As it was, she ended up needing the entire slot. Sesshoumaru Taisho didn't care for modern styles, but he was a pureblood, and his hair went past his waist. There hadn't been a lot of split ends, proving he took excellent care of it. She was actually surprised and said as much as she tilted his head side to side.

He raised an eyebrow at her in the mirror. "If one wants to look the part, one has to put in the time and money," he said. He had an odd way of talking, like he was old-school royalty, and sometimes it took her a moment to decipher the meaning.

"I don't disagree, but you'd be surprised how many youkai I get in here who've used nothing but their claws," she replied. She checked the tips, which were mostly intact. "How much do you want to take off?"

"A few inches. There is a gala next week, and it is a black-tie event."

Kagome nodded. "Are you planning on leaving it down?"

"Should I not?"

She shrugged. "It all depends on the statement you're trying to make." She fluffed his scalp, draping gleaming silver hair over his shoulders. "You've got great body and volume already, but I could squeeze you in the day of for something a little fancier."

He cocked his head to the side, eying her carefully. "Is that your way to create repeat business?"

Kagome grinned. "Only if you agree to it."

He returned the grin, though it was slight, and only the right side of his mouth tilted up. "Let us test your skills first, and I will give you an answer before I leave." She gave him a mock salute in the mirror, then led him to the wash station at the back of the salon. Jak made a point of licking his lips as they walked by, and she glared at him while fighting to contain her laughter.

Testing the water, she rinsed him down. "Any aversions to scents?" Pale brows rose in question, and she tapped the side of her nose. "I had one hanyou client who got sick after using hairspray for the first time, so I find it's better just to ask beforehand."

"A wise decision." He relaxed against the sink, eyes closing. "I am not averse to specific scents but would prefer you avoid anything floral." She didn't push—it was only his first appointment—but she couldn't help wondering if it had something to do with his girlfriend.

From what Jak had said, she'd been super pushy on the phone, demanding only the best treatment for someone of Taisho's breeding, and had left a bad taste in Jak's mouth. She hadn't sensed the same thing from Taisho, but maybe his breedingmeant his parents instilled manners in him from a young age.

She ran her fingers through his hair, making sure not to touch his ears as she massaged his scalp. His eyes remained closed, and she took the opportunity to get a closer look at the marks on his face. Although the salon was open to anyone, they didn't get a lot of purebloods, especially not one of his calibre. But it wasn't until he shifted and his sleeves pulled up enough for her to see the matching stripes on his wrists that she realized how powerful he was.

"You're a daiyoukai," she breathed, flushing when he opened his eyes.

"Is that a problem?" he asked neutrally.

Kagome shook her head. "Of course not!" She winced at the volume of her voice. "No, I've just never seen one of you up close."

"We tend to scare people away," he said.

She snorted. "You're not scary, you're beautiful." The blush deepened, and she looked toward the front desk to collect herself. Jak caught her eye and gave her a sarcastic thumbs-up. She mentally groaned. If he'd heard her, there's no way her client hadn't. "I'm not looking for a bigger tip," she continued. Why couldn't she stop talking?

"Yet it was not a lie." She looked back down at him, and he tapped the side of his nose. Breathing deeply, and wondering when Jak had turned up the heat, she finished washing his hair in silence. She had to use two towels when he was done, and it took a good fifteen minutes to blow dry it, but he never complained.

Collecting the strands from the floor, she emptied them into a glass basin, planning on disposing of them herself, but Taisho surprised her by retrieving the bowl. Glowing claws swirled around inside, and soon, there was nothing left.

Kagome let out a low whistle. "If I had that power, it would make clean up a lot easier."

He smirked. "Youkai hair can be used for many things, even in short pieces. There is no chance of it falling into the wrong hands this way."

"We have a special mixture for youkai clients," Jak called over from the desk. "In case you were worried."

Taisho inclined his head, meeting Kagome's gaze in the mirror. "I was not."

She beamed, fluffing out the bottom layers over his shoulders. "Will you be back again next week, then?"

"Indeed."