"Was I right?"
Sesshoumaru didn't bother turning around, but a scowl pinched his features nonetheless. "It is none of your concern."
"You stayed at the table for almost five minutes!" Hiro argued. "During dinner rush. There's no way claws-for-brains would keep your attention for that long."
He rearranged the dessert station, readying it for the next round of orders. "Do you not have tables to serve?"
"Not when there's gossip to be had." His eyes twinkled, and he looked so much like his father that Sesshoumaru ran a hand over his face.
"The other woman is an old friend," he admitted, the term tasting strange on his tongue. He'd seen the shock on her face when he'd referred to her as such, but there was nothing else he could call her.
There were many things he wished to call her, but doing so now could ruin any plans for the future. And now that he'd found her, there were many plans to be had.
He just needed to convince her of that.
The pack had promised to communicate any news of her whereabouts, and Sesshoumaru knew he would never hear the end of it, but he would keep this secret a little longer. He was a selfish enough creature that he'd endure the wrath of his brother, the kit, and even Rin just for a few moments along with her.
Hiro had gone strangely quiet, and although Sesshoumaru enjoyed the silence, he knew nothing good ever came of it. But the boy wasn't looking at him, his gaze focused on the dining room. "Seems like she shares our opinion of Hizoku," he mused.
Sesshoumaru smirked. "She has never been one to sit idly by when others seek to insult her heritage—or that of any other." Images of her standing up to him flashed through his mind. Did she realize how much of an impact she'd made, even back then?
There had been a part of him that doubted her identity when he'd approached the table. Scent and sight were two of the easier senses to fool, but when her power rose in response to his own, there'd been no doubt in his mind.
The sensation slid up his arm again, and he cursed, suddenly realizing it was fresh, and he stalked toward the kitchen doors. Hiro automatically stepped out of the way, but his brow furrowed. "What? She seems like she can handle herself."
"It is for precisely that reason that I must intervene."
Emerald eyes widened. "You mean she'd actually fry the bitch? I say let her do it! It'll be great dinner theatre!"
Sesshoumaru scowled, confident strides taking him quickly across the dining room. Kagome had always been quick to anger, and though the years had matured her features, he wasn't sure her temper had done the same.
It was one of the reasons he'd been so drawn to her in the first place. Never once had she cowered, her chin lifting defiantly even when faced with certain death. And while he would love to see that same fire return, this was not the place for it—no matter how much Hizoku deserved it.