Disclaimer - I have not, will not and do not claim to own InuYasha
Hi, I'm sorry its taken me a bit longer than I said to update. I wanted to put this in before the lemon chapter but I couldn't get it the way I wanted it. So that's way the delay, I've been reworking it. I'm still not 100 happy with it though.
It was brought to my attention by a reviewer that I may have been using the words 'Beloved' and/or 'Saiai' too much, I'll try to rein that in. The other thing they mentioned was spelling and grammar - although I love to read and write things these two subjects were never my strong point. When I've run spell checks on the computer I've normally followed its lead on the placement of commas and the like. As for the spelling sometimes the computer even has hard time trying to figure out what I want to use but bare in mind that in Australia we tend to spell some words different, like colour - we for some reason have to stick a 'u' in there. (For the remainder of the story I'll try to use spelling that is more common)
Anyway that's for reading and please keep sending me reviews, the one I mentioned above was helpful.
KittyKaiya
Chapter 20 – Ceremony
The next few weeks passed peaceful without any further incidents, no more visits from Kagura or Naraku's demons or Kikyo, they hadn't even seen Sesshomaru. InuYasha was unease with the peace and quiet, he sure something was going on, he just couldn't figure out what and that he didn't like at all.
Everyday Kagome was changing more and more, at first it was subtle things like her fangs or that her sense of smell increased but then came some big stuff like her voice and physical strength. Ever since the day Sesshomaru showed up Kagome's voice was different. It had a slight echo to it but most people had to concentrate to hear it, the pitch of it changed as well, it became softer and with a smoky feel to it. When Kagome spoke the sound could only be described as haunting. One thing she did that took some getting used was that every now and then she'd refer to herself as us, or we. This sometimes confused people and she was mostly unaware she did it.
InuYasha paced back and forth in front of Lady Kaede's hut, kicking stones and dirt and grumbling to himself about what could possibly be taking her so long. Finally he stopped and looked up at the door and yelled.
"Kagome are you ready yet, we have to go your mother will kill me if we're late"
Kagome was extremely nervous, she had been stumbling around in a daze all morning, I'm getting married today she thought for 50th time. It wasn't that she didn't already feel married to InuYasha but this was her actual wedding day, the one she had dreamed about when she was a little girl. She could tell by the sound of his voice that he was getting impatient.
"Coming" she called out as she slung her back pack over her shoulder.
After exchanging hugs and well wishes from everyone they headed off towards the bone eaters well. When they reached the side of the well Kagome turned to InuYasha and wondered if he was a nervous as she was or if in fact he wanted to do this. She caught the edge of her lip in fangs.
InuYasha noticed the action and titling his head to the side he asked "What's wrong
"Are you sure you want to go through with all this?" she whispered closing her eyes.
InuYasha gently brushed the back of his fingers down her cheek before resting his palm against her neck "This is all I need Kagome, but to give you what you need, I'll do anything you ask"
His softly moved his thumb backwards and forwards across the pulse in her neck, the movement caused flutters of desire to flood through her. She opened her eyes and sagged against his chest, breathing in his scent. Kagome sighed as wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Ready" he whispered into her ear.
"Yep, let's do this"
Swinging her up in his arms InuYasha leapt into the well and as the reached the bottom he captured her mouth in his.
When they arrived on the other of the well it was pandemonium, there were people running all over the court yard. InuYasha and Kagome watched the flurry of activity from the safety of the well house. Both coming to the realization that there would no way to get InuYasha into the house without anyone seeing him.
"What are we going to do?" he whispered
"I don't know" she answered, suddenly an idea came to mind "Wait here, we'll be right back"
InuYasha shock his head as she calmly walked out of the shine into the courtyard, here we go again with the 'we' stuff he thought as he watched her approached the nearest workman.
"Excuse me" she said trying her best to sound confident and in charge.
"Huh" the man answered turning to face her.
"I don't think I like the positioning of those lanterns" Kagome said pointing to hanging lanterns across the courtyard.
"And just who might you be missy?" he asked a little annoyed
"Why I am the bride" Kagome pulled her best 'wholly than thou' face
The man began to stuttered and stammer his apologies, he started waving his arms around and calling all the other people to him. Kagome's mother came out to see what the fuss was about.
"Kagome you're finally here" she cried embracing her daughter, seeing the look of disappointment on her daughter's face broke her heart "Don't you like what I've done?" tears welling up in her eyes.
Kagome returned the hug and buried her face against her mother's neck.
"InuYasha's in the well house, we need to distract everyone so he can get inside" she whispered.
"Ohh right" the older woman whispered in return, relieved that her daughter wasn't upset with the choices she'd made. She pulled back and waved her hand towards the lanterns in questioned "Yes I agree daughter, the positioning of those lanterns is unacceptable they will have to be moved" she said a little louder than necessary and she began leading the work people away from the well house. With everyone's back turned Kagome signaled InuYasha that the coast was clear and in a couple of quick leaps he made it around the side of house and up into Kagome's bedroom window unseen.
Kagome and InuYasha had been separated since they had arrived by her mother. Sota had dragged a very confused hanyou to his room to fill him in on what he had to do and what he had to wear. Whatever Sato had shown InuYasha warranted a very loud and startled "YOU WANT ME TO WEAR THAT" The whole house shook from the volume, it even caused all the birds in the area to take off in fright.
Kagome was now nervously fidgeting in her room; she was still in shock at all her mum had managed to do for her in a month. She smiled as she sat down on the edge of the bed; she had even rearranged her room so that it could accommodate a small but altogether comfortable looking double bed. Kagome's eyes were drawn to the dress that hung on the door of her wardrobe. It wasn't fancy or flashy looking; it was just a simple creamy colored dress, with long lace sleeves and a high collar of lace, the skirt was not full or tight; it just seemed to flow gracefully to the ground. It was beautiful.
Towards the end of the afternoon all the lanterns were lit as the guests started to arrive. Kagome rose and leaned out her bedroom window at the gathering of people. There was a soft knock at the door.
"Come in" she knew who it was even before she turned "Are you ok Saiai?" she asked turning away from the window to face him.
"Yeah" InuYasha answered as he entered the room and made his way over to her.
"And you, are you ok" he asked wrapping his arms around her and pulling her against his chest.
"Mmmm, I'm fine" she murmured against him "But…"
"But what?" he asked as he brushed his lips against her forehead.
"I feel like I've forgotten something, something important" her body began to tingle, his touch sending waves of warmth through her.
"Like what?" he smiled as he looked at the window behind her.
"I don't know, but it's important" she sighed again.
"Could it be something like….." his voice trailed off as he felt her tense in his arms; don't be mad he whispered in his mind.
Kagome clutched the front of InuYasha's shirt as her body began to shuddered, her breath caught in her throat. She felt a strange sensation build in her body, she tried to raise her head to look at his face but suddenly a huge wave of pain rocketed through her; she screamed. InuYasha tightened his embrace to support her weight and he allowed them both to slip gently to the floor, Kagome cradled in his lap. He heard heavy footsteps on the stairs; explain this one he thought as he heard Kagome's mother and brother crash through the bedroom door.
"What is going on in here" her mother cried.
Kagome lifted her head slowly and starred at InuYasha and smiled.
"At least it didn't seem as bad as last time" she whispered to him.
"Who the hell are you?" Sota screamed grabbing InuYasha by the shoulder "Get your hands off my sister"
"Sota, wait, calm down" Kagome said, reaching for her brother "It's InuYasha"
"WHAT" Sota and her mother yelled at the same time.
InuYasha released his hold on Kagome and stood, turning to face them, a cheeky lopsided grin on his face "Yeah, sorry, it is me, really" he brushed his hand through his now black hair, trying so hard not to laugh at the shock and confusion written all over their faces.
He turned back to Kagome and placed his forehead against hers "This is my gift to you Saiai"
"Oh, InuYasha" she cried as she wrapped her arms around him.
"Could somebody please tell me what is going on?" Her mother cried out, throwing her arms in the air as she watched her daughter embrace this human man that she had never laid eyes on.
Kagome and InuYasha burst into fits of laughter. Struggling to control himself InuYasha explained that this is why he wanted the ceremony at night and more specifically this night because on nights of the new moon he loses his demonic senses and becomes human.
Behind Kagome's mother her grandpa stood shaking his head "Well there goes my toxic waste accident excuse" he said causing them all to laugh even harder.
Once all that was sorted Kagome's mother pushed InuYasha out of the room so she could help her get dressed. The bedroom door had only been closed for a matter of minutes when it busted open again to reveal her 3 best friends from school.
"Oh Kagome, it's so romantic" cried Yuka
"I couldn't believe it when your mum called us" added Ayumi
"So he finally changed his two timing ways after all these years" threw in Eri
"Your dress is beautiful" Ayumi sighed
"Hojo is so upset, he really thought you'd come around" Yuka said
Kagome just stood there in shock as her friends fussed over her and fired question after question. She hugged them all and started crying with joy that they were here. The three girls helped do her hair and get dressed, Kagome had never felt so batted and bruised in all her life, this getting married stuff is exhausting and I haven't even got to the 'I do' part she thought. But secretly she was enjoying herself.
A short time later she found herself downstairs beside her grandpa waiting anxiously for the moment when she would walk outside and become InuYasha wife, again or was that still.
"Are you ready for this Kagome" her grandpa asked. His love and admiration for her evident in his voice.
"Yes, more than you know" she smiled. They began heading to the door but a voice came from behind them.
"Kagome, can I speak to you for a moment"
Kagome turned to face her old friend from school, Hojo. He looked at her, his eyes begging her to say yes. She squeezed her grandpa's hand and said "Sure Hojo, what's up"
Hojo rocked back and forth on his heels, nervously fidgeting "It's just, well I wanted to wish you all the best"
"Thank you Hojo" she approached him quietly "It means a lot to me to hear you say that, you are a great friend"
He looked into her eyes, A friend, yes that's all I've ever been he thought so long as she's happy, that's enough. "Here" he said handing her a beautiful cream silk ribbon "it's just a small gift" he tied the ribbon around the flowers she was holding.
"Oh Hojo, it's lovely, I'll treasure it always" she said, leaning over to kiss his check.
Kagome felt her grandpa touch her elbow, "We have to go child otherwise that demon of yours will start yelling or something"
Hojo's eyes widen when the old man called Kagome's fiancé a demon. Kagome smiled at Hojo once more before reaching for her grandpa's arm and letting him walk her out the door.
Demon huh, that's an odd thing to call the man about to become your grandson he thought to himself.
Kagome felt the cool night air brush against her skin, she shivered a little. Tears welled in her eyes as she looked around the courtyard, "it's so beautiful" she whispered more to herself than to anyone.
"Just like you child" her grandpa said patting her hand.
The ground was covered in a blanket of petals, hundreds of them, so many different colors and types. The blend of their perfumes filled the air. Over head the lanterns cast just enough light to see but not enough to blind you. Ribbons of cream and red hung from just about everything, lightly caught in the wind they seemed to dance.
Everyone turned to look at Kagome, except InuYasha, he could feel her happiness. He closed his eyes and waited until she was almost directly behind him before he turned to look at her. The moment he did his breath caught in his throat. She's magnificent he thought. His eyes roamed her body, she blushed under his glaze. He marveled at how she could look so heavenly in the simply yet elegant dress.
Kagome starred at him, he looks so handsome she thought, he was wearing a black pair of pants and the shirt was an almost identical color red as his fire rat haori. His black hair was pulled back and held in a loose pony tail with a cream and red ribbon. She glanced down at his feet to see that he was even wearing a pair of shoes although he didn't look too comfortable in those. She smiled and winked at him, leaning on her grandpa's arm; she lifted the hem of her dress slightly and kicked off her shoes so that she was standing in her bare feet. InuYasha smiled at her action and quickly discarded his shoes as well. "Thank you" he whispered. Kagome's mother just shook her head at them, trying to control a giggle.
InuYasha held out his hand and Kagome took it. The ceremony began. Throughout the whole thing InuYasha and Kagome only starred at each, silently sending each other messages of love. Everything was progressing smoothly and beautiful until it happened.
Right as the guest were asked if anyone objects, Hojo leapt from his seat screaming "NO, stop it"
InuYasha swung towards the human boy who was waving his hands around, he growled so low and deep that everyone who starring at Hojo suddenly became fearful for the young man's life. Racing towards the young man InuYasha grabbed the front of his shirt and lifted him off the ground.
"What's your problem? Are you trying to get your throat ripped out?" he yelled at Hojo
"I…no…you…sorry…I didn't…it wasn't" Hojo stammered as he starred at the enrage InuYasha, sweat running down his face, he was trying to point at Eri.
"I won't give her up to anyone, not to that mangy wolf and certainly not to you" InuYasha threw him to the ground, "Are you still in love with my mate?" he growled at him
"You see, well I, that is" Hojo continued to stutter, his fear evident in his voice.
The guests began to murmur amongst themselves "Did the groom just threaten to kill that boy" "How exciting I've never been at wedding where someone objects" "What wolf is he talking about" "Is he growling for real"
Kagome reached out her hand to help Hojo off the ground, InuYasha growled again.
"It's alright InuYasha" she said before turning back to Hojo "What happened?"
"I was just sitting there and well she, she poked me" he answered pointing at Eri, who was standing there with a huge grin on her face.
"What?" she said, looking all innocent "There was a bug" She hadn't meant to hit Hojo but the look on his face and everyone else's, especially InuYasha's was priceless and she promptly burst out laughing.
"WHAT?" yelled InuYasha "It's because of a damn bug, humph bloody humans" he spat as he turned his head, crossing his arms in his 'I'm so shitty and you're pissing me off' way.
Kagome burst into laughter herself and she wrapped her arms around InuYasha "its ok, lets just finish this"
InuYasha calmed down slightly and nodded his head; Kagome started to walk back to the minister but stopped when InuYasha didn't follow.
"What are you doing InuYasha?" she asked as she watched InuYasha grab Hojo by the collar and drag him to the front.
"I'm putting him where I can keep an eye on him" he turned and shot a look at Eri "Somewhere where there are no bugs"
Eri shrugged her shoulders and smiled sweetly before taking her seat beside Yuka and Ayumi.
For the remainder of the ceremony and much to the embarrassment of Hojo, he was forced by InuYasha to lie on the ground at the front with InuYasha's foot planted squarely in the middle of his back.