Kagome glances at her phone and then looks around for Ayumi. It was a last-minute invitation. She lifts her hand and waves when she spots Ayumi in the crowd. "You made it!" Kagome slides her phone into her purse.

"Of... course." Ayumi holds up a finger. "Hold on. Can't breathe."

Kagome laughs. "You didn't have to rush here."

"Are you kidding me?" Ayumi sucks in a breath. "You invited me to the Ritz Carlton!" She pauses. "Not to be a buzz kill, but Kagome, I can't actually afford this." She frowns and wipes her hands on her jeans. "Did you want to go somewhere else?"

Kagome shakes her head and links their arms together. "I'm paying. Well, Satoru is footing the bill, but same thing. Kind of."

"Oh," Ayumi says. "Well, in that case. We should get the cheapest option."

"... I got us the Sakura package." Kagome opens the door and lets Ayumi's arm go, so she can walk in. "Don't worry about it." Even though she says to Ayumi, she's really telling herself not to worry about it. Satoru was insistent on her treating herself today. "Hi. Higurashi," Kagome tells the woman at the desk.

"This is really nice," Ayumi murmurs. Kagome slides the black card to the woman and then looks around. The hotel is huge. The floors look freshly polished and there is an overall grandness to the lobby. Perhaps it is the large windows and how the natural sunlight lights up the area?

"Right this way," a woman says, smiling at Kagome. "I will lead you to our spa area, where you can get changed." Kagome takes the card back and follows the woman. "It is a bit early, but we have champagne, if you would like a flute."

"Oh, that's okay, we'll be fine," Kagome answers.

"No worries." The woman points to a room. "You can place your items in one of the lockers. Please wash quickly and then go through the door on the right. The masseuses will be there waiting for you. There are robes for you to change into if nudity is a concern."

Kagome blinks. Wait, so they are to put on a robe but not a towel? Ayumi nudges Kagome to get moving. "Thank you," Kagome says to the woman right before sliding the door close.

"We're gonna be butt ass naked."

Kagome snorts and then laughs. "I've never had a professional massage before. I didn't know." The massage she got from Satoru does not count. "It'll be fine. The Sakura package comes with everything. Full body massage, scalp, facial, and I think foot as well." Kagome strips out of the simple blue V-neck dress. "Besides, I think we are both overdue for one."

"I hear that," Ayumi agrees. "You didn't want to invite Yuka?"

Kagome shakes her head and closes the locker. "No. I wanted to talk to you, and we haven't really hung out with just the two of us." Kagome bites her bottom lip and turns to look at Ayumi. "I wanted to ask before we go out there... did you know about Satoru?"

Ayumi doesn't say anything for a moment and then sighs. "I don't know him, know him. But I know he works for the government." She wrings her hands. "I... uh... can see those things. Curses."

Kagome nods, indicating for Ayumi to continue. So, her intuition was correct. Ayumi knows more than she let on.

"That's my real job. Scouting. I get paid more than I did at the office, but I've seen him at sites from time to time. So that's about the extent of how much I know of him."

"So that's why you weren't upset with me? About Koushi and Shippo?"

Ayumi chuckles. "Kagome, I knew there was something different about you back in middle school. InuYasha's cap came off once. I thought I was crazy, but Eri and Yuka could see InuYasha too. And the curses tend to hide whenever you're near." Ayumi wraps the towel around her and heads towards the showers. "Not that they saw his ears. But just that they could see him and not the other things told me that InuYasha was different." She stops and sighs. "I don't blame you for never bringing it up... I did once."

Kagome presses a hand to her mouth. "Back in sixth grade? Is that why you were gone?"

"Yeah... turns out telling trusted adults you see curses lands you in the hospital." They head into the showers and wash off.

"But how did you get caught up working as a scouter, then?" Kagome asks, raising her voice to carry over the water.

"That's, uh, a longer story." Ayumi shuts the shower off and grabs a towel. "But to keep it short so they don't come in here worried we're dead or something. I got attacked by one. Stared at it too long. A man, a sorcerer with dark hair, saved me and got me set up with the managers. I can't fight them, but I can scout them out and give that information back to the managers. And I learned my lesson about staring at them."

"Wow..." Kagome towels off and then slides the robe on. She walks over to Ayumi and pulls her into a hug. "I wish I had known back then. There was so much I didn't tell you because—"

"I get it. Really." Ayumi pulls back. "What matters now is you're back, and this means I can see you more?"

Kagome smiles. "I'm not going anywhere." They link arms again and head for the door on the right, like the woman said.

Maybe she should make Ayumi a charm or something? Especially if she's going out of her way to feed information back to the school.

"Just curious. How much did this package cost?"

"Around 72,000 yen each."

Ayumi stops and stares at her. "Okay, next movie night is going to be at your place."

"Oh! I forgot. We're getting a house. I'll throw a housewarming party, but I don't want Eri there." One of the first things she did when she got up was to block Eri on everything. Normally, Kagome gives people second chances and maybe even a third, but she does not have the energy to do so with Eri. If Eri was truly sorry, then she would have apologized or said something, but she never did, and some things Kagome just can't forgive. "I think it's for the best I do not speak with Eri again."

Ayumi nods. "She wants your man, and she would double down if she realized how rich he is, too." She scoffs. "I wouldn't tell her shit."

If the masseuses are offended by the crass language, they don't show it. Instead, they instruct Kagome and Ayumi to go to the massage tables. The full body massage with the rose quartz crystals is heavenly. When the massage is over, Kagome is so rejuvenated she sets up another appointment in two weeks.

"Is this about to be our thing?" Ayumi asks, patting her face. "I've never felt so soft."

"I think so," Kagome agrees. She blows out a breath. Maybe she should have consulted with Satoru first before booking a second appointment for her and Ayumi. She'll talk to him during lunch about it. "We'll catch up. I'll need some help with furniture shopping."

Ayumi's eyes light up. "Ugh, you know I love shopping." They hug and then wave goodbye. Kagome gets to the restaurant before Satoru and the boys do, so she opts to wait outside for them. She chose somewhere close to Satoru's missions so they wouldn't have to go far and a place that has private rooms for them to dine in. Kagome shifts her weight to the left. Her breasts feel heavy. It is about time for Koushi to eat.

"Mama!" Shippo yells, drawing some attention. Satoru picks up his strides. "Look what I got!" Shippo holds out a tablet because, of course, Satoru got him one.

"That's great, Shippo," she says, trying to ignore how Satoru is staring at her. She can just feel the heat coming through his blindfold. Best to not make eye contact with him for now. Kagome ducks her head and kisses Koushi's forehead.

"I don't get a kiss?" Satoru whines.

"You look like you want more than a kiss," she says.

His smile is instantaneous. Damn it. Kagome tucks her hair behind her ear just to give her something to do with her hands. She blinks and looks around Satoru. "Oh, is Ijichi joining us?"

"No."

"He likes Shoko though," Shippo says. "And Shoko is meeting us."

Satoru frowns and then turns around. "Oi! Hurry up."

Ijichi points to himself and then bustles over to them. "I... was going to get food over there."

"Shoko is joining us," Shippo chimes.

"I am so honored you invited me to lunch," Ijichi says to Kagome. He doesn't look at Satoru. "Kagome-san, you look amazing. Glowing."

"Aw thanks, I went to a spa."

"We should go in and get our room," Satoru says, grabbing the door for Kagome to walk in. The door slams. Kagome jumps a little and looks back. "He's fine," Satoru says, placing a hand on Kagome's lower back. Shippo snickers.

Kagome presses her lips together. These two are going to be trouble together, she can tell. Satoru gets them a private room and takes a seat closest to the door. Shippo sits at the head of the table, and Kagome sits between Satoru and Shippo. Ijichi sits opposite of them, but across from Satoru. He looks at the door every so often.

Aww, he must be smitten with Shoko.

"She said she's almost here," Satoru says, placing his phone on the table. "I got you something while we were out."

Kagome nurses Koushi with the nursing scarf pulled over them and reaches into the bag. "You didn't have to get me anything."

"Mhmm." Satoru rests his cheek in his palm as he watches her. "You do look beautiful." He slides a hand under the table and touches her thigh. "How are you softer than this morning?"

Ijichi coughs and hits his chest with his fist. "I'm okay," he wheezes out.

"You're like a walking disaster," Shippo chirps.

Kagome pulls the box out of the bag and her eyes widen. "Satoru..."

"You like it? Noticed you didn't have a lot of purses."

"This is a Birkin." While she does not keep up with all the designer fashions, she knows that Birkins can cost as much as a down payment on a house. Kagome holds it up a little longer and then puts it back into the box. She sets it down on the floor between her and Satoru.

"Sorry, I only got one since space is limited right now, but I sign the paperwork on Thursday." He squeezes her thigh. "Which means Shippo and Koushi get their own rooms."

"Can I have a TV in my room?" Shippo asks while drawing something on his tablet.

"Yes."

"No."

Satoru clamps his mouth shut. Kagome unlatches Koushi and fixes her dress. "No, you do not need a TV in your room. You'll just stay up and watch movies."

Shippo pouts, but doesn't argue.

The door slides open and Shoko walks in. Kagome flashes her a smile. "Sorry I'm late," Shoko says, sitting next to Ijichi. "I've been trying to sort out Nanami and the others all morning."

"Cool story," Satoru says. "I'm ready to order."

"Satoru." Kagome squints at him. "Be nice."

The tips of his ears burn pink. "I'm always good."

"I doubt that." Kagome directs her attention to Shoko. "Is it anything I can help with?"

Shoko brightens. "Well, actually, if you don't mind taking a crack at it. I can't get Nanami to change back to his normal self. And Panda is still a zebra. Yuta hasn't moved from that spot."

"Kagome doesn't need to do your job," Satoru grumbles as he pushes the button for the server.

"Ignore him. He's protective," Kagome says. "It's just one thing."

"You're supposed to have the day off and now you're about to do work." He leans over and rests his head on her shoulder. "Oh, you smell nice." He inhales. "I can't stop touching you. You're so soft."

"They're always like this," Shippo says. "Papa is a pervert."

Shoko chokes. "What?"

"Can't you just help them tomorrow?"

"You're serious about me not lifting a finger today?" Kagome wets her lips. "As long as it isn't a life-or-death situation, then I guess I can look at them tomorrow if they still need help." She elbows Satoru right as the server comes in. He makes a big show of being offended, but takes delight in ordering for them. "You know, Shoko, I might be able to help you without having to go on the campus," Kagome says, after the server leaves.

"Oh? How so?" Shoko leans forward. The bags under her eyes are terrible and Kagome feels slightly bad for coming to this lunch fresh off a spa treatment.

"Well, your energy is a little twisted up. Probably because of stress. I could help loosen it, and that might give you the breakthrough you need."

Satoru makes a choked noise in the back of his throat. "I don't think—"

"I would LOVE that," Shoko says, smiling. She makes a face at Satoru and then flutters her eyelashes at Kagome. "Love that. You have no idea," she repeats.

Kagome nods. Ijichi's shoulders slump and he seems more interested in his glass of water. Kagome tilts her head. Ijichi needs some kind of oomph.

"Provided no one reacts like Satoru, I can give you both an energy massage."

"OH Hel—"

Kagome gives Satoru a look.

"Oh, how wonderful," he chokes out with a grimace.

Kagome looks at him and mouths, "Behave." The hand on her thigh tightens before easing up. Satoru swallows and nods.

"How did you do that?" Shoko asks.

Do what? Tell Satoru to behave? Kagome shrugs. She doesn't see what the big deal is. Satoru is just being Satoru, but since Shoko and Ijichi are looking at her, as though she has two heads, she answers with a simple, "Trade secret."

Honestly, she doesn't get what the big deal is. All she said was to behave. It's not like she did the impossible. Satoru can be reasoned with.

A/N: Are some of you mind readers? How did you know Kagome was gonna offer an energy massage to Shoko lol.

I've been going back and forth about this death in Wish I Could. I might just put it in one of those random draw pulls (don't judge me).

I think, well I know Naoya is going to do something to tick Satoru and Shippo off, but I'm thinking of them sneaking into the Zenin clan and giving Naoya some nightmares. Just seems like something a fox could do.

Take care. Stay cool. Stay safe. Get plenty of rest and drink plenty of water. Here's a sneak peek at Stranded.

"I agree with Sesshomaru," the cursed one says. "Getting involved isn't going to help us."

Kagome plants her hands on her hips and stares up at the cursed one. "Look, if you want to sit this out, fine. I get it. But I'm going. I'm not going to sit around and not help when I'm more than capable of doing so."

"…Are you saying I'm not capable?"

Kagome sighs. "Satoru, your energy keeps fluctuating. I get it. You aren't up for it, so there's no harm in sitting this out."

Sesshomaru snorts. The cursed one's energy is not fluctuating for the reasons Kagome believes, but Sesshomaru isn't going to point that out. If this gets rid of the human, then good.

"I can help," the cursed one chokes out.

Kagome stares at him and then pats his chest. "Okay, but if you feel off, just let me know. I got your back."

"Priestess."

"What? Satoru needed consoling. This is a lot for him to take in."

The cursed human frowns.

"The human is fine."

"Sa-to-ru."

Sesshomaru keeps his face blank. Satoru's heart rate upticks. The spicy scent waffles over to Sesshomaru. He bites back his own arousal.

"Sesshomaru?"

"Where is this deserted one?" He asks, changing the subject.