A/N: Gah, I'm so tired! I didn't get to sleep until about 2am and I had to wake up at 6am to go to this really big garage sale event x.x Please pardon any misspellings or weird sentences!
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: The wedding
"Stop fidgeting, Inuyasha," Kaede hissed for what seemed to her like the millionth time. She and the hanyou stood outside the wedding room, waiting for Kagome.
"Maybe if this wasn't so uncomfortable to wear I wouldn't!" he snapped. He was, however, dressed in his usual fire rat kimono pants and wearing the white shirt that he always wore underneath the shirt.
"That's funny, considering it's what you wear everyday," the old miko sighed, shaking her head. Inuyasha flushed and turned away. He really couldn't believe that he had actually agreed to go through with this.
"This had better be worth it," he mumbled to himself as he began to fidget with his sleeves once more.
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"I don't think I'm ready for this," Kagome sighed as she was led through the shrine and down to the wedding room by Sango, Yuka, Eri, and Ayumi. Getting married so suddenly to Inuyasha was one thing, but the thought of what they had to do that night was enough to make her nervous.
"You'll be just fine," Sango said comfortingly, patting her arm gently.
"We're here!" Ayumi announced cheerfully as Inuyasha and Kaede came into view. Kagome couldn't help but feel a bit annoyed to see that Inuyasha hadn't been dressed up in the horrid ways that she had. She also felt a bit uncomfortable as he stared at her, his mouth slightly open. Blushing, she took his arm and stood next to him, waiting for the wedding to begin.
Inuyasha was shocked when he saw Kagome. She looked nothing like the brides he had seen in the pictures, and the wedding kimono really brought out her beauty. He could not help but gape as his beautiful bride-to-be took her place next to him. "You look-er-nice," he whispered gruffly, not letting her see his true feelings.
"You too," Kagome managed weakly, giving him a small smile. She had a bad feeling that her legs might collapse under the strain of how nervous she was. But Inuyasha, to her surprise, gave her hand a reassuring squeeze then led her out into the room. Kagome was shocked to see that just about every miko in the shrine as well as a few other people that she didn't know had assembled there. She smiled slightly when she saw Shippo sitting on Miroku's head waving furiously at her. The monk smiled and gave them both the thumbs up. Although she wasn't quite sure, she thought she heard Inuyasha scoff slightly as they knelt before the altar.
"Ye wise children of the earth, may the sun shine down ever upon thee," said the eldest priestess who was to be marrying them "and guard you in its ever caring arms. Today is a day of marriage, the binding together of these two beings, forever and always..." She went on and on, but I'm not going to say everything that she said or you would get bored to tears. And so, after quite a lot of talking, they got down to the final parts of the wedding. "Do ye, Inuyasha, take this woman Kagome Higurashi to be your ever beloved wife?"
"I do," Inuyasha answered. Kagome could tell that he was extremely nervous, but his voice was strong and confident.
"And do ye, Kagome Higurashi, take this man-er-half-demon Inuyasha to be your ever beloved husband?"
"I do," she replied firmly.
"Now, ye exchange the necklaces of marriage." Inuyasha picked up the blue and white beaded necklace (think the beads of subjugation) that sat next to him and placed it carefully around Kagome's neck. Kagome did likewise, but Inuyasha's necklace was a dark maroon color. "Recite the wedding vows."
Inuyasha placed both his hands on Kagome's shoulders and looked into her eyes. "I, Inuyasha, will always and forever be at thy side." He touched both her cheeks gently with his hands as he said "Forever I am yours." Finally, he looked straight at her and whispered the last words "And forever you are mine." Then he leaned in and touched his lips to hers. Kagome felt her heart skip a beat, for it was the first time she had ever been kissed by a man.
"Now you," the elderly miko said to Kagome when the kiss was over.
Kagome placed her hands on Inuyasha's shoulders. "I, Kagome Higurashi, will forever be at thy side." She touched both his cheeks while saying "Forever I am yours," then looked into his eyes and whispered "and forever you are mine." Her heart sped up as she leaned in and kissed him gently.
"I now pronounce ye hanyou and wife. You may kiss the bride." Kagome was surprised to receive yet another kiss, but this one seemed much deeper and longer than the last two. When Inuyasha broke away, everyone in the room cried out happily. Inuyasha continued to look at Kagome, and, even though he didn't say anything, his expression clearly said "Thank you."
"And now for the magical powers of the wedding necklaces," Kaede said, stepping forward to the couple. "Inuyasha, the beads around your neck are beads of subjugation, meaning Kagome has the power to subdue you with one word."
"What?" Inuyasha exclaimed in annoyance.
"Choose a subduing word, Kagome," the miko instructed, taking no notice of Inuyasha's outburst.
"Huh? Oh, ok," Kagome replied. Her brain then began to reel with different words that she could use. Which one would work? Without really deciding, Kagome just automatically said "Sit!" She gasped as Inuyasha's necklace glowed and he was pulled down to the ground as though an invisible hand pushed him.
"This sucks!" Inuyasha mumbled angrily, pulling himself up from the ground.
"It's alright, Inuyasha, I promise I won't say it too often!" Kagome said in a comforting voice.
"And Kagome, your necklace as a special power too, though not one of subjugation," Kaede explained. "You see, if ever another man or demon who is not your husband tries to approach you, the beads will offer a protection from that being. And now, let us all proceed to the hall for the wedding feast."
"I'm sorry, Inuyasha," Kagome said quietly as she helped her husband to his feet.
"Don't lose sleep over it," he muttered as the two led the others out into the hall. That night they celebrated the newly married couple with wine and the feast. Everybody talked, ate, laughed, and enjoyed themselves.
"I envy you, Inuyasha, I have to wait a few months to get married," Miroku sighed.
"Consider your self lucky," Inuyasha murmured, still trying to believe that he was actually married now. Suddenly, a door at the far end of the room opened and in stepped Kikyo. At first nobody took heed of her presence, but when she fitted and arrow into her bow and readied it, people began to stare.
"Inuyasha, how dare you betray me by marrying that witch!" Kikyo yelled, gaining full attention. Many people gasped and others looked confused, but no one was able to bring themselves to do anything. Others still were shocked that the gentle Lady Kikyo would speak out like that. Inuyasha stood up and glared at her.
"Leave, Kikyo, you're not wanted here," he said, his tone ice cold. Kagome didn't know what to do, but she felt that something bad was about to occur.
"Oh, I shall be leaving soon, but you will come with me," Kikyo answered, her tone calm and collected. Kagome watched in terror as she raised the bow and directed it straight at Inuyasha. "If we cannot be together in this life, let us be together in hell!" Kagome gasped as she found out Kikyo's plan. She was going to kill Inuyasha and then kill herself so that the two of them would go to hell! "Die, Inuyasha!"
"No!" Kagome shouted, and just before the arrow was released, she got up and threw herself in front of Inuyasha with her arms outstretched. The arrow was fired and shot straight towards Kagome.
"KAGOME, NO!" Inuyasha yelled. Kagome closed her eyes tight and prepared for the sharp pain of the arrow into her heart. But it never came. She was still breathing, still alive! Slowly she opened one eye and gasped. The arrow had stopped dead in midair, or appeared to have anyway. As she looked closer she could see that a pink barrier of light had stopped it. Kagome, weak now from fear and confusion, collapsed to the ground.
"You...you foul little wretch!" Kikyo exclaimed bitterly, her voice shaking with rage.
"Kagome!" Kagome felt warm arms wrap around her and turned her head slowly to see the concerned face of Inuyasha. "Are you alright?"
"I-I think so," she answered quietly. Inuyasha hugged her tightly, his body shaking.
"Don't you ever do that again, fool," he said, his usual arrogant tone returning. He then turned and glared up at Kikyo, who was looking livid. "You can't get what you want so you'll resort to murder? How petty."
"Damn you!" Kikyo screamed, fitting another arrow into her bow. This time, however, it was Kaede who reacted.
"Kikyo, I banish ye from this village forever!" the old miko said, sending a large jet of light straight at her. Kikyo screamed as she was enveloped in the light.
"This is not the end, I will get you! I will return and get you, Inuyasha!" she shrieked, and with that the light vanished and Kikyo along with it.
"Are ye alright, Kagome?" Kaede asked a bit later once all the guests had left.
"I'll be fine," she answered.
"Ye should go now, it's getting late...I cannot believe that Kikyo, of all the mikos here-" The old miko sighed. "I shall see both of ye in the morning." And with that, she left the room. Inuyasha picked Kagome up bridal style and headed out of the room.
"Well that was certainly an interesting reception," Inuyasha muttered as he lay Kagome down on the sleeping mat in the room that they would now be sharing. He then walked a few feet away from her and began to undress.
"Ummm..." Kagome sat there, unsure of what she should do. Did Inuyasha really want to mate with her? Was he going to?
"What?" Inuyasha asked as he took off his kimono pants.
"Are-are you going to mate with me?" she asked quietly, not looking at him.
"Not tonight, I'm exhausted...you know, I am your husband now, so it's not considered bad if we see each other undressed." Kagome sighed, got up, and began to change into her night garments. She could feel that the hanyou was watching her, but she didn't mind, considering the fact that he was indeed her husband now. When she was done, the hanyou was already lying under the covers, his hands behind his head and his eyes on her. Kagome snuggled under the covers next to him.
"How do you feel now that we're married?" Kagome asked timidly. The hanyou just shrugged and said "Feh." "It wouldn't hurt you to answer me."
"Just go to sleep," he muttered, putting an arm around her. Kagome snuggled closer to her husband and touched her forehead to his chest.
"I think I feel sort of glad about it...after all, you're much better than that wolf demon Koga."
A smiled graced Inuyasha's features, but he just poked her forehead and whispered "Go to sleep wench!"
A/N: Yay, they're married:sets off fireworks: I hope I didn't rush this chapter, 'cause I have a habit of doing that. Other than that, I hope you enjoyed it. Please review :)