Hello all!
Either fanficiton.net is lying, or it's being mean. According to the screen, I have over 65 reviews, but I can only access up to 54 online. Why do you care, you ask? Because I hate writing without reading the input others have taken the time to give me. After all, never know when I might be missing some constructive criticism or good advice. That's why I've been so slow in updating today.
However, I will be busy all day Sunday, and out of town all day Monday and I can't wait that long. So if you've sent a review that you expected an answer/reply to and feel ignored, blame ff.net. I am continuing this story :-)
Oh another important note, and then I promise I'll go on to the story. Dancing. As far as I could tell the traditional Japanese dances are pretty much solo and done by women. That didn't work for this story. I'll give the explanation for the western-style dancing in the story but it's pretty weak. Let's just call it artistic license, ok?
On to chapter ten…
Chapter Ten
"Left foot, dear, LEFT." The old woman sighed and motioned for the musicians to stop. "Kagome-chan, are you even listening to me?"
Blushing, Kagome looked down at her feet, wondering if perhaps she had two left ones instead of a left and right pair. She'd always considered herself a good dancer, why was she having so much trouble now?
"You told me you've danced before," Yoshida-san scolded the girl.
"I have! But we don't dance like this where I come from. Not most people, anyway."
Ah yes, the lord had said the girl came from some strange other place even he knew not where.
"Well if you want to make a good impression at tomorrow's taikanshiki ball, you will have to dance comfortably."
Yes, Kagome wanted to make a good impression, especially on a certain inu-hanyou who she was growing more and more suspicious of.
The haiku had stopped arriving the moment he left. Granted, it had only been two nights but still, coincidence? Kagome couldn't even prod Sango for her opinion.
"This dancing style," the old woman continued speaking as Kagome's mind wandered, "was brought by the Christian missionaries from the foreign lands to the west. Since we are the western kingdom, we were among the first to learn this form. It lacks the harmony of our more traditional dance, which is perhaps why you have such difficulty with it."
Kagome nodded, not really caring for the culture lesson.
"Shall we continue?"
The young miko sighed and nodded. Her dance partner, a young servant boy by the name of Yukio, came back to stand before her and positioned his hands with a blush. The music started and Kagome ran through the steps in her mind. One two three, back front step side two three…
"Much better," Yoshida praised her as she made a complete turn around the banquet hall. "Keep focusing on the music and forget about your feet--"
"Ouch!" Yukio jumped back a bit, then shot an apologetic look at the girl who'd been in his arms. He didn't dare insult her; Sesshoumaru was known for swift punishment.
"G-gomen ne," Kagome stammered.
"Keh! Can't even dance right," Inuyasha chided her from a distance.
Of course he had to come back NOW. The gods must hate her, Kagome decided. "And I suppose YOU'RE Fred Astaire?" she shot back in annoyance.
"Fred As-who?"
"Nevermind."
The old woman clapped her hands together, coming to stand between the hanyou and her student, dismissing the injured servant boy. "She was doing quite well for her first lesson, Lord Inuyasha. I think a few more hours and she will be quite ready for the banquet tomorrow."
He shot another "keh" at the two women and folded his arms into his haori.
Positioning herself in front of Kagome, Yoshida-san nodded for the music to change tempo and nudged Kagome to continue. This song was a little slower, giving Kagome time to adjust to the changing directions with ease. Dancing with another woman, and an older one at that, was just… odd. Her movements, while technically perfect, lacked grace and emotion.
"Bah, move aside old woman," Inuyasha ordered impatiently as the dancing pair passed again.
She obeyed and Inuyasha took her place, leading Kagome for a second loop around the room.
The girl felt her cheeks grow hot at the proximity. She swore she could feel his heart beating… "I didn't know you could dance," Kagome whispered in awe.
"There's a lot you don't know about me, wench," he snapped back, choosing that moment to execute a swirl which effectively tripped up his dance partner. He caught her before she fell and after a moment's hesitation, up righted her. "I did live in this castle for a few years before my mother and I were exiled. Even after we left, she made sure I learned the finer points of etiquette."
"But then why--"
"Because I find it silly," he interrupted. "Why so much pretense? If I want something, I ask, and if I need something, I take it."
They were so wrapped up in their conversation they didn't realize that Kagome hadn't made a single misstep since they'd started.
"Beautiful," Yoshida cooed at the pair. "Simply wonderful! You will make a nice couple."
At her words, Inuyasha abruptly halted and dropped his hands from their positions on Kagome's body. He took a few steps back, staring at the questioning gaze in her eyes.
"I-- I am due to see my brother," he lied. "Keep practicing and maybe you will be fit to dance in public," he shot at her harshly.
Kagome could only stare after him as he raced out of the hall into the darkness beyond. Yoshida-san came up to the girl and placed a hand on her shoulder, shaking her from her shock. "A bit rude, isn't he?"
The miko could only nod in response.
* * * * *
Sango felt the dread well up in her stomach as she saw Kagome approaching her. There were questions on the horizon.
"Sango-chan!"
"Kagome-chan, how have you been?"
"Wonderful. Now tell me where you went!"
"I can't."
Frowning, Kagome cocked her head to the side and peered at her friend. "I thought we were best friends? You can't keep those kinds of things a secret!"
Matching the younger woman's frown, Sango shook her head. "I was sworn to secrecy, Kagome-chan. I'm sorry."
She wanted to beg, but Kagome knew it would get her nowhere. Ok, change of subject. "Did you have time to find a kimono for tomorrow night? I never did get to the marketplace so I thought maybe we could go together."
Sango nodded. "Hai, we can go early before the ceremony."
"Not likely," Miroku came up behind them, eager to get rid of the young miko and spend some time alone with his 'wife' who'd been gone for two whole days. "The entire marketplace is closing down for the event. I believe the servants stocked your closets with a selection in advance," he said when he saw the panicked look on the girls' faces.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Kagome smiled. "Oh good. I was starting to think I'd have to wash my dinner kimono tonight!" She glanced from the taijiya to the houshi and suddenly felt like a third wheel. "Well! My, my is it late. I think I'm going to go to bed now. Good night Sango-chan, good night Miroku!" She backed away quickly and fairly flitted down the hall to her own room. "At least some people aren't alone tonight," she mused.
Once in her room, Kagome's eyes fell on the futon. If her hypothesis was correct, then she would have another note tonight. Of course, Kagome thought to herself, the mere idea was ludicrous. Inuyasha? Her secret admirer? Please!
Yet, there it was. Not a small piece of parchment or a scroll this time. It was origami. A lover's knot! Her heart clenched in anticipation. She carefully undid the complex folding and smoothed out the paper on the bed before her. According to her reading the other night, if the sender made a mark on the edge, it was used to ensure that no one else had opened the note. That meant its contents were quite intimate -- reserved only for the recipient. She scanned the paper for such a mark and found it in the form of a small orchid drawing. She smiled and her heart raced.
The tide has come in
Cherry tree stands tall and proud
Waiting patiently
For orchid to respond to
His promise of love
There was more on the back, by far the longest -- and most touching -- love note she'd received in her entire life. Kagome realized instantly that this wasn't a poem, but a request.
I will announce myself to you at the gala tomorrow, beautiful Orchid. I ask only for a dance with you, if you will have me.
~ Cherry Tree
Her eyes glued to the paper, a million thoughts raced through Kagome's mind. Was it Inuyasha? He'd told her just hours before that he was educated in his youth. He'd also told her he found such niceties pointless. Then again, who else would have sent her the haiku? If it was Inuyasha, what would she say to him? How would their relationship change?
She fell back onto the bed, the note fluttering to the floor beside her. Another thought sent her shooting back up. She hadn't found a gown for the ceremony! Kagome raced from the futon to her closet and felt her stomach drop when she saw it was empty. Had the servants remembered Sango but forgotten her? It was too late to call for Rin; the girl was growing and needed her sleep.
In distress, Kagome searched the room for the orchid kimono she'd worn at the aristocrats' dinner and became even more panicked when the dress was missing. Now what?
Then her eyes fell upon the chair at her dressing table. A large wrapped bundle lay there with another note on top. This one was signed, but in a handwriting more sharp and jagged than the delicate calligraphy of her admirer.
These gowns are all that remain of Inuyasha's mother's
wardrobe. I am sure he would be happy to see you
putting them to good use. There are three altogether,
choose whichever suits you.
Sesshoumaru
Unpacking the bundle, Kagome found all three kimonos carefully folded and organized. The first was in a deep red color with the family crest. Gorgeous, but too intimate, she decided. The second was white with small cherry blossoms along the bottom and right side. Too bland, she thought. Lifting the third from the bottom of the pile, she shook it out and gave it an appraising gaze. It was a lovely shade of blue, which complemented her brown eyes, and had a beautiful pattern of tree branches embracing pale yellow orchids. This was the one. Kagome felt she couldn't have chosen a better gown if she'd had thousands to select from.
Satisfied with her attire and feeling the fatigue from her hours of dance practice, Kagome lay the kimono gently onto the dressing table and walked back to her futon. A good night's rest and she would be ready to meet her admirer. She sent a silent prayer up to the heavens that it was Inuyasha's arms she'd be dancing in tomorrow night, and fell asleep.