A/N: Okay, here is the next, much-anticipated chapter. YAY!! Just so you guys know, my show choir is entering contest season in a few weeks, so we are having rehearsals at least two nights a week and on Saturdays, so I may be updating even less often than usual. I really hope that I'll be able to update more though.
Chapter Ten
Sango went home the next day, leaving me to break the news to my parents. She knew I was choosing Sesshomaru, and now it was their turn to find out. I wasn't ready to tell them yet though. I needed more practice.
I needed Sota. For such a horrible sister I was, he was still pretty nice to me. I owed him an apology.
"Hey, kid," he greeted me after answering his door. "What do you need?"
"I need to talk," I told him. He started to open his door more so I could get in, but I said, "Can we discuss this in my room? I'll feel more comfortable in there." I'd actually be able to breathe in there.
We got to my room and started talking. I told him everything, even how I'd told Sango about the whole demon thing. He kind of flipped out at that one. "What were you THINKING?! What if she tells someone?"
"She's my best friend," I said confidently. "She won't."
"Whatever. I'm assuming you told her about the arranged marriage thing too?" I nodded. "So how'd she take it?"
"She was a little pissed. You know how feminist she is." Now it was Sota's turn to nod. "She's actually the first person I revealed my decision to. And now you're going to be the second."
Sota leaned forward and placed his elbows on his knees with his chin in his hands, eager to hear every word. For a guy, my brother sure is a gossip monger. Maybe… nah.
I took a deep breath and said, "Sesshomaru."
Sota leaned back and said, "Okay. He's a nice enough guy, although he is a little quiet. I approve. He's much better than Inuyasha. He's kind of an asshole.
"Now all you have to do is break the news to Mom and Dad."
I groaned.
TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
"Mommy, Daddy, I have a very important announcement," I declared as I descended the stairs majestically. They glanced from whatever they were doing and looked at me. My mother's smile lit up the whole room. She knew what was coming.
"So, honey." She curled up on her half of the couch, sitting sideways on her knees. "What is it that you want to tell us?"
"On a scale of one to ten, how important do you think it is, babe?" my dad asked my mom. They made kissy faces at each other, almost causing me to toss all the cookies I'd devoured the night before. "What is it, Kagome?" he asked me after they got done trying to make me barf.
I chickened out. "I just wanted to tell you guys that I love you." I ran back upstairs to my room; I slammed my door and locked it once I got there.
I couldn't do it. I would be condemning myself to a life of unhappiness and misery if I did this. I mean, Sesshomaru really was a nice enough guy, but I didn't feel like he was The One. I didn't even know him! How could I be his fiancé and live with him and later marry him if I wasn't in love with him?
My door opened and smacked against the wall. I stared at my mom, wondering how she'd done that. Oh. Demon…. Right.
"Kagome Higurashi, you are going to tell me what you were going to say to us right now," she said menacingly.
"Or what?" I said flippantly.
"OR WE WILL CHOOSE FOR YOU."
"Okay, fine, you win!" I said, throwing my hands up in the air in defeat. "God, why are you DOING this to me? You are ruining my life!"
"Just tell me. The sooner you do, the sooner we can have this all over with," my mother tried to soothe me.
I had mashed my face into my pillow and started crying. I lifted my tear-stained face and looked into her eyes, looking for an ounce of real compassion. There was none. I hated my mother.
I whispered a name. She smiled, patted my leg, and left. My door was still hanging by its bottom hinges.