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Kurama was supposed to find a restroom and hide for a few minutes after shaking hands with hundreds of different lower ranked youkai nobles that came eager to sniff around the newly opened doors of the Western Keep
The Dog Clan, one of the oldest demon clans and the first to migrate to Makai once the barrier was placed, was known to not get involved with youkai affairs. At all. Not when Raizen was about to die; not when a tournament was placed to decide the next leader; not when Sensui tried to take down the barrier. They simply didn't get involved—not with humans, the Spirit World, or Makai's own politics.
Imagine Kurama's surprise when Yomi informed him they would be attending a ball at the Western Castle to celebrate the engagement of the West's second-in-command, Inuyasha, to Prince Kouga of the wolf demons. Kouga already had a son with Princess Ayame of another wolf lineage, though the two had never been mates. Everyone assumed they would mate eventually, but it was now clear why that never happened.
Yomi and Mukuro had been talking among themselves when Kurama sneaked away. Servants carrying trays of mouthwatering food and expensive drinks flowed through the corridors as Kurama deftly slipped between them, heading toward what he assumed was the kitchen. Under normal circumstances, he would have simply followed his nose. But a barrier cloaked the Keep, not suppressing a demon's youki entirely, only muting it enough to blur every scent.
He turned right and found an empty corridor. White doors with intricate golden patterns lined on each side. One glance was enough to tell him he'd stepped into a private area. He prepared to turn back when a door opened.
A woman came out.
She wore a shimmering red strapless gown embroidered with crystals, a fluffy white boa draped around her shoulders. Her hair was swept into an elegant bun adorned with delicate crystal ornaments shaped like the Western Clan's crest. Yet, none of that was what had Kurama speechless. It was Higurashi Kagome, the girl he'd gone to middle school with and, as far as he knew, an ordinary human.
“What are you doing here? Guests aren’t supposed to come to this wing,” she said, marching over with her hands on her hips. "Hold on... Have we met before?"
Kurama released a low ruff. Most of his human acquaintances never failed to comment on his striking looks. Yet here was Higurashi, squinting at him as though they'd merely passed each other in a park.
“I suppose I wasn’t that memorable if you can’t remember a classmate,” he joked.
“Classmate?” she repeated. “It’s been some time... I don’t quite remember most people I went to school with.”
What a blow to his ego. Somewhere, he knew Hiei was laughing at his expense.
“I suppose almost ten years is enough to forget when you don’t keep in touch.”
Kagome almost snorted. “Try multiplying that by fifty. I haven’t been to school in a few centuries. But,” she gave him a look that he could only describe as pleased, “I think I would remember going to school with a fox youkai.”
He saved the ‘centuries’ comment for another moment and chose to focus on the compliment.
“And I didn’t know the pretty girl sitting on the second row had business with Makai. Guess we are both full of surprises today.” He took hold of her hand and placed a kiss on its back. "You know me as Minamino Shuichi. My real name is Youko Kurama."
His lips lingered for an additional second against her skin.The faint tingle of reiki against his senses told him enough. If Higurashi hadn't known he was a youkai, then Kurama hadn't known she was a miko either.
“Minamino,” she murmured. Her free hand rose, stopping barely an inch from his hair. “You were the only one who wore the school uniform. And your hair was shorter.” She brushed a strand between her fingers before casually letting her hand rest on his shoulder. “I like it better now.”
The quiet confidence with which she said it was every bit as captivating as her smile. Kurama was no stranger to compliments about his appearance. Working at his stepfather's company, he knew more than a few deals had been secured as much by his charm as by the products themselves. Yet hearing those words from Kagome felt strangely different.
He wanted to know more. This was the same girl—no, woman—he had met all those years ago, and yet she felt like someone entirely different. He had once been certain she was human. Now, he wasn’t so sure. The very air of Makai would kill most humans after prolonged exposure. And judging by the secluded wing she'd emerged from, she clearly belonged somewhere ordinary guests did not. A trespasser would never have made it that far alive.
“You look quite alluring yourself, Higurashi.”
The blush that flared on her cheeks was as cute as he remembered.
“Call me Kagome.”
“Only if you call me Kurama.”
Later, when he found out she was Sesshomaru’s ward and and the highest ranked female in the West, the second in command coming only after Sesshomaru himself, he got even more interested.
Although Kurama still despised these kinds of events, maybe now he’d have more reasons to attend them.