Disclaimer: The characters of Inuyasha belong to Rumiko Takahashi.. sad but true. :( I own nothing but yummy Leon and other original characters who MIGHT come out of nowhere in this fanfic~ *grins* oh! and I don't own the song "Eternal Snow" by Changin' My Life~
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The music played a cheerful tune as the people inside the ballroom danced merrily in the middle of the hall, as if choreographed and all in synchrony; like fairies dressed in flowing robes dancing under the moonlight in a luminous moon-lit lake.
People gathered around the center of the ball room. The younger ones danced with the music being played by the orchestra. The older ones watching them as they reminisce their youth.
It was not only the warmth of the brightness within the room that enhanced the joyful atmosphere but the laughter everywhere. Although there were a few scandalous figures attending the party and were invited despite their reputation, it was a merry night. How can it not be? It was to celebrate the engagement of the Duke’s daughter, the beloved young lady of Philia, Lady Kagome, to his ward.
The duke, a fair and honorable man, ruled his people justly and with equality. And for his kindness and good leadership, he was loved dearly by his people.
At a very young age, the duke was introduced to society and was burdened with huge responsibilities after his father was prematurely stolen from him by an illness no one expected to have touched him. At a very young age, he was expected to rule. He had to grow up earlier than most children his age. Thus, he was robbed of his childhood. But he was no stone-hearted man. Though he was serious in every form, he was kind and selfless … Loved by his people and by the family he supported through their most difficult times.
As expected of him, he married at a young age. Considering he was an only child, it was dangerous not to have an heir -- royalty and nobility alike. At first, he was presented with eligible women to wed. Women of high status; Women of standards: They all bore him, though. He was no happy child but he knew what WOULD made him happy and who sparks his interest. These women were dismissed as soon as they came, much to his advisors’ dismay… But one lady came to his household; a commoner. Though not entirely poor, they belong to a middle class family of noble lineage.
The lady was sent by her parents to work in his household as a governess. His usually uninterested façade broke down in crumbled shards upon meeting this young vivacious lady. And who would have known that of all the ladies he could have, he fell in love with one difficult woman. One so outright different from all the prim and proper ladies of nobility and royalty he was used to seeing. He experienced a difficult courtship trying to woe this young lady to marry him. But after a long time of convincing she finally gave him her "yes".
This young lady became the mother of his three wonderful children.
But fate was cruel. He spent his most wonderful moments with this lady for only a short time… only to have her taken away by an illness. He would forever mourn the death of his most beloved wife, and their memories together would haunt him until the last day of his life.
What he was not able to experience as a child, he allowed his children to have. He may have lacked a happy childhood but that does not give him the right to steal it from them. His wife loved their daughter dearly and spoiled her but not entirely. His wife would have wanted the best for her daughter and sons and the best was for them to have their own choices and live their life to the fullest. To have a choice like how her mother had her own.
“My sweet angel, are you not enjoying the evening?” Asked the duke, a glass of red wine in his right hand as he placed his free gentle hand on top of his daughter’s shoulder. The contact alerted the young lady of his presence and she looked up at her father with a wide smile. They were out in the balcony as they watched the merriment happening inside. The soft lights from the ball room gracing their skin, making them look as ethereal as people usually compliment them.
“I am fine, father. I have been dancing all night. The girls have been passing me around every man in this room hoping my fiancée would show at least a small sign of jealousy. If I knew it would be this tiring just to ignite his temper, I would not have agreed upon this game.” She laughed. Her father could hear the happiness in her.
“Your fiancée has never been the jealous type, my dear. I have never known him to be such. And you know he trusts you completely. It is a game you would definitely lose.” He chuckled and looked at the man they were speaking of who was standing in the middle of his friends, being congratulated and given secrets to a happy marriage, though he doubts that it was not entirely an innocent conversation. But he knew that his soon-to-be son-in-law was well disciplined and well mannered not to tolerate such indecency. Not even from his friends. Although all were of noble blood, their wealth made them arrogant and too adventurous. He brought him up to be someone well respected, not frolic around and give in to carnal temptations like most of his friends.
From the way his future son-in-law was blushing while his friends continued surrounding him and giving him tips and stories, he was more than sure that the young man was as innocent as his daughter. He didn’t really require his ward to be innocent at all; he would still have accepted his ward’s proposal for his daughter's hand in marriage even if he was no longer a virgin, but surprisingly so, he seemed like he never touched any other woman since meeting his daughter. He was not willing to give his daughter’s hand in marriage to no other man than his ward.
“Thank you, father. For giving us this freedom to marry… I know it caused a bit of a scandal… We were after all, brought up together since childhood, as siblings… But….”
“My dear, you know that your happiness is what matters to me most. I had my own reasons to object at first, but I found no reason why you should not marry him… I know he will be a perfect husband to you. He will make you happy and I know in my heart he will treasure you as I did. I trust no other man to give your hand in marriage to.” He pulled her close to his chest and smiled.
How time flied, he thought. He still remembered their childhood like it was yesterday. How he watched them play together in the fields. Even before his daughter realized how she truly felt for the young man, he always saw the twinkle of pure happiness in her eyes like a pair of shining diamonds. And just like watching time unfold in his eyes, he watched the development of their feelings for each other bloom into a beautiful kind of love.
He told her the truth. He would accept no one else and would not hand her daughter to anyone other than him. He knew the way the young man thinks. He knew his weaknesses and his strengths. Goodness, he brought him up like a father would a son! There was nothing he could hide from him.
“I am proud you chose well. Your mother would have been proud of you. She would have wanted to be here to pamper you with advices now that you’ve grown up to become a perfect young lady.” He kissed the top of her head and smiled fondly at remembering his late wife. She would have loved this occasion. His wife loved arranging parties, and he remembered her enthusiasm every time she organized one for the family.
He let her go when he saw her fiancée walking towards them, leaving his friends to discuss more about their conversation. He smiled at him and once he was near enough for him to reach, he pulled him close for a tight “manly” hug – as his daughter usually calls it. He noted how smaller this man is compared to his built. Although the Duke himself was bigger in size, his ward has a suitable built good enough to protect his daughter. He was lean but well toned, only hidden beneath layers of clothing. He knew, because he himself trained his ward in self defense, which was his favorite past time exercise from childhood. He always told him it didn’t hurt to be safe, so learning how to defend oneself and the people you love, even unarmed, would prove useful in the future.
“Congratulations once again, son!” He chuckled when he heard him gasp for air at the sudden deprivation.
He heard his daughter laugh beside him as she watched them. And in his arms, he felt his ward’s vibrating laughter. He heard him muffle a ‘thank you’.
“Father, don’t suffocate my dear fiancée, I want him alive for our marriage.” She joked and her father freed his ward who immediately took her hand and gave her a small peck on the lips. It was an understanding that they were not so public about their affections. Only holding hands and a simple peck on their lips were what they normally share while in public. He looked affectionately at her and smiled apologetically.
“Sorry for taking so long. My friends wouldn’t let me go. And you were so busy dancing with everyone I couldn’t interrupt you.”
“Oh, I was in need of a savior. My ladies were so fixed with their games on us. Did you not even feel a least bit jealous?” She spoke in a playful tone and smirked.
“I trust you, Kags. And I am confident that I’m the only man who will ever receive special treatment from you, jealousy is an inappropriate feeling for an insecure and an unsatisfied man.”
"You became smarter in one night. Are the advisor's guilty of this?"
“I believe I shall see to the other guests. I do not desire being eaten by hungry ants in your presence.” He laughed and kissed his daughter and patted his ward on his shoulder before leaving to entertain their older guests. He was immediately surrounded by socialites who want nothing but his attention. He couldn’t brush them off. He didn’t want to cause a scene on his daughter and ward’s special party.
“You were saying something about a game, my lovely fiancée?”
“Oh, it’s a secret between ladies. Would you even answer me if I asked what you guys were talking about that had you blushing like a ripe tomato? Hmm?” She playfully poked at his chest with a playful grin and giggled. He just feigned a frown and held her hand tighter. He smiled when she saw the look in her eyes that spelled her undying love.
“Young Master..” Someone called from behind them and they both looked behind only to find their friend holding a camera in his hands, ready to click and take a stolen shot. Their friend took a close up shot of him smiling as he was looking behind and his fiancée laughed at him being victimized.
“Leon! I’m glad you could come!” He ignored his friend’s successful attempt of a stolen shot to pull him for a friendly embrace, exchanging pats on their backs.
“I left home a little late, sire.” Leon let him go and looked at them both with a small smile. He was always the type of person who rarely showed any expression. The couple was always considered lucky for them to be the only ones who saw his smiles, much to his admirers’ dismay. It was then a trend for his admirers to attempt on obtaining even a small hint of emotion from him – even if it was irritation.
“Oh, please! Cut the formalities. I’ve always told you not to call me that.. You are an important friend to me and Kagome.” He smiled and looked at Kagome and saw her nodding with a smile.
“Leon, Thank you for the stolen shot. I will surely have Lady Sango develop it life-sized as soon as possible for my collection” Kagome giggled as she took the camera from Leon.
“Another piece of art for me” She spoke as if she received another piece of precious antique art. She gave her fiancée a mischievous smile.
She was fond of collecting art, mostly paintings featuring beautiful and elegant people in history, mythical creatures written in mythology books, and she was also very fond of paintings of angels and faeries. She was well known for being very critical of arts’ details, she was always straightforward with her criticism but every time she does, she does not miss out appreciating every single bit of beauty within it. She collected pieces of art since childhood and even had a whole art gallery for herself where she could keep her collection for visitors to see.
Although her fiancé was known for being handsome with boyish charms since childhood, she didn’t admire but she noticed it indeed. Although a tough critic of arts featuring beautiful people, she was not one to judge a person based on their looks. She was a lady who was more aware of people’s intentions and their heart.
As time went by, she noticed how beautiful a man her fiancée was becoming. Not that he was anything less than handsome since childhood, but his beauty kept enhancing day by day. He was always known as the “Charming Ward of Philia”. Sometimes she envied how prettier he was compared to her or any other women, which he always denied; but he could not prevent people to see him as someone blessed with beauty and manly elegance.
One day, she saw her fiancée reading documents out in the gardens under the sun while having coffee, and it caught her off-guard. His platinum silver hair was bathing in the sunlight, giving it shine and sparkle. She thought her eyes failed her when she thought his hair was shimmering under the sunlight but knew she wasn’t. His skin was radiant and his long lashes were cast downside as he read. She couldn’t see his clear amber eyes but she knew his eyes were fixed upon what he was reading. Sometimes when he would look at her, she thought he was always mad about something, but his prominent dark brows have always been like that since childhood. His nose was perfectly carved, not too hooked and not too inward, cute and small, it was something she wanted her children to have one day: that perfectly carved nose of his.
She saw and appreciated his beauty since childhood, but she has never really been so attentive in a romantic way about his looks. She brought out her camera and took a photo of him silently without him knowing and since then she kept a collection of his pictures like she did with art. For her, he was even more precious and beautiful than art. Although she was no professional photographer, he always looked perfect in any shot she took. It was like he could pull out any angle and not worry about best angles.
“Kagome! So it was YOUR idea?!” She heard her fiancée fake a whine but heard the amusement in him. Although he was no fan of photography and having his picture taken, he did allow Kagome to take pictures of him, only when he was aware of it. Whenever she would sneak up at him somewhere, she thought she was doing a good job hiding from him like a stalker but he always knew what she was up to with a camera in hand. But it was unlike her to conspire with Leon like that.
“I am no dull lady, my dear. I was merely building time and the right opportunity to have a close up stolen shot of you. I am glad Leon agreed to help me.” She laughed and both men smiled at their very playful lady.
Both men knew how strict she was with following rules and proper decorum and etiquette, but she was not one who would fall behind when it comes to playing games and having fun. She was unlike most noble ladies who would rather sew, chit chat or shop til they drop. They remember her declining an offer to dine with noble ladies downtown and have some girl time, just so she could go out on the fields with Leon, her brothers and her fiancée to ride their horses like young men on an adventure in the woods. And she was always honest with herself. She wouldn’t put herself in activities that she didn’t like if it wasn’t required or ordered by her father. She seriously enjoyed activities involving “actual” activity.
“Yes, indeed. And I have Leon here to prove how unlady-like you have been while I was away for college, Kags.” He threatened with a grim smile.
Leon just smiled, obviously amused with her fiancée’s threat and their usual playful bickering.
The three decided to come inside from their spot in the balcony and mingle with the guests. Kagome and her fiancée held each others’ hand until the party ended; only splitting when shaking hands with guests. It was as clear as crystal water that the two were deeply in love.
As the night went on, the music never stopped. The incessant laughter engulfed the ballroom. And the dancing continued on like chains of events put together in one night. Kagome smiled as she looked up at her fiancée who was laughing with their friends. How blessed she was to be with him. She thanked God for gracing her with such happiness and was forever grateful for her chance at a wonderful marriage, something most nobles weren’t blessed with. She fought hard for it and endured the difficulties, she thought herself worthy of her prize. Her most beloved fiancée.
When she was but a child, she heard stories about her parents’ love story from her grandparents and desired to have the same kind of love her parents had. She never could have imagined she would find one with him…
Her fiancée looked down at her and smiled affectionately. There was always something in his eyes that made her knees weak whenever he looked at her like that. He lowered his face down and whispered in her ears words only she could hear. Only she would hear…
“I love you…”
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A/N: Hi guys! This is my first time writing a fanfic even though I've been reading fanfics for years. This idea came to me like months ago but didn't have the time to really work on it. Characters may be OC and I'll be presenting original characters of mine(Leon already made a debut XD). I don't have a beta yet so any help would be wonderful! :3 As for udpates, I can't promise a regular update as I'm still reviewing for my NCLEX exam(big day happens on June 20!). Soooo, updates will be random. Don't worry, our beloved Sesshy will make his grand entrance preeeetttyyy soon... I think.. o.0
Aaaannd, in addition. Some of you may notice that the title seems familiar. Yes, I based it on "Changin' My Life's" song "Eternal Snow". I was listening to it over and over again when this story came to me and I just had to FINALLY write it. The song made me feel the loneliness and the sadness love can give us. (won't say anything more, I'm not spilling the beans ;P).