"Can we get lunch today?"

Kagome pauses and then looks over her shoulder. "You want to meet up today?"

Satoru bites his bottom lip and nods. Today he is wearing a black fitted shirt and white pants instead of his typical work uniform. "We didn't have lunch together yesterday... unless you already have plans." His brows furrow together as he runs a hand through his white hair.

Kagome closes the fridge door and turns fully to look at him. "I was going to hang out at the shrine today. Do you want to have lunch with us there? Gramps is doing some big blessings today, which means I need to do it." She shakes her head. "He's got some spiritual powers, but not enough to make a real difference."

Maybe she should just focus on the shrine and do missions with Satoru here and there, so she doesn't get rusty.

"Wait..." Satoru walks over to her and wraps his arms around her. "Does that mean you'll be in traditional gear?"

"Yeah? Why? You got a thing for priestess outfits?"

"Nah, but I got a thing for you."

Kagome looks away. Her face is hot. How can he say things like that so casually? "Syouma texted me, wanting to see Koushi."

Satoru snorts.

"We could," Kagome continues, "just have a family lunch. Mama won't care and I'm sure she'd prefer to meet Syouma before the housewarming party, anyway." Speaking of which, she needs to sit down and make a budget today, so they have some furniture in time. She'll have to get the bank details from Satoru before he leaves for work, since her name isn't on the account yet.

"Love that he texts you more than he texts me."

"You want him to text you?"

"No."

This time Kagome huffs. "Alright, I need to make breakfast and then head to the shrine." She plants her hands on his chest and pushes him back, but Satoru slides his hands down and cups her ass. "Satoru."

"Hm?"

"I need to make us breakfast."

"We could go out. There's a cafe on the way to the shrine." He bends his head and nuzzles her neck. "Besides, I want to see Koushi before I head to my first mission." He kisses her neck while his hands squeeze her ass. "You don't have to cook every day, unless you want to," he adds, sliding a hand between her thighs. To Kagome's embarrassment, her legs widen to accommodate him.

"You say that, but..." she trails off.

"I can't help it," Satoru confesses. "Love touching you." He inhales and takes a step back, clenching his fists at his sides. "We should go now before I lose it."

Kagome bites her tongue. Before he loses it? He lost it so many times last night that she couldn't keep up with how many times he caused a blackout. "How did you last a year without having sex?" she jokes.

"Easy, they weren't you." He waves a hand in the air as if it's no big deal. "I'll drive us, so you have the car. I can just teleport to the school." He smiles, and it's so boyish that Kagome's heart beats a little faster. She nods and takes his outstretched hand. Being with Satoru is easy.

Too easy.

On one hand, she wants to go with the flow and see where things end up. On the other hand, she knows what heartbreak is like and she never wants to go through that again.

"I got a question," Satoru says after they get in the car. He slides his shades down.

"What is it?" He's never been shy before around her. Kagome fiddles with the necklace while she waits for Satoru to ask his question.

"Could we have Koushi's 100-day celebration at the estate?"

Oh, that's what he wanted to ask her. Kagome drops her hand and places it on her lap. "Sure, I guess the rest of the clan wants to see him." She reaches for her purse and pulls out her phone. "I'll ask Ito-san for help then. She's been begging for something to do. I'm guessing this will just be a family affair, then."

"Yeah, that'll be for the best. Ryu will probably want to put on a show." Satoru shrugs one shoulder as he pulls out of the parking spot. "Not that I remember mine, but going off how ecstatic everyone is about Koushi, I can only imagine there will be a lot of people showing off. Some members will probably try to win your favor."

"What? Why? They should be trying to win your favor, not mine," Kagome says, as she sends the message to Ito-san. Best to do it now before she forgets. "You're the clan leader."

"Eh, I haven't exactly hidden how enamored I am with you."

Kagome blinks. This reminds her of the demon courts. It was a sore spot for InuYasha when Sesshomaru declared her as the alpha female of the pack. Some ladies would try to cozy up to her in hopes she would put a good word in for their mates. She never did. "What I'm hearing is, I have all the power in this relationship," she jokes.

"Yeah," Satoru sighs, with a smile on his face. "I'll stop by a sex store later today. I want to see if your bindings can hold me." He slaps her thigh and squeezes it. Kagome flushes. Satoru is so touchy. "Here we are," he sings songs. "You'll love this place. It has the best pastries."

Kagome clucks her tongue. "You're eating some kind of vegetable for lunch."

Satoru coughs. "Would you be able to help Megumi sometime with creating shikigami? His curse technique is the ten shadows..." Satoru falters when Kagome shoots him a confused expression. "Basically, he has ten shikigami he can summon, but he has to tame them first. I've got good eyes so I can understand how different curse techniques work, but your level of shikigami use is in a whole other tier."

"Bring him to lunch today and I'll talk to him. And you're still eating vegetables." Kagome rolls her eyes. He really thought he could change the subject on her.

"But the sugar stimulates my brain," Satoru whines.

"I don't think you need any more stimulation." She reaches for the door handle and then blinks. How did he move that fast? Satoru opens the door and holds out his hand. "You really don't have to get the door every time."

"I like doing it," he replies, pulling out his phone. The biggest smile slides across his face. "Got a meeting first and then missions later."

"Meeting for what?"

"The blackouts."

Kagome sighs. "Just tell them it was because of you."

"Nah, I want to hear what they come up with first." Satoru opens the door and leads them to a table near the window. "I'll order for us. Anything special you want?"

Kagome shakes her head. "No, just get me whatever." She isn't picky. Satoru flashes her another smile and bends down to kiss her cheek before heading back to the front of the cafe. Kagome turns her head and looks out the window. Everyone seems to be in some kind of rush. She taps her nails on the table.

Being in this time—her time—is peaceful. She should have taken Shippo with her.

"Kagome?"

She turns her head and bites back the sigh. "Hojo-kun, hi." He looks nearly the same as he did all those years ago, though his shoulders are broader now. He's wearing a white-collared shirt and black slacks.

"I wasn't sure if it was you," Hojo says, pulling out the chair.

"That chair is taken," Kagome points out. Hojo freezes and then slides the chair back. He cracks a grin and then grabs a chair from another table. Okay, looks like Hojo is going to invite himself, regardless.

"Did you order anything?" he asks, scooting the chair closer to her. His hands wrap around his drink. "I can get you something. I don't mind." He runs a hand through his hair. "It's been so long since we've seen each other." His eyes drift down and then snap back to her face. "You look amazing."

"... Thanks. Is there something you wanted?"

Hojo-kun blushes. He clears his throat. "Well... I was hoping to take you out sometime. The girls told me a while back that you have a kid now, and the dad isn't in the picture." He takes a drink of his coffee and then runs a hand through his hair again. "You can always bring him too, if you can't get a babysitter. I always thought about getting your number from the girls, but I didn't want to impose myself on you. And I don't know how hard it is being a single mother, but I am here for you... and maybe this time, we could make it work."

Kagome leans back. She hasn't seen Hojo-kun since she graduated from high school. He's still hung up on her? "Hojo-kun, I am with Koushi's father."

"Oh?" Hojo-kun looks down and then looks back at her. "But he isn't me."

Kagome blinks. Well, she wasn't expecting that response.

Hojo opens his mouth and then closes it. He turns slightly and nearly shrivels in the chair. "Sir, we're busy."

Satoru sets the coffees down, along with a bag of pastries on the table. He snatches his shades off and hangs them on his shirt. "Friend of yours?"

Kagome blows out a breath. "Satoru, this is Hojo. We went to school together."

Hojo whips his head around toward Kagome. "Kagome and I dated." He puffs his chest out.

"Is that so?"

"We went on one date," Kagome adds. "Hojo was just leaving." She takes a sip of the coffee and smiles. It's not too sweet. She was worried at first with how much sugar Satoru likes to drown his coffee in.

"Right..." Hojo stands and grimaces. "Well, I didn't get your number."

Kagome presses her lips together. Is he purposely being obtuse? Or is he not reading the social cues? "Hojo, this is Satoru," she repeats, "Koushi's dad." Kagome doesn't break eye contact with Hojo. "My..." She can't say fiancé since Satoru hasn't proposed, so she settles on "My man."

Hojo blinks and then looks at Satoru again. "Him?"

"Why are you still here?" Satoru grumbles. Kagome places a hand on Satoru's side and lightly scratches him. He unfolds his arms and settles down. "I leave you alone for a second and the vultures swarm," he says with a sigh.

Hojo frowns and straightens his shoulders. "Kagome, with all due respect. This man wears shades indoors. That's textbook for a jerk."

"Satoru has sensitive eyes. That was very rude of you, Hojo. Shouldn't a doctor have more sympathy?"

"... I'm not a doctor," Hojo mumbles. "I took over the family herbal shop instead." He rubs the back of his head. "Turns out I can't handle the sight of blood very well. Not since that day."

Kagome grabs Satoru's wrist and tugs him, urging him to sit down. "Sorry to hear that, but we're good here—"

"That ex of yours scarred me."

Satoru leans forward. "InuYasha? What'd he do, give you a black eye?"

Hojo rears back. "I don't get into fights." He scoffs. "No, InuYasha brandished that oversized sword of his around, and my hand got nicked in the debris. I passed out from the sight of it. Luckily, Eri was around to help get me out of there." Hojo chuckles, though it's hollow. "Who knew a fake sword could actually do damage?"

Kagome slides her hand under the table and squeezes Satoru's thigh. He stiffens and turns his head slightly to look at her. She ignores him for now. "I'm sorry to hear that, Hojo," she says again. "But Satoru and I are trying to enjoy our morning together."

Hojo blinks. "Oh... right. You're with him." He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a card. "Well, if you ever need to get away from him or... well, here's my information." He sets the card down on the table and then backs away. Not paying attention to where he's going, Hojo keeps walking backward until he backs into someone else, spilling his drink on his clothes.

Satoru cracks his neck. "Just curious. Was it a real sword?"

"Real one." Kagome takes her hand off his thigh, but Satoru grabs her hand. She raises a brow. "I want food."

"I'll get it," Satoru quips, opening the bag. "So, it was a real sword, huh?"

"Yeah, there was a moth demon at the school and InuYasha was trying to kill it. Hojo was just unlucky in that he didn't get out of the way." Strange, she expected Satoru to be more pissed by Hojo's presence. Maybe he really just didn't like that Naoya guy.

"... Demon? You mean curse, right? So InuYasha is a sorcerer."

Kagome tilts her head. "How long is your lunch break?"

Satoru shrugs. "I don't have a time limit. Why?"

"Because it'll be easier to show you." She takes a bite out of the pastry. Her heart is beating like mad. She's never told anyone outside of family about demons. But Satoru is family now. And she misses Shippo. Satoru stares at her, so Kagome holds out the pastry for him to take a bite.

"We should have eaten at home," he says after a moment.

"You don't like the food here?"

"It's not that." Satoru throws an arm over her shoulders and strokes her arm. "I just have the sudden urge to bend you over my knee and spank you."

"Satoru!" Kagome flushes. So, he is pissed about Hojo.

"There's an alley," he continues, leaning forward until his lips are just a hair's width from her ear. "Could put up a veil..."

Kagome shivers. "You're just trying to mark your territory."

"You are mine," he whispers.

Kagome wets her lips. She should say no. She shouldn't always give in to him. "I'll put the barrier up."

A/N: Happy Sunday! I saw that JJK's break has been extended. Hopefully, Gege isn't working themselves too hard.

"What would it take for Gojo to get rid of the higher-ups?" In this verse, he needs proof that it was them that set up the bounty. It could have been the higher-ups or it could have been other clans, etc. How To Tame Satoru is getting rid of them now. That might be a side story, father-son bonding over killing the higher-ups. I think in any verse, if Satour has proof of the higher-ups going after his family, then he would get rid of them.

"Have you seen that viral pheromone perfume?" I have not, but I'll have to look it up.

"Who does Koushi enjoy bullying more?" Ijichi for sure. Ryu is far more giddy about the pranks because it gives him bragging rights about how strong Koushi is.

"Has she given anyone else an energy massage?" Yep. InuYasha of course, Miroku, Sango, etc. They didn't react like Satoru lol.

"Does Mama H approve of Satoru?" Yep, she wouldn't have given him permission to call her mom if she didn't.

"Is Koushi sweet with Gramps and Sota?" Koushi is actually a pretty chill baby around his mom's side of the family. It's the sorcerers that get his mischievous side. Somehow this is Satoru's fault.

Have a wonderful week! Make sure to get plenty of rest and listen to your body. Got the test results back for my dog and she's got a zinc deficiency like we thought. Take care!