You squeaked out loud. It was Sebastian standing in the doorway. You didn’t want to look his way, especially on account that Baldroy’s hand was still on your shoulder! You shifted over, causing Baldroy’s hand to drop off your shoulder, and turned to face Sebastian. You kept your head low as he walked up to you two.

“Y/N,” his voice was sharp. “I’m sure if you were in a predicament where you had esteemed guests awaiting your finest cuisine, you would want your chef to dedicate his upmost attention to his craft. Am I wrong?”

You were silent. What was this tone he was taking up with you? Was he angry that Baldroy touched you? But how could he be angry when he’s been so nonchalant in public up until this point.

“Y/N? Do you hear me?”

“Uh- Y-yes, Sebastian.”

He took another step. His hand reached for your chin, angling it up to meet his gaze. There it was. That fiery auburn tinge in his eyes. He was not happy with you. He kept a smooth facial expression, not a frown line or a wrinkle in sight. But it was something about the way he looked at you that spoke volumes. You were in trouble. Either for letting Baldroy get close to you while you two were under contract or for depriving him of you for all of these weeks.

Your nervous glance bounced back and forth while Sebastian kept a analytic, calm demeanor about himself. Was he jealous? Was he aggravated with having to step in when you knew of his many other important affairs around the manor.

Sebastian, let me go. Before Baldroy suspects something. You prayed that your eyes would translate over in context, but he still kept his clasp on your chin. Determined, you tried to yank your head away. But you were aligned back into center by his hand. It was firm but it wasn't painful. You couldn't read this. Was he trying to be concerned? Was he trying to remind you of the role that you two played between each other?

What was it? What!

The fire in your stomach was lit. You jerked away successfully this time. Massaging your jaw, you returned to your work station and proceeded to chop the lamb with a meat cleaver. You whisked the large blade down over and over again, leaving Baldroy and Sebastian to watch you.

“Y/N” whack!”I believe you should rest for the evening and try again tomorrow.” Whack! “You seem to be disturbed by some sorts.” Whack whack!

Baldroy winced at the chunks of meat flying off the table. You continued to pummel the morsel into uneven clumps all over the chopping block. Sebastian looked over, his temper dissipating as the waste of food continued to drop to the ground.

“Y/N. I advise you do as you’re told and go to you ro-“

“I will not.” You barked back, never turning around. You had just about enough of his hot and cold attitude. Baldroy’s eyebrows shot to his hairline. This is the first time in all of his employment that someone, especially a woman has told him no. His turquoise eyes slowly followed back to Sebastian who maintained his ever cool expression. But to Baldroy, there was something about it that made him uneasy.

“Y/N-“ you didn’t want to hear anything else from him. You fired again.

“All you’ve ever done since I’ve come to this castle is reprimand and criticize my work. I cannot even befriend my coworker without the storm cloud named Sebastian dousing all sense of joy out of the frame.” Whack!

“I’ve had it.” Whack! “I just want to do my work and be left alone.” In your rage, you didn’t even notice that there was more of your hand on the cutting table and not the actual meat. You held the cleaver high over your head, your vision blurred with tears begging to be set free.

“Just free me of this arrange-!” You brought the cleaver down but it was caught mid-air by none other than Sebastian himself. Your body lurched forward, cleaver-wielding arm stiff as a board. A gasp escaped your lips. You heard the cleaver fall to the floor out of harm’s way with Sebastian standing directly beside you. You don't even remember hearing footsteps rushing your way or even a voice calling out in warning. You just.. Felt him there.

With glossy eyes, you turned your head up to a disappointed Sebastian looking down on you. This was the first time you’ve ever seen him frown. His auburn eyes flashed from its calm, steady neutrality to a hard crimson glare.

There was no additional noise in the kitchen. Only the birds cheerfully singing outside in contrast to the deafening silence inside.

It was just you, and Sebastian, and Baldroy.

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I suggest reading from the verrry beginning.

Reiko and Kenji paired together to dress the couple’s wounds. After a screaming fit as Reiko applied poultices to Mei’s wounds, Mei finally calmed down. Keiji wasn’t much of a verbal fighter, but it took a strong brew of tea to finally have him rest.

Keiji wore more of an emotional wound than a physical one. When he thought nobody was watching, Reiko would steal a glance. He would lay there, looking up at the roof with a distant stare about him. Almost like he was waiting for the roof to tell him something that plagued his mind for days. When she would reach out to him, he declined, diverting the attention back to Mei. Confused, yet respectful, she retracted her assistive hand. Although after being hoisted in the pair by a massive tentacle and squeezed to near-death… she would assume the least one person would appreciate is tea.

“Are you sure you don't want to rest for the night? We have plenty of room here and we wouldn't mind.”

Once the two lovers were safe, secure and asleep, Kagome and Inuyasha thought it appropriate to make their way back to their party. Kagome hadn’t realized that they were nearing the 3rd day of being away from Sango, Shippo and Miroku. They were probably so worried about them! She didn’t want to leave them, but she knew she couldn’t stay. Not only did she feel like they were overstaying their welcome, but the situation at hand was growing into a new layer that she knew she had to bow out of while she still had a chance.

The look in Naraku’s eyes. She still couldn’t shake it. She blocked Inuyasha from a prime opportunity to thwart the main reason they were on this conquest mission she admitted, but it was something in her that made her do it. Was it that she saw that same look in Inuyasha when he talked about Kikyo? Or was it.. Something else.

Inuyasha shook his head in declination. “No can do. Old lady Kaede would nag me to death if we stayed a day longer.”

Kagome gasped. She waved her hands back in forth apologetically. “H-he means that we have others, waiting for us so we can continue our journey for the shards. We didn't expect all of this to happen so we’d be best to go on ahead…” Reiko looked visibly disappointed.

She rose to her feet with a sigh. “Well I guess it can't be helped. But I just want you to know Kenji and I are eternally grateful. If all ends up well then we might be relocating as well.” Reiko looked over at Kenji with a warm grin. He returned her grin with a soft head nod.

“We would love for you to visit soon.” She added.

Kagome beamed. “If we’re in the area we would love to! Isn't that right, Inuyasha?”

Inuyasha, with arms folded, grunted in response.. Kagome sighed deeply in her head.

“Oh, and kagome?” Reiko spoke up. Kagome turned her head back to Reiko with attentive eyes.

“Yes, Lady Reiko?”

“A minute outside, if you will.” Kenji extended his hand, helping Reiko slide her feet into her slippers. She shuffled out the door without waiting on Kagome. Kenji retreated back into the living room to observe Mei and Keiji, leaving the two alone in the hallway.

There was an awkward silence between the two. Inuyasha kept his focus on the fire in front of him. Kagome was the first to speak.

She cleared her throat sharply. “Ah I-I’ll be back.”

A pause. “Yeah, do what you want.”

“What's your problem, Inuyasha? This isn't the time to act this way-“

“Just don't do that again.” His response was quick. The words spilled out of his mouth as his heart fluttered in his ears.

Kagome blinked. “What do you-“

He groaned, speaking louder this time. “Don't put your life on the line for anyone else like that ever again… you.. You had me scared.”

Scared? Kagome couldn't wrap her mind around the words coming out of his mouth. But by the blush across his face she had a small kindling of what he meant.

He.. He cared for her.

Her initial annoyance fizzled out. And without a rebuttal, she stood to her feet to exit the home.

“Baldroy, I need your help with this.” You tried to pick up the small crate barrel of flour with no avail. Baldroy watched you, with a smirk on his lips and a hand on his hip as you tried with all your might.

You squatted low, wrapping your arms around the barrel, tucking it close to your chest and anchoring your weight on your heels. A few grunts later, you gave up, wiping the sweat from your forehead.

“If you’ve had enough attempts at trying to be strongman of the century,” he teased, “let me show you an easier way.” He pointed his finger behind him. “There’s a pully and a wheel cart that will scoop the barrel and take it wherever you want to put it.”

“Why didn't you mention this sooner?!” the pitch in your voice hit a sharp falsetto, making Baldroy grip his sides mid-laugh.

“You never asked. And besides, it was nice watching you build some upper body strength for a few minutes.”

“You never asked.” You mocked his tone. “You never asked. I swear all you men are just the same. You need clear instructions laid out in basic terms otherwise you’re all useless!” you stomped off, pulling the wheel cart next to the barrel.

“Now I wouldn’t say useless.” He didn't care too much for your comment. But he kept a playful tone. “But we don’t normally just thrust ourselves out there unless we’re invited in. Its sort of like-“ he rolled the barrel onto the wheel cart. He continued while checking the sides to prevent it from spilling over “Courting a woman. Back where I’m from, we don’t just throw ourselves at every woman. We wait and see, get a reaction or a lack thereof to determine what we wanna do. Get me?”

“Not really.” You rolled your eyes. Baldroy sighed with his own roll of eyes.

“I like for a man to be upfront. Don't just say one thing, act another, then act a totally different way. That's an outright turn off if you ask me.”

“A woman like you gets mixed signals? I’m shocked.” Your eyes followed Baldroy but you didn't respond.

“Dont get me wrong. But seeing how hard you work on a day to day basis, I wouldn't expect whatever man you’d be interested in to have to be a strong-willed fellow.”

Strong willed…. A sad smirk spread across your face as you pushed the wheel cart. Baldroy caught your expression. He quickly tried to change the subject.

“D-do you know why we’re having so much rice being delivered for dinner tonight?” he used a crowbar to lift the lid, whistling at the thousands of fine grains that rested in the barrel.

“Beats me.” You shrugged. “I think Lau is supposed to be paying a visit with his trading company.” You continued sorting the meats with your back to Baldroy.

“Trading company? You mean that army of Chinese thugs? Does Mei Rin know about this? Oh she is not going to be happy..” He scratched his head, looking up at the roof like the answer was threatening to fall from the ceiling any moment now.

Sebastian’s face flashed across your face. You felt your throat dry and a cool trickle of water pool in the corner of your eyes. What is going on with me? I shouldn't care about Sebastian like this. He’s my superior. I have to pull it together.

You wiped your eyes indiscreetly but Baldroy caught wind. He felt personally responsible for your upset but didn't quite know how to address it directly. Thinking of his times in the war, he did the classic move: a reassuring hand on the shoulder.

“Hey. If it means anything-“ the words spilled out of his mouth like milk overflowing out of a tea cup. “If you were my woman I’d never pussyfoot around how I felt.”

“What?” His face burned red as you looked his direction.

“Uh- I meant- you’re not a bad looking girl and if- no- what I mean is- shit- Y/N, I didn’t mean-“

“I’m sure you two are having a grand moment of informalities under the Master’s generous hand, but must I remind you that tonight’s dinner is not going to serve itself.”

Next chapter

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