You guys have been so supportive. Thank you for continually encouraging and inspiring me. Love your faces!
"I'll send Sango in to help you dress." Inuyasha said as he pulled the door closed behind him. Kagome sat in the bed a moment longer. The room feeling too big and empty. She stood up slowly, her head swimming. She reached a tentative hand behind her head, and felt her hair was matted with her blood, but the open wound was no more that a sore spot. Kagome quickly pulled her hand away and headed to the shower. Kagome sat on the edge of the tub while she waited for the water to warm, her hand under the faucet catching and releasing water. When the water was warm enough Kagome stripped.
Kagome stood under the shower head, letting the water clean the blood in her hair. She tried not to think. Not about her dream, not about what she was getting ready to do, nothing. But it was impossible and she found her mind wandering as she ran shampoo through her hair.
Kagome thought about Naraku. He ruined her life. And because of him her mother and brother are dead. It didn't make any sense to her the longer she thought about it. Why? Why did he have to torture her and her family? Why did he insert himself in their lives? Could it have been by accident?
Kagome doubted it. It was purposeful. He sought them out. He seduced her mother. Gained her trust, and defiled it. Violated it in the worst way imaginable. Kagome was scrubbing her hair vigorously. She was getting angry. When she closed her eyes she could still see Naraku hunched over her mother's corpse. Kagome ignored the bitter taste in her mouth. She could still feel Naraku on her. Inside of her. Taking something from her that no girl should ever lose to a father. Kagome's imagination ran wild as she pictured him killing her defenseless baby brother. An infant. Her worst vision was Naraku just abandoning him, leaving him so slowly starve and wither away, his screams and cries going unanswered. Kagome plunged her head back under the shower head, hoping to quiet her thoughts under the roar of the water. Kagome rinsed her hair and quickly washed herself before getting out of the shower.
She grabbed a towel from the rack and wrapped herself in it as she padded back into her room, her hair leaving small puddles in her wake. Sango sat perched on the edge of the bed, Kagome's dress laid out beside her. Sango looked uncomfortable, as if she was ready to take off if Kagome said the word. Kagome studied her for a moment as she entered the room. Sango was in a long floor length grey gown, that pooled a little around her feet. The dress had a beautiful sheen to it, the silk reflecting the light. Her hair was swept into a side ponytail held in place by a diamond studded brooch. The pink eye shadow, Kagome had become accustomed to seeing, was now replaced by a dark smoky eye. Sango looked beautiful. Kagome wanted to smile at her, tell her she looked pretty. Hug her and tell her about her nightmare. Apologize, and take back everything she said earlier. Kagome only looked away from her.
"You can go, I'll call you when I'm ready."
Sango stood and quietly left the room.
Kagome ignored the ache in her heart and dried off.
She pulled the dress on, it fit perfectly, as did everything Sesshomaru bought her. She zipped it up easily on the side. It hung beautifully, never slipping even though it was was strapless. Kagome looked in the vanity mirror at her hair, it was partly dry and curling. But it wouldn't be long before those curls turned into a tangled mess. Kagome sighed, she didn't know how to do her hair. She turned away from the mirror and despite herself, she crossed to the door and opened it a crack.
"Sango, I need your help."
Kagome turned away from the door. She heard the door slide across the plush carpet as Sango entered the room.
Kagome turned to face her, "I don't know what I should do with my hair."
Sango smiled a little, setting a small makeup bag down, before gesturing her to sit on the bench tucked underneath the vanity counter. Sango silently plugged in the curling iron and began brushing out Kagome's hair.
"The High Priestess typically wears her hair down for the ceremony, because afterwards she will bind her hair away from her face."
Sango's voice was quiet, and her finger gently. Kagome felt the familiar ache in her chest as Sango's hands gently detangled her, too long, hair, with a patience that Kagome could never master. Kagome normally would have just ripped the brush through her hair and been done with it. But she felt her tension easing as Sango worked, wincing every once in a while when a strand got caught in the curling iron.
Sango, kept her eyes down focused on Kagome's hair, but Kagome watched Sango's expression in the mirror. Sango's eyes would crinkle every once in a while and she would carefully rub underneath her eye. But Kagome didn't know what to say, so she just watched Sango work. Feeling the need to rub her own eyes every once in a while.
Sango looked up and met Kagome's gaze when she was finished, and forced a smile.
"Let's see if we can get rid of those bags."
Kagome liked this part better, she only had to close her eyes as Sango worked. She felt gentle brushes caressing her face, and slightly scented powders tickling her nose.
"Open your eyes and look up."
Kagome obliged, her eyes pausing momentarily on Sango's face before finding the ceiling.
Sango ran a dark eye liner pencil across Kagome's bottom eyelid, causing her her eyes to water and twitch beyond Kagome's control.
"You can close your eyes again."
Kagome's lids fell shut in relief. Sango fussed around her for a second more.
"Okay, look at yourself."
Kagome's eyes opened. She looked beautiful. Her hair fell in beautiful, dark, curls. The big barrel curling iron, and Sango's expertise, made Kagome's hair look professionally styled. The black tresses a beautiful contrast to the white dress Kagome wore. Her make up was light, but Kagome never really wore make up. She was amazed. Her skin looked so perfect, the blush on her cheeks applied perfectly, giving her a light flush. Her brown eyes were lined heavily with a thick black liner. Kagome touched a hand to her cheek, as if this was all an illusion that would disappear if Kagome touched it But her face stayed perfect and Kagome felt herself breathing again.
"Well, what do you think?" Sango asked, a small smile on her lips.
Kagome found Sango's face in the mirror, "I'm so sorry, Sango."
She was sorry for what she said to her. Sorry for what Sango had said in return. Sorry that they had spent the last few hours not speaking. Sorry that she didn't feel like she could tell Sango about her dream. Sorry that their relationship probably would never be the same again.
Sango's smile fell. Her eyes looked sad as she placed a hand on Kagome's bare shoulder, and squeezed.
"I'm sorry, too."
Sango brought in two garment bags, and laid them down on the bed. She unzipped one and pulled it out, it was a grey robe, almost the exact same steel grey as Sango's dress. Kagome crossed to the other bag and opened it to find a black robe. She looked at Sango hesitantly.
"Is this one mine?"
Sango nodded, "It'll make sense in a little while. Hurry up and put it on."
Sango pulled on her robe and pulled up her hood.
Kagome untangled the robe from the bag and hanger and pulled it on easily. The sleeves were long and went well past her finger tips. The robe itself completely covered her gown. She felt Sango's hands moving her hair to the front. Sango turned to face Sango fully. Sango stepped close to Kagome and pulled up her hood, pulling it down to cover Kagome's eyes. Though the rest of the robe was made of a thick velvet, the hood was a much lighter fabric that Kagome could almost see through. She crossed to the mirror and bent down to take in her reflection.
I look like I'm part of a cult.
Kagome laughed a little to herself, she might as well be.
"Are your ready?" Sango asked, her hand on the knob.
Kagome nodded, butterflies awakened in her stomach.
She followed Sango out of the room and was surprised to see two robed men, standing shoulder to shoulder, waiting outside her door. The robes pulled down to cover their eyes, but Kagome could tell by the small points, on the hood of one of the robed men, that it was Inuyasha. She smiled at him a little, and he returned her smile fully, a small fang catching the light. Her smile widened. The other man grinned at her, and by his slightly crooked smile she knew it was Miroku. Sango stood beside her.
"We didn't get a chance to walk you through the ceremony, don't worry one of us will be around to tell you want to do. But for now, just follow me. Dont walk too fast or too slow, and stay directly behind me. And don't look around."
Kagome nodded, peering at Sango through her hood.
Sango stood in front of her and began walking. Kagome followed closely behind her, and the boys trailed behind her. It was a processional of sorts, and Kagome found it harder than she had anticipated to stay directly behind Sango. Sango walked briskly down the halls toward the giant living room. She stopped just out of view, and turned to face Kagome.
"Okay, we're heading to the ballroom under this living room. There are going to be a lot of demons, just keep your eyes forward. Okay?"
"Okay."
Sango turned back around, standing up straight, and Kagome followed.
Kagome felt arms around her, and panicked before she heard Inuyasha's voice.
"Your arms need to be like this too."
He raised her arms to out from her body, as if she were going to cross them.
"Keep your elbows off your body, and make sure your hands are covered by your robe. Actually, hold your hands, make a fist."
Kagome did, unsure of exactly what he meant. But she must have done it right as he muttered a quiet perfect as he stepped beside her and covered her hands with her long sleeves.
"Are we ready?" Sango asked.
"Ready," Inuyasha said, returning to stand behind Kagome's right side.
Kagome took a deep breath and followed Sango.
Since she hadn't really explored the house much, she had no idea where they were going and it was hard for her to keep her eyes forward once they passed the living room. The hall they were in began to slope downward in a small spiral. They kept walking their pace not changing. Kagome glanced down at Sango's feet every once in a while to make sure she was matching her pace. They reached a set of double doors and Sango waited a little ways in front of them. Kagome felt as Inuyasha and Miroku's robes brushed past her as they went to open the door.
Kagome took a deep breath.
"Let's do this."
The boys opened the door, and a wave of demonic energy, like Kagome had never felt before, hit her.
She had no doubt that every person present in this room was a demon, and a powerful one at that.
Sango started forward and Kagome followed her. The oppressive energy of the demons growing stronger with every step. But she didn't fall behind even when it felt so strong that she couldn't breathe. The boys followed behind her, close enough that she could feel their presence, but not in danger of stepping on her heels. Kagome took in the room from her peripherals. Every demon sat in dark black robes, facing the makeshift walk way, sectioned off by chairs. The room was much more intimate than Kagome had imagined, Candles burning around the room. Sango's pace slowed, and Kagome wondered if the demonic presence was too much for her as well. Kagome couldn't see where they were going, Sango blocked her vision. She could feel all eyes on her as she made her way to the front of the room. And if that weren't enough she could hear people whispering as well.
Kagome could see the beginning of and open space in front of her and Sango stopped. Sango stepped to the side, and Inuyasha's hand on her back nudged her to stand a little in front of Sango.
Kagome was wrong, there was another human, besides her and Sango. She raised her eyes to look at the elderly woman in front of her.
"I ask for your silence," The woman spoke, her voice clear and weathered with age, "Let the ceremony begin."