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 Say Yes to the Devil
True to his word, Inuyasha secured them a private tour of the Pyramids of Giza. Standing before the manmade wonder of the world stood Inuyasha with his fingers laced through Kagome's. He wasn't afraid to admit that he was, indeed, a tad surprised that she allowed him to hold her hand, but he also was not expecting her to return the kiss earlier.
And, of all the kisses he had experienced, Kagome's lips were by far the sweetest and most tender.
The greatest kiss he had the privilege of having.
"This is… breathtaking." Kagome exhaled softly. Her eyes were slightly widened while she scanned her surroundings. Inuyasha, who had been to Egypt previously and had marvelled at the beauty of the pyramids, studied Kagome. There was a different type of beauty about her when she wasn't struggling to keep him at arm's length.
"You know what's even more breathtaking?"
Inuyasha didn't know how to explain the urge to impress her. It was unlike anything he had ever felt before.
Kagome shook her head before looking over at him. "More breathtaking than this? The Temple of Amun-re?"
He smirked. "No. Though that, too, is quite remarkable. I was referring to the Montazah Palace."
"We have a private tour of the Palace too?!"
Inuyasha would've felt bad if he laughed in her face, but he was incredibly close to doing so. "Whatever gave you that idea? I only asked you if you wanted to know what's more breathtaking than the Great Pyramids."
Kagome's face fell and Inuyasha couldn't hold his laughter in any longer. Spending time with her was marvellous, particularly on the sandy terrain of Egypt. The sun was sweltering, but it proved to be nothing too hot for either of the two—it was just them, the great pyramids… and time.
"Well you know… you have the tendency of surprising me so—"
It was very difficult to not throw his head back and laugh with every ounce of his body. Even when Kagome wasn't trying, she was hilarious. Inuyasha untangled his fingers from hers and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, effectively pulling her closer to his body. A light gale picked up causing a stray lock of Kagome's bangs to flow along with the wind. She was quick to push her bang in to place.
"Although I wish I could give you all that and more, we don't have time for so many tours over two days." Inuyasha gave her one final squeeze before relinquishing his hold. "And besides, I have a proposal to plan out."
As he expected, Kagome rolled her eyes. "Then quit saying things that are meant to get me excited. Geez…"
Inuyasha chuckled and watched as Kagome ran forward, taking pictures of the view before them. He took the opportunity to pull his phone out and check up on home base…
"Miroku, it's me."
"How's Egypt?"
"Met with Lady Urasue today."
"She still wants to be referred to as Lady?"
Inuyasha snorted, making sure he watched Kagome as he spoke with his wingman. "She's clinging onto her youth. Urasue did agree to help fund the project."
"Perfect. And you meet with the Shikon partners tomorrow?"
"Yeah, but I have to do something first…"
"Propose?"
"Yeah."
"Where?"
"Montazah Palace."
"I'll send some men to prepare for the occasion."
Inuyasha knew he could count on Miroku.
"What is Kouga up to?"
"Making rounds."
"Did we find anymore accomplices?"
"Negative."
"Leads?"
"No."
Inuyasha nodded, though Miroku couldn't see. No more words needed to be said and the notorious gangster hung up. He shoved his phone in to the inner pocket of his blazer and languidly strolled to where Kagome was erratically taking pictures. Inuyasha attempted to snake his arm around her waist but she swatted him away.
"Do not interrupt me. I'm transferring all of this in to digital memory."
He chuckled. What is it about her?! He certainly did not expect her to act like how she was! Inuyasha was under the impression that she would continue to sass him and push back relentlessly; but for her to – in essence—accept him?!
He needed to know what she was thinking.
Scheming, even.
"Our private tour is almost done, sweetheart." Inuyasha called out as he approached his soon-to-be-future fiancée. "Miroku just informed me that I have a last minute meeting tonight."
Kagome's face fell and Inuyasha felt like his gut was punched.
What was it about this woman that made him feel these things? He had his fair share of women during his lifetime but none of them made him feel so—so— Ugh I don't even have a fucking word to describe how the hell she makes me feel!
It concept was terribly irritating.
"But we just got here!"
Inuyasha chuckled and curled his fingers around Kagome's upper arm to tug her in the general direction of where their limousine was parked.
"I know, I'm sorry… but I have to go slave in boring meetings so that I can bring home the bacon to provide for my family." Kagome merely rolled her eyes and adjusted the brim of her sunhat. Inuyasha's statement was amusing because he was probably rolling around in a pile of money.
"You probably have so much influence in the black market that if you stopped working today, our next ten generations will have enough money to live lavishly." Inuyasha threw his head back and laughed at his woman's statement.
Yeah. She's right.
"I noted that you said our generations… planning on making babies with me?"
As he was a few steps ahead of her, he missed the slight rosiness that appeared around her nose. "Well we didn't rule it out, Takahashi." There was a playful lilt in her voice that drove him wild. This was the woman Miroku's research told him about and this was the woman he wanted to get to know but, at the same time, stay away. Inuyasha knew that if who the woman with him now was the real Kagome he would be in deep shit, because she would become his single weakness but also his greatest strength.
And that worried him.
Takahashi Inuyasha, also known as The Devil and the deadliest man in the world, had no weakness.
He wasn't going to let his wife become one, either.
But what if you can't help it? The annoying devil's advocate that perpetually resided in his brain piped up annoyingly.
I can, and I will.
But Inuyasha didn't know who he was convincing: himself, or the devil's advocate (better known as his conscience).
.xx.
The Takahashi Family Heirloom was a beautifully master crafted blood red ruby cushioned within twelve teardrop shaped diamonds. It was commissioned by Inuyasha's grandfather from five generations ago—he was a warlord in Feudal Japan that fell in love with the daughter of his mortal enemy. According to lore, Inuyasha's grandfather managed to breach a heavily guarded fortress to whisk his beloved away and live within the forests of Feudal Japan, away from the warring states…
The couple had three children and passed on the ring to their eldest son's bride and, ever since, the ring had been passed down.
When the ring made it to Inuyasha's father, Inutaisho's generation, there was a slight hiccup; Inutaisho was betrothed to Sesshomaru's, Inuyasha's older half-brother, mother, Kimi. Sesshomaru was born and merely a child of three years when his parents broke off their engagement due to irreconcilable differences. Kimi returned the ring to Inutaisho and relinquished custody of her son.
When Inutaisho met Inuyasha's mother and was positive she was the one, he presented her with the heirloom ring. The ring now was in Inuyasha's possession, feeling like lead in his back pocket.
Due to familial technicalities, Sesshomaru wasn't able to get the ring. Sesshomaru, although in a decade long relationship and a five year old son, was not legally bound to his significant other. Sesshomaru and his woman, Rin, lived in a legal common-law relationship with their son Shippo and as such, the ring was passed to Inuyasha as he had every intention in taking a bride.
Inuyasha stood in the balcony of their hotel slowly nursing a whiskey on the rocks. This is it…
In less than an hour he would be proposing to Kagome and ultimately sealing their fate.
Inuyasha exhaled and closed his eyes momentarily. Never thought life would end up like this… mob lord out to marry a woman he barely knows because her mother was your secret godmother…
The ring box seemed to keep getting heavier and heavier. It's do or die, Takahashi.
He pushed himself off the balcony railing and began his languid stride to Kagome's humble abode. Inuyasha needed to think of an excuse to get her to go out with him without questioning his motives… She thinks you're going to a meeting… use that.
Inuyasha gently lay his whiskey glass down on the kitchenette bar before rapping on Kagome's bedroom door.
"Come in!"
He pushed the door open and was blown away; Kagome adorned a beautiful silk dress that he knew he bought for her. She was sitting in front of the vanity, tying her hair up in to an intricate braid. Kagome was all too oblivious to Inuyasha staring…
"Are you leaving?"
Inuyasha didn't anticipate her to be the first to ask a question…
"I was thinking maybe I can go to the strip mall close by?" She turned over her shoulder to smile at him. "You did say two of your men were expected to fly in today? Maybe they can come with me so you won't be shitting bricks while at your meeting, wondering if I've been kidnapped and mummified alive."
Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "I think I fear for Egypt's safety, not yours."
Kagome narrowed her eyes. "And that's supposed to mean what?"
Chuckling, Inuyasha minimized the gap between them. With a fluid motion he caught her chin and pressed his lips against hers for a quick peck. "It means you're a force to be reckoned with."
"Don't randomly kiss me, it doesn't become you."
"And faking this tough act doesn't become you either, sweetheart." With a wink he turned to walk away. As he reached the doorframe, Inuyasha glanced over his shoulder.
"Oh by the way, meet me in the lobby in fifteen minutes… I have a surprise for you."
He left as she raised both eyebrows.
Surprise?
Kagome turned back to the mirror to study herself. It definitely was easier to be herself and not somebody who analyzed and second guessed everything that happened in her life… but still, she didn't completely trust Inuyasha, she trusted him just enough.
Enough to get him by, I suppose. But keep yourself guarded, if a man can dupe your father the way he did, he cannot be trusted fully.
Her shoulders sagged. I suppose I trust him enough to surprise me though.
.xx.
Inuyasha was leaning against a pillar looking like the epitome of perfection. He donned khaki slacks and a half buttoned up ash grey shirt, his chest peeking through being just enough to have women fantasize about what else was beneath his clothes.
You've been at war against rivalling kingpins, dodged death, and cheated life… and you're getting fucking nervous about proposing?! Inuyasha was absolutely disgusted with himself—he should've been taking control of the situation, grabbing the bull by the horns—
"Holy sh—"
"Hey."
Kagome had taken the opportunity to change in to a beautiful flowing golden skirt and a creamy white chemise. She twisted her hair in to a braided crown and ensured that her makeup application was minimum at best.
She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
Keep your fucking cool.
"Hey yourself," he nodded his head at her and pushed himself off of the pillar. "Are you ready?"
Her nod was reluctant. "Don't you have a meeting?"
"It's an outdoors meeting. I wanted to bring you along so that you aren't cooped up in here…"
Kagome raised an eyebrow. "That's the surprise?"
"Nope." He guided her to where their limo was parked. Inuyasha's fingers were gently pressed against the small of her back, effectively letting everybody know around them that she belonged to him.
"Will you elaborate?"
"Absolutely not."
"You're incredibly infuriating."
"I know."
Kagome simply rolled her eyes as she boarded the limo.
Ass.
.xx.
Kagome's jaw was slack when she saw the view of Montazah Palace getting closer and closer. Inuyasha, on the other hand, studied Kagome. The events of the past few days played in his head like a movie and, in hindsight; he knew he should've approached the situation differently. But, in his defense, when he did what he did Inuyasha did not know who Kagome was. All he knew was what she was and that, too, was based on what Miroku reported.
But after getting to know her and journeying through the treacherous perils of being the object of her utmost hatred to somebody she could tolerate, Inuyasha knew there was more than what met the eyes with Kagome… she was a sweet, loyal, and nurturing woman that would make the Takahashi name proud.
"So you did intend on surprising me." Kagome turned to Inuyasha with an accusatory tone. The mob lord rolled his eyes.
"Perhaps."
"Real smooth, Casanova."
He flicked some invisible dust off of his shoulder. "Thank you, sweetheart."
The ring box gained twenty pounds.
After a short runaround the parking area of the palace, the couple disembarked their vessel and began to walk towards the beautiful architecture at a languid pace. Sometime during their comfortably silent walk Inuyasha had wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her a smidgen closer to him.
"This place is absolutely beautiful."
"Hmmm…" He said nothing.
"You didn't have another meeting, did you?"
"Nope."
"So you planned this?"
"Kind of. I mentioned it to Miroku and he pulled some strings."
Kagome had to laugh at that one. "Personal concierge service?"
"The perks of having wingmen."
"Will they be my wingmen too?"
"Of course."
He loved the tone of their conversation. It was so light and airy, so unlike every other time they talked. Perhaps he was slowly chipping away at the wall she erected to keep him out. It certainly felt that way when her tongue was in his mouth and her body was crushed against his…
"Inuyasha?"
He broke out of his reverie to look down at Kagome. "Yeah?"
"Yes."
He frowned. "What?"
"Yes, I will marry you… that's why we're here isn't it? So you can propose to me?"
…
"You fucking ruined it!"
.xx.
Making progress :)
BTW: A few stories of mine have been taken down for various reasons. They aren't permanently deleted, but rather to rework on. If one of your favourites has been taken down, it most likely will be reposted in the future.