Tarnished Armor
Prospect 1: Kouga
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sango had watched as her mistress brooded about everything. The night before she had slammed her plate down on the table, screamed at her father, and left with a dignified grace while everyone was frozen in shock. They couldn't make her pay today. Kouga was spending the day from noon onward with her. Sango had a feeling that he would come early. She sighed deeply as she watched Kagome attempt to breath as the corset was laced up. It was half past ten at the moment, and Kagome planned to be ready by eleven or half past.
Her hair alone would take up too much time to make that deadline. The crimson dress was slipped on, the black silk gleaming beneath the crimson brocade. For jewelry she wore a thick ruby pendant that hung just above the cleft of her breasts, a ruby thumb ring and one on her index finger; both on her left hand, and on her ring finger on her right hand, she wore a simple gold band. Her wolfish black lobes had tiny holes up each side that were always covered by the fur on them. She wore ruby studs up one side of each now.
Slipping on a delicate, golden charm bracelet with little ruby shards dangling from it was clasped on her right wrist before she sat down and allowed her maid to fiddle with her hair. She was exasperated already by the length of time it was taking. Her hair was done in languid, loose curls that flowed down her back with gold and crimson ribbons intertwined with the curls.
Her stormy blue eyes flashed as she looked at herself, satisfied. Then she turned to Sango, whom was wearing a much more modest, simple crimson dress. She was merely matching her friend for support. They hugged quickly after the maid left, then Kagome's grin disappeared as she strode out into the hall. Ranks were in full command outside of Kagome's rooms. Hips swaying, skirts flowing liquidly across the floor, she made her way towards the entrance hall, her face fair competition to Sessho-Maru's usual visage.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kouga's expression alone showed his enthusiasm. His long brown hair was pulled back in a leather thong at the base of his neck. Turquoise optics glinting in suppressed happiness. He wore a turquoise cloak and outer tunic, an emerald inner tunic, and emerald breeches. The whole outfit was decorated with golden brocade, for he hoped to match what he thought was her favorite gown.. His black boots, newly cleaned, hit the ground as he dismounted from his beast. That was what it was after all. Some sort of equine, with fangs, red eyes, a protruding spine, and huge torso. A youkai equine no doubt.
He shed his gloves and cloak as he entered, leaving their butler to care for it as he went forward in a single-minded purpose. Time seemed to stop. She looked startled for a brief moment, but her composure slid across her visage in less time than that. Her confident grin played across her full lips, but his attention was on her ensemble. He had never seen this outfit before, but she was unbelievably stunning. His jaw was almost hitting the floor as she merely arched a finely carved brow and stood poised. His eyes ravished her body again, before he drew a shuddering breath and shook it off, thoug he still seemed shaky.
"L-Lady Kagome. You look magnificent today, absolutely ravishing..."
Her grin widened as he stuttered. He would make a fool out of himself, but she decided to let him do it on his own without any help from herself. It lifted the guilt on her conscience because of his genuine happiness before he even saw her. She disliked him intensely, but he wasn't a bad person. It was mainly because he practically stalked her and was too possessive of her that she disliked him. Especially since he had no claim on her. It annoyed her to no end.
Sadly, he was one of the reasons of her misery, though he most likely didn't know it. She rolled her eyes behind her hand as she led him to the solar and listened with deaf ears to his impossibly endless talk. Replying with "Hn" and "Mmmmhmmm" so as not to promise anything with a yes or be forced to listen by replying no. She blinked and glanced up to watch him. This was absolutely sad. She could barely even pay attention to him now, let alone if she was forced to be around him all the time. She'd kill him.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kagome wore a dull expression as she was twirled and spun across the dance floor. She was sure she would soon gain a twitch in her eye. While she enjoyed dancing, she preferred it to be face to face, not face to cleavage as it was in this case. Kami only knew why she had agreed to the dance. But then again she had been bored to the nether reaches of insanity and had thought it'd be an excellent reprieve. It wasn't. He was still talking. Again she was paying no attention whatsoever, but Kouga didn't seem to notice. She then had an idea. While he didn't notice she wasn't pay attention to him, he did seem to notice everything else about her. Well...at least anything that could be potentially harmful.
Luckily he didn't notice how energetic she actually was. She suddenly, and very abruptly, yawned and Kouga ushered her to a seat instantly. There had only been her mother and father dancing with them merely for fun, and a few other guests that were staying with them. Hojo had come to dance with Kikyo and so on and so forth. The lights were dim, but somehow Kouga managed to notice the pinafore. Soon Kagome found herself playing beautifully with it, not knowing how she had gotten there or started. Her voice rose and fell with the notes, and she found herself uncaring of anything else. Living only for the music. Little did she know that she was being watched by two pairs of golden eyes. At least Kouga was quiet when she played.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"So little brother, are you satisfied? She is neither old nor ugly. I have no further wish to be here, so I am taking my leave. It would be wise for you to do so as well."
His voice was utterly emotionless, but it was a mask on his visage. In truth he was entranced by the girl's magical voice, though he didn't let it show. He was actually quite amused, because even he had noticed her faking both listening on and off the dance floor, and again merely to leave it. Kouga seemed completely obsessed with her. Not that he hadn't known this already. It was well known he claimed the Northern Lord's daughter as 'his woman'. She obviously didn't share the affection.
Inu-Yasha insisted on butting in on his thoughts with his next comment. "Her voice and playing are amazing aren't it? I've never heard such magnificence of either."
Sessho-Maru glanced at his little brother to see a look of awe on his face. He glared at the star-eyed youth.
"Her voice is indeed pleasing."
He found a glare coming his way from Inu-Yasha. "You have no sense with women."
Sessho-Maru snorted. "And you do little brother? In a day you will see her again, calm yourself."
Sessho-maru did smirk, when no one could see him, as he heard his little brothers next comments. "Damn, that dress was H.O.T! I hope she wears it when I see her..."
Prospect 1: Kouga
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sango had watched as her mistress brooded about everything. The night before she had slammed her plate down on the table, screamed at her father, and left with a dignified grace while everyone was frozen in shock. They couldn't make her pay today. Kouga was spending the day from noon onward with her. Sango had a feeling that he would come early. She sighed deeply as she watched Kagome attempt to breath as the corset was laced up. It was half past ten at the moment, and Kagome planned to be ready by eleven or half past.
Her hair alone would take up too much time to make that deadline. The crimson dress was slipped on, the black silk gleaming beneath the crimson brocade. For jewelry she wore a thick ruby pendant that hung just above the cleft of her breasts, a ruby thumb ring and one on her index finger; both on her left hand, and on her ring finger on her right hand, she wore a simple gold band. Her wolfish black lobes had tiny holes up each side that were always covered by the fur on them. She wore ruby studs up one side of each now.
Slipping on a delicate, golden charm bracelet with little ruby shards dangling from it was clasped on her right wrist before she sat down and allowed her maid to fiddle with her hair. She was exasperated already by the length of time it was taking. Her hair was done in languid, loose curls that flowed down her back with gold and crimson ribbons intertwined with the curls.
Her stormy blue eyes flashed as she looked at herself, satisfied. Then she turned to Sango, whom was wearing a much more modest, simple crimson dress. She was merely matching her friend for support. They hugged quickly after the maid left, then Kagome's grin disappeared as she strode out into the hall. Ranks were in full command outside of Kagome's rooms. Hips swaying, skirts flowing liquidly across the floor, she made her way towards the entrance hall, her face fair competition to Sessho-Maru's usual visage.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kouga's expression alone showed his enthusiasm. His long brown hair was pulled back in a leather thong at the base of his neck. Turquoise optics glinting in suppressed happiness. He wore a turquoise cloak and outer tunic, an emerald inner tunic, and emerald breeches. The whole outfit was decorated with golden brocade, for he hoped to match what he thought was her favorite gown.. His black boots, newly cleaned, hit the ground as he dismounted from his beast. That was what it was after all. Some sort of equine, with fangs, red eyes, a protruding spine, and huge torso. A youkai equine no doubt.
He shed his gloves and cloak as he entered, leaving their butler to care for it as he went forward in a single-minded purpose. Time seemed to stop. She looked startled for a brief moment, but her composure slid across her visage in less time than that. Her confident grin played across her full lips, but his attention was on her ensemble. He had never seen this outfit before, but she was unbelievably stunning. His jaw was almost hitting the floor as she merely arched a finely carved brow and stood poised. His eyes ravished her body again, before he drew a shuddering breath and shook it off, thoug he still seemed shaky.
"L-Lady Kagome. You look magnificent today, absolutely ravishing..."
Her grin widened as he stuttered. He would make a fool out of himself, but she decided to let him do it on his own without any help from herself. It lifted the guilt on her conscience because of his genuine happiness before he even saw her. She disliked him intensely, but he wasn't a bad person. It was mainly because he practically stalked her and was too possessive of her that she disliked him. Especially since he had no claim on her. It annoyed her to no end.
Sadly, he was one of the reasons of her misery, though he most likely didn't know it. She rolled her eyes behind her hand as she led him to the solar and listened with deaf ears to his impossibly endless talk. Replying with "Hn" and "Mmmmhmmm" so as not to promise anything with a yes or be forced to listen by replying no. She blinked and glanced up to watch him. This was absolutely sad. She could barely even pay attention to him now, let alone if she was forced to be around him all the time. She'd kill him.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kagome wore a dull expression as she was twirled and spun across the dance floor. She was sure she would soon gain a twitch in her eye. While she enjoyed dancing, she preferred it to be face to face, not face to cleavage as it was in this case. Kami only knew why she had agreed to the dance. But then again she had been bored to the nether reaches of insanity and had thought it'd be an excellent reprieve. It wasn't. He was still talking. Again she was paying no attention whatsoever, but Kouga didn't seem to notice. She then had an idea. While he didn't notice she wasn't pay attention to him, he did seem to notice everything else about her. Well...at least anything that could be potentially harmful.
Luckily he didn't notice how energetic she actually was. She suddenly, and very abruptly, yawned and Kouga ushered her to a seat instantly. There had only been her mother and father dancing with them merely for fun, and a few other guests that were staying with them. Hojo had come to dance with Kikyo and so on and so forth. The lights were dim, but somehow Kouga managed to notice the pinafore. Soon Kagome found herself playing beautifully with it, not knowing how she had gotten there or started. Her voice rose and fell with the notes, and she found herself uncaring of anything else. Living only for the music. Little did she know that she was being watched by two pairs of golden eyes. At least Kouga was quiet when she played.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"So little brother, are you satisfied? She is neither old nor ugly. I have no further wish to be here, so I am taking my leave. It would be wise for you to do so as well."
His voice was utterly emotionless, but it was a mask on his visage. In truth he was entranced by the girl's magical voice, though he didn't let it show. He was actually quite amused, because even he had noticed her faking both listening on and off the dance floor, and again merely to leave it. Kouga seemed completely obsessed with her. Not that he hadn't known this already. It was well known he claimed the Northern Lord's daughter as 'his woman'. She obviously didn't share the affection.
Inu-Yasha insisted on butting in on his thoughts with his next comment. "Her voice and playing are amazing aren't it? I've never heard such magnificence of either."
Sessho-Maru glanced at his little brother to see a look of awe on his face. He glared at the star-eyed youth.
"Her voice is indeed pleasing."
He found a glare coming his way from Inu-Yasha. "You have no sense with women."
Sessho-Maru snorted. "And you do little brother? In a day you will see her again, calm yourself."
Sessho-maru did smirk, when no one could see him, as he heard his little brothers next comments. "Damn, that dress was H.O.T! I hope she wears it when I see her..."