While Kagome speaks with Sango and Miroku, catching up surely, I think over our conversation. The human is a dance instructor. I don't recall her ever being graceful. As a matter of fact, I remember quite a lot of tripping and fumbling about, dropping her things constantly, and always getting hurt. How on Earth does InuYasha believe this girl will be able to teach us to dance properly? Surely one person cannot change that much in so little time.
InuYasha walks in then and Kagome runs over to hug him, tripping over nothing on her way over. I shake my head, pathetic human. After several minutes of observing their conversation, Kagome steps aside and tells us all to form a line in front of the mirror.
"Okay, today we're covering all the basics to a waltz. First, we'll go over a box step, it's super simple. Step forward with your left foot, over with your right so they're parallel, and then bring them together. Then, you step back with your right, over with your left, and back together." She demonstrates each step as she says it. Easy steps, quite simple to duplicate. "Now you all try." We do as we are told and continue until she tells us to stop. "Very good. Next, the chain step. Forward with your left again, over with your right, and together. Now, instead of going back with your right foot, you're going to bring it forward, over with your left, and then together; you repeat this process to move straight forward or backward." Such simple steps, why even bother to learn? I think to myself. "Excellent! Now we're going to try with partners." Everyone divvies up with their respective partners, leaving only... "I guess you're stuck with me then." I nod my head as she turns to address the others.
"Next we're going to work on your frame. It needs to be sturdy but not too stiff. Miroku, your hand does not go there and we both know it." Miroku freezes, caught with his hand in the air near Sango's rear. The girl glares at him, her face red with anger and discomfiture. "InuYasha, Kikyo, if you would." Kikyo places her left hand on the hanyou's shoulder blade and her right in his left as he places his right hand on her waist. "Good, but straighten up the posture for me and put your hand on the small of her back, not her waist. Too high, here." After placing his hand in the proper position, Kagome circles them, searching for error. "Your arms are too high, they should be level with her chest, much better. There's still one problem." InuYasha looks at her, irritated.
"What? No way, this is perfect!" Kagome arches an eyebrow at him, smirking in a rather amused fashion.
"You sure about that?" He narrows his eyes at her while Kikyo looks on in interest. Kagome nods, smirk still in place. She walks around to where their joined hands are. "Still think it's perfect?" She applies pressure to the hanyou's arm and watches it move. "You're too loose. Tighten up, I should not be able to move you this easily." She tries again and is met with little resistance before it moves again. "You're not trying. The key to a good waltz lies in the footwork. A great waltz requires a tight frame with the appearance of softness." She walks around and moves his arm on the miko's back, watching it fall to his side.
"Both sides have to be stiff?" He yells out. I suppress a chuckle at my brother's impatience and incompetence but allow a smirk to take control of my own lips.
"Yes InuYasha," Kagome replies patiently and slowly, as though talking to a child. She then pushes on their joined hands once more, throwing off their whole center of balance, causing them to stumble. "Or else you go down. Hold your balance. I don't know why this is so hard for you, you walk in trees barefoot all the time on tiny branches carrying heavy stuff, and I've never seen you fall." He narrows his eyes in concentration, his face going red with frustration. Kikyo has the smallest of smiles on her face; she's enjoying his torment as much as I am. I chuckle softly, however, he still hears.
"Think this is so funny, huh? Let's see you do it right on the first try!" I shrug, holding my hand out to Kagome. She smiles and walks over, taking my hand. I pull her close, placing my hand on the small of her back. She reaches up to rest her hand on the back of my shoulder, resting her hand in mine. I look down at her, seeking approval with my eyes. Her smile falls as we make eye contact, her blue irises growing wider. I notice her heart rate increase a bit and her breath catches in her throat before she shakes her head slightly.
"Perfect." She replies a little breathlessly. She clears her throat before speaking again. "Someone come try to move us." Sango walks over and applies pressure, no movement. InuYasha tries to jerk us around, still receiving no response. Kagome and I never break eye contact. "This is what you should try to achieve. Strong enough to keep from too much unnecessary movement, gentle enough to act as a guide and not a prison cell, with enough space to allow individual movement."
"Show off..." InuYasha mumbles under his breath. The corner of my lips quirks up, the shadow of a smirk. Biting her lip, Kagome is the first to move away, my hand trailing her back as she moves. I see the slight shiver that scurries up her spine.
"Give it a try, I'll walk around and make corrections and then we'll begin moving across the floor together." She goes first to Sango and Miroku, scolding him again for his hand placement. After giving InuYasha a few more corrections, his frame is considered adequate for now. "We're going to do four box steps, three forward chains, four more boxes, and then three backward chains. Ladies, make sure that you're slightly to the right to avoid being stepped on or do any stepping on. Sango, trample him if he doesn't keep his hands where they should be." She looks over her shoulder at the aforementioned monk, hand once more inches from the girl's derriere. His expression a countenance of shock and fear.
"How does she..."
"Alright, ready and box; one, two, three, one, two, three, one, two, three, one, two, three. Chain; one, two, three, one, two, three, one, two, three. Box; one, two, three, one, two, three, one, two, three, one, two, three. Final chain; one, two, three, one, two, three, one, two, three. Not bad, it really is just a practice thing, we'll run through it a few more times. Make sure that you're moving to the beat or else you'll get tangled up in yourselves, which is not as fun as it sounds." She walks over to a speaker system and plays a piano piece that is in 3/4 timing. "Sesshomaru, you'll do it with them this time." She says walking over. "Gentlemen, remember, it is your job to lead and the lady's to follow. On my count." She speed walks the remaining distance back into my arms, her knee-length black skirt flowing across her legs. She closes her eyes, finding the timing, and begins counting out loud for everyone. I have no problem guiding her through her silly exercise and her surprise is etched into her features as she continues to count. She is careful to avoid my eyes this time around.
"Excellent everyone, now we're just going to go over a basic step in turn and then I'll let you all leave. For this one, we'll do two full rotations of a box, one-half of a box, and then the gentlemen will lift their left arm allowing their partner to spin under, and then step into her space to, once again, take up your original frame. It's easier done than explained, trust me. Sesshomaru, would you mind?" I nod once, walking over. I have seen this move executed on numerous occasions and will have no problem serving as a demonstration. "Do you need me to explain again or do you think you got it?" I suppress an eye roll and take the girl in my arms once more. She nods her head to the beat of the piano, giving my cue to lead. We perform the sequence perfectly, the only minor fault being my stepping in a bit too close after her turn; this causes the girl's cheeks to flush again and her breath to catch. She nods her approval and quickly steps away.
"And that's it. Now you all try." Five minutes later, Kagome signals the end of our time. "Great work today guys, remember to practice at home and if I don't see you before then, I'll see you next week!" I make to retrieve my bag, only to be stopped by her grabbing my arm. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Hn." I nod my head, folding my hands behind my back. Everyone grabs their things and leaves, waving and yelling about getting lunch together soon. I remain silent, waiting for the short human girl to speak. She pulls her hair out of its bun and turns frustrated eyes on me. I arch an eyebrow in confusion.
"I thought you hadn't danced before." She folds her arms in front of her chest, leaning on her left leg.
"I have not. I detest the idea." Rolling her eyes, she runs a hand through her thick, black hair. Raven waves cascade down her shoulders and back, a stark contrast against her white tank top.
"Then why are you so good?" I shrug, turning away to gather my belongings.
"Nothing you have shown us has been difficult to grasp." Her footsteps trail after me, heels clicking against the wooden floors.
"No, it's more than that. I've danced with people that could easily be professionals and none of them had... that is they couldn't..." I turn around to find the girl holding her head in her hands. "None of them felt like that. Moved like that, with such synchronization..." Shaking her head, she looks up at me, vexation apparent in her posture and expression. "Forget I said anything, have a nice week." She turns away to gather her own things, her shoulders slumped in defeat. Something inside of me screamed for me to make her happy once more, something that liked the looks she'd given me when we'd been dancing.
"You will dine with my daughter and me tonight." My voice found it's way out of my throat before I could grasp what was occurring. She faces me, confusion on her face.
"What?"
"Do you have plans for dinner?" She shakes her head, still looking rather perplexed. "Then I insist you come with Rin and me." She blinks her eyes a few times as though unsure of what she had heard. "Do you object?" Quickly, she shakes her head.
"I'd hate to intrude on family time or whatever, I'm fine really."
"Rin would love to have you, it has been far too long since she has had company with her own kind." The girl bites her lip, nervously.
"I'm not exactly dressed for it." I shrug, leaning against the wall.
"We will stop by your house for you to change. It is no bother." As she thinks it over, her stomach growls, rather loudly. She blushes briefly.
"Would it be at your house or out somewhere?" She asks hesitantly, already grabbing her things and changing into a pair of black flats.
"Where would you prefer?" On our way out, I hold the door for her and gesture to my car waiting to pick us up. I wait until she is seated before shutting her door and getting in myself.
"Where to, sir?" I look to Kagome, watching as she gives the demon her address. He nods and turns onto the street.
"We will dine at home. As our chef has the evening off, I will be cooking. Is that satisfactory?" She nods, meekly. I call Jaken and tell him to inform Rin of our guest and have him send for some groceries. I cannot help but wonder, why all this trouble for one human girl? Looking over, I find the one in question gazing out the window. The sunlight hits just right and it is as though all of her better features are accentuated at once giving her the image of a celestial being rather than a human girl. I should like to get to know better this friend of my brother's and, for reasons unbeknownst to me, I should like to have her approval.