To Dance with the Devil
If there was anything Kagome learned it was that when one danced with the devil, they never won; even if the so-called devil was their husband, notorious and elite gangster, Takahashi Inuyasha. Too bad Kagome was stuck with him, till death do them part.
.xx.
To Toy with the Devil
Before Kagome finished her lesson for the evening Yura had advised her that a black Bugatti was parked outside the studio. Yura was well aware of the situation; she was as close as family got for them and Yura was there for Kagome and Souta through all stages of starting up their studio. Kagome merely nodded at Yura before returning her attention back to her students.
"Class, I want you to keep practicing the first thirty-two counts of our song. Dismissed."
The children scattered to gather their things so that they could meet with their awaiting parents in the waiting room. Kagome, on the other hand, took her sweet time. After all, she had to change in to a "black dress."
If he thinks for a second I'm going to doll myself up for his petty ass, he has another thing coming. Kagome lounged in to the change room and began her work of magic…
.xx.
Inuyasha was leaning against the body of his car with his arms crossed. A light wind picked up but it hardly bothered Inuyasha; he was there with a purpose and what Inuyasha Takahashi wanted, he got. Whether the delivering party liked it or not. As if on cue, Kagome emerged from her studio wearing a long black faux-fur jacket. Odd, it wasn't that cold out… perhaps she was simply shielding her outfit for a more appropriate time? The corner of Inuyasha's lip curled upwards. Interesting. Very interesting.
"Kagome," He greeted her by opening his passenger door. Kagome neither greeted him nor acknowledged him.
Strangely enough, that made him amused. She had balls the size of coconuts that was for sure. He caught the scent of her perfume as she brushed past him to enter his car, Hypnotic Poison by Dior. Inuyasha thought amusedly. The only way he knew the fragrance was due to its distinct smell: hints of cinnamon, vanilla, and rustic smells. He had a soft spot for cinnamon, and it was amusing that Kagome picked Dior out of all other perfumes available.
With his hands folded behind his head, Inuyasha languidly walked to the driver side and entered his vehicle. Kagome made no motion to speak to him or look at him. She was scrolling through her phone, checking her Facebook and doing everything in her power to not pay any attention to the elite gangster sitting beside her.
This jacket is so hot. She thought annoyingly. The shit she did to piss off a dangerous underworld king—if she made it out alive, it would be something she added to her bucket list just so she could cross it out, being able to tell people she pissed off Inuyasha Takahashi and made it out alive.
"Are you hungry?" He asked while fastening his seatbelt.
"No."
"Good, you're going to need an appetite for where we're going."
"I said no."
"And you also just said more than two words to me."
Kagome rolled her eyes. Don't give in to him. Don't give in to him.
"I presume you have your cheque?"
"Yes."
"With interest?"
"Yes."
"And how much money is left over for your personal expenses?"
"Enough."
Inuyasha bit his lip. He didn't want to laugh at her expense, but she was being funny without even knowing it. It awed Inuyasha that she knew what he was capable of, knew his line of work, knew he probably had a concealed weapon plus bodyguards tailing them, and yet she was bold enough to display such unorthodox behaviour. It also awed Inuyasha that her attitude didn't annoy him, but rather intrigued him.
She would make an excellent wife, and would be able to stand her ground in his world, that was a fact he could be certain of.
"How much is enough?"
"Just enough—oh hey! Kikyo got engaged!" Kagome couldn't help but squeal when she saw a post of her cousin, who was only three months older, with her long-time boyfriend Onigumo and her ring. "And she didn't even tell me."
"Who is—"
"Can you excuse me for a minute? I need to call my cousin." Without waiting for Inuyasha to respond, Kagome dialled Kikyo's number and pressed the phone against her ear.
Inuyasha's knuckles tightened on his steering wheel. There was a limit, and Kagome was drawing scarily close to his.
"Hello—hi, so what just happened?"
Inuyasha heard a woman babble on the other side of the line.
"When?! Five minutes ago? What the hell are you doing posting already on Facebook? You should be celebrating." Kagome's voice was suggestive and she knew Kikyo probably blushed a shade of tomato on the other end of the line.
Inuyasha's annoyance was spiking drastically. "Kagome—"
She held up a finger to shush him. "Huh? Oh don't worry about it, just some guy."
That was it.
"Hang up." His voice was a lethal purr. The authority that he commanded lashed out and filled the Bugatti. Kagome glanced at him and decided to acknowledge his request; she knew she was testing him and although it was part of her plan to annoy him, dying wasn't.
"You need to fill me in tonight. Let's convene at the studio—" Inuyasha heard the girl Kikyo interrupt and Kagome quickly intercepted her.
"It's one of Daddy's business partners, we're working out some deals regarding the expedition. Yeah—hmm—okay sounds good! We'll grab ramen and drinks. Love you." Kagome hung up and tossed her phone into her purse. She looked out the window and closed her eyes.
Inuyasha's eyes flickered to her and back onto the road again. "I know what game you're playing."
"There is no game."
He smirked. "Lying to me is futile, Kagome. I can sense betrayal a mile away."
"Betrayal is only a result of somebody breaking your trust. You do not know me enough to trust me, therefore I cannot betray you."
"I believe that is the most you've said to me since we met."
Kagome growled. "Can we just get this dinner done with? I want to give you my cheque and go home." No sooner did the words leave her mouth did Inuyasha pull in to the parking lot of a fancy 5-star restaurant, Kazanna. He wasn't lying, it did require proper attire and Kagome knew he was going to be incredibly pissed off when the maître d' didn't seat them because she looked like… what she did.
Inuyasha pushed his door open and Kagome quickly exited his car. Am I taking this too far? A sliver of doubt filled her emotion before she squashed it like a fly. No. He is trying to get me to marry him after lending Daddy money for a useless expedition. I am not taking this too far.
"Shall we?" He held his hand out to escort her but she brushed past him. Inuyasha clenched his fist but remained silent. Getting angry at her would solve nothing… Before Kagome could push the door open, Inuyasha strode past her and opened it for them. She mumbled a silent thank you and entered the restaurant.
"Ohayo, welcome to Kazanna, how may I—Oh! Lord Inuyasha!" The maître d' grinned seeing the man standing behind Kagome. "Your usual table, I presume?"
"Please, Jakotsu. And take the lady's jacket."
Kagome gulped. Well then… wordlessly, she slipped her jacket off and Inuyasha's eyes widened.
Underneath her faux fur jacket she wore torn jean shorts, and a black t-shirt with profane writing on it. Inuyasha's eyes darkened considerably and he took a menacing step towards Kagome.
"What the hell do you think you're wearing?!"
"Clothes."
"I specifically told you to wear a black dress."
"And I specifically told you I didn't want to go out with you. Besides, this shirt is black."
Jakotsu's head ping-ponged between the arguing duo and before it could get worse, he interjected. "Pardon me; there is no need to disagree. Your usual table is private, Lord Inuyasha, so we may grant an exception to allow the lady to dine with you." Jakotsu glanced at Kagome with slight disgust. "Although she must wear her jacket to and from your table."
"Thank you, Jakotsu." Inuyasha was trying to level his anger. Was the woman an idiot?! Arguing with him, ignoring him, and negotiating deals with him was one thing, but defying his request altogether was unacceptable. Inuyasha had never, in his life, had anybody defy him the way she was and it was frankly irritating.
I know what you're doing. He thought while walking quietly behind her. You're trying to weasel your way out of the marriage deal. Too bad I'm a lot harder to get rid of…
.xx.
"You are a different species, Kagome."
Inuyasha was leaned back in his chair, looking as if he owned the place. Kagome was sitting in her seat with her jacket hanging off of the back of her chair, with her arms crossed. An envelope lay between them on the table; her cheque to pay back his loan.
"You can't tell me what to do."
"I could kill you for disobeying me like that."
"Then do it."
"Do you think death is better than being my wife?"
"Dying once is better than dying every day."
"As my wife, you'd be a Queen."
"I would rather be a pauper."
Inuyasha's anger was slowly disappearing—just as quick as she had riled his emotions, she was relaxing him with childish banter. It was nothing like Inuyasha had ever experienced and, as intriguing as it was, he was wondering if it was worth it. He wasn't one to experience emotional roller coasters; he was the one delivering such experiences.
"Besides," Kagome leaned forward and rested her chin on the palm of her left hand. "You have your cheque, I've paid you back. Marrying me is redundant now."
Inuyasha sipped on his red wine. "Perhaps. Or perhaps marrying you was my intention when I loaned your father a sum that I knew he couldn't return."
Kaogme's eyes widened drastically. That option was not one she had entertained… "Pardon me?"
He chuckled. "My intentions are my own, Kagome. But do know that I always get what I want. And what I want, is you."
"You can't order me to marry you."
"I know," Inuyasha leaned forward and looked directly into her eyes. "What I want to know is what I can do to get you to marry me."
"Nothing." Kagome was persistent. "I refuse to marry you."
Inuyasha leaned back. "That isn't an option."
"Explain to me why."
"Cannot."
Kagome wanted to strangle the idiot. There was no way he could waltz in to her life, make a mess of it, and expect her to marry him. "You force me to change everything in my life, sell the house I grew up in, pay you back for a loan you knew my father couldn't afford, and then marry you?"
"Yes."
"Argh!" Kagome screamed, slamming her hands on the table. "Why?!"
"I already told you, I can't say." Inuyasha's voice was silky smooth, and he wasn't allowing her anger to affect him in anyway. "You will marry me."
"Is it a temporary fix for something?"
Inuyasha cocked an eyebrow. "Temporary? Sweetheart, no. It's for life."
"You're going to marry me, a virtual stranger, and build a life with me? I'm calling you out on your bullshit."
"Call me out on whatever the hell you think this is, but marrying you is what I will do." He leaned forward and plucked the cheque off of the table. "But thank you for being considerate enough to pay me back my loan. Whatever possessed your father to think mermaids exist is beyond me."
Kagome's world began to spin. Inuyasha didn't believe in her father's expedition but loaned him the money anyway knowing full well her father couldn't pay it off. His ulterior motive was to marry her? But why? Why, why, why? He isn't telling me and he isn't backing off…
Kagome was stuck between a rock and a hard place and she needed to buy time to figure out what to do. She needed Sango, Yura, and Kikyo… Their four brains collaborating would be much better than her trying to make a plan by herself.
"Hello?" Inuyasha raised both eyebrows. "Still awake?" He was watching Kagome enter a state of deep thought and, momentarily, space out.
"You aren't going to back out of wanting to marry me, are you?"
"Not at all, so it's best for both of us if you just agree and we get on with planning the ceremony."
Kagome scowled. "No. You can't strip me of experiencing the marriage process—if you're so keen on marrying me, where is the ring?"
Inuyasha was a loss of words. He certainly wasn't expecting her to ask him about a ring. What was going through her head? "I have it. Not here. Did not want to risk giving you a family heirloom and having you run away with it."
"I'm sure you'd prevent me from escaping."
"It touches my heart that you know me so well, Kagome."
She ignored him. "I will entertain your idea to marry me on one condition." Kagome was negotiating with him again. She would make perfect Takahashi bride.
"And that is?"
"You court me. Woo me. You are not relieved of the daunting task of pursuing a woman just because you own half the country with stolen money." Kagome's eyes were hard. She refused to let him win. "You have to win me first and have me want to marry you."
"You think you're smart." The corners of his lips twitched. "You want me to win your affection? Do know, Kagome, that whether you want to or not and whether I am successful or not in wooing you, you will marry me."
"No. You claim you always get what you want, and if you want to marry me so badly you have to make me want to marry you." He was right, she never would want to marry him but hopefully this would buy her enough time to think of a counterplan. "What do you say? Do you agree with my terms?"
Inuyasha studied her for a minute. Her resolve wasn't breaking and her eyes were aflame with anger. If only she knew his reason, perhaps she would consider his offer but, alas, he was unable to disclose any information to her. He needed to marry her, and she needed to be with him and that was that.
"On a condition of my own."
Kagome's back straightened. "Which is?"
"You will not purposefully reject anything I do during this courting process. If I want to take you out for dinner, you will come." He knew she'd say no just because she could.
"Unless I have premade plans."
He nodded. "Unless my plans with yours conflicts with prior engagements. Yes. And you cannot have relations with other men."
Kagome nearly choked. "Pardon me?"
"No other men."
Her eyes narrowed. "Fine. But no other women."
"Deal." He extended his hand to hers and she stared at it for a moment before extending hers out.
"Deal."
So begins the dance… your move, Inuyasha.
.xx.