"You want me to do what?" I ask, sure I had misheard her instruction. If the expression on the human girl's face is anything to go by, I had not.
"It's not that big a deal, it's just a little... bouncy," she explains, clearly enjoying this more than should be allowed.
"This one does not bounce." I cross my arms over my chest and narrow my eyes at her.
"It's a quickstep, Sesshomaru, you won't even notice you're doing it!" I arch an eyebrow, silently challenging her faulty logic. Kagome runs her hands through her hair, taking slightly deeper breaths than usual. She is growing frustrated, I realise. "You already know all the steps, your timing is great, we just need to get the feel of everything right." Her voice is almost pleading and I am reminded of how much this means to her.
"What is it that you are hoping to gain from winning this competition?" I ask, genuinely curious. From what I have seen, she can afford to live in a nice enough area, her business has been steady, and she does not seem to lack any amenities. She looks taken aback by my question, but takes a deep breath to answer, regardless.
"Winning would obviously drum up more business, which is never a bad thing, especially with offseason coming up, but..." she trails off, looking around her small studio for a moment. "The money they're offering would be enough to pay off what I owe my landlord, and then some. I could maybe buy the studio, get him off my back, and have more room to breathe." My face remains impassive despite the irritation that flares through me at the mention of her landlord, Naraku. He had not made an appearance since I had stationed Royakan at her establishment, but the first of the month is fast approaching.
"There are ways of attaining money," I remind her, "more guaranteed ways." She shakes her head, a far off look in her eyes.
"I'd still be owing someone money if I got a loan, and they charge interest. I won't be a charity case. This is something I have to do on my own. You get that, right?" She looks at me, pleading with me to understand her situation. I nod my head, recalling a similar sensation when I was starting my own business, though that was many years ago. A sad smile pulls at her lips as she gazes across her studio once again. A sigh pulls its way from my mouth as I take her hand in mine once more.
"Show me again," I demand. At her confused expression, I find myself forcing down a smirk. "How is this one meant to... bounce." Her eyes widen as a slow grin grows on her face.
"Okay, it's like this." And that is precisely how my idiotic half brother finds us half an hour later, bouncing across the floor. He does not even bother trying to contain his laughter.
"What the hell is this?" He asks between fits of laughter. "Mr. Killing Perfection hopping around? Man, this is too good! Kikyou, where's my camera?" His fiancée rolls her eyes as Kagome turns off the stereo, silently pleading with me not to kill her best friend. I take a deep breath, sticking my hands in my pockets.
"He's helping me with something," Kagome explains as she greets everyone. At this, InuYasha quickly sobers, eyebrows lowered in confusion.
"He seems to be doing that a lot lately," he points out, bitterly. I notice Kagome's cheeks flush in embarrassment as she looks at the floor. My eyes narrow on their own accord at the hanyou, irate at his having upset her. "What is it this time?"
"My dance competition," she admits, softly. InuYasha's eyes widen as he looks between us, clearly astonished.
"You're joking."
"What happened to your other partner?" Sango asks, looking equally as baffled.
"He's decided to dance with Yura," Kagome explains. The looks on everyone else's faces show there is no need for further explanation.
"It's not too shocking that she would try to take you out of the competition," the monk muses, "you are her biggest competition." Kagome's cheeks flush again as she scratches the back of her head.
"I don't know about that."
"What about that creep, Jakotsu?" InuYasha asks, finally recovering from his shock.
"Without my prime bargaining chip," she explains, looking at the hanyou. "There's no way he'd agree." InuYasha's face falls, slightly, as guilt clouds his scent momentarily. "It's fine though. Sesshomaru's a really fast learner, I'm not too worried." She smiles at me over her shoulder, nearly pulling a smile from me in return. Luckily, I catch the expression before it manifests itself on my features. "So, ready to get started?"