Author's Note: Right now my life is getting very hectic with school and
all. Updates will be slower on all my other stories until I can find the
time. Hopefully that will be soon because Spring Break isn't looking so
hopeful on account of the trips my family is planning on and the projects I
will be working on over break.
Oh and the story isn't suppose to be a fast romance. The relationship between Kagome and Inuyasha, Sango and Miroku, will slowly develop. This story is most likely going to be my longest, though I am not certain for sure. I wouldn't quote me on that for sure.
Disclaimer: Wishing upon a shooting star or thinking about before you blow out your birthday candles doesn't help in any way of achieving that wish any faster b/c I still don't own Inuyasha...
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A Country Life
Chapter Four
New Revelations
************
Kagome looked out of the window while washing the dishes. If her mother only saw her now, yelling about how her hands would get ruined...
She pushed the thought aside and continued to wash away the soapy residue that was on the plate down the drain. Her eyes were still on the window. Inuyasha and the hired help, who lived here, were playing horse shoe.
She watched intently as Miroku threw the horse shoe aimlessly at the intended object (in this case a rusted stake driven into the ground, where the horse shoe was supposed to go on). He missed. The horse shoe flew off into the pasture, which was a good distance away.
Shippo snorted out a laugh and mouthed at Miroku "Moron! That's not where the horse shoe goes." Miroku gave Shippo an evil glare and headed off to go fetch where his horse shoe flew off to.
Shippo shrugged off Miroku's glare and jumped off the fence that he was sitting on and grabbed a horse shoe, he eyed the pole carefully and then thrust the horse shoe across the field.
It landed gracefully on the stake, swinging around the stake and then gently plopping on the ground. Shippo turned around and looked at Miroku and stuck out his tongue.
Miroku did the same thing back. Kagome rolled her eyes at the immature behavior that was exchanged between the two men.
Kouga gave Shippo a high five and grabbed another horse shoe from the bucket and did the same thing as Shippo.
Kagome turned of the running water, placed the dish on the drying rack, and dried her hands on the towel next to the sink. She headed outside and joined the men that were leaning against the fence.
She looked at Inuyasha and said "So who's winning?" Inuyasha quickly glanced at Kagome then back at the game and said "I am." "I see..." Kagome said back teasingly, she flashed him a smile.
Inuyasha arched one of his eyebrows at her. "Just watch" he said as he walked over to the bucket, bending down to pull out a horse shoe and standing far across from the stake and closed his eyes.
Kagome watched his face and then his hand which brought the horse shoe to his chest and then extended it back out and released the horse shoe which sliced through the air and landed perfectly on the intended stake.
He opened his eyes and looked at Kagome. With a smile on his face that said 'I told you so'. Miroku sighed in defeat and said "Well that concludes it boys we still can't beat the champ."
Kouga rolled his eyes and Shippo snorted. Both headed towards the house to get a goodnight's rest. Miroku followed shortly afterwards with the bucket and the stake in his hands. He waved Kagome and Inuyasha goodbye and headed inside.
Kagome tucked a loose strand of her hair back that escaped from her ponytail and looked at the night sky.
"Are you coming?" Inuyasha asked. Kagome looked away from the sky and at Inuyasha. She shook her head no and said "I want to stay outside for awhile..."
Inuyasha was about to walk away when he heard her talking again. He stopped and listened to what she had to say. "You know back home I couldn't see anything like this. All you can see in Tokyo at night is their big neon lights and their flashy signs. Nothing like this at all."
Inuyasha looked at the sky. He looked at the stars brightly shining contrasting against the midnight blue sky, he had noticed it too when he first moved out here.
"What's it like in the city Kagome?"
Kagome who was still looking at the sky shrugged. "It's...Different. Everything is so busy and technological. A fast pace lifestyle is what I would say the city is like. I mean if you love to shop, and eat fast food, and live in a high tech world then the city is perfect for you. But sometimes, the simpler things in life are the best thing of all."
"Is that why you came here?" he asked. Kagome looked away from the sky and at the green luscious grass. She shook her head and replied "I guess because of my mother."
"Your mom?" Inuyasha asked, confused at her response. Kagome looked at him with a sad smile on her face. "It's my mother not mom or that's what she prefers I call her. I guess it's hard to talk about it." Inuyasha nodded understanding somewhat. It wasn't his place to know why.
Kagome stood up straight and stretched her arms out while yawning. She walked towards the house stopping halfway and said "Thanks for listening... Inuyasha."
She walked up the stairs and into the house. Inuyasha looked at the night sky and answered back "No problem at all..."
Kagome woke up only to be bathed in bright sunlight. Shading her hands over her eyes she walked over to the window and pulled the shades back. "Who opened my blinds back all the way?"
"I did." Kagome jumped not actually expecting an answer back. She turned around with a hand over her heart and said "Thanks for almost giving me a heart attack there." Sango smiled wildly and said "Sure, why not? Scaring the heck out of you is always fun."
Kagome grabbed the pillow off from her bed and threw it at Sango who caught the pillow with her right hand. "Kagome you didn't forget that we were in softball together when we were twelve?"
"Darn you..." Kagome muttered. Sango let out a laugh and threw the pillow back on the bed. The girls exited out of the room and headed downstairs. Arguing who used to be the better softball player.
They ate breakfast with the rest of the group and Kagome was pulled aside after breakfast by Kaede.
Sango seeing the two were busy in a conversation, decided to wait outside. "I'll be outside waiting for you Kagome." Sango shouted as she walked out of the house. Kagome gave a slight nod indicating she had heard her.
"Yes?" Kagome asked as she looked into Kaede's eyes. "Kagome do you know what day it is?" said Kaede. Kagome answered back "Well yeah...It's Thursday."
"And when is the Fall Ball?" Kaede asked. Kagome looked at Kaede confused, before answering her "It's on Saturday, why?" Kaede let out a suppressed sigh. It was obvious she didn't understand the meaning of the ball.
And the possible hopes of them being together were quickly evaporating. Kaede had recently bumped into an unlikely person in town when she was buying groceries.
"Well you need to plan this out. You need to have a date and you still need to pick up your dress." Kagome nodded and said "Okay, I'll get the dress during lunch break. Don't worry Kaede I still have time. I'll try to find a date before then."
Kaede fought the urge back of rolling her eyes dramatically and settled for Kagome's answer instead. Time wasn't the only thing she had to worry about...
Kagome smiled and patted Kaede lightly on the back of her shoulder. "It'll work out don't worry so much about it Kaede." Kagome headed outside before Kaede could say anything else.
Kaede turned around and headed towards the laundry room. It was becoming a jungle in there and she had some laundry that needed to be desperately sorted out, hers in this case.
Kagome headed towards the pasture where the sheep were grazing and stopped halfway only to see Sango laughing along with Miroku. She smiled and turned back the other way and decided to go ask Shippo about going into town instead.
She saw Shippo carry the bundles of large hay and transferring it into the truck. His vibrant red hair stuck out like a sore thumb. "Shippo!" Kagome called out as she waved at him.
He waved back at her as he watched her run across the cropped field. "Hey..." Kagome paused to catch her breath "I was wondering if you could take me into town because I need to go get my dress before Kaede skins me alive. No offense to your grandmother."
Shippo smirked and tossed the last bundle of hay into the truck before responding. "Nah Kaede won't skin you alive, maybe boil you but not skin you. Yeah I can take you into town today."
"Really?" said Kagome, her eyes lighting up. Shippo rubbed his chin thoughtfully and answered back "Yep." Kagome hugged Shippo back and let out a happy squeal as she headed back to work.
Shippo let out a chuckle and shook his head lightly. "Women...One of God's most beautiful creations and the weirdest."
Kagome shifted through the racks of dresses unhappy with the choices. Some of the dresses she couldn't even begin to call them dresses. More like strings...
Sango helped her look around for dresses. "Kagome I think your lingerie covers more than these dresses do." Kagome looked over her shoulder at Sango "If I wore lingerie at night they probably would."
"But you are saying that you have lingerie? Am I right?" Sango added. Kagome rolled her eyes and went back to looking at dresses. "That's it I give up I'm leaving."
Sango was following Kagome out when a woman in her late fifties step out from behind. "Not finding anything to your liking?" she said. Kagome nodded and replied "Yeah it's just these dresses are... Well it's too revealing."
The woman with golden blonde hair and dark red lips laughed. "Well of course you wouldn't like these atrocious creations. My younger sister designs them she believes the more skin is shown the better the appeal."
The woman let out a distasteful sigh. "Come, come follow me." She pushed the two out the door and led them across the dirt road to the shop across. She opened the door which made a little jingle sound, saying someone had entered the shop.
Kagome saw that instead of it being a shop it was a small house. The house reeked of an old musty smell like dust or an old book.
Sango whispered in Kagome's ear "This is creepy." Kagome nodded and continued following the old lady.
She led them into a room. It was dark and cool. Kagome and Sango couldn't see a thing. "Well here we are. The surprise for you."
Kagome was confused at what the old lady had meant. "Umm...It's a little dark in here, do you think you could turn on the lights?"
"Of course my dear." There was a moment of silence and then the click of a light switch being turn on. The fluorescent lights illuminated the whole room.
Much to Kagome's surprise the room was enormous and filled with magnificent dresses of all colors and designs. They were works of art. Sango gasped as well as Kagome.
"Beautiful aren't they?" the old lady whispered. "My years of work and no one right enough to wear these until now." The old lady looked at Kagome and gave her a toothy grin.
Kagome looked back at the lady confused. "What do you mean?"
The old woman smiled and put a hand on Kagome's shoulder. "Look at these dresses. Each and every one of these dresses took many, many, many months to make. Some well over a year. But there's not one woman, not one deserving or worthy enough to wear these. All of them either had a bad heart or the wrong intentions."
She continued to talk "My dresses are made from the heart, the soul. I want the one that will carry out the dress perfectly to wear it." The old lady walked over and pulled out a box from the shelf.
She blew the dust off the box and handed it to Kagome. "This one will be the perfect dress for you, it's one of my best. Take care of it well."
Kagome looked at the box and then back at the lady. "I... I don't know what to say?"
The old woman smiled and replied "A simple thank you is enough for me."
Kagome smiled and said "Well thank you..." Kagome stopped not knowing the woman's name.
The lady nodded and then said "It's Rumi. And don't open this box until the day of the ball. Trust me, it'll be such a delightful surprise for you."
Kagome nodded showing that she understood and put the box under one of her arms and took used her other hand to take the wallet out of her purse. The old woman shook her head. "Please, take it as a gift from me instead." "But..." Kagome started and was silenced as the lady pushed her and Sango out the door. The old lady followed behind them and helped them outside of her home.
She waved goodbye as the girls and Shippo drove away back to the ranch.
It was an experience that Kagome wasn't going to forget.
She put the box on her bed and looked at the ivory box. "Kagome isn't it weird you bumped into this psychotic old lady?" Sango questioned as she sat on the bed next to the box that contained the dress.
"Yeah...But somehow I have a feeling that I was supposed to meet her." Sango reached over and was about to open the lid of the box when Kagome intervened.
"I don't want to open it just yet Sango." "Why not Kagome, what's going to happen, ghosts are going to fly out?" Kagome shrugged and said "I don't know. I guess it makes it more exciting to not know, do you know what I mean?"
Sango scrunched up her face in confusion and said "Whatever." They continued to stare at the box, when Kagome grabbed the box and shoved it under her bed before she was tempted anymore in opening the box.
"Come on let's go down for dinner." Sango nodded and followed Kagome out the door only to pause and look at the box that was now under the bed. She whispered "I hope you're cut out to be what the crazy old lady claims to say you are."
The next day flew by quickly and before they even knew it, it was already Saturday. It was close to night and Kagome and Sango sat on her bed in Kagome's room, in between the box.
Kagome's hands were slowly on the lid. She lifted the lid slowly and unrevealed a magnificent emerald green dress. It was simple but at the same time it somehow shined in a way her other dresses didn't.
And Kagome knew this dress was special, unlike her other dresses. Sure it wasn't a brand name dress, in fact Kagome didn't know what kind of dress it was, but she did know that it was beautiful.
The light off the lamp in her room reflected off the iridescent green in her dress. The beading was done extensively and intricately. She ran her hands through the material, it was soft and silky.
It glided smoothly against her skin as she tried it on in the walk-in closet. Kagome stepped out and walked over to her mirror. Sango was behind her and smiled.
"Kagome I think this is the best dress that I've seen you in yet. It was definitely made for you." She looked at herself, seeing a different person looking back at her.
It was weird how one dress could change your whole appearance. The dress was a strapless gown with a slight dip in the back. The beading was done in the front and in the back. The sea-green and silver beads danced in the light making the dress even more beautiful.
The hem of the dress didn't bellow out like most gowns but gave off more of a regular dress look by having the bottom hemline asymmetrical to the left side.
Sango turned the chair around so that now she faced Sango. "Come on we don't have all day looking at you in the mirror." Sango pulled out her trusty makeup kit and held out in front of Kagome and shook it. "We've got work to do."
After Kagome was done with her makeup, she had her hair done rather painfully by Sango and then finally, to Kagome's relief, Sango was finished.
"There...We're finally done with you princess." Kagome let out a laughed and responded "I' m nowhere near a princess, but I think for tonight I can feel like one. We all can."
Sango turned the chair around and faced Kagome to the mirror. If Kagome was impressed with the dress, she was even more impressed with the whole outlook put together.
"I look...Thank you Sango!" Kagome hugged Sango and closed her eyes so the tears wouldn't escape. "Kagome it was the least I could do after you let me borrow your favorite red dress."
"Yeah, too bad I don't have shoes to go with this dress." Said Kagome wistfully as she broke away from the hug. Sango put her makeup kit down and walked over to the ivory box in which the dress was in.
"But Kagome you do..." Kagome walked over to where Sango was and put both of her hands to her face. Inside the box were two strappy heels to match with her dress. They were even the same color as the dress.
She took the shoes out of the box and tried them out. "Oh my god! They're even the right size!" Sango raised her eyebrows in disbelief. "Well Kagome it looks like you have a fairy godmother after all."
Kagome put on the heels and stood up. To her surprise the heels didn't even dig in. They were in fact quite comfortable.
The two girls put linked their arms together and walked out together. Tonight was their night.
Inuyasha was already at the ball with Miroku. They sat at a table talking and laughing. It was a relief that tonight he could not think about working and just have a good time with his friends tonight.
"So Miroku who are you planning on asking to dance tonight?" Miroku responded by shrugging and took a sip of his drink while eyeing the crowd. "I don't know man; there are a lot of pretty ladies here tonight."
Inuyasha let out a soft laugh and said "If any of them want a perverted man like you, then sure they'll be flocking to you like white on rice."
"Well you are you planning to dance with tonight then?" said Miroku defiantly. "I don't know I came here more for the food and drinks." Inuyasha looked away from Miroku and also eyed the crowd.
It was packed with people. The ball was being held at the city's hotel ballroom. The city was fifty minutes away from the town but by tradition the small town's ball was held at the city hotel every year because the same person that founded the city had founded the town. They were interlinked.
Inuyasha had a particular person in mind but was interrupted when to his disbelief he saw the one person he hadn't expected to see here of all places.
His throat went dry, despite the water he drank recently. "Miroku what's Kikyo doing here." Not many people knew about Inuyasha's past life. But Miroku knew because he and Inuyasha were good friends even when they were kids.
They had gone to the same private school, invited each other for birthday parties, both went to college together, and worked at the same law firm together. Miroku even left his wealth behind to pursue the same dream with Inuyasha. To be country men. Have a big ranch, lots of animals, and still be successful. They both had hated the silver platter life.
"Where is she?" Miroku questioned looking around. Inuyasha pointed her out at the table where appetizers where laid out. She was daintily chewing on an appetizer not noticing the two men looking at her.
"Ohh...This can't be good at all." Miroku commented. However Inuyasha didn't hear his comment and focused more on Kagome who had just walked in with Sango.
He watched as the man by the doorway took Kagome's and Sango's coat to be hung up. His eyes widened when he saw Kagome. The coat was only a distraction that covered the dress that was on Kagome.
It revealed a very feministic side of Kagome. The dressed wasn't too revealing but hugged all the right curves in the right places. She looked very sensual in the dress.
The dress brought out her dark hair and sparkling eyes. She laughed at something Sango had said. The two girls walked over to the opposite side of their table and sat at the far end of the ballroom.
They were still talking, obviously Miroku was too because he was being tapped on the shoulder by him. "Hey Inuyasha did you listen to a thing I've been saying for the last two minutes?"
"Miroku look who came." Miroku looked over where Inuyasha was looking. "They made it, come on Inuyasha let's go talk to them." Miroku was the first to leave, Inuyasha was about to follow when someone blocked his way.
"Hey there handsome." Kikyo cooed, seductively smiling at Inuyasha. Inuyasha looked down at her uninterested. Kikyo however didn't notice and continued to talk. She was now playing with his hair that was down.
"You want to dance Inuyasha?" Inuyasha looked away from Kikyo and was looking at Kagome who was listening to what Miroku had to say. The two women laughed along with Miroku. He knew Miroku was trying to distract them until Inuyasha got away from Kikyo, or so he hoped.
He pushed Kikyo off him and said icily "What do you want from me?" Kikyo pretended a hurt look and said "Another chance Inuyasha. I learned my lesson baby."
Inuyasha sighed disgustedly. "Why Naraku got too boring for you? I don't think so." He was about to leave when Kikyo grabbed his arm pulling him back. She enclosed the space between their bodies and draped her arms around his neck.
"You know you missed me." She whispered in his ear. Inuyasha looked at her, his lips formed in a hard thin line. "No I don't. Now leave me alone and go find someone else to warm your bed tonight." He pushed her off and was walking away when Kikyo grabbed his arm again.
Inuyasha opened his mouth to yell at Kikyo to let go when she placed her lips on his. She put her hands on both sides of his head so he couldn't pull away.
Kagome looked over Miroku's shoulder to find Inuyasha and instead found him engrossed in a heated kiss with another woman. For some reason Kagome didn't feel too good now.
The wine Kagome had sipped earlier now tasted bittersweet in her mouth. Her heart seemed to let out choked beats. She stood up and excused herself from Sango and Miroku and went to the nearest exit. She willed herself not to cry, to not let her tears spill out. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction.
When Kagome left, Miroku sat in her seat and looked over at what made Kagome seem so upset. Then he saw it Inuyasha kissing Kikyo or more like the other way around. Miroku slapped a hand to his forehead and shook his head. Sango saw the kiss exchange between Inuyasha and the other woman.
"Whose she?" Sango asked looking back at Miroku. Miroku answered back "It's not my place to tell."
He hoped that the kiss wasn't anything too deep. He hoped that what Kagome saw wasn't what she thought it was. He hoped Kagome had gotten the wrong message. He hoped.
Inuyasha pulled away from Kikyo and wiped his mouth on the back of his hand. "What was that for?!" He said angrily, disgusted by her attempt to woo him back.
Kikyo tucked a lock of her hair back and said in what she thought was a sexy tone of voice. "Now that I've found you Inuyasha, we're going to be together. Forever." She blew him a kiss and walked away.
Inuyasha looked at her in disbelief. He walked over to the table only to find Kagome missing. "Where's Kagome?"
Miroku and Sango shrugged only saying that she excused herself. Inuyasha left the table hoping to find Kagome. He hoped it wasn't too late.
Kagome sat outside on a balcony away from the party going on downstairs in the ballroom. She let out a deep and heavy sigh. "Why do I feel like this? He's just Inuyasha right?"
Kagome wiped away the tears that silently streamed down her face. "I mean it's not like I like him like that. We're just friends." She whispered.
But her mind interjected with questioning thoughts. 'Then why does your heart beat so fast whenever you're around him? Why can't you stop smiling when you're around him? And most of all why does it hurt you so much that he was with another woman if you're just friends?'
Kagome whispered back "Because I don't know..."
AN: Please review you guys and change my mind about updating this sooner.
Oh and the story isn't suppose to be a fast romance. The relationship between Kagome and Inuyasha, Sango and Miroku, will slowly develop. This story is most likely going to be my longest, though I am not certain for sure. I wouldn't quote me on that for sure.
Disclaimer: Wishing upon a shooting star or thinking about before you blow out your birthday candles doesn't help in any way of achieving that wish any faster b/c I still don't own Inuyasha...
************
A Country Life
Chapter Four
New Revelations
************
Kagome looked out of the window while washing the dishes. If her mother only saw her now, yelling about how her hands would get ruined...
She pushed the thought aside and continued to wash away the soapy residue that was on the plate down the drain. Her eyes were still on the window. Inuyasha and the hired help, who lived here, were playing horse shoe.
She watched intently as Miroku threw the horse shoe aimlessly at the intended object (in this case a rusted stake driven into the ground, where the horse shoe was supposed to go on). He missed. The horse shoe flew off into the pasture, which was a good distance away.
Shippo snorted out a laugh and mouthed at Miroku "Moron! That's not where the horse shoe goes." Miroku gave Shippo an evil glare and headed off to go fetch where his horse shoe flew off to.
Shippo shrugged off Miroku's glare and jumped off the fence that he was sitting on and grabbed a horse shoe, he eyed the pole carefully and then thrust the horse shoe across the field.
It landed gracefully on the stake, swinging around the stake and then gently plopping on the ground. Shippo turned around and looked at Miroku and stuck out his tongue.
Miroku did the same thing back. Kagome rolled her eyes at the immature behavior that was exchanged between the two men.
Kouga gave Shippo a high five and grabbed another horse shoe from the bucket and did the same thing as Shippo.
Kagome turned of the running water, placed the dish on the drying rack, and dried her hands on the towel next to the sink. She headed outside and joined the men that were leaning against the fence.
She looked at Inuyasha and said "So who's winning?" Inuyasha quickly glanced at Kagome then back at the game and said "I am." "I see..." Kagome said back teasingly, she flashed him a smile.
Inuyasha arched one of his eyebrows at her. "Just watch" he said as he walked over to the bucket, bending down to pull out a horse shoe and standing far across from the stake and closed his eyes.
Kagome watched his face and then his hand which brought the horse shoe to his chest and then extended it back out and released the horse shoe which sliced through the air and landed perfectly on the intended stake.
He opened his eyes and looked at Kagome. With a smile on his face that said 'I told you so'. Miroku sighed in defeat and said "Well that concludes it boys we still can't beat the champ."
Kouga rolled his eyes and Shippo snorted. Both headed towards the house to get a goodnight's rest. Miroku followed shortly afterwards with the bucket and the stake in his hands. He waved Kagome and Inuyasha goodbye and headed inside.
Kagome tucked a loose strand of her hair back that escaped from her ponytail and looked at the night sky.
"Are you coming?" Inuyasha asked. Kagome looked away from the sky and at Inuyasha. She shook her head no and said "I want to stay outside for awhile..."
Inuyasha was about to walk away when he heard her talking again. He stopped and listened to what she had to say. "You know back home I couldn't see anything like this. All you can see in Tokyo at night is their big neon lights and their flashy signs. Nothing like this at all."
Inuyasha looked at the sky. He looked at the stars brightly shining contrasting against the midnight blue sky, he had noticed it too when he first moved out here.
"What's it like in the city Kagome?"
Kagome who was still looking at the sky shrugged. "It's...Different. Everything is so busy and technological. A fast pace lifestyle is what I would say the city is like. I mean if you love to shop, and eat fast food, and live in a high tech world then the city is perfect for you. But sometimes, the simpler things in life are the best thing of all."
"Is that why you came here?" he asked. Kagome looked away from the sky and at the green luscious grass. She shook her head and replied "I guess because of my mother."
"Your mom?" Inuyasha asked, confused at her response. Kagome looked at him with a sad smile on her face. "It's my mother not mom or that's what she prefers I call her. I guess it's hard to talk about it." Inuyasha nodded understanding somewhat. It wasn't his place to know why.
Kagome stood up straight and stretched her arms out while yawning. She walked towards the house stopping halfway and said "Thanks for listening... Inuyasha."
She walked up the stairs and into the house. Inuyasha looked at the night sky and answered back "No problem at all..."
Kagome woke up only to be bathed in bright sunlight. Shading her hands over her eyes she walked over to the window and pulled the shades back. "Who opened my blinds back all the way?"
"I did." Kagome jumped not actually expecting an answer back. She turned around with a hand over her heart and said "Thanks for almost giving me a heart attack there." Sango smiled wildly and said "Sure, why not? Scaring the heck out of you is always fun."
Kagome grabbed the pillow off from her bed and threw it at Sango who caught the pillow with her right hand. "Kagome you didn't forget that we were in softball together when we were twelve?"
"Darn you..." Kagome muttered. Sango let out a laugh and threw the pillow back on the bed. The girls exited out of the room and headed downstairs. Arguing who used to be the better softball player.
They ate breakfast with the rest of the group and Kagome was pulled aside after breakfast by Kaede.
Sango seeing the two were busy in a conversation, decided to wait outside. "I'll be outside waiting for you Kagome." Sango shouted as she walked out of the house. Kagome gave a slight nod indicating she had heard her.
"Yes?" Kagome asked as she looked into Kaede's eyes. "Kagome do you know what day it is?" said Kaede. Kagome answered back "Well yeah...It's Thursday."
"And when is the Fall Ball?" Kaede asked. Kagome looked at Kaede confused, before answering her "It's on Saturday, why?" Kaede let out a suppressed sigh. It was obvious she didn't understand the meaning of the ball.
And the possible hopes of them being together were quickly evaporating. Kaede had recently bumped into an unlikely person in town when she was buying groceries.
"Well you need to plan this out. You need to have a date and you still need to pick up your dress." Kagome nodded and said "Okay, I'll get the dress during lunch break. Don't worry Kaede I still have time. I'll try to find a date before then."
Kaede fought the urge back of rolling her eyes dramatically and settled for Kagome's answer instead. Time wasn't the only thing she had to worry about...
Kagome smiled and patted Kaede lightly on the back of her shoulder. "It'll work out don't worry so much about it Kaede." Kagome headed outside before Kaede could say anything else.
Kaede turned around and headed towards the laundry room. It was becoming a jungle in there and she had some laundry that needed to be desperately sorted out, hers in this case.
Kagome headed towards the pasture where the sheep were grazing and stopped halfway only to see Sango laughing along with Miroku. She smiled and turned back the other way and decided to go ask Shippo about going into town instead.
She saw Shippo carry the bundles of large hay and transferring it into the truck. His vibrant red hair stuck out like a sore thumb. "Shippo!" Kagome called out as she waved at him.
He waved back at her as he watched her run across the cropped field. "Hey..." Kagome paused to catch her breath "I was wondering if you could take me into town because I need to go get my dress before Kaede skins me alive. No offense to your grandmother."
Shippo smirked and tossed the last bundle of hay into the truck before responding. "Nah Kaede won't skin you alive, maybe boil you but not skin you. Yeah I can take you into town today."
"Really?" said Kagome, her eyes lighting up. Shippo rubbed his chin thoughtfully and answered back "Yep." Kagome hugged Shippo back and let out a happy squeal as she headed back to work.
Shippo let out a chuckle and shook his head lightly. "Women...One of God's most beautiful creations and the weirdest."
Kagome shifted through the racks of dresses unhappy with the choices. Some of the dresses she couldn't even begin to call them dresses. More like strings...
Sango helped her look around for dresses. "Kagome I think your lingerie covers more than these dresses do." Kagome looked over her shoulder at Sango "If I wore lingerie at night they probably would."
"But you are saying that you have lingerie? Am I right?" Sango added. Kagome rolled her eyes and went back to looking at dresses. "That's it I give up I'm leaving."
Sango was following Kagome out when a woman in her late fifties step out from behind. "Not finding anything to your liking?" she said. Kagome nodded and replied "Yeah it's just these dresses are... Well it's too revealing."
The woman with golden blonde hair and dark red lips laughed. "Well of course you wouldn't like these atrocious creations. My younger sister designs them she believes the more skin is shown the better the appeal."
The woman let out a distasteful sigh. "Come, come follow me." She pushed the two out the door and led them across the dirt road to the shop across. She opened the door which made a little jingle sound, saying someone had entered the shop.
Kagome saw that instead of it being a shop it was a small house. The house reeked of an old musty smell like dust or an old book.
Sango whispered in Kagome's ear "This is creepy." Kagome nodded and continued following the old lady.
She led them into a room. It was dark and cool. Kagome and Sango couldn't see a thing. "Well here we are. The surprise for you."
Kagome was confused at what the old lady had meant. "Umm...It's a little dark in here, do you think you could turn on the lights?"
"Of course my dear." There was a moment of silence and then the click of a light switch being turn on. The fluorescent lights illuminated the whole room.
Much to Kagome's surprise the room was enormous and filled with magnificent dresses of all colors and designs. They were works of art. Sango gasped as well as Kagome.
"Beautiful aren't they?" the old lady whispered. "My years of work and no one right enough to wear these until now." The old lady looked at Kagome and gave her a toothy grin.
Kagome looked back at the lady confused. "What do you mean?"
The old woman smiled and put a hand on Kagome's shoulder. "Look at these dresses. Each and every one of these dresses took many, many, many months to make. Some well over a year. But there's not one woman, not one deserving or worthy enough to wear these. All of them either had a bad heart or the wrong intentions."
She continued to talk "My dresses are made from the heart, the soul. I want the one that will carry out the dress perfectly to wear it." The old lady walked over and pulled out a box from the shelf.
She blew the dust off the box and handed it to Kagome. "This one will be the perfect dress for you, it's one of my best. Take care of it well."
Kagome looked at the box and then back at the lady. "I... I don't know what to say?"
The old woman smiled and replied "A simple thank you is enough for me."
Kagome smiled and said "Well thank you..." Kagome stopped not knowing the woman's name.
The lady nodded and then said "It's Rumi. And don't open this box until the day of the ball. Trust me, it'll be such a delightful surprise for you."
Kagome nodded showing that she understood and put the box under one of her arms and took used her other hand to take the wallet out of her purse. The old woman shook her head. "Please, take it as a gift from me instead." "But..." Kagome started and was silenced as the lady pushed her and Sango out the door. The old lady followed behind them and helped them outside of her home.
She waved goodbye as the girls and Shippo drove away back to the ranch.
It was an experience that Kagome wasn't going to forget.
She put the box on her bed and looked at the ivory box. "Kagome isn't it weird you bumped into this psychotic old lady?" Sango questioned as she sat on the bed next to the box that contained the dress.
"Yeah...But somehow I have a feeling that I was supposed to meet her." Sango reached over and was about to open the lid of the box when Kagome intervened.
"I don't want to open it just yet Sango." "Why not Kagome, what's going to happen, ghosts are going to fly out?" Kagome shrugged and said "I don't know. I guess it makes it more exciting to not know, do you know what I mean?"
Sango scrunched up her face in confusion and said "Whatever." They continued to stare at the box, when Kagome grabbed the box and shoved it under her bed before she was tempted anymore in opening the box.
"Come on let's go down for dinner." Sango nodded and followed Kagome out the door only to pause and look at the box that was now under the bed. She whispered "I hope you're cut out to be what the crazy old lady claims to say you are."
The next day flew by quickly and before they even knew it, it was already Saturday. It was close to night and Kagome and Sango sat on her bed in Kagome's room, in between the box.
Kagome's hands were slowly on the lid. She lifted the lid slowly and unrevealed a magnificent emerald green dress. It was simple but at the same time it somehow shined in a way her other dresses didn't.
And Kagome knew this dress was special, unlike her other dresses. Sure it wasn't a brand name dress, in fact Kagome didn't know what kind of dress it was, but she did know that it was beautiful.
The light off the lamp in her room reflected off the iridescent green in her dress. The beading was done extensively and intricately. She ran her hands through the material, it was soft and silky.
It glided smoothly against her skin as she tried it on in the walk-in closet. Kagome stepped out and walked over to her mirror. Sango was behind her and smiled.
"Kagome I think this is the best dress that I've seen you in yet. It was definitely made for you." She looked at herself, seeing a different person looking back at her.
It was weird how one dress could change your whole appearance. The dress was a strapless gown with a slight dip in the back. The beading was done in the front and in the back. The sea-green and silver beads danced in the light making the dress even more beautiful.
The hem of the dress didn't bellow out like most gowns but gave off more of a regular dress look by having the bottom hemline asymmetrical to the left side.
Sango turned the chair around so that now she faced Sango. "Come on we don't have all day looking at you in the mirror." Sango pulled out her trusty makeup kit and held out in front of Kagome and shook it. "We've got work to do."
After Kagome was done with her makeup, she had her hair done rather painfully by Sango and then finally, to Kagome's relief, Sango was finished.
"There...We're finally done with you princess." Kagome let out a laughed and responded "I' m nowhere near a princess, but I think for tonight I can feel like one. We all can."
Sango turned the chair around and faced Kagome to the mirror. If Kagome was impressed with the dress, she was even more impressed with the whole outlook put together.
"I look...Thank you Sango!" Kagome hugged Sango and closed her eyes so the tears wouldn't escape. "Kagome it was the least I could do after you let me borrow your favorite red dress."
"Yeah, too bad I don't have shoes to go with this dress." Said Kagome wistfully as she broke away from the hug. Sango put her makeup kit down and walked over to the ivory box in which the dress was in.
"But Kagome you do..." Kagome walked over to where Sango was and put both of her hands to her face. Inside the box were two strappy heels to match with her dress. They were even the same color as the dress.
She took the shoes out of the box and tried them out. "Oh my god! They're even the right size!" Sango raised her eyebrows in disbelief. "Well Kagome it looks like you have a fairy godmother after all."
Kagome put on the heels and stood up. To her surprise the heels didn't even dig in. They were in fact quite comfortable.
The two girls put linked their arms together and walked out together. Tonight was their night.
Inuyasha was already at the ball with Miroku. They sat at a table talking and laughing. It was a relief that tonight he could not think about working and just have a good time with his friends tonight.
"So Miroku who are you planning on asking to dance tonight?" Miroku responded by shrugging and took a sip of his drink while eyeing the crowd. "I don't know man; there are a lot of pretty ladies here tonight."
Inuyasha let out a soft laugh and said "If any of them want a perverted man like you, then sure they'll be flocking to you like white on rice."
"Well you are you planning to dance with tonight then?" said Miroku defiantly. "I don't know I came here more for the food and drinks." Inuyasha looked away from Miroku and also eyed the crowd.
It was packed with people. The ball was being held at the city's hotel ballroom. The city was fifty minutes away from the town but by tradition the small town's ball was held at the city hotel every year because the same person that founded the city had founded the town. They were interlinked.
Inuyasha had a particular person in mind but was interrupted when to his disbelief he saw the one person he hadn't expected to see here of all places.
His throat went dry, despite the water he drank recently. "Miroku what's Kikyo doing here." Not many people knew about Inuyasha's past life. But Miroku knew because he and Inuyasha were good friends even when they were kids.
They had gone to the same private school, invited each other for birthday parties, both went to college together, and worked at the same law firm together. Miroku even left his wealth behind to pursue the same dream with Inuyasha. To be country men. Have a big ranch, lots of animals, and still be successful. They both had hated the silver platter life.
"Where is she?" Miroku questioned looking around. Inuyasha pointed her out at the table where appetizers where laid out. She was daintily chewing on an appetizer not noticing the two men looking at her.
"Ohh...This can't be good at all." Miroku commented. However Inuyasha didn't hear his comment and focused more on Kagome who had just walked in with Sango.
He watched as the man by the doorway took Kagome's and Sango's coat to be hung up. His eyes widened when he saw Kagome. The coat was only a distraction that covered the dress that was on Kagome.
It revealed a very feministic side of Kagome. The dressed wasn't too revealing but hugged all the right curves in the right places. She looked very sensual in the dress.
The dress brought out her dark hair and sparkling eyes. She laughed at something Sango had said. The two girls walked over to the opposite side of their table and sat at the far end of the ballroom.
They were still talking, obviously Miroku was too because he was being tapped on the shoulder by him. "Hey Inuyasha did you listen to a thing I've been saying for the last two minutes?"
"Miroku look who came." Miroku looked over where Inuyasha was looking. "They made it, come on Inuyasha let's go talk to them." Miroku was the first to leave, Inuyasha was about to follow when someone blocked his way.
"Hey there handsome." Kikyo cooed, seductively smiling at Inuyasha. Inuyasha looked down at her uninterested. Kikyo however didn't notice and continued to talk. She was now playing with his hair that was down.
"You want to dance Inuyasha?" Inuyasha looked away from Kikyo and was looking at Kagome who was listening to what Miroku had to say. The two women laughed along with Miroku. He knew Miroku was trying to distract them until Inuyasha got away from Kikyo, or so he hoped.
He pushed Kikyo off him and said icily "What do you want from me?" Kikyo pretended a hurt look and said "Another chance Inuyasha. I learned my lesson baby."
Inuyasha sighed disgustedly. "Why Naraku got too boring for you? I don't think so." He was about to leave when Kikyo grabbed his arm pulling him back. She enclosed the space between their bodies and draped her arms around his neck.
"You know you missed me." She whispered in his ear. Inuyasha looked at her, his lips formed in a hard thin line. "No I don't. Now leave me alone and go find someone else to warm your bed tonight." He pushed her off and was walking away when Kikyo grabbed his arm again.
Inuyasha opened his mouth to yell at Kikyo to let go when she placed her lips on his. She put her hands on both sides of his head so he couldn't pull away.
Kagome looked over Miroku's shoulder to find Inuyasha and instead found him engrossed in a heated kiss with another woman. For some reason Kagome didn't feel too good now.
The wine Kagome had sipped earlier now tasted bittersweet in her mouth. Her heart seemed to let out choked beats. She stood up and excused herself from Sango and Miroku and went to the nearest exit. She willed herself not to cry, to not let her tears spill out. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction.
When Kagome left, Miroku sat in her seat and looked over at what made Kagome seem so upset. Then he saw it Inuyasha kissing Kikyo or more like the other way around. Miroku slapped a hand to his forehead and shook his head. Sango saw the kiss exchange between Inuyasha and the other woman.
"Whose she?" Sango asked looking back at Miroku. Miroku answered back "It's not my place to tell."
He hoped that the kiss wasn't anything too deep. He hoped that what Kagome saw wasn't what she thought it was. He hoped Kagome had gotten the wrong message. He hoped.
Inuyasha pulled away from Kikyo and wiped his mouth on the back of his hand. "What was that for?!" He said angrily, disgusted by her attempt to woo him back.
Kikyo tucked a lock of her hair back and said in what she thought was a sexy tone of voice. "Now that I've found you Inuyasha, we're going to be together. Forever." She blew him a kiss and walked away.
Inuyasha looked at her in disbelief. He walked over to the table only to find Kagome missing. "Where's Kagome?"
Miroku and Sango shrugged only saying that she excused herself. Inuyasha left the table hoping to find Kagome. He hoped it wasn't too late.
Kagome sat outside on a balcony away from the party going on downstairs in the ballroom. She let out a deep and heavy sigh. "Why do I feel like this? He's just Inuyasha right?"
Kagome wiped away the tears that silently streamed down her face. "I mean it's not like I like him like that. We're just friends." She whispered.
But her mind interjected with questioning thoughts. 'Then why does your heart beat so fast whenever you're around him? Why can't you stop smiling when you're around him? And most of all why does it hurt you so much that he was with another woman if you're just friends?'
Kagome whispered back "Because I don't know..."
AN: Please review you guys and change my mind about updating this sooner.