See notes in First Chapter.
XII.
Kagome slammed back the single shot she'd just watched the bartender pour for her. The hard liquor burned a hot trail down her throat before dissolving into the heat generated by the excitement in the dance club around her. She usually wasn't one for alcohol, but she'd discovered back in school that she couldn't cut loose and dance freely without a little liquid chemistry jamming up her usual reticent habits. It didn't take much to effect the necessary change needed.
Kagome loved to dance. To commune with music of any kind, letting go of self and all the associated worries had been her greatest joy throughout the years. Though it was only in clubs where the music throbbed up through the soles of her feet and the dancers packed so close together as to seem one organism that she needed fortification to participate.
She had less trouble performing a kagura in front of a crowd. In high school she'd enjoyed the dance club that had practiced swing, two-step, line and other semi-choreographed numbers with a single partner without issue. It was only the completely free-form, contemporary dances that caused her anxiety.
Kagome still enjoyed such dancing from time to time, she just needed a little help.
Gently she set the stout glass back on the counter, nodding to the lanky tender behind the bar before turning to the flashing lights and pulsing throng she intended to join. Kagome's eyes were dazzled by the array of colorful clothes, people and lights collected on the barely visible expanse of dance floor. The alcohol slowly spread to loosen up her limbs as Kagome allowed her pulse to find the rhythm pounding into her ears and vibrating up from her feet.
This was not a place where conversation, the service, or even the limited food selection was much of a priority. People came for the music, the vibe, and the drinks. Kagome came for the crowd.
She was nearly ready to brave the floor when she felt the fast approach of a fairly familiar youki that was clearly intent on chasing her.
Kagome turned away from the jumping mass of dancing people to face the door just as the flash of silver announced the approach of the Northern daijin. With an inaudible sigh, she caught his eye and nodded toward the quietest section of the club where a collection of standing tables sat in a dark corner before heading there herself.
This had better be an emergency, she huffed to herself. She was getting a little tired of the youkai in her life just randomly showing up without warning and expecting her to be available to wait on them. Sesshoumaru was probably the worst one; he had expected her to drop her duties during Hatsumode to attend him after all. She may not socialize much, but she did have work. And it was only considerate, respectful even to call ahead to make sure there were no conflicting obligations to meeting at certain times or on certain days.
They both reached the darkened table about the same time. Kagome hooked the leg of one of the few stools against the back wall and drew it up to the lonely corner table. Sesshoumaru looked disgusted by both the table and the stools, but Kagome didn't care. He had sought her out randomly, he didn't have to stay.
"So what's the emergency?" she asked loudly over the DJ filled atmosphere. While it was a little quieter this far from the dance floor, it was still quite a din. "Oki and Naoki are in Shippou's care and he hasn't called me. The shrine is being cleaned and looked after by Natsuo's clan, and none of them have called me. My grandfather was in perfect health when I talked to him this morning on the way here and Souta would call me if that had changed," she added flatly. She was pointing out that all of her duties, familial and otherwise were covered by other people while she was away, indicating that any concern dealing with any of those should be addressed to other people.
"This Se-" he began before she sharply cut him off.
"Stop!" She calmly demanded. "I come to Sapporo for anonymity. Here no one knows or cares about Higurashi shrine or Higurashi Kagome. There will be no gossip about the shrine keeper going out dancing, drinking alcohol or meeting friends for karaoke. I come here to reclaim whatever there is left of myself. That will all end if I am suddenly discovered to be keeping company with some public figure or even minor celebrity." And Sesshoumaru wasn't a minor celebrity, he was a major one. His life was a tabloid byline. "Even an anonymous face in the crowd would be plastered everywhere if they were found to be standing close to a person of interest."
Sesshoumaru scowled but nodded. It was a fact of life that he and his family were paparazzi fodder regardless of what they happened to be doing. If Masashi went out for a jog, his photo was front page somewhere in his workout gear. If Inuyasha got caught throwing up in an alley from partying too hard, the blurry censored pic went viral within hours. If Sesshoumaru paused to brush his teeth too close to a window, well...Kagome hadn't really understood why that one was such a big deal, but the public had really eaten up the evidence.
"What do you suggest?" the inu inquired curiously.
"Depends," Kagome responded. "Will this Emergency require you to stay long?"
"Why do you insist this meeting must pertain to an emergency?" the youkai raised an eyebrow at her.
"Do you know what 'vacation' means?" Kagome raised an eyebrow of her own. He'd found her in a club in Sapporo for Pete's sake. If nothing else he should realize she was off duty, as it were. "I only manage to break away from the shrine one to two times a year for this. I put off the last trip because I discovered Oki and Naoki." It had been so long since she'd managed any genuine free time, Natsuo had insisted Kagome take a longer trip this time. "Only an emergency should be brought to my attention before I return home."
If he paid any attention to recent theories and studies on human health as regards work production and relaxation, Sesshoumaru wouldn't give her any trouble about a two day trip to Sapporo ever. Her uncle Mattaki had preferred fishing trips for his getaways, he had also scheduled several trips every year. Kagome refused to let anyone make her feel bad about it.
"It is a precarious situation, but not yet urgent," Sesshoumaru replied mysteriously. "However, you are vulnerable traveling alone."
Kagome carefully studied his expression before accepting she was stuck with him for the rest of her trip. The shrine families had learned, through trial and error, that a youkai that was suddenly feeling protective over someone could not be reasoned, cajoled or even angered out of the sentiment. Instinct was implacable when triggered and it was best to let events play out as they would. Sesshoumaru clearly felt the need to guard her safety, she was never going to talk him out of it. And there was likely no way for her to figure out what caused him to feel the need. Just about anything could pull protective tendencies to the surface.
As such she knew how to advise him on preserving her privacy and concealing the fact they'd ever come in contact outside formal job related lines.
"While my name raises no attention, yours is quite singular," Kagome shrugged as she began. "Do you have any nicknames, a pet name a family member gifted you from affection or a shortened moniker you wouldn't have trouble responding too?" It would be best if he chose an alias he was already familiar with acknowledging. It would also be better if he had a real nickname as Kagome would have to introduce him with something.
"No one has had the effrontery to call this one by anything but the name bestowed by my father," Sesshoumaru declared firmly. He gave her a hard look that told her more than he'd actually said. It is likely there had been other names, pet names, given by presumptuous would-be lovers.
"Then I suggest you pick one for yourself," Kagome replied flatly. "I have plans to meet friends later and I will have to introduce you as something." She glanced over his appearance before starting on the next round of corrections that would help him blend in. Sesshoumaru's inherent coloring wasn't exactly stand out coloring among full-blooded youkai and the flashing lights actually helped to disguise the real color of his hair, at least in here. "I have an extra elastic," she offered him. "You need to put up your hair."
Sesshoumaru drew back slightly affronted. Then his golden eyes swept the interior behind her to find what Kagome already knew. There were very few individuals inside whose hair hung long and loose. Even Kagome had hers up in a messy coiffure that kept the bulk of her locks off her neck and out of her way. It was warm in here, and she was likely to get warmer once she got back to her original purpose. Loose hair also became a headache once packed close to a bunch of other moving bodies.
"Hn," he conceded and pulled the cascade of silver over his shoulder to quickly braid it, accepting the hair tie she handed him for the end.
"Lose the jacket and undo your collar button and cuffs," she directed him next. Sesshoumaru arrived wearing a really nice suit. It was perfect wear in a boardroom or political arena, but was too stiff and formal for a more casual setting. Again his eyes passed around her to check the veracity of her suggestions. There were a few individuals around that had obviously come out directly from work. Nobody was as buttoned up and stiff as he was.
He took even longer to accept what his eyes and ears had told him. Kagome imagined that all his lessons on how to dress had concerned promoting a professional, aristocratic, and possibly intimidating image. It was unlikely anyone had ever encouraged him to learn how to blend in. In fact, she eased back on the stool to think, the only time she'd ever seen him wear anything but a suit had been the shrine robes she'd lent him at new year.
Eventually the jacket came off and was draped over the top of their claimed table. Wrist stripes revealed themselves as he undid the buttons at his wrists and rolled the sleeves up neatly to mid forearm without prompting. Lastly, with tense shoulders, he loosened his collar. Kagome carefully turned to the side to give him a minute to find his center. She wasn't done yet, but she could give him a moment before moving to the last point he'd need to tackle before she could resume her plans for at least this part of the night.
Surprisingly, Sesshoumaru followed her earlier actions and claimed a stool for himself.
Once she was certain he'd managed to recover enough equilibrium to continue she turned back in his direction. "I assume you don't plan to dance," she started carefully.
"That formless movement is not dance and you cannot convince this one that any who have been trained in the traditional kagura would believe any different," he sneered at the crowd.
Kagome smirked quietly to herself. Such dance snobs weren't uncommon. There were quite a few kagura instructors at the shrine school who'd felt that way about any dance that wasn't conducted for ceremonial reasons in a shrine. There were plenty who felt that way about any dance that didn't require counted steps in that club back in high school. It always amused Kagome. "The simple definition of dance is to move in rhythm with music, internal or external. It does not require dress, steps, or ceremony to be dance," she informed him. "And yes, I do consider it dancing. I intend to join in once we have established your cover for hovering in a corner as long as I'm here."
Sesshoumaru settled back from the table slightly, clearly unhappy that she would choose to cavort with the throng for any length of time. "What more is needed?"
"You cannot hog one of the few tables and stools for long here without a reason," she announced. "You will likely need to purchase something and consume some of it." His expression darkened slightly at her words. "I realize you have had bad experiences in the past," she hastened to soothe his wariness. "I suggest you order a sealed bottle of some alcohol of your preference and have it delivered, sealed, with two glasses. Once it has arrived you will pour some for me to sample. I am very human and therefore more susceptible to any toxin that you would be vulnerable to."
"My hands will never touch the bottle after you have opened and poured," she continued evenly. "So long as you manage the bottle yourself, you will have no risk of any ill-effects beyond whatever you incur from consuming alcohol." It was a neat solution. It protected him from unknown sources of trouble while also proving that she hadn't and couldn't drug him herself. "If you sit here slowly nursing some bottle or other, you won't get half so many looks for holding a table."
"It is beginning to look like a lot of trouble to not be noticed," she heard him grumble. His uncharacteristic complaint made her want to laugh.
"Have you never done anything normal?" Kagome asked around her grin. "Never gotten rowdy with friends while everyone slowly grows increasingly intoxicated with alcohol and good company?"
"There are not many trustworthy around this one," Sesshoumaru declared quietly.
"Well, tonight, trustworthiness won't be an issue," Kagome declared stoutly. "I don't intend to take advantage of you. My friend and her boyfriend won't know who you are. If we're careful enough, no one will even think of taking a picture of us at all."
He blinked at her slowly, clearly uncertain what to make of all she was offering. Normal had likely never been in the cards for Sesshoumaru. Even before Masashi united the youkai in Japan, he had been a formidable power in the islands which left his heir a target for every opposing warlord. "Lets start with the booze," Kagome sighed beginning to realize she probably needed a bit more alcohol herself at this point. "What do you like?"
"Wine?" Sesshoumaru offered uncertainly.
Kagome's brow wrinkled in concern, "They're unlikely to have an unopened bottle on hand that they're willing to sell." At least not a good one. Grape wine was more of a quiet setting drink anyway, served with food to offset or enhance flavor notes.
"What would you suggest then?" he huffed in exasperation she was surprised to see. The shrine network had extensive notes on how stoic he was. Kagome hadn't thought she was being that demanding.
"Beer or Sake," she offered. There were non-alcoholic possibilities, but who would nurse a soft drink for a couple hours? It would go flat before long and no one liked flat soft drinks. "Wine just tends to come in larger bottles. Champagne might also be an option, though that would also stand out as normally people order that for a group celebration. Both can get pretty expensive and you don't want to use anything but cash," she pointed out without elaborating further. Cash couldn't be tracked and didn't require using a name that matched the card. Besides which, "Throwing around a lot of cash can catch unwanted attention."
"Hn," Sesshoumaru clearly pondered her words, his golden eyes sweeping the club environs for confirmation or inspiration to turn her down.
"As you clearly refuse to dance," Kagome added, "Booze is the only other occupation that won't draw unwanted attention. The presence of a bottle will reduce the risk of some other patron thinking to buy you a drink as an effort to flirt with you." She glanced back at the dance floor before looking around to wave over a waitress. "You could always wait outside," Kagome reminded him. "It's unlikely I'll be accosted excessively this early in the evening. I'll be leaving before the alcohol has people feeling more handsy."
Kagome knew even before his frustrated and angry growl announced his feelings of that last offer that he wouldn't leave until she did. She was stuck with him for the night it seemed. AS such she ordered him the smallest unopened bottle of sake that was available.
"You sure?" the waitress wondered. "We can warm it up nicely at the bar."
"It has to be completely unopened," Kagome assured the woman. "Bad experiences have left trust in short supply," she added seriously and gestured back to her stoic companion.
"With a face like that, I can believe it," the female nodded in understanding. "Don't you worry babe, we'll fix you up and I'll make sure nobody breeches the seal before you receive it."
"Did you have to tell her that?" Sesshoumaru demanded. Kagome assumed he was upset at the communication of what he probably considered personal information. There were plenty of people who still believed that only women could be raped and assaulted. She wasn't sure if it was because of the belief that rape is only conducted across sexes and therefore no woman could overpower a "real" man or mere denial any male could prefer not to have sex at any time. Both suppositions were problematic, unrealistic, and failed to take into account that rape wasn't about sex or arousal but about power.
Certainly all of the individuals that had attempted to take advantage of Sesshoumaru hadn't cared about him as a person. They'd wanted the prestige of his connection to Masashi or being the first to be known as his lover. They wanted the influence of throwing around his name or the knowledge that they had overpowered Masashi's eldest, thereby proving their own strength and prowess. It probably wasn't even about Sesshoumaru himself.
"Relax," Kagome admonished him. "You are what most would deem attractive. Even without your pedigree, you would likely have trouble with assault and kidnapping. Sex trafficking is a very big threat to youkai and humans alike. Lacking celebrity does not protect the majority of the people who are trapped into it through no real fault of their own."
His eyes narrowed at her words, but he only commented, "Hn."
"The plebs all learn to take precautions," Kagome continued the topic absently. "Most make sure to travel and stay in groups. Or they insure that someone knows where they are and when to expect them home so as to insure the swiftest chance of police response. Everybody has to watch what they drink," Kagome nodded to the waitress as she slowly worked her way back from the bar. "This request probably wasn't that unusual."
"Here you go," their waitress carefully transferred the 1.8L bottle of shinshu, and pair of small sake cups from her tray to the table. Sesshoumaru handed over the correct amount of cash allowing the woman to move on to assisting other patrons with their drink orders.
Sesshoumaru sat for a long minute, staring stubbornly at the unopened bottle of alcohol. Clearly he didn't want to do this and was debating this singular solution to his trust issues. Kagome patiently waited for him to make a decision without saying anything. She was trying to provide him cover to avoid harassment and standing out. If he didn't want to drink, she wouldn't make him.
But she wasn't going to sit there waiting on his decision much longer. Kagome had come to dance, but this wasn't her last stop of the evening. She wasn't going to miss out on her chance to dance for the first time in over a year because he was leery of opening a sake bottle.
When the pulsing beat changed tempo slightly, Kagome reached out for the sipping cups and unstacked them. "You have until the DJ changes tempo again before I'm getting up and leaving you to your unopened bottle of sake and unused cups," she told him plainly.
Perhaps it was slightly mean to act this way, but Sesshoumaru was the one butting in on what amounted to her vacation. He didn't have an official reason to be there and she hadn't invited him to join her. Under the circumstances, Kagome thought she was being rather reasonable.
She wasn't forcing him to drink anything. Kagome wasn't pressuring him to dance with her. Sesshoumaru had choices and she'd offered as much assistance as she was willing to give.
Sesshoumaru cracked the seal and poured a fairly generous portion into one of the cups. Kagome reached out and took a sip from the cup. He may have intended to punish her or retaliate against her for pandering to him more by measuring out so much rice wine. She took a second sip from the cup, analyzing her own reaction to the additional alcohol before deciding she'd had enough for now.
He could drink the rest of what was in the cup himself, or leave it sit all by its lonesome, she didn't care. The sake slid smoothly down her throat like a moderately good one should, and the pulsing throng was calling her to join in.
"I'm going to dance now," Kagome announced after setting down her half full cup. "Enjoy the view," she added teasingly. There was no question that Sesshoumaru would watch. He couldn't protect her from anything if he didn't know something was happening.
Kagome drove thoughts of the big silver-haired male from her mind and consciously replaced all other thoughts with the sensations thrumming up from the wooden boards bouncing under the movements of the crowd and the powerful beat drumming out of the speaker system.
Kagome forgot herself and the flashing light. She drifted through the ephemera of heat external and internal, of movements made and felt around her, of breath against her and from her. She hadn't lied when she told Sesshoumaru that it was early for the more hands on dancing that came from stronger liquor flowing into patrons. The only touches that intruded on her dance were accidental bumps of people trying to establish their own little niche on the floor or heading back to the sidelines for air and drinks.
When her limbs were tingling warmly from use and her breath came short from effort, Kagome came back to herself and noted a downturn in tempo that indicated this DJ's set was up. A large portion of the crowd dispersed from the floor opening up the space for a few die hards to start really moving about in their fancy moves.
Kagome realized she was thirsty and headed for the bar to order a bottled water before working her way back to her impromptu chaperon. As she approached the table she realized the stool she'd used earlier had been usurped by one of the other more crowded tables. Sesshoumaru sat glowering at the other patrons, a tight grip wrapped around the neck of the sake bottle added to the overall sense of tension Kagome got from looking at him.
It almost made her giddy nerves want to laugh, a reaction she was certain would offend the dog whose golden eyes narrowed as she neared. Kagome concealed her amusement by cracking open the bottle and swiftly sucking down several ounces of chilled water. Recapping her drink as she lowered it to the table surface, Kagome let out a contented sigh. "Ready to move on?" she asked him needlessly as he'd never wanted to be here in the first place. "It's almost time for me to meet my friends."
Sesshoumaru stood abruptly and almost let go of the sake as he reached for his coat.
"I'd keep that," she nodded meaningfully at the bottle of alcohol. His raised eyebrow demanded explanation. "This night is still young," she added, "If you don't like this it's likely you're gonna hate what's up next."
He narrowed his eyes, as if trying to decipher what she was saying but retained his hold on the sake bottle. "Hn," Sesshoumaru declared suspiciously.
"Relax," Kagome encouraged him as they managed to step out into the chill spring air of night. "I promise nothing we do is likely to leave lasting damage. I do it every time I come to Sapporo after all." Sesshoumaru was certainly more robust than she was, Kagome's reiki not withstanding.
"Will we need transportation?" Sesshoumaru grumpily demanded likely hoping to move her night along at a faster pace.
"Let's walk," Kagome responded, leading the youkai towards their next destination. "It'll give me time to cool down." Because, despite her very lightweight clothing and a briskly cool breeze, her body was still burning with the heat of exertion.
"Surely your inappropriate dress will cool you enough," Sesshoumaru criticized her display of skin. Kagome could accept that the very formal daijin might take issue with her club clothes. Her shorts were short enough to be hot pants and the mesh top that overlayed a cotton tank certainly left a lot more skin exposed than her mother would prefer. But she wasn't indecent and it really wasn't any of his business what she wore outside of her role as caretaker of her shrine and his wards.
"These clothes aren't mine and will not be worn anywhere near Nishi no Mura," she assured him dismissively, not that he should worry too much what the humans of her town would think. And it wasn't like youkai cared too much about revealed skin anyway. Most wild youkai rarely wore more than their own skin or fur. "Besides, my clothes do not effect my heart rate," she informed him.
"Hn," was the expected comment she received.
"We have other things we need to discuss without a captive audience," Kagome continued as if the single syllable had been little more than a punctuation mark in her previous sentence. "We need to decide your alias. So have you chosen a name for the evening? Something that isn't so very singular and preferably easy for you to recognize and respond to," she reminded him.
Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow at her and remained obstinately silent.
"So no ideas, huh," Kagome guessed. He probably considered the discussion below his notice, but she flat out refused to introduce him as himself to her friends. Bringing a political figure to her fun night with an old classmate would absolutely derail the whole event. "Well, I suppose we should start with something that has the same first syllable as your name." Such would make it easier for him to remember anyone was talking to him. "I know: Seiichi. First son is common enough and exactly what you are," she was hopeful he'd find the name acceptable.
"Hn," was the pensive response.
"We could stop somewhere to store your jacket," Kagome offered. The garment currently hung from his arm while the other hand kept a firm grasp on his sake.
"This One is waiting for you to need it," he declared evenly.
"Why would I need it?" Kagome asked bewildered.
"Humans are susceptible to variations in temperature," Sesshoumaru stated firmly. "Your current garments are insufficient for the weather."
Kagome blinked and realized his criticism of her clothes earlier had more to do with the temperature than her skin exposure. She should have realized as much after his last visit with her in January. "I'm fine and our destination isn't that far off."
"But you have also stated that this night is not likely to be over any time soon," he reminded her.
"That is true," she agreed. "But Yuka and I will likely close down the karaoke place before calling it quits." His appalled expression nearly made her giggle. "I did warn you, karaoke is up next." The inu's expression dropped into a deep resignation as if she had doomed him to his execution. "We're not that bad," Kagome protested with an amiable laugh. "At least Jun never complains, and he's inu like you. Rather, he tends to get very drunk and howling before we finish up."
"He howls?" Sesshoumaru asked incredulously.
"He tends to be very enthusiastic before he reaches that point," Kagome explained. "By the time he reaches the howling stage, Yuka usually makes sure to cut off his alcohol."
"These friends are both youkai?" he managed to produce enough curiosity to ask after these people was to meet.
"No, Yuka's human," Kagome replied. She wasn't surprised at the question. Usually by now most humans would have divulged an accompanying family name. While many youkai that hid in human society had developed clan names, most non-humans didn't bother with more than one name, relying more on titles and memorizing very detailed lineages instead. It was rare to find a human that legally didn't have a family name they could claim, because of the supposed heritage that came with it. It wasn't unheard of, just extremely rare. "Yuka's father was one of the terrorists that bombed Tokyo years ago." He was imprisoned and later killed for his bigotry and hatred. "Yuka's mom killed herself at the height of the media frenzy surrounding the case," Kagome added. "Her father's parents disowned him and thus refused to raise his spawn. Kids at school gave her a hard time for being related to her father. Strangers on the street abused her for sharing his blood and her maternal grandparents refused to allow her to share their name, afraid to allow such "tainted blood" to stain their family rather than worrying about protecting their granddaughter."
"Hn," Sesshoumaru acknowledged the information, expression empty, but tone filled with concern at the injustice.
"So, when Yuka reached her majority she removed her father's name and decided not to replace it with anything else," Kagome ended her explanation. "One fool we knew around that time actually tried to insult her decision by informing her she would always be mistaken for youkai upon first introductions, on-line and via phone. I informed her that no one could accuse her of being anti-youkai after that and she laughed." Kagome had been rather proud of that moment.
Even though Kagome's own father had been killed in those bombings, she'd never held it against Yuka. If Yuka had held the same ideals as her father they wouldn't have been friends, but she still wouldn't have held the actions of the parent against the daughter.
"Anyway," Kagome hummed to herself. "Jun and Yuka have been dating for a few years now. I don't know what their future holds but they seem to support each other well and she seems happy enough." And they always made time for Kagome when she came to Sapporo.
Stopping her train of thought there, Kagome took a deep breath of the crisp night air. There was no real need to keep telling Sesshoumaru about her friends. He wouldn't care and likely had no reason to change his behavior to suit their personalities. The dog was stand-offish with everyone regardless of situation. Luckily, Kagome was pretty sure Yuka would blow it off as Jun could be a bit suspicious of newcomers too.
She didn't know the whole history of how those two got together, but she understood it hadn't been smooth or easy. "I'll introduce you as Seiichi, Jun will likely challenge you to a drinking contest," as Jun was boisterous, loud, competitive, and a bit like a frat boy when determined to enjoy himself. "Yuka will respond accordingly," she muttered to herself.
"According to what?" Sesshoumaru demanded and Kagome turned to wink at him before cutting across the crowded sidewalk to the door of the karaoke establishment. She popped her empty bottle of water into the correct receptacle on the way in and headed for the reception desk. A glance at the clock behind the attendant told her they were five minutes late, so she asked after her friends.