Kagome, Yuka, Eri, and Ayumi walked into 'The Wedding Shoppe'. Everything from wedding bouquets to wedding gowns was lined up row by row in the small store.
'I wish I could come here because I wanted to, not because I'm being forced too.' Kagome secretly wished.
"Well," Yuka said as she walked over to the nearest rack of wedding dresses, "Let's start."
Kagome and the other two girls joined Yuka by the rack.
"Hello, Do you need any assistance?" an elderly lady asked as she stepped out from behind a pile of flowers. "My name's Kameko. I'm the store manager. Are you looking for anything in particular?"
Kagome nodded.
"Actually I need a wedding dress with secret pockets." she answered.
Kagome's friends gave her a questioning look.
"I'll explain later." she said answering their strange expressions.
The girls shrugged it off and followed Kagome and Kameko over to a small aisle hidden in a corner of the store.
The lady smiled and stopped in front of a small rack filled with wedding dresses.
"These are the ones with the pockets." she said pointing to the gowns.
Kagome returned the store manager's warm smile and looked at the dresses. There were so many different types: strapless, spaghetti strap, full sleeve, short sleeve; so many to choose from.
"I think we'll take it from here." Eri told the kind lady.
The store manager nodded and walked off towards a happy couple waiting for assistance.
Kagome looked at the couple and sighed. Tearing her gaze away from them she turned it to the dresses.
"So, why do you need pockets?" Ayumi asked Kagome.
Kagome reached into her purse and pulled out the blue box that Inuyasha had given her.
"I want to keep this with me when I get married." she said as she opened it up and tears trickled down her face, 'I-It's the ring Inuyasha was g-going to give me."
Kagome and her friends silently stared at the beautiful ring. When Eri saw how much Kagome was starting to cry, she closed the beautiful box that was still in Kagome's hands. She gave her friend a comforting hug and then held her at arms length.
"We're here for you. So don't cry." Eri said as she wiped the tears from Kagome's face.
"Yeah, don't worry Kagome. You'll get through this," Ayumi said as she also gave her friend a hug.
Yuka smiled at Kagome and stroked her friend's hair.
"You're strong. We know that for a fact," she said. "All those diseases had to have toughened you up."
Kagome let out a small laugh.
"What?!" Yuka asked.
"N-nothing." Kagome said as she thought about how she never had a disease in the first place.
But Kagome's laugh was soon wiped from her face when she saw who had entered the store. Her breathing turned heavy.
"Kagome, are you alright?" Ayumi asked looking at her friend in worry.
"Y-Yukio..." she whispered.
The girls followed her gaze to the brown haired man that was talking to the store manager.
"That's him?" Eri asked.
Kagome nodded. Then she suddenly turned to her friends.
"Don't tell him about Inuyasha's ring or about the dress with pockets." she said with urgency in her voice.
The girls nodded.
Kagome watched as Yukio walked, with a menacing smile, towards them. Kagome could feel her heart beating fast. She looked at her wrist. The marks of when Yukio had dug his nails into it were still slightly visible.
"Hello." Yukio said as he stopped in front of Kagome.
"H-Hello." she answered, avoiding his evil eyes.
Yukio glanced at the other girls, sending a chill down their spines.
"And these ladies are..." he asked looking back at Kagome.
"Yuka, Eri, and Ayumi." she answered. "My childhood friends."
Yukio nodded.
"Come with me." Yukio said as he took Kagome's hand and forcefully led her away from her friends.
When they were a safe distance away, Yukio stopped.
Kagome looked at Yukio with a hateful look.
"What? So you want me to not see them anymore either?" she coldly said.
Yukio laughed.
"Nah. I don't care about them." he answered.
"Wait." Kagome said, suddenly realizing something. "How did you know I was here?"
Yukio smiled his evil smile.
"I know a lot of things." he said staring with no affection into Kagome's eyes.
Kagome looked away. His eyes, like always, scared her.
"What do you want?" she sighed.
"I saw Inuyasha by your house." he said.
Kagome tensed.
"W-What?" she nervously said.
"You've been a bad girl. Sneaking around behind my back to meet that weird guy." he said as he tightly squeezed her chin.
"Are you spying on me?!" she yelled attracting her friends attention. Realizing her mistake she asked again in a quieter voice. "Are you spying on me?"
Yukio laughed an evil laugh.
"You are my fiance aren't you?" he smirked. "What's the harm?"
"What's the harm?!" she quietly yelled. "The harm is that you're violating my privacy."
Yukio violently grabbed Kagome's wrist.
"Didn't I tell you not to ever yell at me again?" he whispered.
Kagome gulped and fear found it's way to her eyes.
Yukio let go and gave Kagome a threatening look.
"Now, where were we?" he asked himself while he tapped his chin, "Oh yeah."
He gave Kagome a spiteful look.
"Did you meet with Inuyasha?" he asked as he played with her hair.
Kagome felt Yukio playing with her hair but didn't bother pushing his hand away. She couldn't have him yell at her again.
"No." she answered looking down at her feet.
"Don't lie." he said bending his face close to hers.
She could feel his breath on her face. It wasn't warm like normal persons. It was cold and chilled her to her bone.
"I'm not. I saw him but I looked away." she quickly replied.
Yukio took in a deep breath as he pulled his face away from hers.
He nodded.
"Oh, be ready tomorrow. We have a date." he spat the word 'date' out.
Kagome looked up at him with a questioning look.
"Not my idea. Blame your stupid mother." he said as he started to walk away, "Be ready at 8 o' clock. And don't expect anything too fancy."
Kagome watched Yukio leave. Then she plopped herself on a nearby chair and put her head in her hands.
Yuka, Eri, and Ayumi walked over to Kagome. Yuka bent down in front of Kagome. Eri stood at the back of the chair and Ayumi had a comforting hand on her shoulder.
Kagome took looked up and burst into tears.
"We heard you yell that he was spying on you." Eri said as she looked at the door that Yukio had walked out of. "What a creep."
Kagome wiped her tears.
"I have a date with him tomorrow night." she said. "He said not to expect anything to fancy."
Yuka got up and pulled Kagome to her feet.
"Let's forget this happened and continue looking for the dress." she said.
Kagome nodded and the girls walked back to the rack of dresses.
When Kagome walked out of the dressing room, her friends gasped. She looked beautiful.
She was wearing a white strapless wedding dress. It was made of silk and flowed down her slender body. The top was laced with a beautiful flower pattern. There was a silk lace around her waist. The lace doubled as a pocket. She had a long veil that had the same flower pattern as the dress did. It was a simple dress, but it made Kagome look beautiful.
Kagome looked at herself in the mirror and smiled. It was a gorgeous. Kagome turned to her friends.
Yuka, Eri, and Ayumi nodded with approval.
Kagome went back into the stall and came out with her regular clothes.
"Well," she said as she made her way over to the check out. "I'll get this and go."
Yuka, Eri, and Ayumi followed.
Inuyasha sat in Kaeda's hut looking at the locket Kagome had given him. Sighing, he got up and slowly walked out the hut entrance.
Miroku and Sango watched Inuyasha leave into the cold night air. Sango turned to Miroku and looked at his eyes. Just like her, they were full of grief. Sango rested her head on his shoulder.
"This isn't how it's supposed to be." she quietly whispered.
"I know." Miroku whispered back.
"Do you think this time everything will be alright?" she asked.
"This time Sango, I'm not sure." he answered letting out a sigh.
Shippo yawned as he got up from his sleep. He quietly started to walk out the hut.
"And where do you think you're going?" Miroku asked the younf kitsune.
"I'm going to Inuyasha." he answered.
"How do you know where he went?" Sango asked.
The young fox-demon turned to look at the couple.
"Ever since Kagome left, he's been sitting beside the well every night." he said.
Miroku and Sango got up.
"We're coming too." they said together.
Inuyasha watched as Sango, Miroku, Shippo, and Kirara emerged from the trees. They quietly sat down beside him.
"What did you guys come here for?" Inuyasha asked.
"You need support. We'll stand by you." Miroku said as he placed a hand on the hanyou's shoulder.
Inuyasha sighed and continued staring up at the stars. Miroku, Sango, Shippo, and Kirara soon fell asleep beside Inuyasha. The half-demon stayed awake, he couldn't fall alsleep.
Kagome, Eri, Yuka, and Ayumi had been talking for a long time before three of the girls fell asleep. Kagome was still awake. She got up from the sofa, being careful not to wake anyone up, and walked to the front door. She had decided earlier that night that she would sneak out to the well.
Quietly, she opened the door and sneaked out to the old well house. Making sure no one had followed her, she closed the well house doors and looked at the old well. Taking a deep breath she jumped in.
Kagome emerged on the other side within seconds of when she had first jumped in. Taking a hold of the vines she pulled her self up and up out of the well. She took in a quiet gasp when she saw the heads of Sango, Miroku, Shippo, Kirara, and Inuyasha sleeping against the old well.
She silenetly stepped out onto the grass. Kagome took in the cold night air and looked at the people sleeping by the well. She saw the way Sango was sleeping in Miroku's lap and smiled. They were getting closer.
Kagome looked at Inuyasha. His eyes were closed and in his hand he held the locket she had given him.
She had to get back before anyone noticed she was gone, so she turned back towards the well. Just before she was going to jump in someone gently grabbed her hand.
"What are you doing here?" Inuyasha asked.
Kagome turned around to face her favorite hanyou. His eyes held so much pain.
"You shouldn't be here," he continued.
"No one knows I'm here. They're all sleeping." she said looking into his eyes. "Besides, so much is going on in my era. I needed a break."
Inuyasha realized he was still holding her hand and let go.
"Go home." Inuyasha quietly whispered.
Kagome shook her head.
"Just a little longer." she said as she sat down on the edge of the well and looked up at the starry sky.
"No." he said.
Kagome gave him a puzzled look.
"Why?" she asked.
"Because you're getting married that's why!" he yelled.
Kagome shot up from her seat on the well and gave Inuyasha a deathly stare.
"You don't have to remind me of my cruel fate." she coldly said as she secretly felt the place on her wrist where Yukio had dug his nails into.
"Well, you're going to have to face the truth Kagome!" Inuyasha yelled.
"Fine! If you don't want me here then I'll leave!" she screamed.
"Feh. See if I care." Inuyasha said crossing his arms.
Kagome turned back towards the well with tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Wait." Sango calmly said.
Kagome looked around to see Sango, Miroku, Shippo, and Kirara now wide awake and looking at her and Inuyasha.
"We heard the whole argument." Miroku said.
"Look," Sango said as she walked over to Kagome. "We can't possibly understand the pain you two are going through, but you can't yell at each other to cover it up."
Kagome looked at Inuyasha and nodded her head.
"I have to get going now." she sighed.
Sango gave her friend a understanding nod and walked back to Miroku.
Kagome looked at Inuyasha with sad eyes and smiled. She walked up to him and gave him a warm hug. Inuyasha returned her hug and tightly hung on to her as if hanging on to life. Kagome reluctantly pulled herself away and looked at Inuyasha.
"See you at the wedding," she whispered.
Inuyasha silently looked at her. His face looked as if he hadn't slept for days.
Taking one last look at Inuyasha; Kagome took in a deep breath and jumped back into the well.
Inuyasha quietly repositioned himself against the well and closed his eyes. He took in the cool breeze, which still had the scent of Kagome lingering in it.
Kagome silently creeped back into the house and lay down on the mattress in the living room. She closed her eyes and awaited the next dreadful day to come.
Her date with Yukio.