Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, unfortunately.
Italics denote thoughts.
oOo
Brown eyes watched the tall man in front of her intently as she mechanically placed some rice in her mouth.
Okay, let's see, he's not in a bad mood today so that must mean he's in a good mood. Good. I'll wait until he finishes his food before asking him. I doubt he'll like it if I interrupt his dining. I wonder, will he say yes? I hope he does. Or else…or else…
"I will be in the study," he said as he rose with a fluid motion.
WHAT?!?! He's leaving already?!!?! I'm not even halfway done!
"Sesshoumaru-sama!"
"What is it, Rin?" Golden eyes fixed their gaze on her causing her to take a deep breath before continuing.
"IwaswonderingcanIaskmyfriendovernextweekonmydayoff?"
A graceful eyebrow raised itself as its owner tried to comprehend the … question. That is, if something that unintelligible could be called a question in the first place.
"Rin, repeat yourself and at a slower pace."
Rin took another deep breath and said, "Can I ask my friend over next week on my day off? We'll just be doing some cooking in the kitchen and we'll be so quiet you won't know we're there. We won't disturb you or anything, I swear." Then as an afterthought, she added, "I promise I won't mess the kitchen up."
"Do as you wish, Rin," said Sesshoumaru as he turned to leave but not before witnessing a big smile from the young girl followed by an extremely jubilant "Thank you, Sesshoumaru-sama!"
Settling himself in his usual chair in the study, he pondered upon his ward's question earlier.
Her friend? All these years she has never asked any of her friends over. I wonder, who is this friend of hers?
This was the first time he has ever heard of such a request from her. Then again, she hardly ever asked for anything from him except to teach her how to cook.
oOo
This must be it, thought Kagome as the cab stopped at the main entrance of a condominium building. She paid her fare and got out, only mildly surprised to find a very excited Rin already waiting for her.
Even before she stepped foot into the building, Kagome was trying very hard to refrain herself from gaping with her mouth wide open. So charmed was she with the place that she hardly heard what the younger girl was saying as they waited for the elevator.
What do they pay the chefs at the Blue Crescent Palace? Gold bars? Heck, I don't think I can afford to live here in ten years' time even if I worked my ass off, Kagome mused as the elevator made its way up. This place looks more like a grand hotel than a condominium building. I never even knew this place existed. Hmm…if Rin lives in such a grand place, I wonder what Sesshoumaru's place will look like? He's the head chef so he'll definitely have a bigger paycheck. So it's just logic that his home will probably be ten times bigger and amazingly beautiful, I suppose. Just like him. Wait…did I just say Sesshoumaru beautiful? Where did that come from? And why am I suddenly thinking of him?
She was so deep in thought that she didn't notice the elevator had come to a stop until Rin tugged on her elbow saying, "Kagome, we're here."
"Eh? Oh, yeah. Sorry Rin, I was just thinking," she said with an apologetic smile and got out without noticing that they were actually at the topmost floor of the building.
Rin giggled. "It's okay. Sesshoumaru-sama does that all the time."
Does he now? I wonder what does he think of to make him forget about getting off the- Ack! Stop thinking of him Kagome! Pay attention to Rin! She's the reason you're here!
"Welcome to my home, Kagome."
From where she stood, she could see directly out the open sliding doors that led to the balcony. To prevent herself from giving in to her curiosity as to the view that could be seen from the balcony, Kagome took a look around.
Even for a penthouse suite, the place looked big. Or maybe it was because of the absence of the usual items of furniture that one normally associates with halls and living rooms. The room contained only a large, framed painting of a bamboo forest done beautifully in ink on the left wall. The floor was of marble that had been polished until Kagome was pretty sure she could see her image reflected back at her.
To her right, a staircase led up to the second floor. The entire room, touched by the soft light of day streaming in from a window on the landing above, appeared rather surreal and appealed to her more romantic nature. Although there wasn't much in the room, it looked beautiful in its simplicity, just like the Blue Crescent Palace. Somehow it reminded her of a peaceful Zen garden her father used to bring her to when she was much younger. This place is just…marvelous.
"You have a very beautiful place."
"I suppose I have to thank you for that."
Startled by the voice that is so definitely not Rin's, she whirled around only to come face to face with the person that she least expected to see here. The one man that she was trying hard to not think about was currently standing right in front of her with that annoying smirk on his otherwise absolutely pleasing face.
"Sesshoumaru? What are you doing here?"
Sesshoumaru's eyes flashed a hint of amusement at Kagome's question.
"I live here."
"WHAT?!?!" No way! This is some kind of sick cosmic joke! Thank you God, NOT!!
"Sesshoumaru-sama, this is my friend, Kagome. You know, the famous critic, Higurashi Kagome who came to the restaurant the other day. She's here to help me with my cooking skills," said Rin beaming.
"Is that so? As much as I would like to stay and watch the 'famous' critic at work in the kitchen, I have some things to attend to. It was a pleasure meeting you again, Kagome," he said, in a silky voice laced heavily with sarcasm that only he possessed.
Before Kagome could formulate an answer, he was already out the door. So that is her friend. How…interesting. With the ghost of a smirk playing mysteriously on his lips, he entered the elevator.
oOo
Stupid, stupid Sesshoumaru, thought Kagome as she pounded the helpless piece of dough she was holding, imagining that it was Sesshoumaru himself that she was pounding. It is so like him to imply that I can't cook. I'll show him who can't cook! That arrogant guy! How can Rin stand this guy? Then again, why is Rin living with him in the first place?
"Erm…Rin…"
"Yes, Kagome?"
"Why are you living with Sesshoumaru?" she asked of the younger girl who was kneading on another piece of dough.
"That's because Sesshoumaru-sama is my guardian."
"Your guardian?"
"Yeah. I was adopted by Sesshoumaru-sama when I was just a kid. He found me unconscious in the alley near where he used to work and took me to the hospital. When I woke up I couldn't remember anything except my name. Sesshoumaru-sama took pity on me so he ended up adopting me. Well ... at least that's what Jaken-sama told me."
"I see." That's rather sweet of him. So that guy has a heart after all. A smile unconsciously formed on her lips at that thought.
oOo
As soon as he opened the front door that led to the place he called home several hours later, a lovely aroma of something being baked greeted him. That something was identified immediately as belonging to chocolate chip cookies after a delicate sniff of the air. The kitchen was surprisingly quiet; with no sound emitted. He had expected the two females to be chattering as they worked and making noise enough to rival a whole flock of sparrows. Maybe she has left. She should have by now.
Convincing himself with every step he took that it was merely out of concern for Rin, he padded softly towards the kitchen. If he was surprised by what he saw, he did not show it.
The kitchen counter held trays and trays of chocolate chip cookies, all in different shapes and sizes. Rin was sitting on a high stool and staring directly at the oven in front of her, which, he assumed, held another tray of cookies. He had never seen such a huge batch of cookies before in his life, but that wasn't all that surprising seeing as he was never particularly fond of baking.
Amber eyes darted around the kitchen but failed to locate their target. Unable to contain his curiosity any longer, he cleared his throat causing the only inhabitant in the room to jump at the sound.
"Sesshoumaru-sama! You're back early."
Early? It's nearly 10pm. "Rin, what is all this?" His gaze traveled around the place mentally taking note of the number of trays filled with cookies and multiplying them with a rough estimate of the number of cookies in each tray. It was a large number.
With a rather guilty expression on her face, she said "I…er…Kagome…Kagome and I decided to make some chocolate chip cookies today."
"Some?" There's enough to open a cookie store!
Taking a look around, Rin gulped. "Erm…I got carried away?"
Amber eyes fixed themselves on the young girl.
"Sesshoumaru-sama, would you like to try some?"
He reached a hand out and took a piece from the plate offered by Rin. Never before had he tasted a cookie that tastes the way this one did. It literally melted in his mouth leaving behind only the lingering taste of dark chocolate. This is … delicious.
"Rin, did you make this yourself?"
She did not answer but merely handed him another piece saying, "Try another Sesshoumaru-sama."
Curiosity stole over him but he took the offered piece silently. The taste was like the first piece, but somehow it tasted different too. There was something in the previous cookie that this one didn't have, something that he couldn't place his finger on. It tasted better than many of the cookies on sale everywhere else, yet it couldn't be compared to the one he had before. His elegant eyebrows unconsciously knitted themselves together as he pondered it.
"They taste different don't they, Sesshoumaru-sama?"
He nodded.
"Kagome and I made about two-dozen of them or so this afternoon before she had to leave. Sesshoumaru-sama, the cookies that she made were so good! I was trying to make them like how she taught me but somehow they didn't come out they way they were supposed to," she said with a note of dejectedness in her quiet voice.
"What time did she leave?"
"About 4pm or so I guess."
5 hours. That explains all the cookies. This girl just doesn't know when to give up.
"It's alright, Rin. Try again next time." Did I just console her? I must be more tired than I think I am.
"I can't Sesshoumaru-sama."
Questioning amber eyes met her sad brown ones.
"Why not?"
"We're out of flour."
oOo
A/N: Chocolate chip cookies for all those who reviewed. Because all of you have been so nice, I shall put up the next chapter immediately after this.
To
Kohana - ::blush:: your review made me go 'awww...' so you get 2 extra cookies. hehe.
crystal lilith - your guess was close...both Shippou and Rin are 14 yrs old.
