Title: At Midnight

Author: Riizu

Category: Romance, Drama

Rating: I honestly don't know where this is going. For now, PG-13.

Summary: Kagome is an accidental attendant at a masquerade gala at the Taisho Manor, and, as is custom, all attendants must choose a partner by midnight – and wisely they must choose for the one they touch is the one they spend with their whole lives. However, Kagome's just a mere servant. She didn't really mean to pick a partner. Oh no - quite the contrary. Now, she's in a predicament. [I/K/S]

Author's Notes: I don't know much about Inuyasha, which explains the AR bit so please excuse my lack of knowledge of this anime. This whole story takes on a bit of a Cinderella aura but is clearly quite different from that. Enjoy!

Etc: The basic plot of this follows a French legend that I heard from my French teacher. It goes like this: at a masquerade party, all attendants must choose random people to be their partners by midnight. The only catch is that you're still wearing your costumes so you can't see the other person's face with the exception of their eyes. When midnight arrives, the person you chose will be the one you spend your whole life with. If you chose wisely, you and your partner will be inseparable and love will fill your entire lives. If not, then you get the opposite effect.

P R O L O G U E
( preparations )

The evening was balmy and exceptionally beautiful. The gleaming sun was dipping beneath the ocean bed, the silver moon almost visible along with its friends, the speckles of stardust that sprinkled the sky in diamonds. The tree leaves were swaying ever so lightly with the soft, warm wind and the birds were dancing gaily with one another in the sky. Dandelions and sakura blossoms went off on zephyr's wings, pirouetting across the canvas of blue.

Beyond the hills and quiet meadows, lay the bustling Taisho Manor. The maids were feverishly scrubbing the marble corridors, washing intricate flower vases, cleansing the emerald curtains. Away and athwart the castle they were busying themselves. Servants were in their quarters dressing appropriately for the evening to serve the food and welcome guests, and the chefs were busy preparing meals upon meals and flaming, sweet desserts.

The courtiers of the household were readying themselves for the night, dressing in elaborate clothing fit for nobility.

*

There was dancing. Everyone was in jovial spirits, conversing, laughing, and she was no exception from the gala. She stood with her masked dancer in a dress made of fine satin, perfumed with lavender and made up with blush and lip paint. Her hair was arranged elegantly on top of her head with pearls and she was smiling, unusual as it was. She couldn't remember a time when she smiled. So there she swayed with her mate-to-be, flying away on transient bliss.

"Hey you!"

Kagome shook her head, waking up from a promising reverie, and turned to face a finger pointed in her direction.

The chef.

"Make yourself useful and clean the floors. This is no time to be daydreaming!" He bellowed.

Kagome nodded and hurried herself to the stack of buckets and mops.

So much for that.