Kagome swallowed the panic that welled up in her chest at the look on Inukimi's face but didn't tug her foot away, not wanting her to sense her disquiet. Her aura had shifted from offended indifference to smug curiosity, her claws biting into her skin.
Taking a calming breath, Kagome gripped Ah-Un's harness to keep her balance. "It's not an uncommon name."
"Ah, but it is within the confines of the shiro," she said. "And that of my son." There was something she wasn't telling her, something that had the daiyoukai refusing to release her foot.
"I don't have anything to do with—"
"Lies do not become you, Kagome," she gushed. "Sesshoumaru has always been tight-lipped when it comes to his personal life—he has his father's training to thank for that—but I found it highly amusing that the name of an unknown female has come up so often during his visits."
Kagome couldn't stop the heat from blooming on her face, eyes widening at the revelation. Sesshoumaru had not only spoken about her but had brought her up to his mother?
A multitude of questions ran through her mind, building on top of the ones about why he'd wanted to hide her from his mother in the first place. If he'd been talking about her, if Inukimi knew who she was, why did it matter if she knew she was here?
"You must join me for tea, my dear," she insisted. "We have much to discuss." Kagome gave Ah-Un a searching look, both heads bobbing as they tried to wrap their necks around her. Inukimi motioned to the area next to her. "Your pet is welcome as well. Just as long as they do not break the cups."
Sighing, Kagome shrugged. Now that Inukimi had a genuine interest in her, it seemed she was more accommodating.