InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ I hide myself behind the moon ❯ Sleeves of silk and satin. Inside. ( Chapter 10 )

Changing my clothes

How long will I wear them?

Until their color will fade.

Until the sleeves of silk and satin

Are filled with my love and hate.

***

Rin sat near the mirror, brushing her black hear, trying not to look at her own reflection. That would probably be not a very pleasant sight.

She spend the whole noon wondering why would her master send with a servant a message telling her, that she had to accompany him on tonight's ball. Was it a sign of his dissatisfaction with her? The dizziness Rin felt from the morning now turned into a distant weak, but annoying pain in her chest.

She recalled Kagome's words: "she tried to run away, didn't she?".

Run away?

Rin put the brush aside and sighed. Who was she kidding but herself. As if she'd ran away for some reason. What was it more than a miserable pathetic little attempt to prove to herself that she… didn't love him.

But she did.

If not, would she bear the unbearable, would she resignedly suffer being no one, would she even give away all her life for being nothing. All for that and nothing in return. Love without response, love, when it brings only pain, love, when you have no right to do it… it is such love that you can't even cry out, you can't even understand, until you feel it inside. Why is love than considered to be sacred when in only brings so much sufferings?

Rin slowly lifted her head to look at the reflection in the mirror. Black hair framed the pale face with nearly-black circles of exhaustion under her blue eyes.

Pathetic, miserable - that is what he probably considered her to be.

There was a knock on the door and Rin shook her head, trying to drive away the gloomy thoughts. When Sango and Kagome entered the room, she even managed to smile.

Sango stared at her and Kagome's eyebrows went up.

- Ugh… guys? Is there something wrong?

- Whoa, Rin! - Sango grinned. - I guess that means you're going to the ball too!

Rin threw a quick look in mirror and saw a slender figure in a scarlet satin dress. She had completely forgot that she already got dressed, trying to pass away the time.

- You look great in that! - said Kagome with a sigh of admiration. - Good colour for you, Rin.

- Thanks, - Rin smiled wanly. - I can help you find something in the wardrobe… you're going to the ball, right?

- Sure thing, - Sango snorted. - So let's get closer to business!

***

- I feel silly in this, - said Sango gloomily, surveying her outfit. - This so isn't me.

She was wearing lilac satin gown with a low-cut bodice, her black hair pulled back neatly and her face framed by a cascade of curls.

- It's beautiful, - assured her Rin, who was sitting on the bed, sorting the clips made in different shape. - If you don't believe my words, look in the mirror.

Kagome looked out from behind the Chinese screen, where she was changing, and made an approving sound.

- Nice.

Sango still doubted, throwing brief looks in the mirror.

- Isn't it too tight?

- Oh, really! Tight like your second skin, - Kagome rolled her eyes and stepped back behind the curtain.

Outside it was getting darker; the evening was taking over. Late October days were getting shorter and shorter, blown away with cold autumn winds.

- C'mon, Kag. Hurry up already! I wanna see your dress! - called Sango.

Kagome was still putting on the finishing touches - she was careful and methodical about her appearance. She wanted all eyes to turn towards her - and one pair of golden eyes in particular. I shouldn't think about that, she told herself, but the odd wish didn't go away.

Kagome jerked the curtain back and stepped out. The girls glared at her, losing all the urge to speak. Her dress was perfect - silver silk, with straps that crossed in her back, showing her slim shoulders to great advantage. Long black hair spilled over her bare shoulders.

- Wow, Kag! You look… adorable!

- Adorable? - she looked horribly injured. - Is that all you can say, Sango?

- I think you look gorgeous! - said Rin loyally, got off the bed and gave Kagome a quick hug.

- Sure, she looks gorgeous, - said Sango generously. - As if she is trying to impress someone. Don't you, Kag?

- I don't know what you're talking about! - Kagome turned pink.

- Of course you don't, - agreed Sango with a smirk and went to the mirror. - Rin, could you help me with the clips.

***

He paused near the door, when he heard loud laughter, and sighed. Why on earth did he kiss her? Oh, yea, sure - because he wanted to. A self-assured smile appeared on Miroku's face as he knocked on the door. The laughter stopped, like cut with a knife. Almost a minute passed, when the door slightly opened and Kagome peered outside.

- Oh, hi Miroku.

- So, are you ladies ready? - he could see neither her dress, nor what was going on in the room, and found that rather disappointing.

- Just give us ten more minutes, ok?

- Yea. Here, you'll probably need this, - Miroku handed her a small crystal vessel.

- Oh, thanks! - she winked and, lowering her voice to whisper, asked. - Hey, Miroku, does Inuyasha know that we are going to be at the ball tonight?

He hesitated for a moment, than answered significantly: "We-e-ell… I think he won't mind!".

Kagome raised an eyebrow.

- You didn't tell him, did you?

- Nope. I let it be a pleasant surprise.

- Kagome, come back here! I need your help with those damn shoes! - called Sango's voice out of the room.

Miroku chuckled.

- Ten more minutes, - repeated Kagome and shut the door.

Sango, who was fighting with a pair of high strappy shoes, asked:

- Who was it?

- Your faithful admirer.

- He is not!

Kagome wheezed with laughter.

- Say that one more time and I'll throw a shoe at you, - gloomily promised Sango. - Hey, did he bring the perfume?

Kagome showed her the crystal bottle, filled with some silver liquid and pulled out the cork.

- What is it? - asked Rin.

- It is supposed to be demon perfume, so we don't get eaten at the ball… But I don't smell anything. Can you? - Kagome handed her the bottle.

- Most of the humans can't smell it, - explained Rin. - But I lived long enough with demons to recognise it. If darkness had a smell, it would probably be the same.

Sango finally managed to put on her shoes and wondered:

- Hey, Rin, don't you need this stuff?

- No, I… - she pulled back her black hair, revealing a thin pale scar on her neck. It had a shape of crescent moon. - This mark means than I am a property of my master and no demon will dare to harm me.

- Oh, Rin… - started Sango, sounding like she was going to give a small half an hour speech about human rights.

- By the way, did I mention that Miroku is standing behind the door and probably hearing every word we say? - Kagome interrupted eagerly.

- What!? - Sango jumped and threw her a dark look. - Is there some evil plot against me that you are trying to pull behind my back?

- Hm… If there is, then you'll be probably the last one to know about it.

- Argh!

- I guess we're all ready. Maybe, it's time to go, - suggested Rin and went to the door, which opened before she reached it. Miroku was standing there, probably already dressed for the ball, in black trousers and a dark violet shirt, that matched his eyes perfectly. His black hair a little tousled and Sango remembered touching it with her thumb while they were kissing in the corridor. Suddenly she wished she were alone in the room.

Miroku leaned against the doorframe and his violet eyes went immediately to Sango, who had sat up on the bed and was looking at him, looking a little confused.

- You look beautiful, - he said and eyeing Kagome and Rin added. - All of you. Gorgeous.

The girls said nothing, just turned pink. Sango looked at him with great dislike.

- Did the ball already start? - she asked.

- Yep, but don't worry. You'll have plenty of time. All the night. So, are you going? - he came up to Sango and held out a hand to her.

- What?

- I will walk you to the ball. Or don't you want to go?

She flushed and took his hand. Miroku grinned. It lit up his face.

- Oh, c'mon already, - Kagome said primly. - You'll have all the night for romance, remember?

Sango looked and her sharply, but said nothing. Rin giggled.

***

When they left the room, the corridors were already full of demons and people. Miroku steered them upstairs and down the hallways that led to the ballroom.

- The place is a little bit overcrowded, but that's only for the first half of the night, - told Miroku, as they entered the vestibule before the great, flung-open mansion doors.

The girls looked around themselves in wonder. The grand ballroom was a wonderland of light and colour. The heavy velvet drapes had been stripped from the huge floor-to-ceiling windows that ran the length of the western wall. Everywhere were strung ropes of glowing multicoloured lanterns. They cast deep patches of colour against the pale marble floor, patterned with glowing golden stars in the shapes of familiar constellations. Long rosewood tables lined the walls, piled high with all manner of fanciful culinary concoctions, and a spectacular bar was lined with multicoloured drinks that smoked and steamed.

Sango smiled despite herself - the term "overcrowded" that Miroku used was a rather weak word to describe the situation.

- Wow, I can't believe it, - she gasped. - This looks like a real ball!

- Oh, but it is, - pointed out Miroku. - I see, you ladies have never been to a one before.

Sango and Kagome blushed and shook their heads.

Rin's gaze flicked over the crowd, looking against her will for the silver hair - and there he was, at the bottom of the stairs and everyone who passed beside him, bowed and stopped to greet him.

- I… I have to go now, - she said flatly and before her friends could say a word, went to the stairs.

- I sure hope that's not the last time we see her, - sighed Sango.

- Sango! Did you even understand what you have just said? - asked Kagome, bewildered. - It sounded like a gravestone speech!

- Uh, sorry… I really didn't mean it that way. It's just that I'm worried about her. The girl looks like she never had any friends!

- Miroku!!!

A tall red-haired man in a black velvet suit interrupted their talk. After him followed a small, red-haired, very pretty girl in celadon-green evening dress.

- Hey! Miroku! Oh, kami, is that you?!

A large smile appeared on the monk's face and he kissed her on the cheek

- You still doubt that, Sibe?

- Do that again and I'll be playing football with your head, - assured him the red-haired man, but his eyes were laughing and they shook hands.

- I'll note that, Nedget, - said Miroku, looking amused. - Hm, I didn't know you were in town. Is your honeymoon already over?

- Are you hinting that a year is not enough? - Sibe laughed. - Oh, we just came from Rio and wanted to spend some time with the family, before returning to Europe again… By the way, we brought Shippou to the ball with us. He wanted to practice his illusions.

- And where is this disastrous little br… erm… I mean your adorable little nephew?

- Oh, he's right over there, - Sibe pointed across the room at a little boy, that looked more like an orange puffball. He stood near the rosewood tables, pouring juice and looking quiet innocent. But suddenly a man standing near him stared in amazement at a lady who was peacefully eating the mussels. He cried out: "Look out! It's gonna blow!", grabbed a bottle of champagne and poured it out on her. The woman squealed and hit him with her handbag that must have been loaded with bricks, because the man fell on the table, and his face landed up in salad. The little boy chuckled and quickly ran away.

- Oh, isn't he just adorable? - asked Sibe.

- Cute! - said in unison Kagome and Sango with great sincerity.

Nidget laughed.

- Miroku, where are your good manners? You didn't even introduce us to those beautiful ladies!

- Uh, sure. Kagome, Sango - these are Nedget and Sibe, old friends of mine.

- Nice to meet you, - said the girls.

- Oh, the pleasure is all ours, - exclaimed Sibe. - And which of them is your girlfriend, Miroku?

- Yea, don't tell me you lost time when we weren't here, cuz I won't believe it! - added Nedget.

The monk was now looking rather uncomfortable. Sango shot him a ferocious warning glance. Kagome looked as if she were attempting not to laugh.

Miroku sighed, pointed at Sango and said with admirable directness of a man who has nothing to lose but his life: "This is my girlfriend, Sango".

***

His eyes narrowed into slits as he watched her walking through the crowd. The deep red colour she wore suited Rin perfectly, bringing out the shimmering highlights in her black hair. She looked so fragile, so vulnerable…

She stopped before him, greeting him with an elegant bow.

- I apologise for being late, my lord.

Sesshomaru's mouth twitched.

- Only for that?

She made a helpless little gesture with her hand, staring at him. He was dressed in white robes, stunningly elegant as usual. His amber eyes were cold and removed, as he looked at her, waiting for an answer.

- I beg you to forgive me for running away, my lord, - her tone was hollow. - This will never happen again.

- It will not, - said Sesshomaru, his voice soft and deadly.

There was cold silence. Rin paled slightly and the shadows under her eyes grew darker. She looked tired and exhausted, but still radiantly pretty in scarlet.

Feeling a dry sort of amusement, Sesshomaru took Rin's hand and she shivered from his touch. "Let's dance," he said, his voice like icy silk.

He led her out onto the dance floor, holding her lightly around the waist, feeling the tension she couldn't repress.

His slender cold fingers closed tightly around hers. As she executed a slow turn, he dug his nails into her skin. Rin tried to pull back, but he held her tight, smiling like a knife cut. She bit her lip, getting paler, but continued to dance until the music stopped.

Then he let her hands go. Blood like red ribbons covered the backsides of her palms. Rin was looking at it expressionless, as if felt nothing at all.

Why? Why is it than called sacred when in only brings pain?

She let Sesshomaru lead her towards the tables at the far end of the hall. He indifferently bandaged her hands with table napkins, like it was something usual. His expression was calm, even disinterested, when he asked:

- Why don't you ever cry, no matter how much it hurts? - his voice like syrup poured over broken glass.

"Because this pain in nothing in comparison with the pain, that lives in my heart" she wanted to say, but remained silent.

***

A/n: Hm… so the chapter about the ball turned out to be longer that I planned, so I divided it into two parts. This was the first one. In the second one Kagome and Inuyasha get the action. And all the others too.

What can I say about Rin and Sess - love hurts… but they'll find a bloodless way out of this.

Soo-o-o, I'm sorry for the grammar… Did I mention that English is not my native language?

Thanx to Cassy who wrote some and to all of you guys who read this!!!

Read? Review!