Disclaimer: I do NOT own Inuyasha or any of its characters. However, I DO own this story.
Sango dropped Kagome off at her house after giving her several more assuring words. She made Kagome promise to call her every thirty minutes that she was in Koga's presence that night. If Sango did not receive a call she would come blazing into the dance studio with reinforcements. Sango was not going to let Koga get the upper hand in this situation. With Kagome's current emotional state, Sango was worried that she wouldn't be able to handle Koga and his advances, and Sango's was NOT going to allow Koga to take advantage of Kagome. Not for a second time…not ever again.
When Kagome made it to her room she sluggishly made her way towards her bed and, completely ignoring the neatly ironed garment sitting on top of her duvet, flopped down on her mattress and shut her eyes for several minutes of blessed peace. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying in Sango's car. All she wanted was to escape from the pain of her current life.
"Kagome, what on earth are you doing!" Kagome was rudely awakened from her dreams back to the reality of her current nightmare. Haru was standing in Kagome's doorway with a stern look on her face. From the look of her mother's posture and disposition Kagome knew that she was still not forgiven for her antics that morning, and she had done something else to further enrage her mother, who would no doubtedly tell her father by the end of the night.
"Sorry mother, I was just taking a quick nap before Koga comes to pick me up." Kagome apologized. She quickly straightened her clothes and went about fixing up her messed up duvet. She didn't need to give her mother any more reasons to complain to her father tonight.
"I don't care about that Kagome, what I care about is what you were sleeping on!"
Kagome could not help but give her mother a confused stare. Since when did her mother find it socially unacceptable to take a nap on one's own bed? "Mother, I don't understand." Kagome silently responded.
"The dress Kagome, you were sleeping on your dress for tonight!" Haru nudged her daughter aside as she made her way to the now rumpled garment lying on top of Kagome's duvet. She picked it up and gave it several shakes in an attempt to get the wrinkles out. "Look at it now Kagome. It's completely wrinkled! Now I am going to have to find another suitable outfit for you to wear at your dance lessons with Koga tonight." With her huffy words said, Haru tossed the wrinkled dress into her
daughter's laundry basket and proceeded to find another dress for her daughter within her closet.
Kagome was speechless. Her mother had not dressed her since she was ten years old. "Mother, I can pick out another dress for tonight myself. You do not need to take time out of your busy schedule to pick out my attire for tonight."
"After this morning's little outfit choice you will have to prove to me that you are capable of choosing out appropriate outfits for certain occasions Kagome. Until I see that you are once again capable of wearing the right clothes out in public, I will be choosing your outfits."
Kagome was in complete shock. Just one slip up had her mother treating her like a five year old. Her parents were over-reacting and were trying to suffocate her into submission. "Mother I made a mistake this morning, but that does not mean that I am unable to pick out my own clothes. I am not a five year old anymore." Kagome tried to politely stick up to her mother, but Haru wasn't having any slight sign of defiance, not from her daughter.
"Apparently Kagome you feel that it's appropriate to act like a five year old with your acts of rebellion these past few weeks." Haru whispered in a deathly stern voice. Kagome felt goose bumps crawl up her arms. She had never seen her mother so angry before, and Kagome did not want to tempt her mother's temper any further.
"Now I suggest that you sit down, be quiet, and allow me to find an appropriate outfit for you to wear on your dancing date with Koga tonight. If I allowed you to make the outfit choice the town would soon be equating you with ruffians like that Inuyasha boy." With that last burst of angry words Haru went back to ruffling through her daughter's closet. Kagome, on the other hand, had taken a seat on the edge of her bed in silence. She didn't think her personal nightmare could get any worse, but it just did. Now her mother was joining her father in the criticizing lectures.
"Inuyasha's not a ruffian" Kagome whispered to only herself. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she quickly hid them from her mother's prying eyes. Instead she got up and began to try on the dresses that her mother was beginning to pull out of her closet for tonight's dance practice or "dance date" according to her mother.
By six o'clock Kagome was showered, changed, and all dolled up for Koga's arrival. Her mother had chosen an emerald green dress that fell just below her knees. It had an empire waist with gold trim. The front was not too low, thank goodness, and the straps were wide enough to give Kagome a bit more sense of comfort. Kagome didn't feel completely exposed compared to the amount of skin the first dress her mother had chosen for her would have shown.
Now all Kagome had to do was wait for the dreaded arrival of her ball escort. Unfortunately Koga made it a point to never be late, just another reason for her parents to believe him over her. At six o'clock on the dot the doorbell rang and Haru rushed to open the door. There stood Koga with two bouquets of flowers: one for Haru and one for her daughter.
"Kagome dear, Koga is here for your dance lesson and he brought us some beautiful flowers." Haru blissfully called to her daughter. She then ushered Koga into the house so he could have a quick chat with Akio Higurashi.
"Oh Koga you are just too sweet. You didn't have to bring me flowers as well. Look Akio dear, Koga brought Kagome and me a lovely bouquet of flowers." Haru presented the flowers to her husband when he entered the foyer after hearing the arrival of Koga. He absentmindedly nodded in agreement to his wife's exclamation of joy. Instead his attention was more focused on the young man standing before him.
"Koga, my boy, I am glad to see you. How are you doing this evening?"
"I am doing fine Mr. Higursahi thank you for asking."
After a few words of pleasantries were exchanged between Akio and Koga, Akio politely excused himself and Koga to have a few words in private with him. "Now Koga I want to apologize for my daughters actions towards you several weeks ago. I have no clue what possessed her to act in such a disresepectful manner and to just dump you without any rhyme or reason. I assure you that I have given her a stern talking to, and she will no longer be acting in such a crude manner. However, I do want you to feel free to inform me if she continues to act in such a manner for I will have you know that such behavior is not acceptable from a Higurashi."
"Mr. Higurashi, Kagome is a sweet girl. I am sure that her previous actions were just a small phase she was going through and is nothing to worry about. However, if it will make you feel better sir, I will let you know if she acts in that such manner anymore."
"Thank you Koga. You are truly a shining example of how all the youth in our community should act." Akio Higurashi beamed proudly as he patted Koga firmly on the back.
"No, thank you sir." Koga responded, bowing his head in a sign of respect. To an observer Koga would have appeared to be the epitome of the all-American boy, but if one could only see into his thoughts than they would know his true self. Koga was giddy with joy at how much things with Kagome had turned in his favor. He thought he was doomed when Kagome got away from him that fateful night, but apparently she was too scared to confess to her parents. Either way, Koga knew he would have his way with her. All he had to do was sit back and wait for Kagome to further turn the tides in his favor.
Finished with their conversation, the two men made their way back to the main foyer. There they were once again met by Haru Higurashi who was no longer fussing over the bouquet Koga had given her. Now all her attention was focused on fiddling with Kagome's attire.
"Kagome you look absolutely gorgeous tonight." Koga gushed as he gave Kagome a light peck on her right cheek. "These," Koga drawled out presenting the other bouquet of flowers. "are for you."
Kagome put on the best smile she could as Koga presented his gift to her. She felt sick from all the fake sweetness he was showing to her and her parents. "Thank you Koga, you are far too kind." Kagome took the flowers from his hand and inhaled their sweet scent. She then handed the bouquet of flowers to her mother so they could be placed into a vase of water.
"Here's you jacket Kagome. We really must get going if we don't want to be late."
"Alright Koga. Bye mother. Bye father." Kagome gave each of her parents a peck on the cheek before leaving through the front door that Koga was holding open for her.
"Don't worry Mr. and Mrs. Higurashi, I will have Kagome home before ten."
"Take your time, Koga. You two enjoy yourselves and have fun brushing up on your dance steps for the ball." With those final words from Mr. Higurashi, Koga followed the retreating form of Kagome. Yes, things were really starting to turn in his favor.
"I know what you are trying to do Koga, and it's not going to work!" In his car and away from her parents, Kagome let her true feelings for Koga appear.
"Try as you might Kagome to get rid of me we both know that you're stuck. Your parents believe me, and try as you might they will keep on believing me." An evil grin spread across Koga's face. Fear gripped Kagome's heart. Koga was right she was trapped and the more she tried to fight, the more she would be forced into Koga's wandering arms. Her fears were only confirmed when she felt Koga's hand rest itself upon her knee.
"Excuse me Koga" Kagome rasped as she groped through her purse for her phone. "I just need to send a quick text message to Sango, letting her know that everything is okay." With all that said Kagome shifted to the right, turning her body towards the passenger's side door. In doing so, Kagome was able to move Koga's hand off her knee and he returned it to the steering wheel.
"You do that Kagome. Just let Sango know that you are safe and sound in my capable hands….completely safe and sound." The chuckle that left Koga's lips sent a shiver down Kagome's spine. She just had to get through tonight's dance lesson. Then she could lock herself in her room and hide from her problems for a while.
"Koga, your hands are supposed to be here." Kagome proclaimed placing Koga's hands on her lower back. "Nowhere during the dance are your hands supposed to drift down to my backside. So, if you would be kind enough to keep them on my back at all times I would really appreciate it. Or would you like me to point out your poor dancing etiquette
to Monsieur Hermes?" Koga and Kagome had been practicing their dances for the ball for the past two hours. By this time Kagome's feet were numb from the constant pain that they had to endure. Kagome had to spend the two hours removing Koga's hand from her rear end. Each time he would softly chuckle and pull her tight against his frame. In that position she could feel a growing bulge between Koga's pants poking into her thigh that gave her flashbacks to that particular night.
Kagome knew that Koga would not try anything with her at this moment. That's why she informed Sango in the car that she was okay and wouldn't be able to phone her every thirty minutes. First off she would have forgotten to call during some point throughout the night, and Sango would have come charging into the dance studio with guns a-blazing. Second, she knew that Koga was watching her every move, and he would probably say something to her father if she acted too suspicious. Kagome could feel the power of her society slowly tightening its hold on her with each passing minute, and sometimes she was surprised that she could still breathe.
But back to Koga, Kagome knew that he wasn't stupid enough to try to take advantage of her tonight. Her parents were expecting her home at a fairly early hour. Thus, by the time their lesson was through, which would hopefully be soon, there would only be enough time left for Koga to get her home. No time for any hanky panky. So Kagome knew she was safe this time. As for the next time she was forced to spend time with Koga, well she would just tackle that obstacle when she came to it.
"Monsieur Koga and Mademoiselle Kagome your waltz is magnifique! You two shall be the prize of the ball. Everyone there will be very jealous of you two."
"Thank you Monsieur Hermes. Our dance skills can only be attributed to your wonderful teaching skills. We would not have been able to perfect so many dances for the annual ball if it weren't for you." Kagome was cheering on the inside. The only meaning behind the inane compliments was that rehearsal was over!
"Oh my dear Kagome you are too kind. Now you two must be off. It is late. You two must be getting home. Tell Madame Higurashi that I don't think you two need another lesson, but I would be more than happy to give you two another one if she deems it necessary."
"I will let my mother know Monsieur Hermes. Thank you very much for your kindness and expert teaching skills." With all the formalities said Kagome placed a kiss on each side of Monsieur Hermes cheeks while Koga went to fetch Kagome's jacket. It was time to finally leave and go home. All she had to do was endure the car ride home with Koga, and then this nightmare would be all over.
On the way to Koga's car Kagome kept a good foot or two between Koga and herself. She had one hand tightly holding her jacket shut over her dress, and the other was gripping her cell phone that had Sango's number pre-dialed on it. She knew Koga wouldn't try anything, but she was just playing it safe. Thankfully Koga seemed to have
his fill of uncomfortable remarks for the night. He kept his mouth shut as they walked to his car, and Kagome welcomed the silence.
The car ride home was no different from the walk to Koga's car. Koga said nothing to Kagome during the entire ride. In some ways it was very comforting. However, in other ways, the silence gave her an eerie foreboding feeling. As if Koga was slowly plotting his next move. What was also bizarre was that Kagome noticed that a car had been following them since they left the studio. The car kept its distance, it just seemed weird.
"Great I am either going to get hurt by creepy Koga or the creep stalking us in the car." Kagome mumbled under her breath. Unfortunately she was not quiet enough, and her comment succeeded in breaking the silence..
"What did you say Kagome?"
"Nothing, I was just thinking out loud. Oh look we're at my house already. Wow, well I best be going in it's almost ten, and I don't want my parents to worry about me being late." Kagome scrambled to collect all her possessions as she proceeded to make her hasty exit from Koga's car.
Her actions were halted by Koga's firm grip on her forearm. "Just a minute Kagome, what type of gentleman would I be if I didn't walk my date to the door?"
"You have a long way to go before you could be considered a gentleman Koga, and I don't need you to walk me to my door. I will be just fine walking myself." Kagome yanked her arm out of Koga's grasp and continued to open her own door.
"Kagome I wouldn't act up if I were you. What would your father think if he found out that you were continuing to act less than perfect? Now be a good girl and let me escort you to your front door." Kagome's knuckles turned white as she gripped the door handle with all her might. Koga had her and he knew it. She had no choice but to let him walk her to the door.
"That's a good girl." Koga proclaimed as he opened the passenger's side door for Kagome. He offered her his arm and Kagome begrudgingly took it. She trudged up to her front door alongside Koga. In the end it was a good idea that she allowed Koga to escort her to the front door because as the pair reached her doorstep she noticed movement of the living room curtains. Her parents were spying on her, probably making sure she properly said goodbye to Koga or at least refrained from slapping him.
"Well Kagome this is sadly the end to a wonderful night. We must do it again." With that said Koga leaned in to plant a kiss on Kagome's lips. He wasn't too surprised when his lips were met with the softness of Kagome's cheeks. He might have won the major battle, but Kagome was not going to let him have the final say.
"Good night Koga."
Kagome watched Koga's car drive away. The moment it was completely out of sight was the moment that Kagome felt truly safe, or at least until she set foot inside her house and had to face her parents. Right as Kagome moved to let herself inside she heard the roaring of an engine as it raced down her street. Kagome quickly focused her attention on the offending noise maker and was slightly confused at the site. "Was that Inuyasha's car?"
AN: Sorry for the late update, but I hope you enjoyed the new chapter. Let me know how you felt about it by REVIEWING. It will only take you a minute and it will make me VERY happy! So REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!!