The day of the Ball, Kagome was in Asami's room nearly the whole day. She'd been woken up extra early by Asami's personal maid and drug, half asleep, across the castle to the hemi's room. There, she was dressed, painted, and done up in every synonym of the word. Asami and her maid gave Kagome some final dancing lesson, going over each one again since Kagome had never practiced in her kimono which was heavy and awkward. Asami had slid a flask of sake up under her kimono, but Kagome politely reclined. "Suit yourself," Asami had said taking a swig. "But trust me, you won't make it through the night sober."
Somehow, Kagome had gotten pulled into setting up last minute details, probably Asami's fault, and found herself running all over the castle in her heavy attired directing people this and that. Kagome found out later Tomoyo was slept in till noon so she would be energized for that night and wasn't seen dressed until five, a mere hour before the banquet and ball. Asami said it was quite normal for the hemi's family to arrange the ball and the woman turning sixteen was allowed to relax. Kagome would have found that an acceptable answer, if only she had seen someone other than herself and Asami directing and setting up.
At five thirty, Asami sent Kagome to fetch Sesshomaru to start lining up with the rest of the royal family to enter for supper.
"Go make sure he's ready," she told her and then added under her breath, "maybe give him an update on his possible fate."
Kagome had grumbled about this but left the banquet hall anyway. It was look rather good, Kagome had to admit. There were dozens of tables holding ten people each and one long table which would seat the royal family which included Tomyo, Lady Zakuro, Sesshomaru, Asami, and Kagome. The silverware and plates were all gold with ruby stones and perfect sparkling lilies on every table, each the size of her head.
Kagome trotted down to their joint room, trying not to trip on the heavy but fragile silk. She went in, knowing if Sesshomaru was changing, he'd been in his own room. Sesshomaru stood in front of the fireplace. He turned when she came in.
Kagome's mouth dropped a little. He looked so different without armor, the mokomoko, and two swords at his hip. He looked like a Lord instead of a warrior. Sesshomaru wore a dark blue kimono that was the exact color of the crescent moon on his forehead. From the top left shoulder, across his chest, and down under the obi to his right hip was the image of a leaping dog that looked strikingly like him in his true form. The obi was magenta, also matching his facial stripes. The sleeves that hung down to his knees had three crescent moons at the bottom. The left sleeve hung perfectly, even though there was no arm beneath it. Tomoyo had insisted he wear his hair down to show how white and beautiful it was, which was fine by Sesshomaru because he refused to tie it back.
"Sesshomaru, you look," she thought for a minute before settling on a word. "different."
"As do you," he replied. "Green suits you well."
"I wear green nearly every day, Sesshomaru," she said blushing a little.
"I know," he said strolling past her. "I take it you were sent to get me to go down."
"Yes, but first, Sesshomaru, you need to know something," she said. She rolled her hands nervously. What if Sesshomaru actually knew Tomoyo planned on making him her mate. The idea of Sesshomaru giving in to anyone was beyond her compression. Just the idea of Sesshomaru mated or married to anyone was odd.
"The princess plans on demanding me to be her mate," Sesshomaru finished for her. "Yes, I know."
"You- you know?" Kagome asked in disbelief. "And you're fine with that?"
"There's a difference between knowing and accepting," he said stiffly. "But this Sesshomaru guarantees he will not be mated to that woman."
"What are you going to do if she demands it?" Kagome asked.
Sesshomaru gave her a long stare. "Don't dwell on it."
With that he walked out the door.
need to know that."some reason, her heart dropped and she felt incrediably disappointed. as fine by Sesshomaru because he refu_
Kagome stood next to Asami behind the golden double doors leading to the banquet hall. She strained to see over shoulders. Tomoyo and Sesshomaru stood in the front of the line, the hemi's arm wrapped around Sesshomaru's. She wore a shimmering silver kimono, which made her gray hair seem more plain and dull than usual. Asami told her that was what everyone saw as beautiful and Tomoyo would be the most beautiful woman there. Though, Kagome disagreed, and thought quite simply, the hemi looked like an old hag with her gray hair and ashen skin.
Next in line was the queen with her husband on arm. This was the first time Kagome had seen him. Kagome thought he looked tired but with how demanding the Queen was, she figured she'd be tired too, mated to a woman like that. Asami had explain that this was a matriarch and her father, who she called by name-Akihiko-, wasn't involved in politics at all.
Kagome and Asami were next in line. Asami had wrapped Kagome's hair up high, fixing it with a jade dragonfly hair piece, showing off her slender neck. Her lips were pained rose red and dark green eye shadow with lengthened eyelashes and dark liner. Kagome thought she had never looked better but she knew she would stand out and not everyone would agree that she was beautiful.
Asami had applied as much powder as she could to cover up her 'dark' skin. Kagome thought the girl, if she tried, could say she was albino in any other place and no one would think twice. Everyone else here, though, looked sickly, not pale. Looking around them, Kagome agreed that Asami was indeed darker than the rest.
The doors opened and Tomoyo and Sesshomaru started in. No one spoke or clapped. Asami told her earlier that this represented a great respect for the young hemi. They couple stopped in the middle of the floor, though the rest of the royal family sat at the long table, leaving two chairs in the middle for Tomoyo and Sesshomaru.
"Next, Tomoyo will dance," Asami whispered. "It's an intricate dance representing her steps from a child to an adult."
Kagome swore she had never seen anything to beautiful. Tomoyo started by sitting down and folding her legs under her, pressing her chest, face, and arms against the golden floor. A single flute began to play. Tomoyo rose up, pulling out two fans the color of her eyes, opening them and waving them. She continued with slow steady steps, each matching the flute perfectly. Asami quietly told her that this song had been made especially for her sister, the dance made up entirely by the hemi.
The music began to pick up tempo, as the Tomoyo's feet. She swirled, twisted, and leapt across the floor. Her silk kimono drifting perfectly with each step. The flute played and the princess's feet moved so fast, Kagome couldn't keep track. Suddenly, they both stopped.
Tomoyo slowly opened a fan and twirled across the empty floor where Sesshomaru stood. She gracefully handed him it. Together, the both slowly danced across the floor. This time, when the music started, the flute was accompanied by something Kagome could only compare to an oboe.
If Tomoyo had been beautiful by herself, Kagome could only call the dance she did with Sesshomaru as breath taking. They were perfectly in step, meeting each other in every chord. Sesshomaru had originally refused to dance but seeing him now, Kagome was happy he had complied.
The two pale figures joined in hand spinning each other slowing, barely touching. Kagome felt sadden a little. This was obviously the life Sesshomaru was used to living. He matched Tomoyo in every way: their royal blood, beauty, and grace. Kagome had thought Tomoyo ugly before, but seeing the girl so beautiful now, it was impossible to think anything but. Kagome was a fool to believe Asami's belief that Sesshomaru was in love with her. Sesshomaru clearly belonged with someone as perfect at the hemi.
They stopped with a final chord, their hands touching, both kneeling on one knee. They stood up and bowed together, the crowd finally clapping, accepting Tomoyo's first steps as a woman.
They took their seats at the table, Sesshomaru on the other side of Asami. Kagome leaned over and whispered to Sesshomaru. "Good job."
"Hn," was his reply. Apparently just because he danced well didn't mean he was happy about it. Somehow that was a strong relief to Kagome.
The Lady Zakuro stood, opening her arms, covered in bronze kimono sleeves. She smiled, showing perfect white teeth.
"Let the feast begin."