"Sango!" There was a knock on her door.
"Yes Kagome?"
"Come on! I want to be there early."
Sango suppressed a laugh, then walked over to the door and opened it. "Well wait a moment, all right? I have to find a dress!"
Kagome lowered her hand from the door and blushed. "You mean you haven't--?"
"Oh, she has a dress, Miss Higuarashi, you can be sure of that." Kuronosuke's voice made Kagome jump in surprise. She backed away allowing him entrance to Sango's room. Sango greeted the viscount with a sweet smile.
Kagome sighed, turned on her heel and replied, "I'll give you two some privacy, but I expect you to be ready by the time I come back, Sango!" She groaned in anticipation and went to find someone in need of her entertainment.
"What a nice surprise, Kuro—"
Kuronosuke raised a finger to her lips. "Shhh!" He cooed softly, "Here, I have something for you." Behind his back, Kuronosuke withdrew a package, and placed it in Sango's outstretched arms.
Sango blinked innocently and went to place the box on her bed. She quickly opened it to find a pale pink dress folded up on the inside lining.
"It-it's beautiful…" She stuttered, carefully picking up the white-silver mask that was lying horizontally on top of it. "But…but I simply can't accept this." She ran her fingertips over the small pink roses that seemed to be sewn into the lace.
"But why?" Kuronosuke seemed deeply disappointed.
Sango gulped and motioned for him to sit beside her on the bed.
Heaven knows, it wasn 't easy telling Kuronosuke about Miroku.
"The man is obviously quite insane," he said ominously. "I think this is a matter for the police. "
"No!" Sango breathed in horror. "Kuronosuke, if you involve anyone else in this I shall have to deny everything. Why can't you just try to understand? I don't want to lie to you anymore!"
"Understand what—that you're in the hands of some unscrupulous hypnotist who has determined to take advantage of your innocence for his own ends? I tell you this, if I knew where to find him I'd damned well call him out and put an end to this miserable farce once and for all. Sango, I don't care if you've lied, I care that you're safe!"
She shivered and clutched his sleeve urgently.
"Don't even think about challenging him, you wouldn't stand a chance. Kuronosuke, you'll be dead before you can take aim to fire. For God's sake promise me you 'II never try to find your way down there alone!"
"Why do you have to go back? I simply don't understand this hold he seems to have upon you. You behave as though you had no mind of your own. Sango, if you're frightened of him—"
"I'm not frightened of him... not for myself, anyway. You need have no concern for my safety. Miroku would die rather than hurt me. "
Kuronosuke came across the room and took hold of Sango's arms. His fair, boyish face was flushed and his piercing eyes suspiciously bright.
"Are you in love with him?" he demanded simply.
"I don't know," Sango said.
He nodded and stood back, taking his hands off her arms.
"Is there any chance that you may know sometime in the near future? Or shall I just go away for good and stop bothering you? That would please Miroku, wouldn't it?"
Tears welled up in her eyes and she turned away to pick up her hairbrush.
"If you had seen him, you would never say anything so cruel and heartless."
"Tell me about him!"
"I've already told you! "
"Well, tell me again. I want to hear it again!"
"What do want to hear about?" She cried furiously. "The murders ... the thefts ... what is it, Kuronosuke?"
"I want to know what he looks like!"
Sango stared up at him with sudden dolefulness.
"He looks like you, Kuronosuke! He looks exactly like you—when you've been dead for a few months!" She couldn't bear to look at him. "Are you satisfied?"
Kuronosuke sank down on the bed and leaned his head against his hand for a moment.
"You're really not lying about that, are you?" he muttered at last.
"No," Sango said coldly, "everything that I have told you about him is true. That includes what I feel for him. "
"I see." He got up slowly, brought a little jeweler's box out of his coat pocket, and set it on the table. "I bought this today, along with the dress. I was hoping you might accept it, but since there doesn't seem to be much chance of that, I may as well leave it anyway. I hardly think they'll want to take it back. "
Sango opened the box with trembling fingers and the light of the gas lamps showed her a breathe-taking diamond ring.
"It's been nearly a year since we've reunited…"
"Oh, Kuronosuke!" Sango sighed. "I can't possibly wear this for you while Miroku-"
"Sango, just…please, before you reject me, think about it." Kuronosuke gently squeezed her hand, slipped the ring onto a thin, silver chain and fascined it around her neck. The dimond was now hidden between the cleavage of two soft, round breasts.
Sango was speechless.
"All you have to do is tell me you don't love me, that you don't want to marry me. That's all you have to say to make me leave you.I don't mind if you feel you have to hide it for now," he said. "You and I have kept secrets since we were ten years old. "
When he kissed her, Sango made no effort to stop him, and the feeling of guilt became almost unbearable. Miroku…Miroku, she hadn't seen him lately…
"Thank you…for the dress. I'll wear it for tonight." Sango murmured into Kuronosuke as their lips parted. He smiled gaily and retorted that he couldn't wait until the ball, when he would finally see her in it.
Kagome looked splendidly at the pale pink dress that had a floaty quality to it. There was a long pause as her eyes widened..
"Sango! Where did you get…how did you afford…" she stammered.
Sango blushed. "It …It was a present."
"You told me you had nothing to wear!" the ballet girl teased, "You little liar!"
"I didn't lie! I just didn't know at the time that I had it…"
Kagome blinked at her for a moment, confused, and then abruptly realized who the "present" would be from. She smiled slyly.
"Oh, you didn't tell me he was going."
"He is."
Kagome gaped. "Miroku's going?"
"What? No! No, I don't think so…" Sango sounded as if she were about to cry but quickly changed the subject. "Kuronosuke gave me this."
"Oh…" Kagome trailed off. "Well, you're going to be the talk of the masquerade! Kikyo is going to be so jealous! It's going to be great!"
Sango forced a grin.
Kagome giggled "Now let's go!" She seemed to hop out the door and bounce down the hallway. Sango couldn't stop from rolling her eyes and laughing at her friend, and then ran to catch up with her.
The ball was an exceptional affair. It was in honor of the anniversary of the birth of the famous draftsman; and it was expected to be much gayer, nosier, and more extravagant than an ordinary masked ball. There were fabulous dresses displayed all the way down the marble steps of the opera, couples were twirling around madly to the sounds of musical artists, and it was not hard to find one enjoying themselves.
The two girls entered into the great hall.
"Oh…it's so beautiful!" Kagome exclaimed at once.
Sango bit back yet another laugh. "It's the same as it always looks, Kagome." The color scheme was that of gold, silver and black.
The ballet girl shot her friend a glare. "Shh! Of course it isn't. It has one of those little tables with refreshments on it."
There were only several people there so far, and all of them where whispering and gossiping among themselves. More people filed in by the minute. Some of them Sango could recognize, but some of them looked utterly foreign to her.
The rest of the ballet girls entered a little while later, and they all came over to chat and have a nice gossip. Immediately they began to ask Sango awkward questions about her attire, which she answered as best as she could.
The room was full when La Kikyo arrived at the top of the steps, a smug look on her face.
However, you could barely see her underneath of her dress. The article of clothing was immense, and took up nearly half of the great staircase as she sauntered down it. Every inch of the fabric was covered in glistening fake jewels, in various colors. It almost looked like a stage costume, it was so flamboyant.
No one chose to comment on this, however, and the Prima Donna obviously thought she was the belle of the ball…until she caught a glimpse at Sango.
Already the ballet girls were snickering and making jokes behind cupped hands. Sango thought she heard Kagome say something like, "Her dress is nearly as overdone as her voice!" Sango couldn't help but giggle lightly at that.
A few moments later, Kuronosuke appeared and asked Sango for a dance. She agreed, because she was starting to get bored. They danced for awhile, Kuronosuke obviously admiring his taste of clothes on her. Sango couldn't help but chuckle. He was acting a bit cocky, wasn't he? Finally she was worn out, and refused to dance anymore for the moment. It was fun, but tiring. Kuronosuke nodded, wrapped a hand around her waist and together, they sat down on one of the steps.
Sango looked over to where her friends were seated and laughed lightly as she saw Madame Kaede had found the ballet girls, and was now angrily scolding Kagome for her seductive apparel.
"Ye look like a little prostitute, Kagome Higuarashi! Change that dress immediately!"
"But Madame, it's just for the party!"
"Did ye hear me?"
"But—"
"Now!"
"Hey, old hag shut it! She looks fine to me!" Inuyasha spat, coming to the rescue.
Kaede eyed him, "Inuyasha, you ungrateful dog!" She stomped over to Kagome's mother in anger, not wanting to argue with his stubbornness. Kagome smiled sheepishly at him, who then asked her for a dance and growled in delight when she accepted.
Sango turned her attention to someplace else, however, when she heard a familiar, unwanted voice behind her.
"Zo! Zee leetle brat 'as come!"
Sango hesitantly turned to face Kikyo. "What is it you want, Madame?"
"I vas just going to zee eef I could find out where oo got zat 'ideous dress."
"It was a present," Kuronosuke cut in. "from me. If that is all you wanted, then I think we'll take our leave."
"But zat eesn't all! I vas just going to zay, how ees your leetle ghost friend? Recovering from zat bullet, ees 'ee?"
Miroku must've gotten into more trouble since Sango last saw him those few months ago... it made her heart ache with sadness. Sango then went white with rage. "How dare you, you foul woman! Leave me alone, I wasn't bugging you!"
"Sango, please don't make a scene—"
But by now, they had the attention of half of the people at the party.
"Ooh, zee poor thing ees offended."
Sango's hands were balled up into fists, and she was trembling in her anger.
"Leave me alone!"
Suddenly Kikyo's eyes caught her necklace. "Vat ees zis?"
She reached out and, before Sango could even react, snatched it from around her neck, breaking the chain.
Sango cried out and tried to take it back, but Kikyo backed up, a horrible sneer on her face.
"ee von't be appy oo zee this, vill ee? Viscout, oo are her new lover?" She dropped the necklace to the floor, where it made a small tinkling sound as it hit the hard marble. "oo think I ought voo vere innocent!" Kikyo glared at Sango and smirked.
Sango couldn't bear to look down at it, sure that it was broken.
Kikyo was frowning, however, and so she chanced a glance.
It wasn't.
The Prima Donna snarled with rage and left in defeat. Sango reached down to pick it up and Kuronosuke offered to put it back on. She nodded.
They continued to resume activity, singing a joyous song that made everyone dance along in delight. All was soon forgotten.
Masquerade, paper face on parade, masquerade! Hide your face so the world will never find you! Masquerade, every face a different shade, Masquerade! Run and hide but the face will still pursue you! Masquerade—
The orchestra suddenly stopped playing as the lights dimmed. Attention was focused on a man dressed all in scarlet, a huge hat and feathers on top of his jet back hair, which he carelessly tossed aside into some dark corner. On his face was an alluring half-mask, crafted to resemble a skull. From his shoulders huge an immense red-velvet cloak, which trailed down the steps like a king's train; on this cloak was embroidered in gold letters, which everyone seemed to be whispering aloud, "Don't touch me! I am Red Death stalking aboard!"
Sango felt herself go weak in the knees. He sang something about a play: "Don Juan Triumphant", all of which seemed to be a slur of words to her, and then Sango found herself walking towards him, or rather him walking towards her, it wasn't quite clear. It was as though Sango was in a trance, as if there was no one else in the room beside her and Miroku. However, Miroku's cobalt eyes soon found their way to the chain on her neck. He shuddered, seeming deeply betrayed. Like Kikyo, Miroku tore the ring from Sango's flesh.
"You belong to me!"
Sango gasped, watching as Miroku disappeared behind a burst of flames. She went to reach out and grab his arm, when suddenly she realized that he had disappeared behind another trap door. She inwardly groaned, forgot about everyone else and went in after him.
Kuronosuke frowned from the sidelines.
A/N: I am raising my goal to 500 reviews by the time this story is over. Think I can do it? Oh- question, should Inuyasha and Kagome have a little romance as well?