The only problem with Sesshoumaru's performance at the family reunion being so convincing was that it was so convincing. Now she had people she hadn't spoken to in years, along with her friends, blowing up her phone as to when they would see him again—which was why she was standing outside his townhouse with a bucket of cleaning supplies in her hand.
He'd meant what he said about the first time being free. He'd refused everything she'd offered him until she'd asked him to join her in a café with her friends. He'd willingly obliged, playing the part perfectly, but the soft, indulgent expression had disappeared once they'd rounded the corner, his arm slipping from her waist.
Her phone had then lit up with an email, a spreadsheet attached. "I'll expect it to be sorted alphabetically by tomorrow," he'd said, waving at her over his shoulder as he slipped into a high-end luxury car, his smirk hidden behind darkened glass. She'd stared in shock as he'd driven away, though she'd known there'd be a price for requesting his services again.
So, she'd organized the spreadsheet, created a slideshow for a company presentation, persuaded a high-end marketing company to help him advertise an upcoming event. And now she was prepared to clean his house.
Honestly, she was looking forward to the cleaning more than cold-calling other CEOs. There was a reason she was a teacher; she preferred interacting with others rather than being stuck inside an office all day. She wasn't sure how Sesshoumaru did it.
Sighing, she knocked on the door. At least this way, she knew what she was doing. She'd been helping clean the shrine since she was younger than her students. This would be nothing.
When there was no answer, she knocked again but was met with the same silence. Kagome looked around, calling out his name before noticing a doorbell. With how far up in the mountains his house was, maybe it was bigger on the inside, and he couldn't hear her. She pressed the button, but there was no chime, and she frowned. Why would he ask her to clean his house when he wasn't even home?
She turned to leave but paused when a low beeping sounded from the doorbell. "Come inside, miko. I will be home later." The door whirred, and when she tried the knob again, the door slid open, the alarm panel blinking green.
"Anything's possible when you've got money to burn," she muttered, placing her bucket of cleaning supplies on the floor. "I guess I'll start here." He hadn't mentioned any rooms being off-limits, but she wasn't about to poke her nose into any of his business. The hall and open rooms would be safe, right?
She located the kitchen first, filling up the bucket and adding in a mixture of chemicals. The soft scent of citrus wafted through the house, and she let the water sit as she pulled one of the barstools away from the island. She'd never considered herself short before, but Sesshoumaru was clearly the only one who lived here because everything was several inches out of reach.
She'd always assumed Jaken to be in charge of everything, even in his personal residence, but Sesshoumaru had yet to mention the kappa outside of their conversation with her mother, and she suddenly wondered if he'd made it through the last centuries since they'd last met.
Mama hadn't prodded her much about her relationship with Sesshoumaru, but the questions were subtle and similar to the ones she'd asked about Inuyasha. Mama knew her relationship with the hanyou hadn't gone past friendship and didn't push anything more than that, which Kagome was always thankful for.
Her relationship with Sesshoumaru was odd, one she couldn't even label considering the circumstances, but she supposed they were friends. Friends usually traded favours, right? She clicked her tongue. She couldn't remember the last time she'd cleaned Ayumi's apartment or helped Yuka with work, but she'd cancelled a timeshare on Eri's behalf, so there was some crossover with Sesshoumaru.
She dusted the top of the cabinets then climbed down the stool. Dunking her cloth into the warm water, she wiped down each door and handle before moving into tabletops. She was actually glad that Sesshoumaru wasn't home at the moment. It would give the chemicals time to dissipate into the air before he returned. Her concoction was less potent, especially to those with a stronger nose, but it was still potent enough to bother those with sensitive noses.
Though his glamour covered his markings, the restraint of his power was solely his own, so she didn't want to overwhelm his senses with her cleaning supplies. Was she feeling a little overworked with everything he was demanding in return? Sure, but he'd done her a favour, no questions asked, and so far, it had worked beautifully. Megumi was still her usual bouncy self, but the letters and messages from Hojo had ceased.
He'd even stopped showing up in the middle of the day with things his daughter had 'forgotten' at home, using them as an excuse to bypass the office's security and interrupt her day. Kagome shuddered at the thought of being alone with Hojo, forced to remove him from her classroom and berate him in the hallway, but ever since the reunion, he'd been far less inclined to speak to her. He also avoided eye contact when he picked up Megumi after school.
For once, she was grateful for Yuka's meddling. She was all but convinced a marriage proposal from Sesshoumaru was right around the corner and had clearly communicated the same thing to Hojo. It once again brought Sesshoumaru's acting skills to light, and, glancing around the kitchen, Kagome broke her rule of not delving into his personal space and opened the fridge. What she found inside was much to be desired.
She knew youkai didn't require as much food as humans, but that didn't mean they didn't have to eat. Inuyasha and Shippou loved to stuff their faces, and even Sesshoumaru had filled his plate at the reunion. He'd started with mostly fresh produce but had snuck a few bites of fragrant sunomono, and Kagome had found the sight highly entertaining. She'd never imagined Sesshoumaru eating, never mind trying to eat clear, slippery noodles without spilling anything onto his tie.
She slowly closed the fridge door. She'd never properly thanked him for showing up to the reunion. She'd fully expected him to show up in a purple tie or maybe a cufflink, but his tie had been a crisp ivory, standing out against the plum fabric of his shirt. No one had denied who she'd belonged to that night.
It had been temporary but effective, and he still hadn't revealed what Inuyasha had said to compel him to help, but she could at least prove she'd appreciated the gesture.
He'd said he would be home soon, but most of his previous requests had come after 6:00 p.m., so if she hurried, she could have something ready by the time he showed up—and still have his place cleaned.
She was putting the finishing touches on the garnishes when the front door opened. Kagome slid the knives into the dishwasher so all he'd have to do was add his dinner dishes and turn it on. There had been an unopened pack of dishwasher pods in the pantry, so his lack of food could've been due to his not wanting to waste turning it on for a single bowl and spoon.
Wiping down the counter for the final time, she turned as he entered the kitchen, amber eyes widening when he noticed her standing over the stove. "You are still here."
Kagome blinked in confusion. "Yes? Why wouldn't I be? You told me to clean the house."
He set his briefcase down in the doorway, his free hand running through his hair like he wasn't used to the length. "A simple wipe down of the cabinets and vacuuming the carpets would have sufficed."
"I did that," she replied, motioning to the gleaming doors and countertops. "I didn't go into any of the other rooms, so if you want those cleaned, you'll have to let me know which ones I can go into."
Another drag of his hand loosened his tie as he leaned against the kitchen island. "I did not expect you to spend your entire evening here, miko."
Kagome shrugged. "It's Friday. I didn't have any other plans." His eyes lingered to the point where she started to fidget, so she motioned to the stove. "I figured you'd had a long day, so I made dinner. It's not much, but you should have enough for leftovers tomorrow." She tapped the fridge door. "The sunomono noodles should be done, so you can add your toppings."
His expression darkened. "You were not obligated to do this."
She hoped her smile was reassuring. "I know, but I never got the chance to thank you for coming to my rescue during the family reunion, so I figured this was the next best thing." His hands tensed against the countertop, but she waved a wooden spoon in his direction. "That 'Lord of the West' attitude may have worked back then, but you don't scare me, Mr. Taisho."
"Miko—"
She brandished the spoon like a sword. "And if you put my hard work to waste, I'll book a tour of your company for my students and tell them to paint a new mural on your walls." They were at a standstill, neither moving a muscle, and she raised her chin defiantly, daring him to call her bluff.
The side of his mouth twitched, as it had done on that first night, and something passed through his eyes, softening the hardened lines of his face. "You would do that."
"You bet your ass."
He sighed, then waved her away from the stove, inspecting the food. Kagome gloated as she collected her supplies, checking to make sure the bottles were firmly sealed so she wouldn't leave any strong scents behind. Securing her bucket, she reached for her coat. "Considering you live alone, it should be a while before—" Blue eyes widened in surprise as he set two bowls down on the island, already grabbing chopsticks and napkins.
"How do you take your tea?" he asked, clicking the stove on to boil the water.
Kagome's mouth snapped shut, the question she'd been about to ask lost as he looked at her expectantly. She'd never planned on staying, but he certainly did, and he was so matter-of-fact about it that she ignored her instincts to leave. "A bit of honey would be great if you have it."
He raised an eyebrow at her. "You did not go through my cabinets?"
She was insulted at how genuinely surprised he was. "Unlike some less scrupulous characters, I have integrity."
His smirk returned. "So much that you hired me so you could lie to your friends."
"That doesn't count! It was for self-preservation," she argued.
"Indeed. And I would give you the benefit of the doubt if it had only been the one time." He served up the food, expertly placing the garnishes on top.
"Every time after that was your fault." His eyebrows rose skeptically, and she snorted. "You were too charming. Now everyone wants to spend more time with you." He took a few bites, and Kagome preened at the pleased look on his face. She wasn't as good a cook as her mother, but she could hold her own with a few dishes.
"Including you?"
It felt like a loaded question, but she shrugged nonchalantly. "You have your moments."
He placed his chopsticks on the island before grabbing the kettle, the scent of jasmine quickly overpowering the cleaning supplies. "I will endeavour to remain in good standing, then."
