An Anniversary Gone Wrong by Smittee

An Anniversary Gone Wrong

Disclaimer: InuYasha and all related characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi and Viz Media in the US. Smittee and twiknham make no monetary gain by writing this tale, it is merely an expression of our appreciation for a well drawn set of characters.

Sesshoumaru decided before he reached adulthood that he would never care about anything. His retainer had once mistakenly thought he actually cared for the little toad, but a swift kick into the nearest bog quickly dispelled him of that notion. That annoying little girl always thought he cared for her after he saved her from the wolves and from falling down the cliff, but when he married her off to the most capable Shogun’s heir, a gentle but strong young man who had fallen deeply in love with her innocent ways, he proved that love was fleeting at best. His servants though he cared about them by protecting the keep, but he showed them his disdain by staying away for long periods of time, hunting demons that encroached as sport.

However, as the tall Taiyoukai stood in the midst of a battlefield, demon gore dripping off of his talons and a feral look in his eyes, it was not the past that concerned his thoughts, but the future. Specifically, Sesshoumaru was worried about the rest of today. Kicking the corpse of the centipede demon, the third to threaten his lands in as many weeks, he mentally prodded the only soft spot in his soul and hoped for divine inspiration. When none came, he kicked the lump of maligned flesh again and stomped off into the trees.

Kagome, who had been out picking what she recently learned were truffles, saw his preoccupied state and hid behind a tree to watch this unusual occurrence. She couldn’t remember a single time her husband had looked so discombobulated and she wondered what had him in a tizzy. After watching him meander around the field for a while, muttering things under his breath, the only recognizable one being something about a tradition, she shrugged and walked back to the keep.

If she had waited just a few more moments, she would have seen Sesshoumaru suddenly stand straight, a look of definite resolution in his eyes. Nodding his head decisively and cracking his fingers, an evil smirk crept over his lips. Yes, tonight was their fifth wedding anniversary and he was going to make a perfect evening full of her time’s traditional activities and a night she would never forget.

Sesshomaru remembered a conversation Kagome and he had once had and hearing her mention something about a ‘Blown Glass Flower’. So he went on a search for one. He searched nearby villages, but it seemed no one knew of what he spoke. Thinking she might be describing a real flower, he searched different areas where flowers grew.

What a sight to see, if someone that knew of him could see him. The great and powerful Lord Sesshomaru on all fours, picking up flowers and examining them. ‘Perhaps this flower is not real….’ Realizing the name she had given it, he fought the urge to growl out his frustrations.

After his revelation, he thought about who could make such a delicate gift of glass. Almost in an instant, he soon was off to Totosai’s. ‘With Totosai’s skill, I’m sure he could at least make this…’

He reached Totosai’s home and walked right in. He saw Totosai look up, and hide behind his work area.

“L-l-l-lord Sesshomaru! Wh-What an unexpected sur-surprise,” spoke Totosai, a weak laugh following after. “Don’t tell me you’ve come for me to make you a sword.”

“No, this Sesshomaru has come to ask you to make a blown glass flower.”

Totosai left from behind his work area and sat down beside it, scratching his head. “A blown glass flower? Now, why on earth would you want something like that?”

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes. “What does it matter to you?” He flexed his claws a bit, showing that he was already not in the mood.

Nervously, Totosai spoke again. “Well, what I mean is that this is a difficult task. After all, to get glass, you have to wait until it rains and lightning strikes sand. The only other option is to find a demon that can use lightning, and hope you can get them to help you.”

“Then, I suggest you find such a demon, Totosai,” he replied, as if it wasn’t a big deal.

“Who? Me? Are you nuts!? I could die from that.” Seeing how much angrier Sesshomaru was getting, Totosai cupped his chin, and came up with an idea. “Hm. Tell ya what. If you go find a demon, and get the glass yourself, I will make the flower. No charge whatsoever.”

Sesshomaru didn’t take long to think over the deal. It wouldn’t be trouble at all for him. He nodded his head slightly before saying, “You have yourself a deal.” Sesshomaru then turned and walked out from Totosai’s home.

Sesshomaru never realized how far he would have to travel for this gift; but it was for his koi, Kagome. For her, he would travel into the reaches of space or even into the afterlife if it was necessary. And so, he followed rumors of a Thunder demon, which lived in the old Thunder Brothers’ home. Upon reaching the area, he saw the building. It looked as if no one had lived there in years, and his frustration was growing. ‘Does no one actually live here, after I came all this way, for no…’ He then heard someone humming, and soon saw a little red dragon flying out of the place.

The dragon opened his eyes and noticed the powerful demon quickly. He began to shiver in fear and hid behind a dilapidated doorway.

“Are you a familiar?” asked Sesshomaru.

“Y-Yes, s-sir,” replied the dragon.

“I see. I would like to discuss matters with the thunder demon that lives here.”

“Ah…R-Right this w-way,” he said and Sesshomaru soon followed him into the place. He could smell the scent of the demon as he and the dragon got closer. He soon heard more humming, which sounded like it came from…

‘A child,’ he thought as he gazed upon the thunder demon child who soon stopped coloring after noticing Sesshomaru. Taking no time to waste, since waiting longer would make the demon ever more worried, he spoke.

“This Sesshomaru comes for you to make some glass.”

The girl stood up defiantly. “Oh yeah? Why should I?” She crossed her arms, trying to look brave.

“This Sesshomaru…Hn?” He looked down, narrowing his eyes at the drawings on the floor. He saw drawings of Inuyasha and the others, along with Kagome.

“You have met Kagome?”

“Huh? You know of her? Yeah, I met her. Shippo is the one that gave me these crayons. I challenged Shippo to a duel a long time ago, but all that’s cleared up now. How do you know Kagome?’ she asked, inquisitively.

“She is my mate,” he replied. ‘It must have been indeed long ago, for her not to know that.’

“Oh! Well, if that’s the case, of course I’ll make you some glass!” Unlike the last time she had visitors, Souten had honed her powers a lot more; although, she was still too young to master them. She walked out to a sandy area, with Sesshomaru following behind. Closing her eyes a moment, she charged up her power. In a flash, she reopened them, and was about to strike the sand when…

“Hey, Souten! It’s your turn to find the meal today! Why haven’t you yet?!”

“Huh?” Zap! Souten then gasped, covering her mouth as she soon realized what she had done.

Sesshomaru kept his eyes from twitching, but his eyelids did narrow. Being hit with the lightning wasn’t very painful, seeing as it was a weak hit; but he didn’t like the tingling feeling coursing through his body from it. He also was covered in sand, seeing as the lightning was not focused and also hit the ground, throwing sad all over him.

I’m sorry, sir! Here...” She did it again, creating some glass and giving it so him.

Sesshomaru just took it, without a word said. He left, hearing apologies and messages to Shippo as he left the place. He arrived back at Totosai’s, and stayed until the flower was done. He left with it and started to head back. When he had almost returned, he unfortunately ran into his green ward….literally. Jaken, paying no attention to where he was running, ran right into Sesshomaru, breaking the flower within his hands. Jaken, seeing his life passing before his eyes, began to bow down and beg for forgiveness.

Sesshomaru tightened his fist, breaking the flower even more, as he looked down at the toad. “I suggest you leave now, before I kill you.” He soon saw Jaken running, but brought his attention to the broken pieces on the ground. He balled his fist tightly, making it shake.

“Perhaps this Sesshomaru was not meant to give Kagome a blown glass flower this year…,” he spoke out loud to himself. He wanted to kill something right then. ‘After all that trouble, I still didn’t succeed,’ he thought to himself. ‘Perhaps some other traditions then…’

It was still fairly early in the afternoon, so Sesshoumaru took a quiet walk along the tall junipers trying to remember the other traditional things Kagome had bent his ear about just a few weeks ago. As he stepped through the last of the stand, he noticed a light green kimono out of the corner of his eye. Kagome was kneeling, digging in the ground. Her kimono was slightly off of the grass near where she knelt so he had not immediately recognized her and since he was preoccupied, he had not scented her. As he started to quietly back into the trees, wanting to avoid seeing her until everything was perfect, she looked up and smiled.

“Hello Sesshoumaru-sama.” She gave a short waist bow, not wanting to stand from her tasks. Although they had quite the passionate relationship, in public they acted as if they were merely acquaintances. Since she was human, he did not want strangers to find out about their relationship and endanger her in order to get to him. At first Kagome had been very hurt by his requirement, but after he’d killed two ruffians and rescued her barely in time, she’d agreed that his tactics were for the best. Unless she was willing to give up her freedoms, she would have to abide by those rules for her safety.

Sesshoumaru walked over. “Hn…Miko, what do you do?” He examined her dainty hands and the digging tool in her hand.

“I am digging up wasabi, the pantry needs to be restocked.” She smiled brilliantly up at him, letting him know all was right with her world.

He looked around carefully before kneeling. He reached over and picked up a root and sniffed lightly. “You have a good hand for this. This wasabi is firm and strong. It will add quite a bit of spark to your evening.”

Kagome blushed, knowing he was not talking about that particular root and fought to continue the role they were playing. “Thank you sir, I am much honored.”

He stood and started back into the woods. “You should be.” He smiled lightly as he heard something hit the bushes just behind him. Her aim had improved over the years, but her distance still needed work. Deciding he’d finally figured out what to do in order to honor her traditions, he gathered his cloud and headed off towards the south.

A few minutes later he touched down on the edge of a field. Scattered across the field were giant boar-like demons grazing on the soft grasses. Sesshoumaru remembered that Kagome had once told him that the meat from these animals reminded her of something called Kobe Beef. He also remembered her saying that people would stand in line for hours waiting to get a piece of this type of meat. Squaring off, he stared at the second largest beast.

The demon had to be one of the ugliest boar demons he’d ever seen, but when it moved, there was much muscle definition. He knew the meat would be tender and fairly lean, something his mate was meticulous about requiring. Its yellow tusks flashed dully in the bright sun as it raised its head and snorted. The red hoar-hair on its back raised and it pawed the ground before putting out a trumpet yell and charging the stoic Taiyoukai.

Sesshoumaru, becoming more frustrated with every thwarted attempt at establishing a new tradition in his household, merely flicked his wrist and brought the beast down with his acid whip. The creature was bigger than himself, so he cut what he needed and left the rest. Although he did not care, he knew it would be gathered by the local villagers who had appeared in response to the trumpeting of the beast as it charged.

Not wanting to deal with the pesky villagers, Sesshoumaru formed his energy ball and sped back to his keep. Upon arriving, he took the back way to the stables. He did not want anyone to think he’d come to care for the little human who he had taken to mate so he pulled Aa/Un out of his pen and decided he would make the perfect cooking implement. The head known as Aa looked up in confusion as Sesshoumaru removed his muzzle. Un butted Aa, confused as to why he was muzzle-less but Un was not. Sesshoumaru shook his head in disgust and removed Un’s muzzle too. Happy, the two-headed dragon followed Sesshoumaru out into the woods.

Sesshoumaru took his time cutting the meat into decent filets. There was plenty left over and he planned to feed it to her later in the evening when other hungers had been sated. Putting the two steaks in front of the dragon, he nodded to indicate what it was to do. Aa opened its mouth and started to blow a gentle fire on the steak. However, Un, feeling left out also joined in. Aa was very good at fire control but Un was best for fights because he could not do anything more than a full burn. Sesshoumaru pulled on the reins but it was already too late. As Un hung its head in shame as Sesshoumaru berated it beneath his breath, the not-so-stoic demon lord glared at two charred chunks of meat.

Giving up on a midnight snack, Sesshoumaru carefully cut the remaining piece into two smaller filets. After putting the muzzle back on a still sad Un, he nudged Aa to start his flame again. The was searing nicely and Sesshoumaru had just flipped the steaks when suddenly a breeze kicked up, pushing a cloud of dust towards the dragon. Aa, sensitive to flowers during this time of year, suddenly sneezed. A brilliant ball of fire flew out of his mouth and charred the remaining steaks. Disgusted, Sesshoumaru put the muzzle back on Aa and led the two-headed dragon back into its stable. The green beast hung its head in shame and watched through soulful eyes as the white clad demon stomped out of the building.

Frustrated beyond words, Sesshoumaru walked into the kitchen and took a long survey of the tools at his disposal. Years of watching Kagome interact with the Inutachi taught him that she always brought a big bento box back with her from her trips through the well. Nodding his head in affirmation, he took in the mackerel lying on the counter, the giant pot of rice and the stack of seaweed piled in the corner. In a very uncharacteristic manner, he stealthily swept through in three trips taking mackerel and seaweed in one, rice in the other and the two containers of pickled ginger and fresh wasabi along with a small jug of soya sauce and a larger jug of his favorite sake. His master chef was heard cussing several minutes later when he could find none of his ingredients for the next meal but no one saw the master of the keep as he liberated the food.

Startled by how fun it felt to steal the items needed for Kagome’s beginning-to-not-be-so-traditional anniversary night, Sesshoumaru selected a nice flat rock and set his spoils upon it. Pulling out one of the finely pounded pieces of seaweed, he laid it flat on the rock and dipped his fingers into the rice. The little white pieces clung to his fingers so he wiped them rather harshly across the fine nori, tearing it. Muttering under his breath, he tossed the nori over his shoulder and started again. This time he was slightly more successful. The rice clumped and he was able to get it to clump enough to look like it was supposed to. Cutting a single fine piece of fish, he laid it carefully on the bed of rice and smiled at the end result. Overly confident, he started to wrap it only to have his claws puncture the super fine nori. Scowling darkly, he threw the offending food over his shoulder again. He figured the third time might just be the charm as he finished rolling the perfect cylinder. However, when he went to cut it, the stupid thing fell apart. Muttering a few choice words he’d learned from his wife over the last few years, he threw the offending pieces behind him only to hear the offended squeal of a certain female.

“Sesshoumaru-sama, what are you doing?”

He turned and glared at her. “I am attempting to make sushi. Why?”

Kagome cocked her head to the side. “Why don’t you just ask Jinkuju to do it? He’s the best sushi chef I’ve ever seen.”

“I was hungry and he was busy.” He looked around slightly sheepishly. “Would you like some?”

Kagome laughed. “Nah, I think I’ll pass.” Suddenly she set down her pack. “But, come think of it, I have some ramen in my backpack, I can make us both a serving very quick.”

Sesshoumaru slowly put all the items down and turned to face her. “The ninja noodles the half-breed likes so well?”

Kagome smiled and nodded her head. “Yup. I have several flavors, I’ll let you pick.”

Seshoumaru felt his knuckles crack from squeezing his hand so tight. “I have only one word for you….” He took a menacing step forward. “Run!”

Kagome's eyes widened. She had not seen him this way, at least, not in a long time. She knew that by his looks, she was best to do as he said. She then turned, racing into their home and down the corridors.

Sesshomaru waited a time, before he began to chase after her.

As she ran, she rubbed her arm, or a leg, on doorways and walls to try and distract his senses.

He could smell her scent on different doorways and a smirk spread across his face. 'So, my little vixen thought she could trick me,' he thought as he followed her scent that traveled to no single room.

She ran past a certain room, only to return; so that it seemed like her scent went down the hall. She hid in the guest room behind the door. She slowed her breathing, hoping that she may be able to outsmart the demon for now.

Sesshomaru could catch her scent strong in an area. She seemed to take time here, but then he could smell that she moved on from said area, so ran further down the hall.

When she heard him stop, she thought her trick had been caught, but she soon realized he continued on. She took this chance to leave the room and race back to the one she had been in at the beginning of all this.

Sesshomaru realized he had been fooled when her scent died down. He growled in frustration at himself, but was pleased at her clever wit. He ran back down to the room, where he scent was the strongest, only to find she was gone again. He closed his eyes, trying to discern the difference around him. Finally he picked up on the newest lead and ran after it.

'He's catching up,' she thought, as she ran into a random room, glad no one was inside. She had to slow down her breathing once more, hopping to keep the game going.

Oh, this Sesshomaru was indeed pleased at her, but he had never lost his hunt. He stopped at the room she had entered. He could tell she was still there. A wide smirk was spread across his face as he entered, grabbed her, and faster than a human eye could see, had her on the bed in the room. Both breathing hard, his smirk seemed plastered to his face.

“I found you."

"Indeed, you have," she replied.

Sesshomaru leaned in to place a chaste kiss upon her, when she hit him with a pillow hard across his face. Since he didn't expect it, and because he was a bit off balance, he fell over onto his back and she giggled. She got up, almost skipping to the door, and stuck her tongue out at him before walking out of the room. Sesshomaru couldn't believe it. "So, that's how she wishes to play," he said, grinning once more and hurried out of the room, bringing her to him and kissing her deeply.

Kagome melted into the kiss. When he pulled away, she noticed his eyes return back to gold.

"Well, that was fun," he replied.

"Anytime," she replied.

Opening the shoji screens, Sesshoumaru led her back out into the garden. Circumventing the carnage of a poorly planned sushi dinner, they walked hand in hand over to the koi pond. Stopping at the rail to watch their water children splashing in streaks of gold, red, pink and white, Kagome laughed. “Sesshoumaru, my love…” She leaned into him and he put a strong arm around her, pulling her tight.

“Yes my dearest Miko?” Fireflies lit the sky around them, dancing in chaotic array. Sesshoumaru could smell the freshly ground mint that their maids mixed in with her hair rinse and he smiled.

“What were you doing today?”

Sesshoumaru tensed. “Do you know what today is?”

Kagome laughed. “Yes, it is ‘Sesshoumaru acts all crazy’ day, apparently.”

“No koi, today is our fifth anniversary.”

Kagome turned in his arms and glared at him, her face scrunching delectably as she thought. “No, our anniversary is not for another two weeks.”

Sesshoumaru squeezed her tight, breathing lightly near her ear. “The traditional anniversary date is the date of the mating.”

Kagome blushed. “Oh, and we were a little early on that.”

He growled, not a displeased sound. “Are you complaining?”

Small hands ran up the front of his shirt, reminding him about how much of a vixen she was. “Of course not.”

“Good.”

“So, today you were trying to celebrate our anniversary?”

“Hn.”

Kagome hugged him tightly. “Oh Sesshoumaru, what did you attempt to do?”

Sesshoumaru hung his head and started telling her his tale of woe. As her laughter got louder and louder, he pushed her away. “What is your problem?”

Kagome smiled. “I don’t need any of the traditions of my time to make a good anniversary.” She pulled away and held his hand, leaning over the rail again. “Just being here with you, in our private garden, is enough.” He started to protest but she put her hand up over his mouth. “I think we should start a new tradition.” At his curious look, she backed up. “I think we should spend every anniversary in our garden, eating dinner amongst the koi. If things happen…they happen. If things don’t, we enjoy the fireflies without any pressure. Okay?”

Sesshoumaru smiled as he led her over to the chaise. “Yes my heart. I believe I can follow this tradition faithfully.”

A/N: This was a collaboration piece done by Smittee and twiknham. The topic was “Tradition.” We hope you enjoyed it.