Chapter 1: Between Friends.
She didn't know why she kept the stupid thing but she realized that had she gotten rid of it, she would have saved herself a whole ton of trouble.
"So what do you plan to do?" Miroku asked his very angry friend.
"I don't have a clue." Inuyasha said as they made their way quickly across the crowed terminal.
"Kikyo chose a prime time to…"
"I know. I know. How am I supposed to explain to everybody that I'm not getting married in two days?"
"Just tell them it didn't work out."
"And then I have to wait until I meet someone else who wants to marry me. I can't do that Miroku. I've worked too damn hard to get where I am today."
"So what's the plan?"
"I don't kn-oomph!" He had been so preoccupied with his situation he hadn't been paying much attention to his surroundings. "Watch where you're going!" he said crossly.
"No matter how hard I try to make you polite, you're still a rude jerk." The familiar voice said breathlessly.
"Kags?"
"Obviously." She said brushing her raven locks out of her face. "Nice to see you too, Inuyasha." She said smiling at him now.
"How've you been?" he said, his mind slightly muddled.
"You mean since we had lunch yesterday?" she said teasingly as she ruffled his own raven hair.
"Don't be cheeky." He said pouting.
"Fine. I'm doing okay. Just got back from my business trip." She said.
"Have you slept yet?" he said concerned. He remembered that he had been the one to drop her off at the airport in the early hours of the morning.
"You're not my keeper, Inuyasha. I'm a big girl." She glanced for the first time at the spectator they had. "Miroku." She said politely. She didn't really know the silent man. She knew only that he was now Inuyasha's closet friend. Next to her of course.
She raised her left hand to brush away some stray locks of hair and she felt both men focus on the ring that rested comfortably on her middle finger.
"What?" she said catching the meaningful glance they gave each other before returning their gaze to her.
"Can I speak to you over there?"
"Sure." She said. She'd never been one to refuse the man.
"I have a proposition for you." He said.
"What kind?" she said a dull ringing warning her of a change in her little world.
"I want you to marry me in two days." Everything went quiet for her. She considered that this was her overactive imagination. She wasn't gonna lie and claim that she hadn't dreamed of marrying Inuyasha since their make-believe wedding when she was five – one year his junior.
"Is this some sort of sick joke?" she said suddenly angry. "Because unless I'm mistaken, you're supposed to marry my cousin Kikyo." That stung more than ever now since he chose her cousin over her.
"We broke up."
"What?"
"Well, actually she dumped me for Naraku." He said slowly.
"First of all, eww." She shuddered. "Secondly, I'm not going to marry you. You just broke up with your girlfriend of ten years."
"How about if we make it a bet?" he said and Kagome saw the desperation before he concealed it.
"Why are you really doing this?" he opened his mouth to speak then she stopped him. "Is this so you can get your share of daddy's company?" she said incredulously.
"Well-"
"Can't you just pay-"
"I'd much rather marry someone I can live with." He said before she could cut him off again. "It's not like we haven't been married before." He said smiling.
"Don't play!" she said poking him but smiling nonetheless. Remembering that he had proposed a bet she reverted to that. "You said something about a bet?"
"A race." He said.
"A race? You know I'll beat you." Kagome said slightly disappointed he would choose a sport she excelled at. In fact, it was how she got him to marry her that first and only time.
"What have you got to lose then?" Unfortunately, she couldn't think of a reason not to risk it. The worst that could happen was she'd win and miss marrying him.
"I'll take the bet." She said. "We'll race tonight at the arena." She said then walked off.
"You said you'd do what?" Sango said still not believing her ears.
"I said I'd-why am I repeating myself? You heard every word."
"I know. I'm just hoping you'll see how illogical and well-stupid this is." Sango said. "Didn't you tell me that this Inuyasha has been your secret crush since forever?" Kagome nodded. "Right. This same Inuyasha chose your cousin, the cousin that looks like your long lost twin and was going to marry her up until she dumped him." Kagome nodded. "And don't you-"
"Sango." Kagome whined throwing a pillow over her head. "I know all the reasons I shouldn't be challenging this bet. But I still wanna do it. Even if I know I'll win."
"Kagome, I don't wanna see you do something you'll regret." Sango said softly.
"You mean like you passing up your childhood sweetheart?"
"Well-yes." Sango said.
"You still haven't told me who he is, you know." Kagome said smiling.
"And I'm not gonna. Besides he's probably married and happy with a country of kids by now." Sango smiled sadly. "Anyway, I'll be there to cheer you on."
"Good. We need to leave so I can warm up." Kagome said grabbing a bottle of water.
"Okay. Let's go." Sango said trailing behind her very impulsive friend.
At the arena, Kagome stretched while Inuyasha just stood around as he always did. "You ready?" she said to him.
"As ready as I can be." He smiled.
"Okay. Let's do this." The official nodded then prepared to start the race.
In the stands, Sango sat nibbling at her fingers. "I thought my eyes were deceiving me when I looked up and saw you sitting her." A voice she had long since crossed off her list said. She sat, facing the track where her friend prepared to decide her future all the while afraid to look lest her heart give out. "I know you're not shy, Sango." He said in that voice that charmed her in more ways than she wished to count.
"Miroku." She said with a voice that belied none of the tension she felt. She looked at him and was grieved to see that the years did nothing to dampen her deep attraction to the brute.
"You're beautiful as ever, fair Sango."
"What are you doing here?" She asked ignoring the compliment.
"I'm here to cheer on my best friend, Inuyasha as he hopes to claim the hand of a fair damsel in marriage."
"What a coincidence. I'm here to cheer on Kagome."
"Hmm." He said smiling at her. "Who do you suppose will win?" he said glancing at the pair as they got down on hands and knees.
"Kagome was always a track star. But I don't know…" she trailed off.
"Inuyasha is no slouch either." The pop was heard and the two made their way around the two hundred – metre stretch. Sango sat at the edge of her seat when they came to the home stretch. Miroku was equally tense.
Kagome deliberately lagged for reasons she didn't wish to admit at that point. When she realized what she was doing, she sped up. Frustration turned to surprise when she couldn't close the gap. Damn. She dug deep and pushed her legs as fast as they could go managing to close the gap. But not soon enough. Inuyasha had crossed the finished line.
She started to collapse in exhaustion but Inuyasha stopped this fall. "You okay?" he said. She examined his face tiredly. Not even one drop of sweat. He wasn't even breathing hard.
"You cheated. I don't know how, but I know you did." She said before resting her head on his chest.
The next day was a flurry of activity as Inuyasha gave orders for the bride's name to be changed on everything. New invitations were sent out stating an error on the part of the company who printed them. Kagome chose a dress randomly. Or so she claimed. She didn't have to change her bridesmaids since they were her family also. She added only Sango as her maid of honour. All too soon, the twenty-four hour gap between her and Inuyasha's matrimonial union passed and Kagome chose now to panic.
"What the hell was I thinking?" she raged. "Why didn't you talk me out of this?" she railed at Sango.
"I tried but you wouldn't listen. You can still walk out."
"How? He's my best friend. I can't do that to him." She said in despair. Sango stopped her mid pace and framed her face.
"Look at me." Sang said as calmly a she could. "Do you want this?"
"Ever since he gave this stupid ring when I was five." Kagome said.
Sango nodded. "Can you do this?"
"I don't know." Kagome said near tears.
"Kags, I know you want this and I won't tell you not to do it but make sure you're not holding on to a fantasy best left as that – a fantasy."
"Can't I have my dream wedding?"
"If you want this, I'll march out there right now and wait for you at the end of the aisle with him."
"If not?"
"I'll march out and tell him to walk down the aisle without you. If you're not out there in five minutes, I'll know you're decision." Kagome nodded then watched her friend walk out.
Five minutes later, Sango leaned over to give Inuyasha the crushing blow. The first chord of the wedding march stalled her delivery. She looked down the aisle to see Kagome walking towards them.
Inuyasha was on pins and needled when he didn't see Kagome waiting at the door behind Sango. Relief flooded him when she approached elegantly to the sounds of the traditional wedding march. The rest of what happened was a blur to him because all of sudden, beyond reason, Kagome became his whole world. On autopilot, he gave the requisite answers and then took her hand, depositing the ring he had carefully selected for her. He'd returned the ring he bought for Kikyo. He watched the delight in Kagome's eyes when she gazed at the ring.
Kagome was shocked and pleased beyond words when he slid the ring onto her finger. The emerald twinkled back at her as it nested among the sapphires and diamonds. Her favourite colours. She heard the pastor announce the kiss, the papers long since signed. She leaned forward and touched her lips to his. What should have been her happiest moment was overshadowed by a premonition of trouble. Her mask of happiness, however, did not slip.
The reception was a blur for her. She suspected it was the same for Inuyasha who seemed inordinately distracted. He barely said a word to her. She left his side to chat with Sango while she watched him walk towards Izayoi.
"You married her and you haven't told her?"
"I'll tell her when I want to." He said angrily.
"That's a mistake, Inuyasha." Izayoi said just as angrily. "You owed it to her to be honest about -"
"Hi." Kagome interrupted when she saw how intense they were. She'd never seen Izayoi angry with her precious son before. It made Kagome's heart flutter in fear. "Is everything okay?" She said looking between them.
"Just fine." Inuyasha said. "Let's dance." With that, he forced Kagome to dismiss her new mother-in-law.
"I'm tired." Kagome said after the fourth dance.
"You wanna go?"
"You're so smart." She said sarcastically.
"No lip from you." He said pinching her. She squeaked and glared at him. "I'll announce it. Thankfully we did all the thank-yous hours ago."
She smiled as Inuyasha made announced their departure and then succumbed to the hugs and kisses before he pulled her out to the waiting car.
They drove in silence to the airport. Kagome's sleeping had a lot to do with this. The flight was just as quiet since he hadn't bothered to wake her. When they landed, he nudged her awake and they drove in uncomfortable silence to the hotel deemed their honeymoon spot.
He carried her piggy back since she was almost asleep on her feet anyway. This changed the moment he set her down in the suite. She stared at the bed that spoke of night to come. A night she dreaded. And no, she wasn't a virgin. It struck her as funny that the same person she lost her virginity she was suddenly so shy with.
"You feeling okay?" Inuyasha said. "You look kind of queasy."
"I'm fine." She said stonily. He rolled his eyes at her.
"We don't have to have sex you know." He said bluntly.
"Curse you for reading my mind." She sighed then looked at him. "We should get this over with though." She said clinically.
"Get this-" he couldn't even say it. "Kags, this isn't some ritual. If you don't wanna-"
"I said I'll do it." She said almost shouting.
"No." Inuyasha said though his loins were protesting.
"What?"
"Kaggy, you're my friend first." He said softly as he hugged her. "Wife second. I can tell you don't wanna do this. Besides, you're tired. We'll wait until we're both comfortable with this arrangement." He said for lack of a better word. "Okay?" He asked. He felt her nod against his chest before wrapping her hands around him.
Eventually she went to the bathroom to clean up. But not before Inuyasha helped her with the tiny buttons on the back of her dress. Alone, facing her taut face, she almost cried in relief and disappointment. She had wanted to consummate the marriage but it didn't feel right. Her mind traveled back to her first time. Inuyasha had been as surprised as she was when he had grabbed her and kissed her during one of their famous arguments. After the initial shock, they'd made short work of the other's clothes then a soft bliss fell over her. He had been so tender, especially when he sensed her pain after initial penetration. She was eternally grateful. That had been the night that cemented in her mind their fated union. It had also been the night that threatened her sanity. Kikyo had been a permanent fixture in Inuyasha's life from that point on. Her casual dismissal of what had happened ultimately scarred her. Inuyasha needed no more encouragement to foster his devotion to the girl that would leave him for another. She wondered now if he saw her and Kikyo. Did he use her as a convenient substitute until the one he had intended to marry returned to him? She dressed slowly after her shower and went back into the room where Inuyasha was stretched out under the covers.
"Feeling better?" he asked though he already knew the answer. She looked devastatingly innocent. Just like that night. He almost cringed when he remembered her flippant attitude towards it the next day. He had intended to ask her to be his girlfriend but her blasé, even angry attitude put him on the fast track to courting her cousin. He almost groaned at the tender memory of her eyes as they looked up at him trustingly in the shadows of his childhood room.
"Yeah." She said. She climbed into the bed careful not to make too much movement. She turned on her side and feigned sleep.
Her mind drifted to the first night she had climbed into a bed beside him. It had been raining and her five year old mind was terrified of the thunder. Every time she screamed, her father had yelled an expletive at her. When she tried to crawl into her father's bed for comfort, her flung her by her hair through the open door. She had been too stunned to cry. Scared even. So she did the next best thing. She climbed out her window and into Inuyasha's room. Two storeys down and two up. Inuyasha hadn't even stirred. She snuggled up to him and he threw his arm around her. The videotape that Sesshomaru, her new brother-in-law would haunt her for years.
She peeked at the clock and saw two hours had passed during her walk through her memories.
"You can stop pretending to sleep." Inuyasha said making her jump.
"Why?"
"It's annoying." He complained. He pulled her towards him making her squeak in surprise. "Go to sleep." He said as he nuzzled the back of her neck.
"But-"
"Sleep." He commanded.
It was an effort not to turn around and kiss him. She wanted to. But couldn't. She closed her eyes and prayed for sleep. Thankfully, it came.
When she woke up, she was staring up into his eyes. It was a familiar thing to wake up to though in the light of marriage it was unnerving.
"You gotta stop watching me when I sleep." She said sleepily.
"I can't help it. I have to enjoy you when you're mouth is shut." He said cheekily.
"Ha ha." She said. "Can I get up now?"
"Not quite." He said coming down on top of her fully. "I'm afraid I'd embarrass us both." He said when she felt his erection pressing at her.
"You pervert." She said.
"Only with you." He laughed then rolled off her. "What you wanna eat?"
"Your heart." She said cheekily.
"Psycho." He muttered. The phone rang and he muttered something she couldn't hear.
"Hello?" he waited while the other person spoke. "We just got here!" He exclaimed. "You expect me to-" he paused. "That's not fair to her- fine!" he slammed the phone and turned to face her.
"What's wrong?" she said rising and crossing to him. She felt the anger rolling off him. "Inuyasha?"
"We have to go back."
"When?"
"Now. The plane's already here." He said.
"Okay." She said. "Let's go then."
"You're okay with this?"
"We'll be fine. Since we're married, we have plenty of time together." She said.
"Okay." He said. "Go get dressed. I'll make arrangements fro the bags to be sent after us."
"Okay."
The flight back was as silent as the first. It had more to do with Inuyasha's refusal to speak to her for some reason. He dropped her off at her apartment where she wept heavily once he was gone. She then got up, made herself eat something that tasted suspiciously like paper. Then she made herself presentable for her husband's return. A small task. Usually. Today, however, took her over five hours. When the bell chimed, she was in a place of calm hysteria.
Inuyasha took one look at her face and saw the turmoil in her chocolate eyes. He smiled at her and hugged her. "You don't have to pretend like you aren't terrified of what we've gotten ourselves into."
"I don't?"
"Nah. This is us." He said and she nodded. "We'll be fine." He hugged her again. "Now-" he was cut short by the doorbell.
"I'll get that. You go relax." She said stiffly. She moved to the door. The next few minutes where a maelstrom of realizations. "Ho-Hojo." She swallowed and almost choked.
"Kagome! I haven't been so happy to see you." He grabbed her by her waist and spun her around in the air. She held on for dear life, as she slammed further into reality. Even more so when he kissed her. She didn't have time to react. It didn't matter anyway. Inuyasha was clearing his throat and her lips were free.
"Someone I should meet?" he said casually as he drank his water. He eyed Hojo suspiciously and Kagome thought she saw a trace of jealously in his eyes.
"Inuyasha-"
"This is the Inuyasha?" Hojo said. "Great to meet you man." He said shaking Inuyasha's hand. "Kagome speaks highly of you."
"I wish I could say I've heard of you." Inuyasha said.
"This is my boyfriend, Hojo." She said wishing the headache she felt would kill her. She watched his eyebrows disappear under his bangs.
"Boyfriend? Being your best friend didn't warrant me such news?" Inuyasha said provokingly.
"We just started dating." Hojo supplied unaware of the undercurrents.
"Really? Then we have something in common."
"Oh yeah?" Hojo said.
"Inuyasha, I'd like to speak with Hojo. Alone." She said.
"Whatever." He went back into the kitchen leaving her alone with a killer head and Hojo.
It occurred to her that during her listings of why she couldn't and shouldn't marry Inuyasha, Hojo had never crossed her mind. Not once. She also realized that she had only agreed to go out with him a week before Inuyasha's marriage. When she thought she had lost all hope of being with Inuyasha.
"You should sit down." She said when she realized Hojo was waiting expectantly. He did. "Hojo, I can't see you anymore." She said.
"Why not?" he said frowning.
"I-uh-sorta got married?" he looked at her and laughed.
"Come off it Kagome. I won't fall for that. What's really going on?"
She cleared her throat. "I'm-I'm not joking, Hojo. I really did get married. To Inuyasha."
"But-" he paused and looked at her. "I've only been gone two days." He exclaimed.
"I'm so sorry."
"I didn't even have a chance. Did I?"
"Hojo-"
"I-I really hope you get what's' coming to you. You're truly selfish."
"Hojo!"
"That's a mild version of what I really want to say." He warned. "I'll see you at work." He made his angry exit.
"Kagome?"
"I've totally messed my life up." She said.
"Kags-"
"Don't 'Kags' me." She said angrily. "You knew I couldn't say no to you. You knew it!"
"Now wait-"
"How many times have I opened myself to you and you took advantage of-" she screamed in frustration.
"I have never taken advantage of you Kagome." He said just as angrily.
"Oh really? How about when they dared you to kiss someone and you kissed me? How about when they dared you to steal underwear and you stole mine. Or how about you slept with me then went out with my cousin the very next day!"
"First of all I kissed you because I didn't want my first kiss to be with just some girl. You didn't complete the dare. I just made sure I kissed you first. Second of all, I didn't show anybody your underwear. That was Kouga. And thirdly, I asked you what you thought about what happened between us that night. You brushed me off. So I went out with the next best thing. Your damn cousin who cheated on me every chance she got!"
"You're saying this is my fault?"
"No!" he yelled. "Look-"
"I can't speak to you right now." She said wearily. "I want you to go."
"I'm not leaving like this."
"Leave!" she yelled.
"No." he said.
"Fine then I'll leave." She made to leave but he grabbed her.
"Don't leave like this." He pleaded. He never liked seeing her angry.
"Inuyasha!"
"You know you can't stay mad at me." He said softly. "I didn't want you mad at me."
She deflated. "I am mad at you. But I'm mad at myself too." She said sagging against him and allowing herself to be propelled to the couch.
"I'm a jerk. I know." He said.
"Yes you are." She said. "If it had been another girl, would you have asked her?"
"No." He said and it was the truth. "Look, I'm married to you and we can make this work. Can't we?"
"I guess." She said.
"Do you wanna stay married to me?" he asked.
She thought for a moment. This was her way out. She wondered now if someone was telling her to get out of this farce. She ran the thought over in her mind. "I-"
"It's okay. I get the picture. I'll call my lawyer. He'll-"
"Inuyasha, I'll give it a try."
"Of course. He'll make sure you're fully compensated for-" he looked at her and blinked. "What did you just say?"
"I said I'd give this thing a shot." She repeated. "There could be worse things than being married to you." She teased lightly.
"Ha Ha." He said.
"We'll see where this goes and if it works then great. If not, then I hope we're still friends after this."
"Even if you ran me over with a car, we'd still be friends."
"Don't give me ideas to get rid of you." She said ruffling his hair.
"Hey!" he said using his fingers to comb through the mess she had just made.
"How about we start this thing off with a real date." She suggested.
"Sounds like a plan." He said. "We'll go to the ramen shop and-" he stopped when she giggled.
"Ramen?" she laughed outright now. "Only you would suggest ramen for the first date." She laughed again. The more he pouted, the more she laughed.
"Stop laughing."
"You're not making it easy for me." She said breathlessly.
"If you don't, I'm going to kiss you." He said. She choked on her laugh and sobered right up. "I'll have to figure out why that always shuts you up." He added thoughtfully as he walked to her.
"Maybe I just prefer not to be kissed." She said backing up.
"I think its more than that." He said still advancing. He had that look in his eye that never failed to terrify her.
"Now, Inuyasha-" she fell over into the couch while a triumphant Inuyasha grinned. "Please, Inuyasha, I'm begging you."
"Begging me? For what?" he dove at her, his fingers arched for the inevitable tickle fest.
"No!" she squealed. She writhed beneath his tormenting fingers, her lungs screaming for air. "Please-" she laughed. "Inuya-ha-ha-ha!"
"Are you sorry for laughing at me?" he asked still tickling her.
"Y-y-yes." She laughed.
"Good." He said then kissed her on her nose. He helped her up. "We'll have the ramen here."
"I agree. I'd hate to have to be wiping your chin for you in public." She snickered.
"Kagome." He warned a growl emanating from him. Sometimes, she swore it sounded very primal.
"Fine. Fine. I'll call the shop. You go change into comfortable clothes." He nodded. He heard making the call in that polite voice of hers.
"Maybe we can make this work after all."