Chapter 10
"Hurry!" said Sango in a worried tone. They had arranged an appointment with the sales manager at the nearby Saks Fifth Avenue, and were choosing a dress for the opening of Cerise. Kagome quickly grabbed her purse and the two rushed into their car and was driven off.
"I can't believe it's going to open in three days!" squealed Kagome. She and Sango had arranged appointments at the Bellagio salon in the morning for the big night. They had their speeches planned out. Everything was in order. Except for the dresses. And jewelry. The two women dug in their purses to check that their money was in there before being ushered out of the car and welcomed warmly into the giant department store. They relaxed as the air conditioning cooled them down.
They were led around the store, and listened to the manager drone on and on about this dress and that dress. Thanking her, Kagome and Sango wandered the department store on their own.
"Kagome, do you like this dress?" Sango had pulled a slim dress that was glittering with golden swirls and silver sequins. Gold fabric roses dotted the Sabrina neckline and the coat was lined with fur. Kagome coughed. "No. I don't believe in animal cruelty."
"But you believe in human cruelty."
Kagome scowled as Sango grinned. She wandered ahead of Sango, who was taking a look at a pink silk poofy ball gown. Kagome sighed as Sango squealed in delight. She turned. On a rack hung a white silk gown with a square neckline. It was simple. The bottom was slightly "pulled out," just the way Kagome liked it and it had a v-neck back. Lifting it off the hanger, Kagome walked to Sango. "What about this?"
Sango shrugged. "Try it on. It's not that bad but it's so…ordinary?"
Kagome rolled her eyes and was shown to a dressing room. She quickly changed into it. It was amazing. It fit her just right, accentuating her tiny waist, small bust line, toned arms, and elegant neck. The bottom wasn't so poofy like a wedding dress, but it wasn't slim like her regular dinner dresses. It was a wonder. "Sango! Get over here!"
There was a rustle and clank as Sango dragged a dress of it's hook and walked to the dressing rooms. She gasped. "Kagome…that looks…so good on you…"
Kagome beamed. "I'm getting this one, okay? But should I choose another color?"
Sango nodded. She snapped out of her trance and started holding up dresses for Kagome to see. The first was a royal blue gown with a "transparent" sash wrapped at the top of the bust line and two skimpy strings.
"That's for prom. Not for you."
The next one was a slim black one with a line of diamonds dotting the top of the bust line with skimpy strings.
"That looks exactly like mine! No! Besides, it's BLACK. Not for an optimistic night and it's too skinny."
Sango held up another one. It was a deep forest green velvet, with a square neckline in the front and back. It was slightly pulled out at the bottom too, but much fatter. "That's good, but it looks sort of short."
Sango hung the dress on a hook before showing Kagome a blood red dress. It was really pretty, with broad straps, a bottom like Kagome's, and gathered fabric over the chest that met at a sparkling diamond pin in the middle. "That is gorgeous. Go try on those two while I look for a different color."
Kagome hung up Sango's discarded gowns before fumbling through the dresses for another color. She found a dark navy blue that set off the brightness of her own blue eyes and she smiled. She looked at the price tag. For such a beautiful dress, it's not a bad price! Maybe because it's so simple.
She paid for her dress, waited for Sango, who paid for hers, and then left. The dresses were stowed carefully in the car and they were driven back to the Via Bellagio shops. They now had to purchase jewelry.
The man that worked at the counter was a highly optimistic, pushy kind of salesman; the kind that Kagome resented. She bit her lip to try and keep from yelling out, "SHUT UP!!!"
They scanned the counters. Kagome stopped at the sapphire section. The sapphires were royal blue and there was a diamond choker that was set with deep blue sapphires that matched Kagome's new dress. Pointing to it, Kagome asked for the price.
"It's valued at one hundred thousand forty five dollars, Miss Nicola. And here are the matching earrings and bracelets."
Kagome glanced at the bracelet. It was similar to the necklace and the earrings were attractive dangling marquises. "I'll take it."
She made her purchase as Sango chose a ruby set that matched her dress. The two women exited out of the shops and back inside their hotel as their bodyguards held their dresses.
"Finally. I can get this off my back!" Sango sighed.
Kagome nodded. They dropped their stuff off before leaving on a trip to the salon to make sure that everything was set.