Disclaimer: see chap 1 for details
(A/N: I'm still iffy about this one, I don't think I'll continue this one after this chapter.)
Rules of Acquisition
It Takes Balls...
~Kagome~
Most father's like to boast about their daughters, letting everyone know just how special she is and how well she's doing at school. About how he's having to fend off the boys with a stick (which they often say is like using a stick to fight back a tsunami wave), and bragging about how smart and talented she is...
Not my dad...
Lately my father has been taking up a rather bad habit of 'putting me down' so no one will suspect our family's 'little secret'. To total strangers and family friends alike, he'll tell them all about me failing maths and having to repeat it in the summer, and about how I'm really too ditzy to really think about careers. I know he's only doing it so that no one will think I'm his new little spy, but what gets me is that I have to go along with it.
"Good evening, Higurashi." Mr Supei greeted our family group at the entrance with a cheerful enough smile. "I'm glad you could all make it - and you brought lovely Akari Higurashi with you as well!"
He bent over my mother's hand and kissed it politely. "You look stunning tonight, Akari." He told her with a smile.
"Thank you." She nodded with her own smile. Then Mr Supei's gaze fell on me and a big smile spread on his face... I think my reputation had proceeded me this time.
"And here's little Kagome." He chucked my chin like adults do to young children. "Last time I saw you, you were on this high."
He held his hand to his waist.
"That's really strange because last time I saw you I could have sworn you were taller. Do you think we traded height?" I asked with a perky smile. He couldn't tell, but I was being sarcastic... Only my father noticed and he rewarded me with a small jab in the ribs.
"You look as lovely as your mother." He smiled at me again. "I like your dress."
"Thanks! I like yours too." I responded with a ditzy grin.
My father promptly cleared his throat, noticing I was getting carried away. "Thank you for the invitation, Supei, we're very thankful."
And at that we all moved into the house and were guided straight to the large hall that was brightly lit with lights and tasteful music. At once my family began mingling and my father took me around to show me off to the other guests. He may have been pretending I was stupid, but he was still proud that I had a pretty face to make up for it.
But within a matter of minutes I felt the need to throttle my father as the whole charade was becoming a bit too much... then I spotted the one familiar face I recognised in the entire ballroom.
Sango had just entered rather casually in a long slinky gold dress that was more concealing than the other dresses in the room. Even though I KNEW she hadn't been invited, she seemed to blend into the flock like she'd been born to mix. She smiled charmingly as she scooped a flute of champagne from a waiter's tray as he passed and she greeted people she recognised with a cheery smile.
"Sango!" I called, tearing away from my father's group of friends to reach her. She saw me and suddenly smiled.
"Hey there!" she grinned.
"What are you doing here?" did she know the Supei's without us knowing?
"Gate crashing." She said breezily and sipped her drink. "I went to your house and found everyone gone - I was really offended you didn't invite me along. So I just came anyway."
"I didn't think you were a party person," I commented.
"I'm not. But there are so many business men around her... I just might get another job offer."
Oh yeah... I kept forgetting that Sango was into the monogamy deal with the Higurashi's. She'd probably go work for the Supei's at the drop of a hat, but she would still remain loyal to my family, I knew that much at least.
Sango opened her mouth to say something else before her gaze slipped to the entrance of the ballroom and her eyes snapped wide and her mouth hung open. "Oh dear..."
"What's the matter...?" I turned to follow her gaze before feeling my insides freeze.
The whole Arashi family had just sauntered in like they owned the place. It was unnerving... annoying... and I could just feel the fine hairs on the back of my neck bristle with irritation. I glanced over at the rest of my family and noticed they'd suddenly noticed the Arashi's arrival as well. They looked as hostile as I did.
It looked like this ball wasn't going to be a very pretty one.
"Come on." Sango touched my arm gently and lead me further away from the entrance. "The last thing we need is a confrontation here. The press with come along soon."
I glanced over my shoulder at the Arashi's before resigning myself to follow Sango's lead. She knew better than I that the Arashi's were dangerous, aggressive pigs that only wanted to win the election so they could gloat at the Higurashi's. I didn't want to mingle with them... and no doubt Sango felt the same way.
"I know - why don't I introduce you to some of my friends?" Sango smiled tightly... though I had the feeling that she was more than just avoiding the Arashi's... more like she was avoiding someone in particular.
How low would the Arashi's go to just barge in on a party uninvited...?
~Inuyasha~
"Remember what I said." Dad hissed into my ear, tanking on my forelock of hair to hold me close. "Keep it down... play it dumb! You're only half an Arashi demon - make sure you act like the clutzy half human you are."
"Want me to kiss Supei ass too?" I ground out through clenched teeth.
"That would be nice." He released my hair and I hastily rubbed my sore scalp. He pointed a finger at me sternly. "Remember... I don't want attention drawn towards you - you're an embarrassment enough as it is..."
Only because of my job... Some people were just too picky.
My family sauntered off ahead into the ballroom, while I had been told to wait a little while before I could enter so no one would associate me with Arashi's. Don't you just feel the love? I had been milling there for almost a minute when I felt a hand on my shoulder.
"Nervous?" Miroku asked as I spun on him. His arm was no longer in a sling, but it was still bandaged and hidden underneath the sleeve of his jacket.
"What the heck are you doing here?"
"Crashing?" Miroku started off through the doors. "I hear that rich men's daughters get to spend money on plastic surgery and short skirts. Yum."
"Oh yes. Plastic girls. Yum." I responded sarcastically as I followed Miroku into the ballroom. Finally I got an eyeful of the guests and sighed... wishing I hadn't been dragged along to this. If my dad didn't want me to be associated with him then why had he demanded I come? I would have been happy to work my night shift... but no... Dad wanted to show me off to my lowest potential, and make sure everyone in that room knew I was a moron.
"Let me introduce you to the girls I know." Miroku offered.
After a while I began to realise that Miroku knew EVERY girl in the room, and he flirted with all his acquaintances as well. Once a girl in a slinky gold dress passed by, looking annoyed and deliberately gazing the other way from Miroku and me.
Miroku seemed to know her. "Hey Sango!"
"Bite me." Was her rather callused resp0nse.
"Gladly..." Miroku said quietly, tilting his gaze lower than her back as she stalked away.
"That's Sango!" I stared at her. "The little brat with the bull's temple?"
"Oh yeah, you had a run-in with her didn't you." Miroku said absently, but I think he was too busy staring after Sango to pay too much attention. "Must go... check out something."
Yeah... check out Sango some more. "Do me a favour?" I asked. "Look for a girl she might be hanging around with... slightly shorter." I though for a moment. "Or you could do us all a favour and get yourself neutered."
"Ok."
Yep, he definitely wasn't listening at all and he soon slipped off through the crowd in Sango's wake. I looked around and wondered what to test my clumsiness out on first? My dad wanted me to look like a bleach blond ditz? Well he was going to get more than he bargained for...
~Kagome~
Sango had run off somewhere and I had been left to talk to Hojo and Kouga. Both rather attractive young men... but both slightly dim. I always seemed to attract that sort. Nice but dim. Well it was better than attracting the charming but abusive sort.
I was supposed to fit right in with these two because I was acting witless too... but acting witless around the witless was not witty and extremely hard. I looked around for some sort of escape, or some choking person that I could rush up to and save - anything to get me out of there. I gave a forced giggle as I twirled a curled lock of hair around a finger and slanted my gaze off to the side, looking for the fire escape or a window to jump out of.
Somewhere amidst the crowd there was a crash as a tray of champagne flutes smashed against the floor before someone calling out. "Sorry - my bad!"
Something about that voice sounded familiar...
"Kagome?" Kouga broke into my thoughts. "Would you like to dance?"
"No, I never did ballet - I can't dance." I said mindlessly and smiled sweetly at him. "Sorry, I'm feeling really hungry. I'll just go and top up my plate at the buffet table."
I gave them both a little wave as I trekked my already overflowing plate back to the buffet table. Behind me I heard another crash and a woman crying out. I glanced over my shoulder and spotted my father across the room instead. He was with my mother and a few of her sisters, talking to... Mr Arashi and a few other members of his family. My shock was instantaneous... and just couldn't tear my eyes away in wonder. Why were they talking? Why were they laughing at each others jokes... why were they being polite to one another. Last time my father and Mr Arashi had met, my father had wound up with a flesh wound and Mr Arashi had ended up with a rather sever fever.
But right now they were acting like the best of buddies.
Then I noticed... the press were standing a short distance away, flashing their cameras repeatedly at the conversing group who pretended they didn't notice... though I suppose it is pretty hard to be oblivious to so many flashing lights that it could cause seizures. So they were only being polite to each other for show...
I sighed and rolled my eyes. Deciding to waste some time, I grabbed a new plate and started selecting my food again, taking my time and being as picky as possible.
The sound of spilling liquid on the floor splashed almost directly behind me... and I realised with another sigh that the ball klutz was coming this way. I quickly moved out of his way as he arrived at the table and picked it a plate. He fumbled with it a moment before promptly dropping it. "Oh dear."
That had sounded really unconvincing and I glanced up at him suspiciously the same time he must have glanced at me. My eyes widened in surprise... It was HIM! The guy I'd bumped into the other night!
"Oh... dear..." he repeated, with more feeling this time.
"You..." I said softly, half in awe. The last time I'd seen him it had been very dark... but right now it was very much bright... let me just say how honoured I was to see him properly. My knees felt very weak all of a sudden.
"Hey, haven't we met before?" he frowned slightly.
My mouth worked like a fish for a moment before I summoned my voice. "Uh - yeah! Remember? You ran into me one night on thirty second street?"
"No - you ran into me." He retaliated quickly.
I eyed his wake and saw the path of destruction he'd left behind him... smashed glasses, fallen trays, stained dresses... "No... I think you were the clumsy one there..."
"So what are you doing here?" he asked, slyly kicking the smashed pieces of his former plate under the table before anyone else spotted the mess.
"I was invited with my family." I told him with a smiled before sticking out my hand. "Kagome."
"Inuyasha." He took my hand.
I stiffened slightly in the joints. "Inuyasha? Is that your real name?"
"Probably." He replied.
Inuyasha... it sounded like an Arashi name... in fact I don't think there is a more Arashi like name than that considering they are all dog demons. But I reminded myself again that he couldn't be an Arashi. The only think that would link him to them would be his hair and his eyes. All Arashi's had 'elfy' ears, as my younger brother liked to say. This guy didn't... so he couldn't possibly be one of them. Besides, he hadn't arrived with them either.
"Wanna catch a drink?" he offered, jerking his head in the direction of the bar.
"Sure... as long as you're not throwing it." I smiled placidly and followed him around the edge of the crowds that were starting to assemble around the edges of the dance floor.
That's when I spotted Sango. She was giving the dark haired boy she was talking to a rather flat look as though she was either bored or annoyed. But I knew while her expression said one thing, her body language said another. Sango may have looked irritated, but by the way she was wringing her hands behind her back and out of sight, I knew she was nervous. With good reason... the boy she was talking to was Miroku - I recognised him from my little spying mission the other night... he wasn't half bad looking from the front either.
"You noticed Miroku?" Inuyasha had noticed my stare. "You met before?"
"Very briefly... wasn't what you'd call pleasant." I said, quickly snapping my attention back to my own little demon.
"Good, I was worried you actually felt something for that slut."
"You know him too?" now that was an interesting turn.
"Yep... old pals." He wrinkled his nose with a smile, he stopped by the bar and took one of the drinks off the counter. "Here's your drink."
"Thanks." Was I blushing too much? Did I look like an idiot? Was my hair still neat? Was I being too obvious?
I turned my eyes to the ground as I took a small sip before looking up at the sound of someone calling my name.
"Kagome!"
It was Kouga again.
I gave a tiny whine and tried to hunch behind Inuyasha to hide me, but I was a bit late for that. "What?" Inuyasha frowned.
"Oh god... hide me." I sighed, rolling my eyes discreetly as Kouga reached me.
"Where've you been? I thought you were going to get more food."
"Been and eaten." I said with that chipper voice my dad had told me to use. "Now I'm full."
"Great - now you can come and dance." He reached a hand out to me.
"Uh... Kouga... I..." I struggled to come up with some kind of excuse, but my head was a bit woolly right then. I think it's because I was in the presence of a really hot guy (and by that I mean Inuyasha - NOT Kouga).
"You'll have to wait your turn." Inuyasha came to my rescue and shot Kouga a patronising smirk. "Sorry."
"Ok... I'll just wait here." He glowered back at Inuyasha.
I looked between the two of them, biting my cheek. Two guys fighting over me... ish... well, that was new. Then I realised Kouga was waiting for us to leave and return again... but I wasn't so sure that was going to happen any time soon.
I was just opening my mouth to come up with a wonderful new excuse why not to dance with Kouga (involving contracting blisters from eating too much) when Inuyasha grabbed my wrist and tugged me towards the dance floor. I spluttered with shock but I didn't have the will to stop him. Finally he drew to a stop inside the midst of dancing couples.
"What are you doing?" I asked in a high tone, looking around nervously.
"Dancing. It's what you wanted, right?" he asked.
"Uh..." Yes... but I was so embarrassed to admit that straight out.
"You want to get away from that Kouga thing." Inuyasha darted a glare back in Kouga's direction. "Best make the most of it."
"Hey klutz - you'll step on my feet!" I protested urgently. Why was I trying to back out? I don't know... because there was nothing more I wanted right then but to stand close to this complete stranger.
"I won't, I promise." He touched his hands to my shoulders and was about to step closer when my breath hitched and the music stopped.
"Oh, what a shame." He suddenly stepped back and grinned. "Better be off then and you can have the next dance with Kouga."
"Wait!" I grabbed his arm and dragged him back, half ashamed of myself because I'd only done that to feel the firm muscles underneath my hands. "We can have the next dance."
He looked at me before grinning at me. "Just wanted to hear it from your own lips."
My face was feeling very hot right then, and I was certain that I was blushing so hard I was like a neon red light flashing in the middle of the room. Well... I only thought that because there were quite a lot of people turning to look at me and Inuyasha, I must have been emitting some sort of glow.
The music started again, slower than the last piece, much to my horror - but all that worry and self-consciousness flew out of my mind when Inuyasha's arm slipped around my waist. I thought my heart was going to stop... and I think it did for a few seconds.
He didn't step on my feet, though for a while I wish he would so that I could get a good excuse to stop and leave. I wasn't sure I particularly liked this swelling feeling in my chest, even though it didn't feel all that bad.
Feeling the need to find something to break the trance like silence between them, I glanced off to the side and spotted my father still chatting away with Mr Arashi. I couldn't lip read, but by their expressions she could see that their conversation was becoming strained. "Those lot..." she muttered.
"The Higurashi's?" he quirked an eyebrow over by the two families.
"And the Arashi's..." I sighed. "They're so obvious... they just hate each other..."
"They look like they're getting along fine." He commented. But I didn't expect him to understand the full extent of our family feud.
"For the press." I replied wearily, flexing my fingers idly against his shoulders. I returned my gaze to his chin. When I briefly flicked my eyes up to meet his I noticed he was looking at me strangely and I tried to avert my gaze again, but somehow my eyes had stopped obeying.
I was finally beginning to see the reason in all the cheesy romance novels about the eye contact thing. I wasn't sure he was exactly seeing right through my eyes into my soul... but I wasn't entirely sure he wasn't either. This eye contact seemed more close and intimate than being physically close to anyone. I could have been standing on the opposite side of the ballroom, locking gazes with him, and my heart would still be racing like it was right then. It really sounded cheesy in my head, but my mind suddenly stopped working after a few moments and all I could think about was how beautiful his eyes were...
The sounds around me faded into a blur and for a fraction of a moment I think I went deaf... until there was a blinding flash of light and reality slammed back down on me. I blinked and tore my eyes away from Inuyasha to turn and see the reporters cameras were now all turned on me and Inuyasha.
Why?
I had no idea.
"Kagome!" Sango suddenly shrieked and dived at me, my hands were ripped off Inuyasha's shoulders while the boy named Miroku forcibly stepped between us, back to me and shoving Inuyasha back off into the crowd.
"Wha-"
"Come on!" Sango grasped my elbow, rougher than usual and dragged me off into the opposite side of the crowd. I caught sight of her expression... and for some reason she looked angry.
"Sango - what-"
"I leave you alone for five minutes and what do I find you doing?!" she snapped, whirling on me. "What do you think you're playing at?!"
I was speechless. Sango was chewing me out and I had idea why... "Sango..." I didn't understand. So I glanced over my shoulder desperately to see where Inuyasha had gone, after scanning the crowd for a few moments I saw him looking back at me from where Miroku was pushing him along and away. I was about to call out when Sango grabbed my chin and pulled my face back around.
"Stop it." She hissed shortly. "You can't do this to us!"
"Do what?" I croaked, my voice filling with emotion I was having trouble containing. I'd just been swept off my feet by a strange and a few seconds later Sango was yelling at me. "God - are you TRYING to sound like my mother!"
"I'm looking out for you!" Sango growled before her eyes suddenly softened and she sagged slightly. With a weak smile she continued. "Listen... just don't do that again. I know you're mad at your dad for putting you down, but that's no reason to jeopardise his chances in the election."
I was really confused now. "What?"
"Stay away from Inuyasha." She didn't elaborate further before relaxing completely and squeezing my shoulder. "Come on, I think Kouga's waiting for his turn to dance with you."
I didn't want to dance with Kouga... I just wanted to leave... or go back to dancing with Inuyasha, but I doubted Sango would let me do that...
~Inuyasha~
"What's the big idea?!" I threw Miroku's hands off me and glared at him angrily. He'd better have a good reason for just breaking me up with Kagome...
"Do you have any idea, what you're doing?" Miroku said calmly, but I could see he was edging on livid. And there weren't many things in this world that could make Miroku lose it... one of those things had been an annoying little green smudge called Jacken... but Miroku was pretty cool-headed about everything.
"It's none of your business!" I snarled.
"Oh, but it is!" he clenched his fists, valiantly managing to keep a straight face. At times like this I just wanted to punch him to see if that mask could slip. Why did he always have to be the voice of reason?
"Bull!"
"Do you know who that is?" he demanded, jerking his thumb over his shoulder towards Kagome who seemed to be looking distressed while she talked to that girl, Sango. They seemed to know each other...
"Kagome."
"Kagome who?"
"I don't know - but I would if you hadn't split us up!" I ground out. I'd been enjoying myself, right up until the point the cameras had flashed. She'd had the most beautiful blue eyes... and when she'd leaned against me I really could have sworn my heart swelled... or the feeling that I feel in my chest did something funny that I can't really put into words...
"Inuyasha?!" Miroku clapped his hands in front of my eyes, and I realised I'd been staring off into space.
"What?!"
He gave me a hard look before shaking his head as if in pity. That just annoyed me further... I felt like I'd just missed a vital part of what was going on. "You didn't know did you?" he sighed.
"Know WHAT?!" I all but spat.
"THAT was Kagome HIGURASHI!" he shook his head angrily. "You were just dancing with the enemy's daughter!"
My mouth opened to say something scathing, but my brain had just frozen on the 'Higurashi' part. "She's... a Higurashi..."
"Yeah..." Miroku sighed.
Why hadn't I noticed before? Black hair, blue eyes... just like her father. Pretty, almost exactly like her mother. I must have been blind.
"You were looking at her like you... like you were..." Miroku couldn't find the words so he just gave up. "You'll be on the front page by Sunday... I have no idea how this is going to affect the campaign for your father."
I glanced past him to see my entire family were shooting rather acidic glares at me, like I was a traitor. I turned my gaze back to the dance floor and saw Kagome was now dancing with Kouga, in an even slower dance than the one we'd been dancing. She'd been forced to allow him to hold her close... though I had no way of telling if she was willing to this. It was the last song... the last songs were always the romantic slow ones...
"Sorry, Inuyasha..." Miroku sounded sincere, but I shrugged him off.
Kagome's gaze flickered to mine and she smiled weakly before Kouga turned her another way.
I had to get out of there...
"I'm going to work." I said shortly.
"I understand." Miroku said quickly.
No... I don't think he did...
AN: that'll probably be the last chapter I'll manage of this one... sorry ^_^;;
(A/N: I'm still iffy about this one, I don't think I'll continue this one after this chapter.)
Rules of Acquisition
It Takes Balls...
~Kagome~
Most father's like to boast about their daughters, letting everyone know just how special she is and how well she's doing at school. About how he's having to fend off the boys with a stick (which they often say is like using a stick to fight back a tsunami wave), and bragging about how smart and talented she is...
Not my dad...
Lately my father has been taking up a rather bad habit of 'putting me down' so no one will suspect our family's 'little secret'. To total strangers and family friends alike, he'll tell them all about me failing maths and having to repeat it in the summer, and about how I'm really too ditzy to really think about careers. I know he's only doing it so that no one will think I'm his new little spy, but what gets me is that I have to go along with it.
"Good evening, Higurashi." Mr Supei greeted our family group at the entrance with a cheerful enough smile. "I'm glad you could all make it - and you brought lovely Akari Higurashi with you as well!"
He bent over my mother's hand and kissed it politely. "You look stunning tonight, Akari." He told her with a smile.
"Thank you." She nodded with her own smile. Then Mr Supei's gaze fell on me and a big smile spread on his face... I think my reputation had proceeded me this time.
"And here's little Kagome." He chucked my chin like adults do to young children. "Last time I saw you, you were on this high."
He held his hand to his waist.
"That's really strange because last time I saw you I could have sworn you were taller. Do you think we traded height?" I asked with a perky smile. He couldn't tell, but I was being sarcastic... Only my father noticed and he rewarded me with a small jab in the ribs.
"You look as lovely as your mother." He smiled at me again. "I like your dress."
"Thanks! I like yours too." I responded with a ditzy grin.
My father promptly cleared his throat, noticing I was getting carried away. "Thank you for the invitation, Supei, we're very thankful."
And at that we all moved into the house and were guided straight to the large hall that was brightly lit with lights and tasteful music. At once my family began mingling and my father took me around to show me off to the other guests. He may have been pretending I was stupid, but he was still proud that I had a pretty face to make up for it.
But within a matter of minutes I felt the need to throttle my father as the whole charade was becoming a bit too much... then I spotted the one familiar face I recognised in the entire ballroom.
Sango had just entered rather casually in a long slinky gold dress that was more concealing than the other dresses in the room. Even though I KNEW she hadn't been invited, she seemed to blend into the flock like she'd been born to mix. She smiled charmingly as she scooped a flute of champagne from a waiter's tray as he passed and she greeted people she recognised with a cheery smile.
"Sango!" I called, tearing away from my father's group of friends to reach her. She saw me and suddenly smiled.
"Hey there!" she grinned.
"What are you doing here?" did she know the Supei's without us knowing?
"Gate crashing." She said breezily and sipped her drink. "I went to your house and found everyone gone - I was really offended you didn't invite me along. So I just came anyway."
"I didn't think you were a party person," I commented.
"I'm not. But there are so many business men around her... I just might get another job offer."
Oh yeah... I kept forgetting that Sango was into the monogamy deal with the Higurashi's. She'd probably go work for the Supei's at the drop of a hat, but she would still remain loyal to my family, I knew that much at least.
Sango opened her mouth to say something else before her gaze slipped to the entrance of the ballroom and her eyes snapped wide and her mouth hung open. "Oh dear..."
"What's the matter...?" I turned to follow her gaze before feeling my insides freeze.
The whole Arashi family had just sauntered in like they owned the place. It was unnerving... annoying... and I could just feel the fine hairs on the back of my neck bristle with irritation. I glanced over at the rest of my family and noticed they'd suddenly noticed the Arashi's arrival as well. They looked as hostile as I did.
It looked like this ball wasn't going to be a very pretty one.
"Come on." Sango touched my arm gently and lead me further away from the entrance. "The last thing we need is a confrontation here. The press with come along soon."
I glanced over my shoulder at the Arashi's before resigning myself to follow Sango's lead. She knew better than I that the Arashi's were dangerous, aggressive pigs that only wanted to win the election so they could gloat at the Higurashi's. I didn't want to mingle with them... and no doubt Sango felt the same way.
"I know - why don't I introduce you to some of my friends?" Sango smiled tightly... though I had the feeling that she was more than just avoiding the Arashi's... more like she was avoiding someone in particular.
How low would the Arashi's go to just barge in on a party uninvited...?
~Inuyasha~
"Remember what I said." Dad hissed into my ear, tanking on my forelock of hair to hold me close. "Keep it down... play it dumb! You're only half an Arashi demon - make sure you act like the clutzy half human you are."
"Want me to kiss Supei ass too?" I ground out through clenched teeth.
"That would be nice." He released my hair and I hastily rubbed my sore scalp. He pointed a finger at me sternly. "Remember... I don't want attention drawn towards you - you're an embarrassment enough as it is..."
Only because of my job... Some people were just too picky.
My family sauntered off ahead into the ballroom, while I had been told to wait a little while before I could enter so no one would associate me with Arashi's. Don't you just feel the love? I had been milling there for almost a minute when I felt a hand on my shoulder.
"Nervous?" Miroku asked as I spun on him. His arm was no longer in a sling, but it was still bandaged and hidden underneath the sleeve of his jacket.
"What the heck are you doing here?"
"Crashing?" Miroku started off through the doors. "I hear that rich men's daughters get to spend money on plastic surgery and short skirts. Yum."
"Oh yes. Plastic girls. Yum." I responded sarcastically as I followed Miroku into the ballroom. Finally I got an eyeful of the guests and sighed... wishing I hadn't been dragged along to this. If my dad didn't want me to be associated with him then why had he demanded I come? I would have been happy to work my night shift... but no... Dad wanted to show me off to my lowest potential, and make sure everyone in that room knew I was a moron.
"Let me introduce you to the girls I know." Miroku offered.
After a while I began to realise that Miroku knew EVERY girl in the room, and he flirted with all his acquaintances as well. Once a girl in a slinky gold dress passed by, looking annoyed and deliberately gazing the other way from Miroku and me.
Miroku seemed to know her. "Hey Sango!"
"Bite me." Was her rather callused resp0nse.
"Gladly..." Miroku said quietly, tilting his gaze lower than her back as she stalked away.
"That's Sango!" I stared at her. "The little brat with the bull's temple?"
"Oh yeah, you had a run-in with her didn't you." Miroku said absently, but I think he was too busy staring after Sango to pay too much attention. "Must go... check out something."
Yeah... check out Sango some more. "Do me a favour?" I asked. "Look for a girl she might be hanging around with... slightly shorter." I though for a moment. "Or you could do us all a favour and get yourself neutered."
"Ok."
Yep, he definitely wasn't listening at all and he soon slipped off through the crowd in Sango's wake. I looked around and wondered what to test my clumsiness out on first? My dad wanted me to look like a bleach blond ditz? Well he was going to get more than he bargained for...
~Kagome~
Sango had run off somewhere and I had been left to talk to Hojo and Kouga. Both rather attractive young men... but both slightly dim. I always seemed to attract that sort. Nice but dim. Well it was better than attracting the charming but abusive sort.
I was supposed to fit right in with these two because I was acting witless too... but acting witless around the witless was not witty and extremely hard. I looked around for some sort of escape, or some choking person that I could rush up to and save - anything to get me out of there. I gave a forced giggle as I twirled a curled lock of hair around a finger and slanted my gaze off to the side, looking for the fire escape or a window to jump out of.
Somewhere amidst the crowd there was a crash as a tray of champagne flutes smashed against the floor before someone calling out. "Sorry - my bad!"
Something about that voice sounded familiar...
"Kagome?" Kouga broke into my thoughts. "Would you like to dance?"
"No, I never did ballet - I can't dance." I said mindlessly and smiled sweetly at him. "Sorry, I'm feeling really hungry. I'll just go and top up my plate at the buffet table."
I gave them both a little wave as I trekked my already overflowing plate back to the buffet table. Behind me I heard another crash and a woman crying out. I glanced over my shoulder and spotted my father across the room instead. He was with my mother and a few of her sisters, talking to... Mr Arashi and a few other members of his family. My shock was instantaneous... and just couldn't tear my eyes away in wonder. Why were they talking? Why were they laughing at each others jokes... why were they being polite to one another. Last time my father and Mr Arashi had met, my father had wound up with a flesh wound and Mr Arashi had ended up with a rather sever fever.
But right now they were acting like the best of buddies.
Then I noticed... the press were standing a short distance away, flashing their cameras repeatedly at the conversing group who pretended they didn't notice... though I suppose it is pretty hard to be oblivious to so many flashing lights that it could cause seizures. So they were only being polite to each other for show...
I sighed and rolled my eyes. Deciding to waste some time, I grabbed a new plate and started selecting my food again, taking my time and being as picky as possible.
The sound of spilling liquid on the floor splashed almost directly behind me... and I realised with another sigh that the ball klutz was coming this way. I quickly moved out of his way as he arrived at the table and picked it a plate. He fumbled with it a moment before promptly dropping it. "Oh dear."
That had sounded really unconvincing and I glanced up at him suspiciously the same time he must have glanced at me. My eyes widened in surprise... It was HIM! The guy I'd bumped into the other night!
"Oh... dear..." he repeated, with more feeling this time.
"You..." I said softly, half in awe. The last time I'd seen him it had been very dark... but right now it was very much bright... let me just say how honoured I was to see him properly. My knees felt very weak all of a sudden.
"Hey, haven't we met before?" he frowned slightly.
My mouth worked like a fish for a moment before I summoned my voice. "Uh - yeah! Remember? You ran into me one night on thirty second street?"
"No - you ran into me." He retaliated quickly.
I eyed his wake and saw the path of destruction he'd left behind him... smashed glasses, fallen trays, stained dresses... "No... I think you were the clumsy one there..."
"So what are you doing here?" he asked, slyly kicking the smashed pieces of his former plate under the table before anyone else spotted the mess.
"I was invited with my family." I told him with a smiled before sticking out my hand. "Kagome."
"Inuyasha." He took my hand.
I stiffened slightly in the joints. "Inuyasha? Is that your real name?"
"Probably." He replied.
Inuyasha... it sounded like an Arashi name... in fact I don't think there is a more Arashi like name than that considering they are all dog demons. But I reminded myself again that he couldn't be an Arashi. The only think that would link him to them would be his hair and his eyes. All Arashi's had 'elfy' ears, as my younger brother liked to say. This guy didn't... so he couldn't possibly be one of them. Besides, he hadn't arrived with them either.
"Wanna catch a drink?" he offered, jerking his head in the direction of the bar.
"Sure... as long as you're not throwing it." I smiled placidly and followed him around the edge of the crowds that were starting to assemble around the edges of the dance floor.
That's when I spotted Sango. She was giving the dark haired boy she was talking to a rather flat look as though she was either bored or annoyed. But I knew while her expression said one thing, her body language said another. Sango may have looked irritated, but by the way she was wringing her hands behind her back and out of sight, I knew she was nervous. With good reason... the boy she was talking to was Miroku - I recognised him from my little spying mission the other night... he wasn't half bad looking from the front either.
"You noticed Miroku?" Inuyasha had noticed my stare. "You met before?"
"Very briefly... wasn't what you'd call pleasant." I said, quickly snapping my attention back to my own little demon.
"Good, I was worried you actually felt something for that slut."
"You know him too?" now that was an interesting turn.
"Yep... old pals." He wrinkled his nose with a smile, he stopped by the bar and took one of the drinks off the counter. "Here's your drink."
"Thanks." Was I blushing too much? Did I look like an idiot? Was my hair still neat? Was I being too obvious?
I turned my eyes to the ground as I took a small sip before looking up at the sound of someone calling my name.
"Kagome!"
It was Kouga again.
I gave a tiny whine and tried to hunch behind Inuyasha to hide me, but I was a bit late for that. "What?" Inuyasha frowned.
"Oh god... hide me." I sighed, rolling my eyes discreetly as Kouga reached me.
"Where've you been? I thought you were going to get more food."
"Been and eaten." I said with that chipper voice my dad had told me to use. "Now I'm full."
"Great - now you can come and dance." He reached a hand out to me.
"Uh... Kouga... I..." I struggled to come up with some kind of excuse, but my head was a bit woolly right then. I think it's because I was in the presence of a really hot guy (and by that I mean Inuyasha - NOT Kouga).
"You'll have to wait your turn." Inuyasha came to my rescue and shot Kouga a patronising smirk. "Sorry."
"Ok... I'll just wait here." He glowered back at Inuyasha.
I looked between the two of them, biting my cheek. Two guys fighting over me... ish... well, that was new. Then I realised Kouga was waiting for us to leave and return again... but I wasn't so sure that was going to happen any time soon.
I was just opening my mouth to come up with a wonderful new excuse why not to dance with Kouga (involving contracting blisters from eating too much) when Inuyasha grabbed my wrist and tugged me towards the dance floor. I spluttered with shock but I didn't have the will to stop him. Finally he drew to a stop inside the midst of dancing couples.
"What are you doing?" I asked in a high tone, looking around nervously.
"Dancing. It's what you wanted, right?" he asked.
"Uh..." Yes... but I was so embarrassed to admit that straight out.
"You want to get away from that Kouga thing." Inuyasha darted a glare back in Kouga's direction. "Best make the most of it."
"Hey klutz - you'll step on my feet!" I protested urgently. Why was I trying to back out? I don't know... because there was nothing more I wanted right then but to stand close to this complete stranger.
"I won't, I promise." He touched his hands to my shoulders and was about to step closer when my breath hitched and the music stopped.
"Oh, what a shame." He suddenly stepped back and grinned. "Better be off then and you can have the next dance with Kouga."
"Wait!" I grabbed his arm and dragged him back, half ashamed of myself because I'd only done that to feel the firm muscles underneath my hands. "We can have the next dance."
He looked at me before grinning at me. "Just wanted to hear it from your own lips."
My face was feeling very hot right then, and I was certain that I was blushing so hard I was like a neon red light flashing in the middle of the room. Well... I only thought that because there were quite a lot of people turning to look at me and Inuyasha, I must have been emitting some sort of glow.
The music started again, slower than the last piece, much to my horror - but all that worry and self-consciousness flew out of my mind when Inuyasha's arm slipped around my waist. I thought my heart was going to stop... and I think it did for a few seconds.
He didn't step on my feet, though for a while I wish he would so that I could get a good excuse to stop and leave. I wasn't sure I particularly liked this swelling feeling in my chest, even though it didn't feel all that bad.
Feeling the need to find something to break the trance like silence between them, I glanced off to the side and spotted my father still chatting away with Mr Arashi. I couldn't lip read, but by their expressions she could see that their conversation was becoming strained. "Those lot..." she muttered.
"The Higurashi's?" he quirked an eyebrow over by the two families.
"And the Arashi's..." I sighed. "They're so obvious... they just hate each other..."
"They look like they're getting along fine." He commented. But I didn't expect him to understand the full extent of our family feud.
"For the press." I replied wearily, flexing my fingers idly against his shoulders. I returned my gaze to his chin. When I briefly flicked my eyes up to meet his I noticed he was looking at me strangely and I tried to avert my gaze again, but somehow my eyes had stopped obeying.
I was finally beginning to see the reason in all the cheesy romance novels about the eye contact thing. I wasn't sure he was exactly seeing right through my eyes into my soul... but I wasn't entirely sure he wasn't either. This eye contact seemed more close and intimate than being physically close to anyone. I could have been standing on the opposite side of the ballroom, locking gazes with him, and my heart would still be racing like it was right then. It really sounded cheesy in my head, but my mind suddenly stopped working after a few moments and all I could think about was how beautiful his eyes were...
The sounds around me faded into a blur and for a fraction of a moment I think I went deaf... until there was a blinding flash of light and reality slammed back down on me. I blinked and tore my eyes away from Inuyasha to turn and see the reporters cameras were now all turned on me and Inuyasha.
Why?
I had no idea.
"Kagome!" Sango suddenly shrieked and dived at me, my hands were ripped off Inuyasha's shoulders while the boy named Miroku forcibly stepped between us, back to me and shoving Inuyasha back off into the crowd.
"Wha-"
"Come on!" Sango grasped my elbow, rougher than usual and dragged me off into the opposite side of the crowd. I caught sight of her expression... and for some reason she looked angry.
"Sango - what-"
"I leave you alone for five minutes and what do I find you doing?!" she snapped, whirling on me. "What do you think you're playing at?!"
I was speechless. Sango was chewing me out and I had idea why... "Sango..." I didn't understand. So I glanced over my shoulder desperately to see where Inuyasha had gone, after scanning the crowd for a few moments I saw him looking back at me from where Miroku was pushing him along and away. I was about to call out when Sango grabbed my chin and pulled my face back around.
"Stop it." She hissed shortly. "You can't do this to us!"
"Do what?" I croaked, my voice filling with emotion I was having trouble containing. I'd just been swept off my feet by a strange and a few seconds later Sango was yelling at me. "God - are you TRYING to sound like my mother!"
"I'm looking out for you!" Sango growled before her eyes suddenly softened and she sagged slightly. With a weak smile she continued. "Listen... just don't do that again. I know you're mad at your dad for putting you down, but that's no reason to jeopardise his chances in the election."
I was really confused now. "What?"
"Stay away from Inuyasha." She didn't elaborate further before relaxing completely and squeezing my shoulder. "Come on, I think Kouga's waiting for his turn to dance with you."
I didn't want to dance with Kouga... I just wanted to leave... or go back to dancing with Inuyasha, but I doubted Sango would let me do that...
~Inuyasha~
"What's the big idea?!" I threw Miroku's hands off me and glared at him angrily. He'd better have a good reason for just breaking me up with Kagome...
"Do you have any idea, what you're doing?" Miroku said calmly, but I could see he was edging on livid. And there weren't many things in this world that could make Miroku lose it... one of those things had been an annoying little green smudge called Jacken... but Miroku was pretty cool-headed about everything.
"It's none of your business!" I snarled.
"Oh, but it is!" he clenched his fists, valiantly managing to keep a straight face. At times like this I just wanted to punch him to see if that mask could slip. Why did he always have to be the voice of reason?
"Bull!"
"Do you know who that is?" he demanded, jerking his thumb over his shoulder towards Kagome who seemed to be looking distressed while she talked to that girl, Sango. They seemed to know each other...
"Kagome."
"Kagome who?"
"I don't know - but I would if you hadn't split us up!" I ground out. I'd been enjoying myself, right up until the point the cameras had flashed. She'd had the most beautiful blue eyes... and when she'd leaned against me I really could have sworn my heart swelled... or the feeling that I feel in my chest did something funny that I can't really put into words...
"Inuyasha?!" Miroku clapped his hands in front of my eyes, and I realised I'd been staring off into space.
"What?!"
He gave me a hard look before shaking his head as if in pity. That just annoyed me further... I felt like I'd just missed a vital part of what was going on. "You didn't know did you?" he sighed.
"Know WHAT?!" I all but spat.
"THAT was Kagome HIGURASHI!" he shook his head angrily. "You were just dancing with the enemy's daughter!"
My mouth opened to say something scathing, but my brain had just frozen on the 'Higurashi' part. "She's... a Higurashi..."
"Yeah..." Miroku sighed.
Why hadn't I noticed before? Black hair, blue eyes... just like her father. Pretty, almost exactly like her mother. I must have been blind.
"You were looking at her like you... like you were..." Miroku couldn't find the words so he just gave up. "You'll be on the front page by Sunday... I have no idea how this is going to affect the campaign for your father."
I glanced past him to see my entire family were shooting rather acidic glares at me, like I was a traitor. I turned my gaze back to the dance floor and saw Kagome was now dancing with Kouga, in an even slower dance than the one we'd been dancing. She'd been forced to allow him to hold her close... though I had no way of telling if she was willing to this. It was the last song... the last songs were always the romantic slow ones...
"Sorry, Inuyasha..." Miroku sounded sincere, but I shrugged him off.
Kagome's gaze flickered to mine and she smiled weakly before Kouga turned her another way.
I had to get out of there...
"I'm going to work." I said shortly.
"I understand." Miroku said quickly.
No... I don't think he did...
AN: that'll probably be the last chapter I'll manage of this one... sorry ^_^;;
