Title: Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall…
Author: Eddward
Genre: Drama, Romance
Word Count: 943
Rating: T
Warnings: This is pretty tame.
AU/ Canon: Alternate Universe
Summary: Mirror, Mirror, on the wall, who's the fairest of them all? Sesshoumaru discovers his future on All Hallows' Evening. And the Mirror never lies…
Disclaimer: **sigh** I do not own the characters or plot of either the anime or manga versions of Inuyasha as they already belong to, and were created by, Rumiko Takahashi. I also don't make any money off of this. Takahashi, Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, Sunrise, and Viz media do though. I just do it for the kicks.
I also don't own Disney or their awesome movie, Snow White.
General Author's Note
This oneshot is for D.S. Anno and Rikayu's Halloween challenge, and Kat Lady's challenge, posted on Dokuga. At the moment this will remain a oneshot, but I have plans to turn this into a chapter story in the future.
Constructive criticism is always appreciated.
Now, without further ado, on with the story!
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The year was eighteen hundred ninety-nine. It was the turn of the century, and apparently that was all anybody could talk about, nowadays; the future. As if going to a seer or those voodoo witches would actually work, even nearing All Hallows' Evening. They were nothing but low life scum trying to swindle Society. And Society let them. Hnn, pathetic fools.
"Papa, Papa! Can I go? Please?" Oh, right. This ball she wishes to attend. They chatter about this as well. What has civilization come to? Can no one refrain from senseless idiocy anymore? There are much more important things in life than who is going to be wed to who- "Papa, please! You never let me do anything. It's always 'you must finish your studies, young lady'! I hardly have any friends anymore. They are all petrified of you!"
Rin broke down into tears at his feet as she pleaded with her reclusive father. "I swear to you that I will not complain about my studies or the governess ever again. I'll be good!"
It broke his heart to see his beloved daughter so heart-sore over such a trifling matter. "Very well. You may go." When she looked up with such a radiant face, Sesshoumaru could not help but feel his heart lift as well. "You may go, but I will be in attendance as well. You will not be without a chaperone. Are we clear?"
"Oh yes, Father! Thank you!" She swept from his library in a flurry of gown and excitement, mumbling about what to dress in.
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Sesshoumaru tugged at the ruby tie around his neck in annoyance. The heavy, gilded fabric attached to it was making it difficult to breathe properly. But he knew he would do anything for his Rin. And she had done such a splendid job creating his wardrobe for the evening. Earlier, when she had handed the garments over to him, his daughter explained that he would be Count Dracula after nightfall.
There was only one thing left to do, before leaving the room, and that was the application of the make-up she desired him to wear. He looked down in disgust at the face paint.
"Are you almost through, Papa?" The muffled voice of his daughter, speaking through the door, startled him form the hasty idea of disposing of the atrocity. He quickly discarded the notion.
"Wait in the reception hall, Rin. I'll be there momentarily." Sesshoumaru lingered until he was sure that she had done as she was told. Then he began the application of the burgundy and indigo colorants to his face, like Rin had instructed.
Once completed, he stared into the mirror. Taking note of the way the cosmetics complimented the look, the man grudgingly commended Rin on a job well done.
Sesshoumaru prepared to depart his room, going over to the three candles lit by his bedside. Suddenly they guttered out, the smoke dissipating in the strong breeze that had blown the curtains open, allowing moonlight to spill into the room. He stopped, and felt the delicate hairs on his body raise, warning him.
The wind howled again, and he was reminded of the old woman's cry from yesterday.
Blind Kaede, a well-known local soothsayer, rose from the dark of a small side alley and threw herself at the feet of Sesshomaru in the wide avenue.
"Old Woman! Remove your filth from here this instant. I have no time for you!" He went to kick her out of the way, when she looked right into his eyes and froze him with her words.
"Beware the Serpent. Beware Spider! You will face your future on All Hallows' Eve! The Mirror never lies!"
Her shrill scream echoed inside of his mind, sinking to rest in his belly with an ominous feeling .Before he could do anything else, she scrambled to her feet and dashed away.
Sesshoumaru shook off the memory, and turned to quit the room. He came up short, however, when he saw movement in the mirror. Spinning around he faced the room, which was empty save for him.
Confused, he looked towards the mirror again and nearly collapsed in shock. There was a woman inside of the mirror! Without awareness, his feet took him closer to the mystery, until scant inches and glass separated them. Sesshoumaru raised a hand to touch her, and was knocked from his trance when he did not meet the warm flesh of her hand; instead he met the cool surface of his mirror.
Studying her upturned face, he found her to be beautiful. She held delicate features, surrounded by luxurious ebony hair, and had the most stunning, fathomless eyes he had ever witnessed. And they were so sad...
They were both unaware of how much time had passed, but suddenly the enigmatic woman glanced over her shoulder, grew terrified, and tried urgently to go through the mirror. Her shouts for help were not heard, but he felt each and every one, even as he tried on his side to get to her and answer her calls.
Despair filled him as he watched, helplessly, the woman be dragged away from him. She fought desperately against her unseen assailant, but proved powerless and was quickly taken from Sesshoumaru's sight.
She was gone.
He had never felt as empty, impotent and useless, as he did then. Not even when Rin's mother had died to bring her into the world, had he felt such a way.
Shaken to the quick, Sesshoumaru absently remembered that Rin was waiting on him. He looked one last time at the mirror, but she still was not there, and so he left the room.
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End Notes: So there are a few things I thought that I might make clearer. First, the whole mirror scene can be seen in Rikayu's amazing picture titled "SessKag--Mirror". I have also gotten permission from Rikayu, so no plagiarism has been committed in the making of the story.
Secondly, I played off of a common practice at the turn of the 20th century. Young women often, on Halloween, looked into a mirror in a dark room to try and see their future husband's image. At least that is what was on Wikipedia.I Wikipedia-ed "Halloween". (I don't own that either).