Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha, Kenshin, Vash, FMA, or any of those others. Nope, not mine at all. I'm sad.
Well folks, it's another slightly short chapter, but the nex part doesn't fit with it. Ah well, what can you do? Please review, and I'd love fanart! hinthint
darkangelprincess24: Thanks so much! It is a bit frustrating that no one's reviewing, but I'm glad that I do have at leastone supporter! Thanks muchly!
Chapter Three – Of Approval and Acceptance
You have shamed yourself…you have shamed yourself…
Those four little words rang through her mind as she sat on a chair against the wall, watching as more and more of the students began dancing. She was completely dumbfounded, but oddly, not a bit ashamed.
You have shamed yourself… No, wait, that's not what she was saying… You have shamed ME…
She smirked grimly at the thought. Of course, that had to be it. Kikyo had been shamed to see that Kagome, sickly little Kagome, had been dancing like a professional with such a tall and handsome man. She shook her head slightly and cast her eyes to the ground. Ah well, it didn't matter anyways. All the boys seemed to be afraid of her now, whether for the fact that she could actually dance or that they'd be following after an equally talented partner. She chanced a glance back to the teacher's table, noting that half the seats were empty. Headmaster Naraku was dancing with Kagura, and Vash looked like he was currently trying to talk Kaede into dancing, while Rin was tugging gently on Sesshoumaru's hand.
She sighed again and returned her gaze to the floor, only to find her boring little staring square occupied by a pair of shoes. A pair of men's shoes. Her gaze traveled up the brown slacks and gray shirt to a ruggedly handsome face. He had sharp features, accented by his black hair, which was pulled back in a long ponytail. His eyes were a clear, crystalline blue, and he was extending a hand to her.
"Tonight certainly isn't a night for wallflowers. Would you like to dance?" He smiled slightly, and she found that his voice fitted him well, being slightly gruff.
Kagome smiled as well and took his hand. "Well, if you do insist, sir…?"
He laughed lightly and gave her hand a squeeze as they moved to the dance floor. "Ah, I do insist. And the name's Kouga. And what name might I call this angel next to me?"
She blushed slightly, ducking her head. "Kagome is my name, sir Kouga." She turned to face him, putting her hand on his shoulder, a bit grateful that she didn't have as far to reach this time. "And I'd like to thank you." She said softly, glancing about at the other couples, noting that Sesshoumaru and Rin had begun dancing as well, albeit a bit awkwardly.
"Thank me? For what, my lady?" Kouga frowned down at her, confused.
She chuckled and awarded him a warm smile. "For asking me to dance. I'm sure that there are prettier girls who didn't start the night by dancing with a teacher and shaming her twin." She stared at a button on his shirt, fighting back tears.
He simply laughed outright for a minute, then turned to her slightly shocked face. "Ah, not to worry. You are quite obviously the most beautiful creature in this entire school, and while the others might be intimidated by Master Vash, I can beat him any day." He puffed out his chest in pride.
Kagome had been blushing furiously after the second sentence, but by the end she was grinning broadly, allowing Kouga to twirl her around and dip her at the end of the song. As they straightened, both panting slightly from the exertion, Kagome happened to glance to her right and catch Kikyo's hardened glare. She froze for a moment, then turned and smiled sadly to Kouga.
"I thank you, kind sir, for the dance and the conversation. I do hope to have the chance again." She curtsied and turned away before he could say anything more, almost running back to the relative safety of her chair against the wall. She collapsed in it, eyes closed tight lest she catch her twin's icy gaze again.
"You know, you probably shouldn't let her push you around like that." came a gruff, masculine voice on her left. Kagome sighed and rested her head against the wall, not bothering to open her eyes just yet.
"Yeah, I know. But I guess it's always been that way. No real use in trying to change things after nineteen years of living in her shadow, eh?"
"Keh, I suppose not, if you wanna be that way about it. Not like I care or anything." The sound of fabric rustling softly.
Kagome chuckled and shook her head slightly. "I didn't choose this path, she did. Dear, sweet Kikyo, smart Kikyo, strong Kikyo, beautiful Kikyo," her voice began to crack slightly, "…healthy Kikyo." A single tear escaped her eye, and she reached up to brush it off. "Ah, forgive me sir. I didn't mean to bore you with my troubles, but I do thank you for lis-" She opened her eyes and turned to the man, stumbling to a stop at what she found.
He was simply dressed in a pair of black slacks and a dark red button-up shirt, which contrasted nicely with the white hair spilling down his back. White? No, pardon me, silver. His eyes were golden, and perched on top of his head were a pair of white dog ears, which were currently twisting about. She fought the urge to rub them, because from the look on his face from the going-over she was giving him, he would have gone through the roof.
"Thank me for what?" His eyes had narrowed slightly, having already glanced her over while her eyes were closed.
"Oh! Um, yeah, thanks for listening." She stammered, turning her gaze to her lap, blushing from being caught.
"Keh. I just wanted to see if you were any different from your sister." He stood and stomped off to a refreshment table, leaving Kagome alone with her thoughts again.
She watched him leave, mind working furiously over his simple comment and trying hard to ignore the way his hair flowed as he walked. Bad Kagome! No cookie for you! Get your mind out of the gutter! She put a hand to her forehead and sighed, then glanced up as Headmaster Naraku announced the last dance of the night. She glanced at her watch, shocked to find that it was nearly eleven already. She stood and smoothed her dress and wandered over to the refreshment table to grab a cracker. She highly doubted anyone else would ask her to dance, and she had might as well get her fill before bed. She took a handful and went back to her chair to watch the couples, tapping her foot to the slow beat. She half wondered if they'd let her play her clarinet with the orchestra sometime, but that train of thought soon derailed, taking her handful of crackers with it.
That boy, that gorgeous boy with the silver hair and amber eyes, was dancing with her sister. And what a pair they made! Kikyo's sharp beauty and slinky dress, his silver hair and red and black attire. She tried desperately to turn her gaze away, feeling the all too familiar feelings of jealousy forcing its way to the surface. She closed her eyes, breathing deeply, trying to steady her heartbeat, but finding it rather difficult. Giving in to pain, she stood and made her way to the door, thankfully remembering to pick up her packet from the table on the way, and left the happy ballroom to return to her own, blessedly empty, bedroom.
Kikyo returned to the room, flushed and laughing about something to find the lights off and the bed closest to the window occupied. Turning on the lamp beside the other bed, she looked down on Kagome's form.
"Kagome? Are you awake?" Silence greeted her, and she shrugged, digging around for a pair of pajamas before going into the bathroom connected to their room.
It was going to be a long year.