Chapter One
An Engagement
...OOO...
A current of energy hummed throughout the house as servants worked feverishly to finish the preparations for that night's party. Under the careful guidance of Ms. Mai, tables were set up and covered in fine linen, bone china and sterling silver utensils set before the empty seats of that evening's guests still yet to arrive- just enough people to encompass half of the spacious ballroom. A small fete, really, in comparison to some of the others the house had hosted before, but Ms. Midoriko had insisted on something more intimate and the guests of honor had not dissented.
Ms. Mai, on the other hand, had wanted something larger, something grander. This was no ordinary party, after all, but a party to announce her only daughter's engagement and she had thought a gala more appropriate to the occasion than merely a small gathering. But who was she to say? She was only Kagome's mother, and once her elder sister Midoriko set her mind to an idea, she was unwavering in her decision.
Sighing slightly, Mai abandoned the perceived injustice to direct a pair of workers, arms laden with bouquets of flowers.
"No, no, no!" she corrected. "Those don't belong there. They're for the bar. Please set them over to the side."
A hand fluttered to her forehead, warding away an oncoming headache. She had never thought planning a party could be so difficult, but as Kagome was her only daughter, she had insisted on undertaking the entire event without help of a professional planner- a choice she was minute by minute beginning to regret as more and more workers piled in: caterers with trays of hors d'oeuvres and stacked champagne glasses, technicians checking the sound system for that night's entertainment, even more delivery men with flowers. They flooded in endlessly, wearing even her maternal patience thin with the chaos of their wake.
A small tap on her shoulder did the trick and she whirled around, ready to snap at the interruption… only to smile at the site of her daughter, dressed and primped ahead of schedule.
"How do I look?" Kagome asked with a half nervous smile, tugging away at the skirt of her spring green, satin ball gown.
"Oh, sweetheart…" Her mother was breathless, beaming proudly with a small tear in her dark cerulean eyes. "Spin around," she commanded excitedly. "Let me look at all of you."
Obligingly, Kagome twirled on her toes ending in a deep curtsy the way Western maidens in fairytales once did when presented at court. She grinned up at Mai who now held a handkerchief to her mouth, overcome with emotion at seeing her young daughter so regaled.
"Gorgeous," she murmured. "Simply gorgeous."
A deep flush tainted Kagome's fair complexion.
"You think so?" she laughed. "I hope Inuyasha feels the same. Where is he, by the way? Have you seen him?"
"Ah…" her mother thought for a moment. "Ah, yes, I believe I saw him step out into the balcony several moments ago. Maybe he's still there."
"Ok, thanks, Mom. By the way," she added with one sweeping glance, "this party is starting to look really nice. Thank you for everything."
And suddenly all the stress of the day melted away for Mai.
"Oh, thank you, dear."
Giving her mother a quick kiss on the cheek, Kagome hurriedly spun away to hunt for her truant fiancé.
...ooo...
As Mai had prescribed, Inuyasha stood at the second floor balcony, heaving one weary sigh and flicking at a drop of rain water clinging unceremoniously to his black lapel. He shuddered from a cold breeze and tucked his hands into his pockets, staring out into the graying dusk and thinking once again how much he hated the rain- hated it because she had loved it and hence it reminded him of her.
Out of the corners of his eyes, a movement caught his attention and he traced it to the street in front of the manor where a woman was quickly making her way under a large black umbrella, a small child in tow. The image stabbed at his heart and for the briefest of moments he could have sworn he recognized her face, and he leaned out to get a closer view. But it was too late. The woman had turned away, and every drop of rain pounding his silver head taunted his eager stupidity.
Of course it wasn't her.
Another heavy sigh and he tilted his face to the sky.
God, why was he even thinking about her? Of all moments to do so, this was certainly the most inappropriate… or perhaps it was only natural, but either way, he felt guilty.
"Inuyasha?" The hushed voice caused him to turn.
Framed by the brightly lit doorway, Kagome stood staring at him questioningly.
"Yeah?" he asked, his own tone gruff with disuse.
"Everything alright?" She took an uncertain step towards him.
"Yeah," he answered quietly. "Just getting some fresh air."
Coming closer, she smiled at his response.
"Are you nervous?" she asked.
And quickly he replied, "No, of course not."
"Oh." A small breath escaped her lips as she admitted, "I am. Very nervous."
"Don't be," he told her, guiding her hand to his arm. "Everything's going to go fine."
"I sure hope so."
Silently, they stood shoulder to shoulder, gazing out into the grey world before, and at last she commented:
"I sure hope this rain ends soon- before everyone starts arriving."
"Yeah," he agreed. "Me too." Albeit, for a wholly different reason.
...OOO...
Yeah, another short one. I know my chapters are usually longer, but I'm working on something else, so for the sake of frequent updates expect future chapters to be about this long, though later on they might expand more as the story gets under way.