Inuyasha crossover Howl's Moving Castle
Chapter 21: Just as Attractive

She realized that even the Prince has his own limit before he started to use a more offensive tactic on her in just about the same manner as Benjamin, only he is somewhat more polite, almost as though he is afraid of going past it. Though it amuses her but she easily rebuffed him and went about her merry way.

On one occasion though, she was caught by both Howl and Benjamin, where one was smiling broadly like that of a Cheshire cat while the other was brooding and somewhat solemn at the scene that he had just witness. Jealousy made him want to get rid of the Prince, and hide her far away from the sights of anyone that might possibly end up being a possible love rival.

"You guys saw that?" she asked grimly with her lips pulled thin as she grimace at how the scene may have looked like to them as another person viewing.

"You know the answer to that," Benjamin managed out with a smile as he walked towards her with Howl by his side who was grinning like a Cheshire cat still with sly coyness.

Kagome took one look at Howl and already she was feeling annoyed, wanting to smack that smile off his face as she half glared at him in annoyance mainly. Most of the times he felt left out because of how she is more responsive towards Howl as compared to him, however it also put him at ease knowing that Sophie is Howl's keeper.

"Madame Suliman wants us to review our dancing skill, yours especially," Benjamin says as he got to the point of the reason for their finding her.

Kagome frowned at what was being told to her as she thought about the last time she had danced and wanted to protest to it, but Benjamin caught her in it and interrupted her before that.

"It's either this or we could take that time to have a doctor check on you, you're long overdue for it," Benjamin smiled slyly as he suggested an alternative for her, an alternative that she would have to submit to sooner or later.

Howl coughed a little to cover his laughter, being discreet about it for the first time after knowing how unpredictable she seem to be lately ever since that night of her transformation, just like that of a mood swinging pregnant lady.

Kagome pursed her lips for a moment looking at Benjamin as though trying to formulate a way to wriggle her way out of both of it, even though she knows that it could be futile.

"Alright," she said with a final sigh, indicating with her hand for him to lead the way she followed them through the hallways of the palace.

Howl was the first to lazily find a chair and seat himself in it, unbothered at all by the orders of Madame Suliman as though undaunted by her overbearing strictness, but the other know better than that. Kagome could only smile weakly with amusement as Benjamin bowed to her just as the musicians in the room picked up a tune.

"You should at least have some eye contact with your dance partner, it helps with the dance," Benjamin told her in a soft enough voice for only the both of them to hear.

Though Kagome was not really looking at him and taking the slow dance rather well at the moment, he could still see her being somewhat unsure of her own steps. She heard him, but did not immediately do as he suggested, as she slowly took her time to meet her eyes with his. It was like she was always avoiding his eyes, his looks all the time these days.

"Relax a little it's not like I'm going to eat you up," yet, but he did not say that out loud, only smile at her as he continues to slowly lead her in the dance, progressively and was cut in by Howl just as the second music was about to start up, and much to Benjamin's annoyance when things were starting to relax a little.

Their manners and etiquette are so far accurate as Howl continue to lead her with all laughs and conversation that made her laugh despite of herself as they seem to be engaged in an intriguing conversation, leaving him to only guess at the side. When it was back to his turn to take her to the floor with a dance of a faster beat, Benjamin rose to the role easily as he gently guided her without effort as he tried putting her back at the comfortable ease between them again.

"Reminds me of graduation party when we would go out and dance the night away at a club with the rest of the class," Benjamin says, reminiscing the past to draw her interest.

"What is London like?" she asked finally after hearing him chatter aimlessly and randomly.

"An interesting place for those who wants a mundane like life without the intrigues and adventure that this place has," Benjamin told her, "There are many things in London to see, the places of parties and drink is not somewhere I often visit, but there are many other places there that I could bring you to enjoy," he added with a smile tenderly looking at her affectionately, wanting to pamper her if she would allow him.

"Maybe one day," she told him with a quick smile, one day before she returns back to her time and things go back to the way they are.

"Then I'll be your most attentive guide then," he told her attentively as he twirled her in the dance, lifting her with a smile before setting her down on her feet again as they finished the last part of the dance with much flourish.

"Looks like you are ready," he told her with a smile ending the dance with all the proper etiquettes, bowing and what not.

"Yes, thank you," Kagome said returning the etiquette with all proper politeness before straightening herself as she smoothen out her skirt.

The musicians stopped playing as though waiting to be dismissed as they watched the three witch and wizards unsure if they would wish to continue.

"I'm curious, have you ever waltz before?" Benjamin asked, though most of the dances that they have done so far are rather similar in that aspects, but not a dance that the people here learned.

"No, never," Kagome replied with a tilt of her head as she looked at him.

"How about I teach you?" Benjamin asked, unsure if she would agree to it or even take up the offer, especially since it is really not something that they would need to learn.

"Okay," she replied him with a smile, surprising Benjamin a little as she waited for him to teach her.

Benjamin paused for a moment as though still trying to register that she had just given him the green light to teach her how to dance the waltz, but yet still somewhat rather disbelieving of it.

"Just follow my lead, it steps are still rather similar to most of the dance that you have learnt," Benjamin softly told her as he took hold of her hands, and placing them in the right place as he lead her to the floor, softly counting out the steps for her for a short while, and stopping when he thinks that she has more or less already gotten it.

"You're doing really well," Benjamin praised her with a smile, seeing that she is quick to pick up something new as he guided her through the dance.

The dance gives them more skin-ship and is more intimate in terms of bringing the two closer in bodies as he continue to take the lead taking her by surprise with each dip and twirl around the dance floor. And eliciting a smile or light laughter from her once in a while, most especially when he would dip or double dip her and twirl her about.

It was perhaps the first time that he had seen her so carefree and more like that of a person of her age enjoying simple things, and not holed up somewhere within the castle walls, and studying spells all day long or working on magic all day long. This side of her showed how cute she can be and just be as captivating as the serious her is, adding on to make her even more alluring to him.

"Kag-" he wanted to asked her something but was cut off by the sound of Howl's voice loudly cutting in from where he sat.

A/N:

Hello
I'm sorry for the lack of updates, and hope that you guys enjoy this new update. Let me know what you think, take care now!