Chapter 11 Eat well...

"WATCH OUT KAGOME! SHE'S GONNA HIT YOU!" Rin screamed at the top of her lungs.

Kagome did her level best to avoid the blows aimed at her head while remaining upright. Sweat was pouring down her brow, stinging her eyes, and partially blinding her.

Sesshoumaru stared into the determined eyes of his opponent, looking for a sign of failing strength. Unfortunately for him, he saw none. "You know, Miroku, I can hold up Kagome much longer than you can hold up Sango."

The monk's lips quirked upwards in a smug smile. "The real question is not whose shoulders will get tired first but rather which one of our women will break the other's egg. Sango has a lot more combat training than Kagome and I'll wager on her."

Kagome leaned right, urging Sesshoumaru to step in that direction while aiming a swipe at the egg taped to Sango's head. Miroku stepped to the right as well also shortening the distance between Sango and Kagome, causing her blow to be jammed against the side of Sango's head rather than land on her forehead.

"Looks like Sesshoumaru isn't quite as skillful without the use of his abilities." Sango taunted Kagome. They had all agreed earlier that it wouldn't be a fair contest unless he was prohibited from using his inhuman abilities.

Kagome was about to retort when Jaken shouted his support for Sesshoumaru, "MY LORD CAN BEAT YOUR MONK WITH OR WITHOUT HIS POWERS."

Kohaku remained silent throughout the engagement but had his almond eyes were locked on his sister and he was privately cheering her on. Emphasis on privately. No need to get Rin upset with him by cheering for the rival team out loud.

Sesshoumaru faked left as if to step in that direction but instead stepped back with his left foot and presented his and Kagome's profile, allowing both teams to have one perfect shot at the other's egg.

Both Sango and Kagome realized the perfect opportunity in front of them and swung for the white oval attached to the other's head. The stances of the men whom they were sitting on determined the course of the swing. Kagome's blow was swung in an overhead motion while Sango's came in on a horizontal arc.

For a moment, time seemed to elongate as each brought their makeshift weapon around, both women committed fully to the attack in a determined attempt to spill liquid gold across the other's face. But in the space of a crucial second Sesshoumaru assured their victory by pivoting on his right foot a few degrees. Since Kagome's attack was on a vertical path, the pivot barely affected her aim. Sango, on the other hand, was using a horizontal path toward her target whose relative position had just altered by several inches.

The world was suspended in a moment of time, as participants and observers were caught in a seemingly everlasting intake of breath as the sudden inevitable realization of their triumph and defeat dawned.

A loud crack was heard.

"UHG... ITS DISGUSTING!"

"TAKE THAT SANGO!"

"HA! MY LORD NEVER LOSES!"

"I knew this was a bad idea," Sango commented as she wiped egg yolk from her face. Her brown eyes contained the look of one who was not used to losing and hated it passionately. "I should never have let you talk me into this, Kagome."

"You knew the nature of the game when you agreed to play. Only one of us could win," Kagome answered, as she got off of her boyfriend's shoulders. Sango was likewise climbing off of Miroku's shoulders, taking care not to get yolk on him. "Ugh, I'm gonna go clean up."

"Kagome," the auburn haired Shippou cried as he latched onto her. "Can we play with that disc thingy again? I like that one."

"It's called a 'frizbee' Shippou and it's dark enough that we could lose it. Maybe tomorrow on the other side of the well. But right now I think it is time to eat, that last game along with the soccer match left me pretty hungry."

Shippou was disappointed that he wouldn't see the frizbee flying once more; its spinning motion made the designs on it seem alive. He could accept it though, if it meant eating. The food from Kagome's home was much better than what was available in the village. Especially the candies and other sweets.

"Well, I better go check with Kaede to see if the food is ready," Kagome said as she put Shippou down.

"You don't need to bother, I can tell that it is ready," Sesshoumaru whispered into her ear, startling Kagome who turned around to face him. "Would you quit sneaking up on me like that!"

Sesshoumaru put on an innocent face. As much as he was able to anyway while he wore his distinct markings. "I wasn't sneaking, you just weren't paying attention. There is a difference."

"Oh whatever, you do that purposefully and you know it. Now if you don't have anything better to do besides freaking me out I could use some help setting up the table."

By the time the table was prepared and the dishes placed on it, Shippou had to be restrained by Rin and Kohaku to prevent him from snitching something to eat.

The staple foods of the typical Japanese meal were all present and accounted for: bowls of rice, miso soup, pickled vegetables and fish or meat depending on an individual's preference. Several types of noodles udon, soba and ramen (which were conveniently priced at the supermarket) and were served in quantities sufficient for a person to gorge themselves if they so desired.

In addition, some sort of roll containing the scent of tasty meat and spices which Kagome had brought was tantalizing Shippous nose. At last Kagome brought out the final, and from Shippou's green-eyed point of view, most important dish: desert. For desert she had brought back with her two of the "chocolate cake" things that he was dying to eat.

"You may release Shippou now," Sesshoumaru declared in a voice of silken steel as he and Kagome seated themselves. "It is time to eat."