To Dance with the Devil

If there was anything Kagome learned it was that when one danced with the devil, they never won; even if the so-called devil was their husband, notorious and elite gangster, Takahashi Inuyasha. Too bad Kagome was stuck with him, till death do them part.

.xx.

To Argue with the Devil

It was much to Inuyasha's dismay that Kagome emerged from her bedroom wearing clothing that he had not purchased for her. Gorgeous, nonetheless, but he was expecting her to don the beautifully coloured silk which would further accentuate her creamy skin and raven tresses.

"Don't remember getting you that." He ushered with his head. Kagome shrugged and he noted that her eyes were slightly red and a little puffy.

She was crying…

"I don't need clothes." She said her voice not at all spiteful or laced with attitude. She was genuinely informing him that she did not need the clothing he provided. "I have clothes and I've brought enough for the next three days."

To say he wasn't surprised would've been a lie, because Inuyasha was very surprised. He had never met a woman that denied beautiful clothing and expensive jewels. "Oh?" He felt stupid for not having a wittier response.

Kagome looked around the living room area of their penthouse hotel suite. "What I need is a pair of sunglasses, sunscreen, and big funny looking sunhat for this private tour." And, like magic, Inuyasha revealed his hands, which were discreetly hidden behind his torso, holding a giant floppy sunhat and designer sunglasses. Despite herself, Kagome grinned idiotically.

"See, that's all you have to do to win me over." With the utmost grace Inuyasha had ever seen in a woman display, she placed the hat atop her head and slid the sunglasses on. And, despite himself, he grinned like a little boy.

"You look like you're in your zone."

She gave him a faux-curtsey. "Shukraan." Kagome thanked him with one of the few Arabic words she had picked up on in her few hours in Egypt. Taking his outstretched arm, Kagome allowed him to escort her out of their penthouse and towards the elevator.

"How did you manage to get us a private tour of the Pyramids of Giza?"

"Connections—and before you ask me, these are legal connections."

Kagome rolled her eyes. "I wasn't going to ask, but thank you for clarifying. How do you know people in Egypt that gets you private tours of the pyramids?"

"I use nothing but authentic Egyptian cotton for my Shikon line," Inuyasha revealed, "we have partners here who know people who know people who are related to the pharaohs or something… I just had to ask nicely."

Kagome's face deadpanned. "You threatened to stop using their cotton unless they gave us a private tour, didn't you?"

For some reason he was not at all surprised that she was able to deduce that. "I don't know how you did it, but you're right."

The sun hit their faces with such intensity that Kagome felt that she would melt any moment. Truly Egypt was a wondrous place, scenery and heat included. "This is coming from the same guy who gave me an ultimatum: marry me or marry me." Kagome snorted. "I'm sure you threatened somebody somewhere to get you what you want. How did you about phrasing it anyway? My concubine and I would like a private tour of the Pyramids," Kagome swooshed her hand to add dramatic effect, "do now or forever hold your peace!"

The driver of the limousine waiting for them quickly opened the door when he saw them approaching. Inuyasha merely tipped his head towards the driver and got in after Kagome.

"Something to that effect."

"Elaborate, Mob Lord."

Inuyasha pulled the divider up so that the driver wouldn't be privy to their conversation. "I told them that I would like to take my woman for a private tour of the Pyramids so that I can propose to her…" He copied the elaborate swoosh of her hand. "Do now or forever hold your peace."

"You do have a sense of humour." Her lip twitched. "And you aren't proposing to me at the Pyramids. There has been limited to no wooing as far I as I can tell."

Inuyasha crossed his arms and folded one leg over the other. "Of course I don't intend to propose to you at the Great Pyramids, Kagome. That's cheesy."

Deciding that he was difficult to communicate with, Kagome opted to watch the scenery whiz pass her as the driver took them to the edge of the desert where another car would transport them to the Pyramids. Kagome noted a few black cars following the limousine.

Probably his goons.

"Why were you crying."

The hairs on Kagome's neck stood on end. She wasn't expecting his voice to be so close and she definitely did not anticipate him knowing that she had a good crying free-for-all. "How did—"

"Mind reader."

"Seriously."

Inuyasha chuckled and brushed his fingers over her right cheek. This caused her to look over her shoulder, making the mortal mistake of locking her eyes with his. The glowing ochre shade mesmerized her and it was then she realized just how stunning the Mob Lord actually was.

"You had puffy red eyes when you came out of your room, clear indication that you were crying." He revealed his secret. "I want to know why."

"You can want all you want," Kagome didn't realize how silly she sounded. She was too caught up in the intoxicating scent of Inuyasha—his aura was too much and she was beginning to learn what made him so impressionable in his world. "But that doesn't mean you'll get it."

"Please?"

Kagome noted the tenderness in his voice and the softness in his eyes. Fuck, he's good. Before she could stop herself, she spilled: "I don't want you to take care of me when I've been doing it since the accident."

He wasn't expecting that answer and quickly pulled back. "Sorry?"

The trance was broken and Kagome threw up the walls he so carefully chipped away. "Never mind. I don't know why I—" she was moving to look away from him but a firm grip on her chin prevented her from doing so. Inuyasha moved her face so that it was looking at him once more.

"Say that again, Kagome."

"Higurashi." It was habit for her to correct him. She had let him say her name a few times but she, honestly, didn't know how else to react in the situation she was sitting in.

"Kagome." He said firmly, warning her that it wasn't the time. "What did you say."

It was a command, not an ask.

"I have taken care of myself for ten years." She repeated, looked away from him even though he held her chin in place. "I don't need you to come take care of me."

He was beginning to see what made Kagome tick, the reason behind his research. "You're afraid of somebody coming in to your life."

"No!" She tried to pull her head away but it was to no avail. "What I'm afraid of is somebody committing themselves to me for the rest of their life because of a secret promise made to my mother and because of an invisible danger that, after ten years, is threatening me. I'm afraid of being unhappy for the rest of my life because somebody is marrying me out of duty and not out of love."

There.

She said it.

"You want me to love you?"

Of all the—"You get that part out of everything I just said?" The man was a moron!

"Well… yeah, it had the word love in it."

Kagome rolled her eyes and tried to wretch away from him again. He released his hold on her but just to cup her face with his hands. Her heart jumped to her throat when she realized how close he actually was.

What is he doing?!

"Inuyasha?" She brought her hands up to pull his away from her face but he was firm.

"Can I promise you something?"

… "What?"

He leaned his face closer. "Marry me, and I will love you like no man has ever loved you."

"No man has ever loved me." She reminded him.

He chose to ignore her. "What will make you say yes? Without inhibitions and ill-thoughts?"

"Apart from wooing me?"

"I had full intention of doing that anyway."

"Marry me because you want to."

Inuyasha felt his gut wretch because he couldn't give that to her no matter how much he wanted to. He had to marry her because it was his duty, the result of an age-long promise he made to her mother… but what if…?

"I can't do that," he was being honest and he released his hold on her face. "But how about I offer you something?"

She narrowed her eyes. "And that is…?"

"Marry me until the immediate danger is gone, however long that takes: one, two, five, ten years." He watched her and was impressed to see that she gave no indication of a reaction. "At that point you can choose to leave me, if you wish, or remain married."

"But I thought you said it's a lifelong thing." Kagome raised an eyebrow, accusing him of something with her eyes.

"I did." He nodded and slid back to his spot. "But that's because I don't want my marriage to end in a divorce." Her eyes widened but he had already looked away from her. "I don't believe in divorces and I wanted to make the best of our situation but if true love is what you're looking for and if I can't give that to you, then you have the option of leaving."

"What do you mean if you can't give it to me?"

He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. "What part of me giving you anything you want do you not understand?" It was difficult being patient. He was just so used to getting what he wanted and working for it in a non-lethal manner was making him impatient. If it were anybody other than Kagome that he had to marry he would've gagged and tied her to the courts and gotten a civil marriage done.

But she was Kagome, innocent, sweet Kagome who was unaware of the danger she was in.

"Even if it includes love?" Her voice reflected the awe she felt.

He paused a moment but nodded. "Even if it's that."

"But you've never—"

Inuyasha turned around at this point. "Yes, I've never been in love. I never planned to be in love given my lifestyle but if I cannot fall in love with my wife, then what else is love good for?"

"Again, you're doing it because you need to."

His voice did not defy the anger he was beginning to feel. Kagome was incredibly difficult and all he wanted to do was shake some sense in to the woman. The driver began to slide the divider down but Inuyasha stopped him immediately, telling him that he and the lady would be a few more minutes and to give them some privacy.

The driver adhered to his request and left the car to have a smoke.

"How the fuck do you fall in love at will?" He asked in a lethal whisper. "How the hell do you choose somebody one day and say Hey! I'm gonna love this person?!"

Kagome gulped.

"You don't. I'm saying that you marry me and I will do everything a good husband should do and hope that you get the love you want from it. We can learn to love each other, but I want you to have what you want and if that's a fairy tale true love ending and if I can give that to you, then I will." Inuyasha's eyes were a shade darker. "You need to stop fucking asking me all these questions and trust me because as far as I can see, Kagome, I have done nothing to not earn your trust."

"Except lend my father an exorbitant amount of money."

"That had nothing to do with your trust." He said in a strangled tone. "Why must you be so difficult? I flew you to Egypt to get to know you better, bought you clothes and jewelry in hopes that it would lighten your mood, booked a private tour of the Great Pyramids and the Temple of Amun-re because you mentioned you wanted to go… what else can I do?!"

Kagome looked away from him.

"I empathize, I really do, but you aren't giving me any leeway. You want to know what danger it is? Fine. I can let you do whatever the hell it is you want to do but when Naraku finds out where you are and learns you aren't under my protection only then will you realize what a mistake you did." Inuyasha sighed, not knowing what else he could say to her. "Let's just get this tour out of the way. I'll cancel Amun-re tomorrow and send you back to Japan."

Kagome looked at him in shock. Inuyasha was about to disembark but she called out to him. "No, wait!"

He paused and didn't look around at her.

"I… apologize for being difficult but you—"

"But I need to see where you're coming from. You've said that enough times." He turned back at her. "But you, my dear, need to see where I am coming from. Your mother was the greatest woman I have ever had the privilege to know and, unfortunately, I can't give you full details until a year after our marriage – something I have already promised you. I will not let any harm come to her daughter and marrying you…" he paused and shut the door to fully turn towards Kagome. "Kagome. Marry you. Me: a man that had no intention of marrying anybody or fall in love, is willing to marry you and take a chance at falling in love because I love and respect your mother." He used present tense and she did not miss that.

"Don't you think I'm making sacrifices too?"

Kagome had actually not looked at his point of view. "Well…"

Inuyasha took the opening she gave him. "Sometime during the next two days I will propose to you, because you deserve no less. After that I will woo you, because that is what you want and I – again – refuse to give you less than what you want. I will give you everything and anything your heart wants, but you have to let me. I appreciate that you have taken care of yourself, your brother and your father for ten years. I appreciate that you are taking care of your business and your pregnant best friend, but Kagome… it's time you let somebody take care of you because they want to."

"Not want—"

"I want to." He interrupted her interruption. "Do not tell me what I want or do not want because you don't know me."

Kagome's eyes were watering but she refused to let the tears fall. Inuyasha scooted closer. "But I want you to know me. I'm not a bad guy, just a Mob Lord."

Despite herself, Kagome let out a hiccup of a laugh. Cursing himself inwardly he cupped her face once more and rubbed the pad of his left thumb just under her right eye. "I didn't mean to upset you."

"Just a lot of information."

Inuyasha could accept that. "I'm sorry."

"No, I am." She mumbled. "I only thought about myself and what you were doing to me that I didn't even think to see it from your point of view."

"So let's start again?"

She was confused. "Pardon?"

He rubbed just below her eye once again. "Hi, I'm Inuyasha Takahashi… notorious mob lord, called The Devil by some… would you be willing to dance with the devil?"

Cheesy.

"I suppose…"

"Then do you suppose that I can kiss you? It could signify the official beginning of our courtship."

Kagome's heart thudded. If she were to… if she was going to… if they were going to…

"Yes." She heard herself whisper before her brain could process what he said. And, even quicker than that, Inuyasha leaned forward and pressed his soft lips gently again hers.

Even more surprising than the feel of his lips were the fireworks around them, the disappearance of reality, and the racing of Kagome's heart.

.xx.

It was high time Inuyasha gave Kagome his point of view. Still on track for weekly updates and story is progressing as I would like.

AND FIRST KISS!

14 chapters later... about dang time, author (lol!)

Any guesses what the history and danger might be? And will Inuyasha be proposing at the Great Pyramids or at the Temple of Amun-re? OR... is he proposing AT ALL?! Hmmmmm, food for thought :D