Kagome hummed to herself as she straightened her workspace. They'd discussed a few different styles, but Taisho hadn't decided on anything specific yet. He'd mentioned it was black tie, but maybe he was willing to take a risk and make a statement.

"You're in a good mood," Jak mused, leaning against her chair.

"Am I not allowed to be?"

"Depends," he said, looking at his nails. Does it have anything to do with your three o'clock?"

Kagome clicked her tongue. "Going through my appointment book is against the rules. Even if you are the boss."

"Not if the client is a repeat customer and delicious."

She smacked his hand out of the way with a comb. "I thought you were in love with the barista."

Jak flipped his hair over his shoulder. It was braided into cornrows on one side today, blue beaded clips keeping them in place at the base of his neck. "Just because my soulmate serves me coffee doesn't mean I can't appreciate the fact that your client looks like he was carved from marble."

Kagome chuckled, unable to argue. "Have you spoken to him yet?"

Sighing, her boss leaned against her station, arms crossed over his chest. "He's always swamped when I'm there."

"All it takes is an introduction," she said.

Jak side-eyed her, then heaved a sigh as he pushed himself back onto his feet. "But he's gorgeous."

"All the more reason to do it." She tapped his upper arm with her fist. "Offer up your card and a free consultation. It'll give you a reason to meet up again."

"And if he says no?"

"Then you offer to do his nails instead," she grinned. She patted his shoulder. "Go and see him right now. Your next appointment isn't for at least thirty minutes." He gave her a wary glance, and she shoved him toward the entrance. "You at least need to find out if he's interested. Or has some crazy ex-girlfriend you have to be worried about—"

The front door slammed open, the chimes nearly hitting the ceiling as a couple walked through it. Kagome perked up, recognizing Taisho instantly. His expression was closed off, and her greeting froze in her mouth as she made eye contact with the woman in front of him.

She was Taisho's polar opposite. A golden bob brushed the bottom of her chin, and her emerald eyes narrowed in an entitled sneer that immediately had Kagome's back up. Jak leaned close, pretending to adjust her chair. "Do you need me to stick around?"

Kagome straightened her shoulders, plastering a smile on her face. "Not unless I need witnesses."

"Text me if you need hazard pay." He bowed to the couple, giving them a wide berth before mouthing 'Yikes' to her and disappearing out the door. Steeling herself, and wondering which story the woman was going to go with, she turned to her guests.

She slowly looked Kagome up and down, perfectly manicured nails tapping against her elbows. "Is this her?"

Taisho stifled a sigh, shrugging out of his coat. "Your input is unnecessary."

She sniffed, advancing on Kagome, who deftly side-stepped her, offering to take his coat. "Did you decide which style you liked the best?"

He raised an eyebrow, and she blinked innocently at him, causing him to smirk. "I do not think we need to take it that far."

Kagome shrugged. "You wanted to make a statement." His eyes narrowed a moment before the woman grabbed her arm, yanking her around.

"I don't appreciate you flirting with him! You're only here to cut his hair." She made it seem like being a hairdresser was akin to a prostitute, and Kagome rolled her eyes.

"Technically, I did that last week. Today, I'm styling his hair." She emphasized the word like she was speaking to a primary student, then rolled her arm, forcing her to let go. "And last time I checked, Taisho-san didn't request a second opinion." The youkai was taken aback, her hands flexing as her pupils receded to thin slits. Kagome couldn't tell what her heritage was, but she didn't care.

Jak took her to self-defence lessons. With knives. Her scissors could cut more than just hair.

She stood her ground, chin raised. The woman pursed her lips but remained silent, and Kagome motioned for Taisho to follow her to the back sinks. She wasn't five minutes into washing his hair before the woman returned, hands on her hips as she stood at Taisho's knees. "I told you to stop flirting with him!"

Kagome didn't pause, massaging his scalp. "What am I doing now?"

Green eyes blazed. "You're pushing your chest into his face! Do you turn tricks after the appointment, too?"

Taisho tensed, but Kagome squeezed his shoulder, keeping him still. "The only 'tricks' I turn is with dye and curlers." She gave her the same up and down she'd done before. "And from the looks of it, your hairdresser missed a few spots on the back. I can touch you up if you like," she said sweetly

"I'm not the one pushing her breasts into his face when I'm washing his hair," she seethed.

"Natsuki." The woman jumped at the growl in his voice, still sputtering out her response. "As I said back at the office, your presence is not required."

She stuck out her bottom lip. "But we're supposed to go to the party together."

"Not required."

She finally realized he wasn't going to come to her defence. Kagome finished rinsing off his hair, wrapping a towel around his head. Natsuki trailed after them as they went back to her station. "But your mother—"

"Not required."

She bristled, eyes blazing as she looked between them. Every time she opened her mouth, Kagome just smirked at her in the mirror, already separating strands of his hair. She picked up an iris-coloured bottle, spraying it in the woman's direction before doing the same to the top of Taisho's head. Natsuki huffed, turning on her heel and stalking out of the salon.

"Do I need to be worried that she's going to key my car?" she asked, parting his hair further to the right than usual, twisting the top to keep it in place.

He sighed, slumping against the chair. "She would be too worried it would tarnish her reputation."

"Good. I don't care about my reputation and tend to hold a grudge, so I wouldn't hold back." He actually chuckled, and Kagome kept her head bowed, not letting the butterflies show on her face. There was no point. She didn't understand why he was dating someone as spiteful as her, but he was still taken, so there was no point—

"She is not my girlfriend."

She couldn't hide her surprise, eyes wide as she met his gaze in the mirror. "Could've fooled me."

He scowled. "My mother insists on sending me her assistants, and they are misguided as to their role in the matter."

Kagome made a face. "How many times has that happened?"

"Too many."

She patted his shoulders, grinning at his reflection. "Well, clearly, you need to make a big statement tonight. That way, you can attract the right kind of attention."

He kept their gazes locked for longer than expected, heat creeping up the back of her neck before he inclined his head. "Hnn."