InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Cinderella Stroy ❯ The Second Ball ( Chapter 15 )

Sesshomaru had managed to slip away from the party, something for which he was glad. He was actually sitting on the curtain wall, watching the stars above him. Had there been this many five hundred years ago? He wasn't sure. It seemed that the sky was carpeted in light tonight. He scented her long before she arrived and left his perch in favor of the front stairs. When she landed he felt his breath catch. She smiled as she approached him. He took her hand and brushed it with his lips.

“Kami-sama where did you get that dress?”

She laughed and he sensed her nervousness. “That is a very long story.”

“You look absolutely stunning.”

Her blush added a flattering shade of pink to her skin and he decided he needed to do whatever was necessary to keep it there. He tucked her hand in his arm, and they walked toward the ballroom. Kagome paused outside the door to give her title to the page who announced them both. She felt her cheeks heat again as several males looked at her in utter disappointment. Kouga's face seemed to falter as well, but his smile soon fell back into place and he approached them.

“Sesshomaru-sama, it is good to have you here.” He turned his most winning smile on Kagome. “Dear Guardian, you have yet to tell me your name.”

“You're right, I have.”

Kouga waited for a full ten seconds before mumbling some excuse and removing himself. Kagome could see laughter dancing behind Sesshomaru's eyes. Her eyes scanned the room and she found Yuka standing by the wall with Asano. She nodded to Sesshomaru and pulled away, walking straight towards them. Asano stiffened, his eyes wide in wonder when she stopped in front of them.

“Asano-sama, it is an honor. Tell me, who is your lovely companion?”

Yuka blushed at the compliment, few people had ever called her lovely. “This is Yuka daughter of Lord Yoshi.”

Kagome winced. “I would not advertise that too loudly. Still, there must be much more to her than a pretty face if she has caught your interest. I think I may have to steal her for a little while.”

“You know of my father?”

Kagome nodded. “Too well for my own happiness.” She shrugged. “I am abusing my escort. I think I should go rescue him.”

Asano nodded, a sly smile on his lips as she turned. Sesshomaru had been accosted by at least a dozen Lords who wanted to know not only who she was, but how it seemed they had gotten so close. She moved to break up the group when Inuyasha caught her.

“Let me have my fun.”

“Fun?”

He grinned. “Yeah, it's not everyday that you get to see Sesshomaru the Ice Prince so frustrated. You can tell he would rather rip them to shreds than answer their questions, but he's doing it anyway.”

“Politics can be a real bitch sometimes.”

“You said it.”

She slipped past him and the group around Sesshomaru parted hastily before her. He took her hand and expertly swung her onto the dance floor. She watched as he visibly relaxed.

“Thank you, but if you don't mind my asking, what took so long?”

“Inuyasha wanted to watch you squirm.”

“Arrogant pup.”

She laughed softly. “Perhaps, but he loves you, he would never let you get hurt.”

Sesshomaru looked deep into her eyes and saw her faith in this knowledge. He had always been unsure of emotions. They seemed volatile and flighty, and he was neither. Inuyasha could jump from one extreme to the next. It was enough to give a person a headache. Yet when he was around this woman, certain emotions seemed more than worthwhile. He felt warm all over in her presence. He didn't need to touch her, just standing with her was enough to make that pleasant warmth wash over him. As for touching her, that awoke something different. He recognized bloodlust and this was akin to that. He thirsted for her, and it was a hard fight not to slack that thirst.

The music ended and another song started. They continued to dance, too caught up to notice that there wasn't anyone else on the dance floor. The other pairs had moved off, too awed by what they saw to keep their minds on the task. Here was the perfect pair, whirling through the steps that many of them had learned since childhood. Yet when these two preformed them, they attained a level of grace and sheer beauty that could not be matched on this Earth. The music ended, and this time they did stop. The room seemed to breathe a collective sigh.

Kagome blushed and Sesshomaru almost smiled. Yes, she really was lovely when she blushed. Placing a hand on her waist he guided her out into Kouga's gardens. Some well trained servant slid the doors shut behind them and they were suddenly alone. Kagome stood staring out over the garden. Sesshomaru came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her back against him.

“Tell me, what does love feel like?”

Kagome started slightly, then smiled, her fingers tracing along his. “Love is trusting someone implicitly, even if they do things that hurt you. Love is forgiving them before they wrong you. Love is warmth of spirit when you are together, and loneliness when you are apart. Love is a thousand things, Sesshomaru. I could spend all night talking about them.”

“I do not know what love is, but if what I am feeling is love, then I want to continue to feel it all the rest of my life. I have never felt so alive. I feel like my life has focus now. It is bright and vivid and I didn't even know that it was dull before.”

She turned in his embrace, a playful smile on her lips. “Sounds like I have some pretty stiff competition. Tell me do I have to kill her, or just maim her.”

A smile touched his lips and she gasped. “Is something wrong?”

She reached up and ran her fingers over his lips. “Do it again.”

“What?”

“Smile, smile again, please.”

He let the smile return and watched as she blushed a deeper shade of red. “Happy?”

“Do you have any idea how beautiful you are when you smile?”

“No, but now that I know I shall be sure to use it to my advantage.”

He swooped down and captured her lips against his. She sighed softly, her arms going around his neck. She was becoming used to this particular little dance, and found that she enjoyed it more than a little. At last he released her.

“You had better get going if you want to get any rest tonight.” She sighed and nodded. Gently he traced a line down her neck to her shoulder and down her arm. She shivered in delight and he could scent the beginnings of her arousal. “You have no idea how much I wish I could be there to help you remove this dress.”

Kagome gasped softly. “Sesshomaru…”

“You will wear it again, won't you? But next time,” he bent so that his lips brushed her ear, “next time, wear it only for me. No one else should ever see so much of you.”

“You do not own me.”

“No, but someday, if you will let me, we will belong to each other.”