InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Flirting with Demons ❯ Masquerade ball ( Chapter 2 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

The maids had placed Kagome's gown on the bed when the young princess finished her bath. She walked to the corner of the room and stood as the servants dresses her. Soon she stood before a large mirror in a beautiful gown the color of coral, overlaid with black lace and beautifully embroidered with gold thread. Then came the worst part, sitting still while they curled her long ebony hair and secured the curled at the top of her head with a red rose comb. The springlike locks of hair tumbled about her shoulders and fell out several times so that when she walked she had to make sure she did not toss her head.

dressed now, she picked up her embroidered shawl and began her journey to the large stairs she must descend to get to the ball room, which was quite a way down from her room.

It had finally stopped snowing a month or two ago and the pale light of the afternoon danced across the sprouts of green, capturing the true feeling of early spring. Quiet tranquility seemed to pervade everything. Kagome stood silently in the hall above the stairs, listening to the occasional conversations she looked out the grand windows at the beauty of the gardens. So soon in the season and green already covered most of the ground. Soon, the angle, length and color of the shadows would announce the arrival of night, and the beginning of the ball.

Kagome pulled her gaze away from the window and leaned back against the cream colored walls, enjoying the sounds of the orchestra playing softly for the early arrivers. Coaches left the main road and rolled up the stone paths up to a large white gate, to the right of the gate, a dozen lit candles illuminated a small shrine to the goddess of mortal man and woman, Kikyou. The stone paths continued up through the gates and around the courtyard where they would unload their passengers at the front entrance to the castle and trot off to wait until the ball was over.

Finally the trumpets sounded and the guests stopped their chatting to gaze up at the stairs she was to enter from, she was presented to the crowd as Princess Kagome Higurashi of the Shrine of Acrinox. The Shrine was the most wealthy Kingdom of all of Acrinox, said to be blessed by the goddess Kikyou herself. Slowly Kagome descended the stairs, pinching the folds of her dress and lifting it a bit above her feat so she did not trip. The music coming from the orchestra greeted her with gay notes, effervescent as champagne.

The ball room was as grand as when the held the ball last year, Two-storied, and frescoed with quadrature, it appeared enormous, even when filled with people. And the people were everywhere, laughing, dancing, while Kagome finished the last few steps she was surrounded by men wanting to dance. They were everywhere, potential suitors seeking a chance to win her heart before the others.

A rough hand gently grasped hers and someone whispered to her, "Come my princess, dance with me." She felt she recognized that voice, though from where she did not know. The others were stunned at the mans forward approach but she smiled and looked into the violet eyes of her dance partner.

"I do not know if I can dance in this, the gown treads across the floor." She looked apologetically at all her ball guests. She knew she was supposed to dance with them, but she didn't think she could handle having so many men hold her close when all she wanted was to dance with the man who has failed to visit her dreams for a year.

"If you trip, I promise, I'll catch you." He replied, her hand still in his grasp he raised it to his lips and brushed a kiss across her knuckles. The act sent a tingling sensation up her arm and through her body, she could only nod in return. He led her out to the dance floor, away from the rejected men who went off to find dance partners until the princess was free once again. In the twirls she gazed about the room, the glory of the chandeliers that took so many servants to clean and keep sparkling. She faced her graceful dance partner, his violet eyes watching her intently, his long jet black hair flowing freely down his back. Twice she felt her own hair tug at the rose comb in her hair and a curl or two would slack from its hold.

Still, she did not turn to gaze at the room again, she felt lost in the image of the man before her. He was dressed in a red peasant shirt that sagged at the sleeves, a black velvet vest lay over the blouse and a long leather strap ran across his chest and supported the loop where his sword would have been if they were aloud to carry it into the ballroom. Red silk swung arouse his shoulders and down his back in a voluminous cloak, His large feathered hat completely covered his head and had two large feathers protruding from the top.

The music soon ended and He asked if she would like something to drink. "I wouldn't mind a glass of wine." she replied.

Would you topple over in her large dress if I leave you here for a moment to go after you wine?" He asked with a chuckle.

"You could prop me up against the wall over there." She replied laughing with him.

"I'll be right back." Kagome watched him as he disappeared into the crowd of dancers. The music had started up again and she was captured in the arms of one of her soldier friends and found herself dancing and laughing with him.

After several dances she finally broke free of her suitors and went off to find her mysterious stranger.Certain he was no longer in the ballroom, she began to thread her way through the small rooms that were adjoining the ballroom.

Before long, she found herself in a deserted room, dimly lit by a single candle chandelier. She must have made a wrong turn some were, for she was now in the room where her birthday gifts were set.

Her first instinct was to return the way she had come, but she was excited about gazing at her gifts before the servants and her family got a chance to. There was a large window with the protruding dome of the grotto illuminated in the tourchlight outside. She stepped closer, to capture the sight of the gold statues and elegantly wrapped boxes. There were some beautiful masks, and some rather grotesque. Jewels and dresses. Crowns and swords. Statues of the goddess Kikyou standing over slain demons and dragons. A victorious smile on her lips as she spread her feathered wings, a sword raised high above her head and a quiver of arrows slung over her back. A bow grasped in her left hand. It was a haunting image, and if the goddess herself were here to see it she would be horrified at the image her people had given her.

A sudden draft, as if someone had opened a window, wafted through the room and the candles dimmed and went out. Kagome gasped and whirled around, but she was unable to see anything.

"Hello?" She whispered. "is anybody here?"

A rough hand grasped her shoulder and she let out a small yelp and faced her attacker.

"Hush my princess." came a whispered. masculine reply, which was followed by the warmth of the rough hand sliding down her arm to grasp her hand. She jumped and pulled back, but the stranger held her hand firm, but gentle. "Don't be afraid, in a moment your eyes will adjust to the darkness."

There was only the light of one candle that burned on a nearby table, but it was enough to see the shadow of his large hat and catch the light reflecting in his violet eyes.

"You?" she asked.

"Yes me." he pressed a kiss to her hand and smiled.

"You disappeared." she muttered irritably.

"Me? You were the one who went off dancing while I was left holding your wine.' he placed the goblet he had fetched for her into her palm and smiled again.

"Well, I hardly had a say in the matter." she smiled and raised the drink to her lips, enjoying the feel of the cool liquid flow down her parched throat. he placed his hand on her shoulder and she stared at him, his touch was foreign to her, and she stood woodenly before him, awkward and uncertain. Not at all who she was just a moment ago. She wondered why she did not simply turn and walk away. Kikyou knows she would not have let any other man touch her.

The lone candle sputtered and went out

The lights beyond the door grew dim and she was captured in a dreamlike state. The music faded, as did the sound of the conversations that only a moment ago, drifted about her. There was no fire in this room, and the air was cold. With each breath she could feel its bite, yet she felt oddly warm. he removed his hat and plucked one of the soft red feathers from the top. Slowly he reached up and tucked the feather in with her rose comb.

She began to tremble, not from the cold, but from the audacious direction of her thoughts. The vision of her spectral love danced in her head, and the image of the man before her. She could feel the equal alluring presence of both, she was being pulled forward into the power of mystery and shadow, of unrestrained night. Perhaps this is what she wanted all along, this unrestrained freedom to give into the unknown world where things forbidden reside; a purgatory of wants and needs and desire. She tilted her head back, unable to see him, but she knew he was close. She could feel the warmth of his body reaching out to her, and she thought he must have been out in the courtyard, for he smelled of fresh air and pine.

Something warm and gripping filled her, urging her, and she hovered on the brink of insanity.

"I have thought of nothing since I first saw you, it has become even more unbearable after I danced with you." She could feel he breath, the smell and heat of his words that spread over her, mind numbing, and calm as the snow that comes, quiet as fog, to settle over a field.

the horizon glimmered in the window and she realized that she had been wandering the halls for half the night. "i must go back." She said

"As must I my princess." He pulled her with him, deeper into the room, into the unknown, and she followed, blind and trusting, when she knew she should not go.he pressed against her and she felt the window facing the sunrise against her back. The light of the morning glowed across his features and she wondered about who he was once again. His hands were on her face, her throat, her shoulders, and then skimming lightly over her breasts to encircle her waist. His arms went around her, and she opened her mouth to draw in a breath of air, only to feel the shock of surrounding warmth of his kiss.

She was shocked, first at his sheer audacity, and then by the pleasure that had no name, the absence of shame.

She had a vague thought that she should run from the seduction of this place, but it was a thought never put into action. New awareness. Transformation. A flowing inward, into herself, spiraling and hot, hotter still, melting wax held over a candle. She new the warm texture of his mouth, his taste, the smell of his breath, the curl of sensation at his touch, like the spirit of the night who came into her and swept back, far back, into her dreams. The kiss was long, longer than her thoughts of resistance, but not as long as her desire for more.

Nothing seemed real.

Nothing except the kiss that left a burning reminder imprinted on her lips. Her hand came up, to spread over his chest, a mute show of resistance, but the moment she touched him, she found her fingers clutched the silk cloak instead. He removed his mouth, and by this time, the sun was beginning to peak over the horizon. The rays of the sun glittered across his long black hair and she watched in astonishment as his eyes took on flakes of gold, witch seemed to melt and spread throughout his eyes. The pupils shank to vertical slits and his glorious silky hair waved about his shoulders in silver waterfalls. His ears traveled up his head, growing larger and more triangular shaped, soft gray fur sprouting and covering the delicate appendages.

She gasped softly, her eyes widening in astonishment. "Its you." He gazed at her in confusion, he was about to ask her what she meant but the sounds outside the door caught his attention.

The servants were coming to gather the gifts to bring to the ballroom for the princess to see. Kagome stepped forward and stood beside him, he turned and she grasped his sleeve.

"Tell me your name." He watched her for a moment, unable to decide. "Please, i need to know."

"Inuyasha." he said. The door to the chamber opened and she turned to see the servants chatting excitedly. A sudden draft, as if someone had opened a window, wafted through the room. Kagome turned to see her beloved hanyou gone, the drapes fluttering about in the morning breeze. She gazed at the window, down into the courtyard where she thought she saw a flash of silver leap the palace gates. The servant were at her side, speaking to her, but she couldn't hear them. She didn't want to move, didn't want to leave the window. But she felt she needed to get to bed. She was so tired.

The servant girls let out shrieks as their princess fell backward, laying unconscious on the chamber floor.