InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Better Things than You ❯ Party Blues ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

 

A/N: Thanks for the reviews guys! There are some historic inaccuracies in this chapter (like when duels became illegal in England), but this is fanfic, so if you're that picky buzz off. I'm going to Paris for my nice long 4 day weekend, so I don't know when the next update will be as I'll be spending a lot of time making up the homework I'm not going to be doing, and since I get the most written on my stories on the weekends.

 

Chapter 2

 

Kagome dressed herself slowly. She had not planned on leaving her house for a few days, but there was a ball that night and her mother was firm she should go to save as much face as possible.

 

After she had come out of her shock from the fact she had been left by Inuyasha, Kagome had realized her problems ran much deeper than her emotional issues—no matter how broken she felt. She had been jilted, to put it nicely, and with Inuyasha's rejection she would be ranked as little more than leftovers in society. She had come out into society from a high standing family at the beginning of this season, and (according to the rules of good society) she had found a man to marry her. But now that she was ending the Season single, she had broken the rules and no one would want her; she was officially a leper.

 

Therefore it was a brave move for her to make an appearance this night. Checking her appearance in the mirror, she decided she looked as good as she was going to. Her eyes were still a bit blood shot and red, not to mention she had a nice haggard look to her face.

 

It didn't matter. Tonight was to tell people she was not going to lie down and die, nothing else. No man was going to be seeking a bride this late in the season and no one would want her anyway: she was as good as used goods. No one in London wanted used goods.

 

Kagome slumped down the staircase. No Inuyasha waited at the foot of the stairs that night to escort her out into society. Only Miroku stood, fully dress, and waiting to do his obligation to his family and chaperone his single half sister. He gave her a pitying smile that almost made Kagome burst into tears again and run back to her room, but she resisted. She could do this. She had to do it if she wanted any chance of redemption. If she cowered and let the rumors spread, she would be trapped in her parent's home forever, forever a burden to her family.

 

The carriage ride to the party was quiet, but not as silent as the ballroom became when Kagome's name was announced when she entered. Trying her best not to blush as the people stared at her before taking up their conversations again, Kagome did her best to keep her head high. Her hands were shaking as she found herself a seat. What if no one asked her to dance? There was a tightening in her chest as she realized she didn't want anyone to ask her to dance. She wanted Inuyasha.

 

Kagome's concentration was broken by Miroku returning. She hadn't even noticed he'd left her; she had been so busy thinking and wringing her poor fan. Looking up at her half brother, she was in time to see him shove forward an awkward and passively resisting young man.

 

“Hel—lo Miss Higurashi,” he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck in an uncomfortable gesture. He looked at her nervously, then over his shoulder at the subtly glaring Miroku. Returning to Kagome, he said in a slightly shaky voice, “Would you like to dance.”

 

Kagome watched the young man with a raise eyebrow. It was the most amusing thing she had seen all day, and in her present state of mental shambles, she almost laughed at him. She wanted nothing more than to turn him down, but it was clear Miroku had pulled some strings for her and she couldn't afford to be ungrateful at the moment.

 

“I'd love to dance, Mr.…” Her smile was glittering much more than she felt.

 

“Houjo, Mr. Houjo,” he said, bowing over her hand as he helped her to her feet. Kagome sighed under her breath and looked sadly at Miroku as she was lead out onto the dance floor.

 

The first thing she noticed as she began to waltz with Mr. Houjo was he was a terrible dancer. He stepped on her toes—sometimes her whole foot—and didn't even seem to notice he was doing it for he never apologized.

 

The second thing she noticed was how the other couples either danced farther away from her and her partner, or they came closer and purposefully bumped into her.

 

A social pariah indeed, Kagome couldn't help thinking as Mr. Houjo stepped on her foot while at the same time a woman in an unflattering pink dress knocked her so far off balance that she almost tumbled out of her partner's arms, no thanks to Houjo. He was just as indifferent to the people's ill-disguised attacks on Kagome as he was to her now aching toes.

 

Just when she was sure the night couldn't get any worse, Kagome heard the sound of clapping. The dance wasn't over—the music was still playing—but everyone stopped in their places. A moment later, the announcer called out, louder than he needed to in Kagome's opinion, “Lord Inuyasha and Miss Kikyou!” They appeared at the top of the steps, and began their slow descent into the ballroom looking every bit like the betrothed they were. Kikyou had a red rose pinned up in her hair that matched the one Inuyasha had tucked in his buttonhole. They were smiling and whispering to each other as they walked down the stairs, Kikyou's arm threaded safely in Inuyasha's.

 

Kagome looked away as they reached the bottom. Inuyasha had glanced her way, and with a pounding heart in her chest, she knew she couldn't meet his eyes. It was too soon.

 

“Miss Higurashi?” Houjo tried to get her attention as the waltz was starting up again.

 

Kagome blushed even harder than when she had been introduced as she tried to gather up her skirts and fan. Fumbling she tried to resume the waltz with Houjo, but she no longer had the heart to continue moving with her klutzy partner and the angry couples around her. Needless to say, she was rather distracted when she felt herself crash into a warm body.

 

Pausing to apologize, she found herself staring at an angry Kikyou and an expressionless Inuyasha. “I'm—I'm sorry.” Kagome stuttered, more to Inuyasha than his new fiancée. Sorry for whatever I did that made you leave.

 

Inuyasha nodded and tried to move on, but Kikyou wasn't as easily appeased. “You're stepping on my dress.” Kagome looked down and saw that sure enough, her own satin shoe had landed on Kikyou's silk dress. Jumping back as far as she could, Kagome muttered an apology.

 

Kikyou looked down at her dress and sighed. “You've ruined the trim. It has your dirty shoe print on it.” Kagome met Kikyou's glare, and she knew what the other woman was demanding even without words. Kneeling down slowly, Kagome did her best to clean off the print of her shoe. She almost had it when she felt a hand on her arm dragging her to her feet.

 

“Stop that,” Inuyasha commanded. He had walked around Kikyou's wide dress, and was still holding Kagome's arm as he spoke to her. Blushing again, Kagome tried to look away, but she found she could not. That caring look in his eyes that had always been there when he looked at her was still there; Kagome had been expecting it to be gone. It was the last time she might ever see him like this and she could not make herself walk away. He looked as if he wanted to say more, but Kikyou was pouting and pulling him away and Houjo was looking concerned and embarrassed for himself, and in the end they were simply pulled apart.

 

Kagome was too much in a daze to realize they were dancing again, but as they moved, she could hear Kikyou's voice through the sound of the people talking and the music from the ensemble. “Why shouldn't she clean off my dress Inuyasha? When the Season is over, she'll be good for little more than a lady's maid.”

 

Inuyasha lead them deeper into the crowd, and Kagome could not hear his reply. It didn't matter; it was too much for her. Breaking with a relieved Houjo, she hurried off the dance floor.

 

Kagome made her way to a dark corner. Miroku, who had been watching her activities while talking to Lord Greenswitch a great explorer always looking for adventurous friends, followed closely behind her, trying his best to catch the eye of several of the room's more beautiful women as he went along.

 

Kagome faced the wall as Miroku came up behind her, gently touching her shoulder. Her chest gave a heave, and he knew without seeing she was crying.

 

“I should never have come here.” Kagome whispered. She clutched her forehead in her palm. “Its too soon. Too soon.”

 

“I'll take you home, Kags,” Miroku said softly, taking her hand in his. He pulled her away from the wall so she was looking at him and wiped her tears away with his handkerchief. “It was too soon, and you've been brave enough.”

 

Leading Kagome around the ballroom's rim, neither Miroku nor Kagome noticed the pair of amber eyes following them.

 

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

Head as high as she could keep it, Kagome waited on the carriage block for Miroku to come back from ordering the carriage. It was a cold night, and she was tired even if she had barley managed half a dance. Her feet hurt as if she had danced the night away thanks to Houjo's dancing.

 

At the sound of crunching feet behind her, Kagome turned, expecting to see Miroku, but instead she found Inuyasha looking more than a little sheepish.

 

“I think I owe you and explanation, Kagome.” He said her name so formally, so without its previous warmth, Kagome felt he might as well have said “Miss Higurashi”.

 

Kagome nodded slowly, wishing Miroku would return. She backed away to the far corner of the carriage block, as far from Inuyasha as possible. Part of her wanted to hear his explanation, but the overpowering command from her brain was being sent to her feet, pleading with her to run. It was too soon to hear why he had left, the wound was too fresh too take anymore tearing.

 

He took a step closer to her. “I've been seeing Kikyou for a while now, and—”

 

“And you feel she's a better match for you,” Miroku's voice called out from the darkness as he came up from behind them. “Please stay away from my sister, Lord Takahashi. I think you've caused her enough trouble for one day.” Miroku was removing his neat gloves and smoothing them out with quick strokes. He was angrier than Kagome had seen him in a long time, hands shaking ever so slightly, and deep red spots appearing on his face.

 

“Miroku, I just wanted to explain—” Inuyasha tried to begin, but was quickly silenced.

 

“There really is nothing to explain, my Lord,” Miroku growled at his once best friend, giving a swift short bow. “You found something better than Kagome, someone more beautiful with more money and a higher rank and older family. You found something better, Inuyasha. Admit it that you are doing nothing noble and leave Kagome alone.”

 

“Miroku,” Inuyasha snarled, “I just want a word with Kagome!”

 

He took a step toward Kagome, but met with Miroku's glove across is face. Inuyasha looked stunned for a moment. “Is that what you really want, my friend?”

 

Miroku was cold and unmoving. “We are no longer friends, and yes, I am willing to fight you for the honor of my sister and my family.”

 

Kagome stood in shock. Inuyasha and Miroku were going to fight a duel over her? No, they're not.

 

Stepping forward, she firmly placed herself between her half brother and her ex betrothed. “No one is going to fight for me, Inuyasha, Miroku, please?”

 

She was crying ever so softly, and was surprised when she felt someone hand on her chin and a thumb pushing away her tears. Opening her eyes, she found it was Inuyasha who was looking at her with more than a little concern. “I'm sorry too,” he whispered, bowing stiffly, and walked away into the night.