InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Firebrand ❯ Chapter Four � Fate Had A Different Plan ( Chapter 4 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Firebrand

FaTaLfURy

Chapter Four — Fate Had A Different Plan

Dinner was a disaster.

Shortly after their dance, the King and Queen finally made their appearance.

Everyone made way for the royal couple and made perfect curtsies as they passed on a sea of masked faces, pausing every now and then to talk to someone.

Then both of them stopped in front of the Duke of Windshire and Miss Woodbine.

“Oh look, My Lord! Isn't Kagome just divine in that gown! Oh, and I see she has found her Prince,”

The Queen fairly bubbled in her glee, her shimmering gold gown reflecting the light. Her lively eyes held mischief as she winked at Kagome.

The King, on the other hand, was her exact opposite. With his complete suit done in silver, he was devastatingly elegant and in control. A small smile played upon his lips at his wife's comment.

“Yes, I can see that, my love. You both have undoubtedly good tastes. And for the love of God, Elizabeth Rin, no one is supposed to know anyone until midnight,”

The King both praised and reminded his wife gently.

“Oh I completely forgot. But no matter: if you haven't noticed, we're both unmasked. So my dear, who is that handsome gentleman with you?”

The Queen Elizabeth Rin addressed her last comment to Kagome.

But before she could speak up, the duke made his introduction.

“The Duke of Windshire at your service, Your Majesty. And may I say you have eternally captured my heart the moment you stepped into the room,”

The duke said suavely, taking the queen's proffered hand and kissing it languidly.

The flippant reply made different reactions.

Mistress Woodbine stared at the duke incredulously, wondering if he has lost his head for flirting with the Queen when the King is present.

King Sesshomaru's hand fell to the hilt of his sword, itching to draw it at the sight of the duke's apparent captivation. Then he noticed the twinkle in the duke's eyes, and he relaxed.

The Queen just rolled her eyes at their theatrics, quite used to the duke baiting her husband. One should be used to handling such things when Sesshomaru is one's husband. She pulled her hand back.

“Stop baiting your king, Inuyasha. You know how he is when he's in a bad mood. Now tell me, when are you going to make things official?”

“Caught me again, Your Highness. As for the engagement, I wanted to announce it tonight officially, but of course she won't listen,”

The Queen was astounded.

“Engagement!? That soon? My, but you do move fast, duke,”

“Fast? My Queen, are you quite all right? Both of us have been together for quite sometime now. This is way overdue as it is,”

“What!? Sesshomaru!”

The King chuckled as he watched his lady and his friend try to make out the conversation.

“Obviously you both aren't talking of the same thing. This Sesshomaru will clear things accordingly,”

“Please do, My Lord,”

“Apparently, Inuyasha is referring to himself and the lovely Lady Winters, my love,”

“Lady Winters? But I thought—“

“You thought wrong, Elizabeth Rin. Now let it go,”

The King admonished gently but firmly.

“Wait, Your Highness. I would like to know what the beautiful queen thought?”

Inuyasha asked; an eyebrow arced slightly in inquiry.

Not caring that they were showing quite the favoritism in court, the queen proceeded to tell them then and there what she did think.

“Oh forgive me, my dear! And you too, my Lord Inuyasha. I just thought… well, you look so perfect together, just like that and—“

“My befuddled wife thought that you and Miss Woodbine here are the ones getting engaged,”

King Sesshomaru interjected smoothly, knocking the wind out of his wife's sails.

“Ohh! Why must you do that? I was doing the telling here, My Lord!”

The queen looked disgruntled.

“You were taking too long. We have to move on,”

The king caught the queen's elbow and urged her along. In his mind, he counted the seconds before the duke and the girl reacted.

“WHAT!?”

They both stared at each other in shock, still processing what the royal couple implied.

Luckily, before they spewed their hate of each other, the ton moved into the dining room where dinner is being served by now.

Kagome is reclaimed by the Marquis of Winchester while the duke goes to his real intended.

“May I have the honor of escorting you to the dining room, Miss Woodbine?”

`Oh so now he knows my real name,' Kagome thought sarcastically.

And to think she was contemplating friendship with him!

“I think not, my lord. I'm afraid I have my own escort,”

“Do you mean the Marquis of Montmouth? I think I saw him leave earlier,”

The statement is delivered very smoothly that Kagome looked at him suspiciously.

“Are you quite sure of that, my lord?”

“I am, my lady. And this would give me the perfect chance of redeeming myself for my behavior earlier, Miss Woodbine. I do hope you would forgive me,”

`Oh, well. He seems harmless enough, and if not for that slight misconception in his part, I would like the Marquis quite well,'

Kagome slipped her arm to the marquis' proffered elbow.

“Lead the way, my lord,”

=================================================

It was ten in the evening, and Kagome is having the time of her life.

She decided to forgive the Marquis for his oversight. After all, he is in fact redeeming his self very well.

The King and Queen have already made their leave, and the wine is flowing freely at this point. Everyone is laughing gaily; and the ladies are gossiping and flirting from behind their fans at the same time.

The Mistress Woodbine partook of the wine, but is carefully counting the measure of what she has imbibed.

“Well, well. What a cozy little group have we here?”

Kagome is currently giggling at one of the Marquis of Winchester's jests, when she turned her head to find the Marquis of Montmouth looking down at her benignly.

She immediately set back her chair to execute a demure curtsy.

“My lord! I have heard that you already left! Forgive me for_”

Lord Elliot only waved his hand negligently as he regarded his newly acquired ward.

“No matter, Mistress Woodbine. No harm done here. And as a matter of fact, I did leave earlier in the evening to see to a very important matter. Anyhow, since I am back and see no others to join, can my company be of acceptance to you, my dear?”

“Of course you may, Montmouth. There is plenty of room for everyone here. And bring Sedrick with you too, why don't you,”

Lord Miroku interjected smoothly, not noticing the tension between the Marquis of Montmouth and the Duke of Windshire. The Duchess of Norfolk sat quietly beside the duke, but not quite serenely, as her nervousness is apparent in her eyes.

“Splendid! How kind of you to invite us, Lord Stilles. And I see you and my ward has become fast friends,”

“Hardly, my lord. The Marquis is only being gallant in offering to be my escort. And how, pray tell, is my true guardian, your father the Duke of Norfolk, faring?”

Kagome emphasized the word `true'.

“Alas, Mistress, but I cannot reassure you on that matter. My father is still on his sick bed, but we all hope and pray for his recovery. Is that not so, Viscount Sedrick?”

He turned to his friend, Naraku.

“Yes, that is absolutely correct my friend. And may I suggest a toast, for the Duke of Norfolk's good health?”

The viscount signaled to a waiting servant and the maid immediately filled all of their glasses to the rim.

“Here, here. To the Duke of Norfolk!”

Mistress Woodbine wanted to decline the toast, but being as the toast is made for the kind old duke, it would be impolite to do so.

She drained her goblet to the bottom.

“I hear music at the next room. May I appeal for a dance, my Lady Winters?”

Before the Lady Kikyou could answer, the Lord Grey answered for her.

“No, you may not, Montmouth. And she is not your lady either, so I suggest you cease calling her as one,”

The snappish retort made the Lady Winters gasp in appall.

“Pierce!”

While the two men glowered at each other, the Viscount Sedrick, stepbrother to the Lady Kikyou, intervened in time.

“Then perhaps I could be the lucky one to dance with my lovely stepsister. Kikyou, my dear?”

Lady Winters cast an indignant look at Lord Grey.

“I would love to, Naraku,”

The moment the stepsiblings left the table, an uncomfortable silence descended. The two lords kept glaring daggers at each other; both unwilling to commit defeat when it comes to the woman they both love.

Miroku cleared his throat, and turned to Kagome.

“Would you like a walk around the castle grounds, my lady?”

That had taken her aback.

“My lord! I am not a titled person, as you are. Please, do not call me as such. And I would love to tour the gardens, but if you would excuse me for a while?”

Lord Stilles already rose from his seat to help Miss Woodbine to rise.

“Of course, my dear. And I would be waiting here for your return,”

“Lord Grey, Lord Bradon,”

Both lords broke their tensed glares to look at her. Onigumo also rose in deference to her.

“You may take your leave, my dear. But are you sure you're all right? Your cheeks seem to be rosier than usual. You might want to lie down for a spell,”

“Thank you for your concern, my lord. But I'm quite sure I'll be fine. It must be the wine; I am not used to drinking that much,”

Lord Grey only inclined his head at this, and rose to his feet, though not quite steadily.

Then Miss Woodbine curtsied and walked away, leaving the three lords to their selves.

Just as she stepped out the door, Lord Grey collapsed.

“Inuyasha!”

=================================================

Kagome wandered out of the dining rooms and into the hallway.

`Strange, but it seems to me the halls are far longer than usual,'

Then her vision blurred for a moment and she stumbled against the wall.

“Are you all right, my lady?”

She whirled around to face a servant hovering worriedly around her.

“I'm fine. I was only looking for the ladies' chambers when a touch of dizziness came over me,”

Kagome smiled at the maid reassuringly.

“Are you sure, my lady? Your color does not look so good. Maybe you should lie down?”

In truth, the maid's words were barely coherent to her. Kagome can barely see; let alone stand on her own, for weakness seemed to come over her.

`It must be the wine. But I did not drink that much,'

“The wine,” she whispered.

“What was that, my lady?”

But she could not speak no more, and the maid held on to her in panic.

“My lady!”

“Oh my! The Mistress Woodbine. What has happened to her?”

A new voice entered the conversation.

“Who are you?”

“Do not worry. I'm one of her maids. I'll take her,”

`Maid? But Emily's at home,'

“It would be all right, Miss Kagome,”

Then she is lifted up by someone, but she turned her head to look at the woman speaking.

And recognition struck.

“You,”

And then darkness took her…

=================================================

Kagome's head feels like it was breaking into two, and her throat was so parched she could hardly utter a sound.

“Hurry!”

A woman's voice is speaking, and the sound of a door closing can be heard.

`Where am I? Where are you taking me?'

`Where….?”

“Are you still awake, Miss? Don't worry, we're in your rooms,”

“Em…i….ly…?”

“Oh I'm afraid Emily's not here, Miss. But don't worry, I'll take good care of you,”

`Something doesn't sound good about that…'

But then she was too confused to figure it out.

“Should we take off her clothes?”

A man's voice!

“Probably. No use in sparing her a bit of modesty eh?”

The laughter mingled, and then she felt her clothes leaving her body.

`What are you doing!?'

She tried her best to speak once more.

“Clo…thes….!”

Then the woman answered her again.

“You won't need your clothes, Miss. Trust me. Now just lie down here and get some sleep, and you'll feel much better in the morning,”

`Now that sounds good,'

Kagome felt the bed on her back and the sheets cover her.

“A pity she's needed for this operation. I might've sampled her myself,”

“In your dreams, you fool! Now hurry, we have to get out before anyone sees us,”

`Leave? But why?'

And then she could hear no more….