another brilliant insight he just had to share with her. He literally talked to her all day long.
By nightfall she had quite a pounding migraine blossoming behind her left eye.
Pleading a headache, she tried to make her escape into the bedroom, only to have him follow her, asking if she was alright, and could he help, was there anything she needed.
'Some peace and quiet!' she thought wearily, as she chased down two aspirin with a glass of water. She somehow found the strength to curl up under the blankets and pull a pillow over her ear to block out his voice. She could still hear him talking about various pain-relievers, but thankfully it was well-muffled. Gradually sleep overtook her, and she gratefully slipped into land of Nod.
Sesshoumaru ceased speaking when he sensed she was fast asleep. It had been a hard day for him as well; he was so very tired of hearing his own voice, let alone using it all day. He smirked wickedly at the exhausted, sneaky miko, and gently removed the pillow covering her head. Waiting until he saw her eyes move rapidly under the closed lids, he then whispered into her ear…
A/N: Posted Mar. 11, 2009. This won first place! Hooray! I confess I am still amused by this idea... I wonder what he asked of her? Thanks for reading! :)
