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 be Betrothed to the Devil
Kagome threw her head back and laugher bubbled out of her. Inuyasha could do nothing but glare at his, now, fiancée. Here he was trying to ensure that she had everything she ever wanted, including a romantic proposal at the Montazah Palace, and she had to go and ruin his plans. If she were anybody else the gun that was perpetually holstered to his hip would've come out and brains would've been blasted.
But she wasn't anybody else.
She was Kagome.
"Are you quite done?"
Kagome stopped laughing for a second to look at him and giggle out the word no before returning to uncontrollable laughter. Inuyasha rolled his eyes and looked around them to see a few people staring—fucking wench.
Wiping a tear from her left eye, Kagome finally regained composure. She crossed her arms to smirk at him. "You are terrible at keeping things a secret, Takahashi."
"How could you possibly have—"
"Perhaps your mindreading ability rubbed off on me."
He was so ready to wipe the smirk off of her face. What the hell? Why don't I?
Kagome did not have time to register Inuyasha quickly closing the gap between them. It wasn't until his soft lips were pressed against hers did she realize that he was kissing her. She was stunned and could not react—her mindreading abilities were novice at best as she wasn't able to anticipate him doing that.
Inuyasha pulled back with a smirk. "I see you aren't at my level of mind reading yet."
"You've had years of practice." Kagome rolled her eyes and stepped away from him. "But really… you mention Montazah earlier, tell me we aren't going, then suddenly have a surprise meeting and suddenly we're going to Montazah? I saw it coming from a mile away."
He had to hand it to her, she deduced that quite well.
"Miroku had something planned," he revealed. "I told him I was going to do it here and he said he'd prepare something for us."
"Do you know what?"
"No idea."
Kagome nodded slowly and, after a moment of thought, she put her hands on her hips. "Actually, Takahashi, I take it back. You haven't proposed to me yet so no, I will not marry you until you get down on one knee and give me a sappy tear jerking speech of how I complete you. Maybe then I'll contemplate it."
"You just want to have bragging rights as being the only person in the world that was able to bring me down to my knee."
There was a twinkle in her eye. "Perhaps."
At least Inuyasha premeditated going down on one knee. Inhaling deeply Inuyasha pulled his pants up a little bit before falling to his left knee while simultaneously pulling the ring box out of his pocket. He did not miss the gasp escaping from Kagome's lips and the half a step back she took. She hadn't actually anticipated him to go down on one knee…
"Higurashi Kagome," he started. A crowd began to form. "We haven't known each other for long," he had been thinking about his proposal for the last two nights, phrasing and rephrasing what he wanted to be the perfect nuptial ode. "A few weeks at best? And the circumstance of our marriage is less than ideal, we can both agree to that…"
Kagome really had tears beginning to pool behind her lids. She didn't think he was going to go down on one knee and now that he had, she didn't expect a speech… she truly believed that Inuyasha was going to simply ask her to marry him as he certainly wasn't emotionally invested in her enough to say anything remotely amicable, let alone romantic.
"But I have promised you, time and time again, that I refuse to give you less than your heart's desire. You want a real proposal, I am giving it to you, you want a real marriage, and I promise I will do my best to give that to you as well—" at some point Inuyasha forgot his script and began reciting the words in his heart. "I need you to understand that if it's love that you want—a husband's love, then a husband's love is what you will get… and if you feel that I haven't been able to give you that, you can leave when… it's okay to." He really didn't want to say when you're life isn't in danger in the middle of his proposal in public.
Inuyasha also did not want to say false romantic words to make the proposal seem romantic. His and Kagome's union was anything but one of romance and he knew that she would appreciate his words; if anything, simply because of the sheer honesty in them.
"You will never feel second to my line of work, and you will never feel that this is merely an arrangement. The ball will always be in your court; my men are your men, my allies are your allies… whatever you need, day or night, you may have." Tears began to spill down Kagome's cheeks. "But I want you to promise me that along with your loyalty, you will give me your word that if I request that you do not do something, or do not go somewhere you will listen to me. It isn't because I am imposing my power, but because of a potential threat."
Kagome bit her lower lip.
"I know you'll make me happy… you've certainly kept me on my toes for the last few weeks." He winked. She giggled.
"So what do you say, sweetheart? Will you be my missus?"
Unable to speak coherent words, she simply nodded. The cold gold band slid onto her ring finger; a perfect fit. No sooner after the ring was secured onto her finger, his lips found hers.
Another perfect fit…
.xx.
Kagome examined her engagement ring while on Inuyasha's private jet, flying back to Japan. It was absolutely beautiful; the stones held a sort of clarity that was no longer found in gems in the modern era. Inuyasha was in the bathroom allowing Kagome the privacy of looking at the ring up close.
Unfortunately for her Inuyasha received a call from Kouga around midnight requesting his immediate return to Japan. Although Kagome didn't want to express disappointment in not being able to see the Temple of Amun-re, Inuyasha wasn't able to keep his opinion to himself.
"Fucking idiot," he had scoffed as they packed. "I told him I was gone for two days! I had to miss the fucking Shikon meeting—augh!"
Kagome gave him the space to rant. At least you did the illegal part of this trip. Her inner sarcasm quipped.
Underneath the reading light of her seat Kagome held the ring up close to her face. There's an inscription! She squinted, trying her damned best to decipher the old Japanese script…
The sun may set;
The stars may die…
"Our love is eternal. I can see it in your eyes."
Kagome jumped when she heard Inuyasha's voice dangerously close to her ear.
"Inuyasha…"
His smirk was lethal. Slipping into his seat, Inuyasha made sure not to break eye contact with his fiancée. "Grandfather Muteki had the script engraved onto the original band. Because we resize the band every generation, we make sure to have the inscription put back on."
Muteki, Kagome caught his great grandfather's name, invincible…
"Your grandfather must've been quite the romantic."
He wolfishly grinned. "From what I heard. My grandmother fell victim to his devilish charm."
"Fitting description, Devil."
Inuyasha swallowed his laughter. "You have quite the number of endearments for me."
"They are not endearments—"
Inuyasha cut her off. "Let's see: Takahashi—"
"That's your last name."
Again, he ignored her. "Mob Lord, Devil, Casanova, Jackass 9000, Jackass to the power of infinity—"
"How the hell do you know about my caller ID names?!"
"Any other names you have for me?"
Kagome crossed her arms and harrumphed. "I'm just going to call you husband from now on."
"Fitting."
"Shut up, Mob Lord."
He finally allowed his laughter to echo throughout his jet. "Whatever you want, sweetheart."
Exaggeratingly rolling her eyes, Kagome curled in to a small ball and willed herself to fall asleep. The entire time, however, she felt the penetrating stare of Inuyasha's gaze on her back and the weight of her engagement ring on her finger.
.xx.
All hell broke loose when Kagome arrived home. Inuyasha instructed Ginta to drive Kagome home from the airport when they arrived in Japan; he had to go home immediately to tend to Kouga's call. He parted ways with a kiss and told her he'd call her later that night…
Kagome dragged her feet up the shrine steps. Her mind was buzzing with all that transpired over the last two days, from him knocking the sense back into her:
"You don't. I'm saying that you marry me and I will do everything a good husband should do and hope that you get the love you want from it. We can learn to love each other, but I want you to have what you want and if that's a fairy tale true love ending and if I can give that to you, then I will. You need to stop fucking asking me all these questions and trust me because as far as I can see, Kagome, I have done nothing to not earn your trust."
"Except lend my father an exorbitant amount of money."
"That had nothing to do with your trust. Why must you be so difficult? I flew you to Egypt to get to know you better, bought you clothes and jewelry in hopes that it would lighten your mood, booked a private tour of the Great Pyramids and the Temple of Amun-re because you mentioned you wanted to go… what else can I do?! I empathize, I really do, but you aren't giving me any leeway. You want to know what danger it is? Fine. I can let you do whatever the hell it is you want to do but when Naraku finds out where you are and learns you aren't under my protection only then will you realize what a mistake you did. Let's just get this tour out of the way. I'll cancel Amun-re tomorrow and send you back to Japan."
To the actual proposal:
"So what do you say, sweetheart? Will you be my missus?"
While running on autopilot, Kagome opened her shrine door to be greeted by her grandfather, father, brother, Kikyo, Yura, and Sango.
"… hey?"
"YOU'RE BACK!" Kikyo squealed but was violently shoved aside by Souta who bounded for his sister.
"Sis!"
He tackled her. "You're alive! Oh man do not shotgun shit like that, understand?"
Kagome giggled at her baby brother's protective streak. "Sorry, sorry, it was something I had to do."
Souta, at that moment, was violently shoved aside by an extraordinarily pregnant Sango who had spotted Kagome's rock. "SHUT THE FUCK UP!"
"I didn't say—"
"I SAID SHUT UP!"
Kagome felt like a ragdoll as her left arm was passed from one person to another. Kikyo made sure to take an extra ten seconds to admire her ring. "Whoa…"
"How did you all know I was coming home today?"
Sango waddled over to the sofa and carefully sat down. "Inuyasha's assistant called us—what was his name? Miroku… he sounds sexy. How does he look?"
Kagome shrugged. "No idea. I met only Kouga and Ginta…"
"Kagome—"
All eyes turned to Akira. Kagome took a step towards her dad… him taking a loan from Inuyasha was a catalyst, yes, but Kagome was beginning to realize that Inuyasha was going to have her as his wife regardless of what type of catalyst required.
And for that she could not remain upset at her father.
"I missed you too, daddy."
Tears welled in his eyes and he approached his daughter to hug her. He had been praying to hear those words since he learned of the pile of shit they were in—he lost his Korari, he couldn't lose his Kagome.
"I am so sorry!" He wept in their hug. "I shouldn't—I don't know what—"
"It's okay daddy. There are angles to this situation that I am just learning about," she pulled away and smiled brightly at her father. "How about we all have some food? It's ridiculous how much I've missed ramen."
Her revelation made her friends and family; that was their Kagome.
.xx.
Inuyasha pushed the double oak doors too his office open with his left hand while his gun was clutched tightly in his right—somebody was going to die. Inside, gagged and tied to a chair, in the center of his room was the very person he was hoping to see. Leaning against wall to the left was a smirking Kouga and Miroku was comfortably situated in his armchair.
"Hello, puppet." Inuyasha whispered, stepping in to the vicinity. Gently, he kicked his door shut.
Eyes wide and hysterical, the hostage attempted to struggle and free himself of the gag to plea for his life.
He was looking death in the eyes…
He was better acquainting himself with the Devil.
He was going to hell.
"Naraku's bitches are falling like fleas." Kouga spat while twirling his gun around his index finger. "Found this one crawling around a strip club."
Inuyasha's eyes flickered to Kouga and back to his victim.
"Hello, Musou."
The dark haired man struggled further but Inuyasha did not seem at all fazed by his torture. "Naraku needs to be a lot more careful of which pest he allows out of his sight." Inuyasha trailed the gun along Musou's cheek, cause the man's eyes to widen in absolute horror.
"I need you to do me a favour." Inuyasha crouched in front of him. Kouga was watching aptly but Miroku was oblivious; he was on his laptop tending to other matters.
"I need you to call Naraku and tell him to stay away… okay?"
Musou nodded frantically in hopes that his cooperation would allow him to keep his life. Inuyasha pulled the ties away from his gag and Musou inhaled deeply, unable to say anything to his soon-to-be murderer.
"You are associated with Naraku, which makes you an enemy to us." Inuyasha whispered. "Call him and tell him that you are alive and that we will not hurt you on the condition that he stays away from my wife, understood?"
Musou's eyes widened. "She—you—"
"My life is none of your concern. Do as I say," Inuyasha glanced at Kouga. "His phone, Kouga."
Pushing himself off of the wall, Kouga sauntered to Inuyasha with an iPhone in hand. "He's a dirty fucker—the types of pictures on his phone would make his mother blush."
Inuyasha merely smirked as he handed the phone to Musou. "Call. Speaker." Kouga took the liberty to untie one of the hostage's arm to allow him to heed Inuyasha's command.
And so the hostage did as he was told. It took five rings before the object of Inuyasha's vengeance answered: "Musou."
"S-s-sir!" Musou began stuttering. "He… Inuyasha has—"
Inuyasha raised an eyebrow. Talk. He mouthed. Musou gulped and looked down at the phone clutched in his left hand. "Inuyasha has me, sir."
"Oh?"
Naraku sounded as if he could care less.
"He has offered my life in exchange for you to stop pursuing his wife."
A deadly silence greeted them. Musou began shaking uncontrollably when his boss did not respond. "Sir… sir?!"
"Wife hmm?" Naraku finally spoke. "Her being his wife does not make a difference to me—and as for you? You do not deserve to live if you allow Inuyasha's men to capture you."
"Sir no!"
Inuyasha pulled back his trigger and pounded the bullet in Musou's skull. Without missing a beat Inuyasha picked the phone out of the corpse's hand. "I will see you soon, bastard."
"Make sure you bring your pretty little bride with you, Inuyasha."
Making a sound that was near animalistic, Inuyasha chucked Musou's phone against the wall causing it to shatter. Kouga glanced at the broken parts scattered over the floor before looking back at Musou. "Fuck, the cleanup job is gonna suck."
"Contact Kagome," Inuyasha's voice was tight. "Find the earliest date she wants to get married."
Kouga and Miroku exchanged surprised looks.
"Wants to?" Miroku echoed and Inuyasha shot him a nasty glare.
"Yes. It's her wedding too. Find the earliest date, choice of venue, and arrange it. Send some of our girls over at her convenience to go dress shopping—I want her to be under surveillance at all times. Understood?" Inuyasha kicked Musou's stomach as an outlet to release his anger.
"Kouga," Inuyasha looked over at his wingman. "You, Ginta, and Hakkaku are to be her guards, understood?"
"Yes sir." Kouga playfully saluted his boss. "Want me to arrange an encrypted phone for her?"
"Yes. Have us all on speed dial."
"Gotchya, and I'll get some of the cleaners up in here… by the way! I need next Friday off."
Miroku coughed knowing full well what was coming next. Inuyasha raised an eyebrow. "For?"
"Date with Princess Genevieve." Kouga's voice was practically dreamy which worried Inuyasha slightly—the life of his fiancée rested in this man's hands. If Inuyasha didn't personally know Kouga's capabilities, he would've honestly doubted him.
"I told you, she isn't interested."
"Then why did she agree to have dinner with me?!"
Miroku coughed, the sound curiously sounding like coerced. Inuyasha snickered. "Whatever Kouga, do what you must just ensure Kagome is under constant protection."
"Sick, awesome. Alright I'm out, I'm fucking exhausted." Kouga yawned loudly to prove his point and quickly made his escape before his boss could toss in a few more jobs for him. Inuyasha's shoulders sagged and he turned to Miroku…
Miroku, unknown to the rest of his staff, was his best friend. They grew up together and did everything together; when the rest of Inuyasha's ring of gangsters went home for the night, Miroku and Inuyasha's guards dropped and they became the 18 year old boys that they once were.
"This is exhausting, man." Inuyasha stepped over the corpse to sit down on a chair opposite Miroku.
"You're doing your best, Yasha." An old nickname. "But you gonna tell me what is going on?"
Miroku and Kouga knew that Naraku was a threat to Inuyasha, and had been for some time. But based on recent events, Miroku was able to deduce that Inuyasha's animosity with Naraku was far deeper than he led on… and it involved Kagome specifically.
Inuyasha clearly did not want to divulge in to the details and, as an employee and best friend, Miroku was not going to press.
"Not yet."
"I'm here for you."
"Man, I know." Inuyasha slouched low in his chair. "But I can't tell you."
Miroku nodded slowly. "Understood. Anyway, I'll make some calls tomorrow to speed up the wedding process—you couldn't meet with Shikon partners, right?"
"Nah, Kouga's call made me fly home early."
"That's fine. I'll rearrange the meeting. Lady Urasue sent a few of her men to our HQ to finalize your meeting so everything is going smoothly." Miroku stood up. "Go home, get some rest, and take the rest of the day off. I'll wipe your schedule for the night, sounds good?"
"Sounds perfect." Inuyasha stood and followed Miroku out of his office.
He was already planning on seeing Kagome that night…
.xx.
Half way through writing I started listening to my Inuyasha Wind Symphonic Orchestra and let me tell you how the inspiration slapped me… Anyway here is you guys' treat for being so patient! A quick update :D