darkenedmoonlightflame
Hiten/Kagome/Bankotsu. I'll have polls up at the bottom in later chapters!
KxHxB. AU. Meet Kagome: serial man avoider slash klutz dancer. Meet Hiten: cold mercenary slash badass womanizing demon. Whoa, deja vu? One going in for the ultimate achievement, the other just trying to dance without getting punch dumped down her shirt. Each not noticing the world crashing and clashing around them, attractions brewing.
Disclaimer: I obviously don't own Inuyasha, or else all my stories would be weird branches off it. This story, idea, and writing is entirely mine, however.
A/N: Well, I've decided to start production of this chapter a bit early, while ideas are still turning around in my head. I'm trying to get it out before school hits (on Wednesday). By then, my updates'll be a little slower, so I'm apologizing for the delays!
Well. Considering it IS Wednesday, it's not happening.
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Dance, Dance, Koishii
Part Four
bItTeRsWeEt
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Forsaken, and with an injury to my ego, I leave the scene, not caring to look at HIM anymore. I make my way through the hordes of dancing people, pulling up a seat at the bar. "Hey. Bad day?" The barman greets, putting down the bottle of wine he was corking, switching to grinding up ice.
A smile tugs at my lips, and I sigh. "Hai." I sigh, and avert my gaze, hoping to spot Sango and the others. No luck, and I slump down in my chair, Jak's trenchcoat slipping down my back slightly. The loud, pulsing music is starting to give me a headache, that and looking at Hiten and the giggling females is too much. "Got any lemons?" I ask hopefully.
He slides a large tray towards me, and I carefully select one and bring it slowly to my mouth, savoring the bittersweet flavor. It always helps to clear my head and get a good cry out.
As I check over the morsels, I observe the barman. He's got deep, reflecting coal colored eyes, with a grass green bandana tied around his head, its tails fluttering as he slides smoothly over to greet another dancer. Typical barman uniform. Or not. He's tweaked it subtly, leaving a distinctive style mark, yet not too distinctive as to get fired.
He left the white dress shirt open, and 'forgot' to wear a shirt underneath. Not to mention streaking the shirt with black and red splotches, reminding me of blood in a way. He's got the black pants on, but they're loose and an inch or so lower than normal, with a matching green sash knotted and draped down around his legs.
A thought occurs to me; Is he bald? I mean, why else the bandana? But he looks way too young for it to be natural. About nineteen-twenty tops. I watch him interact with people, trying to determine his personality.
He's nice and smiling, yet confident in his work. He doesn't flirt, and stays on task. I blink, and realize I'm staring openly. I shift my gaze to the lovely bright yellow slices, smiling bittersweetly as I choose one and bring it to my mouth.
I inhale the tantalizing fresh smell, and bite into it, getting every last drop down my throat, feeling the tingling burn. I cough a little, and reach for another, setting the previous onto a few napkins. I repeat the process, and a tear leaks out. I grab a final one, thank the barman, and make my way out into the parking lot.
"Oh, please, save the lemons!" I call over my shoulder when I get to the door, smiling gently at him, enjoying the sparkle ignited in his ebony orbs.
With luck, I'll be able to see the sun set flush against the dazzling ocean. Without batting an eyelash at Hiten, I leave the club, and sit down on the dirty pavement with my lemon, sucking thoughtfully. Well, judging by looks, I'd say Hiten is a womanizer.
My eyes droop at the corners, and I sigh again. A hand rests itself on my shoulder, and I tense up, and whirl around, with some verbal beatings to dish out. It's Sango.
"Hey. Don't look so sad." She hoists up her purse, beads of sweat glistening on her brow. "I'm here for the instant makeup update!"
I look at the brightening stars. "Sango, you know I hate makeup."
Her smile drops, and she sighs and sits next to me. "We've been looking all over for you, Kagome. I don't know what's gotten into you lately…"
I look over at her, sadness written all over my face. She sees the lemon in my hands. "Bingeing?" I nod slowly. "Guy troubles?"
"Sango, you know me best." The ends of my lips turn up slightly, and I surrender. "Only an itty bitty bit, okay?"
She seems confused, then her hazel eyes light up, and like a demon, she whips her purse open, and grabs some black eyeliner, and holds my face steady. Her tongue is sticking out of the corner of her mouth, and I can tell she's in deep concentration mode. She steps back, reviews her work, and says, "Close your eyes."
I do as she says, and I feel her thumbs smoothing and smudging instantaneously. "Hmm. You look good so far." Good?
I hear sounds of rummaging, and she asks, "Do you have pierced ears?" I'm surprised. I thought she noticed EVERYTHING.
"Hai…" My voice trails off, as I feel her insert something into my earlobes, and I feel a tinge of annoyance. I get the feeling she would have MADE holes if I didn't have them already.
"You like silver and red, right?" She's checking her color palate, even though she's already applied them.
"You know I do, Sango!" I chirp, the excitement of a mini makeover finally getting to me. She claps her hands, and I hear muffled curses.
"Did I make this huge mess?" She exclaims, and I hear things being thrown higgly-piggly back into her purse of wonders. "Okay, come on, follow me. The tutors are waiting!"
I open my eyes, and try and sneak a peak in her mirror as she does an eye shadow check. "Ah ah ah!" She snaps the mirror closed with a click, and grabs my hand, dragging me into the club. Stopping before we get to the doors, her hands on her hips.
"Hey guys!" She cups her hands around her mouth, yelling in what looks to me a general direction. Guess not. For Miroku and Bankotsu fight the crowd, eventually getting to us.
"WHOA! IS THAT CHICK KAGOME!" Bankotsu asks incredulously (and very loudly), shock evident on his face. Miroku just drools a little, but stops before Sango can hit him.
"What?" I demand, as four other figures make their way over. "Is that…?"
Jak appears, looking obviously confused. "Do I know you, ma'am?"
I raise a brow. "It's Kagome. Remember?" His jaw goes slack, and flops like a fish. "What is wrong with you people!" I grouch, annoyed by their reactions. "Is it that BAD?"
Jak coughs nervously, and introduces himself (again, for me). "I'm Jak, and since Kagome already knows me... I… I'll tutor her."
The second opens his eyes (Finally! I thought he fell asleep!) and stares at me, his mouth ready to deliver his introduction. "Juromaru. I'm Miroku's tutor." He snaps his jaw closed firmly, his words fairly cold.
My eyebrow twitches, and I inhale deeply, trying not to strangle Bankotsu, who still is staring. "Staring is rude." I snap grumpily, blushing.
"Nobunaga." The third states. "Sango's tutor." He adds, remembering the reason he's here.
The fourth steps up, an evil gleam in his eyes. I nearly fall over. "Well, I'm Suikotsu. I don't believe I've had the pleasure of meeting such gorgeous ladies before." He leans over, and kisses the back of Sango's hand, before running his lips against mine as well. "I'll be Bankotsu-CHAN's tutor."
Bankotsu fumes, but knows he obviously can't beat up his own brother. "Shut up!" Is all he can say, sounding half-hearted. I roll my eyes.
"You've met us before, Suikotsu."
He blinks, and turns his dark hazel eyes to me, lingering his gaze on my face. "Kagome? I didn't realize you two were such lookers."
Jak clears his throat, and continues, "If all goes well, we can swap around pupils and such later on, if necessary."
I smile gently, and walk over to stand in front of Jak, my arms crossed in front of my chest. "Well, let's get going. I need all the help I can get. And I wanna dance." I smile impishly, and Jak's grin goes from ear to ear.
"But of course. Follow me." He grabs onto the sleeve of my (his, technically) trenchcoat, and leads me through the crowds, and out into the starry parking lot. "Ah. Peace and quiet. I take it you'll feel less embarrassed out here than in there?"
I smile and nod absentmindedly, catch myself at it, and focus on what Jak's saying. "Well then. I may not be the wisest fashionable guy… I'll only make little changes… Um…" His fingers were twitching in the presence of my bad appearance, what with hair falling openly out of my ponytail, wisps sticking out, the trenchcoat issue, the dirt on my butt that only he could see, and a million other microscopic things.
"Knock yourself ou- Hey, hey, hey! Watch the hand!" I'm brighter than an overtoasted tomato, if that makes any sense, seeing as he's brushing the dirt off my butt. I grab his hand, trying to control my instinct (learned from Sango, with Miroku attempting do all sorts of things to feel her up) to slap and let him visit la-la land. "Not… there…" I say through clenched teeth, and he quickly retracts his hands.
And twitches, and gently (with speed) undoes my hair, run his hands through it, and turns me around so my back is to him. "This style is good for dancing. It's messy, but it'll make you look sexier when you take it out and leave it loose." He says all this in one breath. I had no idea what excited guys are capable of.
I feel him sweeping it off my neck elegantly, and putting it into a messy bun. "Good, good." His fingers are twitching considerably less. "Got any water? I'm sure you'd explode if I used my spit." I blanch, and rush in to the bar immediately, and order a bottle of water, smile and thank the barman, (Again. I wonder if he recognized me…) and scurry out to Jakotsu.
He grins. "I wasn't going to use my spit, you know."
"Better safe than sorry!" I quote, a hint of a smile popping onto my face. I resist, but before long I've got a full blow dazzling white smile. Jak stretches for a moment and yawns.
"One more thing… Off with that!" He screeches happily, pulling off the trenchcoat. "You can have it back only if you wear it like this…" He ties it around his waist. "Or like this." He puts it on an imaginary chair, then beams at me. "So what's it gonna be?"
I frown, grab it and tie it around my waist.
"Lower." He says. I sigh and let him do it to his tastes, knowing I'll never dance unless he likes the way it is. "Here put these on." They're some kind of… arm guards? "It's a souvenir for you. From the restaurant." He grins.
I pull them on, marveling at how they managed to stay cool at all. They're in the traditional Feudal era style, of course. They're a pure shade of white, with what looks like icy blue blood spilled on, only it's part of the design. I slip the ring securing it around my middle finger, and check that I can still bend my wrists.
I can, due to another piece allowing for flexibility. "Thanks!" I say, meaning it. It makes me feel different. Safer? More dangerous? I dunno, but I like the feeling.
"Alright. Ready to start?"
I nod seriously, and look his in his deep violet-kohl eyes. "We'll start with the waltz." I gave a sigh of relief. Then my chest constricted and I coughed dryly. "You okay."
"Yea…" I say weakly, and we move into position. "Isn't it romantic?"
"Hmm?" He looks surprised, and I see he's sporting a healthy blush from the close proximity. "Is what romantic? This?"
I smile at the sky, then at him. "Hai. We may be in a parking lot, trying to learn how to dance… And I may step on your feet… But it's still waltzing under the stars. My clumsiness can't change that." I look wistfully over at the ocean, reveling as it met the heavens in a fiery clash of colors and mood.
I blush when I snap out of it, realizing my vacant mind. "Gomen!" I freak out, and he examines me closely, his face inching closer toward me. "Let's just try to do this, okay?" I say, my heart in my throat. I try to swallow it, to no avail.
"Hnn." He tilts my chin up. "Be more confident in yourself and your abilities."
"What abilities?" I mutter under my breath.
He looks sharply at me. "You have many wonderful talents, yet you haven't discovered them yet because of your fears. To be embarrassed. To fail. To… fall in love… To be hurt." He looks at me wistfully, his dark eyes reflecting me inside them. "Now focus, have confidence, and face your demons."
A thought occurs to him. "Just… don't beat me up too badly, hnn?"
I bonk him on the head, and grin as he leads the waltz. I follow, around and around and around, repeating, repeating for what seems like forever.
It's like magic. Time slows down, leaving the world stripped away, in black and white. All I can see… is the sun against the sea, and it's just the two of us and the early stars. I sigh contently, and we continue.
"See? You did awesome, and didn't even hurt anyone." He pats my shoulder, a wide sly grin on his face, as he claps his hands once. "Hey, have you ever wanted to break down and dance?"
"Sure. If it didn't include embarrassing myself." I supply, with a raised brow.
"Interested in learning to break dance?"
My eyes just light up, and I shout, "YES!" immediately, my mood increasingly happy. Jak just watches, and I suspect he's hiding his laughter, because he has a coughing fit suddenly.
"Alright, we'll start it up tomorrow, when we have mats and equipment, okay?"
I nod, masking my slight disappointment. "Yeah, I guess you're right. Wouldn't want to hurt the floor." He chuckles, and asks if I know any dances.
"No. I never got to dance actually."
"Oh, clean slate then. How about some hot stuff, Kags?" I feel a blush creeping on, and I mentally shove it away. And nod carefully in agreement.
"No slutty things, 'kay?" I think that clarifies my hatred of sluts to him, and he smiles.
"Deal. I'll do it with you first, then I'll instruct you further when you know the moves." He comes over. "But before that…" A wicked gleam shone in his eyes, "I want to see what you can think up on your own first."
"B-But you just said?"
He just grins like a Cheshire cat. I give up, and think for a moment. "Well… I need some sort of music…"
The music from the club blares out with enormous force, nearly deafening us. "How's that?" Jak shouts, and I can't hear him; I read his lips.
"Fine!" I answer. He cups a hand around his ear. "Fine!" I repeat, he brings my head to his ear. "FINE!" I roar, and he gives a thumbs up, while trying to cover his ears too. Very comical.
The instrumental of the next song starts, and I have no clue what to do. I feel the tingly sense, and I know better than to fight it. I let it take over my body, hoping I wouldn't do something rash. Or that Jak would notice my eyes change.
And what did I do? I danced. And not once did I fall over.
I recognize the song, and start to move along with it.
My hands raise slowly into the air, above my head, and my hips start to snap and gyrate to the beat, and I sway my body, a small smirk on my face. My fingers run through my hair, and trail down my body, as I free my long wavy (and blue tinted now) from its confinement.
I'm dancing, dancing, dancing, not caring that Jak is openly gaping, moving my shoulders, swaying in a perpetual moving S, sometimes forward and backward, sometimes sideways, my hands hovering above me.
My arms crossing behind my head, slowly with one hand slipping to trail down my side, and finally the music stops, leaving me with my hands behind my head, in a pose with my… breasts jutting out slightly, my back arched.
My eyes flicker back to normal, and I see something steely flash in Jak's eyes, but I'm pretty sure he flicks it off as light, for he comes over and remarks, "You don't need much teaching, I see."
"Of course I do!" I plead, and he looks at his watch. "I may just be the biggest KLUTZ on the planet's surface!"
"But… can you close waltz?"
"Close… waltz?" My face is burning already, just from the name and the amount of personal space lost with it.
A coy smile plays upon his features. "Yes. Come here, I'll show you." He beckons, and I follow, not being able to think up an excuse. "Hands around my neck." I try and stay as far as possible, but he pulls me in. "Shy?" Flush against him. I'm seeing stars, and the background is flashing white and black as I feel dizzy from his closeness.
"I guess so." I do it right this time, to avoid teasing, and to get it over with. He smiles, and pulls me even closer.
"There you go. And my hands go here…" They're encircling my waist, and to the onlooker it would probably either look like…
A: We're hugging. Or…
B: We're making out. French kiss probably.
I tuck that waaaaaay into the back of my head, and do as he says, and put my head on his chest.
He starts us up, and I'm glad. It puts an end to the dangerously mushy thoughts.
This time we're in a tighter, shuffling step, gentle and (I suspect) a dance where people just dance close to feel romantic and loved. I take the time to finally actually LOOK (not that way, you perverts!) at Jak, and observe him.
He's looking at me, the setting sun mirrored from behind us in his eyes. I blush and unconsciously bite my lower lip. He has an odd hairstyle. It doesn't look like it's what he usually wears it as. He's left it in a small braid draped over his shoulder. I can tell he usually wears it different, though. And it's bothering me.
Why can't he wear it the same around me?
He's got on an open violet and black spattered dress shirt, with nothing under, and loose dark blue Wrangler jeans, with the faded cross-sections. Well, now I'm sure. He's muscular, tall, and handsome. Definitely a good thing when clubbing with a shirt open. He's tied a red and white bandana around his neck, and oddly, it looks good.
He's got those deep 'soulful' violet-obsidian eyes that reflect almost everything. And surprisingly (yet oddly enough, they look okay) thinner-than-your-average-Joe brows, and thick lashes. His face is completely clean, and suddenly I get the feeling again. He's stopped too, not looking at me, though. More like over my shoulder, with a dark, murderous expression.
'He's not telling you something.' The sense whispers, 'He doesn't usually look like this. There's a missing piece.' I brush it off, rolling my eyes, and ask, "Jak?"
He snaps back to earth. "Oh, I was just going to say your friends are looking for you. Time sure flies, ne? That should be enough for today." He smiles, and leads me back inside, his hand on my elbow.
"Hold on, I want a lemon!" He just blinks, and I wriggle out of his firm hold, and head towards the barman and my lemon tray, surprised it was still out.
"Ah, ah, ah!" He grabs my shoulder, and I stop for a second. "I'll go find the others, okay?" I nod. I wave a bit, then duck and weave through the swaying people, pulling up a seat in front of the lemons.
The barman looks at me in surprise and said, "Hold on miss, those are that nice young lady's lemons…" I glance up at him, one poised by my mouth.
"Thank you so much for saving them!" I smile, and finally notice Hiten lounging in the corner, a Coke in front of him. He doesn't recognize me, but the bartender does. I suck on it carefully, and think for a moment about what to do. "Can you just leave them here?" I ask hopefully, staring at him with big sapphire eyes.
"I-I guess so."
I smile shyly, and thank him, saying, "I ran off in a hurry last time… gomen!" as I placed a crisp ten in the jar, trying to ignore Hiten's eyes. I wave slightly, smiling over my shoulder as I dive back into the swaying crowd, when I see Jak jumping up and down, waving like a maniac.
I grin wryly, and wave back, slipping through the crowd towards them. Bankotsu stops beating up Suikotsu, and Sango stops tango-ing with Nobunaga (leaving him to fall over himself into an undignified lump), and Miroku breathes a sigh of relief and shivers away from Juromaru. "Hey!" Sango calls, her eyes twinkling. "So what WERE you doing over there?"
"Eating lemons," I answer casually, and the guys blink stupidly as she nods in understanding. Without warning she shrieks in delight as a fairly slow song comes on. I shake my head in disbelief. "I guess Kouga was right; they DO waltz in clubs."
Sango practically jumps on Miroku, then stops in midair, remember WHO it was. "Um… Care to dance?" Miroku asks hesitantly, and Sango's eyes betray her emotions as she nods and wraps her arms around his neck. The tutors just stand off on the side, slipping away to get a drink at the bar.
Bankotsu looks at me. His whole face is bright red, and he keeps opening and closing his mouth. Well, I can't blame him; the closest he's danced is with a broom. I blush prettily, and manage to whisper, "Aren't you going to ask me?" as softly as I can. His blue-green eyes soften suddenly, like his heart melted or some other cheesy line.
"Would you like to dance, then, Kagome?" I can't control the way my heart speeds up, or the way I smile; like I'm the happiest woman in the world, or the way my azure eyes look at him. I feel eyes on me, and they're not Sango's or Miroku's. Who? Frankly, I don't care.
For some reason my heart flutters when he says my name… My head is whirling, and my heartbeat accelerating as I step up to him, and stand there stupidly. He coughs, and that's my cue! I wrap my arms around his neck, and well, let's say he moves in a bit close.
This feels weird. I mean, don't you think so? After all, he's an enemy turned friend turned evil fellow turned hot? I think I'd better stop rambling. Man, this closeness level is killing me! My face is one fire, as my head rests cradled in his chest, one of his hands on my hip, the other behind my head.
His chin is resting on top of my head. Just barely I tell you! BARELY! Well, okay, maybe not.
It feels like this ridiculously embarrassing song'll NEVER EVER end! It's so great!
WHAT AM I SAYING!
I'm here, dancing with my worst enemy- er, one of my best friends, who's incredibly hot, by the way- GAH!
I'm so embarrassed! I try to turn my brain off. Of course, none of this is helped by him removing his chin and looking me in the eyes…
Uh…? Why is he coming closer?
"Did we ever celebrate giving up being… you know, rivals?" He's only inches away and my face feels like it's the new, improved sun.
"N-No, I don't think so…" I stammer.
"Oh." He says, going silent. "Hey, Kagome." He says quietly after a pause.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah what?"
I'm getting annoyed. "What do you mean 'yeah what'?" I asked, my pissed off-ness carrying over into my tone, as he winces slightly.
"Yeah who?"
"…" I'm confused, and I admit it. "Yeah… who…?" I ask.
"Say my name."
"Why?"
He says nothing, but stares at me. I feel uncomfortable, and my shifting around tells him so.
"Bankotsu?" I say, my tone questioning.
"Well then. Happy non-nemesis day." He leans in all the way, his soft lips covering mine gently.
A/N: This took soooooo long, I'm so sorry it's incredibly rushed! And mostly just stupid. Not much Hiten/Kagome in this chap. More Jak/Kag and Ban/Kag at the end. So Ban/Kag lovers (like myself) are happy. OOOOHHHHHH! FLUFF! Well, sorta. Try the next coupla chappies... I know I said there'd be more characters, but NOT THIS TIME. I'll be less specific, just in case. Next one or two chappies, OKAY? Sorry. Because of the delay, I'm skipping the vocab section. Review if you need help with it. And what's the word for Bankotsu's halberd? Not Banryuu, the Japanese word.Next Chapter:
OH MY GOD! What is Bankotsu doing! Oh, and Sango and I have a little 'chat' afterwards… But the next day, when I come back to the arcade… It's a whole different story? Wah, I wanna play my sniper game!
() () () () () () () () () () ()Darn, I lost my place in the reviews… Tell me if I forgot you. (So sorry!)
tidusXyuna637: Be happy! There's a moment of Ban/Kag in there for you…And yes, I didn't update soon…
satsu: lol, me too. ESPECIALLY my Math teacher. She creeps me out with how she always smiles…
DevilAngel620: I know how it feels. I'm not patient either. To make you feel better, I'll get mad at myself for not putting this up sooner. It stinks, but hey, meh… I forgot my reasons.
BadBoysMistress: Sure.
Seiteki Hekireki Jishinkaminarikajioyaji: First of all, I'd like to say… MY GOD THAT IS A HARD NAME! Lol, no offense. It's cool. Good questions, let me see… Maybe (good idea. Probably will be used if you don't mind), can't tell you, can't tell you. Don't want it spoiled, right? The first question should show up in later chaps, the second pretty much the same, the third really soon. (I hope.) Um.. but if you review again, can I call you Seiteki H.J.?
Kar: Thank you, thank you, thank you! You have such a wonderfully SHORT name! Lol, thanks for the review.
Lady-Seoh-Phoenix: Thanks. It only SEEMS to work because I am such a klutz too. Before you ask, no I'm making up the things that happened to her. I didn't actually happen to be the Kagome in the situation. Thank god.
Monkey M.W: Yep. VERY WEIRD. But this one was even weirder, so heck with it! (grins)
Kitty: Thanks a lot for the good/bad statements! They helped! (Although they'll be more in effect next chappie. Shhh… Sesshy'll be showing up indeed. Next chap if things go well. Technically he's already shown up. Sorry, I'm so dumb I can't even remember WHERE I said 'dull black eyes'. It was kinda thoughtless. I like black eyes. I meant it as impassive, kinda without feeling, just stuck up. You know the popular bullies. Blech. If they were nice people they would have had calm eyes or something. Ah, a favorite question. Why blue? I have brown eyes too, so it's nothing personal. Kagome in the manga has blue eyes, in the anime they're brown. I just picked the manga because it gave her some individuality from Sango's eyes. Likewise for Sango. But for the geeky Kagome thing… It can't be helped too much. Well, I hope you continue reading and forgive the 'dull black' statement. Sorry! Thanks for the criticism! I needed it!
vampirebunny: Thanks, lol.
Well, I'm tired. See ya! Hopefully next chappy'll be better.
o.O.o.O darkenedmoonlightflame O.o.O.o
And company. My adorably annoying muses.
Chapter Finished: 10-5-05
Post: 10-5-05
Spell Check: Yep.
Brain Check: Hn. That's not funny 'Kotsu. But then again, it is.