Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the third chapter of this fabulous fanfiction. It is with great pride that I introduce this chapter as...drumroll please...The Ball of Your Dreams! Catchy title, yes? Anyway, I just want to thank all my new reviewers for this story. Momo, Nesta, jandl, Pistachio564, and Rika! Thank you soooo ever much. I just love reviews. Anyway, enough with that, and onto the story! Oh and to comment to momo, don't worry about Inu-Yasha being too sweet, the best part has yet to occur! Bwah hahahaha!
Disclaimer: Do I really have to do this EVERY chappie? Oh well...I do not own Inu-Yasha or the characters therein. I will not use them to make any type of profit...You know the deal, my friends...
Chapter Three-The Ball of Your Dreams-Part One
Tonight was the night Inu-Yasha, along with the servants, dreaded. For Inu-Yasha, it was a terrible attempt by his father to get him married off to one of the snotty rich neighbor's daughters. As the servants bustled about busily trying to set up the ballroom for that nights activities, Inu-Yasha tried to remain hidden from view, so he would not have to answer any questions. He hated when maids came up to him to choose between ecru and eggshell colored napkins, like he could really tell the difference between those two colors. They were all the same to him. Inu-Yasha sighed and walked out of the room, meandering down the corridors. His thoughts wandered to Kagome, questions filled his mind. Where was she? What was she doing now? Was she being treated fairly? The more he questioned, the more worried he became. With one last glance around, Inu-Yasha made his way to the kitchens.
Kagome was not to be found in the kitchens, which made Inu-Yasha wonder where she had gone off too. He spotted Kura, who was grumbling about some complaint or another as she did her work. Inu-Yasha strode quickly over to her.
"Kura, where is Kagome? Why is she not here?" Kura mistook his concern for anger that Kagome was not at work, as she belonged, and inwarded smiled.
"Your Highness, she said she was deathly ill, so took leave to her bed. I think she was lying, Your Majesty." Kura curtsied, but Inu-Yasha walked out so fast, he didn't even see her do so.
Inu-Yasha made his way to Kagome's chamber, but was disappointed to find Kagome was not in the room. By this time, Inu-Yasha was seriously concerned for Kagome's safety. Without another hesitation, Inu-Yasha made his way to the horse stable to talk to Miroku, hoping he had an idea of Kagome's whereabouts.
"Sango, are you absolutely certain about this? I'm not sure that this is the best idea you have ever come up with, what if someone recognizes me as a mere servant?" While Kagome ranted, scenes of the possible results of the ball tormented her mind. One particular one repeated itself over and over in her mind. This "vision" included the nobility figuring out she was a mere servant. As Kagome looked to Inu-Yasha for guidance, he turned his back to her, and began dancing with some other woman.
"Kagome! Listen to me! Don't worry about what people think of you. Most of them will think you're a nobility from one of the other lands here to get ahold of Inu-Yasha. That part wouldn't be too far from the truth though, now would it?" Sango grinned cheekily at Kagome's expense, as the aforementioned girl blushed brightly.
"Sango, you know that isn't why I am doing this. I love Inu-Yasha, and if he doesn't want to marry me, I accept that. I realize it would be impossible for the two of us to have any normal type of life because of our stations, but I can't do anything except be with him for as long as I can." Kagome looked down, smiling sadly as she realized the two of them have precious few days before Inu-Yasha would have to wed, and their relationship would be lost forever. Kagome was snapped from her depressing thoughts be a soft smack at the back of her head. She looked up to see Sango ready to throttle her.
"Kagome, don't you dare begin thinking those things. Inu-Yasha is not as shallow as you would like to think. I know he loves you, there's no doubt in my mind. Now, stop your pity party, and let's get you ready to shock the pants off of our little hanyou." With a giggle, Kagome nodded and the two of them began their plans.
Inu-Yasha and Miroku were in the same position. Inu-Yasha wanted Miroku to go to his birthday masquerade in order to meet Sango, but the stubborn man wouldn't even dream of agreeing to such a ludicruous thought.
"Inu-Yasha, please understand why I could not possibly take you up on this wonderous offer. I do not doubt that Lady Sango is an amazing woman, but I am a nobody. She would never see anything in me, but a person beneath her notice. Not, " Miroku added hastily, upon seeing Inu-Yasha's dangerous scowl, "to say she is a shallow woman, just that I am not exactly what anyone would call a nobility charmer. I am sorry, Inu-Yasha."
Inu-Yasha growled softly in the back of his throat. "Miroku, you are going, and that is the end of the conversation. Sango is very accepting, and she doesn't care about where your roots are. She has already befriended Kagome, and they are like sisters. You will meet her, and you will be dressed like a person of nobility, now shut up and let's get you ready!" Miroku simply shook his head, thinking how sad it was to see his prince going insane.
All too quickly for the four, it was time for the masquarade. The ballroom had been set up in the fashion of a forest. A mixure of real and well crafted artificial trees stood proudly about the room. Large posts in each corner of the room held an edge of a large midnight blue silk drapery that flowed over the powdered heads of the gentry, representing a clear night sky. If one were to focus on that drapery, they would see millions of small white spots sewn into the fabic, a perfect representation of the millions of stars that hung in the sky, along with a waning cresent moon sitting regally overhead. The walls had the same fabric flowing gracefully down to the floor. Trees made out of brown and green fabric were attached to the blue sky fabric to give the look of forestry in the distance.
Around the dance floor, large rocks were placed as a borderline surrounding the dancers. The floor had also been covered in a green oriental carpeting that had grass and leaf designs that Inu-Yasha's half-brother, Sesshomaru, had bought during his time in the China. The thought had not been his own, but their father's. Inutaisho wanted his two sons to have some type of brotherly relationship, but it was obvious Sesshomaru would not hear of it. To him, it was a dishonor to have a half-demon as a brother. One day, Inutaisho thought, Sesshomaru would understand the way Inutaisho had felt when he fell in love with Inu-Yasha's human mother.
The guests began to arrive in waves of taffeta gowns, and black tuxedos. Soft, feminine giggling, along with more masculine chuckling drifted through the large room, reverberating off the walls.
Sango, accompanied by a terrified Kagome, entered the room through a secret passageway to avoid being introduced. Sango thought that the less Kagome would have to deal with tonight, the more relaxed and comfortable she would become when her and Inu-Yasha found each other, and Sango knew they would. As a servant walked passed, carrying a tray of champayne glasses, Sango grabbed two, handing one to Kagome and sipping the other. For once, Sango wished Inu-Yasha would hurry and make his appearance so Kagome would feel more comfortable.
"Don't worry, Kagome, everything will be just fine." Sango smiled reassuringly, then began to survey the room for a certain silver-haired hanyou.
After practically dragging a pale-faced, sweating Miroku down the same steps Sango and Kagome had gone down not even twenty minutes earlier, Inu-Yasha was ready to strangle the dark haired animal tender.
"Stop dragging your feet, dammit. You are going to meet Sango, and that's the end of it. You're already dressed, so you can't back out now." Any comeback Miroku might have made was cut off when Inu-Yasha caught the scent of Sango and Kagome.
"They were in here, Miroku. I don't understand, why would Kagome be in here." Inu-Yasha shrugged, pegging it on the fact that she was a servant, and some servants knew these passageways, especially Kagome. They had played hide-and-seek in these corridors more often than not. Inu-Yasha began walking toward the ballroom, catching the tailcoat of Miroku as he tried slinking away.
At the first notice of Inu-Yasha, Sango made Kagome stand by the punch bowl and wait until she got back, saying something to the effect of powdering her nose. She slid her way through the crushing hordes of people, quickly taking in his attire. Inu-Yasha was wearing a pair of black doeskin pants with shining black hessian boots that laced up to mid thigh. His starched white shirt was a deep contrast to the dark crimson waistcoat he wore, and the matching cravat that was artfully tied around his throat. His domino mask was also of a dark crimson that shaded his face perfectly.
As Sango drew closer, she noticed a nervous man standing beside Inu-Yasha. The man was also wearing black doeskin pants with hessian boots to mid thigh. The similarities ended there. Where ever Inu-Yasha was wearing crimson, this man wore a rich purple, all the way to his domino mask, where bright prussian blue eyes focused upon her as she came closer. Sango came to stand in front of the two men. Each man took a look at what outfit Sango wore that night.
Sango wore what appeared to be her favorite color, pink. A medium pink colored undergown cascaded down her body in a perfect bell shape. the light, translucent overskirt gave th dress a glimmering look. The neckline was a v-cut, and around her neck hung a solitary pink pendant. Sango's long sable hair was pinned up in perfect curls, which a few had slipped from their spot and hung prettily around her face. Her domino mask was of the same pink as her underdress. Lighter colored feathers and fancy dressings were attached to the edges of the mask, giving Sango a mysterious appeal. Inu-Yasha took he into his arms for a quick hug.
"My cousin, how wonderful you look. You are to be the belle of the ball once more. " Sango laughed at him.
"Oh, Inu, you must save that flattery for your dance partners tonight. Please, introduce me to this gentleman here." Sango's chocolate brown eyes were trained to Miroku's Prussian blue ones. Inu-Yasha opened his mouth to introduce Miroku, but he stepped up, gracefully bowing to a flattered Sango.
"Lady Sango, is it? I humbly introduce myself as Miroku, animal tender of the castle." Completely caught up in the magic that seemed to surround Miroku, Sango found herself curtsying prettily to Miroku.
"My good sir, it is quite a pleasure to have met you. Come, let us dance the night away, while our friend finds his own dance partner." With a twinkle gleaming in both Sango and Miroku's eyes, they walked away, leaving Inu-Yasha watching after them. With a smile and shake of his head, Inu-Yasha made his way to the table which held the drink. The familiar scent of Kagome reached his nose, mixed with fear and anxiety. Following his nose, he found an angel pulling her hand from a familiar, disgusting foe.
Kagome stode by the punch bowl, waiting for Sango to return, when a young man walked up beside her.
"And here I thought I had just stepped into hell. Alas, an angel has appeared. Are you a fallen angel, my dear?" Kagome turned her gaze to the man whose horrible first speech had stupified her into speechlessness. The man had startling blue eyes, which were framed by the eyeholes made by the domino mask. His entire outfit consisted of different shades of brown, excluding his black hessian boots from his buckskin breeches to his brown overcoat. The man bowed over Kagome's hand, kissing the side opposite her palm.
"Will you be my angel for the night, for I think I've fallen in love." Kagome's eyes widened and she wrenched her hand away.
"Please leave me be, I am angel for only one man, and you are not he." The man, whose name was Koga, frowned in displeasure.
"Forget about your man this night, for it is a night we can be whomever we wish to be." Before he could say anymore, another voice broke in with a deep timbre that made Kagome's legs go weak with relief.
"Is this gentleman bothering you?"
Hey, there is the end of Part one of Chapter Three. I didn't want to make this chapter extrememly long, so I broke it up. The next part is where most of the interesting stuff will happen, so yeah. Please R&R, becasue I love hearing feedback from everyone. Thanks!