Wind Dancer
Chapter 6: My Favorite Things
Kagura walked into school on Monday with the knowledge of the Garden Party. She dragged herself to her locker, feeling slightly more depressed than usual. When she got there, Kagome and Sango were waiting, looking happier than usual. They noticed Kagura's drab body language and their smiles faded... sort of.
"Kagura, what's wrong?" Kagome asked.
"Long weekend, night, and morning. I just want today to be over. I'm probably going to skip ballet today and just go home. I'm too tired to do anything else. Why are you two so happy?" Kagura asked while putting in the combination to her locker. Sango and Kagome exchanged smiles. Then they looked at Kagura, who was looking expectantly at them.
"Well, we both received..." Sango began.
"...invitations to the Garden Party!" Kagome finished happily. Kagura nodded.
"Ah. I can see why you'd be happy." Kagura grabbed her calculus book and closed her locker. She yawned loudly. "Have fun, ladies."
"You'd didn't get invited?" Sango asked, looking sad. Kagura shook her head. "Bummer."
"That's not fair. Sesshomaru should've invited you. You're his study partner, after all. I'll ask Inuyasha..." Kagome stopped when Kagura waved her hand.
"It's fine, Kagome. Really, it is. I didn't want to go, any..." Before Kagura could finish, an exclamation was heard.
"I can't BELIEVE this! How could you, Sesshomaru!" Sara yelled.
As was the tradition in high schools around the world, where there was a conflict, most people would flock. Everyone looked in the direction of Sara and Sesshomaru to see the verbal altercation. This included Kagura, Kagome, and Sango. Sesshomaru was just staring at Sara. Sara was heated and if her face was any indication, her rage was astronomical.
"Sara, you're making a scene. Calm down," Sesshomaru said calmly. Sara shook her head.
"I will not calm down, Sesshomaru Taiyo. Don't you dare tell me what to do." Sara took a step forward. To mere mortals, this was intimidating. Sesshomaru merely stared at her as if she were no more than a fly. "How dare you send my invitation in the mail!"
This revelation earned a gasp of shock from their audience. Sara flinched slightly, looking around in her peripheral vision. Her lips thinned into a line. Then she glared back at Sesshomaru. He continued to stare down at her.
"I could revoke it if it would please you, Sara. Your attendance is not required," he stated simply. Sara bit her lip. She inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. Straightening up, she crossed her arms.
"So, who are you taking as your guest if I am not the one?"
"That is none of your business," Sesshomaru said. He finalized the conversation by walking away. Sara frowned and resisted the urge to go after him. Kikyo put a hand on her friend's shoulder. Sara exhaled and turned around.
Kagura stood in shock of what had just occurred. If Sesshomaru was not taking Sara, who was he taking? She was too tired to deduce anything at the moment. Kagome and Sango were talking in her ear about something. She sighed and mumbled her goodbyes before heading towards her calculus room.
Sesshomaru sat in the cafeteria some time later. He had figured Sara would take the rejection hard. He did not know she would make such a scene of it, though. Now, he knew how she would act when he gave who he wanted to give the invitation the actual invitation. He glanced over at Sara. She was shooting daggers at him.
Probably wishing me a thousand deaths in the pits of hell, he thought. Sesshomaru smirked inwardly at his joke and looked over at Bankotsu. I have to give it to her in private.
"Has she come in yet?" he asked. Bankotsu looked around.
"I haven't seen her yet. I still can't believe you'd rather take her than Sara," he said. Bankotsu alone knew who Sesshomaru was going to take instead of Sara.
"You don't need to know why. No one does except maybe her," Sesshomaru said. As he said those words, she entered. "There she is."
Kagura dragged her feet over to the lunch line to buy an apple. She was coming to get an apple, then she was going to leave. Simple as that. She was not going to speak to anyone. After paying for the apple, she turned and began to drag her feet again. She was nearing the cafeteria door.
Almost home free, she thought happily. That was when she heard it.
"Kagura," his voice said.
Kagura froze. She knew if she turned around, everyone would be watching her. Instead, she just sighed.
"What is it, Sesshomaru?" she asked, turning her head to the side.
"Will you be in pas de deux class today? You look like you're going home," he said. Kagura could not resist the smile that crept to her face.
"You can read me like a book. I was heading home. You want me in class today or something?" Kagura asked. She still had not faced Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru found this peculiar, but did not address it.
"Yes."
"Yeah. Fine. Whatever." Kagura turned around to face him. She cut her ruby eyes at him. "You owe me, Satan," she said. Sesshomaru smirked slightly so that only she could see it. Kagura blinked, clearly taken off guard.
"What ever you say, my sexy librarian," he mumbled. He turned on his heel to go back to his table of "associates." Kagura took a bite of her apple and headed to the auditorium.
Kagome and Inuyasha were going through some books of sheet music. Kagura raised an eyebrow when she saw them. They were talking in hushed tones, but Kagura could make out some of what they were saying. She took a seat a few rows behind them.
"I don't know, Inuyasha. If I play something too difficult, I might mess up during the audition and just throw my chance away," Kagome said. Inuyasha sighed.
"Do you always sell yourself this short? What do you want to play? Hot Cross Buns? Kagome, you have talent. Use it. Juilliard is for the best of the best. You're going to need something with some level of difficulty," he said. Kagome gave him a strange look. "I'm not saying you have to play something out of this world. After all, you are going there to learn, right?"
"So, what am I supposed to play?"
"Something you are comfortable with, but something that isn't elementary. Don't go with the easiest thing you can find just because you mess up on something that's a bit harder. That's what practice is for," Inuyasha said. Kagome swallowed hard and nodded.
Kagura smiled and continued silently eating her apple as the shuffled through the books. They talked more about music. After a moment of awkward silence, Inuyasha looked at her. Kagura could tell he wanted to ask her something. She sat forward, listening closely.
"Uh, Kagome?" he asked quietly. Kagome did not look up.
"Huh?" she mumbled.
"I know you were invited to the Garden Party," he said. Kagome still did not look up. Kagura craned her neck even further.
"Yeah, so?" Kagome mumbled. Inuyasha cleared his throat.
"Well, uh, I was wondering if you were going to go with anyone that was invited, too," he said quickly. Kagome shook her head casually.
"Nope. I was just going to ride with Sango. Why?" she asked nonchalantly. Kagura's mouth dropped open.
How clueless can you get? He's trying to ask you out, you dunce!
"Oh. So, would you like to be my date to my brother's party?" Inuyasha asked even faster. Kagome looked up now. She turned her head towards Inuyasha. He looked down and away from her. "Um, only if you want to, of course."
"Are you asking me out?" Kagome spluttered out after a few moments.
Say yes! Say yes! Say yes! Kagura chanted.
"Well, uh, yeah. I guess I am," Inuyasha said. He sounded so shy and meek. Kagome crossed her arms and smiled.
"Say, if I didn't know any better, I'd think you sounded bashful, Inuyasha," Kagome said. Inuyasha turned red.
"I do not!" he yelled. Kagome stuck her nose in the air.
"Whatever. But, I'll take you up on that offer." Kagome began scribbling. "This is where I live. You already have my number. Let me know when you'll pick me up. I have to go to class now," she said. She stood up. When she passed Kagura she paused.
Kagura leaned back in her seat. She looked up at Kagome and smiled. Kagome crossed her arms.
"How long have you been there?"
"Long enough, dear. Long enough," Kagura said.
In pas de deux class, Kagura stood next to Jakotsu. Kikyo and Sesshomaru were in front of the class, leading as usual. Sara's pas de deux partner was Bankotsu, to her dismay. Kagura could just feel the exhaustion taking over her body. Jakotsu noticed the look in her eyes.
"Kaggie, are you feeling okay?" he asked.
"Splendiferous," Kagura said while giving him the fakest smile she'd ever produced. The flatness of her voice would've made Sesshomaru proud. She went lazily into an arabesque. Jakotsu put his hands on her waist to support her as she stood on pointe.
"Hold it, ladies. Chin up, Miss Asano. Now, gentlemen, you need to turn them slowly on my count," Ms. Morigami said loudly.
Kagura sighed. Jakotsu took her right hand as Ms. Morigami began clapping. He led her in a 360° turn. While they were turning, Kagura's eyes closed for a moment. She was so tired. IF only she could sleep for a moment...
"Kagura!" Jakotsu whispered harshly. Kagura's eyes opened. She looked around. Everyone was in another position. Kagura quickly raised her arms and brought her left leg in. "Thank you," Jakotsu mumbled.
"Sorry," Kagura said. She frowned and decided to just let it fly.
Oh, what the hell! What's the worse that could happen? I dance better than the Ice Maiden? Fat chance, she thought. Almost laughing out loud, she felt Jakotsu lift her onto his shoulder. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Bankotsu falter with Sara. Sara came down hard on her right foot and turned to face Bankotsu.
"You idiot! Watch what you're doing!" she yelled.
"Sorry, Sara," Bankotsu said. As Kagura moved her arms to the music, she thought up something. She did not know what possessed her to say it aloud, but she did anyway.
"Maybe if you practiced more instead of shopping, your ass wouldn't be so heavy," Kagura said. This caused everyone to stop and look at her. Jakotsu lowered her as he was supposed to. He turned her and they finished. Then they burst out laughing. Kagura could not help it.
"What did you say?" Sara asked. Kagura looked at her.
Might as well finish what I've started, she thought wryly. She put her hands on her hips and took a step forward.
"You know what they say, Bankotsu: you break it, you bought it," Kagura said. Everyone looked at Sara, waiting for some sort of rebuttal. Sara frowned and took a step forward.
"I suggest you shut that hole in your face before I shut it for you, Onigumo," she said. Kagura met her challenge.
"Want some, get some, pixie," she said.
"Ladies, ladies! I demand that you stop this at once. You both will be staying after school and washing the mirrors for this disturbance. Back to your partners now so we can continue class." Ms. Morigami stepped between the two.
Sesshomaru had seen Kagura's display. He found it quite humorous. Not many could or would stand up to Sara. Apparently, Sara had done something to wrong Kagura, though. Kagura was still a little raw about it. She was also tired and not in her right mind. He went back to dancing with Kikyo as Ms. Morigami began giving instruction again.
After class, Ms. Morigami called Sara and Kagura to stay after. She looked at the two girls. Sara looked angry while Kagura looked slightly delirious. She sighed. She could not leave the two in the same room alone; she might come back to a blood bath.
"I cannot trust you two alone. So, I'm giving the first task to you, Kagura. Today, you will wash the mirrors. Next Monday, the task will be yours, Sara. I still expect the both of you to be civil towards each other because of the project you have to do at the end of the semester. Dismissed," Ms. Morigami said.
Kagura did not even bother to look aghast. She just did not have the energy to change the look on her face. Instead, she went to find the bucket and rags to do the mirrors. She still had to pick up the twins later. Thankfully, the ballet was not on tonight and Toran did not need her. She could go home and rest.
When she returned to the studio, Sesshomaru was waiting for her. Kagura just stared blankly at him. He walked over to her and took the bucket from her. She followed him and threw him a rag once he put the bucket down.
"So, you're going to help me?" she asked.
"If that's what you want to call it," he replied. Kagura nodded. She began wiping the mirrors down. "You know, I think you've started a war with Sara."
"Puh-leeze. I don't give a rat's ass about that twerp," Kagura said. Sesshomaru nodded. "I can't believe you made me stay. I'm washing mirrors because of you."
"I didn't start a fight," Sesshomaru said.
"Whatever." Kagura stuck the towel in the bucket again and moved down the wall.
After a few moments of silence, Kagura began humming. She began humming the song she sang all the time with her siblings. Sesshomaru noticed it. It was also a song he knew. He wondered if she would start singing it. It came as no surprise when she did.
"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings..."
Kagura paused and went back to the bucket. Sesshomaru met her there.
"'These are a few of my favorite things,'" he said. Kagura looked up and smiled.
"Cream colored ponies and crisp apple streudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings..."
Kagura looked at Sesshomaru expectantly. Sesshomaru rung out his rag.
"'These are a few of my favorite things." He walked back to his side. Kagura did the same. They began washing the mirrors again.
"Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver white winters that melt into springs..."
"These are a few of my favorite things." Sesshomaru looked at Kagura. Kagura could not help but laugh. She began walking towards him. "When the dog bites."
"When the bee stings."
"When I'm feeling sad."
"I simply remember my favorite things." Kagura stopped when she got to him. "And then I don't feel..."
"...so bad," Sesshomaru said. Kagura laughed.
"I can't believe we turned the end of that song into a spoken word version. Rodgers and Hammerstein would kill us," Kagura said. "I didn't you know you were a fan of The Sound of Music."
"I'm not. Rin is. At one point in time, she couldn't go six hours without playing that stupid movie. I know every song on that movie. Name any musical and I probably can speak the words," Sesshomaru said blandly.
"She's a fanatic of musicals, huh? That was a song I sang to my brother and sister when they got sad. It still works to this day." Kagura turned to face the mirror. She did not notice Sesshomaru step up beside her. When she felt how close he was to her, she whirled around. "Huh?"
"I have to get you out of that leotard," he said a little more seductively than he would have liked to. Kagura raised an eyebrow. She leaned back away from him.
"Excuse me?"
"And into a black dress," he said. Kagura nodded. Sesshomaru reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope. Kagura saw it and realized what was happening. "Here," Sesshomaru said.
"What is this?" Kagura asked, playing blind man.
"What does it look like?" Sesshomaru asked. Kagura frowned at him. She began to open it, but Sesshomaru put a hand on hers to stop her. "Don't. Open it when I'm not here." Kagura raised an eyebrow.
"Hm. You must've written something in here that you know might tick me off. You clever, clever man," she said. Sesshomaru shrugged indifferently and walked around her to continue washing windows.
Jerk, Kagura thought.
That night, Kagura sat on her bed, staring down at the unopened envelope. She had come home and immediately fixed Hakudoshi and Kanna dinner. Then she had holed herself up in her bedroom. For the past fifteen minutes, she had been simply staring at the envelope. It looked different than Yura's had. It had black and white swirls, giving off an odd optical illusion.
Come on, Kaggie. It's just a damn envelope. You can do this, Kagura told herself.
"Fortune favors the brave," Kagura said as she reached for the envelope. She carefully broke the black wax seal and slipped out the white paper. It was not the traditional invitation that Yura had shown her. Instead, it was a letter written in Sesshomaru's script. For a moment, Kagura was confused. Then she read the letter.
Kagura,
I'm inviting you to the Garden Party as my special guest. This means that you will be the one I will enter with, eat with, and dance with. I'm sure you already know the particulars of the Garden Party, like the dress code and such. Your brother and sister are also invited, as they will be the guests of my sister. They must also follow the dress code.
Forgive the delay in getting this to you. I wanted to give it to you personally. I also did not want to make a scene of it. Nor did I want to use the traditional invitation. I wanted to actually ask you myself.
Will you be my special guest?
Sesshomaru
Kagura read the last line four times before picking up her cell phone. She scrolled through her address book. She saw Sesshomaru's name and pressed call.
"Hello?" his sensual voice said on the other end.
"Have you lost your mind?" she yelled.
Sesshomaru had expected some sort of surprised reaction in her response, but definitely not this kind. Kagura never ceased to amaze him. He sat in silence for a moment, listening to her breathe on the other end.
"I hope not. Have you decided on your answer?"
"Tell me why you're not taking Sara," Kagura asked. She bit her lip. This answer had better be good.
"Rin doesn't like her," Sesshomaru stated coolly. "Besides, I want to take you. Didn't you think it odd that I had not invited you, yet your friends had been invited?" Sesshomaru asked. Kagura opened her mouth to speak. He had a point.
"I just thought that Inuyasha and Miroku had begged you to invite them," she said. She heard Sesshomaru scoff on the other end.
"The faith," Sesshomaru mumbled. Kagura smirked; he was joking with her.
"Well, then how could a girl say no to an offer like this, Mr. Taiyo? I would love to be Satan's mistress for a day," Kagura said. Sesshomaru smirked inwardly.
"Three things," he said.
"What?"
"One, don't wear those hideous glasses. Two, Jakotsu is right; that bag is ugly. Get another one. Three..."
"Hey, you might be pushing it with the bag, mister," Kagura warned.
"Three, wear your hair down. If I pick you up and your hair is in that ridiculous bun, we're stopping at a salon and you're getting your hair done. I mean it," Sesshomaru said. Kagura sat with her mouth open.
The sheer audacity of this guy, she thought.
"You're lucky that I actually have contacts. Anyway, I won't wear the bun. You've got a deal," Kagura said. "I'll see you tomorrow." Sesshomaru made a grunting noise and Kagura pressed end.
He never said anything about pin curls, though, she thought slyly. She pressed three on her phone. Kagome picked up.
"Shopping, tomorrow, after school," Kagura said quickly.
"Why?" Kagome asked.
"Well, we both need dresses for the Garden Party, don't we?" Kagura asked. This got Kagome's undivided attention.
"You got invited? That's great! So, let's tell Sango," she said.
"You tell her. I've got to get some sleep," Kagura said while yawning. "I had to wash mirrors on account of a verbal altercation with the Queen of Mean. Can't explain now. I'm too tired."
"Go ahead and rest, Kagura. You might as well just stay home tomorrow. We'll take the twins to school for you."
"Thanks, guys. I'll let them know that in the morning. Come get me when you two get out of school," she moaned as she hung up the phone. After that, Kagura was out in a minute flat. Both Hakudoshi and Kanna came in the room and put their older sister under the covers and turned out the light.