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 Rendezvous with the Devil

Kagome was not at all surprised when Inuyasha called her a few hours after his text message to inform her that she had to wear red. The man clearly had a problem with telling women what to wear. Kagome was also not surprised when he said that she needed to look like arm-candy. She had an inkling from their first interaction that he wanted to show her off like a trophy and, apart from the fact she was not going to marry him for a plethora of valid reasons, she did not want to be his trophy wife.

Sango had mixed feelings about her date with him.

"You were the one that told me to go out with him."

"Well, yeah but… you're going to a party in his world, Kagome." Sango stroked her belly affectionately. "You don't know what his world entails…"

Kagome knew Sango was right. All they knew was that Inuyasha was an elite gangster, ruling the entire so-called "underworld". Kagome had no other knowledge of what he did, how he made his money, or just how lethal he was. She was certain that his franchise of Shikon stores only brought in so much, and his lavish lifestyle definitely required more money than what a clothing store can generate. The only reason she got away with being defiant was because she knew that what he needed her for required her to be alive.

"You're walking right in to his comfort zone." Sango warned.

Kagome chewed on her bottom lip. "You're making me reconsider…"

"You already agreed. You could've waited to ask me."

"Who knew you would spew out such logic!" Kagome threw her hands in the air in resignation and went to go lie down on the sofa. The more she thought the more her head hurt—why can't I turn my brain off?!

Sango sat down beside her and pat her ankle. "The deed is done. You have no other choice but to go."

Kagome shoved a cushion in her face. Why couldn't she suffocate herself?

"It's already four, you should go shower and get ready."

"I don't want to."

Sango could feel the hurt, confusion, and agony her best friend was feeling. It was unfair how she was forced to go through such torture just because her father wanted to find a mermaid—a mermaid! Sango wondered if he watched The Little Mermaid before getting the idea of fish-people stuck in his head. What was next? Centaurs?

"You have to. Come on, get up and shower and I'll curl your hair…"

Kagome threw the cushion off of her face and glared at the ceiling. "I hope he breaks his ankle on his walk up the shrine steps and we can't go."

"Wishful thinking."

.xx.

Sango had a red dress from before her pregnancy that she loaned Kagome. It was mermaid (on the irony) style, hugging Kagome's every curve before flowing out around her ankles. The halter style allowed for Kagome to show off a simple yet elegant gold encrusted diamond necklace. Small diamond studs adorned her ears and, to top off her ensemble, she wore a paisley patterned sparkling stone headband. Sango took it upon herself to paint Kagome's nails gold, and pin her curls up in a loose half ponytail.

Both ladies admired their handiwork in the full length mirror in Kagome's room.

"Perfect."

Kagome nodded, agreeing with Sango's statement. She had never felt so beautiful in her life and it was ironic that she dolled herself up for the single male character she didn't want to impress. "I should ditch the party and find myself a fine looking specimen to spend my time with."

"Unfortunately Inuyasha has to be the finest specimen I've ever seen." Sango revealed with embarrassment. "He's an ass wipe, one hundred and fifty percent yes, but he's a sexy ass wipe."

Kagome rolled her eyes. "You girls need to figure out whether you hate him or like him."

Sango playfully slapped Kagome's butt. "I'll let you know when I do. Now come! Final touches before the Devil comes and gets you."

No sooner did the words leave her mouth, Kagome's phone rang.

Jackass 9000 Calling

Sango snickered. "Speak of the Devil…"

.xx.

Inuyasha sipped his whiskey with a stony expression. Miroku had delivered quite some terrible news and Inuyasha ready to throw his glass at the wall. "Kouga couldn't find him?" His voice was lethal and frightened Miroku slightly.

"He couldn't."

Inuyasha's hold on the whiskey glass tightened incredibly hard, causing the glass to shatter unintentionally. Miroku's eyes flickered to the glass shards shattering around Inuyasha before looking back at him. The anger Inuyasha emanated was tangible, the fear he was ready to instill was real—Inuyasha was in his element.

"I want Jaken found and I want him taken care of." Inuyasha stood up and idly glanced at his hand, a few cuts were present but nothing that wouldn't heal within a day or two. "But before Kouga is through, I want to know why he was in Goshinboku and why he was dancing with Kagome. He knew very well, like everybody else that works for me, that she is not to be looked at, let alone touched."

Miroku nodded. "Yes." As he turned to leave, Inuyasha called out.

"One more thing."

Miroku glanced over his shoulder.

"I told Kagome I didn't know who the guy dancing with her was… let's keep it that way, okay?"

This was interesting… "Why did you lie to her?"

Inuyasha walked over to his window; a gateway that overlooked the entire city. He was in his empire, the one he built on his blood, sweat, and tears. An empire he promised his mother that he'd have one day, though he honestly doubted she would've approved the way he built it, but that was besides the fact.

Why did I lie to her? Inuyasha thought, trying to bring reason to what Miroku asked him.

"I don't want her knowing the details of what we really do."

Miroku frowned. "Yet she knows you're Tetsu Saiga?"

"That business project is legal." Inuyasha muttered. "It's the other shit I don't want her involved with—and the fact that I'm bound to her no matter what either of us want? The whole situation is fucking bullshit." Inuyasha snarled while throwing a punch at his wall. Miroku winced when he heard the drywall shatter.

Again with the wall breaking?! Dear Buddha…

"Find Jaken. Get rid of him." Inuyasha said through gritted teeth. "Make sure Kagome never finds out."

Miroku nodded. "Very well…"

Inuyasha heard his door click shut before examining the damage to his fist. "Keh," he wrung his wrist a few times while striding to his desk. He sunk in to his leather armchair and picked his cellphone up with his good hand. It was drawing close to seven and he would soon leave to pick Kagome up to go to Midoriko's restaurant.

I know way too many people that own restaurants, Inuyasha thought dryly as he scrolled to find Kagome's number in his contacts. Bankotsu and his brothers own Kazanna, Midoriko just opened hers, and Tokijin owns Basil. Inuyasha was seriously considering expanding his ring of friends—he'd gain fifty pounds if he kept going at this rate.

"Hello?"

Her voice was nonchalant as she picked up, but Inuyasha picked up on the underlying nervousness. Purposely he put on a smile; he knew that if he looked pissed off while he spoke to her, his tone would come off as such. The last thing he needed was to scare her off, he was already doing so well in that she was comfortable enough to threatened him and push him to his limits. One wrong move on his part and it could result in her building a wall and never allowing him to get close enough to have her want to marry him.

Fucking predicament. I swear, when I find you Naraku…

"Hello, sweetheart." Inuyasha's voice was otherwise his mood.

"Hi?" Inuyasha heard rustling in the background. Probably Sango.

"Ready?"

Again he heard rustling. "Just about."

"Good," Inuyasha pushed himself off of his chair. "I'll be there shortly."

"But it's only six thirty."

Inuyasha scanned his room for his blazer—he remembered taking it off just as he walked in to his office and now, of course, he couldn't locate it. "I know." He didn't give her any more information. He needed to maintain his aura of mystery; the less Kagome knew the better.

She was getting riled up, her tone said it all. "Whatever. See you soon."

He smirked hearing her hang up. She was quite the character; she held her own, fought when she had to, and was feisty beyond words. The latter was a trait that Inuyasha was particularly fond of. He enjoyed his women feisty. Onanother positive note, she was very easy on the eyes. Perhaps in another lifetime he could've done things differently with respects to Kagome...

But unfortunately for us, we're stuck here.

.xx.

The knock on her shrine door broke Kagome out of her reverie. Sango squeaked and the girls' eyes locked, both sharing the same thought at the same time: He's here. Hurriedly, Sango put away the yogurt she was snacking on and followed Kagome to the door.

"I'll call you at ten thirty for your getaway, okay?" Sango and Kagome had a plan; the former would call the latter at ten thirty sharp, indicating she had "acute abdominal pain" (they threw in the word 'acute' just in case Sango was experiencing real abdominal pain at ten thirty and actually needed Kagome's help, she would then say she was suffering "abdominal pains", omitting the word acute). Kagome would then either say: Be right there! Meaning she was going to make a getaway or, call Souta, which would mean she was okay and didn't need to make a hasty exit.

It was foolproof.

"Okay." Kagome whispered just before sliding the door open.

Although she was good with keeping a straight face, Sango let her jaw dropped unashamedly. He was dressed in a cleanly cut and well-trimmed dark grey suit, complete with vest, blazer, red tie and matching pocket square. The head of signature silver hair was pulled back in to a tight braid and, for some reason, the entire ensemble accentuated his scar.

"Kagome," he bowed his head slightly. "You're looking absolutely stunning."

"Thanks, Casanova." Kagome rolled her eyes and muttered dryly. She had to hand it to him, he was a stunning man. Everything about him oozed perfection (other than his personality), and if he were anybody else, Kagome would've swooned a long time ago. Too bad he was who he was, had the personality that he did… Kagome detested him with every fibre in her body and couldn't wait to formulate a plan that erased his presence from her life completely.

Until then, Higurashi, endure him and play his game. Kagome consoled herself.

"Sango," Inuyasha tilted his head to greet the pregnant best friend.

Sango nodded at him and conspicuously pushed Kagome towards him. "Okay you two, have fun… get home safe… and… yeah…" She didn't know what else to say! What the hell do you say to a guy who was probably the most dangerous man anyone had ever met who was also about to take your best friend out on a dinner date? A date taking place in his world surrounded by his people?

Nothing. You say nothing.

Kagome nodded and brushed past Inuyasha and out of the shrine. He smirked and nodded at Sango once more before following Kagome.

Feisty.

Like the gentleman that he was, Inuyasha held her door open for her and helped her inside before boarding the vehicle after her. Ginta, his trusted driver, was drumming his fingers on the steering wheel as he waited for the two to get comfortable. "To Midoriko's?"

"Yes." Inuyasha called and Ginta pulled onto the street.

Inuyasha took the opportunity to fully study Kagome… he hadn't been lying, she did look stunning. She was more than stunning; she was majestic, almost ethereal. Inuyasha's eyes trailed over her curves, and he studied the way the dress hugged her body. He saw her chewing the inside of her cheek, and fiddling with the faint gold clutch in her hand.

She was nervous.

"Nervous for tonight?" He asked, in an effort to break the silence between them. She had to give him an opening; he understood how she must've felt but god damnit, her lack of reaction and consistent brushing him off was grating his nerves.

"No."

He raised an eyebrow and she peeked over at him.

"Fine. A little."

"There's nothing to be afraid of," he leaned into his seat. "I'll be there to protect you."

"I can take care of myself. Deadly jazz hands, remember?" she reminded him with a snort. "And I'm more afraid of being stuck with you for the next few hours than anything else. Remind me again why we can't call it even?"

"Because you're going to be my wife."

"Right." Her tone was sarcastic and dry. "Could've told me that before I sold my house."

His lips twitched. "Could've, but it's more fun this way."

"Glad one of us is finding amusement in this."

"What I find amusing is that you have no apprehension in trying to piss me off," he tilted his head towards her. "Why's that, sweetheart?"

Kagome didn't look at him when she spoke. She was afraid if she did, she'd knock his pearly whites out and that would definitely give him a reason to blow her brains out of her skull. "Common sense, really."

"Is it?"

"It is. And since you lack common sense, there really is no reason to tell you."

He walked in to that one. She was quick with her words and fast with her wit, refreshing, but terribly annoying. Inuyasha had no idea how to respond, react, or even deal with Kagome. She was on another level and for some ungodly reason she felt that she commanded more fear and presence than Inuyasha did. She has no idea how lucky she is to be dealing with me… With her, I have enough patience to make the Saints look bad.

He didn't have a lot of patience, but Inuyasha would be damned if he didn't learn to exercise the virtue when it came to Kagome. He had to be patient with her, he couldn't let her recoil back in to a shell.

It was a pleasant surprise when she suggested him courting her. He wasn't stupid, he knew she was trying to buy time to figure out how to get him off her trail, but Inuyasha thought he'd let her have her fun. It was cute, watching her squirm. It was especially cute the way her eyes came to life when she was busy hating him…

Get your mind off of how attractive she is. Inuyasha had to scold himself. Just do what you're supposed to do: court her, and marry her.

"Your consistent jabs at me are getting rather old, Kagome." He murmured. Inuyasha didn't miss it when she glanced over at him, but as quickly as she turned towards him, she turned back.

"You deserve it." She muttered.

For once in Inuyasha's life, he decided not to argue back.

And Kagome kind of felt bad.

.xx.