Deviled by QuothTheDragon
Deviled
This is written for Tangie's Second Annual Fanfiction Tournament. Please remember to PM Tangie with your vote <3
Prompt: Devil
Partner: Skyisthelimit
Please remember to vote!!!!
oOo
She forced her breathing to remain even and measured as her hands danced between bowls and plates, creating a masterpiece upon each dish. Her eyes remained focused entirely upon the task in front of her, the sounds within the room a distant hum in the background, no more important than the buzzing of a distant fly. Her ears remained alert for a certain noise in particular, but until it was heard she did not concern herself with anticipating it. Nervousness and anxiety had no place in the kitchen, she told herself firmly.
Muffin, bacon slice, egg- check. Now, sauce.
She whirled around to the stove and brought a saucepan containing an opaque golden sauce. It was ladled out onto the breakfast concoction with precise movements, for she was determined to not waste a drop of the Hollandaise sauce. The delectable sauce was placed off to the side as she quickly wiped off any wasted droplets from the plates. A loud buzzing noise interrupted her focus just as she completed the presentation of her dish.
Turning on her heel to face the person sitting at the island, Kagome cocked her head in curiosity. “Well?”
The woman's lips twitched, attempting to repress a smile. “Thirty seconds to spare!” she squealed out, her smile breaking free.
Kagome sighed in relief, she was finally improving at managing her time. It was so hard to focus enough on the food while also being fast enough to beat the clock. “Please, try it,” she said, feeling oddly exhausted. She had beaten the clock and perfected the presentation, now there was the important matter of taste. All of her efforts were worthless if the taste was not right.
The woman took the plate offered to her, careful not to ruin the beautiful appearance of the food. She delicately cut into the concoction, making sure to get a little bit of everything. Her eyes closed in delight as she savored the food pleasuring her taste buds. She only opened her warm brown eyes after swallowing her first bite.
A giggle threatened to spill from her lips as she took in the worried visage of her friend. “Kagome!” she exclaimed, “That was the most delicious yet. Can I convince you to move in and cook for me everyday?” she begged semi-seriously. Kagome sighed in relief at her friend's enjoyment of the dish.
“I'm glad you liked it so much, Sango,” she said humbly, blue eyes sparkling in happiness.
“Now tell me, what is the one called again?” Sango asked eagerly. She was so excited to have her friend back from America. It had been a long three years with only a few sparse visits.
“Eggs Benedict,” the shorter woman replied, pronouncing it carefully.
“Egesu benedekutsu?” her friend asked, rolling the foreign term around in her mouth. She had never been the best in English classes in high school.
“Close enough,” Kagome replied, desperately attempting not to giggle at how badly her friend botched the English term.
Sango huffed in annoyance at her friend's amusement. She eyed her friend as she continued eating and finished the meal with a delighted sigh. The woman had always known that her friend was talented, but this was something else entirely.
“Kagome?” she questioned. “If it's not too much trouble, could you make some Western food for the kids' party? It would be a great hit, and I promise you won't end up catering the entire thing.” Sango let her bottom lip drop into a dangerous, irresistible pout.
Kagome tried valiantly not to look directly at her friend's face. “I don't know, Sango. If you're having someone else cater, I wouldn't want to infringe...”
“Nonsense! Of course you won't be infringing. Miroku knows the caterer personally, so he'll smooth things over.” As her friend smiled brilliantly, Kagome knew she had to give in. She loved the kids like they were her own, and they definitely loved their Auntie Gome.
“As long as the caterer is alright with it,” Kagome said firmly, “No coercing or badgering them.” Sango pouted again, her friend knew her too well.
“Don't worry, I'm sure Miroku will be able to convince him. Now, let's talk food,” her friend said eagerly. Kagome let out a delighted laugh. She had really missed Sango and her bottomless pit of a stomach.
**
“No.”
“I'm sure it'll be no prob-...Wait. What do you mean no?!” The violet-eyed man exclaimed, panic obvious in his voice.
“No,” the other man repeated, ignoring the man in favor of the food he was tasting. He gave his sous chef a nod and the man whisked the dish away.
“But, but Sango will kill me! Just let the girl make one or two dishes. Everyone will be happy!”
“Everyone but me and my chefs. It is an insult,” his friend replied, golden-hued eyes flashing in irritation. His tone left no room for argument.
“You don't understand, Sesshoumaru. This is Sango's best friend, she just got back from America and Sango wants to display her cooking skills. She's like a little sister to the both of us and we want to show her off,” Miroku stated firmly, panic forgotten in favor of getting his (wife's) way.
Sesshoumaru got an odd look in his eyes and Miroku felt the bottom of his stomach drop out in dread. He knew that look. “You will owe me.”
The man sighed dejectedly. “Of course.”
“And this woman only gets to make two dishes.”
“Deal,” Miroku agreed wearily. Making a deal with Sesshoumaru was like making a deal with the devil. At least his Sango would be happy.
**
Kagome hummed and swayed her hips slowly back and forth to a tune only she could hear. Her plump bottom lip was tucked between her teeth as she concentrated intently on filling the eggs in front of her. She really hoped that everyone would like the deviled eggs she was preparing. A large pot on the stove next to her radiated heat as its contents simmered. The lid was gently lifted up for Kagome to stir the meat and sauce around, the smell of barbecue filling the air. Her taste buds had fallen in love with slow-cooked pulled pork during her time in America. She wanted to share this dish in particular with her friends.
Her concentration was jarred, though her hand forcibly remained steady, when the front door was opened and raucous noise poured in. An imperious voice was squawking as he directed people inside. People soon began filing into the kitchen. Kagome simply turned around and looked at the intruders. The short man with the squawking voice noticed her and began complaining.
“You! What are you doing in here? We are supposed to have the kitchen for the party today with no interruptions! The great Takeda-sama needs his space to work!” A twitch developed underneath Kagome's left eye as the being spoke, progressively growing worse. She took a deep breath, in through her nose and out through her mouth, before she responded.
“You are the caterers, I presume?” she asked serenely. She took the proud look on the man's face as confirmation. “Well then, I shouldn't really be in the way seeing as there are still several hours until the party starts. Seeing as Sango's kitchen only has a limited amount of space, I would say you are here to prep cold hors d'oeuvres. The hot food is most likely still being prepped at your central kitchens. I see no reason why you would be bothered by my prescence.”
The short man's mouth fell open in disbelief. He knew that the woman in front of him had to have experience in the culinary business to know that kind of information.
“That still doesn't mean you can be in here. We do need counter space for our preparations.”
“Well, like I already said, I doubt very much that I will be in your way. I have permission to be in here cooking. I also ask that yourself or none of your workers disturb the food I am working on when I am not present.” Her voice held a steel-like quality at the thought of anyone messing with her food. That was something she prevented at all costs. When the man did not respond, she turned back to her deviled eggs. She hated a crowded kitchen.
**
Takeda Sesshoumaru arrived at his friend Miroku's residence roughly an hour before the party was due to start. His psuedo-niece and -nephew would be very upset with him if he wasn't there, so he couldn't just up and leave after checking on his sous chefs' preparations. This time, and this time alone, Sesshoumaru had to stay for a party that his business was catering. He felt no extra pressure that it was for people who were like family.
He was pleased to note that his chefs were working diligently as he peered into the kitchen. Then he noticed the single pot cooking on the stove. None of his people were instructed to prepare anything hot on location; it was all to be brought over right before the party. With an imperious stride, the great chef Takeda walked into the kitchen and over to the stove. Lifting the heavy lid off of the pot, the aroma of pork and barbecue filled the room. Which one of his employees would dare to start a dish he hadn't put on the menu?
“Oi! Excuse you! I thought it was made clear that no one was supposed to touch the food I was working on!” a loud, female voice declared from behind him. He deliberately placed the lid back on the pot and turned to face the one who was audacious enough to demand anything from him. His golden-hued eyes widened imperceptibly as he drank in the sight of a petite, blue-eyed, spitfire of a woman.
“Hn. Who exactly do you think you are?” he intoned stoically. His eyes swept over her form before resting on her face.
A small twitch of the lips was all that belied the woman's irritation. “I am Higurashi Kagome, and I have permission from both the homeowner, who is a friend, and the caterer to prepare two dishes for my friend's party. I would personally choose not to infringe on another chef's work, but I would do anything for my niece and nephew. And who am I honored to be speaking with at the moment?” she said, sarcasm dripping from her last statement.
“I am Takeda Sesshoumaru, and I am the one that your friend made the arrangement with.” Sesshoumaru decided to say no more to the woman. He did not need to concern himself with her.
Kagome nodded towards the man. “Don't worry, I will stay out of your peoples' way. I only ask that you stay away from what I am preparing.”
Neither decided to continue the conversation.
**
Enough was enough. It had been quite a long time since Sesshoumaru had felt this frustrated, both with himself and everyone else. He had been approached throughout the entire party with compliments on the food, but especially on the deviled eggs and pulled pork sandwiches. Even worse, the elusive, blue-eyed woman had been on his mind since their encounter, and he hadn't yet been able to track her down. He felt himself becoming...interested in a woman beyond looks for the first time in years.
The party was finally winding down, the children were growing tired and the adults restless. He skimmed the people left for the woman, but had no luck. Finally, he spotted her over with Miroku and his wife, and began purposefully striding over to them. She wouldn't slip away this time.
“Miroku, Sango, Higurashi-san.” Sesshoumaru nodded to each in turn. His eyes lingered on Kagome, making her cheeks begin to stain with a reddish hue.
“Takeda-san,” she said sweetly, nodding towards him. Her blue orbs also lingered on him, making him feel as if his something in his stomach was fluttering. Perhaps he had eaten something prepared wrongly. If that was the case, someone would pay.
“Sesshoumaru!” Miroku said cheerfully, “Have you tried one of Kagome's deviled eggs yet? They are absolutely delectable. Not that your dishes were not, of course,” he amended. He then offered his friend the remaining deviled egg on his plate. Somewhat reluctantly, Sesshoumaru reached out and gently grasped the half of a hard-boiled egg with a spiced filling. He was pleased to note Kagome's eyes watching him for his reaction. A good chef was always concerned with the reactions of others to their food.
He delicately chewed half of the egg and filling. It was delicious and played wonderfully on his taste buds, but he was careful to not show his delight too obviously.
“It is acceptable,” he said, thoughtlessly popping the other half in his mouth. Kagome raised a single eyebrow and resisted smirking at him.
They all made small talk for a while, and Sesshoumaru found himself becoming more and more intrigued by the woman called Higurashi Kagome. He decided that he wanted to get to know her better, and tried to make that clear.
“Higurashi-san?” he asked, “Would you care to take a walk with me?”
Kagome nodded and took his outstretched arm. Her arm seemed to fit perfectly within the crook of his elbow.
“I was wondering where you have trained and whether you would be interested in visiting my catering facilities. A fresh eye is never unwelcome.”
A surprised and pleased smile came over the woman's face, and Sesshoumaru felt himself even more drawn to her. “I would like that very much indeed, Takeda-san.”
They talked well into the night, forming the very beginnings of a beautiful, loving relationship. Despite Sesshoumaru's protests, Kagome always swore that it was her deviled eggs that actually won him over in the end.
oOo
Thank you everyone for reading this! I hope that you enjoyed my take on the prompt. Much thanks to synnesterstar and anyone else I harassed in order to bounce ideas around.
~QuothTheDragon