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As it often was, Sesshoumaru’s mother had been the instigator. She’d given them the idea, quite literally, by handing them a gift card for Sesshoumaru’s birthday. A tell-tale smirk had played on her red lips as she’d done it. But in the end, the joke was on her: The couple’s cooking class had become a Saturday tradition that Kagome and Sesshoumaru both enjoyed.
So much so that they’d continued with it, even after the gift card had run out.
Sesshoumaru, in particular, had started to spend a lot more time in the kitchen back home. It had become his domain. But he gracefully tolerated Kagome’s occasional — and messy — forays in it.
Today was their last cooking class of the year, and they'd be making gingerbread cookies. It was both a topical theme and something easier and more relaxing to end their year of lessons on. Sesshoumaru studied the recipe intently as if he were cramming for the university entrance exams. Meanwhile, Kagome gathered up all their supplies and ingredients and switched on the oven.
By now, they worked as a seamless unit, each comfortable in their role. Once Sesshoumaru had finished poring over the recipe, Kagome gave it a quick skim. She started grating the ginger while Sesshoumaru measured their ingredients and added them into a mixing bowl. Done with the ginger, Kagome took over the mixing bowl. She stirred the ingredients into a dough enthusiastically, humming to herself as she worked. Sesshoumaru kept measuring this and pouring in that. He worked in silence, but the smile on his face was genuine.
And so it went, this coordinated dance until their dough was ready and left to cool in the freezer. They gathered around their instructor, as she guided them through different piping techniques.
“You can use many different food colourings with your icing. But there’s also the option of using melted white chocolate if you want a shortcut.”
“Mmmh, chocolate,” Kagome hummed.
Sesshoumaru chuckled. “Shortcut sounds like your speed, anyway.”
“Oh, I’ll leave all the chef snobbery to you,” Kagome agreed.
Kagome was all ready to brandish the rolling pin when they were finally ready to get down to business, but Sesshoumaru snatched it out of her hand.
“We’ll need the sheet to be even.”
Kagome rolled her eyes. “Would you like me to get you a ruler?”
Sesshoumaru seemed to consider the suggestion, before finally shaking his head. Kagome bit her lip to keep from laughing at his concentrated frown as he rolled the dough thinner with excessive care. He actually bent to take a closer look at the edge of the dough, before he nodded in satisfaction.
“Now it’s your turn.”
Kagome grinned. Armed with the cookie cutters, she stamped away, punching out a cavalcade of different shapes. Then, she got the baking sheets ready while Sesshoumaru painstakingly peeled off the edges of the dough and lifted the cookies onto the pan.
Kagome did opt for the shortcut. She melted the white chocolate and snacked on the leftover gingerbread dough. Sesshoumaru, of course, opted for the traditional icing in various colours. Like a proper little Chef Fancypants.
When the time came, Kagome embraced her artistic side, drawing small lopsided hearts and giving her gingerbread men cutesy faces. She was particularly proud of that even row of buttons on the last one and turned to Sesshoumaru to brag.
Kagome’s jaw dropped open. Her brain tried to register everything her eyes were seeing, but all the flourishing swirls, elaborate patterns and precise latticework patterns defied logic.
“Oh my god,” Kagome breathed. First of all, Sesshoumaru was looking adorable with his nose all scrunched up like that, but more importantly... “I didn’t know this was an art competition. You’re over here channelling Michelangelo.”
Sesshoumaru shrugged and brushed back his bangs. “I may have gone a little overboard.”
“They look absolutely fantastic.”
“I do admit I’m showing off with these, a little bit.”
“A little?” Kagome raised her eyebrow. “I’m not sure these can even be eaten. We should just frame them and hang them on the wall.”
The corner of Sesshoumaru’s lips twitched. “I thought we should give these cookies to my mother.”
Kagome burst into laughter. “Oh, we totally should! I can’t wait to see her face .”
“Speaking of faces, you have icing on yours.”
And as he leaned in to lick icing off her cheek, Kagome vowed that they’d had to come back to the cooking classes for next year.