Persuasion

Prompt: Tactical Retreat

Universe: AU

Genre: Humour, Romance

900 Words

Kagome let her gaze sweep across the decorated room. Everywhere there was laughter and joyous faces, though no one was as radiant as Sango. By her side, Miroku looked at her adoringly. Kagome's heart swelled for them, the sheer happiness on her face was contagious. The love in his eyes was palpable, though Kagome was sure that somewhere at the back of his mind, the old perv was counting the seconds to the moment he could get his wife out of that white dress.

But that was all right. Sango must have been looking forward to their wedding night as well.

Kagome's foot was tapping to the music and she cast a longing look at the dance floor. She spotted Inuyasha there, dancing with Kikyo, and a smile rose to her lips at the sight of them.

She glanced across the table, and her smile turned into a frown. Her date was completely ignoring the merriment around him, his eyes focused on the screen of his smartphone and the e-mail he was furiously typing.

Kagome sighed. She adored her boyfriend. She did. He was in a completely different league from the kind of guys she had dated before. He was the strong and silent type. Mature, serious, thoughtful, committed, a good listener. These were all qualities that Kagome admired, things that she really liked about him.

But all these positive traits had their downside. Her boyfriend seemed to have an inbuilt inability to let loose, and his commitment to his work ran a bit too strong to Kagome's liking. They were at her best friend's wedding reception for goodness sake; couldn't that e-mail have waited until he got home?

"Could you please put that down?" she asked softly.

"It is important," was the curt reply.

Kagome's brow furrowed.

"It can't be that important. It's Friday afternoon and you're at a wedding, not at work. Surely it could wait a few hours."

At first it seemed like he hadn't even heard her. He continued to type the e-mail. But then, after he had sent it, he deposited the phone back into his pocket with a sigh.

Kagome beamed at him.

"Thank you."

He simply nodded.

Kagome's foot was still tapping.

"This is a good song," she pointed out, earning a dismissive "Hnnn" in return. "Makes me want to dance," she tried again, laying the hint thicker.

He caught on immediately, golden eyes narrowing.

"I am not one for dancing," he told her firmly.

"Aww, come on! Please? For me?"

"I think not," he shook his head. "But you are free to go and enjoy yourself without me."

Kagome's brow quirked. "Really?"

"Yes."

"You wouldn't mind?" she batted her eyelashes.

"Not in the least."

"All right, I'm going dancing then."

She got up from her chair and circled around the table to give him a quick peck on the cheek.

Sesshoumaru watched her leave, though his amicable mood quickly soured when, instead of making a beeline to the dancefloor, his partner stopped at one of the tables.

Why was she talking to the wolf?

Why was the wolf rising from his seat?

He glared at the male who all too eagerly followed his girlfriend onto the dancefloor. Then, as the two begun dancing, Sesshoumaru's glare settled on Kagome.

He knew exactly what she was doing. She had gone to the wolf on purpose, knowing how he disliked the uncouth creature. She was trying to provoke him, to deliberately push his buttons. Sesshoumaru leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms across his chest. It would not work. He refused to be manipulated by her – in such an obvious manner, no less. She was free to try, of course, but it would be in vain. Sesshoumaru would not dance.

His resolution held firm for three more songs, until a new melody started to play. A slow song, which instantly changed the mood in the room. The pairs on the dancefloor huddled closer, and he had to bite back a snarl at the thought of the wolf pawing at his girlfriend. Before he even fully registered what he was doing, he had strode across the room and was firmly cutting between the two dancers. Ignoring the wolf, his eyes trained on Kagome, he bit out the words that signalled his defeat, and made him sick to his stomach. "Would you do me the honour of giving me this dance?"

"Why, Sesshoumaru," she spoke, a smug grin playing on her lips, "I was afraid you'd never ask!"

Her blue eyes were laughing at him, but he found he did not mind so much, he was too busy dwelling on the gleeful delight seeing the disgruntled wolf stomp away.

The song was playing, and Kagome rather decisively wrapped her arms around his neck and brought her body flush against his. Sesshoumaru's hands settled on her hips as they began slowly swaying to the rhythm.

In their intimate embrace, he leaned down to catch her lips in a deep kiss. With a content sigh, her head fell to rest against his shoulder. He relished the way her body seemed so perfectly fit against his, and buried his nose into her hair.

And although he would never dare to admit such a sentiment out loud – and least of all to her – Sesshoumaru had to concede that, perhaps, there was something to this whole dancing business after all.