Chapter Text
Kagome blew a loose strand of black hair from her vision as she leaned into her hands, feeling the strain in her slender fingers. She watched the warm oil seep beneath her fingertips as she worked her thumbs into wave-like motions.
She was so distracted by her thoughts she couldn't remember if the client had paid for a Swedish massage or a Deep Tissue massage. Focusing her attention on the client's breathing, Kagome tried to distinguish the old man's usual breaths from any signaling pain. Nothing made her believe her actions were displeasing to the client, so Kagome continued with the same pressure.
Knowing the client couldn't see her, she rolled her eyes at herself and how distracted she was. Between the loudness of her own thoughts, and the "sparkling river" spa soundtrack that played through the sound system speakers, Kagome couldn't hear anything.
Feeling the familiar strain in her fingers that signalled she was at the fifty-minute mark, she lessened her pressure and applied one final long, sweeping stroke towards the client's tailbone.
"And we're done," Kagome's soft voice called out into the small bamboo-designed room. "How did that feel?"
"My God," the client groaned, slowly lifting his elderly torso onto two thin, vein-coated arms. "That was the greatest thing I've ever experienced in my whole life."
Kagome smiled with closed eyes at the man as she wiped her hands on a cloth. "I'm so pleased you enjoyed yourself." Then, bowing her head at the man, she said, "Thank you, once again, for your business, sir. It was my pleasure to serve you again. I will leave you to change. Enjoy the rest of your day. I look forward to seeing you next time."
"Thank you again, Kagome," the man called. "I will certainly be scheduling with you and your magic touch again soon."
Laughing softly, Kagome nodded then left the room.
Closing the door with a soft click behind her, Kagome released an exhausted sigh. She pulled her cell phone from her pocket to check the time: 18:20. She groaned—she still had an hour and a half left before the spa closed.
Stretching and flexing her hands and each individual finger as she walked down the hall, Kagome smiled and nodded at clients and colleagues who passed her on her way towards the main reception desk. Kagome wouldn't mind taking the next client a few minutes early. Taking them early meant she could leave early, and after the week she'd had, she just wanted to go home and bury her head in the sand.
"I'm sorry, Kagome. I truly hope I didn't waste too much of your time. I just—It's been fun, and I really do consider you one of my dearest friends. I just need to move on from this town, from this life. You understand, don't you? We've known each other since we were kids—I need to experience something new, something that Tokyo can't offer me. Please understand, Kagome, it's not…"
"It's not you, it's me," Kagome scoffed under her breath with an eye-roll.
It was the oldest excuse in the break-up handbook—it's not you, it's me. It was the oldest line in the book and Hojo used it to dump her.
High school sweethearts. Their yearbooks had labeled them most likely to end up together. Yet, Hojo had the audacity to take her out for their usual Thursday night date night, to their usual restaurant, at their usual table, only to break up with her there.
And he thought she'd stay to finish her meal. Was he serious? He couldn't have been serious? He's just lucky she stormed out of there without making a scene.
Well, more of a scene.
Kagome sighed.
Now, here she was, working at Madame's on a Friday night when she never worked Fridays—and today had been one of the busiest shifts Kagome had ever worked. At the time, she thought picking up an extra shift was the distraction she needed. But, she was so wrong.
She was never supposed to engage the clients; she was supposed to give them the space for self-reflection, mediation, hell, a nap if they wanted one. That meant she had nothing but time to think while her fingers, palms, fists, forearms, and elbows went to work. Working had given her nothing but time to stew, to reflect, to question, to allow her frustration and anger to fester.
Kagome huffed out a breath of air. She was so not in the mood for this. Walking down the narrow corridor, Kagome just wished, for the tenth time, she had called in sick. She wished she could go back in time and un-pick up the shift.
Most likely to end up together, her mind sneered, thinking about her relationship—ex-relationship—with Hojo. Her thoughts were taunting her.
You mean, most likely to end up single, maybe, Kagome thought with a flustered breath.
She sighed, holding back a gagging eye-roll as she watched a giggling couple emerge from one of the rooms used for couples' massage. Forcing a professional smile at the pair, Kagome kept on her way.
Stepping through the frosted glass French Doors that led to the reception area, Kagome offered a small wave to the girls behind the front desk.
"Koji is done," she exhaled, drumming her fingertips against the large wooden desk. "Who's my next—" And last, she thought gratefully— "appointment?"
Kagome listened to the speedy mouse-clicks as Suki, the older and most tenured of the receptionists, browsed through their appointment booking system.
"Ah, that's right—it's the twenty-second! That explains why it's been chaos today." Suki stated the date as if that was supposed to mean something to Kagome.
"The twenty-second?" Kagome prodded, raising her eyebrows in enquiry.
"It's the bachelor party," Ayame, the other receptionist, offered with a giggle.
"Bachelor party?" Kagome repeated with an incredulous look. "Who has a bachelor party at Madame's? I didn't think it was that kind of spa…"
Ayame snorted. "It's Madame's best client, Kagome."
Kagome nodded her head in understanding. Ah—so, it was Sesshoumaru's bachelor party.
Sesshoumaru—it was the one name that everyone who worked at Madame's recognized. He was the reason Madame's was even on the map to begin with. A wealthy client's referral can do wonders for a new business.
But, who Sesshoumaru was, no one but Madame herself would ever know.
First names only—that was Madame's rule. Staff were not to engage, were not to ask questions, were not to seek details about clients. Kagome was there to offer a service—an expensive one—and that was that. Madame was the only one who knew the client's full name, contact information, payment information. In the rarest of cases, Madame even knew what some of her own clients did for a living. Discretion and privacy were the topmost priorities at Madame's. It was the one distinguishing feature that led so many celebrities, entrepreneurs, and well-traveled business moguls to their small, months-long-waiting-list salon.
Kagome never had the pleasure of having Sesshoumaru as a client, but she had heard the rumours of his attractiveness and his appeal. Apparently, he tipped well too.
And he was having a bachelor party. Who knew?
Lucky girl, Kagome thought about the bride-to-be, allowing her mind a momentary dip into self-pity.
"How many clients are in this party?" Kagome prompted, forcing her mind out of its dark recesses. She could have plenty of time to mourn, and gripe, and feel badly for herself once she was done her shift.
"Ten in total," Suki replied.
Kagome snorted with a shake of her head. "That's full capacity! Who booked this? Madame? Did anyone think to tell the clients we don't have enough single rooms for ten people?"
"Apparently, they're fine doubling up," Ayame offered.
"You're in the Unmei room with Sango," Suki stated unfeelingly, her eyes and long eyelashes not leaving her computer monitor. "The clients will be escorted there for hot stone after their micro is done."
What kind of guys wanna go for microdermabrasion and hot stone massage for their bachelor party? Kagome questioned disbelievingly.
Weren't guys supposed to go to strip clubs? Vegas?
Kagome's mind was already tired from psychoanalyzing her failed six-year relationship with Hojo. She didn't feel like contemplating the reasons why a groom and his band of groomsmen would want to be pampered at a luxury spa instead of throwing handfuls of cash at semi-naked women.
"ETA for my client?" Kagome asked with a sigh.
"Enough time for you to get your stones ready," Suki replied cheekily.
"Thanks," Kagome responded curtly, offering the girls a forced smile before retreating through the frosted door.
One more client, her mind chanted. One more client and then I can go home and wear a hole in the couch. Thank God, it's the weekend, she thought, releasing a sigh with closed eyes.
Bowing her head at a passing client, Kagome turned on her heel to head towards Unmei room. The sooner she got there, the sooner she could prep, so the sooner she could begin, so the sooner she could leave.
Kagome wanted to entomb her face in mountains of ice cream, watch movies with heartbreak or abundant violence, order pizza, and cry. Isn't that what newly-single dumpees were supposed to do? Kagome inwardly mapped out what her weekend itinerary would look like as she slid open the large wooden pocket door.
"Kagome," Sango called warmly, turning to smile at her colleague. "I was just beginning to wonder where you were. I started heating your stones for you. The clients should be here any minute."
Withdrawing from her thoughts, Kagome offered Sango an appreciative smile. "Thanks so much, Sango."
Sango nodded away Kagome's thanks with a thin smile. Rolling up her sleeves, Kagome took in her favourite coworker's appearance: drawn-back, thick brown hair; pink scrubs; soft features; and a high-energy that radiated off her and filled the room.
Most days, she found it impossible to be in a sour mood when Sango was around. Kagome was just grateful some divine being saw to grant her a small reprieve to her terrible day and buddied her up with Sango.
"So, am I the only one who finds it a little weird that a group of grown men decided to come to a high-end spa for a bachelor party?"
Kagome laughed at Sango's words. "No, I definitely thought something similar. Suki said it's Sesshoumaru's bachelor party. He must not just be a rich man, but a fancy rich man."
"Mm-hmm," Sango called, laying out fresh towels and smoothing out the sheets on the massage table on her side of the room. "I heard as much. Can't say I've met him though. Apparently, he has Madame usually for his massage. Kagura may have filled in once?"
Kagome giggled, mirroring Sango's actions on Kagome's side of the room. Staring at the space between the two beds, Kagome realized that she and Sango would have to coordinate their actions—there were only a few feet separating the massage tables.
"He's one of the few clients I wouldn't mind knowing the surname of," Kagome stated, speaking her mind. "I'd love to know why everyone, even Madame, walk on eggshells around him. He must be some high-and-mighty bigshot. Especially since he's closing out the place on a Friday night."
"He's one of Madame's regulars," Sango called, fluffing a pillow. "I remember hearing something about him owning a chain of banks or two."
"I'm shocked Madame would let something like that slip."
"I think it was Kagura who let that little detail slip."
"Ah," Kagome nodded, "not surprising. Also, can't say I'm surprised that Madame's favourite is one of those rich, fancy, and powerful businessmen."
Kagome turned her attentions to the hot stone warmer on the counter and allowed some silence to pass while she checked the temperature. She could feel the heat from the pot-lights on the back of her neck as she worked. The ever-repeating flowing river playlist continued to drone on in the background.
"Am I the only one who feels like this playlist makes me have to pee every five minutes?"
Sango laughed through her nose, casting Kagome an amused grin. "Maybe you should take a bio-break before our clients get here."
"You think I have enough time?"
Sango nodded. "They'll need some time to disrobe and get into the sheets before we start, anyway. Nothing wrong with keeping them waiting a few minutes."
Kagome smiled her thanks at Sango. "I won't be two minutes."
"Take your time, Kagome. I'm in no rush to get out of here."
Yeah, but I am, Kagome thought, casting one final look at her station's set-up before hastily leaving the room and sliding the door closed behind her.
Tugging at her light-yellow scrubs, Kagome's eyes followed the pattern of the wooden floor as she headed towards the washroom. The sound of raucous, boisterous laughter drew her out of her internal dialogue, and her eyebrows furrowed, her eyes turning upward.
Standing in front of the women's washroom, Kagome watched as two tall, broad-shouldered men, wearing the recognizable Madame's monogramed robes, took lunging steps down the hallway. Dark hair with blue eyes and silver hair with orbs of fire caught Kagome's attention as her own eyes followed their trail down the hall. Mina, one of Kagome's colleagues, was rushing to follow behind them with quick-paced steps.
"So, I said to her, I said 'Listen, hunny, keep it as a something to remember me by!'"
The silver-haired man snorted a laugh. "You're disgusting. I can't believe that worked."
"Every time!" the black-haired man chirped with a stomach-shaking laugh.
Kagome tried to keep her face neutral as the three figures walked right by her, not a single person acknowledging her presence.
"Gentlemen," Mina called in her nasally voice. "Unmei room is right in front of us. Please disrobe," she said with a hint of pink on her cheeks that made Kagome roll her eyes, "and we will be right with you."
"Thanks, doll," the black-haired man crooned.
The silver-haired man gave Mina a lazy thumbs-up that caused Kagome's head to tilt to the side with a curious expression.
As the door opened, Kagome could hear Sango's rich voice welcome the men and provide her instructions. Kagome and Sango exchanged knowing smiles once Sango stepped out and the pocket door closed. Kagome watched Sango fall into her routine, standing with her back to the door, waiting for the men's cue that they were ready for her to enter.
Turning back the way she came, Mina met Kagome's eye and she offered Kagome a playful smile.
"You're with Sango, right?" she asked.
Kagome nodded, her hand still on the door.
Mina smirked. "You girls are gonna have your hands full with those two."
"Why?" Kagome questioned with a frown. She always hated having to deal with clients who mistook Madame's to be one of those "happy ending" establishments.
Mina merely laughed and stated, "You'll see," with a wave of her hand and waggle of her eyebrows while she scurried off down the hall, mentioning casually she had to get to the rest of the bachelor party.
I don't want a handful, Kagome mentally groaned, heading into the one-room facilities. I want a hassle-free last appointment, and I want to go home.
Kagome sighed loudly as she relieved herself, staring at her feet.
"I really should have called in sick."
Washing her hands and trying to get into character—trying to emerge from her funk—Kagome approached the Unmei room pocket door, offering a smile to Sango.
"Good timing," Sango greeted. "They're ready for us."
"Mina said they're a handful," Kagome whispered to Sango.
Sango rolled her eyes, exhaling heavily through her nose. "I honestly wouldn't expect any less from a bachelor party…"
"Let's get it over with, I guess," Kagome lamented, tightening her ponytail.
"After you," Sango gestured.
'Thanks', Kagome mouthed with a playful sneer as she walked into the room.
Sango slid the door closed behind them as Kagome's eyes explored the muscular, toned backs of both men. She had walked into silence, which caught her a little off-guard, but Kagome approached her counter quietly, her eyes not leaving the back of the silver-haired man. Apparently, he was hers for the next forty-five minutes.
Kagome immediately fell into her routine, reviewing the 'New Client' paper identifying all she was given—which was all she was allowed to know—about her client.
First name: Inuyasha.
Health concerns: None.
Sensitivities: None.
Please Circle Any Areas of Discomfort—Kagome took note he had circled the stock image's shoulders.
Placing the paper down on the counter, Kagome turned her attention to her stones. Scooping them, drying them, and placing them in the pouch of her apron for easy access, Kagome's ears listened to the imitated motions of Sango behind her. The girls completed their actions to the backdrop of a river flowing through the sound system in the room.
"Ladies, a question if I may," spoke the black-haired man from the silence.
"Of course," Sango answered. After all, the black-haired one—the sheet identified his first name as Miroku—was Sango's for the session, so Kagome felt comfortable leaving Sango to manage his address of them both.
"My esteemed friend over there was concerned with proceeding with this massage because he doesn't want to be burned by the stones. Is there any reassurance you can provide him?"
The silver-haired man—Inuyasha—scoffed at this. "You're an asshole, Miroku," he bade from his facedown position on the table.
Miroku laughed heartily at this. Sango and Kagome exchanged an unimpressed glance.
"I can assure you both that Kagome and I are quite competent," Sango spoke up, her tone firm yet professional. Her eyes turned playfully to Kagome. "No one will be burned today, unless either of you specifically requests it."
Miroku laughed, turning his face to smile at Sango. The sight of a deep-set dimple seemed to catch Sango a little off-guard.
"Have you ever had clients request that you burn them?"
"On one or two occasions," Sango quipped, flashing him a toothy smirk. "Now, if you're satisfied with that response, please relax. I'm just about ready to begin."
Both girls heard Miroku stifle a chuckle in his throat before resuming a facedown position.
Kagome's client groaned in response. "You're a fuckin' pervert, Miroku."
Kagome rolled her eyes, knowing both men couldn't see her from their facedown positions. Rubbing a stone quickly in between her palms, feeling her shoulders relax from the warmth that absorbed into her skin, Kagome approached the head of her client, Inuyasha.
"Inuyasha," she spoke softly, wanting her client to know she was addressing him. "Are you ready for me to begin?"
"Clearly. If I wasn't ready for my massage, I wouldn't be ass-up on your table, now would I?"
Kagome took a deep breath to calm herself in response. Was that really how he chose to respond to her innocent question? Could he be any ruder? Kagome wasn't anywhere in the mood for this type of client today.
I should have called in sick, she griped, biting her cheek to silence herself as she began to trail the stones up and down his spine.
Feeling him flinch at the initial contact, Kagome was quick to remove the stone and replace it with her hand. She leaned towards his ear, which was an adorable white triangle atop his head. It kind of looked like the ear of a Shiba Inu. Was Inuyasha a dog demon?
Not that Kagome could always recognize her demon clients, but Inuyasha was the first one she'd had that was so obviously not fully human.
"You okay?"
He grunted at her in response, a sound that puzzled Kagome but that she took to mean he was fine and she should continue.
A simple, 'Yes, I'm fine, please go on, thanks for checking in' would be nice, she thought sourly.
Kagome found her mind becoming lost in the ministrations of her hands, her fingers becoming numb with the warmth of the stones she coaxed and prodded into his shoulder blades, along his spine.
Ever since she became a Registered Massage Therapist, Kagome never struggled to maintain her professionalism, despite the appeal of the various clients she had had over the years. Somehow, it was always too easy for her to fall into her routine, compartmentalizing the parts of the body she worked on rather than viewing her client as a person.
Kagome knew massage was one of the more intimate versions of physical therapy, and she took her practice very seriously. Ever since she was hired at Madame's, Kagome had dealt with a variety of clients. Those that moaned under the actions of her hands. Those that asked her out afterwards. Those that awkwardly excused themselves once they rolled onto their back and presented her with an erection. Those that had the audacity to ask how she planned to finish the job after presenting her with said erection.
Kagome's eyes followed the hypnotizing movements and lulls of the strong back under the pressure of her hands and her stones.
"Sweet Holy Mother, you're good with your hands," Kagome heard Miroku call to Sango.
The two girls shared a friendly smirk. Neither responded.
"Has she burned you yet, Inuyasha?"
"Not yet," he growled in his baritone voice. The comment elicited an eye-roll from Kagome.
"You keep that up and you're going to give me the impression you want to be burned," Kagome snapped softly, inwardly recoiling after the passive-aggressive comment left her lips. She knew better than that.
"You sass all your clients with that mouth?" he retorted challengingly.
"You talk your way through all your massages?"
"I think they're getting along," Miroku crowed to Sango, his tone laced with amusement.
After leaving a trail of stones along his spine and covering him with a bedsheet, Kagome wiped her brow with her wrist.
She shouldn't be allowing him to get to her like this. She was supposed to be the professional here. He was just some obnoxious groomsman partaking in a bachelor party. She had no more than thirty minutes left with him and then he'd be out of her room, out of the salon, and she'd never have need to think of him again.
As Kagome reached for his hand to remove his limb from the sheet, Kagome's eyes widened at feeling the gruff, callous fingers close in around her wrist.
"Are you done with my back?"
"Yes," Kagome answered, trying to hold back the irritation in her tone.
"Didn't my sheet say I have shoulder pain?" He scoffed. "You didn't do anything about it."
Kagome drew her lip into her mouth and bit down. The comments she wanted to say were just too quick to come to her tongue. Taking a deep breath and releasing it silently, Kagome's eyes narrowed at his back.
"Of course, sir," she forced, faking a smile. "My apologies. Happy to assist."
I'll show you…she thought, retrieving fresh stones from her warmer.
Removing the sheet from his back, and tucking it in around his midsection, just above his tailbone, Kagome quickly discarded all the stones she had left on him. Her eyes circled the divots in his back, the alluring curve of his spine. Absentmindedly, Kagome found her palms running the length of his back, her thumbs applying pressure to his lower back dimples. There was nothing of Hojo in this back—this back was very fit, broadly muscular, and golden. It was a man's back. Kagome wouldn't have expected his skin to be as soft as it was.
Her eyes kept floating back to how his silver hair was tossed over his shoulder, flowing like a curtain off the massage table, revealing the nape of his neck. How could a neck be so alluring?
Don't even, her mind warned. It's a neck. Nothing but a trapezius, scalenes, Levator scapulae, and Splenius capitis muscles, she thought, mentally working her way up the muscles of his neck. It's not a man—or even an attractive but mouthy one—it's just a bundle of muscles.
Now calm your raging, confused hormones and focus on your work.
She felt him fidget uncomfortably under her palms and Kagome exhaled in annoyance.
"What? Not enough pressure?"
"N—no," he mumbled. "It's fine."
"What's she doing to you, Inuyasha?" Miroku goaded. "You're sounding a little flustered over there, my friend."
"Shut up, Miroku," he growled.
"Sango," Miroku responded immediately, "be my eyes, would you? What is your colleague doing to my friend? I daresay I demand the same treatment."
Sango turned her eyes towards Kagome, raising an eyebrow at the fact Kagome seemed to have discarded her stones to instead use her palms and fists to knead Inuyasha's lower back.
Kagome ignored the questioning glance she received from her friend and colleague and focused her sights on Inuyasha's back. If he wanted her to pay special attention to his shoulders, then she'd pay special attention to his shoulders alright…
Grabbing stones she had just placed in her pouch, Kagome angled them intentionally and pressed down into Inuyasha's shoulder blade. If Kagome was being honest with herself, she could have eased into his scapula a fraction gentler.
"Jesus Christ, woman!" he shouted, lunging upwards from the table.
Kagome took a step back in alarm, dropping the stones onto the floor in surprise as Inuyasha grasped for the bedsheet. Storming golden irises confronted her auburn orbs, widened in dread.
What on earth was she doing, antagonizing a client like this? She knew she'd be in a world of trouble should Madame find out about this…
Kagome inwardly groaned. She really should have called in sick today.
Kagome felt her mouth dry. She grew speechless at the sight of him: the pull and tightening of defined muscles in his arms as he held himself up to glare at her beneath dark, menacing eyebrows.
"That fuckin' hurt," he accused, his eyes darting back and forth between hers.
Kagome tried to steady her heartbeat and returned his glower. "I didn't mean to. It was an accident."
His eyes narrowed. "It felt intentional."
She fought back the desire to roll her eyes. "Will you please lay back down?"
"Why?" he questioned hotly. "So you can continue to torture me?"
"Inuyasha," she sighed, not in the mood for this confrontation. She forced her irritation down into the pits of her stomach. "I'm sorry my actions weren't enjoyable, and I assure you it will not happen again. Can you please turn facedown on the table so I can continue?"
"You can surely accept her apology considering how nicely she put it, Inuyasha," Miroku smirked, rolling his head to the side to face his friend.
Sango raised her hands away from Miroku in confusion, her eyes focused on Kagome. What was with her today? She seemed completely unlike herself.
Inuyasha rolled his eyes with a scoff, and eased his body down onto this table. Kagome widened her eyes upon noticing he lay on his back, his arms resting on his belly, rising with each of his breaths. Feeling his eyes on her, Kagome willed herself to maintain his eye contact, and not allow her eyes to wander across his chiseled chest like she wanted to. She felt her stomach flutter at the sight of his defined collarbone in her peripherals.
Feeling badly that she and her client had disturbed Sango and her client, Kagome leaned towards Inuyasha to whisper.
"I thought I said on your stomach?"
A smirk snaked out from the corner of his mouth at her. "I don't trust you."
Whatever, she thought, turning away from him to pick up the stones she had dropped. Front, back, it doesn't matter. The sooner he's out of the here, the better.
Placing more stones in her pouch, Kagome removed two and started massaging them into her palms. She could feel him watching her with those spotlight irises. She could feel the searchlight gaze explore her face, narrowing his own eyes questioningly.
"No more stones," he ordered.
Kagome bit her lip in irritation. "But your party ordered hot stone massages."
"Yeah, well, I don't want any of your hot stones, alright? Just finish me with your hands."
The comment caused Miroku to erupt in a boisterous round of giggles. Even Sango couldn't deny the faint smile that took over her face, as if Miroku's laughter was contagious. Inuyasha retracted into himself with a flush on his cheeks. He was painfully aware of how his masseuse was looking at him. He could see the look of shock on her face, and he could undeniably feel the heat from the blush that took over her features.
Miroku, sighing as he came down from his giggles, lifted himself from the table to smile at his friend. "I don't think this is that kind of establishment, my friend. Perhaps we should ask your brother if that's the kind of place we could head to next, though, eh?"
"Oh, pipe down, Miroku," Inuyasha spat in a fluster. He could feel his heart palpitating with embarrassment.
"It—it's alright," Kagome sputtered, her cheeks a very obvious hue of pink. "I knew what you meant."
Watching Inuyasha lay himself back down on her table, Kagome took a moment to discard the pouch she wore that housed the stones. Turning back to face Inuyasha, Kagome rubbed her hands together, dispersing the two pumps of scent-free oil she just collected.
"Wh—What are you doing?" Inuyasha questioned, his eyes feverishly taking in and questioning every action of hers he saw.
"It's oil," Kagome stated matter-of-factly. "Otherwise, I can't—well, I can, I guess—it's just so it feels better. You know, for you."
Inuyasha reddened at her words.
Kagome's cheeks flushed at hearing Miroku snicker at her words.
What was this nonsense? Why were both of them flushing like schoolkids, like idiots? Kagome had never experienced this before; she was always able to maintain her composure with her clients. Why had this one guy thrown her so off course? Was it because she was already reeling from being dumped less than twenty-four hours ago? Was it because she couldn't deny just how good-looking this client was when she allowed her mind to go there?
Standing in front of his head, Kagome took a deep breath to centre herself, rubbing her hands together with one final lather, before placing her palms on his chest and pushing downwards, towards his abdomen.
She felt a shiver run down her spine as she inhaled his scent. She had no idea what brand lotion or body wash it was that he used, but it quickly became her favourite masculine scent. It was mild. Not a musky cologne but a subtle fragrance that left her senses feeling warm.
Perhaps she liked it so much because clients were supposed to adhere to Madame's scent-free policy. Kagome wondered if Inuyasha had signed the waiver without reading it. Or perhaps he just didn't give a damn.
Kagome's cheeks flushed. The oil was supposed to be heat-activated with the pressure, but Kagome couldn't remember the last time her hands burned like this from contact with a client's skin.
She really wished he would stop looking at her. She could feel his eyes bearing into her chin, staring up at her face with every forward plunge of her hands towards his abdomen, every push of her thumbs that indented his skin. Her peripheral vision could make out the softest crimson on his cheeks.
Why was he flushing when she was touching him? It was her job to touch him! She was a masseuse for crying out loud!
Seeing him become flustered made Kagome blush all the more.
Why was she suddenly so self-conscious that her breasts were dangling in front of his face? Well, not dangling, but she was hyper-aware that when she leaned forward like that, her breasts were hovering over his face.
Kagome found herself enjoying the feel of his skin beneath her fingers. Locking eyes with him for a fleeting second, she began to worry that he could hear the thudding of her heart in her ribcage. Didn't dogs have better hearing than humans? Could he detect that kind of thing?
Miroku calling out to Inuyasha to ask him a question gave Kagome a moment's reprieve, and she inwardly sighed. Rounding the table, Kagome grabbed hold of Inuyasha's right arm and worked her fingers into his biceps brachii. Massaging her fingers down his arm, Kagome found herself getting back into the rhythm of her routine.
Brachialis…subclavius…delta…infraspinatus…
Kagome's brow furrowed, her mind focused. She was back to herself, back to compartmentalizing her client. This wasn't the obnoxious client, Inuyasha. It was just an arm, a torso.
"What was the plan after this?" Miroku prodded. "Dinner?"
"Sesshoumaru seemed pretty keen on not doin' the strip club," Inuyasha groaned.
Was he groaning because of the subject matter or because of how Kagome was working into the muscles of his arm?
She tried to let that thought go.
"Bummer," Miroku sighed.
The comment grew a snigger from Sango's teeth.
"Care to share with the rest of the class?" Miroku provoked, an eyebrow raised up at her.
Sango snorted from where she stood, massaging a stone into Miroku's foot.
What is she doing? Kagome wondered, turning a questioning eye to Sango. It's not like Sango to engage a client during treatment.
Pfft—it's not like me to do that either.
"It just seems so stereotypical," Sango casually stated. "A bachelor party at a strip club."
Miroku smirked. "Ah, yes, but coming for an entire evening of pampering? You must admit that's not so conventional."
"No," Sango offered. "It is a little unique."
"That's Sesshoumaru for you," Inuyasha offered.
"So, Inuyasha," Miroku called, turning his face to address his friend. "As Best Man, if no strip club, where will you take us next?"
"There's a reservation at that steakhouse we talked about. Other than that, we'll probably just take the show back to his place—"
"Where the strippers will be waiting?"
Inuyasha sneered. "There's no strippers, Miroku. Didn't you listen to what I just said?"
"I heard you, but I fail to believe that Sesshoumaru has no interest in strippers. I mean, every guy likes a good lap dance."
"Apparently every guy but Sesshoumaru," Inuyasha sighed, his eyes falling back on Kagome as she went to town on one of his calves.
He had to catch the groan that developed and threatened to leave his throat. He couldn't believe how good this chick was with her hands. It was unlike any massage he'd ever experienced in his whole life.
"I wonder what that's like," Miroku continued to ponder, his eyes creasing in a smile as he watched Sango work. "To be so in love with another that one would intentionally give up strippers."
"Yes, lucky Rin," Inuyasha mocked. "I have no idea what she sees in that asshole, but that's neither here nor there."
"I think it's sweet, personally," Miroku sighed. "They've been together long enough; I was surprised it took your brother that long to even propose."
Brother, eh? Kagome mused. So Inuyasha is related to Sesshoumaru. Not that that means anything to me, she quickly concluded, a flush rising to her cheeks.
Inuyasha, having never taken his eyes off Kagome, caught the change in her facial features and raised an eyebrow at it. He was curious what she may have been thinking to encourage such a response.
"Yes, well," Inuyasha sighed, "that's my brother, for you: the dense romantic. I think Rin dropped enough hints that he was movin' at glacier pace."
"It's a good thing Kikyou was around to help move things along, eh?"
Despite these names being foreign to Kagome, it didn't take a mastermind to realize the energy in the room had taken a turn for the worse at the mention of the name Kikyou. She felt Inuyasha's muscles tighten in her hands, and she approached the side of him, gazing into his face questioningly. Despite her eyes trying to will his to meet hers, he wouldn't look at her. Kagome saw the way he turned his face to the side, his eyes scouring the patterned floor. He seemed introspective. He seemed sad.
"Did I do something to hurt you again?" Kagome asked in a dry whisper. "You seem uncomfortable."
"What?" Inuyasha snapped, his narrowed eyes turning to meet her curious gaze. "No. No, it's not you. It's—I'm fine."
It's not you, it's me…
His comment triggering that memory caused a swell of anger to fuel Kagome's heart and she poured her focus into Inuyasha's shoulders. Reaching her palms under his shoulders, Kagome used her thumbs to massage the muscles in his neck.
She needed to stop getting so absorbed by these clients. She needed to focus on her work.
"Sorry, man," Miroku grumbled after a few heartbeats of silence. "That was stupid of me, bringing her up."
"Whatever," Inuyasha retorted, his tone silencing and discouraging future conversation on the matter.
Sango and Kagome were given a few minutes to work in silence. However, Miroku didn't seem to be done with the subject.
"Do we know what Rin is doing with that empty bridesmaid spot now?"
"I don't fucking know, Miroku. I can't say I've asked her."
Miroku seemed silent for an introspective minute.
"What about your plus o—?"
"Can we not fuckin' talk about this right now?"
The anger and exasperation in Inuyasha's tone made Kagome jump. Turning apologetic eyes to her, Inuyasha saw that she wouldn't meet his gaze. Narrowing his eyes, he inspected her features. He didn't know where his mind was before, but he would have been an idiot to not notice how attractive she was.
"Sorry about that," Kagome heard Miroku whisper to Sango. The two of them were behind Kagome.
"You don't need to apologize," Kagome heard Sango reply. Kagome tried to focus on Inuyasha's shoulder.
"You see, his long-time girlfriend broke up with him this morning," Miroku whispered in a mellow, hushed whisper. "Caught everybody off guard—him especially, of course. We all agreed that he needed something to…distract him."
"She was a bridesmaid?" Sango asked, causing Kagome to shake her head. She couldn't believe how much Sango was meddling with her client's business.
"She was. Inuyasha met Kikyou through Rin, his brother's fiancée."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Sango offered. "I know lots of clients who come to Madame's for self-care."
"That was Sesshoumaru's idea," Miroku replied. "He thought his brother could use a—"
"You both realize we can hear you, right?" Inuyasha snapped, raising himself up on his elbows to look over at Miroku and Sango.
Kagome had been massaging his hand when he chose to sit up. Her attentions couldn't focus on her work at that moment. Her eyes circled the appeal of his defined abdomen, the allure of his pectorals, and the reddened flesh of his nipples, glossy from the oil Kagome used.
She could hear the tone he directed at Miroku and Sango, but Kagome couldn't register his words. She could only see the beauty of this irritated man who clearly used exercise as a form of anger management. His shoulders bulked from how he held his weight, his belly button taunted her from its home in his shallow belly, centred between two hulking, well-defined hips. The modesty sheet had fallen as he sat up, revealing part of his hip and the cloth thong clients were given upon their entry to the salon.
Kagome's eyes ravaged the presented flesh, a lump forming in her throat. She had never had a client so…well, ripped.
Hojo certainly hadn't looked anything like this. Everything about this client—this, Inuyasha—screamed man.
Feeling the heat of Inuyasha's gaze on her face, Kagome looked up at him, feeling suddenly self-conscious that she'd been standing there holding his hand while he had been telling off Miroku and Sango.
"No offense," he offered her, causing Kagome's nose to shrivel in confusion.
She hadn't heard what led to him saying that, so she offered him a forced smile.
"None taken."
Kagome felt her eyes widen as Sango stormily approached the table, Miroku scrambling up behind her.
"I apologized for stepping over any lines," Sango began, her temper rising, "but you have no right to speak to Kagome that way!"
Hearing her name, Kagome's head played tennis to observe the stand-off between Inuyasha and Sango. Why was Sango yelling at Kagome's client?
"Wha—" Kagome began, but Sango's venting took over any words Kagome could speak.
"She is a trained professional—not some dumb bitch rubbing you down to make you feel better, and you should watch your mouth! That type of language will not be tolerated here!"
"I'm sorry, what did you call me!?"
All eyes turned upon Kagome in that moment as Sango's words slowly began to digest in Kagome's churning mind.
Dumb bitch rubbing you down?
"You said what about me?"
Inuyasha flinched at the stare Kagome directed at him.
"I—I…"
"I think we're done here," Kagome pronounced, taking a step away from Inuyasha and rubbing the excess oil onto the thighs her pants. "Gentlemen, enjoy the rest of your evening with your strippers or whatever the hell you end up deciding to do." Kagome's heart was racing. "Thank you for choosing Madame's, and I hope you enjoyed your service—"
"Hold on a sec!" Inuyasha called, holding out a hand to her while she started backing towards the pocket door.
"—while I personally hope to never see you again," she concluded with a smile. "Sango," she called, turning her sights to her friend and colleague. "I didn't get a chance to mention to you earlier, but Hojo dumped me last night and I won't be in on Monday—"
Kagome didn't stop her tirade as Sango directed a lamenting, "Oh, Kagome, I'm so sorry," at her friend.
"—and I plan on having a nice long weekend feeling sorry for myself." Then, turning her eyes to Inuyasha, Kagome frowned, saying, "Not all of us get the privilege of being rubbed down by some dumb bitch when we're feeling sorry for ourselves. Some of us have to turn to tried and true methods like stuffing our faces with junk food."
"Will you just hold on a sec?" Inuyasha cried, scrambling from the table, trying to wrap the bedsheet around his waist in an effort of retaining his modesty.
Kagome was out of the room before Inuyasha could call for her again. He followed her out, leaving a confused and slightly entertained Sango and Miroku in his wake.
They could hear him calling after her in the hallway, and the sound of a woman shrieking, "Excuse me, sir!" at the sight of his nakedness.
"What do you think he'll do when he catches up to her?" Sango asked, leaning out of the door to watch Kagome disappear out of the staff-only entrance; Inuyasha disappeared moments later out the same door.
"I think the question is what will she do? I don't think I've ever seen Inuyasha that flustered before," Miroku replied with a smirk.
"Well, he should be," Sango commented indignantly. "He had no right to speak to her that way."
Miroku nodded in understanding. "Inuyasha and I go way back, and my friend has always suffered from a condition called not thinking before he speaks."
Sango was quiet for a moment, reflecting on what her friend had just shared about her relationship with Hojo.
As if it suddenly dawned on her that Sango was alone with the Best Man's best friend, she quickly went into damage control mode. After all, it wasn't a wild leap to think that word could get back to Sesshoumaru, and then Madame, of what happened in Unmei room this evening.
"I'm sorry for the drama that's occurred tonight," Sango apologized with a small smile in tribute. "I promise you that this level of...drama, or unprofessionalism, is certainly not the norm at Madame's and we'll absolutely compensa—"
"Not at all, Sango," Miroku smiled, waving away her apology. He leaned against the massage table with a groan, clutching the bedsheet around his waist. The view caused Sango to blush. "I would argue that bachelor parties are supposed to be wild nights we'll talk about for years to come." He laughed, "I'm just sorry Sesshoumaru wasn't here to watch his brother chase a girl from the spa wearing only a bedsheet."
There's no way this naked client is following me to my car! Kagome inwardly grimaced.
Why didn't she call in sick today?
"For fuck's sake, just let me say something, will ya?"
"This is highly inappropriate!" Kagome called back over her shoulder, reaching for her phone to unlock her car using her phone application.
"If you stopped running, I'd be able to say my peace and we'd be done with this! It's your own fault it's draggin' out like this!"
"My fault?" Kagome spat, turning on her heel to stare at him with clenched fists. "I'm just doing my job, and you think it's absolutely fine to insult me, to my face. What is wrong with you? You can't just do that to people! Who do you think you are?"
"Will you please just fuckin' calm down?" Inuyasha cried, his eyes searching hers frantically. "I followed you all the way out here to fuckin' apologize, alright? Jesus, you're uptight!"
"I'm uptight?" Kagome mimicked with a laugh in her throat. "That's rich, coming from you!"
Inuyasha snorted an incredulous laugh. "You don't even know me. What the hell are you talking about?"
"Listen, you're not the only one suffering from a break-up, okay? That doesn't give you the right to go around treating everybody else like garbage. The world still goes on."
"That's some talk comin' from you, lady!" Inuyasha bickered, gripping the bedsheet around his waist. "When you're the one goin' around stabbing your defenseless clients with hot stones!"
"I didn't intentionally stab you!" Kagome snapped. "I'm a professional! It was an accident."
"Well, you're not actin' so professional right now, are ya, sweetheart?"
"Sweetheart?" she roared. "Are you kidding me?"
"Just go home and pig out on your junk food until you're feelin' better. I hear that helps all women cure themselves of third-degree bitchiness."
"You—you're an asshole!" Kagome spat. "I don't know who this Kikyou chick is, but I don't blame her for dumping your ass. You're incorrigible."
Inuyasha snorted, his cheeks flushing. He suddenly felt incredibly foolish and shaky.
Opening his mouth to offer his rebuttal, both Inuyasha and Kagome drew their attention to the large, silver-haired man shouting Inuyasha's name across the employee carpark.
"Must you embarrass our family name more than you already do, little brother? I suggest you get back inside immediately, before I send someone to personally collect you." The man sneered at Kagome, taking stock of her flushed cheeks and glassy eyes. "I don't care who this woman is, or what you've done with her, but that's enough. Inside. Now."
"Fuck you, Sesshoumaru," Inuyasha mumbled, turning on his heel after giving Kagome one more look over his shoulder.
Watching him hold the door open, turning to look at her, Kagome's insides felt riddled with guilt.
Oh God—that was Sesshoumaru. Like...her boss's Sesshoumaru. And Kagome had been having a screaming match with her boss's favourite client's brother.
Shit-shit-shit!
"Inuyasha!" Kagome called, running towards him. "Wait—please!"
"Feh!" he scoffed. "Why should I?"
"The things I said," she gasped, standing in front of him, her eyes bearing up at him in apology. "I'm so sorry. I've embarrassed myself; I let myself go because of, just, all the stuff that's going on for me, and that was so not okay. Please accept my apology."
Inuyasha felt his face flush as she her bowed her head to him, literally begging his forgiveness.
"Will you stop bowing? It's embarrassing." He rubbed a palm across his reddened cheeks. "Whatever—don't worry about it," he dismissed, turning his eyes away from her.
Standing in the doorway, awkwardly staring at anything but each other, Inuyasha flinched at hearing Sesshoumaru's resonant baritone voice calling to him to get inside. Again.
"I need to get back," Inuyasha sighed, rolling his shoulder. "Thanks for the—uh—the massage, Kagome. You actually aren't that bad."
Kagome flushed at the attempted compliment and nodded at him. "You're welcome." Then, looking down at her feet she said, "I'm sorry about your breakup, Inuyasha. I hope your weekend gets better for you."
"Yeah," he snorted, forcing a smirk. "You too."
Watching him disappear down the hallway in front of her, Kagome watched his muscles ripple beneath taut, golden skin. What was it about his back that had her compelled to stare? She felt winded standing there, her brain unable to digest the mountains of thoughts swirling within her mind.
Only one thing stood out to her then, and it was such a drastic, present thought, that it spurred her into action.
Surrounding her mouth with her hands she called, "I normally work every Monday through Thursday!"
Inuyasha turned to look at her over his shoulder with a raised eyebrow.
"I owe you," she called, her cheeks red. "Think of it as an apology favour. If you come back when I'm working, I'll make it up to you."
Inuyasha smirked. "Monday through Thursday," he repeated with a nod of his head.
"Monday through Thursday," she confirmed, smiling back him.
Then, she watched him disappear into the men's only section of the spa and Kagome allowed the door to slam closed in front of her.
What the hell was all that?
What a...what a strange turn to her day.
Why did she suddenly feel thankful she didn't call in sick today?