Chapter Five

The Ball

Kagome looked fearfully at the tall, muscular guards standing in various places in the front hall. She passed each one trying not to make eye contact. They scared her…holding those long, pointed axe things. She hold her breath as she entered the ball room. Thousands of men and women were talking and laughing and waltzing. Kagome starred at all the people and tried not to be seen by her Stepmother and stepsisters. She walked over to a man with a little ponytail and a purple suit. He spotted her and smiled.

"Hello, miss," he said, showing his sparkling white teeth. "Would you like to dance?" Kagome glanced around to make sure InuYasha the Prince wasn't watching and nodded. She took the man's hand as he led her onto the dance floor. "So, what's your name, my beautiful young maiden?" the man asked as they danced.

"Kagome," Kagome answered, looking up at him. "Kagome Higurashi." The man looked her over. "Are you related to Kikyo Higurashi?" The man raised an eyebrow when Kagome got a startled look on her face. "Yes, I am," she replied. He sighed. "Kikyo was my girlfriend about a year ago but sadly she told me she didn't want to see me anymore."

"Why?" Kagome asked, pitying him. The man shook his head. "I can be a bit…" Kagome gasped when she felt a hand rub over her butt. She glared at the man and slapped him hard on the cheek. "What do you think you're doing!" she demanded. The man blinked confusedly at her and gulped.

"Sorry. I can be a bit lecherous sometimes." He sighed and added, "How rude of me. I never introduced myself. I'm---"

"Miroku!" came a loud shout and a woman came stomping over to them. She had long, dark brown hair that matched her eyes. She was wearing a short pink dress with a sash across the front. "Are you dancing with this girl?" she asked harshly. The man, Miroku, opened his mouth to reply but the woman stopped him. "I swear, Miroku, you are such a pervert!" Kagome starred at the two in bewilderment.

"Uh…excuse me…but who are you?" she asked the woman yelling at Miroku. The woman looked over at her and smiled. "Oh, I'm sorry, my name's Sango. I'm Miroku's girlfriend but lately I've been reconsidering that." She glared at her boyfriend and he gasped. "No Sango! You can't leave me! I can change!"

"Ha! If I had a dollar for each time you've said that…" And she dragged a whimpering Miroku away by the ear. Kagome stood there, still confused, and walked over to get some punch. She poured herself a glass and gulped it down. She felt a tap on her shoulder and she turned. A man in a dark brown suit with a long ponytail was smiling at her. "Excuse me miss, but would you care to dance?" he asked politely. Kagome set down her glass and nodded.

The man put his hand on her waist and they started to waltz. "My name is Koga. I work for the King. Do you have a job, Miss---"

"Kagome," Kagome answered, smiling. "And, yes, I do have a job actually." Koga continued to stare at her. "May I ask what it is?" he asked.

"Well, I'm a…a…maid." Kagome started to blush but Koga only laughed. "Who do you work for?"

"The Higurashi's," she answered, relieved that he had only laughed. A man walked up to them and asked Koga, "May I cut in?" The man had long white hair and an even whiter suit. His eyes were gold and he looked a lot older then Koga. Koga didn't seem too happy to let the man replace him but he nodded and stepped aside. The taller man started to dance with Kagome and Kagome starred at him.

"Are you enjoying yourself?" he asked, smiling. Kagome nodded. "My name's Sesshomaru. I'm older brother to Prince InuYasha and oldest son of the King." Kagome gasped.

"InuYasha! So you know where he is then?" she was excited that someone could tell her where InuYasha was. Sesshomaru looked taken aback. "Well, of course I know where he is. Would you like to see him?" Kagome nodded frantically but suddenly she noticed Kagura and Kikyo heading her way! Her eyes widened and she bit her lip. "Um, first I have to…uh…go over here!" she let go of Sesshomaru's hand and sprinted off into the crowd. He starred after her in shock and heard a giggle from behind him.

"H, Prince Sesshomaru," Kikyo giggled as he turned. "Would you like to dance?" Sesshomaru sighed and nodded. Kikyo looked thrilled while Kagura stood and watched, arms crossed and frowning. Kagome sighed in relief when she was a long distance from her family. She started wandering around looking for someone to dance with.

InuYasha's head was rested against his fist as he sat in his throne practically bored to death. He watched all his subjects dancing merrily and having a wonderful time. But then he saw her. She was stunning and wandering around by the entrance of the ball room. Her shiny black hair…her big brown eyes…and that dress…

InuYasha jumped up and walked hastily over to her. She turned when she saw him and smiled. InuYasha held out his hand and thought that he didn't need words to get the message across. She accepted his hand and he led her onto the dance floor. Everyone starred when they realized their prince was dancing with someone. The people stopped dancing and backed off the floor, watching. Kagome starred into InuYasha's big golden eyes and was instantly lost in them. He was starring at her as well, a dazed look on his face.

They danced around and around the ball room floor not caring who was watching. But up high in the balcony, the King was watching with wide eyes as his servant stood behind him. He looked at the beautiful girl in his son's arms and gasped. "That girl! He shall marry that girl! Oh, Jacques, start writing the wedding invitations and find out that girls name!" He scurried off down the hall to his bedroom an slammed the door. Jacques nodded to no one in particular and watched the happy couple down below.

Stepmother wondered why no one was dancing and looked over the shoulders of the many people. She caught a glimpse of the Prince but couldn't tell who he was dancing with. She would look ridiculous if she jumped so she remained in her place. Kikyo and Kagura were beside her trying to get a better view. "Who is she, Mother, who is she?" Kagura kept repeating. Stepmother shook her head and replied, "I don't know Kagura!"

Kagome was swaying to the rhythm of the music and just couldn't believe she was dancing with a prince! She felt like she could melt right there on the spot. As the music faded other people began to dance around them and InuYasha led Kagome down many halls and out into the back of the castle. A sparkling fountain was going and a little bridge was leading over to it. InuYasha held Kagome's hand as they walked over and sat down on a bench beside the fountain. The stars were twinkling brightly and both felt like nothing could spoil this perfect night.

A big, white clock was behind them and Kagome didn't even bother to see what time it was. She only blinked up at the man before her and sighed. He had a dreamy look on his face and Kagome couldn't help but giggle.

"What is so funny?" InuYasha asked her, hoping he hadn't done something embarrassing. Kagome stopped laughing.

"The look on your face…it's funny!" she chuckled. InuYasha blinked and held back a blush. "Oh," he said softly. Kagome shook her head. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to laugh at you." She looked down at the ground but InuYasha held her chin up so she was looking into his eyes. "No need to be sorry."

He closed his eyes as their faces moved closer and closer and closer…their lips almost touching. Kagome's eyes widened but she quickly closed them, savoring the moment. She could feel his breath…nothing could disturb them now…

A loud chime came from behind them and Kagome was snapped out of it. She pulled away from InuYasha and looked at the clock. "Oh no!" she cried. It was midnight! She hurriedly got up from the bench and ran back towards the castle. "Wait!" she could hear InuYasha calling but she only ran faster. She reached the castle but a man stepping in front of her. He said he was the King's assistant, Jacques, but Kagome could care less. She pushed past him and sprinted for the castle door, back to her carriage.

"Stop her! Stop that girl!" InuYasha was screaming at the guards but Kagome had already descended the steps. He was catching up and now he was right behind her. Kagome looked back at him and nearly tripped. She didn't even notice one of her little glass slippers had fallen off. She jumped into her carriage and it sped away. InuYasha stopped running and starred after her. She had been the one…the one who would be his wife and she had fled from him. He looked down to see a shimmering glass slipper and picked it up. A thought occurred to him.

Maybe there was still hope…

Kagome's carriage was turning back into a pumpkin and she could feel it getting squishy. Suddenly, it collapsed on the side of the road and she fell out. When she looked back at it, it was already a round little pumpkin. The driver was once again Stepmother's cat and the mice that had once been horses were fleeing. Kagome sighed and looked up at the stars. It had been such a magical night…

She glanced down and noticed she was in rags again. But…she still had a sparkling glass slipper on one foot. She smiled and picked it up, holding it up level with her face. "A souvenir of this wonderful night," she said to no one in particular.