Madame Masseuse

by princesspvmpernickel

Kagome Higurashi is a recently single massage therapist at "Madame's", a luxury spa in downtown Tokyo where client anonymity is the number one priority. Needing a distraction, Kagome picks up a shift the same night the spa is hosting a bachelor party. Just when Kagome wants nothing to do with men, there's a certain client she can't get out of her mind or keep her hands off.

16. First, You Gotta Look The Part

Madame Masseuse

"First, You Gotta Look the Part"

---

"So, yeah, apparently he took what I said to heart and had his first appointment with Kagura last night."

"And?" Kagome's upper torso was somewhere within this latest dress, trying to claw itself free, but she paused, eager not to miss a word of Sango's update.

"Oh, he hated it," the brunette laughed, leaning against the door of Kagome's dressing room.

"Of course he did!" Kagome's muffled voice trilled with a throaty laugh. She dug her way out of the mock-neck sweater dress that turned out to be a definite nope. "He wants your hands on him, Sango, so obviously no other RMT will cut it."

Sango snorted. Kagome could hear her friend's body shifting on the other side of the wood-paneled door. "Well, I don't think it was so awful that he won't go back to see her." She shuffled again like this conversation was making her uncomfortable. "Because of his job, Miroku has specific times when he wants his appointments, and Kagura's the only other RMT free at those times, so it sounds like he's going to be her problem now."

"What's his issue with Kagura? I thought her clients loved her?"

"Her demon clients love her," Sango corrected, amusement lacing her tone. "Miroku's complaint was that she's too rough."

"He couldn't speak up about the pressure?"

"He did, apparently—four times. I guess Kagura just has strong fingers compared to a human woman."

"Poor, delicate, human man," Kagome teased, throwing her voice, eliciting a bright guffaw from Sango. "Why doesn't he request a human RMT, then?"

"Because, since Suze left, the only humans still at Madame's are you, me, and Ken. I obviously can't be his masseuse anymore; he knows Inuyasha would probably kill him if Miroku asked you to touch him on a regular basis—" Kagome smirked at that, a heartwarming snicker stuck in her throat— "and Miroku doesn't believe in male RMTs, so..."

The smile that latched onto Kagome's face at the utterance of Inuyasha's name seemed to be there for good.

"So, Kagura it is," she concluded for Sango, nodding along, smiling like an idiot.

She removed the next dress from the hanger and eyed it suspiciously—Sango had picked this one and Kagome was definitely humouring her friend by trying it on. "He's been trying to get a date out of you for weeks. What's finally made him agree to a different masseuse?"

Sango was thoughtfully silent for a moment. "Honestly, I'm not sure. I wonder if your date with Inuyasha tonight has something to do with it."

Yikes, this dress was not even a little flattering on Kagome. She reached around herself for the zipper and stopped, her eyes on the door. "What would our date have to do with anything?"

Sango sounded like she shrugged. "Maybe Miroku sees what's happened between you two—since Inuyasha stopped being your client—and thought he'd see if that could work for him and me?" Sango snorted humourlessly at that. "Well, except Inuyasha took not being a client a step further than Miroku and stopped being one all together."

Kagome had been inspecting herself over in the floor-to-ceiling mirror in front of her when she froze. "Wait, what?"

Kagome heard her friend gulp like she just revealed something she had meant to keep to herself. "Oh, um, yes. I guess, since Inuyasha stopped being your client, he just doesn't go to Madame's anymore, at all."

"Oh." Kagome watched herself chew her cheek. This next mauve monstrosity was only up to Kagome's knees when she could tell it was a nope, but Kagome lingered half-naked a while longer while she tried to process how this new information made her feel. "Did Miroku tell you that?"

Sango hummed a quick confirmation then seemed quick to move on. "So, anyway," she continued, "at our last appointment this week, I told him again that there's no chance of me ever saying yes to a date with him if he's my client—then, next thing I know, he's booked with Kagura last night."

Kagome sneered at her reflection then dropped the dress to the floor in a poof of mauve tulle. "Have you heard from Kagura how it went? I mean—he's probably a pain in your ass intentionally because he has the hots for you, but I thought you said Miroku can be a handful? I can't imagine Kagura taking too well to that," Kagome added under her breath with an amused grin, thinking about her no-willingness-to-handle-nonsense-from-males coworker.

Which Kagome found a little amusing given Kagura was the one who had lent Kagome her dog demon oil before Kagome went out and mistakenly purchased lube instead of oil.

It was funny how that little mistake from months ago still made her cringe.

But it was apparently that little mistake that had pushed her and Inuyasha forward on this trajectory of theirs so...could she really be all that upset about it?

Sango snorted. "Oh, is he ever a pain in my ass. But he texted me after his appointment last night saying she's rougher than he'd like." Kagome could envision her shrugging again. "Yet, despite his complaints, he seems happy enough not to see me in a professional capacity next week, so it mustn't have been too awful."

Kagome unlatched the door and stuck her head out to stare at Sango with wide, incredulous eyes. "Wait, you two text? Since when? Why have I not known about this until now?"

"Uh—yes," Sango blushed, lowering her eyes to her feet sheepishly. "It's a relatively new development—only since the end of last week. I see him for two services a week and at our second one last week, he basically cornered me at reception. Would you believe he asked me for my number right in the waiting room? When Ayame was on desk of all people!"

"Better than Suki," Kagome huffed.

Sango made a noise in the back of her throat that implied I beg to differ. "Yes, well, Ayame practically lives for gossip, and it was mortifying. I couldn't very well say no after the spectacle Miroku made about it. I swear, Kagome," Sango breathed, her cheeks a bright pink, "he has such a flare for drama I would not have been surprised if he got down on his knees and wrapped his arms around my legs to beg me for my number. Can you imagine how Ayame would've reacted to that? It was far easier for everyone's dignity for me just to give him my number before things escalated."

Kagome eyed Sango suspiciously. "So, you only gave him your number because Ayame was there when he asked?"

Sango flushed as she fidgeted. "I mean, no, not exactly."

Kagome made a knowing face at Sango. She then waggled her eyebrows at her friend before locking herself back into her change room. "Aren't you a little worried about Ayame knowing you gave a client your number?"

Sango snorted crudely. "Oh, please, Kagome. Ayame? She's dated her fair share of clients—I'm pretty sure I heard her once say she only works at Madame's to meet her future, rich, demon husband. If there's anyone at work who doesn't care about a code of conduct it's her."

"So...you text Miroku often?" Kagome asked, unzipping a black chiffon number that looked like it was going to be too small and way too short. Kagome wanted a dress on the shorter side, but like...flirty short, not I-present-to-you-my-ass short.

Sango sounded like she was puffing up her chest indignantly. "He texts me often, but yes...I suppose."

It made Kagome smirk, hearing the blush in her friend's words. Kagome found it a little endearing how reluctant Sango was to admit she actually didn't mind the guy.

"So, he texts you often, he's pretty easy on the eyes, you like having your hands on him—"

"Kagome!"

"—and he's not a client anymore?"

"As of yesterday, apparently not." Poor Sango sounded so flustered.

Kagome concluded she must be a terrible friend for how much she was enjoying Sango's reluctant yet probable romance. Kagome knew when her friend didn't like something, and in the case of Miroku, all signs were pointing to an obvious yet stubborn-to-reveal-itself crush.

"So...does this mean you're gonna finally say yes to this date he's been hounding you for?"

Sango snorted again. "I think he hopes so."

"Does he know this is your first Friday night off work in months?"

She sighed. "Yes, and he's been annoying about it. He knows we're out shopping right now, so thankfully he's leaving me alone for the most part—which means texting me every thirty minutes instead of every ten—but yeah, he wants to do drinks tonight. I heard my phone vibrating a few minutes ago. Since it's probably him asking if I've changed my mind for the tenth time this morning, I'm letting him sweat for a few more minutes before I respond."

"If that is, in fact, a text from him, and that is, in fact, what he said, how will you respond?"

"Mmm...probably a shrug emoji."

"Sango!" Kagome laughed admonishingly.

"What?" She chuckled along. "If he gets to be annoying then I do, too!"

Kagome rolled her eyes affectionately. Sango was fooling nobody about this crush. "Is there any reason for you not to see him tonight? Like, do you have any plans after shopping?"

"Oh, no, no plans—I was just going to have a night in."

"And," Kagome fished, "you don't like Miroku enough to go for drinks?"

Sango's answered stalled. "I—I don't know."

Kagome smiled, eyeing over the seven dresses she'd tried on and hated. "He's cute, Sango—from the two times I've seen him. He sounds like he keeps you entertained to say the least."

"It's just—" Sango paused to exhale loudly— "he's a lot."

"Yeah," Kagome chuckled, "'cause he likes you. Has he said or done anything to offend you or given you serial killer vibes?"

"Well...not exactly. He's a shameless flatterer, but I'd call him more crude and lecherous than offensive."

"So, what's the issue with going out with him, then?"

Sango took a lengthy inhale that had Kagome preparing for a heated response. "He's a huge womanizer, Kagome! I mean—the guy would flirt with a mannequin so long as it was wearing a skirt! He's an obvious playboy; gives me the impression he's been around plenty; and the guy knows he's pretty, like he expects an easy pass because his face and body are nice to look at. And you should hear the salacious way he flirts! Clearly his mother never washed his mouth out with soap when he was a child!

Kagome could barely rein back her giggles. "You don't want to go for drinks with him because he's a bit conceited and has a dirty mouth?"

Sango scoffed an incredulous laugh so loudly it made Kagome snicker along with her. "He's just plain vulgar sometimes, Kagome! And the way he's so nonchalant about it? It's infuriating! He has the audacity to compliment my breasts as casually as talking about the weather!"

Kagome chewed the inside of her cheek. "You think he's attractive?"

"Well, yes, obviously! I do have eyes, Kagome!"

"But...you don't like that he likes your breasts?"

Sango sounded flustered. "I think you're missing the point..."

"Am I? Are you saying you don't like that he flirts with you?"

Sango snorted an indignant little sound. "I mean—I don't flirt back, if that's what you're getting at."

"But, you obviously like his attentions, that he flirts with you, because if you didn't, I know you'd have him assigned to another RMT—like you've done with other clients who have annoyed you."

"Well, yes, but—"

"So...you think he's nice to look at, you clearly don't mind at all that he's attracted to you, and I think you don't dislike his compliments—even if they happen to be lewder than you'd maybe expect from someone who's mostly a stranger to you."

Sango blew out a breath. "Is there a point behind this?"

"Have you ever asked him to stop?"

"Stop what? Being Miroku?"

Kagome laughed at that. "No, to stop with the comments, told him you're uncomfortable."

"Well, no, it's not that I'm uncomfortable, exactly..."

"Have you ever told him you don't like it? Because you don't actually mind it, right, Sango?"

"Well, I mean, I certainly hope he's not going around to other women flaunting those sorts of comments around."

"And if he was?"

"Then that—that lecherous womanizer should think twice about asking me out again!"

Kagome giggled. "You, uh, sound a little jealous there, friend."

"Of that pervert? Kagome, please! Not even a little."

Kagome had been so engaged in this discussion with Sango that it wasn't until a shiver ran up her spine and tightened her nipples that Kagome realized she was standing in nothing but her bra and panties. She rolled her eyes at herself and reached for her own clothes. "So, you're saying you'd be perfectly fine if he stopped asking you out 'cause he started focusing his attention on other women who actively return his affections?"

Sango groaned. "I mean, no. I—I mean," she growled with frustration. "He could be doing that already, Kagome, and—"

"Sango," Kagome sighed thoughtfully, "I think you like him."

"Kagome! I hardly know him!"

"But you're obviously interested enough and attracted to the guy! Maybe you'll like him if you get to know him over a drink or four tonight."

Sango harrumphed. "If I did agree to get a drink with him it would be just that—a drink. I wouldn't put it past him to try to liquor me up until I'm uninhibited enough to throw myself at him."

"...Do you?"

"Do I what?"

"Want to throw yourself at him? You did say you find him attractive."

"Kagome Higurashi!"

"Yes?"

"Is it not possible for a woman to find a man attractive without wanting to jump his bones?"

"I mean, I suppose that's technically possible. But, we wouldn't still be talking about Miroku and his salacious ways if you weren't into him, so..."

Sango harrumphed again and Kagome giggled. "He just seems like he comes with far more drama than I feel like I need in my life right now."

"Drama could also mean fun, Sango..."

"It could also mean a short term physical relationship that goes nowhere."

"So you admit that you wanna sleep with him, then?"

"Kagome..."

"What? Don't you?"

"I mean—if the opportunity presented itself and he wasn't gross about it, I wouldn't immediately say no—"

Kagome's mirthful laughter of vindication stole Sango's words.

Sango sighed so loudly she groaned. "I just don't know if I could—"

"A physical relationship with an attractive male isn't something to be ashamed of, Sango," Kagome stated, climbing into her waffle-knit sweater.

"Hey!" Sango laughed. "You do not get to play that card with me, Kagome! Not after all the Inuyasha drama you've been spouting the past two months! It's about damn time the two of you are having this date and doing something about this attraction that's been obvious to the planet since you met."

Kagome snickered while she rolled her eyes like it was her profession. She wished Sango could see her so Kagome could stick out her tongue at her. "Yes, yes, dumb Kagome and her glacial pace interest in pursuing the sexy half-demon."

Sango sighed. "Has Inuyasha ever talked to you about Miroku? Told you what kind of guy he is? Has he ever brought up that—I dunno—that Miroku has talked about me before or something?"

Kagome made a thoughtful sound. "A couple of times. Miroku seems like a considerate guy—I mean, I told you about that time he basically played valet so I could get some one-on-one time with Inuyasha. That was a pretty kind thing to do for his friend—" Kagome didn't find it necessary to elaborate that Miroku had also owed Inuyasha some favours— "Then there have been those few times Inuyasha's asked if you're gonna go for it so Miroku shuts up about it." Kagome giggled. "So, that gives me the impression Miroku must talk about you often."

Sango sighed like Kagome's comment just made her feel that much more conflicted. "I feel like a guy like this is just asking for trouble..."

"Maybe, but playboys are allowed to decide they wanna settle down at some point, too, Sango. He could be thinking about turning a new leaf—but you wouldn't know that unless you got to know him."

Sango released a breathy puff of air through her nose. "You sound like you want me to go on a date with him."

"Because I do!" Kagome laughed. "If you maybe-kinda-sorta like the guy then I think you don't really have a valid excuse to not go for drinks with him tonight. Plus, call me selfish, but I like the idea of my friend dating Inuyasha's friend so we have an excuse to double-date."

Sango hummed a sound of amusement. "You sound like there're future dates on the horizon for you and Inuyasha, Kagome, if you're throwing around the idea of double-dates so casually."

Kagome blushed, sitting on the stool in the corner to pull on her socks. "I'm trying not to get too distracted by the future," she answered quietly. "But...I do like him, Sango."

"A lot," her friend added.

Kagome nodded, despite knowing the brunette couldn't see her.

Sango sighed. To Kagome, it sounded like an acquiescing exhale—the type of sigh a woman would make when she decided to cave into her basest whims. "Because you're my friend and I know you'll never let this go, I'll admit that the pervert has me intrigued. I do also like the idea of going on a double-date with you and Inuyasha; I won't lie that I'm a bit interested to see the two of you together. Given everything you've told me about him, I want to see if he's as obsessed with you as he sounds."

Kagome scoffed a throaty sound that was meant to be outrageous disbelief. "He's not obsessed with me, Sango!"

"Oh, please," Sango sneered in response, "the guy has sounded practically enamoured with you for a month. I just hope the sex lives up to the hype—which I'm sure it will, given the sounds of how much you enjoyed that little appetizer you had yesterday."

"Sango Taijiya!"

Sango laughed a reckless guffaw that had Kagome's ears heating up. "I'm just teasing you, Kagome! I'm glad the two of you are finally starting to enjoy each other. It's been a long time coming."

Tell me about it!

"But, fine," Sango sighed, "Consider yourself a bad influence slash romantic inspiration—I'll go for a single, solitary drink with Miroku tonight."

Kagome grinned. "Good—go out and enjoy your much deserved Friday night off work! I honestly think you'll have a good time with him, Sango."

She made a dubious noise in the back of her throat. "We'll see."

"You texting him now to confirm? I think you should before you pull a Kagome and think yourself out of it."

Sango scoffed. "Can we pause the boy talk for a sec to focus on whatever is going on in that change room? I feel like I haven't seen you in something for the past fifteen minutes."

It was Kagome's turn to snort with incredulity. "That's because all the dresses I brought in here with me are either wrong for my body and look stupid, or they don't fit right, or they're not what I'm looking for. Nothing's been worthy of a fashion show."

"There are other stores, Kagome," Sango answered with a gentle tone. "You don't have to commit to something from here."

"But this is my go-to clothing store..."

Sango sounded like she was shrugging. "I'm just saying...if nothing is working, and you haven't found the perfect dress for tonight, then I say let's go somewhere else."

Kagome sighed. "But I always shop here. I'd say more than half my closet is from this place. I know the perfect dress is somewhere on these racks, Sango—I just gotta find it. That's been the case for so many of my things when thrifting."

"Wait, did you shop here when you dated Hojo?"

"Uh, yes? I've been shopping at this store since—"

"Okay, we are definitely going to different store," Sango commanded with a purposefulness Kagome hadn't heard before. "Kagome, you are not going out for your ultra-romantic first date with Inuyasha dressed in something from a place that has bad juju from your disastrous last relationship."

"Sango..." Kagome rolled her eyes, pulling on her jeans.

"No, Kagome, I'm serious! You really like Inuyasha, yes?"

Kagome chewed on the inside of her cheek, fighting back the fluttering thud of her accelerating heartbeat. "Yeah, I do..."

"Okay, then we are going to a new store—you're not allowed to argue with me. Now, hurry up and get dressed."

Kagome laughed, buttoning up her jeans then sitting back down on the stool to zip up her heeled ankle booties.

"Remind me what the perfect outfit looks like again?" Sango stated. "I can see what other stores are in the area. We could even go to the mall if independent boutiques or clothiers don't have what you're looking for."

"Umm..." Kagome said, thinking out loud while she pulled on her jacket and adjusted her purse strap over her shoulder. "Inuyasha said it's a demon club; upscale, pricey, exclusive. I don't know the name or dress code, but I want refined, sexy, something that makes me look so phenomenally enticing that Inuyasha won't be able to concentrate on anything else."

Sango sniggered. "Considering this date is a long time coming, I doubt he'll be thinking of anything else regardless, but I get it, Kagome."

Kagome blushed, exiting the dressing room to offer Sango a pouty face. The brunette's face brightened when she laid eyes on her friend. "Am I looking for the impossible here, Sango? Putting too much pressure on an outfit? I just thought—"

"No," Sango cut in, leveling Kagome a pointed stare under slim, beautifully arched chestnut eyebrows. "Not at all, Kagome! I am so committed to this quest; otherwise, I wouldn't have taken the day off work," she laughed. "We're going to find the sexiest, most perfect dress for you that will drive Inuyasha insane until he can strip it off you later tonight."

"Sango!"

Kagome's nervous system had been a fluttery, anxious-slash-eager disaster, to the point she found it hard to go to sleep the night before. She didn't know if it was relief, gratitude, or excitement that was eating her from the inside, but Kagome could barely stand still at the premise it was finally Friday and that she and Inuyasha would finally, finally be going on their date, and yes—sleeping together.

The brunette smiled teasingly at her friend, tossing her hair back loosely over the gentle slope of her shoulder. "What? Don't tell me you don't want that or that you haven't been obsessing about tonight this entire week."

"I mean, yeah, obviously," Kagome flushed, watching Sango turn around with a knowing grin, "but—"

"When you say upscale—" Sango interjected, leading their way out of the department store, her head darting up and down to also cross-reference a map of the local area on her phone— "how upscale is upscale?"

"Well, I was teasing Inuyasha about him being demon royalty and made a passing comment about hanging out in the upper echelons of demon society. He didn't correct me after I said any of that, so...upscale."

"So, going to a place that specializes in party, event, and occasional dresses wouldn't be excessive?"

"I mean, maybe? You're not suggesting one of those gorgeous stores on The Row, are you? Once you said we should go somewhere else, that was what came to mind, but sounds...painful."

The Row was a local name for a street downtown lined with luxurious and designer storefronts where the upper echelons of society would indeed shop. Kagome also knew those were the kinds of stores that would significantly hurt her credit card.

Sango unlocked her SUV as she and Kagome approached. "Is there any harm in at least just looking? There's this really cute boutique that's an independent; I've wanted to go in forever! Even though it looks high-end there could be a sale rack. It has great online reviews, too—I say there's no harm in checking it out. Like I said, worse case scenario we can always pop into the mall after."

Kagome crinkled her nose at Sango over the hood of the vehicle before sliding into the passenger seat. "As long as this expensive, cute little store has a sale rack, then fine. I'm willing to check it out."

Sango chuckled, found the nearest parking garage to their next destination then added the location to the Toyota's GPS. "Good, because I've never been shopping on The Row before and I'm super excited about it."

Kagome snickered. "Maybe you'll even find something to wear for your date tonight."

Sango rolled her eyes. "I have to confirm my attendance first before I officially have a date."

Kagome held out her hand. "I have no problems RSVPing on your behalf, Sango—y'know, since you're driving."

Sango cast Kagome an expression that said, Yeah right, and then giggled. "Like I said, I have no problems making Miroku wait for my answer since he's been annoying me this morning. But, if it makes you feel better, Kagome, as soon as we park, I'll text him that I'll have a drink with him."

Kagome smiled widely at her friend and then distracted herself by looking out the window.

The women were silent for about a block while Kagome turned her phone over in her hands, debating texting Inuyasha but unsure what she'd say other than how much she was excited to see him tonight. She decided to put her phone back in her purse, like she'd be less inclined to think about Inuyasha without the opportunity available to text him.

She and Inuyasha had barely interacted since he left her apartment Thursday afternoon, just after lunch. He did call her before bed last night, which was really nice, but he had sounded distracted, like he was in the middle of something. It was kind of cute, how awkwardly he danced around wanting to make sure Kagome didn't feel weird or regretful about their first physical interaction. Kagome hoped she did a good enough job convincing him that not only did she not regret it, but it made her even more excited for their upcoming post-date activities. Inuyasha had laughed at that.

At first, Kagome had worried that, as soon as they left her bedroom, their intimacy, their marking, her orgasm—and oh baby, what an orgasm it was!—would have found the two of them feeling awkward or uncomfortable. Yet, if anything, things between them felt comfortable. Inuyasha had a casual, relaxed aura about him, a quiet contentment in the way he occupied space around Kagome. While Kagome had set about making them lunch, he found any possible excuse to touch her—wrapping his arms around her to sneak a morsel away from her cutting board to snack on; getting them something to drink with a kiss on her temple when he passed her; patting her ass to get her to move when she blocked her cutlery drawer and he had volunteered to set the table.

There had never really been anything all that domestic about Inuyasha before. His actions and behaviours had always been tinged with an overt sexual tone that left Kagome wanting and one track minded. Yet, seeing him in this non-sexual space—as if he had been the one to have the body-shattering orgasm—Kagome couldn't help but look at him without her heart taking off at the promise of what normal day-to-day would look like for them. Kagome caught a glimpse of a future with him and it left her feeling optimistically warm and gooey on the inside.

It was a really nice feeling—considering a future, a relationship with Inuyasha, and not panicking about it.

"Oh! I completely meant to ask you earlier this week: did Souta ever end up hearing from Kohaku? If not, I can bug Kohaku about it again."

Sango's question had Kagome shaking the mental cobwebs from her head as she emerged from her reminiscing and daydreaming about Inuyasha.

It took Kagome a second before the question clicked and she offered her friend a wide smile. "He did! I meant to tell you. Yeah, I think Souta said they're planning to meet up at this sporting complex sometime next week."

"Oh, I'm glad!" Sango beamed. "I was worried he was going to drag his heels to connect with Souta—for whatever reason it seems to take guys longer to do stuff," she said with a breathy laugh. "I think having a friend local to Kyoto for the nights he stays over for work will be good for him! I hope they hit it off!"

"I do, too," Kagome sighed. "He's had a rough couple of years, my brother. Whenever we FaceTime, he says he's happy enough where he lives and likes his job, but—I dunno—he's seemed lonely to me since moving. I don't think he kept in touch with people after university, and I don't really get to see him as often anymore." Kagome smiled sadly to herself. "So, if he and Kohaku get along and my brother has a person in Kyoto, I'm sure that would make things easier on him. I feel like a twenty-six year old guy should have guy friends his age for debaucherously boyish shenanigans."

Sango offered Kagome a smile as she pulled into the line-up of cars waiting to enter the nearest parking garage to The Row. "If you and your mom live in Tokyo, how come Souta moved to Kyoto? You said he's had a rough couple of years? Can I ask what happened?"

"Yeah..." Kagome was quick to answer. "If you straight up asked him why he moved, he'd say it was for work—his company has a satellite office in Kyoto and it was simple enough for him to request a transfer—but I think it was mostly that he needed a change of scene."

Kagome was thoughtful for a moment. She knew she didn't really talk about her family all that much, not because she was ashamed or embarrassed, but because it felt like such a loaded subject given the past several years. Since her grandfather's death and everything that came of it—how poorly all the dust settled—it just seemed simpler to not get into it.

Sango had asked innocently enough and Kagome couldn't deny the twinge in her pulse and the faint heat in her cheeks, realizing it felt weirdly intimate to be speaking about her family so candidly.

"Things have felt a bit tense with my family for the last five years or so. My grandfather died and there was some bad blood over how things settled with his estate. I think my mom just assumed everything would come to her and us, as the grandkids, but family we didn't know about came outta the woodwork. It turned into this soap opera, honestly, of long-lost relatives fighting with my mom over what they thought should've belonged to them, assets that should be shared equitably. The reading of his will got dramatic," Kagome scoffed, rolling her eyes.

"Souta still lived at home and was a big support to Mom with running the shrine where we lived and to Gramps during his end of life—he was palliative for a while and Souta did a lot. Then Gramps passed and this explosion happened and my Mom's been...having a rough time since, I think—not that death is ever not rough, but, it's just shitty—having to deal with all this shit at the same time she's trying to grieve her dad." Kagome sighed, picking at her fingernails. "I think once Gramps' affairs were settled—the shrine given over to some relative who could afford a more expensive lawyer than Mom—Souta just decided he needed a fresh start, not that I can blame him," Kagome said with a curt chuckle. "I never saw my brother upset, or angry, ever. But supporting my mom, supporting Gramps in his final days, dealing with Gramps' stuff after his death, helping close out the shrine when it was sold off...I think it just broke something in him.

"It's been a few years since this all went down. Mom is never too keen to talk about the spectacle of her dad's death—her words—but it's easy to tell she's still bitter about it. Souta works a lot," Kagome sighed, "and with Madame's being how it is, I don't really get much opportunity to go visit him. He used to visit a lot, but he hasn't since my birthday this past spring. I think it's hard on him, coming back here and either staying with me or visiting Mom in her new place, which doesn't really feel like home—I think to any of us."

Kagome rubbed at her face, her cheeks warm, realizing how much she just word vomited to Sango and seeing the kind sadness behind her friend's eyes.

"Sorry," Kagome blushed, rubbing at her nose, "that was—"

"No, Kagome, that's—" she paused with a sigh— "I'm sorry. That sounds really hard."

"It was, but, we're all okay, or at least, with time, we will be," she said with a hopeful smile. "But yeah, if our brothers are anything like us, I'm sure they'll get along!"

Sango smiled at Kagome, reaching over the middle console to squeeze her friend's hand.

Watching Sango drive around and around the parking garage looking for a vacant spot, something within Kagome's bones felt lighter. Whether it was unloading the angst she hid away about her family, or Sango's friendship, or her eagerness for her date with Inuyasha—or even a combination of all three—Kagome couldn't say. But as Sango pulled into a spot and turned off the vehicle, Kagome felt a manic vigor take over, an enthusiastic optimism that everything was looking up and she had a lot to be grateful for, a lot to look forward to.

Kagome would even argue her mood brightened when Sango was delayed exiting her vehicle to text Miroku, agreeing to go on a date with him that evening.

Stepping into the early afternoon sunshine, The Row was full of onlookers and window shoppers. Few even carried shopping bags that looked more beautiful than gift bags with their decorative, matte design, dainty satin handles, and immaculate tissue paper. The Row was all glass storefronts and aesthetically pleasing canopies built into the first floor of skyscrapers that were either condos or office space. There was something about the air and ambience of the high-pedestrian, low-vehicle, tree-lined street that had Kagome walking a little taller, appreciating that she had put a little bit more effort into getting ready for her shopping date with Sango. Not that Kagome felt like she belonged in a place this bougie.

"This was the boutique I was thinking of," Sango said, stopping to look up at a cream and stone facade that had a stairway with black iron railings on either side.

There was no obvious nameplate visible on the building; however, Kagome did notice an elaborate, ivory design on the window that said Maru's. Peering through the glass, Kagome saw multiple racks, a handful of hung garments, and beautiful, expensive-looking lighting in a bright, warmly-coloured studio. Kagome followed Sango inside, feeling a twinge of discomfort in her stomach at the sudden bursting obviousness that a place this cute, this swanky, would likely turn its nose up at the two women with the nerve to presume there would be a sale rack.

Well, we already paid for parking, so we may as well have fun looking around! Kagome's mind tried to reason, as if that could help her feel more at home in this richly delicate space.

The store smelled amazing. Kagome couldn't pinpoint what individual scents came together to form what she was sensing, but she was convinced that this is what expensive smelled like. Looking around, Maru's found a way to capitalize on that scent of luxury and ran it through a diffuser. The space was charming, gorgeous without being intimidating and quaint in a fashionable oh-this-old-thing? kind of way.

There was an auburn-haired woman behind a large, solid oak counter looking over a computer. Her hair bubbled out beneath her ears in a perfect bob, with glasses perched on the end of a long, avian nose. She had the sharpest cheekbones Kagome had ever seen, bookending blood red lips. When the woman looked up at Sango and Kagome, Kagome startled to see ovular, onyx pupils that looked more reptilian than human. Either those were some crazy contact lenses, or this female was in fact a demon.

The first thing that came to Kagome's mind—should this female, in fact, be a demon—was wondering what Kagome's being marked by Inuyasha smelled like to this female. Kagome wanted to roll her eyes at herself for the juvenility of the thought; yet, she found the corners of her mouth curling up into a grin. Her stomach gave a little whoosh of delight for the Inuyasha-branded perfume she wore. Knowing she carried around with her a small piece of Inuyasha, Kagome found her head held a little straighter and her shoulders a little squarer.

Kagome's evaluating stare of the associate quickly turned into shoulders sagging with relief when the female broke into an ear-to-ear smile, her arms raised in greeting. Kagome didn't know why, but she was pleasantly surprised about the friendly welcome—she'd been half-expecting a sneering once-over at her thrift store jeans.

"Good afternoon, ladies!" the female greeted, vertically-narrow pupils tapering with her broad grin. Her lime-coloured, strappy heels clacked and echoed in the space around them as she rounded the counter. "It's wonderful to see you both here! Can I please get the name of your reservation?"

Kagome's heart plummeted into her stomach.

Sango glanced at Kagome. "Oh, we—"

The glass door of the boutique had a bell—of course it did!—that gave a sharp little chime as it opened and promptly closed. Before Kagome could turn to inspect who had entered, the instrumental R&B that played faintly in the background was sliced through by a smooth, masculine tenor that was booming and authoritative without shouting.

"Maru."

The friendly air of the female demon quickly turned into an obvious nervousness that had Kagome feeling nervous by proximity and association.

"M-my lord!" Maru stated, beady, black eyes wide behind her glasses, her body at attention. "You're early!"

Kagome finally looked over her shoulder to take stock of the man—this lord—who had entered the women's fashion store.

Kagome was caught in ta snare of frigidly piercing, golden orbs atop a detached visage with sharp features. She had seen this look before, those eyes, intimidating beneath neutral brows. An emotionless face that looked just as beautiful as it seemed lethal.

She gulped.

Kagome had been on the receiving end of that look before, that austere expression, only once before—in the parking lot at Madame's.

Sesshoumaru looked around the store with an air like he owned the place or that it was beneath him—or possibly even both. He looked like the epitome of wealth, grace, and royalty as he stood there in the sunshine, his suit molded to his body, his hair a sheen of silver glowing opalescent. Kagome found herself bristling when his eyes settled on her again. His gaze flicked down and up her torso in a flash, a scrutinizing leer that had Kagome feeling pinned to the spot.

She swallowed. Kagome could have sworn she saw his nostrils flare while he kept his skeptically tapered leer on her.

He looked like...like—oh God...was he sniffing her?

Fuck, her mind swore, can he smell Inuyasha on me?

I mean...probably... Wasn't that the point of being marked by Inuyasha? So other demons would know I've been claimed?

Fuck, fuck, FUCK! Kagome wanted to be marked so she could let other demons know she was claimed, unavailable. That sort of information wasn't meant for Inuyasha's brother! She had not been expecting to run into him of all people—or, demons, rather!

Holy crap—what an even more embarrassing first impression than the parking lot situation!

Kagome's face erupted in a crimson sheen that had her heart trembling and skyrocketing like her body was in freefall.

"Please let Rin know I've arrived," Sesshoumaru bade, his timbre authoritative, incontestable, like it was impossible to defy him, like butter could do anything but acquiesce to the will of a hot knife.

Kagome harboured on the fact he said please, like she could deign to find him any less intimidating because he seemed to have manners.

"Yes, my lord. Of course. Apologies, ladies," Maru said, acknowledging the women, "I'll be just a moment. Please feel free to have a look around in the meantime." Maru nodded her head at them before disappearing behind a white-framed wooden door on the far-side of the sales floor.

Kagome and Sango exchanged a look before Sango shrugged and headed off to inspect the racks that looked the least wedding-ish. Either Sango had no idea who this male was and therefore didn't care, or she was keeping it calm, cool, and collected for Kagome's sake.

Kagome remained where she stood, looking around despite finding it hard to focus on anything but the sensation of eyes peering into the side of her face, looking her over. It was kind of hard to function under the heavy gaze of Inuyasha's demon brother.

She licked her lips and found a few seconds passing by as she watched Sango flip through jewel-coloured evening gowns on a standalone rack. Kagome swallowed and decided to risk a glance at Sesshoumaru. She blushed fiercely when she made eye contact with the demon, who had already been staring at Kagome as if he could know her simply by looking her over.

He stood with hands behind his back, his broad shoulders looking even wider from the beautifully tailored, navy blue suit he wore. His hair—Inuyasha's hair—was long, cascading down his back, complementing the silver threading on his suit.

"I've seen you before," he said, when Kagome's eyes met his once more. His voice was musical in a deep, intimidating sort of way, like how the deepest parts of the ocean could be classified as beautiful despite their known deadliness.

Kagome bit her bottom lip, her pulse pounding in her stomach. Where was Sango when she needed her? "We haven't formally met, but, yes. We—"

Shit, am I supposed call him my lord? Wait—is he a lord? Holy fuck—does that make Inuyasha a lord? What the hell? Why is he a lord? What is he a lord of? Oh god—is he a general like his dad was? What do demon lords even do?

"You're that woman from the spa. The one my brother chased out into the parking lot."

Kagome flinched; it was the subtlest of reactions announced by the flicker of her eyelashes. Where Kagome had felt rooted to the spot by Sesshoumaru's formidable intimidation, that one comment had her speechlessness transformed into a nervous laugh that snuck through her teeth.

Sesshoumaru quirked an eyebrow at her reaction. It was such an Inuyasha expression that Kagome's laughter intensified.

Fucking hell, she was just digging a bigger and bigger hole for herself.

What a stupid way to be remembered by a centuries old, powerful demon who is the only living family member of the guy I'm maybe-kinda-sorta seeing...or hoping to see...or—

Sesshoumaru's eyes tapered even further as Kagome's nervous laughter continued.

"I'm Kagome," she said, finally getting enough of a grip on herself to actually function with proper sentences. She grasped her purse strap tightly in her hands to give her fingers something to do. "You're Inuyasha's brother," she said, wanting to roll her eyes at herself—as if he didn't know who he was. "It's nice to meet you, Sesshoumaru."

Fuck—should I have said Lord Sesshoumaru? Crap, crap, crap! Why didn't Inuyasha say anything about his brother having a friggin' appellation?

He took a breath that lifted his shoulders, straining against the seams of his suit. His eyes skimmed over Kagome's person, making her feel small and unimportant by the look on his face. "You speak of my brother as if you are familiar with him."

Kagome fought the urge to bite her lip. "Oh, um, yes. I am, I guess."

I guess? You were pretty familiar with him yesterday afternoon when his tongue was between your legs, giving you the best orgasm you've had all year.

Oof, bad time to be thinking about Inuyasha's mouth when his brother can already smell him on me—oh fuck, do I smell aroused? Fuck, I hope not!

Okay, relax—it's fine. What should I say to him? Should I elaborate on how we're familiar? Do I say we're friends?

Oh, yeah, good luck trying to define that one to his half-brother, Kagome. Oh yes, Lord Sesshoumaru—we're sort of friends, kinda-but-not-really-dating, soon-to-be-lovers—I think I'd like to be your future sister-in-law...

Jesus Christ, Kagome—reel it in! Not remotely the time or place to start daydreaming about becoming the future Mrs. Inuyasha Taisho!

"In what capacity are you and he...familiar?"

Kagome couldn't explain why but the use of that word again, and the way he said it this time, had Kagome blushing and turning her gaze to her feet.

Kagome's face exploded into a mortified heat as Sesshoumaru added, "And why, may I ask, do you carry his scent on you, human?"

Oh, fuck. He could sense the marking. Oh sweet God, this was the most embarrassing situation Kagome had ever found herself in. Sesshoumaru was the firstborn of the strongest dog demon general in history—Kagome was actually an idiot for hoping he wouldn't scent Inuyasha on her from a few feet away.

She toyed with different explanations, excuses, over her tongue, her face growing hotter by the second.

"My lord."

Oh thank God and every divine being out there for Maru's interference. Kagome had no idea how she was supposed to answer that question.

"Rin will be out in just a moment, my lord."

Sesshoumaru declined his head in acknowledgement then turned to look out the front window, pivoting so his back was to them. Unfortunately, Kagome met his stare one final time as he gave her an additional head-to-toe look-over that had her heart beating worrisomely.

Kagome felt sweat bead along her nape, tickling beneath her mass of hair. Holy moly, was her stomach ever flipping.

The female called Maru—wait was this her store?—turned her attention back to Kagome and Sango.

"My apologies, ladies, for the interruption. Did you happen to find anything that caught your eye?" She approached the counter, pulling a clipboard into her hands. "Was your reservation for a bridal gown, bridesmaid dresses? Sorry, I'm getting ahead of myself—what was the name you had placed the reservation under?"

"I'm sorry," Sango was quick to say with a bow of her head. "We don't actually have a reservation. My girlfriend here has a date tonight and I've always wanted to come in to your store. We weren't aware a reservation was required."

Kagome flushed, feeling Sesshoumaru's eyes on her as soon as Sango said the word date. She could hear him begin to pace behind them, the heels of his shoes making a clacking noise that had Kagome struggling to focus on the conversation between Sango and Maru.

Maru smiled at Sango like this wasn't the first time she's had to address this. "Fridays and weekends we're open by reservation only. However, we're between reservations at present," she acknowledged, her eyes on the clipboard. "It looks like we're not expecting our next fitting for another thirty minutes." Her eyes turned to Kagome. "If you're content with something OTR with no alterations required, you're welcome to try on anything in that timeframe. Unfortunately, since we're a small boutique, neither myself or my colleague, Rin, will be available to assist you once our next reservation arrives."

"OTR?" Kagome asked.

"Off the rack," Maru answered.

Sango was all smiles. "We're so appreciative of this, Maru. Thank you! Yes, that should work for us, right, Kagome? You have a pretty good handle on what you're looking for! Thirty minutes should be more than enough time."

Kagome blushed, turning her attention away from Sesshoumaru back to the auburn-haired woman who was appraising Kagome—people really seemed all about looking Kagome over, as if her dimensions were unproportionally weird or something.

"Kagome, is it?" When Kagome nodded, Maru's smile widened. "The outfit is for you? For a date?"

Kagome licked her lips and smiled nervously. "Yes."

The clacking of Sesshoumaru's shoes stopped. Kagome couldn't hold back the heat in her cheeks.

"We carry everything from prom dresses to wedding dresses. Rin designs the dresses and I make them; we run this store together."

"Do you really?" Sango gasped, her fingers trailing a lavender sheath dress that caught her eye. "That's amazing—these are absolutely gorgeous!"

"Thank you! Yes, may I inquire what you're doing on this date? Any details can be very helpful for me to curate a small rack for you to try. I've had many ladies come in before they're about to get engaged, looking for the perfect dress!"

Kagome could feel Sesshoumaru's body coming to standstill as the word engaged floated as a dramatic, lingering echo once Maru breathed it into the open concept space.

Kagome flushed, waving away the presumption that she was getting engaged. "Oh gosh no," she laughed awkwardly, feeling self-conscious of Sesshoumaru's eyes on her, "it's not nearly that serious between us. He's taking me out for dinner and dancing, someplace high-end is all I know."

"A surprise! How romantic!"

"Isn't it?" Sango cried, linking arms with Kagome. "As soon as I heard what they'd be doing I knew we had to come here!"

Maru held a hand to her chest. "I'm so humbled! Yes, this wall over here is where I'd recommend we focus our attentions. These dresses may be classified as bridesmaid dresses, but many, I'd say, could easily pass for evening gowns, or party or cocktail dresses. Let me show you to one of our change rooms, Kagome, so you can drop off your purse and jacket and make yourself comfortable. Can I grab either of you ladies a coffee or champagne before we sink our teeth into the rack?"

Sango chatted amicably with Maru while Kagome turned, meaning to follow behind.

"Sesshoumaru! I'm good to—oh, hello!"

Kagome startled at the bright chime of a voice that emerged from the far side of the store. The voice belonged to a small-framed, black-haired woman who was simply stunning in that way that some women were just gorgeous without having to try at it. She wore a rose-coloured turtle neck and grey pencil skirt, her long black hair drawn over a slender shoulder. Kagome felt mesmerized by how warm her smile was. She couldn't help smiling in return once the woman's spotlight mocha eyes fell on Kagome.

"Rin," Sesshoumaru addressed, nodding his head at her in greeting.

Kagome couldn't help the widening of her eyes as the petite woman saddled up to the intimidating force of Sesshoumaru like he was no more than a puppy.

"You ladies are in great hands with Maru," Rin beamed. Then she redirected that smile that illuminated her eyes as her head tipped up and up and up to gaze at Sesshoumaru, who towered over her by over a foot. "You ready to go for lunch, hun? I'm so happy you're early—gives us more time together! How was your flight in this morning?"

"Rin, this woman is Kagome," Sesshoumaru said by way of introduction. For some reason, the fact that he was introducing her at all threw Kagome off balance, her stomach somersaulting again. When Rin's eyes fell back on Kagome, Kagome smiled as best she could despite the heat of her crimson cheeks. "Kagome is a...friend of Inuyasha's."

Oh God...why did he have to say friend like that?

If Rin was smiling before, her face completely transformed into a grin of unwavering brightness and adoration. "Are you really? I didn't know Inuyasha had any female friends! I honestly don't really see him with anyone other than Miroku," she said with a laugh. "But you're lovely," Rin continued, looking Kagome over quickly and drawing a more prominent pinkness from Kagome's cheeks, "where has he been hiding you?"

Kagome chuckled nervously, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"What brings you into the store?" Rin asked with an angling of her head. The gentle smile she wore made it clear she could see the rigid discomfort in how Kagome held herself.

"A date!" Sango answered, standing at Kagome's side. Maru, it seems, selected an empty rack with wheels and had approached the far wall to start gathering a sample of things for Kagome to try. "Kagome," Sango said with a supportive smile, "I told Maru everything you shared with me about what you're looking for. She said to give her a few minutes to select some items for you."

"Thank you," Kagome beamed, an appreciative exhale sagging her shoulders. This was such a different type of shopping adventure. Kagome couldn't help but wonder how different she'd feel about the experience if she hadn't run into Inuyasha's brother.

"Ooh, a date!" Rin cheered, clapping her hands. "Is it a special occasion? This date of yours?"

"It's technically a first date," Sango offered, causing Kagome to smile and nod her head. She felt like a child caught in the middle of a grown-ups conversation.

"Technically?" Rin angled her head with the single word question.

Sango beamed. "It's a friends to lovers kind of situation," she answered, turning her smile onto Kagome and knocking her in the side with her elbow. Then Sango was heading back to Maru, seeing the rack with a single garment hanging from it, as if the shop owner needed Sango's assistance to find more items.

Kagome laughed nervously again, since that was all she was capable of contributing to this dialogue, apparently.

"That's so sweet!" answered Rin, smiling up at Sesshoumaru. "What did we do for our first date—do you remember?"

"We went to that coffee shop you—"

Kagome snorted a quick laugh, unable to help herself.

Sesshoumaru's quick stare and raised eyebrow silenced her real quick.

"Sorry," Kagome mumbled with a diminutive smile that she hoped looked apologetic. "I was just thinking how Inuyasha once said to me that going for coffee doesn't really count as a date—it's too casual."

Rin rolled her eyes. "That boy is so unromantic—he would think that. Do you know...he once brought a friend of mine a collection of weeds he found saying that flowers were flowers and if a woman wanted flowers she didn't get to complain about what kind!" Rin laughed mirthfully.

Kagome chuckled in spite of herself. "That totally sounds like something he would do."

Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed at Kagome—for sounding familiar with Inuyasha again, probably.

"Then, there was this other time—that same woman I was friends with—she dropped hint after hint that she wanted a ring and he bought her this cute little band with her birthstone on it." Rin giggled. "He's sweet, but a little dense that one."

If Kagome wasn't so absorbed in how uncomfortable she felt, she would have picked up on the fact that Rin referred to her friendship with Kikyou in the past tense.

Kagome smiled politely, unable to hide the fidget that overcame her fingers at hearing Rin so casually talking about Kikyou and Inuyasha.

Rin's laughter fell away as her eyes scoured Kagome's appearance. Her bright, brown eyes were sharp, attentive. Kagome's obvious discomfort and awkwardness was loud in the sudden silence between them. "How do you know Inuyasha?" Rin asked. There was a quiet curiosity edged into her tone but also a redundancy that caused Kagome's blood to pound in her ears, to dry out her throat. It was like Rin was asking without needing to ask.

"Oh, you both know Inuyasha?"

Kagome turned to Sango, unaware that she had rejoined them. "Sango, this is Sesshoumaru—Inuyasha's brother. And this is Sesshoumaru's fiancée, Rin."

The way Kagome said Sesshoumaru was all Sango needed for her eyes to go wide and offer him a bright smile and a polite nod of her head. "It's very nice to meet you."

Knowing how Madame's was all about client confidentiality, both Sango and Kagome knew better than identifying that they were familiar with Sesshoumaru's name and patronage as the favoured customer of their workplace's owner.

"Oh!" Rin cried with an eye-narrowing smile. "You know we're engaged! Inuyasha told you about us? That's so sweet! Good things only I hope."

"Oh, of course," Kagome said quickly with a blush.

"I don't believe you answered me before," Sesshoumaru interjected, his eyes pointed towards Kagome. "How are you familiar with my brother?"

"Oh, they're kind of seeing each other."

Kagome loved Sango, appreciated the hell out of her, was beyond grateful for her friendship. However, in that moment, Kagome wanted to strangle her.

"Wait—you're Inuyasha's mystery woman?" Rin's shriek of joyous surprise was ear-splitting.

"Mystery woman?" Kagome couldn't help but mimic. She felt the blood draining from her face.

"I knew it! Didn't I call it, Sesshoumaru? I friggin' knew he was seeing someone! Oh my gosh, it is so, so nice to meet you, Kagome. Oh my god!"

Kagome blushed, blinking rapidly as she tried to think rationally about how to navigate this situation. "Did—um—did Inuyasha tell you about me, or—?"

"Oh, no, not exactly," Rin answered with a laugh, wrapping her arm around Sesshoumaru's—which looked a bit comical given their size differences. Rin was really quite petite. "He's just been a bit...hmm—how would you describe it, hun?"

"Underhanded. Suspicious. Pestilential."

Rin patted his arm as if to non-verbally tell him those three words were more than enough. "I've been trying to introduce him to someone—a friend of a friend—for a few weeks now but he's been weird about it. Says he doesn't want to meet anyone, that he's happy with things as they are—which, I mean, from my standpoint, just seemed strange given his last relationship with—oh Jesus, sorry, Kagome!" It was Rin's turn to blush, holding a hand to her pink-painted lips. "That was insensitive of me. Here you are, going out with my future brother-in-law, and I'm prattling on about his relationship with an ex-friend of mine."

Ex-friend... Kagome picked up on it then.

"No, it's fine. It's more than okay." Kagome waved away the apology. "Inuyasha's told me all about his relationship with Kikyou—I know the two of you are friends." Kagome offered her a smile that she hoped looked sincere, because she meant for it to be genuine.

"Were friends," Rin corrected, a sickly-sweet smile on her lips that had Kagome's eyebrows creasing. "Friends don't throw tantrums and try to sabotage the wedding of someone they've called a friend since high school."

"Yikes," Kagome said with a wince. "I'm sorry, Rin. Inuyasha told me Kikyou was a bridesmaid and dropped out once they broke up. I'm really sorry—I can only imagine how much work goes into planning a wedding. Having someone bail like that when you're depending on their help...that's gotta be rough."

"Thank you!" Rin cried, looking up at Sesshoumaru with a look of validation on her face. "No one seems to get how freaking annoying it is having to account for one less bridesmaid! Now, we have one more groomsman, so the pictures will be all uneven and wonky; I had to cancel one additional spot on the upcoming bachelorette trip so now one of the girls will have to sit with a bunch of strangers on the plane; Maru spent all this time creating this extra dress that we don't need now, which is such a waste of resources—Gah! All these little things that have just accumulated to piss me off like you wouldn't believe!"

"Rin," Sesshoumaru said in a way that sounded like a sigh. "I'm sure Kagome doesn't—"

"Oh, right, yes, sorry!"

Kagome laughed, waving away Rin's apology again. "Please don't apologize. And please don't feel the need to censor yourself with me. I don't mind, honestly. All of that sounds really, really crappy."

"Gosh, you're sweet," Rin sighed with a little shake of her head to get her bangs out of her eyes. "You seem like such an upbeat person," Rin laughed, "I feel like you're not Inuyasha's usual type—no offense meant by any means! I think someone like you is good for him. I think Kikyou was too...serious for him."

Kagome blushed. "Well, thank you. Obviously, I never met her, but it definitely sounds like there were a few hard years between them. Relationships can be rough, especially when one person comes to realize there's incompatibility that makes them start to question the whole relationship."

Rin nodded, smiling sympathetically at the way Sango looked at Kagome with a sorrowful look on her face. Apparently what Kagome said could also apply to her and Hojo.

Rin sighed. "Yeah, it's easy to say now since Inuyasha seems more like himself these days, but we were worried about him at first. I kept saying to Sesshoumaru that, yes, even though Kikyou was my friend, I didn't think he was happy anymore—that they'd grown a part a while ago despite staying together. Sesshoumaru kept telling me to stay out of it though."

"Which was for the best, Rin."

Rin puckered her lips at him in a pout but didn't say anything.

Kagome nodded, smiling politely.

Sesshoumaru made an attention-seeking noise in the back of his throat that seemed far more commanding than it would have been if that same noise came from Kagome. "Perhaps my brother's human doesn't wish to engage in a conversation about his previous human."

Kagome blushed. Is that what she was? Inuyasha's human?

Kagome released a fluttery little giggle that autonomously came to life from her nervousness. "Thank you for thinking of me, Sesshoumaru, but I swear I'm okay. I'm not upset by the fact that he was with someone before me—I was with someone before him. I'd honestly like to think we're better friends because of everything we've been through before meeting each other."

"Wow, you are—" Rin stopped herself, a goofy little side-smile on her face that had Kagome smiling coyly in response. "I can see why Inuyasha would like someone like you."

Kagome blushed, feeling very aware that Inuyasha's brother was right there.

"So, this date of yours tonight is with Inuyasha?"

Words shot up Kagome's throat and then got stuck in the back of her mouth. She nodded.

"And you're here! In my store! Oh my gosh, this is so lovely. Did you know that I—?"

"No!" Kagome basically gasped. "I had no idea this was your store! I wanted a new dress for tonight and my friend has always wanted to shop here so she recommended we come here."

"Gosh, that's so serendipitous!" Rin squealed, bouncing a little on her heels, which shook Sesshoumaru's arm from their connection. "Kagome, I'm so, so pleased to meet you. I can't begin to tell you how happy I am to know that Inuyasha is seeing someone. And someone with a disposition like yours. Gosh," she said again, looking up at Sesshoumaru. "You're beautiful and kind and wise. And I'm so happy to have met you! Ah!"

"Rin," Maru cut in with an awkward wave and a crooked smile, three garments swinging from the rack she paused behind Kagome. "I apologize for interrupting this revolutionary meeting, but I do need to remind the customer that we have a limited window of time before the next reservation is due to arrive."

"Oh gosh! I'm so sorry, Kagome! I didn't mean to eat up your time!" Rin turned her eyes back to her colleague. "Maru, I'll be back after lunch. Should Kagome decide to make a sale, please make sure you give her the friends and family discount, 'kay?"

Kagome's eyes widened, her heart plunging into her stomach. "Oh my gosh, Rin—no! No, that's so kind but so unnecessary."

Rin waved Kagome's words away with a murmur of rushed words that Kagome didn't catch. "I hope you have the most wonderful time on your date tonight with my future little brother, Kagome," Rin beamed, pulling on Sesshoumaru's arm to lead them towards the exit. "We have a bridal party brunch next weekend on Sunday. Inuyasha has all the details to share with you, but you better be there," she threatened in the same type of way that a puppy growling for cuddles could be called threatening. "Sesshoumaru and I have made sure he has a plus-one spot to all our future wedding things, just in case, so don't even think of saying I don't want to impose as an excuse!"

Kagome flushed, her eyes autonomously turning to Sesshoumaru, who nodded at Kagome. "I—That—You—" Kagome blew out a breath and giggled nervously— "That's really kind, Rin. I don't...know what to say."

"Inuyasha has been noticeably less miserable the past few weeks," Rin said, her hand on the door, "and I think we have you to thank for that. I think you make him really happy, Kagome, even though he seems to be shy about admitting your existence to us," she laughed, "and Inuyasha's not the kinda guy to wear his emotions that visibly so...when he's outwardly happy like this?" Rin gave Kagome a little smile that had Kagome's pulse racing. "We'll see you next weekend, okay? Say hi to him for us," she laughed.

Then with a little wave, Rin all but dragged her fiancé from the store.

Kagome was speechless as she turned to Sango's awaiting stare.

"You doing okay?" Sango asked gently. "I can't imagine meeting the family was what you were expecting from our shopping trip today."

"No, not even a little," Kagome laughed, grateful Sango linked arms with her to practically drag her into the dressing area where Maru was waiting. Kagome's head was spinning.

"I have three dresses, Kagome," Maru said in greeting once Kagome's attention could turn outward from her reflections on interacting with Sesshoumaru and Rin. "If you have any questions or need anything further, please just call out—I'll be at the counter. I'm sorry to be bothersome about it," she said with a polite smile, "but we only have about fifteen minutes or so until I need to be available for the next reservation."

"We'll be out of your hair by then," Sango confirmed with a courteous nod.

Kagome smiled distractedly at Maru's retreating figure, her fingers reaching for the dresses. As Kagome toyed with the lace on an ultramarine dress, her eye caught on the one dress that was a deep, deep red. Lifting the garment from the rack, Kagome held it out to look it over, her breath stalling.

There was something about this dress that had Kagome knowing it would be the one.

As soon as the material slid over her body, not even zipped yet, Kagome knew this was the dress. Maru had selected three for her to try, yet Kagome wouldn't be bothering with the other two.

The garment was sleeveless and low-cut with a square neckline and a silk bodice that fell just above mid-thigh. It was a tight-fitting yet not uncomfortable A-line shape with a flow to the skirt that felt beautifully feminine and accentuated Kagome's legs. And the way the bodice boosted up her breasts like that? The amount of cleavage on display was teasingly sinful. And the colour! It was a deep maroon that sucked Kagome right in—she felt like she couldn't look away, the colour just begged to be looked at. Kagome felt a little obsessed as she finished zipping herself in.

And Kagome knew that Inuyasha liked red, so...the decision seemed to basically make itself.

The only thing that wasn't great about the dress was it's price tag, but Kagome was going to swallow that bullet because there was no way she could not have this dress. Also, with Rin's more than generous offer of a discount, that just solidified that this dress would be hers.

As soon as Kagome opened the curtain that was the door of her change room, Sango was all gasps and stunned, breathy utterances of her name.

"Oh, Kagome! You look...wow! That dress! It's like it was made for you!"

"I don't even need to try on the others, Sango," Kagome said, her palms falling down the sides of the material, feeling a giddiness swirling inside her.

Sango stood and grabbed Kagome's hands in hers. "You look amazing, Kagome."

Kagome felt amazing.

She couldn't remember the last time she felt this level of happiness.

She had a date.

With Inuyasha.

Tonight.

An actual date.

And Kagome just found the dress.

It took all of Kagome's willpower not to succumb to a happy dance once she was back in the privacy of her change room.

---

Later that evening, after spending way too long on giving her hair a voluminous, blown out look, and putting painstaking detail into her makeup—except for lipstick, since Kagome planned to kiss Inuyasha silly as soon as he got there—Kagome zipped herself into the dress and slid into black wedge heels.

Checking herself over with one final twirl in her ensuite, she only had a few minutes to spare before Inuyasha was due to get there. Kagome giggled as she headed into her kitchen. Sango had purchased Kagome a small bottle of Prosecco as a joke in case Kagome needed something to sip on while getting ready—in case her nerves threatened to get the best of her. Not that she would consider herself more nervous than excited, Kagome decided there was no harm in taking the bottle from the fridge in a celebratory sort of capacity.

She unscrewed the cap and brought the bottle right to her lips. After all, Kagome didn't have lipstick on yet, so she didn't need to worry about smudging anything. Kagome gasped after a large, nerve-quenching mouthful, then brought the bottle back to her lips. It may have been a bit much that she drained the one hundred-eighty seven milliliter bottle in five mouthfuls, but what were previously a herd of water buffalo stomping around her belly now felt like normal butterflies, so Kagome had to thank the Prosecco for that.

There was faint, upbeat music coming from Kagome's speakers and she wanted to spin and pirouette her way around the kitchen with this giant, goofy smile on her face. She couldn't remember the last time she felt this happy and excited. Yesterday, they had claimed each other and Kagome was going out for a night on the town where she would either look like she belonged to Inuyasha or demons would scent her and know it.

Her eyes falling on her overnight bag, packed and ready by the front door, Kagome felt a tremor of nervousness that shook hands with a little bit of borderline nausea.

Kagome didn't know how to feel about it finally being the night where they were going to have sex, and then probably more sex, and then likely a bit more sex after that. Which was a brand new experience for Kagome, given her intimacy with Hojo basically consisted of a single orgasm and then a chaste kiss goodnight and rolling over to their respective sides of the bed. Kagome ventured a guess that after how long and badly she and Inuyasha have wanted each other, that that would not be what her evening would look like.

But then again, Kagome wanted to keep her expectations in check. Not that she was expecting to be disappointed, but having minimal expectations meant there would be minimal room for disappointment.

There was also the unknown of how Inuyasha would behave, act, or treat her, given he had said a couple times now that he planned to treat her tonight like she was already his so he could see how that felt. Did that mean he wouldn't hold back at all? He wouldn't be in his head, overthinking, like he had shared yesterday he seemed to have a habit of doing, just like Kagome?

She found her mind bouncing back to that conversation—argument or whatever—where Inuyasha helped Kagome finally understand where he's coming from, why he's been standoffish or withdrawn—sharing with Kagome his side of things. In his own way, he had been trying to keep his heart from getting hurt again, dancing around their attraction for fear that Kagome would change her mind.

Just like Kagome, Inuyasha seemed to like her enough that he was scared of being a rebound. The realization that they could truly feel the same way about each other had those butterflies-slash-water buffalo charging around her stomach again.

Her eyes locked onto her reflection in her front entry mirror. Looking herself in the eye, she mentally reminded herself that tonight wasn't the night to worry, or fret, or overthink. Tonight was the night to enjoy Inuyasha, to allow herself to experience what it would be like to let herself go, be carefree, and let go of the past and her hurt. If Inuyasha wasn't going to hold back tonight, then neither would Kagome. She wanted to be free of all the mental burden she carried with herself when it came to Inuyasha. She wanted him to enjoy her and she wanted to let herself enjoy him, without any little voices whispering in her ear to be on her guard or to look out.

Kagome knew she was falling for Inuyasha—hell, had probably already fallen for him—but that didn't necessarily mean she had to be scared or concerned.

She had once told Inuyasha that she thought he was the best thing to have ever happened to her.

And tonight, she was going to ensure he knew that. She was also going to let herself know it too.

A knock on her front door startled her, and Kagome gazed down at her phone, acknowledging the time. With a deep breath and jitters making a bouncy castle of her innards, Kagome opened the door to greet an incredibly dashing-looking Inuyasha.

Kagome held back nothing as she blatantly checked him out, doorknob still in hand. She appreciated the enticing way he wore his black suit, tailored to him handsomely. Beneath his unbuttoned jacket, he wore a silky metallic dress shirt that was so dark it had a purple sheen to it in direct light. His collar was pressed and open, teasing Kagome with the cutting lines of his jugular and collarbones on full, unfair display. His hair was loose around his shoulders, neat, presentable. He looked like he'd had a haircut, which made Kagome's lips turn up with a bright grin.

Kagome took a step towards him at the same time he stepped towards her. The smell of cologne or aftershave coming off of him in waves had Kagome's heart pounding. He looked delicious and he smelled delicious and Kagome couldn't wait to get her mouth on him.

To borrow a line from him yesterday, Kagome thought he looked good enough to eat.

But all of that didn't remotely compare to the look he wore as his eyes raked over Kagome's body, once, twice, a third time. Appreciative, in awe, mesmerized, speechless—all states of existence that Kagome wouldn't normally associate with Inuyasha of all people.

Kagome giggled, the apples of her cheeks blooming into a wide smile as she reached for his hand to basically tug him into her apartment so she could close the door. "You going to say something?"

"I...don't know what to say."

His eyes lingered on the bodice of her gown, like he wanted to commit to memory the curve of her breasts in the tight support of her dress. Kagome had to admit, for not wearing a bra, she was amazed at how perky and rounded her breasts looked—the swells of her soft skin pushed upwards and emphasized by the square neckline.

Kagome giggled. He actually sounded breathless.

He reached for her, partitioning her hair from her neck as he drew her in for a kiss. Right before his lips touched hers he smirked, his gaze on her mouth. "No lipstick?"

His breath coursed over her face, painting her eyelashes and cheeks with a warm, wet heat. "I planned to kiss you hello before I applied it. Sorry to ruin your fun, Mr. Taisho—I know how much you like to ruin my lipstick."

He placed a caressing and tender tongue-tipped kiss to the side of her neck, forcing Kagome to suck in a hissing breath. "Disappointing, but not the worst thing. I plan to ruin a lotta things about you later." He smiled into her neck, forcing a bloom of wetness to trickle from her core.

Kagome grabbed hold of his cheeks and jerked his mouth to hers. A moan tumbled from her throat as Inuyasha's lips latched firmly onto her while his hands went right for her thighs. He lifted her, guiding her legs to wrap around him, straddling him where he stood.

"Damn, Kagome, this dress," he grunted, his palms sliding up her thighs to cup her ass over the dress's silky material.

Kagome moaned a needful, pleading sound in response. She angled her head back so Inuyasha could kiss and suck on her collarbone, the side of her neck.

"You like it?" she finally managed to say.

"I fuckin' love it."

Kagome's grin burgeoned. "If you're a good boy I'll let you take it off of me later."

"Oh, trust me," he said, palming her cheek to escort her lips back to his. How the hell was he holding her up with one bloody hand? "With what I have in store for you tonight, you'll think me a very, very good boy."

Kagome murmured an aroused sound as she pulled him in for a heart-thudding, panty-wetting kiss. "Tell me the truth, Inuyasha, when you were dressing yourself in this suit, were you thinking about my hands on you, stripping it off later?"

He grinned a toothy, seductive little smirk that had Kagome's heart galloping. "Maybe just a little."

"Just a little? Mr. Taisho—" She clicked her tongue— "only honesty this evening, if you please." Kagome slid her palms over his chest, under the lapels of his jacket to squeeze his shoulders, his biceps.

"Fuck—fine. Maybe it's all I thought about."

Kagome giggled. "Those trousers of yours really complement certain parts of you, Inuyasha. Maybe don't think about me undressing you too much—might make them a little bit tighter than you'd like."

"Too fuckin' late for that," he growled into her mouth, sealing their lips together for another kiss.

Inuyasha clenched his fingers around her buttocks, and Kagome bucked against him, the A-line skirt of her dress billowing around Inuyasha's middle. God, she really loved this dress.

"Mmm, I like when you do that."

"You like my hands on your ass?"

"Very much."

"What about here?"

With that speed to his movements that Kagome didn't think she'd ever get used to, she gasped when Inuyasha relocated a palm from her ass to massage one of her breasts over the bodice of her dress. "Oh God, Inuyasha..." She could feel the heat of his palm scraping and chafing a rapidly hardening nipple and it had Kagome bucking against him.

Kagome's head fell backwards and Inuyasha kissed and sucked his way up the exposed column of her neck.

"Fuck, Kagome—if your tits feel this incredible through a goddamn dress, I can't fuckin' wait to bring you home later."

Kagome reached a hand upwards to gently stroke one of his ears, eliciting a hoarse groan from Inuyasha. She sucked his bottom lip into her mouth. "You trying to seduce me already, Inuyasha?"

"Why, is it working?"

"You're making me soak through my panties already, so...what do you think?"

"Fuck, Kagome," Inuyasha cursed, sliding her body down his until she was back on her own feet, his hands in her hair, cradling her jaw. "The taste and smell of you from yesterday has fuckin' haunted me all day. I feel like a goddamn addict and I can't shake it. I need more of you."

Kagome licked his chin, quickly following with a nip at his flesh. She chuckled luringly. "If we didn't have anywhere to be tonight, your pants would already be off, Inuyasha."

"Take your panties off," he growled into her ear, sucking her earlobe between his teeth. "I wanna taste you before we go."

Kagome groaned, her fingers digging into his shoulders to keep herself upright. Thank God he had his arms around her waist; otherwise, that little comment may have found Kagome on the floor in a puddle of arousal.

"God, Inuyasha, as badly as I want to say yes to that, I really don't think we'll end up going out if you get your mouth anywhere near me."

"But you look so fuckin' good I could eat you for dinner."

"And spoil your appetite before our dinner reservation? Now, that's not very smart, now is it, Inuyasha?"

"You want me to wine and dine you before I fuck your brains out, Kagome?"

Kagome bit her bottom lip, her eyes darting between the hooded, aroused lids of his. Dear lord, he looked so handsome—that word didn't even feel good enough to describe how much Kagome liked the look of him.

"I want to wear this dress for more than twenty minutes, Inuyasha," she chuckled, pressing a gentle kiss to his lips. "I want you to take me out so you can remember how I looked in this dress—" She cupped his hand and brought his palm to her breast, squeezing her fingers around his until the skin of her pale mound bubbled between the tightness of their fingers— "how good my tits felt in it—" She guided his hand beneath her dress, between her legs, his palm hot against the damp, thin cotton— "how wet you kept me in it."

"Fuck, Kagome..."

"I want the memory of this dress to haunt you, Inuyasha," she whispered against his lips, bringing his palm to her cheek and kissing the heel of it. "So that all you can think about is how good it looked on me, so it will look even better when it's a crumpled heap on your floor later tonight."

Inuyasha's rough kiss had a gasp squeaking from Kagome's throat. She wrapped her arms around his neck and enjoyed every glorious second of his tongue thrusting into her mouth, licking at hers, his lips demanding in their soft pressure.

"I swear, Kagome, I could fuckin' devour you on the spot. That dress is..."

He stopped, pulling away as his words yielded to a wry, swollen-lipped grin. He dragged his eyes over her body, assessing and gorging himself on all the hard lines and plump curves the dress accentuated. His palms trailed her bare arms, cupping her shoulders before he slid his hands around the tight bodice, the heat of his skin scorching her hips where his palms settled.

"If you keep looking at me like that, Inuyasha, we're never going to leave."

He grinned, stepping closer until she could feel his thighs sandwiching hers. His tailored pants fit him delectably, leaving nothing about his considerable bulge to the imagination. His arousal prodded her stomach with a throbbing pulse that had Kagome's mouth watering.

"Inuyasha," she purred, caressing his chin with her nose. "I like my dress too much not to have an opportunity to wear it out."

"I like it so much I wanna see you out of it."

Kagome palmed his cheek and laughed, her eyes tapering beneath an expansive smile until they nearly closed. Her heart was frantic.

"I know you do. I'm really excited when I think about tonight, about you taking me back to your place."

"Yeah?"

She pressed a soft kiss to his mouth, pulling away just as he tried to intensify it. "Yeah," she said with a mischievous grin.

"Tell me the truth, Kagome. You nervous at all?"

"About our date?"

"That, and fucking me later."

Kagome tried to make her gulp not seem very histrionic. "I'll be honest that I'm very nervous, but it's not going to stop me from enjoying you tonight. I think it's more that it feels surreal, going on a legit date with you, thinking about what the night has in store for us, given how long we've waited."

He smirked and ran his palms down the lengths of her arms again, his lips quick to follow. He'd never kissed her shoulders or biceps before and the sensation had gooseflesh erupting across her skin, pulling at her nipples. He could clearly smell the most recent outpouring of her arousal that had Kagome clenching her thighs together. His face was downright wicked.

"Tell me, Kagome—what does the night have in store for us?"

She giggled and forced herself to step out of his body heat, but not before planting a quick kiss to his cheek. Kagome squealed as she escaped his arms, grabbing her purse to pluck her lipstick bullet from it. Kagome cast him a playful look over her shoulder as she approached her entry mirror. Kagome uncapped her lipstick, her eyes darting between her puckered awaiting lips and Inuyasha's reflection over her shoulder.

"I think tonight will have a lot of fun, some passion, some wet penetration that I think someone is aching for." She winked at the half-pained, half-aroused look he gave her through the mirror. Kagome giggled, giving a finishing wipe of her thumb to her bottom lip before putting her lipstick tube away. Kagome smacked her dark red lips at him in the mirror— "Now, are you taking me out for a night to remember, or what?"

Inuyasha exhaled an aroused, breathy sound before he grinned, walking up behind her to plant his lips against her cheek. Kagome heard and felt the deep inhalation against her skin and she closed her eyes, feeling a shudder work it's way past her knees.

"Did I do it right?" Her voice was a breathy puff of air, arousal making her feel dizzy as she fought to keep her eyes open.

"Do what right?"

"You told me once that you liked a certain combination of scents on my body—I wanted to smell extra good for you tonight."

Inuyasha's eyes lit up in a way that had Kagome's stomach turning in on itself. Holy shit, this man was breathtakingly beautiful when he radiated with happiness.

The half-smirk he wore made Kagome's knees feel awfully wobbly. "That's almost thoughtful of you, Kagome."

"It was a little selfish of me too, if I'm honest."

"Oh, yeah?"

"Mmhmm—I want my scent haunting you all night, too, so you're dying to get your hands on me."

"I already am."

Kagome chuckled, drawing her purse strap up her arm to rest on her shoulder. "You gonna behave yourself tonight, Inuyasha?"

"Do you want me to?" He asked with a cheeky expression behind his eyes. "I have a sneaking suspicion she gets a little wet at the premise of me misbehavin'."

Kagome snorted. "Well, I can't be the only one on my best behaviour tonight."

"Will you really? Be on your best behavior, Kagome? I kinda like the thought of you gettin' a little bad for me."

Kagome quirked an eyebrow at him. "He has a thing for bad girls does he?"

"No more than you havin' a things for bad boys."

"Do I have a thing for bad boys, Inuyasha?"

Inuyasha stepped up to Kagome, cupping her ass in a swift movement then forced their bodies together. Kagome gasped as her palms came up to his pecs.

Inuyasha lowered his lips to hers until they barely touched. "Why doesn't she tell me?"

"Inuyasha..."

"What? You like that a li'l too much, Kagome?"

She tried to give him an intimidating sneer but her lust undermined her.

Inuyasha chuckled. "I know you like it when I'm rough with you, Kagome." He squeezed her ass cheek to the point of stinging, but Kagome gasped as the bite of pain quickly transformed into pleasure. "I've been lookin' forward to not holding back with you. Your body is mine tonight, understand? To touch, to have, to enjoy as I see fit." Inuyasha slid his hand under the hem of her dress. He groped her leg, digging thick fingers into her thigh to guide her limb until he had it wrapped around his hip. The sensation of Inuyasha's coarse skin palming up and down against the suppleness of hers had Kagome gasping.

She wanted him to cup her ass like this, beneath her dress, but he didn't—like the bastard knew she'd like it too much or something.

Kagome licked up the side of his neck, nipping his jawline before she reached up to give one of his ears a gentle rub between her thumb and forefingers, eliciting a pleased rumble from his throat. She gave him her most intimidating, seductive expression. "So, this is probably as good a time as any to confess I don't plan on wearing any panties tonight on our date."

The look in his eye, the reserved growl in his throat that turned into a whine when he tried to deny it, had Kagome giggling.

"As soon as you step out into that hallway, Inuyasha, I'm shimmying out of the panties I'm wearing currently. I have an extra pair in my purse in case of emergencies but, I recall someone once encouraging me to go bare, so I thought why not give you a little something else to think about tonight while we're out and about?"

Kagome leaned forward and kissed his lips, pleased with how a little of her lipstick stained his plush pillows." She reached up with her thumb to wipe the dark red away.

Inuyasha seemed a little stunned, like Kagome took the wind out of his sails. With another little giggle, she stepped around him, patting him on the bum as she passed with a quiet, Good boy, and then held the door open for him to usher him out.

"After you, Mr. Taisho—I have some ridiculously wet panties that need to be dealt with."

"Fuck me, Kagome," Inuyasha seethed, picking up her overnight bag and tossing it over his shoulder before he stepped into the hallway. "You're fuckin' intoxicating."

She smiled, hiding behind her front door as she stepped out of her panties and kicked them to the side. Her labia felt slick with wetness but Kagome decided the appeal of flaunting her nakedness to Inuyasha was worth the mild insecurity of never having gone commando before.

"Maybe I like knowing that you find me intoxicating," she teased.

Inuyasha snorted. "Well, congratulations, Kagome, my tongue is itchin' to feast on your skin."

"Well," she sighed, with a flirty look over her shoulder, "do apologize to your tongue for me, Inuyasha, because I want to enjoy the rest of your company before I allow myself a one-on-one visit with it."

"You sayin' you wanna get reacquainted with my tongue later, Kagome?"

"Oh yes. Intimately. I was denied a good tongue fucking yesterday, if you recall."

Inuyasha pulled a face then looked away from her quickly, a strain visible in how he held himself. He licked at the corner of his lip before Kagome cast him a playfully flirtatious look over her shoulder as she stepped into the elevator.

Kagome grinned at him wickedly, holding the elevator door open for him, making a dramatic show in how she pressed her thighs together. "You coming, Mr. Taisho?"