The Gingerbread Gaffe by Chie

Chapter 1

Even though it wasn’t a Japanese holiday, Kagome had always loved Christmas. It was a love she’d inherited from her mother. Mrs Higurashi had been charmed by the magic of it, of the atmosphere, of the thought of family coming together, of giving out presents and seeing the joy of children. 

The Christmas in the Higurashi household was not a typical Japanese Christmas, but rather a blend of the New Year celebration and a more western kind of Christmas. After all, the shrine was always busy for New Year, so it made sense to celebrate it a bit early and Christmas was the perfect excuse.

This year had been a little rough on everyone. 

Shippou’d had a difficult time in the Kitsune school. He’d been stuck for a long while, unable to advance to the next level and was feeling frustrated about the lack of progress. Sango was pregnant again, and this time she was having a hard time. Miroku had needed to pitch in a lot to look after their growing brood of children, many of whom had been sick this autumn and winter, one after another. Kaede was ageing, forced to deal with more aches and pains, especially now with the weather so cold. Kagome was so glad she had Rin to help her with the everyday tasks. 

It was clear that a little Christmas cheer was needed to brighten everyone’s winter. And Kagome knew just what to do. 

First, she got some fabric, in bright colours and cheerful patterns. She wasn’t the craftiest person, but a few simple stuffed toys for Miroku’s and Sango’s children weren’t too difficult to sew together. 

Kagome had a use for the leftover fabric as well. She used it to sew omamori for Rin, Kaede and Shippou. She also included a lock of her hair with the prayer slip inside the amulet she made for Shippou. Maybe it would help preserve her scent longer, in case Shippou would miss her while he was out studying in the kitsune school.  

For Sango and Miroku she wove a few baskets — she’d been learning how from one of the women in the village. A growing number of children meant a growing number of things they would need, and the baskets could come in handy.

That left only two more people to give gifts to. Inuyasha was easy enough to please. Feeding him would make him happy. The last one, though… She wasn’t at all sure what to get for him . But maybe if food was the key to Inuyasha’s good mood, it could work on him, too?

Well, there was only one way to find out.

He was the last one left to get his present, as he visited the village sporadically. But to Kagome’s luck, he wandered in in his typical unaffected manner less than a week after mid-winter. 

She felt his approach and was waiting in front of her hut, the pouch in her hands, as he strolled in. 

“Hello, Sesshoumaru!”

He stopped and quirked his brow.

“Miko,” he acknowledged her, inclining his head.

“Do you have a moment?”

He angled towards her, his stare boring into her. “I may, if you wish so.”

“I won’t bother you for long, I promise. It’s just, you know, it’s been a hard year for all so I wanted to celebrate the winter and do something nice for everyone and anyway… these are for you.” Kagome offered him a tremulous smile and held out the pouch.

Sesshoumaru’s gaze dropped down to the pouch. His nose twitched. He closed their distance, his steps so quick she could barely track them. 

He snatched the bag and dangled it from his claws. Took a long, delicate sniff. Then, he opened the pouch and peered in. He pulled out a round cookie and brought it to his nose.

“What is this, miko?” he queried, his gaze flicking to study her. 

“Gingerbread cookies. Well, kind of. See, I —”

“This is food?” he said.

“Yeah. I hope you like sweets.” Kagome flashed him a quick, hesitant smile.

“You are gifting me food, Kagome?”

There was a note in his voice Kagome couldn’t quite grasp. But hearing it had her heartbeat quicken and her tongue run rampant again.

“Baking gingerbread cookies with mama was my favourite part of Christmas growing up. So I tried to replicate it, the best as I could. I didn’t have all the right spices and I’m not sure if the flour really works and the oven’s really different here, of course, but…”

“You baked these yourself?” He interrupted.

Kagome brushed a lock of hair behind her ear, to give her shaky fingers something to do.  “Ah, yeah. I did. I hope you like them.”

Sesshoumaru dropped the cookie back into the pouch. He straightened his back and bowed his head, before his eyes locked with hers.

“Thank you. I will accept this present.”

“Oh.” Kagome blinked at the formal words. “Great!”

“And I am sure,” he continued, his fingers reaching to cup her cheek, “that they will be delectable.”

“Ummm,” Kagome managed, her skin flushing beneath his warm fingertips. He hovered in front of her, his eyes intent on hers. Kagome cleared her throat as she wondered what had brought on this weird 180.

Still baffled by his behaviour, words finally popped onto her tongue.

“Thanks. I wasn’t sure if they would be to your taste. Inuyasha said they were good but he would eat anything so you can’t really —” The words fell away a moment after his hand did. Her flushed cheek suddenly felt very cold.

Sesshoumaru’s youki flared, prickling her skin. The frigid anger creeping into his eyes sent a shiver skittering down her spine. 

“Inuyasha?” The name came as a low, rumbling growl. “You gave these to Inuyasha as well?”

“Well, yeah. I gave presents to everyone. That’s the whole point of Christmas.” 

“Did everyone get these gingerbreads?” Sesshoumaru demanded. 

Kagome shifted her weight,  shrinking a little under his frosted fury. “No. I only baked those for you and Inuyasha.”

“I thought you were no longer together with the hanyou. Or interested in him,” he said coolly.

Kagome’s pitch rose as exponentially as her confusion did at his comment. “I’m not! We broke up over a year ago.” 

Sesshoumaru blinked slowly, then brooded at the pouch resting on his palm. “Why did you gift these to me?”

Kagome shrugged. “I thought you’d like to have a present. I hoped they would make you happy.”

Sesshoumaru’s shoulders eased and silence smothered them, long and awkward.

Kagome stood, hunched and more unsure of herself than ever. Somewhere deep down, bitter tears of disappointment threatened to burn. She’d only wanted to do a nice thing. What was so wrong with that? Why had he got so upset all of a sudden? Surely he didn’t hate Inuyasha that much. She’d thought they rather got along lately — compared to how they’d been before, anyway. 

“I will accept this present,” Sesshoumaru said at last, startling Kagome out of her rambling thoughts.

“Good.” Kagome tried for a smile but wasn’t sure she succeeded. “Great.”

Sesshoumaru’s gaze returned to her, the look in his golden eyes unreadable and intense. “May I reciprocate?”

Kagome’s head tilted in confusion. “Umm… sure?”

His hand came up to cup her cheek again, the hold surprisingly tender. Something fluttered in Kagome’s stomach as her confusion turned into nervousness. 

Sesshoumaru leaned in. His lips brushed against her, soft and warm. Then, he settled into a firm and toe-curlingly persuasive kiss.

He pulled back after a moment, or a thousand. Kagome wasn’t sure how time worked anymore. Or anything else, for that matter, including her brain.

While she tried to catch her breath and her wits, a slow smile bloomed on his lips.

“You may inform me later if you will accept,” Sesshoumaru intoned, his voice a low purr that had gooseflesh flare on Kagome’s skin. 

Then, he straightened, withdrew his hand and stepped back. 

Without any further explanation, Sesshoumaru walked away, leaving a speechless Kagome behind.