Higher Education by SunsetMiko

Chapter 48

Prompt: As soon as a man is born, he begins to die. (Stella's Proverbial Challenge)

Walking alongside Kagome in the grocery store as she pushed the cart seemed so domestic, so right, as if they'd been married for years. All that was missing was the children. Their choices in food, however, were anything but mature. They'd stocked up on frozen foods more than anything. Kagome easily admitted that she didn't have much experience cooking, and Sesshoumaru had even less, and so they selected easy things, things they could microwave or heat up in the oven, hopefully with only one step.

The cart was chock full of freezer pizzas, TV dinners, and family sized frozen meals, along with lots of snacks. They had mini bagel pizzas and soft pretzels, breakfast pastries and burritos. Just about everything they passed in the freezer aisle, if it looked good and seemed easy, they got it.

They collected potato chips and fruit snacks, pickles and sugary cereals. They did purchase a few necessary staples, including milk, bread, and eggs. Kagome even thought to collect peanut butter and jelly while Sesshoumaru grabbed coffee and coffee filters. The miko added creamer and cheese slices before looking over their selections.

"We really ought to get something slightly healthy," she said, admiring their collection of empty calories. Eventually, they settled on yogurt and fresh fruit, though walking through the bakery section had been a bad idea. Halfway through the store, Sesshoumaru had to go back to the front and collect a cart of his own, as they'd filled the first one to the brim and when they were finally finished, the miko looked over everything and laughed. "I hope we can fit all of this in the car. It's going to be a pain in the ass to unload, but it might be fun, putting everything away, deciding where everything goes."

"The next time we go shopping, we will not need nearly as much," Sesshoumaru assured her and the overwhelmed-looking cashier.

"New place," Kagome explained. "Not a grain of rice in it right now. I'm sure you know how it is."

The cashier simply nodded, smirking to herself as she rang up their purchases. She thought they were adorable, a young couple just starting their lives together. They might not live too long if they didn't adjust their diets, but she'd been there, long ago and she understood the draw of frozen foods. When she got to the cake that had 'Happy New Apartment' written on top in icing, she couldn't help but laugh.

"I'll hold the cake," Kagome said as if it was a very important task, keeping that yummy looking pastry safe. Screw the eggs. They could be buried at the bottom of the trunk for all she cared. The bread would be okay if it got a little squished, but that cake had to be guarded, set carefully where someone else would have placed their child. The cashier was actually a little surprised she didn't buckle it in for safety. "I feel like we're forgetting something important."

Sesshoumaru looked over all the purchases still waiting to be rung up, trying to figure out what they were missing. They had every kind of junk food invented, half the freezer section, even a personalized cake. What could they have forgotten?

"Ramen noodles?" he suggested.

"Nope, got that."

The cashier's eyes flitted over their many purchases before smiling. "Toilet paper?" She couldn't help but laugh at the expression on both of their faces.

"Kind of important," Kagome said with a blush. "I'll get it. You say here."

---------

"So, what do you think?" Kagome asked while holding open both side by side refrigerator and freezer doors for Sesshoumaru to see.

"Very nice. You are a good organizer. The freezer is quite full," he said with a smile.

"Yeah, it's a good thing we didn't buy that big box of popsicles or we'd be eating them all now because there's no way they would have fit."

"The pantry is finished," he told her and the miko went to look at his half of the project.

"Beautiful. With the two of us so organized, this place should always be spotless. You know, we're going to have to go through all of the cupboards and drawers to see what there is and what we might need. I mean, who knows if they think a pizza pan is essential cookware, or a meat thermometer. Some of those microwave dinners want you to check the temp."

The taiyoukai nodded his agreement. "That is a task for another day."

 "You've got that right. Ugh, I'm exhausted," the miko said, heading into the living room where she plopped down on the couch. "Oh, wow. This thing is really comfortable. Have you sat here yet?"

Sesshoumaru followed her into the living room and took a seat beside her. "Indeed, it is."

"I hope it's really stain resistant. I mean, what were they thinking? A white couch in a college apartment?"

"Well, not everything could be black or the place would be rather dark. If it gets stained, who cares?"

"They'll charge you for it."

"Correction. They will charge my father for it."

Kagome giggled, making Sesshoumaru smile. "I still have to go to my dorm room and pick up clothes and books for tomorrow. I don't want to move," she murmured, resting her head on the taiyoukai's shoulder.

"And we need to feed you dinner. So, what sounds good?"

"Nothing, if I'm going to have to cook it."

Sesshoumaru chuckled. "Hundreds of dollars worth of food and yet nothing to eat. How about this? I will drive you over to the dorms and you can collect your things, whatever you want to bring, along with my books and computer, and I will go get takeout." He knew he had her when her eyes widened. "Now, what sounds good?"

"Chinese food sounds awesome! Okay, it's a deal."

After a quick drive across campus, Sesshoumaru and Kagome spent a few minutes going over a menu she'd had in her room, deciding what to order. Then the taiyoukai was on his way and the miko was busy sorting through her belongings, trying to figure out what she could take and what she needed to leave behind.

About twenty minutes later, he returned, knocking softly on the door. He smirked as he spotted several large tote bags filled to the brim. That was just what he wanted, for her to live more with him than here. The more she brought to the apartment, the less sense it would make to keep her dorm room, and eventually she would move in completely.

Kagome sent the taiyoukai down with most of the bags, leaving one hanging over her shoulder, as she grabbed one last thing. She was closing her door, ready to head downstairs, when the sound of someone clearing their throat caught her attention. She turned, only to find her R.A. standing there with an irritated expression on her face.

"I told you, you can't sleep in his room either. I already alerted the Resident Advisor on his floor."

"I'm not going to sleep in his dorm. I'm going to sleep in his new on campus apartment that he got just so we could be together. It's perfectly acceptable. We're not breaking any rules."

"Oh, Kagome," the R.A. said dramatically. "Tell me you aren't moving in with him already. You just met him."

The miko huffed. "I did not just meet him and no, I'm not moving in, not yet. I'm just going to spend the nights there."

"And your bathing supplies?"

"Why should I shower in a group facility when he's got his own private bathroom I can use?"

"I still think you are making a mistake. If you give up your dorm room, you will have a hell of a time getting it back when things go south and he kicks you out. A relationship built on sex can never stand the test of time."

"Who said anything about sex?" Kagome asked in irritation. "We haven't even had sex yet, not that it's any of your business."

"You haven't? Then why was he spending the night?"

The miko smirked. "To hold me while we slept," she explained. "Not everyone is completely focused on sex. And Sesshoumaru would never kick me out, but I wasn't planning on giving up my room yet anyway. Wait, that's what happened to you, isn't it? That's why you're so bitter, so angry. Some guy ditched you and you haven't gotten over it so you're spending all your time sticking your nose into other people's relationships. Well, you can kindly keep your nose out of mine."

The R.A. huffed, offended, as Kagome turned to start walking towards the stairs. "I'm trying to help you, Kagome," she called out. "Don't move too fast."

The miko rolled her eyes and allowed the heavy staircase door to slam behind her, cutting off anything else the woman might have wanted to say. Kagome headed down to the parking lot, muttering to herself all the while. What was it that was making everyone think they needed to get involved in her relationship? She wished everyone would just butt the hell out. She was happy and she didn't need people trying to bring her down.

She spotted Sesshoumaru leaning against his car and she hurried to his side. He took the last bag from her and placed it in the trunk, looking her over as he did so. "Is something wrong? That took longer than I'd expected."

Kagome sighed and he knew he was right. Something had happened after he left her. "My stupid R.A. had to butt in, thinking I was going to spend the night in your dorm room, even though she'd told me not to. I told her about the apartment and she warned me not to give up my room. She's convinced that it won't work."

"No one seems to want us to be together," Sesshoumaru said softly.

The miko smiled, leaning against him, one hand caressing his cheek. "I want us to be together, and you do too. I think that's all that matters."

The taiyoukai couldn't help but smile at her reasoning. "You are right. Besides, my father also wishes to keep us together, at least until you 'fix' me."

"And how will we know when you're good and fixed?" Kagome asked with a grin.

"I have no idea."

-------------

"Chocolate?" Kagome called from the kitchen.

"Strawberry, please, if you don't mind," the taiyoukai called back. All the Chinese food containers were spread across the small table and he was opening them one by one as the miko approached. He watched in amusement as she poured their flavored milks into the fancy champagne flutes she'd found in the cabinet.

"To our first night in your new apartment," she said while handing him his glass.

"To our first night in our new apartment," he corrected. "Even if you do not live here full-time, I want you to think of it as home. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you."

Kagome smiled brightly. "Okay, our apartment." The couple ate in a companionable silence for several minutes before the miko spoke again. "You know, I thought of a downside to this whole thing."

Sesshoumaru instantly looked concerned and Kagome had to control the desire to giggle. "What? Is something not to your liking?"

"It's wonderful to have our own bathroom we don't have to share with anyone, but you know what that really means? One of us is going to have to clean it."

The taiyoukai relaxed, chuckling at the look on her face.

"Have you ever cleaned a bathroom before?" she asked. When he shook his head, she nodded. "See, I haven't either."

"I'm sure we can figure it out," he said. "If nothing else, there is an answer to every question on the internet."

"That's kind of pathetic, having to search 'how to clean a bathroom'."

"I think being able to shower together whenever we desire to do so is more than worth a little scrubbing."

"Good, then you can be the one to do it," Kagome chimed. "I guess I should clean the tub though, since I'll be the one using it."

"We will figure it out. We will figure everything out, one problem at a time, one day at a time. Do you want any more fried rice?"

"No, thanks," the miko said with a smile. "I'm leaving room for a huge slice of that cake. You want some?"

Sesshoumaru followed her into the kitchen, interested to see just how big of a piece she intended on eating while collecting a much smaller one for himself. When she reached out with a large knife to make the first cut, he wrapped his arms around her, holding the knife with her in much the same way as newlyweds cut their wedding cake together.

Kagome couldn't help but smile as he moved the knife to the side to where he thought an average piece of cake would end, only to move it further each time as the miko huffed and demanded more. Finally, he'd reached a respectable wedge and they cut together once again. He pulled back to allow her to extract the piece and then cut a much smaller one of his own.

"You are going to have a stomach ache," he told her, watching as she enjoyed the cake, moaning as if he was beneath the table with his face between her thighs.

"So what? You might have to carry me to bed, but it's worth it. This cake is amazing! The frosting is so good!"

Sesshoumaru chuckled. "And will I also be charged with stripping you naked?"

"I can sleep just like this," she teased. "But if it means that much to you, I guess you could."