Disclaimer: All Inuyasha goodness belongs to the amazing Takahashi-san!
Behind the Curtain
By MissKatt
The Awkward Encounter
A/N: Congrats to MidNite for finding the ongoing error in this story! If you recall, Sesshoumaru's deceased wife is Kagura, but I also said that Kagura was a dancer at Shikon (: See? I'm tricky! With that said, Naomi and everything with her character belongs to MidNite
"Ah! Tama-chan," Kouga said with a smile as he stood and held his hand out to her. "It is good to see you again."
"Kouga-san," She replied with a smile and placed her hand in his. "Thank you for tipping me."
"Of course," He answered and snapped at Ginta to move over before gesturing her to sit down. "You have gotten a lot better from the last time I was here."
Kagome blushed at his praise. "Thank you. Taijiya has been teaching me and helping me a lot with my stage."
"Ah, so you two are friends now, hm?" The wolf asked. Knowing when someone was looking at him or in his general area, he turned to see Sesshoumaru looking at them. He narrowed his eyes and pulled Kagome closer to him.
She blinked at the gesture, but chose to not say anything. "Yes, we are really good friends now."
He tore his ice blue eyes from the inuyoukai and looked down at her face. "That's good. See? I told you it would work out. Did she find out who leaked the information?"
She shook her head with a sigh. "No, but I don't think Taijiya really cares anymore. She's happy and that's all that matters."
Kouga nodded at her logic and then looked at his friends when they cleared their throats. "Oh, Tama-chan, this is Ginta and Hakkau, my employees and friends." He introduced.
She smiled at them and bowed her head. "It is nice to meet you both, I'm Tama."
"It's our pleasure, Tama-neechan." Ginta grinned.
"Yeah, any friend of Kouga's is a friend of ours!" Hakkau added.
She gave an awkward laugh as they addressed her with such a familiar honorific. "I-is that so?"
"Hey, Miko! Sit here!"
Kagome turned to the booth next to her when she heard the guy with triangle, doggy ears call for her sister. She then looked to the left to see her sister walking towards the booth next to her. She bowed to the man with the long silver-grey ponytail when he stood up to allow her access to the booth. She then took her place next to the guy and gave him a shy smile.
"So, you forgive me then?" She heard Kouga ask.
She turned towards him. "Of course. I'm just sorry you had to see that happen. I tried to hide that part of me, especially here."
He shrugged. "You shouldn't; it's who you are." He handed her a small cup of sake.
She accepted it and gave him a true smile at his words. "Thank you, Kouga-san, that means a lot to me. You're so nice."
He blinked twice and let a blush spread across his cheeks as he looked away from her. "Don't say that, you'll ruin my image."
She laughed and patted the arm around her shoulders. "I'll keep your secret safe."
"Inuyasha!"
Every pair of eyes from the two booths swiveled up to see a very angered female standing before them, hands on her hips while her emerald green eyes glared hard at the hanyou.
"N-Naomi…" Inuyasha stammered, hesitantly looking between Miko and his ex-girlfriend. "Why are you here?"
"I came here to see Bankotsu about the entertainment for the company's upcoming private function. Imagine my surprise to find you here as well." She snapped, words laced with a French accent.
He gulped nervously and then pointed at his father. "He brought me here for a meeting."
Touga held up his hands in defense. He did not want to be in the middle of their fight. The two had been on and off for a while now and, in his opinion, it was a bit dysfunctional, but he let his son do as he pleased with his love life.
She gave a slight snort. "I am sure you were dragged here." When he sputtered to respond, she held up her hand. "I am not stupid, Inuyasha. I find it interesting that you can't find time to have dinner with me, but seem to have plenty enough to go to a strip club and visit some," She looked at Miko distastefully. "Whore."
Kikyou's eyes hardened at the insult, but she dared not defend herself against the female inuyoukai and risk losing her chances with getting a dance from Inuyasha. Admittedly, she thought he was pretty cute, but this was her job and she was there for money. She'd be damned if she let her hormones get the better of her.
Inuyasha's ears flattened against his skull a little. "Hey, no need for insults, Naomi…"
She lifted a perfectly manicured brow. "Look where you are at, Inu-kun, don't expect anything better from these lousy excuses for women. Really, what kind of self-respecting woman would let themself work here? I'm sure she is no better." Okay, she might be a little bitter that a different girl was getting attention from Inuyasha instead of her.
Kagome slammed her cup down on the table, making the wolves around her jump at the sudden action. She abruptly stood up and faced the girl, her lip curled up in the corner with an impressive snarl. "Shut up," She said in a dangerously low tone. "It is one thing to insult my sister in front of me, but it is another to insult us all without having any idea of the situation we are in. Do you think we want to be here?"
Sesshoumaru's molten honey eyes stared at the woman in front of him. So she honored family values. Still, he was a little surprised to hear they were sisters, but, looking closer, could now see the similarities between the two. His brow twitched in question at the last thing she blurted out. Didn't they want to be there? Surely if they were there then they wanted to, no? Removing one's clothes for money was a choice, he was sure.
Naomi blinked at the sudden intrusion in the conversation, but quickly recovered. "Oh, did I strike a nerve?"
Tama clenched her hands into fists and opened her mouth to retort, but stopped when a man with a ponytail of silver hair stood from his seat and put a hand on her shoulder. She blinked her blue eyes up at him in question.
Touga ignored her for a second while he looked at Naomi. "Naomi-san, why don't you and Inuyasha go talk in private? No need for involving others in a personal matter."
Inuyasha gave Miko an apologetic look before rising from the booth and scooting past her. Before he left, he looked down at her with a seriously look. "I'll be back. Don't go anywhere," When she nodded silently, he grabbed Naomi's hand and led her to the smoking patio so they could talk.
The eldest Taisho waited until they were gone and then looked down at the small dancer in front of him. "Tama, was it?"
"Uh, yes," She replied unintelligently.
He gave her a reassuring smile and then turned her towards the table. "Tama-san, may I introduce my eldest son, Sesshoumaru."
She met his smoldering gaze and paused. Had she met him somewhere before? He looked familiar to her. Realizing that she was staring, she quickly gave a slight bow. "Good evening, it is nice to meet you."
When his son said nothing in return, Touga spoke up once more. "It seems he has been admiring you tonight," He shot him a glare when he made a huff of a grunt. "I was wondering if I could steal you from Zoku-san for a moment," He turned his head to meet Kouga's gaze. "Is that acceptable, Zoku-san? May I borrow her?"
Kouga, not one to oppose Taisho Touga, nodded. "As long as you're not too long with her and she returns in one piece. I know how you Taisho men are."
With a bark of a laugh, Touga turned back to Tama. "So, Tama dear, will you give him a dance for me?" He pulled a hundred from his pocket. "Make it a good one and consider the rest your tip."
She smiled and nodded, "Of course. I would love to give him a dance." That was the standard line of acceptance when a customer asked for one. As she went to accept the money from the man, she froze when she felt a chill sink into her side with a force that it made her take a step to side to steady herself. She looked at Sesshoumaru with a dumbfounded expression. Did he just push her with his youki?
His sharp eyes were on her, watching her carefully. So she could feel his youki as well. Interesting. "Do not bother. I do not engage in such demeaning activities." He lifted his sake cup and raised it to his lips, his eyes burning her over the rim.
Quick to retort, she gave a forced chuckle and put her hand on her hip. "It's alright, he wouldn't have been able to handle me anyways," She turned to Kouga with a sultry smile. "So, you ready then, Kouga-san?" She shot a smug look back at the inuyoukai.
Sesshoumaru nearly spit out his sake. Had this miko just insulted him? Had she really insinuated that the wolf could handle her but he could not? She would not get away with such disrespect. He set his cup down and motioned for Naraku to move so he did not have to scoot all the way around the booth to exit it. He stood to his full height and felt something twist inside him when her challenging eyes stayed on him the entire time.
"I accept your challenge then." He replied, taking the hundred from his father. If he was going to do this, he wasn't going to waste his own money on it.
Tama smirked at him. "Then, what are you waiting for?" She reached for his hand and grasped it before pulling him along after her.
Touga watched with a very satisfied grin. "This will be good for him." He commented and then looked back at Naraku. "Now, where were we?"
Sesshoumaru glared down at their hands and pulled his from her. He would not allow her to pull him along like some pet. He lifted a brow at her when she looked over her shoulder at him and gave him a smile. "What are you smiling about?"
Tama shook her head and looked forward again as they approached the dance booths. She led him down the first aisle and to the last chair on the left. She dubbed it as 'her spot' and always gave a dance there. She held out her hand, gesturing for him to sit.
He did as directed and then crossed his arms over his chest as she took off her shoes. "Getting lazy?" He asked.
She rolled her eyes at him. "No, I'm getting more comfortable," She stated and then reached forward to uncross his arms. "Relax, would you?"
The inuyoukai's eyes hardened at her. "Do not tell me what to do," Still, he kept his hands at his sides. His eyes widened slightly when she nudged his knees apart with one of her own. "What are you doing?"
She had a faint blush on her cheeks. She had never had to open a man's legs before, and felt exceedingly embarrassed for having to do it, but she had to make room for her dance. It didn't help that he was really handsome. "You must be new to this." She commented, trying to hide her embarrassment.
He glared again at her. "I do not frequent these types of establishments."
She gave a giggle at his evasive confession. "Then I don't feel so bad." At his questioning look, she gave him a smile. "I've only been here for a month."
"And yet you are so sure I will not be able to 'handle you'."
She shrugged guiltily and gave a sheepish smile. "It worked to get you back here," She shook her head when he glared at her again. "Just try to enjoy it, Sesshoumaru."
He grunted, "Hn, we will see."
She reached out and placed a hand on each side of his neck as the song began. She lowered herself to him, her hips resting against his before her chest did. As she lay against him, her nose by his neck, she couldn't help but notice how much bigger than her he was. Sure, Kouga was bigger than her as well as most of her clientele, but this was different. His whole being seemed to overpower her. His broad shoulders, wide hips, and even his hands were just so…manly. He made Hojo look like a teenage girl.
Sesshoumaru stared straight forward as her hips and chest pressed against him. Though he would not admit it, the feel of her body against his was pleasing. It had been many months since he had a woman's body against his. His eyes widened slightly when he felt her lips brush against his neck, her breath then in his ear. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end from the sensation. What was she doing to him?
She sauntered down his body, her hands running down his taught chest and stomach as she kneeled. She flushed slightly as she felt his much defined abs through his collared shirt. She let her hands run down to his lower thighs, which were also all muscle, and used them for support to stand back up. She then turned away from him and shook her knees, making her butt cheeks clap like Taijiya taught her. She then slowly sat down in his lap, moving her hips in little circles. Kouga did tell her that dog-based youkai liked this position. Would he like it too?
Wait, why did she care if he liked it? Well, he seemed like such a cocky guy and she wanted to prove she could give a good dance. And, it may be because she found herself a little attracted to him. She blushed when she felt his pants go a little tighter against her butt cheek.
Her subtle berry perfume flooded into Sesshoumaru's nose and did not find it repulsive or overpowering like many others. He could not stop his eyes from falling down to look at her hips and rounded cheeks as they moved against his slacks. His eyes briefly flashed with desire when she bent down to rest her hands by her feet, leaving her in a face down position with her rear against him. Did this woman know she was pushing his primal urges?
He growled in his head. This was her job; of course she knew what she was doing. He would not let himself get turned on by this girl. He blamed the sudden need on the fact that he had not rutted in a long while. Yes, that was why.
Kagome stood back up and turned towards him again. She then bent a knee on either side of him, forcing him to move his arms from their resting spot as she straddled his hips. She leaned towards him again and reached her hands towards his hair. Using her shortened nails, she combed the hair above each ear back, raking her nails gently along his scalp.
'It's so soft,' she thought. 'So silky.'
He felt awkward with his hands, not quite knowing what to do with them, so he kept them up. His eyes fluttered shut against his own will when her nails ran into his hair. He had always loved his head being scratched. It was the one thing Kagura did that calmed him down after a long day.
His eyes shot open at the memory of his deceased wife and he looked down at Tama as she moved her hips against his. He felt her twist them in a mimic figure eight, the action making her rub against him almost too perfectly. She did a little buck towards him, but it wasn't until her rear landed back on a too sensitive spot did his hands fly to her hips, bringing her forward in a jerk. It didn't help when she rubbed across him once again.
The buck had been unintentional. She hadn't meant to and she still wasn't sure why she did. Maybe it was because he was handsome? Or the fact that she felt like she fit perfectly in his lap? Perhaps it was because she hadn't had sex in a year? Maybe it was combination of the three? Still, she had never reacted as such during a dance. She made sure she gave a sexy dance, not just hip grinding. Still, she could not deny that she was turned on. With a flicker of an imaginary light bulb in her mind, she realized she had been since earlier on in the dance.
Her hands went to the back of his neck out of reflex when he jerked her forward, her eyes widened when she realized their faces were six inches apart.
Gold and blue clashed in a gaze.
Her breath caught in her throat.
His nose inhaled her scent.
Their lips moved in dangerously close for a heated moment of passion, but then Miroku announced that the next dancer was on stage, thus ending their song.
She blinked twice as the reality of what almost happened came crashing down on her. She quickly scrambled out of his lap, tripping on his shoe and falling backwards against the couch behind her. She leapt back up, her face red with two different reasons for embarrassment, and grabbed her heels. She muttered a rushed apology before running out of the dance area.
Likewise, the inuyoukai was disgusted. How could he have gotten so caught up in the moment of his arousal? He almost disgraced his own name by kissing not only a miko, but a stripper. What was going on him? He would definitely have to find himself a rut soon.
A/N: The power of a lap dance (;