Kagome slips on the pink cowgirl boots, sticking her foot out to admire the little designs of foxes jumping over a horse. There must be several small villages across Japan in which the demons have created a haven for themselves. She walks out of the changing room into the harsh rays of the sun. A perfect day to go horseback riding. She winces. Well, almost perfect if her legs didn't hurt.
"Ah! Yuji-kun, you're such a natural," she praises, clapping at the pink-haired boy. He's decked out in a tan cowboy hat with a matching vest.
"What about me?" Satoru whines, hopping down from his horse. Her eyes widen. Not that the pink vest doesn't suit him–it matches her boots. But where the hell was his shirt to go with it?
"Where is your shirt?" She grabs the reins of her brown horse.
"The foxes said I didn't need one." He shrugs and grabs a hold of his waist.
"I know how to ride a horse," she says, shooing his hands away. "And since when do you listen to the foxes? Thought you didn't trust them." Kagome lifts herself up, frowns at the feel of Satoru's hands on her ass.
"Eh, I don't. But, based on that blush, I'd say they were right about something." He blows her a kiss and hops back on his horse. "As your instructor for the day-"
"No," Kagome and Yuji say in unison. Kagome hides her laugh behind her hand while Yuji gives her a thumbs up.
"Alright, party poopers," Satoru says, "I have convinced the other instructor that I am more than capable of taking us on the trail."
"You convinced them?"
"Sure sounds like you don't believe my heartfelt words, Gome-chan."
"Well… I didn't see Gojo-sensei threatened anyone. And the lady did hand Gojo-sensei a key." Yuji scratches his cheek. Kagome squints. Yuji-kun is such a traitor, taking Satoru's side.
"Lead the way, then."
"Don't worry," Satoru says, moving towards the front, "what could go wrong?"
They get halfway through the trail leading into the forest when the sun hides behind the rain clouds, unleashing an onslaught onto them–well, just her and Yuji because Satoru just jokes the whole way back about how dry he is.
There's a knock at the door. Kagome lifts a brow in Satoru's direction.
"Fine, I'll get it. It's probably just Yuji." He pecks her nose and answers the door. "Do you seriously have nothing better to do?"
Kagome stills, places the book down and goes to diffuse the situation. "Was there something you needed?" She squeezes between Satoru and the woman.
"Ah! Kagome-sama. Yes, we stayed up all night creating this for you." The woman thrusts a package into her hands. "It would be such an honor if you were to wear it out on your date tonight."
"I thought we were just ordering in again?" She tilts her head back.
"It was supposed to be a surprise," he says.
"Well, at any rate. I'll be happy to wear this… as long as it's decent." Kagome smiles at the woman. Honestly, she doesn't get what all the fuss is about. "Thank you, um… I never actually got your name."
"Cho!" she exclaims, her eyes glazed over.
"R-right, thank you, Cho, for all of your help." Kagome clutches the package to her chest.
"Please eat your fill, Kagome-sama. You must take care of yourself."
"Alright, thank you, Cho-chan," Gojo speaks up, pulling Kagome back into the room and closing the door.
"Did they play a trick on you or something?" Kagome walks around him, back to the bedroom. She sits in the middle of the bed.
"They're too nice. It's obvious that they want something from you." He takes a seat across from her and slides the package closer to him. "Just in case something springs out. Only one of us has infinity." He tears into it without a care about preserving the packaging. "Huh."
"Let me see," Kagome says, reaching over and picking up the cloth. "Oh, this is too much." She lifts the pink kimono up, roving over the designs. Her lips twitch. Of course–they would put foxes on it, such a prideful bunch they are. The kimono glides along her fingertips.
"This feels more… silkier, yeah silkier than anything I've seen."
"Clothing made by demons is better." She sets it down, smoothing out any wrinkles. The obi is a simple blue. She pulls it in closer. Satoru's family name is engraved in white in the middle of it. "No wonder they put up with your disrespect, they really think we're mates."
"Pink and blue," he mutters.
"What?" She lowers the obi. His mind seems so far away from her.
"Nothing." His glasses slide down. Blue surrounds her. "Curses are so much easier to understand." He gives her a devilish grin. "You think they'll be mad if I rip this off of you?"
"Pervert," she says, getting off of the bed. "How about helping me get into it instead?" She shimmies out of her pants and tosses her shirt.
"Ah, so you would be mad," he says, grabbing the kimono as he gets off the bed.
"It is my first kimono in this world, I'd like to keep it." She holds out her arms as he ties the obi around her.
"Ya know, all you have to do is ask Gome-chan."
"Thanks," she responds, turning around. "I'm going to see if Yuji-kun needs anything before we go." Gojo grabs her wrist and pulls her back. "You should get ready too."
"I will." He lets go of her wrist and cups the sides of her face. "You don't have to feel embarrassed about asking me for anything or using my money."
"It's not that," she says, averting her gaze. "I just don't want us to fall into a pit of thinking that material things will solve everything. Just you being here is enough."
Satoru brushes his nose against hers. "Gome-chan?"
"Yeah?"
"You're my favorite little alien." He giggles and dares to snort. Kagome pushes back, walks out of the bedroom and out of the hotel suite.
She is not an alien.
Satoru squeezes her waist as he leans down to peck her cheek. He leaves her on the bridge, overlooking a koi pond to grab some sweet dango for the two of them. Why? Because he needed to set his tastebuds up with dessert before dinner. Kagome smiles to herself, one hand playing with the golden charms in her hair ornament. A trio of koi swims in sync. It's too bad that Mama couldn't meet Satoru, Kagome knows that she would have loved him. Gramps would have a field day throwing his useless sutras at Satoru's infinity.
"They should keep pretty little things like you indoors," a man's voice says from her side. Kagome stands upright, regarding the blonde man with dark-colored tips. His eyes are small and his grin is far too wide.
"I didn't realize this was the feudal era," she says, looking over his shoulder. She promised Satoru that she wouldn't move from the bridge. His hakama bottoms and kimono top remind of a time long past. Clearly, he's still living in the old way of thinking.
"Seems Your husband hasn't you taught you any manners. He must be weak if he hasn't beaten that into you yet." His tongue darts out, swiping along the corners of his mouth.
"Such a sad life you live, bothering women who don't want you. You should walk away before my husband comes back." Kagome smiles. He tilts his head. Kagome resists the urge to shiver from the appraisal.
"You'd go for a decent amount for a commoner."
"Excuse me?" She slaps him, winces when his hand grips her wrist. The pain is so worth seeing the red palm print on his ugly face.
"Naoya-kun, what an unpleasant welcome," Gojo calls out. "I suggest you unhand Gome-chan before you lose that arm."
He knows him? Kagome moves to Satoru's side, taking the dango from him.
"Ah, Satoru-kun. I didn't know this was your concubine. She's trouble, parading around as if she is your wife." Naoya rolls his shoulders, sticking his hands into his pockets.
Kagome looks up at Satoru. They will discuss these so-called concubines later.
"You'll lose your tongue if you keep insulting her."
"Apologies. If you have time, I'd like to–"
"Anything clan-related can wait. You should go home, Naoya-kun." Gojo wraps an arm around Kagome and ushers them away.
"Clan?" Kagome brings up once they are far enough away. "Concubines?"
"I don't have any concubines. Naoya has to pay for women to pretend to like him." He plucks his dango from her. Kagome bites into hers. "I didn't want to talk about jujutsu or demons this whole trip." He sighs as they approach the restaurant.
Kagome pulls back, takes in his white buttoned-down shirt and black dress pants. His face is serious for once. The host leads them to the back of the restaurant to a secluded booth. Kagome pats the space beside her, leans her head on his shoulder.
"Let's just enjoy this moment."
A/N: Thank you all for the reviews! I honestly wasn't sure if I was going to be able to get the chapter out this week, since I've been feeling under the weather. But, you guys help me push through, so thank you!
