She'd taken a few photos of Taisho's hair when she'd finished, wanting to use them for her social media. She promised not to post anything with his face, but it would be a great addition to her collection—if she had social media.

If she ever started, Taisho's photos would be the first she used, and Jak had been trying to convince her to do it, but her appointment books were full enough without needing to advertise herself. She wasn't in it for the fame. The photos were for her, so she could reminisce about the feel of his hair in her hands.

Taisho hadn't been back since then.

Sighing, Kagome stopped herself from pulling out her phone to stare at them again. He'd promised to make another appointment after the event, but so far, his name hadn't graced her book. It shouldn't bother her, especially considering there'd been no indication that he was interested in her whatsoever. It was a silly infatuation, nothing more.

An infatuation that had her itching to ask Jak for his phone number, but an infatuation nonetheless.

Kagome sighed. Knowing her luck, the initial appointment had probably been made on Natsuki's phone. One encounter with her had been more than enough.

She hesitated as she reached for the next colour in the rainbow ombre for her current client. Kagura usually stuck with crimson stripes, but she'd convinced her to add some purple this time. Her striking youkai features worked well with the brighter, bolder colours, and she wasn't above being Kagome's guinea pig when it came to new products.

"Did you mess up?" Kagura asked, looking up from her phone.

Kagome stuck her tongue out. "Not on your life. Just wondering if I was overthinking something."

Both her brows rose. "A fun something?" The phone was instantly put away when Kagome blushed, and Kagura sat up in her chair. "Do tell."

Switching brushes, Kagome shrugged. 'There isn't much to tell. He came in for a cut and a follow-up style for an event. Some harpy came in with him for the second appointment, but I quickly sent her packing. Haven't seen him since."

Kagura clicked her tongue. "Did he defend the harpy?" Kagome snorted, coating the tips of her hair in violet dye, and her friend relaxed. "So what's the problem?"

She shrugged. "Like I said, nothing happened. He's hot, and his hair is amazing, but he didn't say anything when he was here."

"Or ask for your number?" She shook her head, and Kagura scowled. "Clearly he's an ignorant ass, then."

Kagome laughed outright, having to pause her application. "And this is why I love you. You know nothing about him, but he snubbed me, and now you're out for blood."

Kagura inspected her nails—currently painted the same shade that her hair would end up being—then tilted her head so Kagome could move on to the next section of hair. "Just tell me where, and I'll bring the shovel."

Kagome grinned. "I'd hug you, but I don't want to ruin your clothes." She curled her stained gloves at her.

"Why are you ruining her clothes?" Jak asked. "I thought we liked her."

Kagura playfully hissed at him, kicking him in the shin. "I found her first, back off."

"Calm down, we're all fine," Kagome said.

"So was this guy, according to you, but you let him slip away."

Kagome groaned, trying to get between them, but Jak immediately perked up. "There's a guy? Why didn't you tell me?"

Kagura gave her a smug look, and she sighed. "You already met him."

"Mr. Slick and Silver?" Jak asked. "I thought he was a repeat customer!"

She finished with the final layer, popping the brushes into the tubs before removing her gloves. "One time. He hasn't come back after that black-tie event I styled him for."

Jak shook his head, ducking behind the counter. "I have him down for today!"

Kagome's mouth dropped open. "You said my next appointment was a woman!"

A frown furrowed his brow—and eyeshadow—and he tapped a finger against the paper. "It was a female who made the appointment, but I just assumed it was the same deal as last time," he said with a shrug. "A guy like that probably has an assistant for his assistant."

"And why wasn't I told about this?" Kagura asked.

Kagome groaned. "Nothing happened! No phone numbers, no sexual innuendoes, no late-night invitations."

Kagura raised an eyebrow. "Not even a lingering glance?"

Pursing her lips, she collected the various bowls of leftover dye. "Nothing of substance." She headed to the back of the salon. "Why don't you ask our lovely owner why he hasn't grown a set of balls when it comes to his love life?" The rest of Kagura's appointment was spent with smirks and snarky remarks about Jak's inability to form words around the broad-shouldered barista, and he eventually collapsed dramatically on the station next to Kagome's.

"It's not my fault," he whined. "He even knows my name, but I can't get past all the muscle to actually speak to him."

"Doesn't he wear a uniform?" Kagome asked, blowing out Kagura's hair.

Jak waved in their general direction. "The shirt leaves little to the imagination, love. And now that it's summer, they get to wear T-shirts. His biceps are delicious," he sighed dreamily.

Kagura pulled her phone out again. "That's it, we're going over there after I'm finished."

Jak's eyes widened considerably. "But I've already picked up an order there today."

"That's your own fault," she said. "Kags struck out, so I need to get my tea somewhere." She waved her completed order at him. "Either you're going to get a date for this weekend, or I'm going to spend the next hour laughing while you make an ass of yourself."

He bristled. "It wouldn't take me an hour." Kagura glanced at Kagome, and they both snickered, then shook hands.

"You're on," Kagome said.

Her friend rose in a flourish, twirling in front of the mirror as she admired her reflection. "We might have to make a habit of this; I like the purple."

"Told you."

Kagura blew her a kiss, then wrapped her arm around Jak's, leading him toward the back door as she started berating him with questions about his current crush. Jak's cheeks got pinker with each step, and Kagome couldn't contain her laughter.

The bell behind her tinkled, signalling the arrival of her next client, and she turned around, heart skipping in anticipation that it could be Taisho. There was a flash of silver, and her smile widened, but though there was a crescent moon on the person's brow, it was not Taisho who stood in the doorway.

"I do hope you were not laughing at your last client. From what I have been told, your talent is unmatched, but so far—" The woman sniffed as she looked around the salon. "—I am not impressed."