InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Angels Are Made From Ink And Pencils ❯ Saturday Night Fever ( Chapter 7 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: alakeshadow 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Comedy | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 06.20.2008 | Pages: 11 | Words: 10.6K | Visits: 217 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Comedy | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 06.20.2008 | Pages: 11 | Words: 10.6K | Visits: 217 | Status: Work In Progress
Disclaimer: The characters of InuYasha are not mine, they are property of Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, Sunrise, and Viz. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Disclaimer: I don't feel like making a big deal out of this disclaimer. I just don't own it, ok? There's nothing else to say.
Translation: Wakiaiai - Harmonious; peaceful; and/or congenial
History Lesson: Ballet is a form of theatrical dance that began to evolve in Western Europe during the Renaissance (1300-1600). Ballet technique consists of stylized movements and positions that have been elaborated and codified over the centuries into a well-defined, though flexible, system called academic ballet, or danse d'école. The word ballet can also denote an individual artistic composition using this dance technique. Such a composition is usually, but not inevitably, accompanied by music, scenery, and costumes. Toe dancing is often considered synonymous with ballet, but ballet technique can be performed without toe dancing. Because the steps were first named and codified in France, French is the international language of ballet.
ALSO: I use a lot of the “position” terms. If you're curious as to what those are then just go this website. Don't worry. There's pictures!
http://www.shoshone.k12.id.us/Nutcracker/positions.html
I f any of you are Ballet know-it-all's, let me know. My knowledge is basically everything that I've covered in this chapter and I might need to call on you for some help. Thanks!
Things To Know: Fouétte - A difficult, leg-swinging spin
Jeté en tournant - A ballet move in which the dancer leaps and makes a half-turn in midair before landing
FYI: As far as Kikyo goes…I don't HATE her…I just don't particularly like her. Really, I look at her situation with a great deal of pity, since if you were to put yourself in her shoes you would believe Kagome was a terrible person as well. So, I'm not going to make her into some horrible character like in a lot of other Kagome and Sesshomaru stories. To conclude, please don't expect anything horrific to happen to her. I know that you all have been thinking she and Inuyasha are together and you'll see what I have up my sleeve. It's a twist that's for sure.
Chapter 7: Saturday Night Fever
The beautiful is in nature, and it is encountered under the most diverse forms of reality. Once it is found it belongs to art, or rather to the artist who discovers it.
~ Gustave Courbet
She canceled our Saturday outing to the dance studio and when I offered to take her another time she refused to go then as well. Stupid me…I should have known she'd remain faithful to her boyfriend…and I should have known that she'd only let me so close before putting up boundaries. We see each other all the time now it seems…and these meeting always break me into tinier and tinier pieces as a result of her rejection. She acts so distant…talking for a few minutes and then making up an excuse to leave like having to let out her dogs or go back to work…which in all fairness could be the truth. She has her own life to continue on with…unlike me. I mean look at me - a twenty-nine year-old man who sells his artwork and works in a museum. She has so much more potential than I and I hate it God I hate this. I hate how all I can do is imagine her being here with me drinking a coffee or even just walking through the park together at our own leisure. I'm not worth her…I know I'm not…and yet…I still can't let her go. It's as if something inside of me would completely die if I did. I've gone through too much to give up now. I'm not sure how…or even if I can, but if the only way I can keep her in my life is through my artwork or the little five minute meetings we share here and there every other day then that is what I will accept. If that is what my lot in life is - to watch her from afar than so be it. The way I feel…it cannot be helped. I don't know exactly what it is…it could just be simple attraction but for some reason I think it unlikely. True…I am a man, and I have needs, but she's the first woman I've ever felt so drawn to… Sure I've been with women…what man my age hasn't? But it's not the same…its emotionless, cold, and does nothing for me. No…Kagome Amefuri evokes something deeper in me…and I can't stop myself from thinking that maybe…just possibly…could it be love?
*****
It didn't escape Kagome's notice that they seemed to see each other a lot in the next week or so - always at times like lunch, on the monorail, or even in the coffeehouse. At first she'd just brushed their meetings off, saying she had to go after politely talking for a few minutes, leaving and going back to doing what she needed to do. Every time they bumped into one another she had to remind herself she was already taken…even as she felt a pang of regret beat through her heart as she turned to go. She'd begged off from going with him that Saturday and the one following, not so much because she'd wanted to…but because she'd had to. The way she reacted to him was a violation of her and Inuyasha's trust, and as much as it made her sad…she knew she couldn't…not now, and not with him.
Then, almost a week later, when she had finally found herself taking a deep sigh of relief, she and Inuyasha had inevitably gotten into a fight over the car that he still hadn't returned to her.
“You've had it for almost three weeks - I need it back so I don't have to use the train to get to work anymore!”
“Oh come on Kagome - lighten up!”
“Lighten up? Inuyasha I can't just LIGHTEN UP! It's my CAR!”
He shrugged.
“What's wrong with you? Stop being like this - stop acting this way, Inuyasha!”
“I'll act however I want! You're not my boss!” He's said with a growl, throwing his hands up in the air.
She bit her lip, feeling her frustrations welling up to the surface with record speed.
“I should have expected this from you…after all, you never listen to a word I say!”
“I listen to you-”
“Alright…so that means you remember what I told you when I lent it to you.”
He glared at her sulkily his arms crossing themselves across his chest in the ensuing silence.
“I thought so. You NEVER listen to me - ever. I don't even think the word is even in your vocabulary!”
“I do listen Kagome, it's just-”
“It's just what? You're always so “busy”! What are you doing in your “busy” time that you can't even hang out with your girlfriend - let alone call her on the phone every once and awhile?!”
“Fine! You wanna be like that Kagome then be that way. I'll see you later. I have stuff to do.”
“Oh. Ohhhhhhhhhhhh. More BUSY stuff you mean? Because I'M not worth your TIME! I mean, God forbid, but I AM JUST your girlfriend!” She exploded, feeling her tears begin to drip down the corners of her cheeks.
She didn't want to fight, didn't want to be doing this right now with him…not when she had finally gotten control over her awkward feelings towards Sesshomaru.
“It's none of your business-”
“None of my-? Inuyasha…I tell you EVERYTHING.” She said, her hands throwing themselves up in the air.
`You haven't told him about Sesshomaru…'
“Well that's you.” He said belligerently.
“I can't BELIEVE YOU!” She'd ended up screaming, stomped away for the sake of both of their safety.
He'd let her, not saying a word, not trying to go after her and resolve the hurt she was feeling inside. And that was the worst thing…because it made her feel like she wasn't that important enough to him to just do something as simple as that.
After that, she'd wandered around for a while, lost in a kind of haze until she found herself outside the entrance to the park where she and Sesshomaru had first met. Looking up at the Kanji that displayed the name and founder of the park, she bit her lip, desperately wanting to believe that it was just because the park was a nice quiet place that was all. But as she stood there in the cold December air she found that the truth was she really just wanted to talk to him. She didn't even know if he was there or not…but the desire to see him still burned in her as she stepped onto the main footpath.
And so she had.
He was sitting on the same bench as the day she'd met him, sketching something in a thick black sketchpad. He was so engrossed in his sketching that he hadn't seen her coming and when she tentatively said his name, he slowly looked up at her, surprise and pleasure showing in his eyes at the sudden unexpectedness of her visit.
“Can I…can I talk to you for a little bit?” She'd asked him quietly and all he'd done was nod and scoot over to make more room for her on the bench, simultaneously putting away the sketching pad and charcoal pencil.
And she did - never saying any names, just expressing how frustrated and sad she was about a certain someone for the next few hours. She told him about her job and how it seemed like she'd never get enough money to go back to college and get her B.A. She talked about Sango and how happy she was with Miroku even though he was away most of the time for photo shoots and so on. She told him about how much she loved her dogs and told him about her family, her grandpa's death, her little brother finishing high school and moving to America to attend an American college. She told him and he smiled and nodded. When things became too serious he made light-hearted jokes that made her smile and laugh. At one in particular, she found herself clutching her sides, suddenly knowing that it had been the right decision to come here whether or not she liked it.
Yet it also made her nervous. She'd said no to his invitations for a reason and now, in only a few hours of him listening to her, never interrupting; putting in short bits of advice when he felt she needed them…she was beginning to feel that all of her attempts had been in vain.
“I don't know…he just makes me so MAD sometimes!” She ground out, most of her anger having been depleted by that time.
He nodded, leaning back against the bench and stretching out his long legs. Here eyes followed the motion and she swallowed, looking away quickly before he noticed.
“If you ask me, it doesn't seem like he appreciates you. Not the way I-” He cut himself off sharply and she looked over at him.
“You - what?”
“Well…” Her eyes seemed to bore into him and he felt his skin begin to burn as if it had been lit on fire with kerosene and a match. When she looked at him…no matter what look was in her eyes it aroused this feeling in him. He felt his lungs tighten, feeling as if the air was being gently squeezed from their interior.
“What I mean is that -” But he has no words to say and she was still looking up at him with those large, magnificent eyes that made him burn so.
“He doesn't treat you the way you deserve to be treated.” He said quietly, amazed at how he still had control over his voice.
She was still for a moment and then nodded.
“That's…”
She found he was looking at her again and blushed.
“That's really sweet Mikadzuki-san.”
He felt himself grow warm inside despite the frigid December air and offhandedly realized that it was almost Christmas. Which for him meant another Christmas alone. The realization made him sad. What was it now? Five years he'd sworn off other people-even his family and lived in solitude? When he'd graduated from college he'd kept in touch with Koga for another year before he went abroad to America and somewhere along the line lost track of him. That had been when he was twenty-four…around Miss Amefuri's age. He felt sadness wash over him. Five years of loneliness…of feeling like he had nothing but himself-
“Hey…”
He glanced down at her.
“I want to thank you…for listening to me, I mean.”
He smiled.
Or…maybe as of now that was no longer true…
“The pleasure is mine. What man would not revel in giving a beautiful woman his shoulder to cry on?” He said it softly, meaning for his words to come out teasing, but as her eyes came back into his he knew they had come out more intimate then he'd meant for them to.
“I'm not beautiful.” She said quietly, her tone completely serious.
“Others will still believe it is so even if you do not agree with it. It doesn't matter what you think Amefuri-san. I will stay firm in my belief that you ARE beautiful. ”
She looked over at him her bright brown eyes outlined by feathery black lashes.
“Thank you.”
He felt himself growing light-headed, felt the way in which his heart sped up as her eyelids lowered slightly, the rosy glow of her cheeks lighting up the rest of her face.
“You're welcome...”
He wanted to sketch this feeling in his heart, wished he could express in oil paints the depth of his emotion for this woman. His eyes were drawn to her lips and he found that more than anything else he wished he could kiss her - and draw those lips into everlasting swirls of longing and desire for him and not for this phantom boyfriend that plagued her thoughts and made her so sad.
But most of all…past the joy and feelings of longing, he was content.
“I know that you have said no on previous occasions but…would you come with me today? Come with me right now for our dancing lesson?” He asked quietly, watching as she continued her steady gaze on him.
She nibbled her lip in thought, unsure of what she should say. She still wanted to have him in her life…had to admit to herself that she did want him nearby. She'd tried for it not to be so but with today…and with how much better she felt when she was around him…she just couldn't bring herself to try and push him away anymore.
Damn the consequences.
“Dancing…right now?”
He nodded.
“If we get on the four-fifteen train we can make it to Tokyo in a little under forty minutes.”
She nudged her foot into the snowy ground, pushing the fleecy white material around before looking back and him and nodding.
“Ok…sure. Why not, right? It's Sunday night and I have tomorrow off from the office.”
He nodded and before he could stop himself took her hand in his. Through both of their mittened hands he could have sworn he felt the warmth of hers against his own and he could only keep her glance as he stood, bringing her with him.
“Do you want to leave now?” He asked her.
“She nodded, glancing with surprise down at their entwined hands and then back up at him.
“I - yeah I guess I'd like to - but I don't have anything to wear…”
“What you have on will be fine.”
“Are you sure?” She asked, for some reason unable to take her hand from out of his. She didn't know why but it felt so right…the way his hand completely engulfed her own. The closeness of his body to hers in that moment…she wanted to put her hand on his chest and feel his arms around her, she wanted to breath in his scent and fill her lungs with him…and what scared her most was that she didn't even know why. She just wanted to.
He smiled and nodded once again.
“Definitely.”
“I don't know…maybe I shouldn't do this...” She said, her conscious still not giving up on harassing her.
The feeling of rightness with their conjoined hands was still there and she bit her lip, trying to find the strength of will to pull away - to find Inuyasha and try to talk with him again even though she already knew it would be a useless effort.
She looked up into his eyes and found herself instantly caught in their honeyed gaze and suddenly realized that if she wanted, she could have everything she'd just fantasized about. She could escape all of the consequences…could have everything feel just the way she wanted them to...
And all she had to do was leave Inuyasha.
“Why not? You should - you deserve it.”
She stared at him, for one wild moment thinking he'd read her mind before she shook herself. He was talking about how she deserved to go out and have fun - nothing to do with Inuyasha. Realizing that, she found that his sincere words struck something deep inside of her. She paused.
`You deserve it.'
His eyes held her captive so easily, and as she once again found herself caught in their trap, she couldn't help but wonder at this man. No one had ever been like this with her…had ever praised her so elegantly, had ever complimented her so charitably besides Sango and her family…but this man did it so naturally, so honestly that it made her heart tear. The whole thing was so wrong…Inuyasha…Inuyasha who was her boyfriend…Inuyasha who she fought with all the time and even now felt angry with. She knew she shouldn't go with him, shouldn't go out dancing, shouldn't ANYTHING with, and yet…
“Let's go then.” She said quietly.
He gave her a smile that made her heart beat just a little bit faster and felt his fingers tighten minusculely around hers.
“Thank you, Amefuri-san.”
She nodded, in return giving him a smile that he imagined could make the sun jealous.
And he knew then that no matter what he did, no painting or pencil sketch could capture the beauty of that one perfect moment.
Her fingers squeezed his as they headed to the nearest train station and he smiled down at the top of her head as the snow began to fall once again.
Nothing could.
*****
They arrived at the dance center a little less than an hour later, their ride over on the monorail starting out serious and slowly changing as the two relaxed, a stream of endless questions and laughter following soon after. Shortly after, to everyone else around them, the two seemed like old friends finally meeting after being long separated.
Unwittingly, Kagome found herself trying to learn about his past, wondering if he would be like Inuyasha and close down on her.
“I'm…well, I'm a quiet person normally. Isolated for the most part.” He said after the fifth time she prodded him about it.
She rolled her eyes.
“That's not really an answer Mikadzuki-san and you know it.”
The tips of his mouth angled up slightly.
“Well then…what would you like me to say Amefuri-san?”
She looked thoughtful, bracing her legs against the floor as the train slowed down for another stop, and shrugged.
“You like dogs…or at least, mine like you, so what about that?”
“You have answered your own question Amefuri-san.”
She blushed and shook her head.
“Ok fine. Are you like a dog whisperer or something?”
He laughed despite himself, the sound sliding through her like warm water across ice.
“No Amefuri-san. I am not.”
“Do you like cats?”
He shrugged, shaking his head with another half smile that she was beginning to find extremely attractive on him.
“They do not bother me so much. I prefer them to other things.”
“Like what?” She asked as the train doors closed and they began to pick up speed again.
“Guess.”
She pouted at him.
“I work at a Vet's office…I could go on and on…”
“True.”
He looked thoughtful.
“It weighs about ten tons and is notoriously more feral than a shark.”
She stared at him blankly.
“Alright fine. It's a Tyrannosaurus-rex.” He said, leaning his head back against the glass window.
“A “T-Rex”?! That's a dinosaur!”
“Yes…so?”
She fell onto the seat next to him, her sides quaking in laughter.
“I did not lie.” He pointed out.
“And it IS an animal.” He put in with a mock defensiveness that made her laugh even harder.
“An extinct one.” She put in, trying to look sour and instead beginning to laugh all over again instead.
He itched to take out his sketch pad and try and capture the littlest crinkle in her nose that only came out when she laughed…to copy the exactness of her lips - the way her eyes closed just enough to look teasingly attractive. But he held off, knowing it was too personal to show her his drawings…to show his fascination with her. He just didn't want her to know until the time was right…and now wasn't it.
He sat up in his seat, shifting slightly to get more comfortable.
“Come on…you're being like HIM.” She said, pouting again.
Sesshomaru glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.
“Oh am I?”
She nodded.
“Yeah…that's actually what we were fighting about. You see…his mom died a few weeks ago and he didn't have a way to get there fast because the trains…well…their great for the most part but not when it comes to getting somewhere fast without having to stop, unless you ride the bullet train, which is wicked expensive...”
He nodded in agreement.
“So I lent him mine and started using the train to get to work instead. But that was three weeks ago…and apparently he got into an accident and wrecked it and didn't want to tell me. I didn't even know until I saw it at the car-repair shop down the road and confronted him about it.”
“He sounds very much like a little boy.” Sesshomaru said seriously, his fingers resting gently beneath his chin in thought.
“Yeah…he does, doesn't he?”
“Hummm.”
“Makes you wonder why I'm still with him sometimes, huh?”
He felt his breath catch in his throat but held off from alerting her of it.
Her words gave him a hope that he shouldn't have…that he hadn't realized he'd been secretly harboring from the first moment he'd laid eyes on her.
“My Mother died when I was little and my father remarried a few months later.” He said quietly, trying to change the subject as smoothly as possible.
“I have a brother who I don't get along with and, as you now know, I can't stand dinosaurs.”
“But I thought all boys liked dinosaurs? You know…and cars and stuff.”
He gave her a sideways look.
“I am not like most guys Amefuri-san. In fact, I am quite an exception from all of them.”
She felt something hot flash through her and shivered, his words seeming to hold more of a promise then just the blandness of plain words.
They got off at the next stop a few moments later, Kagome instantly forgetting what she was about to say as she stepped out into the sprawling Tokyo suburbs.
She hadn't been to Tokyo in years. Mostly because of money and she told him so.
“Tokyo can be very expensive in places…and the crowds are terrible for the most part. I myself refuse to go to Kyoto for that very reason.”
“What reason?”
“The crowds…I hate them. All the tourists and noise…it ruins the beauty of the area and I hate that.” He said, motioning to a nearby Taxi for the both of them.
They arrived a few minutes later in front of a handsome studio which Sesshomaru had to point out to her since she was too busy gawking at everything around her to realize they'd stopped.
Looking up at it, she paused, suddenly becoming incredibly nervous.
It looked expensive. REALLY expensive.
“Are you sure this is the right place?” She asked him uncertainly, glancing at the doormen as they opened the front pair of mahogany doors for them.
“I am one-hundred percent sure. I dance here quite often and have done so for many years.”
“Do you ever come with anyone?”
She couldn't help herself from asking and instantly kicked herself for it as soon as the words were out.
He had a split second to see her blush before her face was hidden in the lapels of her down jacket. He felt his heart pulse warmly in reaction.
“No. No, I have not had a dance partner in many years. Since high school actually.”
“Oh.” She peeked up at him from behind her fingers and found him amused more then angry as she'd thought he'd be at her rudeness.
“Here, let me.” He said, helping her take off her coat and hanging it on one of the hangers in the front lobby. The courteous gesture made her cheeks tinge bright pink and he laughed at it.
“What is the matter Amefuri-san? Surely you've had someone hang up your coat for you?”
“Yeah…yes, of course I have…” She lied.
`You're an idiot.' Her mind whispered caustically causing her to wince.
`Oh shut up. I'm just gonna have a little fun with a new friend that's all.'
“FUN alright.” It snickered as Sesshomaru opened another door for her and they began to make their way up a small flight of stairs. Reaching the top she was shocked to see another door. When Sesshomaru opened it for her she found herself entering onto an enormous dance floor that took up the entire second story.
She gasped.
It was so big…not to mention GORGEOUS - everything done in mirrors and white marble. She hadn't even known such a place could exist in Japan. The Americas yes…but not here in Nihon…
“It's…” But before she could finish her eyes caught sight of several pairs of dancing couples, each being taught the Blood Waltz by a beautiful woman in a long navy dancing gown who, upon closer inspection looked a lot like her. Sesshomaru made a motion with one of his hands in her direction and it caught the woman's eye. Unable to stop staring, Kagome watched as she gestured to the rest of the crowd, correcting one couple while praising a few others before gliding over to them.
Looking at her more closely, Kagome felt her eyes widen. The woman before her looked like she could have been her twin sister. The only differences were slight, such as her eyes being brown and this one's being a bright bottle blue. Her hair was different from hers as well. While her hair had a natural wave and curl to it, this woman's was pin straight like Sesshomaru's, reaching nearly to her knees while hers only reached her waist. Her body looked a little more athletic than hers, which was more curvaceous, but besides that…
“Sesshomaru!” She called him by his first name, which surprised her immensely.
Had these two been dancing partners at one time or another? She remembered him saying he hadn't had a partner since high school and wondered if this was the woman he was referring to. Had they both gone together? She found it unlikely since she looked around her age and Sesshomaru was almost five years older.
She suddenly felt a pang in the pit of her stomach like jealousy and bit her lip, not liking it but unable to help it.
“Kikyo.”
She watched as the pair bowed to one another before the woman now identified as Kikyo reached out and took his chin between her fingers.
“You little scamp! You missed last week's rehearsal.”
Her mouth dropped open as Sesshomaru grinned boyishly and shrugged his shoulders, her fingers releasing him.
“I might have forgotten to call...”
“You'd better remember the next time than or I just might bar you from entering again.”
“Now Kikyo don't be like that…I never dance in the partner competitions anyway so why are you so angry?”
“You can still show up to help Kaede-san and I train the newcomers! You're our best dancer you know, besides me of course, and that comes with duties Sesshomaru!”
“Speaking of which.” He glanced down at Kagome who was almost completely hidden behind him. He hadn't even realized how he'd protectively blocked her body with his.
Blushing, she appeared at Sesshomaru's side and tentatively bowed to the woman before her, feeling her sharp eyes on her.
“Uh-huh. Has she ever danced before? I've never seen her here before.” Kikyo said, looking her up and down, taking in her plain dark blue jeans and white smock.
“No. In fact, your dreams are about to become fulfilled. For I, Sesshomaru Mikadzuki, have finally brought a dance partner in which to accompany me.” He said it in a joking manner, one that reminded Kagome of when she talked to Sota, her younger brother. The way he talked to Kikyo was the same…it was like he was talking to a younger sibling.
The realization made her relax, her jealousy dying down slightly, but only that. Slightly. The two still had a history together, one which she had no details of, and she had a feeling that what she was feeling wouldn't go away until she knew what had transpired between them.
Kikyo's eyes instantly became more welcoming towards her.
“Ohhh…well than we're delighted to have you here with us!” She said with another bow.
“My name is Kikyo Wakiaiai. My older sister Kaede and I are the owners.”
“Kikyo…as you can see, our trip here was…a bit unplanned. Could you give Miss Amefuri a gown to wear - just for today of course…”
Kikyo smiled, nodding pleasantly.
“I believe we could have something arranged. Wait here…oh, not you dear, HIM.” She said when she turned and found that Kagome hadn't followed her.
Blushing deeply, Kagome hurried forward, allowing herself to be lead through another set of shining mahogany doors into a changing room which led into the women's bathroom.
There were as Kikyo led her inside.
“He must really like you to have brought you here.” The other woman said after a few tense moments of silence between the two. Her words lightened the mood somewhat but Kagome still felt somewhat territorial towards Sesshomaru, a feeling she'd never known before, and one which made her feel strange.
She fidgeted, watching as the other woman carefully looked through a rack of colorful gowns and dresses that ranged in everything from slinky to modest.
“We met only a couple weeks ago…”
Kikyo looked over her shoulder at her before quickly looking back at what she was doing.
“Feel blessed then. I tried to grab Sesshomaru for years before I finally realized it just wouldn't happen.”
There was the sound of sliding fabric after her words and then silence.
“You mean, you two didn't…?”
“Oh us? Never. I wasn't his type… or, to be more accurate, I'm NOT his type. A damn shame too…he's FINE.” She plucked a dress from its hanger and held it in front of Kagome before shaking her head and putting it back.
Kagome couldn't help but smile at her words, thinking immediately of Sango.
“Sesshomaru says he hasn't danced with a partner since high school…why is that?” She asked, beginning to relax.
Kikyo shrugged and paused at another dress before muttering something and continuing on as before.
“I'm not sure exactly. Ever since his mother died…I don't know…he's just never been one for crowds or anything like that. He's pretty old fashioned if you haven't already noticed. That's probably why. Ballroom dancing is intimate in a lot of ways. You have to have complete trust in your partner if anything you do is going to work. The way your bodies interact together is essential and that's why it requires closeness.” She gave a cry of triumph as she pulled a crimson and black gown off its hanger and held it out to her.
“But if you ask me…I think the reason is just that Sesshomaru has never trusted anyone enough. Not enough to do this with anyway.” Kikyo said amending herself.
“Not even you?” Kagome found herself asking, watching the other woman pause for a second before smiling.
“We have but it's not the same. We act as what the perfect dancing couple should look like to the others…a model of sorts. Besides that though…no, we've never danced together as anything more.”
“Oh…” Kikyo's words had sent a feeling of triumph through her and just as instantly she felt herself letting go of her previous jealousy, beginning to relax around this new woman now that she knew that she posed no threat to her.
`Are you mad? What threat? You're TAKEN!'
“Not tonight…” She whispered under her breath, smiling as she looked own at the hand Sesshomaru had taken hold of on their way here. If she concentrated she could still feel his warmth.
“Anyway, dancing, especially here, is one of his great joys, so it's understandable why he wouldn't want to taint it with just having anyone as his partner.”
Kagome smiled, looked thoughtfully down at the dress in her hands.
That made sense…but still.
“Isn't that still a little over the top? Even if he is old-fashioned?”
Kikyo shrugged.
“What can I say? It comes with the package.”
She emphasized her words by giving Kagome a push into the bathroom.
“Now come on…I want to see the look on his face when he sees you in THIS.”
*****
Absolutely not. If she wore that…no…NO, whatever biological urges he had kept dormant for more then a decade would bust loose with a power greater then that of the power of his will.
“No, huh?” Kikyo asked with a barely suppressed grin, watching at Kagome twirled in front of one of the many mirrors lining the studio walls. When she and her sister had first opened, the original building had been a ballet center and they'd both liked the mirrors where they were so much that they'd just left them that way when they remodeled. Their customers liked it that way as well so it had all worked out.
He coughed, glancing away to look at the other dancers and noticing one of the other men do a double take as he caught sight of Kagome.
Sesshomaru sent him a threatening look in response and the man quickly looked back at the partner in his arms, a tiny girl who was always staring at her feet no matter what Kikyo or he said.
“Too much skin…?” Kagome murmured, turning and looking down the expanse of her own back.
“Way too much.” He whispered before he could stop himself, his eyes lighting on her lower back. If that dress were to slid down anymore it would expose the indent of her-
“I look bad don't I?”
He wanted to choke on his own drool and Kikyo saw it, conveniently deciding to leave to go help the dancers in their synchronization.
“No-” He cleared his throat loudly.
`You look TOO good…' Was his only comprehensible thought.
She looked back at herself, reveling inwardly at how wonderful the dress felt against her skin. She didn't even want to think about how much the dress cost. Probably a lot more then what she made in a week.
“The dress looks…nice on you, but I'm afraid it's not what I -” He forced himself to swallow as she twirled again, the buoyant fabric gliding up around her hips and showing him the entire expanse of her legs.
“-not what I had in mind...”
“Oh…” She turned once more in her gown, this time slower, watching as the crimson velvet swatches whirled around her, its black satin overlay hugging the contours of her body so that nothing was left to either one's imagination.
She wondered offhandedly at her own nerve coming out in the thing and letting Sesshomaru see her in it. She practically felt naked, and what freaked her out the most was that she didn't mind. The way he'd stared at her when she'd first come out and then looked her up and down in the moments when he thought she couldn't see, made her feel womanly and attractive.
It made her feel good.
But all of this was wrong and she knew it. She wasn't stupid. She knew that he was attracted to her in the same ways she was to him - and Kikyo wasn't helping.
Honestly…Sango and her could have been related…
“I'm sorry…I've never done this before…”
“Don't apologize.” He said shortly, still not meeting her gaze directly since if he did his eyes would become glued to whatever they happened upon first. Taking her size in compassion to his he figured that spot would be somewhere between her ribs and her shoulders…
Turning towards him she craned her neck to look up at his face.
“Tell me the truth.”
His eyes thankfully landed on her bare shoulder and lingered there for a few brief moments before they slid into her own liquid orbs.
“You would not want to know.” He said quietly, his voice suddenly filled with a sensuality that had not been there before.
The darkness of it washed through her and she shivered, the feeling not unpleasant to her senses.
Turning his head away, his eyes closed shortly in concentration before snapping open and gesturing towards Kikyo who immediately returned, that self-same grin still barely concealed upon her features.
“Please do me the favor of getting the Swarovski dress and having her try on THAT ONE.” His voice was pure black magic, a seduction that curled around her head with a sensuality that she didn't understand.
She felt a curling heat in her abdomen that made her feel just a step down from absolutely wonderful when he spoke that way and Kikyo noticed it with a little bit more than that interest.
She did instantly as he'd asked and confused, Kagome hurried after her.
Finding the requested dress a few minutes later, Kikyo looked from her down to the dress and back, smiling thoughtfully.
“For a man he certainly does have good taste.” She said simply before pushing her back into the bathroom to change.
Looking down at the elaborate pink and black Latin dress in her arms she held it up in front of her, holding it against her bodice before grinning and quickly stripping off the previous one.
This new one had a lace-up black corset over an off-shoulder pink blouse with split sleeves. Its asymmetrical double skirt had a layer of hand-painted pink Venice lace lined with nude lycra, topped by a layer of black stretch crepe with a flouncy ruffle. She noticed that more Venice lace was used on the sleeves. The entirety of it was trimmed with Swarovski stones in Rose, Fuchsia, and Jet colors that seemed to pop against her pale skin and black hair.
“I guess I know now why he called it the Swarovski dress…” She thought, rubbing one of the stones gently between her fingers.
That time when she made her entrance the expression on Sesshomaru's face beat the last one by a mile.
“I like this one.” She said smiling as she twirled in front of the mirrors, testing how it felt around her body as she moved.
“As do I.” He stated in agreement, breathing a sigh of relief since he wouldn't constantly feel the need to tear THIS garment off of her.
“It suits you.” Kikyo chimed in, Sesshomaru shooting her a caustic glance that clearly said for her to be silent.
Kagome laughed and tilted her head to the side.
“What is it Sesshomaru?”
He relaxed slightly, a smile appearing on his face that made her glow red in embarrassment.
“It's time that I taught you the basics Amefuri-san.”
It wasn't a question and she nodded, growing serious as her hand settled into his. She realized as it happened that she couldn't have stopped herself if her life had depended on it and as she felt the heat of his hand seep into hers, his other placing itself securely on her waist she felt herself look away as the rest of her melted into him.
The addicting warmth that his body gave off seeped instantly into hers, his scent sliding through her senses like poison. Inside her mind she felt her conscious screaming to stop, but as his body gracefully pulled hers into the torturously slow whirl of a Vienna Waltz, she found the sound fading away until it was completely gone.
She didn't know the steps and the lack of music didn't help, but she learned quickly, his patience endless as she finally got the movements down. He gently spoke the steps to her as they moved, stopping every now and again to show her a specific one before taking her into his arms once more. Soon she was following him easily and he sped up, making her laugh.
He found himself laughing as well and sped up more, whirling her around and watching as she tilted her head back as he switched to a tango and still holding her hand, threw her out, drawing her back towards him and dipping her smoothly.
Coming back up, he twirled her around with ease, as if she weighed little more than a doll and she gasped, squealing in laughter as she landed easily in his strong arms.
“Do it again!” She cried, feeling like she was six years old again. He did as she asked and once again she felt herself become weightless.
The feeling of it made her close her eyes, feeling him draw her against him once more. Her arms encircled his neck as he dipped her again and came up, her raven hair swirling around her shoulders and mixing with his as his body leaned forwards over her own. He laughed himself as she clung to him, his body taking hers back to a slower pace. She accidentally bumped into another couple as he did so and fell against him, his body crouching slightly to catch her weight.
She was laughing as it happened, but as she looked up into his face and suddenly realized how close their faces were, the laughter died in her throat.
She watched as his eyes darted down to her lips and back up and tried to say something distracting, tried to force words out of her mouth. They only came out as a soft sigh, her eyes slowly closing in easy defeat as they flitted down to his lips and then back up. She could feel his mouth drawing closer and closer to hers, until she could taste his breath on her lips, feel the heat of it feathering itself across her skin.
The sound of one of the dancers tripping brought her back to earth with the force of a hurricane and she gasped, jerking backwards out of his arms and almost colliding with another couple. He grabbed her just in time to avoid an accident and she looked up at him, her mouth hanging open in disbelief.
Seeing that there was now space for her to stand in, he released her, watching as she brought a hand to her mouth, her fingertips pressing against her lips, her eyes darting from them to his eyes.
“I…” But he couldn't think of anything to say to her…didn't know how to rectify the position he had just put them both in.
“You…” But words escaped her as well and she became silent. All that ran through her mind was that they hadn't kissed…and that she felt as if they might as well have. The memory of his breath mingling with hers made her skin burn, her senses tingling in disappointment at the missed opportunity, and she chastised herself half-heartedly for the thought.
From the direction of the dancer who had tripped, she heard Kikyo give a few reassuring words, and then direct her and her partner back into the correct motions.
“I must apologize…I have overstepped myself.” He said, breaking the silence between them by quickly bowing.
His eyes left hers to settle on the shining wood floor as he spoke and she shook her head, beating back her mixed feelings of despair and confusion, closing her eyes in order to fight back a moan.
“It's ok…” She bit her lip, their eyes hesitantly meeting once more.
“It's not your fault…I overstepped myself too…” She nibbled nervously at her lip, the action catching his eyes at once.
“Maybe we should go.” He said, angry at himself for his moment of weakness. Now she would probably never want to speak with him again…damn him…damn him to hell because he couldn't control himself!
But she surprised him.
“Why? We've only been here an hour or so. Come on…lets just…lets just keep going.”
“Are you sure?” He asked.
She knew he was being honorable, knew just as well as he did that they both wanted to stay.
“Yeah…I don't want to go back yet…” She said quietly, taking his hand and forwardly putting it on her waist. The contact sent a bolt of sheer heat sizzling along her nerve endings and she bit into her bottom lip to stay quiet.
His golden eyes watched her, their depths like molten honey, drawing her in as if she were a kind of insect.
“If that is what you wish.” And their bodies at a more respectable distance this time, he once more began whirling her effortlessly across the dance floor.
After a while she felt herself being drawn into his easy rhythm and relaxed against him. He tipped her chin up to look at him as she looked down at her feet and the intimate action made her miss a step.
“When dancing you must always keep eye contact with your dance partner.” He said, twirling her gently and bringing her back into his arms.
“Not your feet.”
“Mikadzuki-san-”
“Please&# 8230;call me Sesshomaru. I think I now have the right to ask.”
He easily moved them through the crowd, seeming to glide as she followed his lead, fighting to keep herself calm.
“Then call me Kagome.” There was a frog in her throat as she said it and he nodded, smiling down at her in a way that made her feel dangerously impulsive.
“Kagome.” She looked past his shoulder, watching the others as they danced and he unconsciously pressed her just a little bit closer than before.
After that, they danced for the next few hours, taking short breaks here and there whenever they got tired, but always returning to the dance floor, tireless in wanting to secretly feel themselves against one another once more.
At one point Kikyo put on music for them all to dance to and Kagome felt pride in having Sesshomaru on her arm after seeing the other women looking on enviously.
“Do you come here a lot?” She asked as the music became slower.
“It depends on my mood. My visits here range from everyday to once every few months.”
He twirled her around and she missed another step, effortlessly catching her and smoothly easing her body back into the right movements.
“Let me lead…just follow Kagome.”
She nodded, feeling herself melt even more into him, her breasts tingling at the feel of his chest against hers.
“Thank you for bringing me…Sesshomaru.”
He bowed his head politely.
“The pleasure is all mine.”
She looked down at the floor with a smile.
“Alright ladies and gentlemen.” Kikyo said, clapping enthusiastically from off to their right, effectively bringing each of the dancers to a stop including them.
“This is just a warning that it is almost nine. We will be closing the doors in another fifteen minutes or so.”
Done speaking, she bowed graciously, and Kagome watched as the others instantly began to head into the gender-segregated bathrooms to change, the braver ones beginning to leave in what they were already wearing.
Looking back up at Sesshomaru she saw him watching her intently.
“Could we stay a little longer? I don't want to leave yet.” She shifted nervously as she said it and Sesshomaru's eyes glanced at the departing couples, catching Kikyo's eye with a simple nod of his head.
“I normally stay whenever I chance to visit. Kikyo will not mind us staying as long as I close up afterwards.”
Kagome nodded, gently easing herself from his arms. Instantly, his hands slowly dropped to his sides and she turned, looking at herself in one of the mirrors. Taking a step forward, she began practicing one of the Waltz's with an invisible partner, her arms in the right locations but in a way that they appeared to be on a slightly shorter dance partner than Sesshomaru.
“You can look at your feet when you're practicing.” He called out to her in amusement as he watched her struggling without his aid.
“Ok!” She called back to him as she continued on, her steps for the most part, staying on track.
“Where did you find this one?” Kikyo asked from behind him.
Not bothering to move he continued to survey her progress with an expert eye, watching as she tripped, looking over her shoulder in embarrassment and seeing that she was being watched.
“She's a keeper.” Kikyo said with an approving nod in Kagome's direction, watching as her look-alike gave up on the waltz and standing sideways in comparison to the mirrors, slowly bent one of her legs and swept it out before her, displaying the different ballet positions as she did so.
“She's already taken.” He said quietly, watching her feet as they gently padded across the floor, her body giving off the impression of being lighter then air, more graceful then any bird imaginable as she did a perfect fouétte, afterwards doing Jeté en tournant's across the floor, her dress flying around her long perfectly balanced legs.
“Kill him then.”
“Excuse me?” He looked down at Kikyo to see an innocent look plastered across her face.
“You heard me. Go back to your prehistoric roots and be like a caveman…club her over the head and just take her. You know. Give her some HOO-RAH or whatever it is these crazy American's are saying these days.”
“As tempting as it is Kikyo, I think not…” He was trying with all his willpower not to snort as he said it.
“Eh...” She said shrugging.
“But still…think about it. I haven't seen you look at a girl like that since your mother passed…and that was more than ten years ago. God rest her soul.”
His eyes caught hers and he nodded.
“Thank you.”
She looked sad for a moment and he put his hand gently on her shoulder.
“Kikyo…I told you long ago that we would never work…”
She nodded, placing her hand over his.
“I know. Trust me I know.”
She looked past him to Kagome and smiled as the girl did another perfect fouétte.
“Perfect form!” She called over to her, watching as she gracefully spun, and came to a stop on the tips of her toes, her hands at position four.
“Madame Lefoi would thank you. At one point she actually thought I was a lost cause.” Kagome said sheepishly as she bowed.
“Uh huh…”
She turned to Sesshomaru and leaned in closer to him so that Kagome wouldn't hear.
“I never much liked the French…a bunch of snobs you know. That's all they are…the phony little frogs.”
“Kikyo…”
“Oh, alright! But why else do you think my family chose ballroom. It's not French at all, you know.”
Sesshomaru shot a pointed glance at the door then back to her and she sighed.
“Fine…the CD player is still on in case you'd like to play something in particular.”
“Do you have my CD or did I take it last time I was here?”
She gave him a look that clearly asked if he thought she was stupid and he smiled slightly.
“Right…you made a copy of it. I apologize. Apparently you know me a little more then I thought.”
“A LITTLE?” She muttered under her breath, simultaneously grabbing her coat and escorting the remaining stragglers from the still-lit dance floor.
“Kikyo-san!” Kagome called out, watching as Kikyo who had been about to step through the door paused, and stuck her head back in.
Kagome bowed low to her.
“Thank you very much for the dress.”
Kikyo rolled her eyes.
“It's not like you're keeping it. Just take it off before you leave.” But there was a smile on her lips as she shook her head and left, the door closing silently behind her.
Kagome was grinning when she turned back to Sesshomaru.
“I didn't want to like her…but I can't help to now.”
He nodded.
“She does grow on you after awhile.”
*****
“Now Kagura…the doctor said to stay off your feet for the next few days-”
“Nonsense! I can handle myself just fine, thank you.” She got up from the bed and immediately began coughing.
Naraku sighed. Honestly…he loved his wife, he we really did, but when it came to doing what was best for her and SHE didn't see it that way then there were always problems.
“Kagura you're sick. The museum will be all right without you for now.”
“You said that five days ago!” She said tiredly, finally allowing him to lean her backwards onto the bed and put another pillow under her head.
“You don't have a simple cold, Kagura. You have phenomena.”
She rolled her eyes, only to have another set of body-racking coughs.
He shook his head and sat down next to her on the futon.
“Dear…I know the museum is important to you-”
“Important? It's the closest thing that I have to a child!” She said, downing a glass of water and gasping for air, coughing immediately afterwards.
“Kagura…we've been through this…you can't have children…WE can't have children.”
“It's damn unfair too.” She ground out, turning her head away from him and glaring out the window which still had the blinds closed.
Reaching forward he took her chin in his hand and kissed her gently. The action surprised her and she pulled away with another glare.
“Oh no you don't! You're not distracting me! I'm going to the office by the end of today whether you OR that STUPID doctor like it or not!”
He suddenly found himself grinning and kissed her again in order to silence her.
“That's my wife for you.” He whispered against her lips, feeling her give a huff before slowly returning it.
“A spitfire to the end.” He said and she laughed despite herself, her eyes flicking back and forth between his and the window.
“Can I at least take a walk outside?” She asked hopefully and he kissed her on the cheek.
“That I can do…as soon as you're well again.”
“You're a bastard, you know that?” She asked with a glare, but there was the beginning of a smile on her lips which instantly took the sting from her words.
“I love you too dear.”
She really laughed this time and he felt sorry afterwards as she instantly began coughing again. He chuckled despite himself as she began laughing between her own coughs until both ended up on their backs beside each other, still laughing.
“Now go back to sleep.” He said finally, regaining his seriousness after a few more seconds.
She sighed, finally calming down herself.
“God I hate you.” She whispered, her throat now raw.
He grinned.
“I know.”
He tucked in the blankets tighter around her and kissed her on the mouth gently before exiting out the door.
She waited a few seconds until his footsteps were gone and threw the blankets off, slowly getting out of bed and grabbing her coat.
Damn it…if she couldn't go to work she would at least take a walk in the garden.
She got as far as the window before she heard her husband shout something from below her.
“Kagura, get back in bed…now!” She growled, glancing back and forth between the window and the bed before leaning towards the window once again.
“Kagura!”
Glaring down at the floor, she stuck out her tongue but did as she was told.
“Bastard.”
Authors Notes: So there you go-this last part with Kagura should hopefully fill in why she was absent in the last chapter (or did nobody even notice that?). She's sick, poor Kagura! Anyway, what thinkey you all of this chapey? I like it…I have to admit if I was Kagome I'd SO dump Inuyasha's ass and have a wild fling with Sesshomaru instead…but that's just me…and that's saying a lot that I want to have an unrealistic romance with a CARTOON…wow…maybe I've had a just a little bit TOO much Inuyasha…NAH! Remember to review and let me know what you think or there'll be no more chapters! Oh it's ok, I'm just kidding…or am I?
Translation: Wakiaiai - Harmonious; peaceful; and/or congenial
History Lesson: Ballet is a form of theatrical dance that began to evolve in Western Europe during the Renaissance (1300-1600). Ballet technique consists of stylized movements and positions that have been elaborated and codified over the centuries into a well-defined, though flexible, system called academic ballet, or danse d'école. The word ballet can also denote an individual artistic composition using this dance technique. Such a composition is usually, but not inevitably, accompanied by music, scenery, and costumes. Toe dancing is often considered synonymous with ballet, but ballet technique can be performed without toe dancing. Because the steps were first named and codified in France, French is the international language of ballet.
ALSO: I use a lot of the “position” terms. If you're curious as to what those are then just go this website. Don't worry. There's pictures!
http://www.shoshone.k12.id.us/Nutcracker/positions.html
I f any of you are Ballet know-it-all's, let me know. My knowledge is basically everything that I've covered in this chapter and I might need to call on you for some help. Thanks!
Things To Know: Fouétte - A difficult, leg-swinging spin
Jeté en tournant - A ballet move in which the dancer leaps and makes a half-turn in midair before landing
FYI: As far as Kikyo goes…I don't HATE her…I just don't particularly like her. Really, I look at her situation with a great deal of pity, since if you were to put yourself in her shoes you would believe Kagome was a terrible person as well. So, I'm not going to make her into some horrible character like in a lot of other Kagome and Sesshomaru stories. To conclude, please don't expect anything horrific to happen to her. I know that you all have been thinking she and Inuyasha are together and you'll see what I have up my sleeve. It's a twist that's for sure.
Chapter 7: Saturday Night Fever
The beautiful is in nature, and it is encountered under the most diverse forms of reality. Once it is found it belongs to art, or rather to the artist who discovers it.
~ Gustave Courbet
She canceled our Saturday outing to the dance studio and when I offered to take her another time she refused to go then as well. Stupid me…I should have known she'd remain faithful to her boyfriend…and I should have known that she'd only let me so close before putting up boundaries. We see each other all the time now it seems…and these meeting always break me into tinier and tinier pieces as a result of her rejection. She acts so distant…talking for a few minutes and then making up an excuse to leave like having to let out her dogs or go back to work…which in all fairness could be the truth. She has her own life to continue on with…unlike me. I mean look at me - a twenty-nine year-old man who sells his artwork and works in a museum. She has so much more potential than I and I hate it God I hate this. I hate how all I can do is imagine her being here with me drinking a coffee or even just walking through the park together at our own leisure. I'm not worth her…I know I'm not…and yet…I still can't let her go. It's as if something inside of me would completely die if I did. I've gone through too much to give up now. I'm not sure how…or even if I can, but if the only way I can keep her in my life is through my artwork or the little five minute meetings we share here and there every other day then that is what I will accept. If that is what my lot in life is - to watch her from afar than so be it. The way I feel…it cannot be helped. I don't know exactly what it is…it could just be simple attraction but for some reason I think it unlikely. True…I am a man, and I have needs, but she's the first woman I've ever felt so drawn to… Sure I've been with women…what man my age hasn't? But it's not the same…its emotionless, cold, and does nothing for me. No…Kagome Amefuri evokes something deeper in me…and I can't stop myself from thinking that maybe…just possibly…could it be love?
*****
It didn't escape Kagome's notice that they seemed to see each other a lot in the next week or so - always at times like lunch, on the monorail, or even in the coffeehouse. At first she'd just brushed their meetings off, saying she had to go after politely talking for a few minutes, leaving and going back to doing what she needed to do. Every time they bumped into one another she had to remind herself she was already taken…even as she felt a pang of regret beat through her heart as she turned to go. She'd begged off from going with him that Saturday and the one following, not so much because she'd wanted to…but because she'd had to. The way she reacted to him was a violation of her and Inuyasha's trust, and as much as it made her sad…she knew she couldn't…not now, and not with him.
Then, almost a week later, when she had finally found herself taking a deep sigh of relief, she and Inuyasha had inevitably gotten into a fight over the car that he still hadn't returned to her.
“You've had it for almost three weeks - I need it back so I don't have to use the train to get to work anymore!”
“Oh come on Kagome - lighten up!”
“Lighten up? Inuyasha I can't just LIGHTEN UP! It's my CAR!”
He shrugged.
“What's wrong with you? Stop being like this - stop acting this way, Inuyasha!”
“I'll act however I want! You're not my boss!” He's said with a growl, throwing his hands up in the air.
She bit her lip, feeling her frustrations welling up to the surface with record speed.
“I should have expected this from you…after all, you never listen to a word I say!”
“I listen to you-”
“Alright…so that means you remember what I told you when I lent it to you.”
He glared at her sulkily his arms crossing themselves across his chest in the ensuing silence.
“I thought so. You NEVER listen to me - ever. I don't even think the word is even in your vocabulary!”
“I do listen Kagome, it's just-”
“It's just what? You're always so “busy”! What are you doing in your “busy” time that you can't even hang out with your girlfriend - let alone call her on the phone every once and awhile?!”
“Fine! You wanna be like that Kagome then be that way. I'll see you later. I have stuff to do.”
“Oh. Ohhhhhhhhhhhh. More BUSY stuff you mean? Because I'M not worth your TIME! I mean, God forbid, but I AM JUST your girlfriend!” She exploded, feeling her tears begin to drip down the corners of her cheeks.
She didn't want to fight, didn't want to be doing this right now with him…not when she had finally gotten control over her awkward feelings towards Sesshomaru.
“It's none of your business-”
“None of my-? Inuyasha…I tell you EVERYTHING.” She said, her hands throwing themselves up in the air.
`You haven't told him about Sesshomaru…'
“Well that's you.” He said belligerently.
“I can't BELIEVE YOU!” She'd ended up screaming, stomped away for the sake of both of their safety.
He'd let her, not saying a word, not trying to go after her and resolve the hurt she was feeling inside. And that was the worst thing…because it made her feel like she wasn't that important enough to him to just do something as simple as that.
After that, she'd wandered around for a while, lost in a kind of haze until she found herself outside the entrance to the park where she and Sesshomaru had first met. Looking up at the Kanji that displayed the name and founder of the park, she bit her lip, desperately wanting to believe that it was just because the park was a nice quiet place that was all. But as she stood there in the cold December air she found that the truth was she really just wanted to talk to him. She didn't even know if he was there or not…but the desire to see him still burned in her as she stepped onto the main footpath.
And so she had.
He was sitting on the same bench as the day she'd met him, sketching something in a thick black sketchpad. He was so engrossed in his sketching that he hadn't seen her coming and when she tentatively said his name, he slowly looked up at her, surprise and pleasure showing in his eyes at the sudden unexpectedness of her visit.
“Can I…can I talk to you for a little bit?” She'd asked him quietly and all he'd done was nod and scoot over to make more room for her on the bench, simultaneously putting away the sketching pad and charcoal pencil.
And she did - never saying any names, just expressing how frustrated and sad she was about a certain someone for the next few hours. She told him about her job and how it seemed like she'd never get enough money to go back to college and get her B.A. She talked about Sango and how happy she was with Miroku even though he was away most of the time for photo shoots and so on. She told him about how much she loved her dogs and told him about her family, her grandpa's death, her little brother finishing high school and moving to America to attend an American college. She told him and he smiled and nodded. When things became too serious he made light-hearted jokes that made her smile and laugh. At one in particular, she found herself clutching her sides, suddenly knowing that it had been the right decision to come here whether or not she liked it.
Yet it also made her nervous. She'd said no to his invitations for a reason and now, in only a few hours of him listening to her, never interrupting; putting in short bits of advice when he felt she needed them…she was beginning to feel that all of her attempts had been in vain.
“I don't know…he just makes me so MAD sometimes!” She ground out, most of her anger having been depleted by that time.
He nodded, leaning back against the bench and stretching out his long legs. Here eyes followed the motion and she swallowed, looking away quickly before he noticed.
“If you ask me, it doesn't seem like he appreciates you. Not the way I-” He cut himself off sharply and she looked over at him.
“You - what?”
“Well…” Her eyes seemed to bore into him and he felt his skin begin to burn as if it had been lit on fire with kerosene and a match. When she looked at him…no matter what look was in her eyes it aroused this feeling in him. He felt his lungs tighten, feeling as if the air was being gently squeezed from their interior.
“What I mean is that -” But he has no words to say and she was still looking up at him with those large, magnificent eyes that made him burn so.
“He doesn't treat you the way you deserve to be treated.” He said quietly, amazed at how he still had control over his voice.
She was still for a moment and then nodded.
“That's…”
She found he was looking at her again and blushed.
“That's really sweet Mikadzuki-san.”
He felt himself grow warm inside despite the frigid December air and offhandedly realized that it was almost Christmas. Which for him meant another Christmas alone. The realization made him sad. What was it now? Five years he'd sworn off other people-even his family and lived in solitude? When he'd graduated from college he'd kept in touch with Koga for another year before he went abroad to America and somewhere along the line lost track of him. That had been when he was twenty-four…around Miss Amefuri's age. He felt sadness wash over him. Five years of loneliness…of feeling like he had nothing but himself-
“Hey…”
He glanced down at her.
“I want to thank you…for listening to me, I mean.”
He smiled.
Or…maybe as of now that was no longer true…
“The pleasure is mine. What man would not revel in giving a beautiful woman his shoulder to cry on?” He said it softly, meaning for his words to come out teasing, but as her eyes came back into his he knew they had come out more intimate then he'd meant for them to.
“I'm not beautiful.” She said quietly, her tone completely serious.
“Others will still believe it is so even if you do not agree with it. It doesn't matter what you think Amefuri-san. I will stay firm in my belief that you ARE beautiful. ”
She looked over at him her bright brown eyes outlined by feathery black lashes.
“Thank you.”
He felt himself growing light-headed, felt the way in which his heart sped up as her eyelids lowered slightly, the rosy glow of her cheeks lighting up the rest of her face.
“You're welcome...”
He wanted to sketch this feeling in his heart, wished he could express in oil paints the depth of his emotion for this woman. His eyes were drawn to her lips and he found that more than anything else he wished he could kiss her - and draw those lips into everlasting swirls of longing and desire for him and not for this phantom boyfriend that plagued her thoughts and made her so sad.
But most of all…past the joy and feelings of longing, he was content.
“I know that you have said no on previous occasions but…would you come with me today? Come with me right now for our dancing lesson?” He asked quietly, watching as she continued her steady gaze on him.
She nibbled her lip in thought, unsure of what she should say. She still wanted to have him in her life…had to admit to herself that she did want him nearby. She'd tried for it not to be so but with today…and with how much better she felt when she was around him…she just couldn't bring herself to try and push him away anymore.
Damn the consequences.
“Dancing…right now?”
He nodded.
“If we get on the four-fifteen train we can make it to Tokyo in a little under forty minutes.”
She nudged her foot into the snowy ground, pushing the fleecy white material around before looking back and him and nodding.
“Ok…sure. Why not, right? It's Sunday night and I have tomorrow off from the office.”
He nodded and before he could stop himself took her hand in his. Through both of their mittened hands he could have sworn he felt the warmth of hers against his own and he could only keep her glance as he stood, bringing her with him.
“Do you want to leave now?” He asked her.
“She nodded, glancing with surprise down at their entwined hands and then back up at him.
“I - yeah I guess I'd like to - but I don't have anything to wear…”
“What you have on will be fine.”
“Are you sure?” She asked, for some reason unable to take her hand from out of his. She didn't know why but it felt so right…the way his hand completely engulfed her own. The closeness of his body to hers in that moment…she wanted to put her hand on his chest and feel his arms around her, she wanted to breath in his scent and fill her lungs with him…and what scared her most was that she didn't even know why. She just wanted to.
He smiled and nodded once again.
“Definitely.”
“I don't know…maybe I shouldn't do this...” She said, her conscious still not giving up on harassing her.
The feeling of rightness with their conjoined hands was still there and she bit her lip, trying to find the strength of will to pull away - to find Inuyasha and try to talk with him again even though she already knew it would be a useless effort.
She looked up into his eyes and found herself instantly caught in their honeyed gaze and suddenly realized that if she wanted, she could have everything she'd just fantasized about. She could escape all of the consequences…could have everything feel just the way she wanted them to...
And all she had to do was leave Inuyasha.
“Why not? You should - you deserve it.”
She stared at him, for one wild moment thinking he'd read her mind before she shook herself. He was talking about how she deserved to go out and have fun - nothing to do with Inuyasha. Realizing that, she found that his sincere words struck something deep inside of her. She paused.
`You deserve it.'
His eyes held her captive so easily, and as she once again found herself caught in their trap, she couldn't help but wonder at this man. No one had ever been like this with her…had ever praised her so elegantly, had ever complimented her so charitably besides Sango and her family…but this man did it so naturally, so honestly that it made her heart tear. The whole thing was so wrong…Inuyasha…Inuyasha who was her boyfriend…Inuyasha who she fought with all the time and even now felt angry with. She knew she shouldn't go with him, shouldn't go out dancing, shouldn't ANYTHING with, and yet…
“Let's go then.” She said quietly.
He gave her a smile that made her heart beat just a little bit faster and felt his fingers tighten minusculely around hers.
“Thank you, Amefuri-san.”
She nodded, in return giving him a smile that he imagined could make the sun jealous.
And he knew then that no matter what he did, no painting or pencil sketch could capture the beauty of that one perfect moment.
Her fingers squeezed his as they headed to the nearest train station and he smiled down at the top of her head as the snow began to fall once again.
Nothing could.
*****
They arrived at the dance center a little less than an hour later, their ride over on the monorail starting out serious and slowly changing as the two relaxed, a stream of endless questions and laughter following soon after. Shortly after, to everyone else around them, the two seemed like old friends finally meeting after being long separated.
Unwittingly, Kagome found herself trying to learn about his past, wondering if he would be like Inuyasha and close down on her.
“I'm…well, I'm a quiet person normally. Isolated for the most part.” He said after the fifth time she prodded him about it.
She rolled her eyes.
“That's not really an answer Mikadzuki-san and you know it.”
The tips of his mouth angled up slightly.
“Well then…what would you like me to say Amefuri-san?”
She looked thoughtful, bracing her legs against the floor as the train slowed down for another stop, and shrugged.
“You like dogs…or at least, mine like you, so what about that?”
“You have answered your own question Amefuri-san.”
She blushed and shook her head.
“Ok fine. Are you like a dog whisperer or something?”
He laughed despite himself, the sound sliding through her like warm water across ice.
“No Amefuri-san. I am not.”
“Do you like cats?”
He shrugged, shaking his head with another half smile that she was beginning to find extremely attractive on him.
“They do not bother me so much. I prefer them to other things.”
“Like what?” She asked as the train doors closed and they began to pick up speed again.
“Guess.”
She pouted at him.
“I work at a Vet's office…I could go on and on…”
“True.”
He looked thoughtful.
“It weighs about ten tons and is notoriously more feral than a shark.”
She stared at him blankly.
“Alright fine. It's a Tyrannosaurus-rex.” He said, leaning his head back against the glass window.
“A “T-Rex”?! That's a dinosaur!”
“Yes…so?”
She fell onto the seat next to him, her sides quaking in laughter.
“I did not lie.” He pointed out.
“And it IS an animal.” He put in with a mock defensiveness that made her laugh even harder.
“An extinct one.” She put in, trying to look sour and instead beginning to laugh all over again instead.
He itched to take out his sketch pad and try and capture the littlest crinkle in her nose that only came out when she laughed…to copy the exactness of her lips - the way her eyes closed just enough to look teasingly attractive. But he held off, knowing it was too personal to show her his drawings…to show his fascination with her. He just didn't want her to know until the time was right…and now wasn't it.
He sat up in his seat, shifting slightly to get more comfortable.
“Come on…you're being like HIM.” She said, pouting again.
Sesshomaru glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.
“Oh am I?”
She nodded.
“Yeah…that's actually what we were fighting about. You see…his mom died a few weeks ago and he didn't have a way to get there fast because the trains…well…their great for the most part but not when it comes to getting somewhere fast without having to stop, unless you ride the bullet train, which is wicked expensive...”
He nodded in agreement.
“So I lent him mine and started using the train to get to work instead. But that was three weeks ago…and apparently he got into an accident and wrecked it and didn't want to tell me. I didn't even know until I saw it at the car-repair shop down the road and confronted him about it.”
“He sounds very much like a little boy.” Sesshomaru said seriously, his fingers resting gently beneath his chin in thought.
“Yeah…he does, doesn't he?”
“Hummm.”
“Makes you wonder why I'm still with him sometimes, huh?”
He felt his breath catch in his throat but held off from alerting her of it.
Her words gave him a hope that he shouldn't have…that he hadn't realized he'd been secretly harboring from the first moment he'd laid eyes on her.
“My Mother died when I was little and my father remarried a few months later.” He said quietly, trying to change the subject as smoothly as possible.
“I have a brother who I don't get along with and, as you now know, I can't stand dinosaurs.”
“But I thought all boys liked dinosaurs? You know…and cars and stuff.”
He gave her a sideways look.
“I am not like most guys Amefuri-san. In fact, I am quite an exception from all of them.”
She felt something hot flash through her and shivered, his words seeming to hold more of a promise then just the blandness of plain words.
They got off at the next stop a few moments later, Kagome instantly forgetting what she was about to say as she stepped out into the sprawling Tokyo suburbs.
She hadn't been to Tokyo in years. Mostly because of money and she told him so.
“Tokyo can be very expensive in places…and the crowds are terrible for the most part. I myself refuse to go to Kyoto for that very reason.”
“What reason?”
“The crowds…I hate them. All the tourists and noise…it ruins the beauty of the area and I hate that.” He said, motioning to a nearby Taxi for the both of them.
They arrived a few minutes later in front of a handsome studio which Sesshomaru had to point out to her since she was too busy gawking at everything around her to realize they'd stopped.
Looking up at it, she paused, suddenly becoming incredibly nervous.
It looked expensive. REALLY expensive.
“Are you sure this is the right place?” She asked him uncertainly, glancing at the doormen as they opened the front pair of mahogany doors for them.
“I am one-hundred percent sure. I dance here quite often and have done so for many years.”
“Do you ever come with anyone?”
She couldn't help herself from asking and instantly kicked herself for it as soon as the words were out.
He had a split second to see her blush before her face was hidden in the lapels of her down jacket. He felt his heart pulse warmly in reaction.
“No. No, I have not had a dance partner in many years. Since high school actually.”
“Oh.” She peeked up at him from behind her fingers and found him amused more then angry as she'd thought he'd be at her rudeness.
“Here, let me.” He said, helping her take off her coat and hanging it on one of the hangers in the front lobby. The courteous gesture made her cheeks tinge bright pink and he laughed at it.
“What is the matter Amefuri-san? Surely you've had someone hang up your coat for you?”
“Yeah…yes, of course I have…” She lied.
`You're an idiot.' Her mind whispered caustically causing her to wince.
`Oh shut up. I'm just gonna have a little fun with a new friend that's all.'
“FUN alright.” It snickered as Sesshomaru opened another door for her and they began to make their way up a small flight of stairs. Reaching the top she was shocked to see another door. When Sesshomaru opened it for her she found herself entering onto an enormous dance floor that took up the entire second story.
She gasped.
It was so big…not to mention GORGEOUS - everything done in mirrors and white marble. She hadn't even known such a place could exist in Japan. The Americas yes…but not here in Nihon…
“It's…” But before she could finish her eyes caught sight of several pairs of dancing couples, each being taught the Blood Waltz by a beautiful woman in a long navy dancing gown who, upon closer inspection looked a lot like her. Sesshomaru made a motion with one of his hands in her direction and it caught the woman's eye. Unable to stop staring, Kagome watched as she gestured to the rest of the crowd, correcting one couple while praising a few others before gliding over to them.
Looking at her more closely, Kagome felt her eyes widen. The woman before her looked like she could have been her twin sister. The only differences were slight, such as her eyes being brown and this one's being a bright bottle blue. Her hair was different from hers as well. While her hair had a natural wave and curl to it, this woman's was pin straight like Sesshomaru's, reaching nearly to her knees while hers only reached her waist. Her body looked a little more athletic than hers, which was more curvaceous, but besides that…
“Sesshomaru!” She called him by his first name, which surprised her immensely.
Had these two been dancing partners at one time or another? She remembered him saying he hadn't had a partner since high school and wondered if this was the woman he was referring to. Had they both gone together? She found it unlikely since she looked around her age and Sesshomaru was almost five years older.
She suddenly felt a pang in the pit of her stomach like jealousy and bit her lip, not liking it but unable to help it.
“Kikyo.”
She watched as the pair bowed to one another before the woman now identified as Kikyo reached out and took his chin between her fingers.
“You little scamp! You missed last week's rehearsal.”
Her mouth dropped open as Sesshomaru grinned boyishly and shrugged his shoulders, her fingers releasing him.
“I might have forgotten to call...”
“You'd better remember the next time than or I just might bar you from entering again.”
“Now Kikyo don't be like that…I never dance in the partner competitions anyway so why are you so angry?”
“You can still show up to help Kaede-san and I train the newcomers! You're our best dancer you know, besides me of course, and that comes with duties Sesshomaru!”
“Speaking of which.” He glanced down at Kagome who was almost completely hidden behind him. He hadn't even realized how he'd protectively blocked her body with his.
Blushing, she appeared at Sesshomaru's side and tentatively bowed to the woman before her, feeling her sharp eyes on her.
“Uh-huh. Has she ever danced before? I've never seen her here before.” Kikyo said, looking her up and down, taking in her plain dark blue jeans and white smock.
“No. In fact, your dreams are about to become fulfilled. For I, Sesshomaru Mikadzuki, have finally brought a dance partner in which to accompany me.” He said it in a joking manner, one that reminded Kagome of when she talked to Sota, her younger brother. The way he talked to Kikyo was the same…it was like he was talking to a younger sibling.
The realization made her relax, her jealousy dying down slightly, but only that. Slightly. The two still had a history together, one which she had no details of, and she had a feeling that what she was feeling wouldn't go away until she knew what had transpired between them.
Kikyo's eyes instantly became more welcoming towards her.
“Ohhh…well than we're delighted to have you here with us!” She said with another bow.
“My name is Kikyo Wakiaiai. My older sister Kaede and I are the owners.”
“Kikyo…as you can see, our trip here was…a bit unplanned. Could you give Miss Amefuri a gown to wear - just for today of course…”
Kikyo smiled, nodding pleasantly.
“I believe we could have something arranged. Wait here…oh, not you dear, HIM.” She said when she turned and found that Kagome hadn't followed her.
Blushing deeply, Kagome hurried forward, allowing herself to be lead through another set of shining mahogany doors into a changing room which led into the women's bathroom.
There were as Kikyo led her inside.
“He must really like you to have brought you here.” The other woman said after a few tense moments of silence between the two. Her words lightened the mood somewhat but Kagome still felt somewhat territorial towards Sesshomaru, a feeling she'd never known before, and one which made her feel strange.
She fidgeted, watching as the other woman carefully looked through a rack of colorful gowns and dresses that ranged in everything from slinky to modest.
“We met only a couple weeks ago…”
Kikyo looked over her shoulder at her before quickly looking back at what she was doing.
“Feel blessed then. I tried to grab Sesshomaru for years before I finally realized it just wouldn't happen.”
There was the sound of sliding fabric after her words and then silence.
“You mean, you two didn't…?”
“Oh us? Never. I wasn't his type… or, to be more accurate, I'm NOT his type. A damn shame too…he's FINE.” She plucked a dress from its hanger and held it in front of Kagome before shaking her head and putting it back.
Kagome couldn't help but smile at her words, thinking immediately of Sango.
“Sesshomaru says he hasn't danced with a partner since high school…why is that?” She asked, beginning to relax.
Kikyo shrugged and paused at another dress before muttering something and continuing on as before.
“I'm not sure exactly. Ever since his mother died…I don't know…he's just never been one for crowds or anything like that. He's pretty old fashioned if you haven't already noticed. That's probably why. Ballroom dancing is intimate in a lot of ways. You have to have complete trust in your partner if anything you do is going to work. The way your bodies interact together is essential and that's why it requires closeness.” She gave a cry of triumph as she pulled a crimson and black gown off its hanger and held it out to her.
“But if you ask me…I think the reason is just that Sesshomaru has never trusted anyone enough. Not enough to do this with anyway.” Kikyo said amending herself.
“Not even you?” Kagome found herself asking, watching the other woman pause for a second before smiling.
“We have but it's not the same. We act as what the perfect dancing couple should look like to the others…a model of sorts. Besides that though…no, we've never danced together as anything more.”
“Oh…” Kikyo's words had sent a feeling of triumph through her and just as instantly she felt herself letting go of her previous jealousy, beginning to relax around this new woman now that she knew that she posed no threat to her.
`Are you mad? What threat? You're TAKEN!'
“Not tonight…” She whispered under her breath, smiling as she looked own at the hand Sesshomaru had taken hold of on their way here. If she concentrated she could still feel his warmth.
“Anyway, dancing, especially here, is one of his great joys, so it's understandable why he wouldn't want to taint it with just having anyone as his partner.”
Kagome smiled, looked thoughtfully down at the dress in her hands.
That made sense…but still.
“Isn't that still a little over the top? Even if he is old-fashioned?”
Kikyo shrugged.
“What can I say? It comes with the package.”
She emphasized her words by giving Kagome a push into the bathroom.
“Now come on…I want to see the look on his face when he sees you in THIS.”
*****
Absolutely not. If she wore that…no…NO, whatever biological urges he had kept dormant for more then a decade would bust loose with a power greater then that of the power of his will.
“No, huh?” Kikyo asked with a barely suppressed grin, watching at Kagome twirled in front of one of the many mirrors lining the studio walls. When she and her sister had first opened, the original building had been a ballet center and they'd both liked the mirrors where they were so much that they'd just left them that way when they remodeled. Their customers liked it that way as well so it had all worked out.
He coughed, glancing away to look at the other dancers and noticing one of the other men do a double take as he caught sight of Kagome.
Sesshomaru sent him a threatening look in response and the man quickly looked back at the partner in his arms, a tiny girl who was always staring at her feet no matter what Kikyo or he said.
“Too much skin…?” Kagome murmured, turning and looking down the expanse of her own back.
“Way too much.” He whispered before he could stop himself, his eyes lighting on her lower back. If that dress were to slid down anymore it would expose the indent of her-
“I look bad don't I?”
He wanted to choke on his own drool and Kikyo saw it, conveniently deciding to leave to go help the dancers in their synchronization.
“No-” He cleared his throat loudly.
`You look TOO good…' Was his only comprehensible thought.
She looked back at herself, reveling inwardly at how wonderful the dress felt against her skin. She didn't even want to think about how much the dress cost. Probably a lot more then what she made in a week.
“The dress looks…nice on you, but I'm afraid it's not what I -” He forced himself to swallow as she twirled again, the buoyant fabric gliding up around her hips and showing him the entire expanse of her legs.
“-not what I had in mind...”
“Oh…” She turned once more in her gown, this time slower, watching as the crimson velvet swatches whirled around her, its black satin overlay hugging the contours of her body so that nothing was left to either one's imagination.
She wondered offhandedly at her own nerve coming out in the thing and letting Sesshomaru see her in it. She practically felt naked, and what freaked her out the most was that she didn't mind. The way he'd stared at her when she'd first come out and then looked her up and down in the moments when he thought she couldn't see, made her feel womanly and attractive.
It made her feel good.
But all of this was wrong and she knew it. She wasn't stupid. She knew that he was attracted to her in the same ways she was to him - and Kikyo wasn't helping.
Honestly…Sango and her could have been related…
“I'm sorry…I've never done this before…”
“Don't apologize.” He said shortly, still not meeting her gaze directly since if he did his eyes would become glued to whatever they happened upon first. Taking her size in compassion to his he figured that spot would be somewhere between her ribs and her shoulders…
Turning towards him she craned her neck to look up at his face.
“Tell me the truth.”
His eyes thankfully landed on her bare shoulder and lingered there for a few brief moments before they slid into her own liquid orbs.
“You would not want to know.” He said quietly, his voice suddenly filled with a sensuality that had not been there before.
The darkness of it washed through her and she shivered, the feeling not unpleasant to her senses.
Turning his head away, his eyes closed shortly in concentration before snapping open and gesturing towards Kikyo who immediately returned, that self-same grin still barely concealed upon her features.
“Please do me the favor of getting the Swarovski dress and having her try on THAT ONE.” His voice was pure black magic, a seduction that curled around her head with a sensuality that she didn't understand.
She felt a curling heat in her abdomen that made her feel just a step down from absolutely wonderful when he spoke that way and Kikyo noticed it with a little bit more than that interest.
She did instantly as he'd asked and confused, Kagome hurried after her.
Finding the requested dress a few minutes later, Kikyo looked from her down to the dress and back, smiling thoughtfully.
“For a man he certainly does have good taste.” She said simply before pushing her back into the bathroom to change.
Looking down at the elaborate pink and black Latin dress in her arms she held it up in front of her, holding it against her bodice before grinning and quickly stripping off the previous one.
This new one had a lace-up black corset over an off-shoulder pink blouse with split sleeves. Its asymmetrical double skirt had a layer of hand-painted pink Venice lace lined with nude lycra, topped by a layer of black stretch crepe with a flouncy ruffle. She noticed that more Venice lace was used on the sleeves. The entirety of it was trimmed with Swarovski stones in Rose, Fuchsia, and Jet colors that seemed to pop against her pale skin and black hair.
“I guess I know now why he called it the Swarovski dress…” She thought, rubbing one of the stones gently between her fingers.
That time when she made her entrance the expression on Sesshomaru's face beat the last one by a mile.
“I like this one.” She said smiling as she twirled in front of the mirrors, testing how it felt around her body as she moved.
“As do I.” He stated in agreement, breathing a sigh of relief since he wouldn't constantly feel the need to tear THIS garment off of her.
“It suits you.” Kikyo chimed in, Sesshomaru shooting her a caustic glance that clearly said for her to be silent.
Kagome laughed and tilted her head to the side.
“What is it Sesshomaru?”
He relaxed slightly, a smile appearing on his face that made her glow red in embarrassment.
“It's time that I taught you the basics Amefuri-san.”
It wasn't a question and she nodded, growing serious as her hand settled into his. She realized as it happened that she couldn't have stopped herself if her life had depended on it and as she felt the heat of his hand seep into hers, his other placing itself securely on her waist she felt herself look away as the rest of her melted into him.
The addicting warmth that his body gave off seeped instantly into hers, his scent sliding through her senses like poison. Inside her mind she felt her conscious screaming to stop, but as his body gracefully pulled hers into the torturously slow whirl of a Vienna Waltz, she found the sound fading away until it was completely gone.
She didn't know the steps and the lack of music didn't help, but she learned quickly, his patience endless as she finally got the movements down. He gently spoke the steps to her as they moved, stopping every now and again to show her a specific one before taking her into his arms once more. Soon she was following him easily and he sped up, making her laugh.
He found himself laughing as well and sped up more, whirling her around and watching as she tilted her head back as he switched to a tango and still holding her hand, threw her out, drawing her back towards him and dipping her smoothly.
Coming back up, he twirled her around with ease, as if she weighed little more than a doll and she gasped, squealing in laughter as she landed easily in his strong arms.
“Do it again!” She cried, feeling like she was six years old again. He did as she asked and once again she felt herself become weightless.
The feeling of it made her close her eyes, feeling him draw her against him once more. Her arms encircled his neck as he dipped her again and came up, her raven hair swirling around her shoulders and mixing with his as his body leaned forwards over her own. He laughed himself as she clung to him, his body taking hers back to a slower pace. She accidentally bumped into another couple as he did so and fell against him, his body crouching slightly to catch her weight.
She was laughing as it happened, but as she looked up into his face and suddenly realized how close their faces were, the laughter died in her throat.
She watched as his eyes darted down to her lips and back up and tried to say something distracting, tried to force words out of her mouth. They only came out as a soft sigh, her eyes slowly closing in easy defeat as they flitted down to his lips and then back up. She could feel his mouth drawing closer and closer to hers, until she could taste his breath on her lips, feel the heat of it feathering itself across her skin.
The sound of one of the dancers tripping brought her back to earth with the force of a hurricane and she gasped, jerking backwards out of his arms and almost colliding with another couple. He grabbed her just in time to avoid an accident and she looked up at him, her mouth hanging open in disbelief.
Seeing that there was now space for her to stand in, he released her, watching as she brought a hand to her mouth, her fingertips pressing against her lips, her eyes darting from them to his eyes.
“I…” But he couldn't think of anything to say to her…didn't know how to rectify the position he had just put them both in.
“You…” But words escaped her as well and she became silent. All that ran through her mind was that they hadn't kissed…and that she felt as if they might as well have. The memory of his breath mingling with hers made her skin burn, her senses tingling in disappointment at the missed opportunity, and she chastised herself half-heartedly for the thought.
From the direction of the dancer who had tripped, she heard Kikyo give a few reassuring words, and then direct her and her partner back into the correct motions.
“I must apologize…I have overstepped myself.” He said, breaking the silence between them by quickly bowing.
His eyes left hers to settle on the shining wood floor as he spoke and she shook her head, beating back her mixed feelings of despair and confusion, closing her eyes in order to fight back a moan.
“It's ok…” She bit her lip, their eyes hesitantly meeting once more.
“It's not your fault…I overstepped myself too…” She nibbled nervously at her lip, the action catching his eyes at once.
“Maybe we should go.” He said, angry at himself for his moment of weakness. Now she would probably never want to speak with him again…damn him…damn him to hell because he couldn't control himself!
But she surprised him.
“Why? We've only been here an hour or so. Come on…lets just…lets just keep going.”
“Are you sure?” He asked.
She knew he was being honorable, knew just as well as he did that they both wanted to stay.
“Yeah…I don't want to go back yet…” She said quietly, taking his hand and forwardly putting it on her waist. The contact sent a bolt of sheer heat sizzling along her nerve endings and she bit into her bottom lip to stay quiet.
His golden eyes watched her, their depths like molten honey, drawing her in as if she were a kind of insect.
“If that is what you wish.” And their bodies at a more respectable distance this time, he once more began whirling her effortlessly across the dance floor.
After a while she felt herself being drawn into his easy rhythm and relaxed against him. He tipped her chin up to look at him as she looked down at her feet and the intimate action made her miss a step.
“When dancing you must always keep eye contact with your dance partner.” He said, twirling her gently and bringing her back into his arms.
“Not your feet.”
“Mikadzuki-san-”
“Please&# 8230;call me Sesshomaru. I think I now have the right to ask.”
He easily moved them through the crowd, seeming to glide as she followed his lead, fighting to keep herself calm.
“Then call me Kagome.” There was a frog in her throat as she said it and he nodded, smiling down at her in a way that made her feel dangerously impulsive.
“Kagome.” She looked past his shoulder, watching the others as they danced and he unconsciously pressed her just a little bit closer than before.
After that, they danced for the next few hours, taking short breaks here and there whenever they got tired, but always returning to the dance floor, tireless in wanting to secretly feel themselves against one another once more.
At one point Kikyo put on music for them all to dance to and Kagome felt pride in having Sesshomaru on her arm after seeing the other women looking on enviously.
“Do you come here a lot?” She asked as the music became slower.
“It depends on my mood. My visits here range from everyday to once every few months.”
He twirled her around and she missed another step, effortlessly catching her and smoothly easing her body back into the right movements.
“Let me lead…just follow Kagome.”
She nodded, feeling herself melt even more into him, her breasts tingling at the feel of his chest against hers.
“Thank you for bringing me…Sesshomaru.”
He bowed his head politely.
“The pleasure is all mine.”
She looked down at the floor with a smile.
“Alright ladies and gentlemen.” Kikyo said, clapping enthusiastically from off to their right, effectively bringing each of the dancers to a stop including them.
“This is just a warning that it is almost nine. We will be closing the doors in another fifteen minutes or so.”
Done speaking, she bowed graciously, and Kagome watched as the others instantly began to head into the gender-segregated bathrooms to change, the braver ones beginning to leave in what they were already wearing.
Looking back up at Sesshomaru she saw him watching her intently.
“Could we stay a little longer? I don't want to leave yet.” She shifted nervously as she said it and Sesshomaru's eyes glanced at the departing couples, catching Kikyo's eye with a simple nod of his head.
“I normally stay whenever I chance to visit. Kikyo will not mind us staying as long as I close up afterwards.”
Kagome nodded, gently easing herself from his arms. Instantly, his hands slowly dropped to his sides and she turned, looking at herself in one of the mirrors. Taking a step forward, she began practicing one of the Waltz's with an invisible partner, her arms in the right locations but in a way that they appeared to be on a slightly shorter dance partner than Sesshomaru.
“You can look at your feet when you're practicing.” He called out to her in amusement as he watched her struggling without his aid.
“Ok!” She called back to him as she continued on, her steps for the most part, staying on track.
“Where did you find this one?” Kikyo asked from behind him.
Not bothering to move he continued to survey her progress with an expert eye, watching as she tripped, looking over her shoulder in embarrassment and seeing that she was being watched.
“She's a keeper.” Kikyo said with an approving nod in Kagome's direction, watching as her look-alike gave up on the waltz and standing sideways in comparison to the mirrors, slowly bent one of her legs and swept it out before her, displaying the different ballet positions as she did so.
“She's already taken.” He said quietly, watching her feet as they gently padded across the floor, her body giving off the impression of being lighter then air, more graceful then any bird imaginable as she did a perfect fouétte, afterwards doing Jeté en tournant's across the floor, her dress flying around her long perfectly balanced legs.
“Kill him then.”
“Excuse me?” He looked down at Kikyo to see an innocent look plastered across her face.
“You heard me. Go back to your prehistoric roots and be like a caveman…club her over the head and just take her. You know. Give her some HOO-RAH or whatever it is these crazy American's are saying these days.”
“As tempting as it is Kikyo, I think not…” He was trying with all his willpower not to snort as he said it.
“Eh...” She said shrugging.
“But still…think about it. I haven't seen you look at a girl like that since your mother passed…and that was more than ten years ago. God rest her soul.”
His eyes caught hers and he nodded.
“Thank you.”
She looked sad for a moment and he put his hand gently on her shoulder.
“Kikyo…I told you long ago that we would never work…”
She nodded, placing her hand over his.
“I know. Trust me I know.”
She looked past him to Kagome and smiled as the girl did another perfect fouétte.
“Perfect form!” She called over to her, watching as she gracefully spun, and came to a stop on the tips of her toes, her hands at position four.
“Madame Lefoi would thank you. At one point she actually thought I was a lost cause.” Kagome said sheepishly as she bowed.
“Uh huh…”
She turned to Sesshomaru and leaned in closer to him so that Kagome wouldn't hear.
“I never much liked the French…a bunch of snobs you know. That's all they are…the phony little frogs.”
“Kikyo…”
“Oh, alright! But why else do you think my family chose ballroom. It's not French at all, you know.”
Sesshomaru shot a pointed glance at the door then back to her and she sighed.
“Fine…the CD player is still on in case you'd like to play something in particular.”
“Do you have my CD or did I take it last time I was here?”
She gave him a look that clearly asked if he thought she was stupid and he smiled slightly.
“Right…you made a copy of it. I apologize. Apparently you know me a little more then I thought.”
“A LITTLE?” She muttered under her breath, simultaneously grabbing her coat and escorting the remaining stragglers from the still-lit dance floor.
“Kikyo-san!” Kagome called out, watching as Kikyo who had been about to step through the door paused, and stuck her head back in.
Kagome bowed low to her.
“Thank you very much for the dress.”
Kikyo rolled her eyes.
“It's not like you're keeping it. Just take it off before you leave.” But there was a smile on her lips as she shook her head and left, the door closing silently behind her.
Kagome was grinning when she turned back to Sesshomaru.
“I didn't want to like her…but I can't help to now.”
He nodded.
“She does grow on you after awhile.”
*****
“Now Kagura…the doctor said to stay off your feet for the next few days-”
“Nonsense! I can handle myself just fine, thank you.” She got up from the bed and immediately began coughing.
Naraku sighed. Honestly…he loved his wife, he we really did, but when it came to doing what was best for her and SHE didn't see it that way then there were always problems.
“Kagura you're sick. The museum will be all right without you for now.”
“You said that five days ago!” She said tiredly, finally allowing him to lean her backwards onto the bed and put another pillow under her head.
“You don't have a simple cold, Kagura. You have phenomena.”
She rolled her eyes, only to have another set of body-racking coughs.
He shook his head and sat down next to her on the futon.
“Dear…I know the museum is important to you-”
“Important? It's the closest thing that I have to a child!” She said, downing a glass of water and gasping for air, coughing immediately afterwards.
“Kagura…we've been through this…you can't have children…WE can't have children.”
“It's damn unfair too.” She ground out, turning her head away from him and glaring out the window which still had the blinds closed.
Reaching forward he took her chin in his hand and kissed her gently. The action surprised her and she pulled away with another glare.
“Oh no you don't! You're not distracting me! I'm going to the office by the end of today whether you OR that STUPID doctor like it or not!”
He suddenly found himself grinning and kissed her again in order to silence her.
“That's my wife for you.” He whispered against her lips, feeling her give a huff before slowly returning it.
“A spitfire to the end.” He said and she laughed despite herself, her eyes flicking back and forth between his and the window.
“Can I at least take a walk outside?” She asked hopefully and he kissed her on the cheek.
“That I can do…as soon as you're well again.”
“You're a bastard, you know that?” She asked with a glare, but there was the beginning of a smile on her lips which instantly took the sting from her words.
“I love you too dear.”
She really laughed this time and he felt sorry afterwards as she instantly began coughing again. He chuckled despite himself as she began laughing between her own coughs until both ended up on their backs beside each other, still laughing.
“Now go back to sleep.” He said finally, regaining his seriousness after a few more seconds.
She sighed, finally calming down herself.
“God I hate you.” She whispered, her throat now raw.
He grinned.
“I know.”
He tucked in the blankets tighter around her and kissed her on the mouth gently before exiting out the door.
She waited a few seconds until his footsteps were gone and threw the blankets off, slowly getting out of bed and grabbing her coat.
Damn it…if she couldn't go to work she would at least take a walk in the garden.
She got as far as the window before she heard her husband shout something from below her.
“Kagura, get back in bed…now!” She growled, glancing back and forth between the window and the bed before leaning towards the window once again.
“Kagura!”
Glaring down at the floor, she stuck out her tongue but did as she was told.
“Bastard.”
Authors Notes: So there you go-this last part with Kagura should hopefully fill in why she was absent in the last chapter (or did nobody even notice that?). She's sick, poor Kagura! Anyway, what thinkey you all of this chapey? I like it…I have to admit if I was Kagome I'd SO dump Inuyasha's ass and have a wild fling with Sesshomaru instead…but that's just me…and that's saying a lot that I want to have an unrealistic romance with a CARTOON…wow…maybe I've had a just a little bit TOO much Inuyasha…NAH! Remember to review and let me know what you think or there'll be no more chapters! Oh it's ok, I'm just kidding…or am I?