Bitterly Divine by jazzyinuluvsesshyxxo

~*~B.D~*~

http://www.dokuga.com/forum/29-challenges/46246-the-ultimate-fanfic-tournament-challenge#46366

I write this for a challenge against my opponent MiHonoKo. The prompt for the both of us was "pepper".

Please vote your favourite by PMming TangerineDream.

Thank you all and best of luck MiHonoKo

Jazzy xoxo <3

Bitterly Divine

Bells tinkled and charms chimed, this was the beautiful setting discovered alongside the beaches of Australia. Sitting underneath a bright yellow umbrella at a small square table Kagome studied her menu eagerly. It had been two weeks since her arrival at the Brisbane airport, and after 3 days of plane flights, she was delighted to still be able to have her feet on solid ground.

The flight hadn't been unpleasant, in fact, the woman who had tended to her needs had been quite wonderful. She was a kind-hearted woman, also bilingual as she understood the Japanese language with reasonable accuracy. Kagome found it relieving to be able to speak in Japanese as English had a much more flexible pronunciation which would sometimes tie Kagome's tongue into knots.

In the background the echoing clatters of pots, pans, plates and spoons could be heard behind the soft Jazz music which carried itself lightly around the outside area of the restaurant. Kagome adored this place, she had spent the past 5 days at the Gold Coast, and already she appreciated its beauty. She loved the glittering sun and how it reflected against the ocean in golden specks. She loved how the sand sparkled when light breathed against the earth. She loved how lively the people were and how the elderly would smile as they walked passed her. Remembering that she had a delicious array of tasteful creations to choose from, Kagome yet again studied her menu. The seafood here had been rumoured to be quite exquisite. And as her lips pursed in thought Kagome decided on a light meal of lemon whiting with a siding of garden salad and cottage cheese.

“Excuse me.” a young, handsome voice pronounced.

Peering up into marvellous channels of grey, the miko smiled sweetly.

“My name is Miroku. Would you like to order?” Kagome almost melted at the man's velvety tone.

“Ah, hai... erm. I mean yes,” Kagome felt her face burn to the shade of a tomato. Noticing the waiter's smile of assurance, the woman quickly pointed out her orders and also requested a tall glass of lemonade. 

“Will that be all?” Nodding her response the waiter left in tall, balanced strides.

Kagome didn't have to wait long, in less than ten minutes the same waiter came strolling through holding a neat black tray which carried Kagome's order.

“Here you go madam.” he said, placing Kagome's order in front of her before leaving with a wink.

Kagome eagerly picked up the silver utensils and drove them into her freshly grilled fish. Layering a small amount of crunchy lettuce upon the poultry, the woman took her first morsel of deliciousness. Chewing slowly she almost sighed at the taste. The fish was luxurious and made Kagome crave more... but something was missing. Pausing in her movement, Kagome wriggled her brows down and bit her lip. What had she missed?

Going over her previous tastings of fish, she realised that often her favourite dishes tended to have a bit of pepper cracked on top. Nodding she looked at the surface of the table in front of her; it was strange. There appeared to be no pepper. Looking around she saw no waiters or waitresses nearby.

If she didn't get her pepper soon, her food would go cold. Pouting at her lack of fortune, Kagome continued to wait for someone to walk by.

Minutes went and Kagome's meal's warmth was fading. Yet again browsing her surroundings, she soon noticed that on another table, a bottle of pepper sat within its centre. However, in the way of her pepper there sat another.

“Excuse me sir.” she said politely facing the tall back of a man with long silver hair pulled into a plait which snaked its way down the chair, almost touching the ground.

“Hm?” he asked, turning cold golden eyes to the one who dared to interrupt his thoughts.

Almost cowering at the look she received from the handsome man, Kagome gulped.

“S... sorry. But erm, I don't mean to interrupt but um,” the woman hated situations like this and cursed at her lack of courage at such. “Could you please lend me some of your pepper, you see my table has none and all of the staff are in the kitchen...”

Kagome could not look at the man completely, head down the man looked on while blinking a few times before he slowly shook his head.

“I will have to speak to Kentaru about this.” he muttered in light amusement.

Silently he passed the woman the small glass bottle of pepper.

Taking the pepper Kagome breathed a short thank you before applying the substance to her food. Little did she know that many stared at her. Many in the restaurant had stood there in placid silence, how had that woman brought such a response out of Mr. Taishou? Most of the staff and regular customers stared on in disbelief.

When she was done with the pepper Kagome turned around and handed the small glass bottle to Sesshoumaru, noticing his face for the first time that day. Silently amazed at who it was, the woman smiled.

“Arigatou. Taishou-sama.” she said beaming.

The man's eyes blinked once, before he nodded his head. She was Japanese it seemed, of course she would know of his name.

Kagome felt her heart flutter with envy at the man before her. He was a powerful and handsome owner of a restaurant called Nichibotsu (Sunset). The man had been appraised for his generous donations to various charity events. The first time the miko had dined at Nichibotsu, she kept returning for the remainder of the week. Their poultry was exquisite; raw or cooked and their pepper inflicted such beautiful expressions upon her tongue. It was beautiful.

Kagome was amazed at how one person could create such culinary art, it was unworldly.

Dabbing her mouth with a silk napkin before placing it on her empty plate, Kagome then lifted herself from her chair and placed a tip along with the proper payment alongside her meal.

Kagome started for the door, her yellow sun-dress swaying softly as her hand clutched her white purse. But as she went to glide past the table to which Sesshoumaru sat at, the woman was prevented from walking any further as a stunning pale hand grasped her wrist.

Spinning around in pure disbelief Kagome blinked a few times.

“Yes?”

His golden eyes pierced her with a cold demeanour. “7 o'clock tonight, at the pub across Mermaid Beach.”

Kagome felt her heart thrum heavily as pink blood tainted her cheeks. “Taishou-sama, a date?” she said aloud in pure dismay. Raising a long silver brow the man smirked in amusement.

“I do believe that is an English term for such an outing.” he retorted while letting go of the woman's wrist. Kagome felt her face turn a deeper shade of red, she couldn't believe it, Taishou Sesshoumaru was truly asking her out on a date! Shaking her head she nodded lightly before reaching into her bag and pulling out a black pen where she scribbled her mobile number upon an old business card.

Bowing her goodbye, she hurried out of the restaurant almost colliding with a waiter as she pushed her way through the door.

The staff continued to watch as the man's eyes followed the woman who vastly fled from the building, one of the chefs almost dropped a knife onto their foot as they stared open-mouthed at Taishou Sesshoumaru.

Paying no heed to the staff or anyone else around him, Sesshoumaru smirked. Tonight would indeed be interesting.

_-_-_-_

Kagome looked at herself in the mirror, piles of her dresses were sprawled across the hotel bed, her suitcase now almost empty. Pursing her lips, a habit unbroken, the woman huffed in annoyance.

“Red or black? Or white or Green? Or patterned?” she questioned aloud, five dresses grasped between her arms.

Feeling hopeless in such a decision she immediately reached for her phone to text Sango. Surely her friend would be able to advise her upon what to wear but then halfway in the process of opening her message box Kagome stopped and flipped the phone onto the bed. No, Sango would take too much enjoyment with this sudden event, in fact. Kagome would rather not have those that she knew swarming her with envious glares and curious stares. Sighing Kagome did her favourite activity.

“Eenie, menie, minie, moe.” Seeing her finger land upon the patterned design Kagome smiled.

It would do wonderfully, she loved this dress and had found it within the markets up at Southbank. She adored how it's background was the shade of pepper whilst white, brown, grey and shades of pink decorated themselves in the form of flowers, swirls, leaves and other small shapes. The woman beamed at her choice whilst she rushed into the bathroom with the patterned, frilly material clutched between her arms.

Sesshoumaru would be at the pub in about an hour, already excitement bubbled itself in the pit of Kagome's stomach...

_-_-_-_

The man watched as the public shouted crazily at the television screen. Queenslanders and their love for rugby, Sesshoumaru could never grasp the importance nor the essence of watching sport. Glancing at his watch he noticed that the woman it seemed, would need to arrive within the next 30 seconds otherwise, he would be quick to classify her as late. Hearing the clatter of a silver bracelet to his right, he turned around to be faced with a luxurious sight.

Bowing, the woman smiled.

“Good evening Taishou-san.”

Snorting at her formality Sesshoumaru pulled out a bar stool.

“Call me Sesshoumaru, I dislike formalities.” Nodding Kagome sat upon the bar stool, her blue eyes already scanning the beverages. The woman began to tap her foot lightly to the music which played in the background. If she remembered her father's taste in foreign music, she was sure that she could say that the current song playing was one by Van Morrison.

Humming it's tune she turned and faced Sesshoumaru, noting that the man looked rather delicious in a plain white T-shirt and jeans. Kagome also noted that she would just be having a rum and coke with rocks. “So, Sesshoumaru-sama. What is there about you that I am unaware of despite what the media has said?” she started, as the man turned his head towards hers.

“Many things. I am not so pathetic as to reveal my private life to impudent nosey people, especially to those from the media.” he said as Kagome smiled.

“You don't seem like one to do such,” before Sesshoumaru could reply a bartender walked up to the two of them.

“Good evening. Was there any beverages that you wanted to order?”

Kagome stated a rum and coke with ice whilst Sesshoumaru merely asked for a Corona.

With that the bartender walked away. Tapping Sesshoumaru's shoulder Kagome smiled.

“So how about you tell me your life's story?”

“Hn. If I must.”

_-_-_-_

Kagome had found the man to be rather cold at the beginning of their discussion but the more they ate and drank, the lighter the mood had become.

“Honto!” she shouted as Sesshoumaru chuckled.

“Ah yes, and then my father deemed it necessary to dump ice on Inuyasha when he failed to get up one morning.” Kagome laughed so heavily that tears sprung at the corners of her eyes.

“Ah, your family sounds like so much fun.” Nodding with a slouched head Sesshoumaru tapped the woman's shoulder.

“What about you?”

Kagome blinked once before looking up, memories flooding her mind.

“My family. Hmm. I can say that we are interesting people, we are not fussy about food. However we have a strong liking for pepper.”

“Pepper?” Sesshoumaru was amused at this information.

“Yes, pepper. So far your restaurant has been the best place for peppery foods.” she remarked.

Chuckling Sesshoumaru reached into his coat and pulled out a small grey book.

“Then I think you will desire this. But on one condition, you meet me here every night until you leave to go elsewhere.”

“Of course.”

Handing her the small book Sesshoumaru smiled at her reaction.

“So we have a deal, pepper in exchange for dates.”

Beaming Kagome nodded enthusiastically, “We have a deal.”

The End

By jazzyinuluvsesshyxxo