"There's a moment between a glance, and a kiss, where the world stops for the briefest of times." - A series of unrelated one-shots to celebrate my 100th fic on Ao3, based off a pairing, occupation, and a colour (with a kiss).
Kimiko glided over to her granddaughter, comparing the item number to the one on her list. "I believe you are right."
"Can I try it on?" Rin asked, barely containing her joy.
Kimiko raised an eyebrow. "It is the same as your last one and will therefore look the same as well."
"But I've grown five centimetres since last year!" the girl argued. "It's going to look different."
Sighing, Kimiko checked her watch. "Very well. But you will have to find someone to help—"
"I'll grab the pretty one with the fancy hair!" she said before quickly scampering away. Kimiko fanned herself, looking around the store. Girls of various ages held up bodysuits or twirled in skirts, all excited to start a new year of dance.
And Rin was no exception.
She had taken to ballet almost immediately, pining pictures of prima ballerinas to her wall, claiming she wouldn't stop dancing until she performed in point shoes. And if her teachers were correct, she wasn't far off.
"It's over here," she heard Rin say, no doubt pulling a helpless worker with her. "My grandma is saving it for me."
"I'm sure she is, but let me check the list from your school to make sure you're getting the right one first, alright?"
Kimiko froze at the voice, turning slowly to meet a pair of familiar ruby eyes. The woman stopped as well, the muscles in her jaw clenching as Rin showed her the leotard. "See? It's this one. Everything else fits, but I got too tall for the last one."
"I'm sure you did," the worker said, not taking her eyes off Kimiko. She suddenly blinked, clearing her throat, then looked down at Rin. "Why don't you go try it on to make sure it's the right size? You need to be comfortable when you dance."
"Is that okay, Grandma-Kimi?"
"Of course, little one. I will watch you from here."
Rin skipped towards the fitting rooms, giving them both a wave before closing the curtain behind her.
"I miss you."
Kimiko's heart clenched at Kagura's whispered words. "Do not—"
"Why not? You won't return my phone calls," she said, looking at her nails.
"I have nothing more to say to you."
"You don't get to decide when the conversation is over. It's kind of a 'both of us' thing." Kimiko finally turned to her, her mouth going dry at the forlorn look on her ex's face. "I miss you."
"You know why we cannot—"
"How does this look?" Rin called, spinning around in the puce leotard. "I jumped around, and it doesn't fall off!"
"It looks great, sweetie," Kagura said, giving her a thumbs up. "You're an expert at picking sizes." The girl beamed, then disappeared back into the fitting room. As soon as the curtain closed, Kagura grabbed Kimiko around the waist, kissing her deeply, her tongue slipping inside her mouth before Kimiko could pull away.
She tasted the same.
The embrace ended far too quickly, but Kimiko knew it was to keep from making a scene, not from lack of want, and she cursed how well their bodies fit together.
"He'll understand," Kagura whispered, her plea desperate. "He's different since he met Kagome. Softer."
"You did not see him when I told him his lifestyle was a disgrace," Kimiko said, unable to look Kagura in the eyes. "To see his own mother do the same…" Sesshoumaru had known from a very young age that there were no limits to his sexual preferences, but she had heard the way other parents had talked about him and tried to impress upon him the need for normalcy.
Only to fall in love with a woman herself.
How could she face him now?
"Just talk to him, okay? Have Kagome there if you need backup." Something in Kagura's eyes made Kimiko's narrow.
"Does she know?"
Perfectly painted lips curved up into a seductive smirk. "Who do you think gave me your number in the first place?"
Kimiko smothered a curse, pulling away as Rin returned. "Can I get the purple tutu, as well?" she asked.
Rolling her shoulders, Kimiko forced herself to keep her eyes on her granddaughter. "Not today, little one. But perhaps you could put it on your birthday list."
Rin's shoulders slumped in defeat. Kagura chuckled, then took the leotard from her. "Let's get you rung up, shall we?" They followed her to the front of the store, Rin chatting excitably about how she'd convinced a couple of friends to sign up with her, looking forward to being able to see them outside of school.
Kimiko handed over her credit card, her breath catching as Kagura's fingers lingered over hers. Once the transaction was complete, she handed the bag to Rin, winking as she told her she'd look for her the next time the Royal Ballet was in town.
"I'm not old enough for that yet!" Rin said with a giggle.
"Yet," Kagura agreed. "But someday you will."
The girl blushed, then curtsied before heading to the door. Kagura grabbed Kimiko's hand again before she could do the same.
"Talk to him," she said. "And then call me so I can yell at you for making me sleep in a cold bed these last couple of months."
"But—"
"Please," she begged, the whispered plea making Kimiko's heart ache.
"Alright."
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