Kagome

I silently followed Sesshoumaru through a pair of huge wooden doors into a dining room that looked like it came straight out of a movie. The walls had subtle gold wall paper, framed with wooden carvings to give the room elegance. A fireplace was located at the end of the room with a huge mirror hanging just above it. Waiters stood at pillars, waiting to serve the family. I stared up at the chandelier for a few moments before being pinched by Sesshoumaru.

I looked at the huge table in the center of the room and saw a regal man at the head of the table in a suit. His long, silver hair was tied back in a long pony tail and his golden eyes held depth and age that Sesshoumaru's did not. Beside him was a woman with large brown eyes and long, smooth black hair. She had it pulled back so that it framed her face, but stayed out of her way. She seemed less regal and more friendly than the rest of the family. I looked to the other side of the regal man and saw a younger guy, probably 17, who looked a lot like Sesshoumaru. His face, however, showed more emotion than Sesshoumaru could ever imagine existed.

He looked angry.

I gave a curtsy to the regal man, assuming he was InuTaisho. He gave me a huge grin.

"Kagome, I am so glad you could make it. Please, come sit next to my wife."

I walked towards the woman and waited as a maid pulled my chair out for me. I sat down and stared intensely at her. After a few moments, she finally looked up at me in confusion.

"Yes, Kagome?"

"So can I call you mommy?"

I heard her breathe in deeply. Thinking I had annoyed her, I let a smile slip. To my surprise, her eyes started to water and she threw her arms around me, hugging me tightly against her bosom.

"Of course you can! Oh, I've waited all my life to be called mommy! InuYasha won't give me the pleasure of such an honor! And I've always wanted a baby girl!" She realized that she was over reacting, and quickly pulled away from me, turning to her husband with her lips pouting. He looked at her with overwhelming concern, and gave her a nod. She clapped her hands together and grinned at me. "You can call me mommy! Yay!"

I lost my smile, suddenly lacking enthusiasm. "Great", I said.

I glanced to Sesshoumaru, who was analyzing my every move. He seemed annoyed. His face gave little away, but his eyes subtly displayed his feelings. I then looked to InuYasha, who just seemed distracted. I noticed that he had given into temptation and had started listening to some rock music on an IPOD. His head was bobbing up and down. I realized that if he could get away with that at a dinner, it would probably take bigger antics to make them think I was incompetent.

"So..." I started. "Seshoemoo told me I can have all the money I want if I marry him. I hope that's true. I'm a huge money lover." I grinned at InuTaisho as I made my declaration.

I heard his wife choke on her food in surprise, but was taken aback when InuTaisho smiled at me.

"Yes, you may. You'll be a part of our family, Kagome. What is ours will be yours." He gently tapped his wife on the back to help her from choking. Once she was able to breathe, she too gave me a smile, but hers was halfhearted and distressed.

"Could you excuse us for a moment?" Sesshoumaru stood up, bowing slightly to his parents. "Kagome and I need to talk." He looked at me, signaling the necessity of my compliance. When InuTaisho nodded his approval, I stood and followed Sesshoumaru out of the room.

"Kagome..."

"I know, Sesshoumaru, I'm messing up the evening and you'll never be able to get married. I'm sorry, I'm just so nervous!"

"Kagome, you are purposely doing this, and that is fine." I blinked. He moved in closer to me, his nose almost touching my own. "I can easily replace you with millions of different shameless women who want a chance to marry me. Ruin this, and you only hurt your chances of having a rich man. I can find another candidate easily."

He pulled away and walked back into the dining room. I followed him, feeling broken. My plans weren't working on his dad, though I was certain I had convinced his mother I was a gold digger. Sesshoumaru was also my only chance at a rich life. He could care less about my presence in a time when people are so concerned with love.

"Sorry", I murmured, taking my seat again.

"So, I was hoping the wedding could take place in three days. It will take preparations, and you should contact your family. I think three days is enough." I looked at InuTaisho in shock. I could barely determine whether or not I should call the whole thing off, much less agree to such a thing.

"She can", Sesshouaru answered for me. I realized by his stare that as his soon-to-be wife, I had lost my say in my life decisions.

"Yeah", I breathed.

"Excellent. I will get the maids on that as soon as the evening is over." InuTaisho looked at his son proudly. "I'm excited. This will be great for my business."

"rape meeeeeeee..." We all snapped our heads in the direction of InuYasha, silence filling up the room. He continued to bob his head to his music before realizing we were staring at him. "Uhm yeah?", he questioned, removing his headphones.

"Son... what did you just say?"

"Ew, dad it's a song. Get with the program." InuYasha stood, frustrated, and walked out. We all waited for the slam of his door before sharing a good laugh. Except for Sesshoumaru, of course. He merely sighed and continued eating.

-XOXO-

"Your parents are nice", I managed to say, sitting down on a chair in the den at their house. After dinner, InuTaisho had excused himself for business and Sesshoumaru's mother had insisted that we go and spend some time together.

Sesshoumaru looked down at me. "You're still here? I thought it was clear that I have no intentions of speaking with you unless it is absolutely necessary."

I pouted. I at least wanted to know a little bit more about my fiance than just his name. I barely knew that.

"Please, just tell me a little bit about yourself then I'll leave. Promise!" I smiled at him. He grimaced ever so slightly.

"Please do not smile."

I frowned and breathed in deeply. He was useless. I couldn't get through to him.

"You know how the typical plot element in stories is to have a guy who is ice cold and a girl with enough personality to warm him up?"

Silence.

"Yeah, well anyway, I'm not that warm girl. I'm just as cold as you, ice box, and so you're going to be your miserable self until the day you die. Are you happy with that?"

Silence.

"Right. But if you open up to me a bit, maybe I can open up to you. It's simple. Just tell me your favorite color."

"Why would I waste my precious life and time on contemplating preferred colors? Even your mediocre and unnecessary life is worth more than that."

"Thanks, I think."

I watched him as he picked up a business magazine, flipping through it quickly.

"So you like business."

Silence.

"My favorite color is yellow. Just in case you were curious."

When he failed to respond, I sighed and stood, deciding that was my cue.

"Alright, bye." I waved violently, but got no reaction. I turned and left, not wanting to waste the rest of my evening.

"Kagome."

I stopped and turned, going back eagerly.

"Yes? You've decided on a favorite color?"

"Say goodbye to your mom tonight. My father intends for you to move in tomorrow so that you can adjust to the house more easily after the wedding."

My heart and stomach dropped at his words, and I found myself stumbling out of the house.

-XOXO-

"Mommy", I whined as I followed her out of the kitchen. "How can you be okay with this? Your little girl is leaving!"

"My little girl is at the prime age for marriage. Right out of high school to a rich man, Kagome. It will bring honor to our family. You know that. And I will be able to live peacefully, as will you." She looked me over and smiled warmly. "I will miss you, though. You remind me of your father so much, Kagome."

I opened my arms to give her a hug. My eyes watered as I breathed in her scent. My mother had always smelled like fresh roses, ever since I was a kid. It was a smell I would miss like crazy in the mansion. Te feel of her arms around me was also a feeling I wasn't sure I could go on without. I knew she was hugging me gently, but I also knew she was holding back. She didn't want me to leave any more than I myself wanted to.

"Mom, what if I never see you again?"

"You're ridiculous." She pulled away and looked me in the eyes, pursing her lips as she resisted the urge to cry. She kissed me on the forehead lightly. "I will make sure they let me see you."

She turned from me and went into the kitchen. I heard her moving things around before she came back, carrying a mug of warm milk and a huge photo album. I followed her to the couch and sat beside her, cuddling up to her like I did when I was a child. She flipped the book open and looked at the pictures with pride.

"See this picture?" She pointed to a picture of me when I was a new born, crying like a tween when they first learned that the Justina Beaver or whatever her name is (Justin Beiber) concert in their town is sold out. I nodded. "This is when you were first born and your dad had just cut your umbilical cord. I remember your shrill cries when you were first born like it was thirty seconds ago."

She flipped through thee pages, pointing out the important ones.

"See this one?" I looked at the picture. It was of me when I was about four, crying and pointing at something not in the picture. "This is when Miroku thought it would be funny to try on one of your dresses and play with your barbies." She giggled and pointed to a photo next to that one showing Miroku in one of my cute pink dresses with my dolls, his mouth open because he was yelling at my mom to not take the picture. I laughed and wrapped my arms around her.

"Kagome, you have to call, okay?" I could hear that she was crying. I tightened my arms around her and nodded. I felt tears run down my cheeks.

"I will call whenever I can." I felt myself becoming hollow, knowing I was trading my loving family for a cold life of financial security. It was what I had always wanted, but I also wanted my mom. "I love you mommy."

"I love you too."

We stayed that way all night, looking at old memories and crying. We fell asleep on that couch, another memory to add to our collection.

A short chapter because it took me so long, I didn't want to make the wait any longer for fear of losing readers. I have very limited access to the computer at the moment. That's why this took so long. I hope to have more time, but I'm not sure. Anyway, I hope this was okay! Please read and review!