Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the songs I use.
A/N: We're dwindling down to one of the last few chapters here. The first song Inuyasha and Kagome dance to is the one from the first IY movie, when it's snowing and all that good stuff. The second, aside from Carol of the Bells, is from The Nutcracker. Fun fact: the dance between these two was the first ever scene I plotted out in my head for this story. :D
Snowflakes Keep Falling On My Heart
Chapter 21: Dancing with you
"No peeking."
"How can I possibly peek? I can't see past your hands, Inuyasha," Kagome giggled as she was led blindly by Inuyasha who had his hand wrapped over her eyes so she wouldn't be able to see what he showed her till he was ready. "Heck, for all I know we could be in a dark closet…erm… scratch that idea," she added, feeling Inuyasha's chest rumble against her back as he chuckled.
"Just a few more steps," he said and she could feel his arm brush past her and double doors creak as he opened them to a room. Kagome listened as hard as she could for some inkling of a clue as to tell her where she was. Inuyasha nudged her a bit more forwards into the room and she blindly waved her hands, hoping to klatch onto something firm; when she did, it felt cold and smooth, like a railing. "Okay, ready?" she nodded her head and bit her lip against smiling too enthusiastically. As he removed his hands he slid them down her arms and laid them atop hers on the railing.
She opened her eyes to see the most beautiful, largest ballroom she'd ever laid eyes on. All the wall-length windows were outlined in beautiful white, blinking Christmas light. The golden-brown floor shined from having been polished. And right there in the center of the room, directly beneath the glass dome in the center of the ballroom ceiling where snow could be seen falling lightly, the last remaining rays of sunlight streamed down to illuminate the deep green of the evergreen tree. It was a huge Christmas tree. This thing had to be over twenty feet high, give or take, and it was fat as can be.
Kagome stared open-mouthed at its sparkling beauty. While she'd been getting her dress fitted and had been helping the cooks in the kitchen, Rin, Sango, Izayoi, a boy Kagome recognized as Miroku from school, and even Sesshomaru were all down there decorating the tree with ornaments, candy canes, lights, and garland too. Rin smiled, laughed and waved up to Inuyasha and Kagome who were standing at the top of the double staircase.
"Isn't it nice to have two demons in the family?" she called up. Kagome laughed along with Rin and the rest and she even heard Inuyasha chuckle a bit.
"You'd better be thankful. That thing weighed a ton and I still can't quite figure out how Sesshomaru and I got it in here in one piece," Inuyasha yelled down. "Come on," he said in a quieter voice to Kagome and he took her hand as he started down the staircase to their left. Kagome trotted happily behind Inuyasha, trailing her hand down the silky smooth, pearly railing the entire time, simply bedazzled by the ballroom's beauty.
"Inuyasha, my man," said a male voice. Kagome looked up as Inuyasha released her hand and she saw him and the other boy, Miroku, slap each other's backs with one hand as a form of greeting. They chuckled together and Kagome stood adamant on the last step of the long staircase, her fingers tracing the banister of the railing. "How you been? It's been forever."
"That it has. I've been great, you?"
"Awesome, man… have you heard?" Miroku said in hushed tones as he rubbed the back of his neck as if embarrassed.
"Bout you and Sango?"
Miroku nodded his head with a goofy smile planted on his handsome face. "Y-yeah."
"I knew it'd happen sooner or later." Inuyasha slapped Miroku's arm, "Congratulations man. Oh-hey, speaking of which, I'd like you to meet Kagome," Inuyasha said, turning a bit at the waist and putting his hand out for Kagome to put her hand in. She did as he silently pleaded and shyly stepped down closer to the boys. Inuyasha didn't release her hand this time. "Kagome, this is my best bud, Miroku."
"It's nice to meet you," Kagome replied sweetly and shook Miroku's hand.
"The pleasure's," he brought her hand up to his mouth and kissed it, "all mine." Kagome blushed and once he let her hand go she shyly laid it on Inuyasha's upper arm. Miroku winked at Inuyasha and as he went to turn around Sango came out of nowhere.
"Hey you, what do you think you're doing? Come help me over here," Sango said, smiling apologetically at the other two and taking his hand in hers and dragging him off towards a ladder situated near the tree.
"So… they're finally together. I'm happy for them," Inuyasha said, looking off into the direction they'd gone.
"They look very happy together," Kagome said softly with a hopeful smile on her face as she watched Miroku wrap his arms around Sango while pretending to help her with an ornament. He subtly kissed her cheek, immediately making Sango's ears go aflame.
Inuyasha suddenly lifted her into his arms and carried her over to the boxes full of decorations. He set her down and ruffled through a few of the boxes, on a mission to find something in particular. Izayoi appeared from around the tree and asked kindly, "Is this what you're looking for?" Inuyasha looked under his bent arm and dug himself out of the box he'd been searching in and smiled so his fangs showed a bit.
"Yeah! How'd you know?" he asked.
"A mother's intuition. Plus, it's your job to put it up there, just as every year before." She handed him a fairly big box, not as big as the others, but big enough. Inuyasha smirked and turned to Kagome as he pulled out a beautiful angel to put on the very tip of the tree. He held it out to Kagome and she took it delicately; she traced her fingers along the beautiful porcelain face of the angel, and her long black hair and the silkiness of the snow-white dress she adorned.
"It's beautiful," Kagome commented, holing the angel out for Inuyasha to take back. He shook his head, smirk still in place.
"Wh-" Kagome began.
"Hey! Is the tree almost ready for the angel?" Inuyasha called out to no one in particular.
The lights were dimmed and someone plugged the extension cord in. Kagome looked on in awe at the beautifully lit blue and silver tree. It sparkled in the near darkness, its largeness just adding to its beauty as it lit up the ballroom with a dim blue glow.
"Now it is!" Miroku called back.
"Okay. Ready?" Inuyasha asked Kagome.
"Huh?" Was all she got out before a smiling Inuyasha took Kagome into his arms. "Hold on tight," he instructed. She did as he said, holding the angel and Inuyasha with a death grip as he bent his knees, built up momentum, and with a single push they were flying through the air towards the top of the Christmas tree. Blue lights and silver garland meshed together to look like a stream of color, like when you watch cars driving by in the city at night.
Inuyasha perched himself carefully so that he balanced perfectly on a thick tree limb, careful not to knock the whole tree down. Kagome looked down and everyone looked smaller. She would have been scared, had she not felt Inuyasha's warm, tight grip on her waist the whole time. He lifted her slightly so she could gently place the angel on its rightful place, on the tip of the tree. She looked around at Inuyasha and they smiled at each other lovingly, as they together admired the beauty of the finished tree.
"It's gorgeous," Kagome said lightly.
Inuyasha pounced again, this time the wind whipped their hair up, meshing it together, and the wind whooshed in her ear, so she wasn't sure if she really heard him say, "so are you…"
Izayoi smiled a bit her lip to stop the joyful tears. "I don't think I've ever seen anyone make him smile quite like this girl."
"Hai, I agree…" Rin said and the others nodded slightly in agreement.
Kagome sat on the little puffy stool before the vanity table, wringing the white gloves again and again, trying her hardest to wash away the little butterflies in her stomach. Never before had she worn such a grand dress, let alone a ball gown. She bit her lower lip apprehensively, but stopped herself, wary of the lipstick the stylist had dabbed on her small lips.
Kagome had tried to refuse their offer of taking care of her wardrobe, makeup, and hair, but Izayoi simply refused to let her.
So here she was, the night of the ball and the night of her and Inuyasha's birthday, sitting before the mirror and staring at a girl who looked too beautiful to possibly be her own reflection.
Kagome looked away from the mirror and to the darkened window where the ceaseless snow still fell. Her heart lurched as her thoughts returned to those of her family.
Mom… Sota… Tonight's the night. I can only hope, pray, and wait for you two to arrive at ten o'clock this night. Naraku's gone… you even said so yourself mom; I heard it from your very voice the other day when I spoke to you on the phone… oh how nice it was to hear your voices again. If tonight doesn't go as planned… I don't know what I'll do. No. It's as Inuyasha keeps reminding me. Nothing will go wrong; nothing could go wrong. I just hope… all will be well…
A sharp knock on the door shook Kagome from her deep thoughts.
"Yes?" Kagome asked, her eyes on the white wood of the double doors.
"They're ready for you," spoke one of the male servants Kagome had become familiar with.
"Thank you-I-I'll be right down," Kagome called, bunching her dress in her hands.
"I will relay your message to master Inuyasha."
"Thanks!" She could hear the muffled sound of his footsteps die into the distance.
Kagome took a deep breath and stood.
"Where do you think she could be?" Inuyasha asked his mother, a worried edge to his voice.
"Do not fear, son, I'm sure she's simply nervous. This is her first ball, after all," Izayoi replied kindly.
Inuyasha huffed and turned his back to the staircase for the first time in twenty minutes.
"Hey, have you seen Sango or Miroku?" Rin asked, suddenly weaving her way through the crowds to join Inuyasha, Izayoi, and Sesshomaru standing at the foot of the staircase.
"Not yet," Inuyasha replied, leaning over to see around the tree. "Oh, wait-is that them?" he pointed towards a couple walking through the doors. Miroku waved, having spotted Inuyasha pointing from across the room at the other staircase.
"That would be them, and wow! They look gorgeous!" Rin said enthusiastically. And indeed they did. Miroku wore his black hair down where it reached his shoulders. He wore a white shirt with ruffles down the middle underneath a deep purple tuxedo top that also had a tail. He had on black pants and shoes. Sango matched in her gorgeous, also deep purple, ball gown, it had fluffy sleeves that fell across her upper arms instead of her shoulders. A black sash wrapped around her waist to tie into a big bow at her back. Black crisscrossed from the bow down to her feet, widening as it made its way down. Her long, black hair was in a ponytail and all the strands were loosely curled at the bottoms.
They both smiled hugely at Inuyasha and his group.
"How bout you," Inuyasha said, resuming their conversation as his eyes followed his happy two best friends down the other staircase, "Have you seen Kagome?" Rin didn't answer at first so he said her name to draw her attention.
"Yeah..." Rin said dreamily. The orchestra seemed to play softer suddenly and all the guests were turning their heads to look at the top of the stairs, their murmuring quieted. "Wow…"
"Wh---" the words died on Inuyasha's lips as he looked up to see Kagome walking, no, floating down the pearly staircase. She walked with graceful and natural beauty, a light blush coloring her already pink cheeks, and her white-gloved hand trailed the railing, just like the day before. Her white high heeled shoes lightly click, clicked as she stepped down, step by step. She held up the pink material of her dress in her other hand as she stepped very carefully, very muchly so aware of all the eyes on her; a pair seared more than all others, however.
Her long, ebony hair tumbled down her back in tight curls where diamond clips were tucked into her hair that looked like little starry explosions; it looked like the night sky with the stars being the only illumination in the blackness. She had on very light pink eye shadow, mascara that deepened the chocolate depth of her eyes, and a very pretty shade of pink lipstick that resembled a pink cherry blossom. Silver bells jingled from her earlobes. Her pink dress was strapless and in the front, two strings zigzagged back and forth, starting beneath her chest, holding the dress together, and ending at the bottom in a pretty little bow. There was also a pink sash at the end of that, like Sango's, that wrapped around to tied into a big bow in the back. The skirts rustled with her every movement from their thick and puffiness.
Kagome finally looked up for the first time a few steps from the bottom of the staircase. Her eyes immediately found Inuyasha's bewildered ones. He was taken by her great beauty, as was she by his great handsomeness.
His long silvery hair was tamed back into a low ponytail; his ears swiveled in the direction of Kagome. The fluffy white sleeves with ruffles adjoined the baggy shirt, which was unbuttoned partially at the top. He adorned brownish tan pants that ended at his knees where they met long, white socks, like back in the olden days. A blue cape lay draped across his back and his one arm.
Finally, Inuyasha snapped out of his stupor and grinned stupidly, like a little kid, falling in love for the first time or something. He held out his hand for Kagome, just like all the times before; he was always there, reaching out to hold her hand.
Kagome smiled and placed her hand gently in his. They stood together and turned to face the on-looking crowd of curious faces.
Izayoi had disappeared to the top of the staircase and her voice silenced all curious murmuring. "Good evening my friends, and welcome. Tonight we have all come to celebrate not just one, but two very special occasions. The first of which is my son, Inuyasha, and Kagome Higurashi's, eighteenth birthday." More murmuring broke the silence. "The second is to celebrate my second son, Sesshomaru, and his new fiancée Rin's engagement." Clapping and murmuring broke out and several supportive whistles sang from the crowd. "In dedication to these two very special occasions, we prepared a spotlight dance for the two couples only. So, without further ado," she clapped her gloved hands twice, the lights dimmed producing that dim blue glow again, and two lights shined down from the ceiling on Kagome, Inuyasha, Rin, and Sesshomaru all standing at the foot of the staircase. "Happy birthday, Inuyasha and Kagome, and congratulations Rin and Sesshomaru!" The audience applauded again.
Sesshomaru made the first move, used to doing these types of things, and held out his arm for Rin to take. Once she did, Sesshomaru led her out to the area the crowd had cleared for them. Inuyasha tried his hardest to hide the blush and stoically followed suit of what his older brother had done. Once out in the middle of the floor, despite the tree, Kagome froze, not knowing what to do and finally realizing she and Inuyasha had never danced together before; this would be their first time dancing.
Good thing I remember how to dance… without those lessons in America, I'd be doomed! Kagome thought, stifling a giggle as Inuyasha bowed at the waist as the violins began to play a slow melody. She curtsied gracefully, her skirts ruffling lightly with her movements. Inuyasha closed the distance between them and with one hand on her hip, the other linked his fingers with her small ones, he began to lead her across the floor.
No matter how bad a dancer she could have been, Kagome felt that Inuyasha could have made her look like a good dancer no matter what.
They spun across the silky floor like it was water, like they were in a dream. Blue and silver lights spun around the two in a magical way.
Inuyasha held her close and tight; his hands were so warm, it gave her chills.
"Do you remember that night… the last ball I'd been to… it was the night we met in the park," Inuyasha spoke, not looking her directly in the eyes, and instead looking over her head, "It was the night of our first kiss…"
Kagome's cheeks heated up as she remembered that rainy, cold night. His lips were warm but her body felt cold as she left him behind in the cloudy fog. But now they were together again.
The violins built up to climax, but as the orchestra dwindled down to only a flute and a harp; Inuyasha paused suddenly, right near the tree.
"I have something for you," he said quietly and gruffly. Now Kagome only heard a lone flute as Inuyasha's back was turned to her. He ruffled through a tree limb and turned around with a blue box in his hands. He opened it up to reveal a beautiful necklace. It had a silver chain and at the end was a shining pink stone in the shape of a small heart. "Happy Birthday, Kagome."
She couldn't say a thing as he walked around her and took the necklace from its box. Lifting her hair for him, his fingers tickled her neck as he hooked the necklace securely around her small, dainty neck. Before pulling back, Inuyasha discreetly placed a kiss on her neck. She smiled back at the huge smile permanently plastered on her love's face. He had a giddy sparkle in his golden eyes as he took her hand, spun her around and begun dancing with her to the next song. Now the crowd was joining in, so Kagome didn't feel so self-conscious with all eyes on her and Inuyasha.
Carol of the bells started up, with only the piano and a few bells singing throughout the vast ballroom. The violins joined and soon the room was filled with a melodious beauty.
Even though many brightly colored dresses swished past them and others brushed past, Kagome only saw Inuyasha's smiling face and Inuyasha only saw Kagome's shining eyes.
They continued dancing on and on, meshing like a wave amongst the sea of dancing couples. Many songs passed along with the hourly chiming of the pendulum of the large ever-ticking clock above the one staircase.
The large clock chimed ten o'clock; Kagome cast a weary glance from the ringing clock to the front doors. No sign of her mother or Sota as of yet.
The Overture Miniature and Dance of the sugarplum Fairies began around ten thirty. Inuyasha tightened his hold on her waist as if comforting her, saying "They'll come… they'll be here any minute… don't worry." Kagome swallowed hard. The music built to an extreme level of exhilaration. Inuyasha picked Kagome up just as all the other couples did at the same time and all the girls were spun around. Step, step, step spin. It went on and on. The music growing and growing. As it got stronger, and stronger still, Kagome's eyes slid from Inuyasha's gaze and what they landed on made her heart drop and her bones chill as her blood ran cold.
Those eyes… Those… blood… red… eyes…Kagome frantically tried to find them again. She had to be sure. But the tree was suddenly in her way and she could barely see through its thick branches. As they came back around- Kagome's heart still thumping mercilessly- he was gone. He was nowhere in sight.
But neither was Sota or her mom.
By eleven o'clock, many of the guests had dispersed and left for their own homes. Kagome stood at the top of the staircase, much like the other day, wringing her white gloves till they became wrinkly and suddenly she jumped, her skirts rustling as she spun to face whoever had laid their hand on her bare shoulder. Her hand lye against her heart as she breathed, finding it to be Sango and Miroku.
"Hey there, are you okay?" Sango asked, noticing Kagome's jitteriness. She slowly removed her hand from her friend's shoulder. The two had been filled in on what was supposed to happen, with Kagome's mother and brother meeting them at the ball at ten o'clock. And they now knew that something had to have gone wrong with their nonappearance.
"I-I'm fine…" Kagome meekly replied. Her face was pale and she felt shivers running up and down her spine; something had to be wrong.
"No, you're not," said a voice Kagome immediately turned to and recognized as Inuyasha's. "But I promise, everything will be okay." He was wearing a red haori and hakima; made of material he called the robe of the Firerat. He walked slowly up to Kagome and took her hands in his own. "Me and Sesshomaru are going to go find them. Don't worry… we'll have them safe and sound within the hour." He halfheartedly smiled and gently pulled her closer. "I promise," he whispered in her ear, "… I love you."
"I love you too…Inuyasha. Be careful." She pulled back; those cursed tears back in her eyes. He kissed her hard, deeply, and fully on the lips. Tearing his gaze from hers he hopped down the staircase with one leap and joined Sesshomaru near the entrance doors across the ballroom. He didn't look back once until the doors were nearly closed, fierce snow blowing in all around him, meshing with his snowy-white hair, and his golden eyes shimmered, looking straight at Kagome before he was gone...
A/N: to be continued...
Merry Christmas!
FALLEN ROSE PETAL