I do not own Inuyasha.
The music died as they entered the room and a new song began to play. Her hand now linked to the stranger's elbow as they brazenly made their way into the center of the room to join the merriment. Immediately her eyes scanned the crowd in an attempt to locate her possibly steamed fiancé. Though she spotted many a familiar face, but his was nowhere to be found, at least not right away. She spotted Sango and Miroku amongst the other dancers and Sango caught her eye.
She looked surprised to say the very least, but it didn't last long when Miroku whispered something in her ear that made her toss her head back slightly in laughter. Kagome smiled warmly at her friend; at least she could be happy for the night.
Kagome's new handsome dance partner pivoted his body and positioned hers in front of him. His large hand enveloped her tiny one, and the other settled on her waist. The music jumped signaling for the dancers to begin.
The moment their bodies began to bend and sway to the music's will Kagome's world began to slow. She no longer concerned herself with Hojo and his whereabouts, her feelings of betrayal purged from her entire being and she would have forgotten the presence of Sango on the dance floor if it wasn't for the glimpse of chocolate colored tresses and violet skirts. Unwillingly, she had lost herself in a pair of rich coffee eyes. Every ounce of her being fluctuating as she basked in his smoldering gaze. Effortless tasks like breathing became complicated, but she chalked it off to the corsets that ensnared her abdomen.
The amiable smile that traced his lips seemed so clandestine, like a privileged bit of information that only she could access. There was something about it that wasn't exactly right. See, at a very young age Kagome taught herself to spot a fake smile so she could weed out the adults who feigned kindness. She found that it was common for a person who laughed and smiled frequently to have creases at the corners of their eyes, and this man's smile didn't reach his eyes in the slightest—nor could she see the laughter creases.
Still… The gesture was earnest enough to inspire one of her own.
In one quick motion he ducked his head and his lips hovered near her ear. With the suddenness of it all she nearly lost her footing if it wasn't for his hand tightening on her tiny waist she would have found herself on the ground.
"Tell me your name before this song ends?" He whispered such an enticing sound. Her eyes fluttered shut as she surrendered to the heavenly ambiance that surrounded him.
"That is privileged." She managed to say. "But I could give you my name if you first gave me yours." Tedious negotiation, otherwise referred to as flirtation; evidence of attraction.
"Very well, it's not like you won't find out on your own in time." He muttered, pulling back to look at her just as the melody began to grow to its climax. Kagome eyed him curiously as he released his hold on her waist and twirled her around gracefully, her pale peach skirts swished around her legs until she stopped in front of him again. "Inuyasha Tashio." He introduced, sliding his left foot behind his right and bending his knees into a shallow bow. He touched her gloved hand to his lips, and a light blush danced across her cheeks.
"Kagome, my sweet, you look tired. Shall I call for the carriage?" Hojo's voice cut in before she could introduce herself properly. "You're flushed, have you contracted something?" His hand reached up and forcibly redirected her gaze from Inuyasha to him, and as soon as his skin touched hers it was like a jolt.
"Not unless stupidity has become contagious." She said with a sunny smile, her words practically oozing with sarcasm. Hojo's grip on her chin tightened causing the tiniest yelp to fall from her lips. Inuyasha had straightened his posture the moment Hojo made his presence known. There was a look on his face that could only truly be described as the deepest hatred and a tinge of disgust.
"Now is that any way to treat a woman?" Inuyasha asked with an eerie chuckle, he brought his hand up to Hojo's wrist and pried him away from Kagome's face.
"Keep your hands off of me." Hojo warned, in a tone that made Kagome want to step back and analyze the entire situation. There she was in the midst of a battle to be won by either brain or brawn—and she couldn't help but believe that Inuyasha had other intentions rather than defending her honor.
"Gladly, so long as you keep your hands off of her." He rebutted briskly.
"Mind your place, maggot." Hojo hissed, and there was a rage that blazed between the both of them.
"Yes, right, you know so much about—" Inuyasha started, but was quickly cut off when Kagome tore her hand out of his and stepped back.
"That's quite enough. I've got my hands full with this brute, I don't need another. Hojo, call for the carriage will you?" She said, finally realizing that even with the music blaring their little spat had attracted a great deal of stares. Hojo reluctantly tore his death glare away from his formidable enemy and let his eyes flicker to Kagome before he nodded grudgingly.
"Fetch your chambermaid." Hojo spat, and with that he turned and stalked towards the exit.
"Chambermaid?" Inuyasha questioned. "Peculiar…"
"It's a long story." Kagome answered, though Inuyasha probably wasn't too concerned with it. "Sir Inuyasha, it has been a true delight, but I should take my leave—it's nearly midnight after all." She said, avoiding his gaze because even though she didn't quite fancy his display, she still found him rather spectacular.
"Midnight, already?" Inuyasha mused. "Then perhaps I should take my leave as well." He said and there was a bizarre tone to his voice, as if he had something planned something up his sleeve.
"I do hope we meet again someday." Kagome said as she lifted her skirt slightly and dipped into a curtsey. With her head bowed she didn't catch his hand shoot out to snatch her wrist.
"My dear Kagome," his voice like a serpent, "we will be doing much more than that." He promised, twisting her arm behind her back effortlessly, and draping his free arm across her shoulders pulling her to his chest. She let out a shrill scream that cut through the music and straight to Hojo who had barely made it to the veranda.
"Let me go!" She demanded, thrashing against his grip but she soon figured out that she had a better chance breaking through iron bars. He hushed her with soothing whispers and then turned his gaze to Hojo who was already sprinting towards them. Through the blood that pulsed in Kagome's ears she could hear Sango shrieking and calling for someone to help her friend.
"Hojo Watanabe!" Inuyasha bellowed, stopping the chestnut haired male in his tracks. "Tell your father that Inuyasha Tashio sends his regards." He relayed, releasing Kagome's wrist only to spin her around in his arms. "Now you may want to hold on to me." He instructed, but she did just the opposite and pushed against his chest with all her might.
"Release her!" Hojo shouted desperately.
"Seize him!" The guards ordered.
The ground shook vigorously beneath their feet, and her knees buckled under the surprise. Inuyasha's arm snaked his arm around her waist, holding her securely in place. Kagome's eyes were wide and trembling back and forth in their sockets. She stared up at her captor's face searching for answers that she would all too quickly receive when the marble floor cracked and split. The room filled with cries of confusion and fear, enough to deafen anyone who stood too close—but that was the least of Kagome's concerns. Thunder boomed and from outside she could faintly hear the sound of the horses squealing as they struggled against their restraints.
"Stop this, please!" Kagome begged, and then the ground was stolen from beneath her entirely and she turned to look over her shoulder. It was enough to make her faint, but fear of the unknown kept her lucid. She was floating above a gaping hole in the floor; it was then that she decided to heed Inuyasha's advice by taking handfuls of his shirt in her hands. Her eyes scanned the crowd anxiously for someone to save her.
"Kagome!" Sango cried, tears brimming in her eyes as she rushed towards the two of them. The man she had been dancing with trailed after her in an attempt to help when hungry flames combusted from below, swirling around their forms before dying down, licking at their feet. Sango didn't stop, she pressed on but Miroku snatched her off her feet and pulled her back and behind him when the flames shot out of the ground once more. The back of his jacket singed in an attempt to keep her from getting scalded—but Sango still fought to turn around, nearly jumping over his shoulder to get to her.
"Stop, you'll fall in!" Miroku cautioned when the ground opened a bit wider. Kagome turned to look in Hojo's direction and was shocked to see him frozen in fear, not doing a single thing but staring hopelessly into her eyes. A deep throaty chuckle echoed through the room and Kagome began to feel her body being pulled downward, into the flames. Her breathing escalated and her heart pounded against her chest as the two of them shot down into the flames quicker than her innards could keep up with.
Before she knew it the room was gone and flames from either side of her replaced the chandelier's glow. She looked up to see the floor mending itself until the last bit of light was smudged out by marble flooring.
Was this hell?
She risked a precarious glance at Inuyasha and was shocked to see that he was completely unfazed by the sudden change of scenery. In fact, he had a smug grin on his face as if he did this with his own power. Even worse she was starting to believe that he had the power to do just about anything, including take her life—so why hadn't he?
Black dots began to invade her vision and the last thing she could remember before she became prisoner to it was a dramatic change in Inuyasha's appearance. His jet black hair faded to silver and his brown eyes flickered to molten gold—and was she imagining it, or was that a pair of dog ears sprouting from his head?
I'm stopping here, thought it would be a good place for now.
I'm not at home right now, and I just wanted to get something to you guys :]
I can update as soon as tomorrow, if I have some encouragement that is…
Like reviews, lots and lots of reviews.
Critics welcome, but no flames, let's mind our manners.