Chapter 4: Dynamics
As Miroku walked alone toward his car, the echo of his footsteps reverberating through the empty parking garage, his mind replayed the conversation with Sesshoumaru. His grin slowly faded, and the mischievous glint in his eyes softened as he reflected on the moments he had spent teasing his cousin. Beneath the playful jabs, there was something more—a deep, unspoken desire to see Sesshoumaru find something that could break through the impenetrable walls he'd carefully built around himself.
Miroku had always been the one to push people's buttons, to stir up trouble and laughter, but with Sesshoumaru, there was an undercurrent of genuine concern. He had spent years watching his cousin, observing the way he carried himself with such stoic detachment, never letting anyone too close, never letting anyone see beyond the mask of perfection he wore so carefully. And Miroku, for all his jokes and games, had always known there was more to Sesshoumaru than he let on.
The truth was, Sesshoumaru was lonely. Miroku could see it in the way he carried himself, in the way he kept others at arm's length. Sesshoumaru was a man who had everything—power, wealth, success—but he lacked something deeper. Something meaningful. Someone who could challenge him, who could make him laugh and break through his cold, composed exterior. And Miroku couldn't help but feel that Kagome might be that person.
He hadn't met her yet, not in person, but he had heard enough about her to know she was exactly what Sesshoumaru needed—sharp-witted, intelligent, independent, and someone who wasn't afraid to stand up to him. The incident at the coffee shop, the way she'd argued with Sesshoumaru and managed to catch his attention, only reinforced the thought. There was something about Kagome that Miroku couldn't quite explain, something that felt like the perfect match for his cousin, even though he hadn't seen them interact face to face.
He sighed, leaning against his car, his hand resting on the door. He knew he was being bold, maybe even a little reckless, pushing Sesshoumaru like this. But he couldn't help it. The idea of his cousin opening up, of finding someone who could make him feel something other than the cold, calculated existence he had built for himself—it was too tempting to ignore.
Miroku hadn't always been the type to meddle, to play matchmaker. But this was different. This wasn't about finding a fleeting connection. This was about someone who could challenge Sesshoumaru in a way that no one else could, someone who might help him see that he didn't have to carry the weight of the world alone.
As he slid into the driver's seat, Miroku couldn't help but smile to himself. He wasn't entirely sure how things would unfold, or even if Sesshoumaru would ever take the bait. But he was certain of one thing—Kagome was someone worth pursuing. She was exactly the kind of person who could catch Sesshoumaru off guard.
He started the car, the engine humming to life.
Miroku glanced in the rearview mirror, a wry grin returning to his lips. Maybe this will be the push he needs.
Sesshoumaru reclined on the edge of his bed, the soft glow of the estate's landscaped garden lights filtering through the expansive floor-to-ceiling windows. His room reflected his nature—meticulously designed, with clean lines, muted tones, and an air of refined simplicity. A sleek black nightstand held a book he hadn't touched in weeks, alongside his phone, which lay silent but ever-present.
The estate was silent, save for the faint rustle of wind through the trees outside. But within his mind, the quiet shattered, replaced by thoughts that circled endlessly back to the woman he'd met earlier.
Higurashi Kagome.
Her name had been spoken so casually, almost dismissed by others. And yet, it lingered with him. Her bold words, the way her gaze met his with no hesitation, the sharp edge to her retort—it was all so... unlike the polished decorum he had grown used to in the circles he frequented.
Sesshoumaru's golden eyes flicked to his phone, his fingers drumming once against his thigh as if deliberating. He was not one for idle curiosity, but something about her had etched itself into his thoughts. With a quiet exhale, he picked up the device, typing her name into the search bar.
The results loaded almost instantly.
Kagome Higurashi, MD Candidate at Tokyo University School of Medicine.
Her professional profile was precise, a testament to her achievements. A photograph accompanied it—her features composed and professional, a faint smile gracing her lips. Yet there was an undeniable fire in her eyes, one that even the polished image couldn't suppress.
Further scrolling revealed articles lauding her academic accolades, alongside mentions of the Higurashi family. A high-profile name in the pharmaceutical industry, led by her father, Naraku, with the graceful Kagura Higurashi by his side.
Another mention briefly caught Sesshoumaru's attention—a younger sibling named Shippo. There was little detail beyond a candid family photo from a gala, where a boy with an impish grin stood beside Kagome. Her hand rested lightly on his shoulder, her protective stance subtle yet unmistakable.
Sesshoumaru set the phone down, leaning back against the headboard as his gaze drifted toward the ceiling. The flickering light from the garden below danced on the textured surface. Kagome was not just intelligent and confident; she carried an undeniable presence.
A faint smirk tugged at his lips, a rare expression softening the sharp planes of his face.
"Interesting," he murmured to himself.
Kagome Higurashi had unsettled him—not in a way that caused discomfort, but rather with an intriguing ripple that broke through his otherwise placid routine. He found himself wondering when their paths might cross again. And when they did, he would be ready. Or perhaps, he thought, amused at the notion, he wouldn't mind being caught off guard once more.
Inukimi stepped gracefully into Sesshoumaru's room, her figure framed by the soft glow of the hallway light. She paused near the doorway, her keen eyes taking in the pristine space and her son seated by the window, his attention fixed on the sprawling gardens below, the vibrant greenery stretching out in the serene quiet of the estate.
"Sesshoumaru," she began, her tone light but purposeful, "the family has been invited to a charity gala next week. Will you be attending?"
Sesshoumaru turned his head slightly, his expression unreadable, before he finally replied, "I will attend, it is for charity after all."
Inukimi's lips curved into a faint smile, pleased with his response. "Very well."
With a nod, she turned to leave, her presence as poised and fleeting as ever, leaving Sesshoumaru alone with his thoughts, the distant hum of the city blending with the quiet resolve of his decision, while his gaze lingered on the gardens below.
Naraku adjusted his glasses as he stared down at the meticulously arranged blueprints of the ballroom. Shippo, perched on a stool beside him, swung his legs back and forth with all the energy of a child who had just consumed a questionable amount of sugar.
"So, Dad," Shippo began, pointing to a corner of the blueprint, "what if we put a giant chocolate fountain right here? With marshmallow catapults! That would be so cool!"
Naraku arched an eyebrow. "Marshmallow catapults? At a charity gala?"
"Yeah! Imagine how fun it would be! Adults like marshmallows too, you know." Shippo crossed his arms and nodded, clearly proud of his idea.
Kagura entered the room, holding a clipboard, and chuckled at the scene. "What are you two conspiring about now?"
"Marshmallow warfare," Naraku replied dryly, earning a giggle from Kagura and an enthusiastic nod from Shippo.
"Mom, hear me out," Shippo said, jumping off the stool. "We could have a candy-themed corner. It'll make the gala more fun for everyone, not just the boring grown-ups."
"I'll consider it," Kagura said diplomatically, scribbling something on her clipboard. "What's next on your agenda, Naraku?"
"We need to finalize the seating arrangement," he said, his tone clipped but focused. "The Taisho family and the Ishikawas can't be seated too close to each other. Apparently, there's some business rivalry brewing there."
Shippo wrinkled his nose. "Why can't people just get along? They're adults."
"A question for the ages," Naraku muttered, his lips twitching slightly at the corners.
As the planning session continued, Shippo's boundless imagination led to more unconventional suggestions—a live animal petting zoo in the foyer ("Absolutely not," Naraku said), a karaoke stage ("We're raising money, not causing auditory distress," Kagura added), and an ice cream sundae bar ("Actually, that's not a bad idea," Kagura conceded).
At one point, Shippo managed to spill glitter all over Naraku's dark suit. The man sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as Shippo scrambled to clean it up.
"You're sparkly now," Shippo said with a grin, holding up a hand mirror.
Naraku took the mirror with the gravitas of someone accepting a dire medical diagnosis and inspected his reflection. His usually pristine, commanding appearance was now hilariously undermined by a dusting of glimmering flecks that caught the light with every move. After a moment of silence, he let out an almost imperceptible chuckle, handing the mirror back. "I suppose it could be worse. I've seen worse fates," he said dryly.
Then, surprising Shippo, Naraku reached out and ruffled his hair, leaving a streak of glitter in its wake. "Just try not to spill anything else, sparkle-brain."
Shippo replied with a laugh, shaking his head to scatter more glitter everywhere. "Well, you're the sparkle king now!" He gestured dramatically at Naraku's glitter-dusted suit, earning himself a raised brow in return.
Naraku smirked, brushing a stray fleck of glitter from his shoulder. "Careful, Shippo. You're still within reach."
Shippo giggled, darting a few steps away, but his grin remained. For all his teasing, the playful glimmer in Naraku's eyes didn't go unnoticed.
By the end of the day, Kagura was both amused and touched by the sight of her husband and son working together—albeit chaotically. Shippo had fallen asleep on the couch, clutching a stack of colorful flyers he'd designed, while Naraku was meticulously reviewing the finalized plans.
Kagura placed a hand on Naraku's shoulder and kissed his cheek. "Thank you for helping with this. Both of you."
"He has… interesting ideas," Naraku admitted, his voice softer than usual. "But he's surprisingly creative."
Kagura smiled. "He gets that from you, you know."
Naraku looked at his sleeping son and allowed himself a rare, genuine smile. "Perhaps."
Kagome and Sango strolled down the chic streets of Omotesando, their laughter blending with the hum of activity around them. Kagome wore a soft beige trench coat over her jeans, her hair tied back loosely, while Sango sported a sleek leather jacket, exuding confidence. They had just stepped out of a patisserie, Sango carrying a bag of assorted macarons for her siblings; Rin and Kohaku.
As they turned a corner, a familiar voice called out.
"Kagome!"
They both turned to see Hojo, dressed in a casual blazer and jeans, jogging up to them. His boyish smile faltered for a moment before he smoothed it out.
"Hojo," Kagome greeted politely, though the faintest flicker of unease passed over her features.
"Fancy seeing you here," Hojo said, looking her over. "Though I suppose this is the kind of place someone like you would frequent."
Kagome's polite smile didn't waver. "It's a nice area to visit. How have you been?"
"Busy," Hojo replied, slipping his hands into his pockets. "Not all of us have the luxury of, you know, just wandering around whenever we feel like it."
Sango's eyes narrowed slightly. "Pretty sure Kagome's schedule is busier than most. Not that she has to justify taking a break."
Hojo's smile tightened. "Of course. I just mean…well, it must be nice not to worry about things like the rest of us. Some people have to work hard to get anywhere."
Kagome's voice was calm, almost soothing. "I'm sure your hard work will pay off, Hojo. It's admirable."
Hojo blinked, caught off guard by her genuine tone, but he quickly recovered. "Well, I guess it's easy for you to say that, with your family backing you up. Everything's probably handed to you on a silver platter."
Before Kagome could respond, Sango stepped forward, her stance protective. "You know, Hojo, for someone who's clearly interested in Kagome, you sure have a funny way of showing it. Jealousy doesn't look good on anyone."
Hojo flushed. "I'm not jealous. I'm just saying things how they are."
"And I'm saying maybe you should rethink how you treat people," Sango shot back. "Kagome doesn't owe you anything, least of all her time."
Kagome placed a gentle hand on Sango's arm, her voice steady. "It's okay, Sango. Thank you." Turning back to Hojo, she added, "I hope things work out for you, Hojo. It sounds like you have a lot on your plate."
The sincerity in her tone left Hojo fumbling for words. "Uh, yeah…sure. You too."
Without waiting for more, Kagome and Sango walked away.
As they continued down the street, Sango huffed. "I don't know how you stay so calm. That guy's insufferable."
Kagome smiled faintly. "It's not worth getting upset. People like that…they don't define me. And besides," she added with a twinkle in her eye, "I have you to back me up."
Sango grinned. "Always."
The Taisho family had decided to spend a rare day off together at the prestigious Tokyo Science Museum, a sprawling building filled with interactive exhibits, cutting-edge technology demonstrations, and hands-on experiments.
Toga Taisho, always the picture of confidence, led his family into the sleek glass building. Inukimi walked gracefully beside him, her presence commanding attention despite her understated outfit. Sesshoumaru followed a step behind, his expression calm and unreadable, while Inuyasha trailed along, clearly more interested in the cafeteria than the exhibits. Kanna walked ahead, clutching a small notebook to jot down everything she learned.
The Space Exhibit
The first stop was the space exhibit. Kanna's eyes widened as she approached a large model of the solar system that rotated slowly above their heads. "Look, Mama. The planets are moving just like they do in space."
Inukimi smiled, crouching beside her. "That's right, Kanna. And which one do you think is Earth?"
Kanna pointed confidently. "The blue one."
Toga chuckled, placing a hand on Kanna's shoulder. "Correct, my little scholar. Did you know Earth is the only planet with life as we know it?"
Sesshoumaru stood back, observing quietly but clearly impressed by Kanna's enthusiasm. Inuyasha, however, had wandered off to poke at a touch-screen display about black holes, looking bored until it emitted a loud, booming sound effect that startled him.
"Oi! What's with this thing?" he muttered, drawing the attention of nearby visitors. Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.
"Perhaps you should read the instructions before touching things," Sesshoumaru remarked dryly.
Inuyasha scowled but begrudgingly went back to exploring the exhibit.
The Robotics Hall
Next, the family visited the robotics hall, where they watched a demonstration of a humanoid robot that could mimic human speech and facial expressions. Kanna clung to Inukimi's hand, wide-eyed as the robot greeted her.
"Hello, young one. What is your name?" the robot asked.
Kanna hesitated for a moment before replying softly, "Kanna."
The robot smiled. "Hello, Kanna. Would you like to learn how I work?"
Kanna nodded eagerly, and the demonstrator guided her through the basics of robotics, answering all her questions. Inukimi and Toga exchanged a look of pride.
"She's going to surpass us all one day," Toga said, his voice filled with admiration.
"She already has your determination," Inukimi replied, her tone warm.
Sesshoumaru, meanwhile, found himself intrigued by the robotics technology, asking the demonstrator a series of technical questions that went far beyond the average visitor's curiosity. Inuyasha, however, had taken to racing a robotic arm in a stacking game, much to the amusement of nearby children.
Lunch Break
The family took a break in the café, where Toga insisted on trying the specialty matcha latte while Inuyasha devoured a plate of curry rice. Kanna flipped through her notebook, showing Inukimi the sketches she had made of the exhibits. Sesshoumaru sipped his black coffee, his attention briefly captured by a group of university students discussing artificial intelligence at a nearby table.
"Why don't you join them?" Inukimi teased lightly. "You seem more interested in their conversation than in relaxing."
Sesshoumaru gave her a small smirk. "Perhaps another time."
The Earth Sciences Wing
Their final stop was the Earth Sciences wing, where a simulated earthquake platform allowed visitors to experience the sensation of seismic activity. Inuyasha couldn't resist trying it out, dragging Kanna along.
"It's not that scary, see?" he said, as the platform began to shake. Kanna clutched his arm tightly, but when the simulation ended, she relaxed.
"That was fun!" she said, her initial fear replaced by timid excitement.
Toga laughed heartily. "You're braver than your brother, Kanna."
"Hey! I wasn't scared!" Inuyasha protested, earning a knowing look from Sesshoumaru.
Wrapping Up
As the day wound down, Kanna insisted on visiting the gift shop, where she picked out a glow-in-the-dark star map. Toga and Inukimi looked on fondly as she chatted excitedly about putting it up in her room.
Sesshoumaru lingered near the exit, his thoughts still on the robotics exhibit. Inuyasha, carrying a bag of snacks he had bought from the gift shop, nudged him.
"Bet you didn't expect this to be fun," Inuyasha said with a grin.
Sesshoumaru glanced at him and replied calmly, "It was... more engaging than anticipated."
The Taisho family piled into their sleek black SUV after a long and eventful day at the science center. Toga was behind the wheel, looking as confident as ever, with Inukimi in the passenger seat beside him. Sesshoumaru, ever the composed one, sat in the back, his arms crossed as he gazed out the window. Inuyasha and Kanna were seated in the middle row, and as usual, the energy between them was anything but calm.
The drive started peacefully enough, with Kanna softly humming a tune as she flipped through her newly purchased star map. But it didn't take long for Inuyasha to break the silence.
"So, Kanna," he said, leaning over with a mischievous grin, "what's your favorite planet?"
Kanna didn't even look up. "Saturn."
"Why Saturn?"
"Because it has rings. They're pretty."
Inuyasha smirked. "You mean the planet with hula hoops?"
Kanna's head shot up, her eyes narrowing. "They're not hula hoops. They're rings made of ice and rock. You should've paid attention."
"Ohhh, excuse me, Miss Science Expert," Inuyasha teased, leaning back dramatically.
Toga chuckled from the front. "She's got you there, son. Maybe next time you'll actually listen."
Inuyasha groaned. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever."
Sesshoumaru, who had been quietly observing the banter, finally spoke. "It's no surprise he didn't pay attention. He spent most of his time trying to win a game against a robotic arm."
"I almost beat it!" Inuyasha shot back, turning around to glare at Sesshoumaru.
"Almost being the key word," Sesshoumaru replied smoothly.
"Okay, Mr. Perfect. What did you do that was so amazing, huh?"
Sesshoumaru gave him a sidelong glance. "I didn't embarrass myself in front of a machine designed for children."
The car burst into laughter, including Inukimi, who rarely indulged in such displays. Inuyasha, red-faced, crossed his arms and sank into his seat.
"Whatever. At least I didn't get stuck listening to the AI lecture for an hour like someone," Inuyasha muttered, glaring at Sesshoumaru.
Before Sesshoumaru could retort, Kanna piped up, her tone sweet but matter-of-fact. "I think you're both silly. I liked the robot because it didn't argue with anyone."
The entire car went silent for a beat before Inukimi burst out laughing, her melodic chuckle filling the space.
"Wise words from our little philosopher," Toga said, shaking his head with amusement as he navigated through the evening traffic.
But the real chaos erupted when Kanna decided to share her glow-in-the-dark star map with Inuyasha. She held it up in the dim car light, and Inuyasha leaned in to take a look—only for the map to unfold directly into Sesshoumaru's face.
Sesshoumaru's calm composure cracked just slightly as he peeled the paper off his face with a glare. "Kanna."
"Sorry, Sesshoumaru," she said innocently, though the small smile tugging at her lips suggested she wasn't entirely remorseful.
Inuyasha, seizing the opportunity, burst into laughter. "Look, Sesshoumaru! You're in the stars now!"
Toga nearly swerved as he laughed so hard he had to grip the wheel tightly, while Inukimi had to cover her mouth to keep from joining in.
Sesshoumaru sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Remind me why I agreed to come today."
"Because you love us," Kanna said confidently, leaning her head on Inuyasha's arm.
Sesshoumaru glanced at her, his expression softening just slightly. "Perhaps."
The ride home continued with more laughter, teasing, and Kanna's endless commentary on constellations, leaving the Taisho family closer than ever, even if Sesshoumaru insisted on remaining the picture of stoicism