Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or the song "Smother Me" by the Used (which i will be referring to in the next chapter as well).

Dancing Hearts

Chapter 28: Fast pulse

Mid November…

"You will stop acting like a child."

Kagome stopped in her tracks, as she'd been about to walk away without saying anything. Instead she spun around angrily and said, "And YOU will stop trying to act like my father!"

A chilly breeze ghosted through the park.

"When I found out Naraku was back…" the older man abandoned his attempt to follow Kagome and instead sat back down, adjusting his hat. "You need to be protected."

Kagome laughed mirthlessly. A shudder from the cold air went through her thin body and she shivered involuntarily. "I might've said yes a couple of years ago when I had nothing. But I'm doing fine by myself right now." Kagome ground her teeth together; the cold wind was making it hard to hold the tears in. "I won't do this for you just to appease your sick one and every fucking need. When you abandoned me, I had to learn to take care of myself. I don't need you nor will I help you in this silly escapade. Goodbye, father."

Late November…

(Soft piano music)

"Hey foxy lady," Inuyasha murmured as he wrapped his arms around Kagome, laying kisses across her neck.

Let me be the one who calls you baby all the time

"Morning baby," she cooed, wrapping her arms over his. "You smell good."

Surely you can take some comfort knowing that you're mine

"Silly Kagome." He moved slightly so he could press his kisses to her lips. He kissed her chastely twice and sighed, burrowing his face beneath her hair. "What is that?" He tilted his head back.

Just hold me tight, lay by my side

"What?" she subconsciously pressed her lips together.

"The taste on your lips."

"Mm…" She paused and scowled only to brighten two moments later. "What do you think it is?"

He kissed her again, face going blank afterwards. Then again.

"Well?"

He kissed her again, a thrice time.

"To be honest," he said, pausing to kiss her, again. His thumb caressed her cheek. "I don't know what the hell flavor it is, but I'm loving all the free samples."

"Hey!" She pushed him away.

And let me be the one who calls you Baby all the time

Mid December…

Kagome bustled around the room, her stockings half on, her dress unzipped as she searched for Inuyasha's tie.

"Not in here!" Inuyasha's voice echoed as he called from the bathroom. Clothing articles and other belongings of his had acquired a tendency to find their way to Kagome's apartment building where the collection, like unwanted ladybugs in the wintertime, grew. He basically lived with Kagome now, even helping her with the rent as he'd taken up a job on campus working the grill at a fast food place for students on his free day hours. His nights he devoted to Kagome, when she wasn't working or practicing, both of which he squeezed himself into. He was now practicing daily with Kagome on a dance routine she'd made up herself entirely. It was rough going but he swore to himself he'd have it nailed, if not to help Kagome then to prove his own worth as a dancer.

Kagome picked up a load of clothes, whether dirty or clean she could never decipher, that looked like Inuyasha's. She sorted through them for a third time when finally, "Found it!"

Inuyasha bounded through her bedroom door, hopping on one foot while trying to get a sock on the other. He finished what attire he had on by buttoning up the last few buttons on his crisp, newly ironed thanks to Kagome, shirt. Kagome walked over, hair already up in its bun but in every other aspect looking disheveled. She arched her arms around his neck and tied his silky tie around his neck. She fixed his collar and straightened her tie work with steady hands. Lastly, she helped him into his tux jacket and brushed at any debris visible. Kagome took him by the biceps and spun him around, dusting at his back in the same mannor.

"Okay, okay. I'm pampered enough. Here." It was Inuyasha's turn to take Kagome, gently, and turn her so he could zip up the back of her navy blue dress. His hands lingered near her neck before he instructed her to sit down and finish slipping into her stockings while he looked for her shoes. After a while of searching, he popped up with only one shoe present. "Got one…" He smiled crookedly. Kagome grabbed it and slipped it on hazardously while tossing articles of clothing from one corner of the room to the other, searching for her missing Cinderella's shoe.

Flustered, Kagome audibly growled and shoved at her hair.

"Kagome…"

She ignored him and moved to another pile.

"Kagome."

She suddenly yelped as her foot stubbornly stubbed a leg of her desk.

"Ahhh! Oww," she howled, grabbing her foot and hopping to the bed.

Inuyasha hurried over, her missing shoe in his hand. He knelt at her side and cupped her cheeks in his hands.

Kagome sniffed and tried to wipe at the escaping tears.

"Hey, hey, shh, it's okay love." Inuyasha gently shoved her hands away so he could wipe at the tears. He held her face before kissing her tear-drenched lips. He slid his hands down her leg and kissed the foot she'd stubbed before slipping on her shoe and fixing the straps of the other one. "Good?"

Kagome sniffed and nodded.

I found my place in the world. Could stare at your face for the rest of my days

Inuyasha stood and swooped Kagome into his arms.

"You'd better be good, 'cause if you're not able to make it through tonight, I surely won't be able to."

Kagome laughed.

Her laugh lifted his spirits but his stomach fell straight to his feet with the prospect of what this night could bring…

Inuyasha and Kagome, now in a much better mood, waltzed around the ballroom dance floor, smiling at each other and the other guests that they'd occasionally recognize.

Inuyasha tried to pin that smile into place but too often found himself pulling at his tie or searching the crowd a little too diligently with a scowl for the faces of a certain couple.

After a while, Kagome frowned, sick of trying to keep up a fake smile, and folded herself to Inuyasha. He was stiff, like she'd expected he'd be, just like he'd felt beneath her fingertips. He hesitated, surprised, before hugging her back.

Kagome met his eyes. "Are you--"

"Kagome!" Rin squealed. "You look so beautiful!"

"Me?" Kagome unfolded herself from Inuyasha. "You look gorgeous."

And so she did, why would she not? It was the night of her reception dinner after all. Rin wore a gorgeous black dress whose silky material fell to her feet. A slit began at her knees and descended all the way. The halter topped upper half was studded with white jewels around the neckline that looked almost like small seashells. Black high heels had their straps wrapped halfway up her calves where they tied into delicate little bows. For once, her hair was up in a loose bun and in her hair was little jewels that glimmered in the illumination of the chandeliers.

Sesshomaru stood by her side, dressed similar to Inuyasha except that he wore a blue tux. The black one he saved for the wedding day.

Kagome and Rin broke off to talk to one another about certain issues and Inuyasha took this chance to grab Sesshomaru by the lip of his jacket and drag him to a table.

He looked over his shoulder, suspicious someone would be listening in on them.

"Have you…"

"Have I seen them yet?"

Inuyasha nodded.

"No. Not yet."

Inuyasha pranced like a little puppy wanting to be released. His cheeks puffed up real huge before he exhaled and rubbed his hands together.

"Good, good…"

"You haven't told her yet, have you?"

"Huh?"

"About them coming, wanting to meet her?"

Inuyasha scoffed. "Of course I… I… why wouldn't I have…"

"Inuyasha!" Kagome's voice called from where she stood, now alone.

He nodded at Sesshomaru, and tried to rid himself of the scowl he wore.

"Have you seen Sota?" Kagome asked before Inuyasha even came to a stop in front of her.

"No… I haven't," he replied.

Kagome started up the carpeted stairs, toward the lobby. "I'll be right back, I'm going to go see if I can use a payphone to reach him."

Inuyasha's head was now properly spinning.

"Inuyasha!" Rin called. "Come on, we're going to start the meal soon! Come find your seat, we have two, one for you and one for Kagome--- where is she?"

Inuyasha hassled his way through the crowd so that Rin wouldn't have to practically scream at him.

"She went to call Sota--"

"Oh! Good, good. Sit down! We need to get things in order!"

Inuyasha was thankful to finally sit down. He sighed once before slipping completely into his seat at the face he saw, having just entered the room.

Kagome smiled at the man behind the counter. "Thank you," she murmured gently, disheartened.

Her hopes dashed, Kagome began walking back to the dining room adjoined to the ballroom. She hadn't been able to get a hold of Sota. She sighed and touched her brow, remembering not to touch her hair. She'd done some final touch ups to it after her minor melt down and had finally got it looking halfway descent.

Her gaze lingered on the beautiful ceilings and detailed carpets along with the angel figures molded into the walls. An intricate design wove itself from one room to the other, following its own path along the walls. It still baffled Kagome as to how Rin and Sesshomaru could afford this place simply for a dinner, but she couldn't fathom where all the money was coming from.

Kagome slowed her pace as she retraced her steps through the hallway donned with many beautiful, extravagant portraits, all seemingly originals and all hand painted. She stopped at one in particular. The hall was quiet and peaceful as she gazed fondly at the marvelous paintings lining from one end to the other. So many, all so very beautiful in their own unique ways.

"That was my favorite."

A soft feminine voice caused Kagome to start but she calmed at once when she looked to whom it belonged. The woman was beautiful and dressed elegantly in a gown of lovely lavender.

"I was debating between it and the one of the palace, right over there, the one with the fountain?" Kagome gestured with a wave of her hand.

"Oh, yes. That one is a treasure indeed."

Kagome backtracked.

"Why did you say was?"

"Because it was my favorite to paint."

Kagome's eyes widened and she swallowed, taking a renewed look at all the paintings as though seeing them through different eyes.

"You… you painted them, all of these?" Kagome asked feebly.

"Yes." The woman with long black hair moved closer and stopped at the portrait next to the one at which Kagome stood before. She grazed a soft, small, and most delicate hand across the texture.

"Wow…" Kagome blushed when the woman looked at her with a faint smile at her small exclamation. "Um… I paint… some… mostly photograph… well, did. Um… I'm sorry, I'm just mumbling now."

"No, no. I appreciate the opinion of another artist any time." The woman smiled. "I used to have these hung up in my home, but then my husband bought this place…"

"You own this place?" Kagome asked incredulously.

The woman smiled again and nodded.

"My husband is a proud, successful business owner. We had other reasons for adopting this place for our own, but tonight is its proudest moment yet."

Kagome blinked. "Oh, of course… you must know Rin or Sessh--"

"Excuse me, ma'am?"

Both ladies turned.

The man was addressing Kagome.

"Phone call for you."

"Oh!" Kagome snapped to and began walking away. She stopped. "It was so nice talking to you, but I really have to take this…" Kagome was torn between worry for her brother and facing the casualty of being rude to this most kind woman, who, besides being a famous artist, was also the owner of the building in which she stood.

The woman laughed quietly, "It's completely fine, go, go." She shoed her away with a wave of her hand.

Kagome spun and followed the man back to the lobby for the second time.

Inuyasha's face was turning red from his confrontation with his father. It had not gone half as well as he'd gone so far as to hope.

Izayoi, his mother, appeared at his father's elbow, adorned in a beautiful lavender gown, and both men stood flat, releasing the weight they'd placed on the balls of their toes, the better to get right into each other's faces.

"You two," she gently admonished, "I can't even leave you two alone in public. Behave yourselves, both of you."

Sesshomaru walked over.

"Now really, we must get the show on the road, please, I think Rin is about ready to ring my or some other unfortunate soul's neck pretty soon," he pled.

"Will everybody please take their seats?" Rin's little voice called over the vast room filled with people.

"Everybody," Lord Takahashi's voice boomed, "Take a seat, we're about to begin."

The room quieted.

Rin blushed and smiled her thanks to her soon to be father in law.

Inuyasha glared daggers into his father's back. Just as he lifted a foot to follow the entourage, a waiter walked up to him, tapping his shoulder lightly.

"Excuse me, are you a Mr. Inuyasha Ta--"

"Yeah, yeah, whaddya want?" Inuyasha growled.

The boy seemed to be trying his best to refrain from cowering with fear.

"A Miss Higurashi, Kagome has asked me to deliver this message to you--"

"What? What happened? What is it?"

Sweat beaded itself on the boy's forehead. Inuyasha was leaning very close. One foul mentioning of Kagome's name made his hair raise on end.

"She said her brother's in the hospital and she's sorry but she had no choice but to leave without you."

Inuyasha didn't know if that was all the message entailed but before the boy even finished the sentence he'd been working so hard to get out, Inuyasha was flying past him and all the other guests, not even bothering to fill his parents in on his departure's destination.

"Damn it!"

A/N: to be continued...

i have, if you've not already noticed, edited chapters one and two of DH. um... go back and read em if it'd so please you.

please R&R , you know it's always greatly appreciated.

till i write and you read again,

FALLEN ROSE PETAL