"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).
She wasn't sure how she'd let her friends talk her into it, or why Yuka had wanted it in the first place, but instead of lounging at an upscale restaurant, sharing fancy though overpriced drinks, Kagome found herself in a stripper bar, wondering just how long it had been since they'd cleaned their floors.
The rest of the women had sent her to the bar to inquire about bottle service and a private room but were quickly distracted by pounding music and thrusting hips as the next dancer took the stage. Kagome was left to her own devices, trying to get the bartender's attention, all while ignoring the blatant stares and some of the worst pickup lines she'd ever heard.
"I told you, I'm not interested," she said, waving at the bartender again.
The man beside her downed his shot, then nudged her elbow, callused fingers running up her bare arm. "Come on babe, if you're ignorin' the dancers, you must be in the mood for something else." She'd assumed they'd be safe considering it was bachelorette night, the venue featuring male dancers and free drinks to the brides, but this pond slug clearly had run this scam before.
She smacked his hand away, not bothering to look at him. "What I'm in the mood for is to be left alone while I have fun with my friends," she reiterated. The man grabbed her, fingers biting into her skin as he yanked her around, and her hand clenched, ready to lay waste to both his jaw and ability to reproduce, but a sharp gasp echoed from the crowd behind her, and her vision was filled with silver.
"Perhaps the lady wasn't clear," a velvety voice said, the man letting out a yelp as his arm was twisted around his back. "If she were interested in scum like you, she would have tried the dumpster on her way in." The man threw out his other fist, but her rescuer gracefully dodged, spinning him around in a choreographed dance before kicking him to the floor.
He was immediately picked up by security and ousted from the bar, leaving Kagome slack-jawed at how quickly it happened. Hoping it wasn't some elaborate scheme, she crossed her arms. "I could've handled that myself," she grumbled.
"I am well aware of your ability to defend yourself, but it was not his first offence, and the safety of the employees and patrons is our number one priority." His voice was so familiar, but the location had thrown her, and it wasn't until he'd turned around that recognition set in.
Heat dusted her cheeks as she stared up at the former Lord of the West, the colour darkening when she realized he was not only an employee but the person who'd been on stage when they'd walked in—clad only in a shimmering gold thong.
"Sesshoumaru—" she blurted, his name barely more than a whisper, but was cut off as he leaned closer, warm breath wafting by her ear.
"If you wish to have a private conversation, miko, I suggest a private room. Not everyone here is privy to my identity as you are." She nodded numbly, the stage already lighting up with another dancer, and a perfectly manicured set of claws wrapped around her wrist, pulling her toward the VIP room. It wasn't until the door had shut behind them, the lighting a little better than the rest of the bar, that she noticed his stripes were covered in glitter.
Her teenage self swooned, almost glad it had been ten years since the well closed before she'd found him. She'd never have been able to meet his gaze otherwise. "I take it no one knows those are real," she said, waving to his markings.
Sesshoumaru smirked, then sat her down in a plush chair. "The kit is a talented tattoo artist. I have been able to drum up quite a bit of business raving about how much I enjoy his work."
Kagome made a mental note to throttle Shippou the next time she saw him. She knew his recommendation to the bar had had a catch. "Good to know he's kept in touch with you." Shimmering lips pulled back into a seductive smirk, and she suddenly remembered she was alone with him—and what these rooms were used for. "I should get back to my friends—"
"Should you?" he asked, leaning over her.
"Yes?" she squeaked, mimicking the movement and leaning back in her chair. "Don't you have another set to do?" She was not picturing him on stage. Nope, nope, nope.
"Why would I do that when the present company is so lovely?" he asked. He stroked the back of one of her hands, the touch startling her long enough that she released the armrest, and he brought it to his lips.
Kagome let herself melt for a moment, then placed both hands on his chest. "Not here." It was a whispered plea, one that had her heart beating wildly in her chest and his eyes widening.
He slowly straightened, and she felt the curiosity of his youki tease her senses. "You would agree to such outside the establishment?" She nearly missed it with the screams from outside the room but nodded. She wasn't sure what she was agreeing to, but the interest in his eyes was unmistakable.
Reiki rose to the surface, tangling with his as he stood over her, and she swore the colour of his markings shifted before he tilted her chin up, glossed lips sliding across hers in a tantalizing caress. "I will hold you to that, Kagome." He was gone before she could respond, the sight of his ass swaying to the music leaving her almost as breathless as the kiss, and it took her a solid five minutes before her knees were stable enough to rejoin her friends.
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