Disclaimer: I do hereby disclaim all rights and responsibilities for the characters in this awkward moment… especially for the one who had to dodge. A nod of recognition is bent towards Rumiko Takahashi for her creative prowess.
A Debt of Gratitude: With thanks to mine beta Fenikkusuken, who was lured in by the promise of mocha.
This drabble was originally posted to Live Journal on May 14, 2009.
Ingrained
Inuyasha had the day off, and Sesshoumaru took his half-brother's place behind the coffee makers. The quietly efficient youkai apparently believed in on-the-job training, because he plied Sango with steaming demitasse cups all throughout the afternoon lull. While she appreciated his continued attempts to educate her palete, all the caffeine was making her jumpy. At least, this was the best excuse she could come up with, though she doubted he'd buy it. "Oh… my… gosh! I'm so sorry, sir!"
Sesshoumaru arched a brow after neatly avoiding the elbow she'd attempted to drive into his ribs. "Miss Sakamoto, this is the second time in as many hours that you have shied away from me, and now this?"
She found his inscrutable gaze impossible to hold. "Really, really sorry," she mumbled, color deepening in her cheeks.
He huffed softly, and in a slightly gentler tone, said, "You have nothing to fear from me."
"I know that, sir," she hastily replied, brown eyes begging him to believe her. "It's just that… usually when someone is looming behind me… well, sir… Miroku's hands tend to wander, if you know what I mean."
"I am aware of Mr. Murasaki's tendencies," he allowed. "My brother implied that you manage to… peacefully coexist?"
"Something like that."
"Hnn… well, his manners are understandable; however, I don't think you have any real cause for concern."
"You can't make excuses for him just because he pours a pretty cup of coffee," she retorted sharply.
"I make no excuses; I merely recognize the behavior patterns."
"You expect him to behave like a pervert?" she demanded, incensed.
"I expect him to ignore personal boundaries, to be impulsive and over-confident… and to be bluntly honest and unfailingly loyal." Sesshoumaru considered further. "He has a brain and knows how to use it, which balances out his upbringing somewhat. And he can 'pour a pretty cup of coffee', which makes him an asset to our business."
"Miroku's upbringing? What do you mean?"
"You don't know? He was raised by wolves."
End Note: This drabble was originally written for the Live Journal community iyissekiwa and their prompt for Contest #76—Type. My original entry was 250 words, but this is a slightly expanded version, 335 words.