Kagome sank back into her chair as her mother quietly closed the door, shutting Inuyasha out. The room was silent.

She took another sip of her tea, savoring the taste but stopping just short of finishing the whole cup. Then she held it in her lap, waiting for her mother to speak first. She didn't have to wait long.

"Well, dear, I can't say I'm not disappointed that you chose not to accept Inuyasha, but I'm glad that you are at least being reasonable about your next course of action."

"You didn't exactly give me much choice."

"Well, I never do, but you usually make such a fuss before you accept that. I'm glad you finally see that I know what's best."

Kagome didn't respond. She had nothing to say. Actually, she was having trouble summoning up any sort of emotion at all about her present predicament. Just a few hours ago she had been looking forward to going home, trying to get over Inuyasha and the free and exhilarating week they had shared, and finding solace in the fact that at least she had finally won independence from her parents.

Then her mother told her that Inuyasha had asked for her hand in marriage.

For one moment, just one tiny moment in time, Kagome had felt truly happy. She thought that somehow she had misinterpreted all of his signals in the last few days, and that in actuality they were on the same page. She thought that maybe he loved her, too. Thankfully, that moment passed and she remembered that his proposal was always part of the plan. From day one, they had agreed upon it. It wasn't an indication of his feelings or he would have asked her herself, not gone through her parents. The disappointment and embarrassment she felt upon remembering that fact surprised her in its intensity. Thank goodness she hadn't accidentally consented and then had to endure him telling her to her face that he wasn't serious. She didn't think she could handle it.

All these thoughts had swirled in her mind as she woodenly communicated her refusal to her eager mother. So when her mother pursed her lips and told her that she had hoped the whole thing would turn out differently, but that she hadn't been serious when she made the bet at all and Kagome was getting married that Friday one way or another, Kagome didn't respond with her usual fire. She barely responded at all. If she couldn't be with Inuyasha, did it really matter who she married? She had dreamed once of being single, but what was the point? Her mother would never stop pushing. Marriage really was the only way to get out from under her thumb. So she had muttered a defeated acceptance, her mother had delivered the news to a probably less-than-shocked Inuyasha, and now they were all just sitting in uncomfortable silence. Kagome tried one last time to assess her inner emotions and see if she had any fight left in her. She knew that the way she was acting wasn't like her. But she found nothing. She only felt empty and just a little sad. Better get used to this, then.

"What's his name?"

"Kouga." Kagome thumbed through her mental images of the proper gentleman she had met through the years, but the name didn't ring a bell.

"How old is he?"

"Roughly your age." Well, that was a relief.

"Wealthy, I assume?"

"Four castles and he's the leader of a whole clan!" Great. A young man suddenly in charge of everything. He'd probably be bossy and full of himself.

"What's he like?"

"Oh, well, charming and handsome with a wonderful personality..."

"Those are all things you say about a guy when he's rich. I already know he's rich. Is he quiet or loud? Social or reclusive? Does he have a temper? Does he treat women with respect?"

"Oh, those are all details. I'm sure you'll learn them eventually."

"You don't know, do you? Have you even met him? Met one of his friends or family members? Seen a portrait?"

"The way his servant was standing when he delivered the proposal let me know immediately that his employer was well-liked and compassionate."

"And also charming and handsome with a wonderful personality?"

"Don't mock. A woman has her ways of knowing."

"Yes, and I'm sure your way was looking at the size of the dowry he was offering."

Her mother studied her expression, trying to figure out if she was joking or insulting her. Kagome sighed. She'd already decided not to fight it all. She should be nice. So, plastering on a big, fake smile and making her eyes look all misty by resisting the urge to blink, Kagome asked in the gushiest voice she could muster, "And what will the wedding be like?"

Instantly, her mother perked up and launched into a tireless enumeration of every detail. Kagome chimed in with the occasional "Yes, obviously we should ask all the guests to wear the same exact shade so they don't clash", "No, I don't think it's impractical to let everyone take home a pair of turtledoves as their favor. What could go wrong?" or "I'd be happy to cut the cake from the balcony. If's it's a story high it only makes sense." For the most part, though, she tuned the details out. She was sure the wedding would be garish and awful. But she was equally sure it didn't matter. Not if she couldn't have Inuyasha.

Eventually, her mother ran out of lace-covered items to describe. It took an hour or two, but it finally happened.

"...and that's when the horse-drawn carriage completely covered in feathers will whisk you away."

"Is that all? It's just covered in feathers?"

"And so are the horses."

"Of course."

"And the driver."

"I wouldn't have it any other way."

"And there will be a couple of feather hats for you two to put on when you get inside."

"If only I didn't have to wait until then to wear it!"

"You want to put it on earlier? That can be arranged..."

"No, that's not... I just mean that it all sounds lovely."

"It does, doesn't it?" Kagome's mother settled herself back in her chair with an air of satisfaction. But the relaxation didn't last long. In a moment she was up again and bustling around. "Well, there's no time like the present to begin! I have so many outfits for you to try on, so much to organize..." She headed for the door. "I'll just let them know that we're leaving and we can be home and working on it by tonight. Go pack; I'll be back in ten minutes!"

Kagome swallowed hard, trying to push down a sudden lump in her throat. Even though she knew it was best to leave, and even though she'd been looking forward to it ever since she realized how Inuyasha felt, Kagome still felt a twinge of despair when her mother suggested they depart. It was hard knowing that she'd soon walk away from this house forever. It already felt like home. The whole family had been so kind to her. And Inuyasha...

Suddenly, her father sat up with a start. "What's going on? Why am I in a chair?" He glanced around the room quickly before his gaze landed on Kagome. "Hello, dear. You look down. And I'm in a chair. Has your mother been meddling again?"

Kagome nodded slowly.

"Ah, well. She means only the best. You know that, right?"

Kagome paused before nodding again.

"Good girl. Now help me up. It's time I met this lovely family."

"We're actually leaving in about ten minutes..."

He blinked at her.

"...Dim the lights, then. Ten minutes is plenty of time for a nap."