She sat at the vanity table, trying hard not to chew on her bottom lip to help fight her nerves. May, Shinshi, Jenika, Tamillia and Kali were all around her, fixing her makeup, doing her hair, snipping here, tucking there. It was finally her mating day, it had to be pushed back a week for the trial they had for Hyde. Of course he was found guilty, the evidence was too strong against him. Besides turning him human the added punishment was banishment. He was tossed on the first boat off these lands and was told to never return. Kagome thought they could have been a bit harsher but it wasn't her call. Besides, now was not the time to be thinking about such things. She was about to get married!

Kali frowned as she dipped her fountain brush in powder, " Stop that, you're making your face all flushed."

May giggled, twisting the long hair in her hands in an intricate design, " Why are you so nervous?"

Kagome pale eyes rolled at the question, " I am not nervous."

Shinshi smirked, " Your knee has been bouncing since we sat you down."

Kagome frowned but didn't feed into the conversation, it make Tamillia laugh, " Its okay, its not everyday you prepare for a mating ceremony."

Kali nodded, finishing up the final touches to her soon to be official Lady's face. " You remember everything that's going to happen?"

Kagome nodded as they made her stand to dress her, they mixed the mating ceremony with the traditions of a human wedding ceremony. So she had brides maids, banners, streamers, a cake, flowers, music, the works. " I wait for the music, the healer walks me down the aisle, I stand in front of Sesshomaru and try not to pass out."

Everyone in the room laughed, Jenika smiled, " Its okay to be nervous, just breathe."

Kagome took a slow breath and nodded, repeating her fox friend, " Just breathe."

Kali pulled at Kagome's bustier, Kagome heaved and gasped, " Too tight."

The young robin just grinned, " Hey, you're the one that designed this remember."

Instead of a traditional Japanese wedding kimono, Kagome got Kali to help her make western style wedding gown. Still Kagome frowned, glancing back to her friend. " You do realize I am pregnant with three babies right. I need to be able to breathe."

Kali frowned in thought for a moment, then loosened the strings of the bustier a bit, Kagome smiled taking a deep breath. " Thanks."

Tamillia grinned, bending so Kagome could step into her dress, " You're not even showing yet."

May agreed, helping slid the material up Kagome's curvy body, " You're stomach is still flat as ever."

Shinshi was behind Kagome, helping tie the laces up, " Well what do you expect, she's, what, a month in a half?"

Jenika agreed, helping Kagome into her shoes, " Its too soon to be showing, even with demon babies."

Kali stepped in front of Kagome, fluffing the bottom of her gown out for a second then looked her over. The entire dress was white but was covered in diamonds, the swell of her breasts looking scrumptious against the heart shaped silk corset top. It hugged the top of her body lovely, cinching subtly yet attractively at her waist which then flared out and ruffled around her in wavy layers of the softest material on earth. Her lips painted a deep brick red, her liner the a royal blue to brighten her already icy blue eyes.

Kali nodded, " You look perfect."

Kagome turned to the floor length mirror they brought in the room, she turned slowly, looking herself over. She smiled to herself, she always knew she had a pretty face but she never imagined she could be beautiful. Tears touched her eyes, Kali immediately stepped forward dabbing at them, " Don't you dare, I just did your make up."

Kagome laughed, making everyone around her join in, Tamillia stepped forward and slid the tiara in her hair before laying the veil over her face. " You're ready."

May handed her the bouquet of white roses that was freshly picked for her, " Just breathe."

Kagome nodded again, taking a slow breath, the bride maids smiled, tears in all of there eyes they crowded around Kagome and hugged her. Kagome had to blink a few times to stop the water works from falling.

Shinshi dabbed at her eyes to not ruin her make up, " Okay, let's go before we all ruin hours of preparations."

Everyone again laughed, Kagome waved to them as they left the room. She again turned to the mirror and looked herself over. She never imagined this would be her one day. Getting mated, married, to someone, anyone. Wow. Someone actually loved her enough to want to spend the rest of their life with her.

" You look happy."

Kagome turned immediately, spotting the shadow in the corner, it separated from the darkness as it stepped forward. Eyes a swirling cloud of white, he smiled, rows of flesh shredding teeth been seen. Black elastic bat wings arching at top of his head to the tip of his ankles, ebony locks flaming, swirling around him with his unseen power. Claws dark as night, sharp and holding his large red scythe, his long bangs swaying out his tanned face, a small black star in the middle of his forehead.

She frowned, " Thanatos."

" Hello my διάδοχος."

She shook her head, " You can't take this from me, I deserve this. After everything you've done to me in my life, you can't take this day from me."

He smiled, stepping closer, " Relax διάδοχος, I am only here to wish you joy and happiness for this very special occasion."

Kagome raised a brow, " Oh really. Death wants me to be happy?"

" I will always want my daughter to be happy." The grim reaper stated, holding out his hand and presented a single black rose.

Kagome frowned at the mention of their relation but then sighed, she couldn't be mad at the man. After all he was biologically her only blood relative alive and this was her mating day, she should be happy. Carefully she reached up, taking the rose and added it to the center of her bouquet. She smiled for a moment, looking up, " Thank you Father."

Thanatos smiled at the name, she watched his wings twitch, ready to take off. She stopped him, " Thanatos wait."

He stared at her with those milky, swirling white orbs, she stepped forward, " The babies .." she paused thinking of the right words, " Will they make it?" resting a hand again her stomach.

For a moment he simply stared, he knew what she was asking, would he take her from this world before the babies were born. He knew all of what was necessary for him to see, he knew what was going to happen in her near and distance future but he knew he could not tell her. At least not all of it. " You will give birth my διάδοχος, you will see your children look upon you with eyes full of love and wonder."

Kagome smiled wide, " Thank you."

He simply nodded to her, " You will be happy here διάδοχος." for the time being. There was a knock on the door. " Kagome, it's time."

The miko demoness glanced over her shoulder, " I'm coming." then turned back. She frowned, he was gone. She sighed for a moment before turning and sliding open the door. The healer waited for her, he smiled as he looked her over, " Well don't you look gorgeous."

Kagome grinned, taking the arm that was offered to her, " You clean up good yourself."

And she was right the healer looked nice dressed in a white kimono with a blue crescent moon on his back and black sashinuki hakama, a red obi tied around his slender waist. He patted her hand as they walked down the hall, " I am so happy I lived long enough to see this day. Lord Sesshomaru was such a stickler when it came to females."

Kagome giggled, clutched her bouquet a bit tighter, " I didn't enjoy the opposite sex that much myself until Sesshomaru."

The healer nodded, " You both bring the best out of each other."

Kagome just smiled, seeing the double doors to the grand hall approaching, her nerves again rising. You can hear music softly playing from behind the closed doors, Kagome audible gulped. The healer chuckled softly, patting the trembling fingers against his arm, " It is alright Lady Kagome."

" I think I might throw up."

He outright laughed to that comment, " You will do fine."

She nodded but slowed as they came closer, her breathing picked up and she stopped, " Wait, wait, wait, wait."

The healer again touched her hand, " Breathe, there is no need to be nervous."

She frowned, leaning over a bit, trying to slow her heart rate, " Everyone keeps saying that." and yet she was nervous, she couldn't help but be nervous. She was getting mated, she was getting married. This was a forever type of deal, another contract she couldn't get out of unless she or he died.

She took another slow breath and straightened, this is what she wanted, something bad was going to happen because this is what she wanted. That's why she was so nervous, so suddenly scared to go through with this. Every time she was getting close to being extremely happy, bad things tend to happen. Like when she was seven and was going to surprise her family with the secret garden she spent months working on.

A hand touched her back making her glance over, the elder owl's all-knowing eyes stared at her, warm, deep and wise. And yet she can sense the power of the death eater in him, he knew of pain, understood death, knew the scars the decease leaves on you. He knew what she was thinking, his voice a firm whisper on her cheek, " No one is going to die today."

She sniffled at the sudden declaration, blinking away her tears, she nodded stiffly. That was exactly what she needed to hear. No one was going to be butchered today. Today was her day. She nodded again, feeling strength seep back in her body, " Okay, I'm ready."

The healer smiled once more before again taking her arm, he waved his hands at the two servants by the door and they moved to open it. Kagome took a deep breath as the music filtered over her. With a pat on the hand from the healer, they both stepped forward.

The music changed and everyone stood as Kagome and the healer entered the hall. Gasps were heard throughout the room as the goddess in white walked with healer down the flowered aisle. She smiled as her eyes landed on Sesshomaru standing handsomely as always in his Lord of the West attire. She felt those amber orbs slide over her slowly before inching back up to her face. The smallest hint of a smile crossed his lips and her smile widened.

Stopping before the alter, the healer let go of Kagome's arm and helped her up the one step. She smiled at him before turning to her lover, he stepped forward and gently flipped her veil back. A demon monk stood in front of them, dressed in his robes, behind a large book. His face soft yet withered but friendly.

" Dear friends, family and guests, we are gathered here today to witness and celebrate the union of Lord Sesshomaru of the western lands and Lady Kagome from over the seas in mating and marriage."

He held up his hands as he spoke, " Today, as we create this marriage, we also create a new bond and new sense of family, one that will undoubtedly include all who are present here today."

He smiled as the couple before him stared at each other, with nothing but love in their eyes, " True mates is more than joining the bonds of two persons; it is the union of two hearts. It lives on the love you give each other and never grows old, but thrives on the joy of each new day."

He signaled for their hands with a wag of his finger, Kagome and Sesshomaru offered him their arm. He tied a white sash around both of their wrists, " Mating is love. May you always be able to talk things over, to confide in each other, to laugh with each other, to enjoy life together, and to share moments of quiet and peace, when the day is done. May you be blessed with a lifetime of happiness and a home of warmth and understanding."

He then picked up a a gold dagger and gently sliced into each of their palms before pressing them together. Their powers flared, their auras expanding around each other for all to see. It was a marble of pink and green, some parts blending colors, turning a creamy chocolate, other parts turning a slate gray as the colors swirled around each other, then pulsed once before setting to a violet purple.

The old demon monk smiled at the synced souls of the lovers before him, he held their palms in his own, " Love should have no other desire but to fulfill itself. But if your love and needs must have desires, let these be your desires: To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night. To know the pain of too much tenderness. To be wounded by your own understanding of love. To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving; To rest at the noon hour and meditate love's ecstasy; To return home at eventide with gratitude; Then to sleep with a vision of the beloved in your heart and a song of love on your lips."

Kagome smiled at the gentle words, the demon's soft lavender eyes looked to her, " Do you, Lady Kagome, take Lord Sesshomaru, to be your husband and mate, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do you part?"

She nodded softly with a smile, " I do."

He nodded, then turned, " And do you, Lord Sesshomaru, take Lady Kagome, to be your wife and mate, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do you part?"

He glanced over to her and she smiled, threading her fingers through his as the mason still held their palms together. It was a soft, silent gesture but he read it loud and clear, we got this, in this together.

" I do."

She grinned, " You better."

Everyone that heard softly laughed, the mason just smiled, with the gold dagger from before, the old demon slit the white sash from their wrists, " The ring."

Sesshomaru nodded and turned to his brother who handed him a the jewelry he purchased. Kagome viewed the ring as Sesshomaru slid it on her finger, it was a beautiful steel band with a deep sea blue gem set in the center then circled by smaller perfectly cut diamonds. She smiled, it was gorgeous.

The demon monk smiled at the bride, " This ring is a symbol of love, as it encircles your finger, may it remind you always that you are surrounded by enduring love."

Kagome smiled and nodded, staring at Sesshomaru with said love all over her face, the old demon continued to smile, " Before I pronounce the newly mates husband and wife are their any personal vows..."

" No vows." Sesshomaru and Kagome both said in union. They turned to each other and smiled, they both hated something as sappy as declarations of love with poems and promises. They both stepped forward on their own accord and kissed each other lips. The old demon laughed with a grin. " Well, I suppose you may kiss the bride."

Everyone laughed then stood, clapping as Sesshomaru and Kagome pulled apart. Confetti dropped from the ceiling as the newly mates walked down the aisle hand and hand.

After 30 minutes, everyone was in the dinning hall enjoying the feast Jay and the chefs had prepared for the reception. Kagome sat at a table in the front beside Sesshomaru eating another for at least 6 people. The music was playing, people were dancing, eating and mingling, the atmosphere was warm and happy.

Sesshomaru watched his new mate scarf down half of a strawberry cheese cake and was midway through with her third helping of string beans, mashed potatoes and grilled steak and steamed carrots. He just shook his head with a smirk, " That doesn't make any sense."

Kagome glanced up and rolled her eyes, " Hey, I'm eating for 4 people okay."

Inuyasha sat on the other side of her, she had explained a few days ago about the our daughter comment Kikyou dropped before Midoriko took over. And honestly it just made him love his best friend even more, to know that she had a part of his child's soul to keep her pure made him happy. " You need to count yourself twice, fatty."

Kagome glared at him, pointing her fork at him, " Don't make me stab you."

InuKimi laughed, hearing the conversation as she walked over, " Kagome, its time to toss the bouquet."

The newly bride nodded, wiping her mouth on a napkin before standing, she grabbed her bouquet and walked to the middle of the dance floor. Dozens of maidens, servants and who ever was single gathered in front of her. She turned so her back was towards them and winked at her mate. " You guys ready!" she yelled.

The ladies behind her cheered, " Toss it, toss it, toss it." they chanted.

Hampton leaned over to his friend, " 3 gold coins on May, she's little but fierce."

Suki grinned, rolling his eyes, " You have gambling issues."

Inuyasha put some coins on the table, " 3 on Jenika, the girl is tougher than she looks."

Kagome glanced down at her bouquet, she plucked the black rose out and slid it behind her ear, before bending, " Here it comes!" she yelled, tossing the bouquet over her head.

Screamed erupted as the girls launched forward, Kagome turned around and laughed at the pile on before her. The many girls were clawing at each other trying to get the bouquet as it was worth a prize or something. They kicked and screamed and bit and scratched at each other.

One girl crawled from under the mayhem and bodies of fighting females, she held a bundle of destroyed roses in one hand as she stumbled to her feet. " I got it!" she screamed, waving the no longer useable bouquet in the air, " I got it!"

Everyone turned to her, her red hair splayed about her face, making her slap at her bangs. Kagome clapped, " Go head Jenika!"

Inuyasha jumped to his feet, " Yes!"

The red head looked to him, her face turning the color of her hair, which then made the hanyou's face do the same. Hampton laughed as Kagome walked back over to the table, he handed Inuyasha 3 coins before standing.

Picking up his glass, he tapped it a few time to get everyone's attention, as the best man it was time for his speech. He smiled as everyone stared at him, " I just have a few words to say before everybody gets drunk."

They laughed at that like he hoped, " I've known Sesshomaru since we were babies. We grew up together and everyday was a party. We would get into so much trouble then try to find new ways to top it. When we started getting interested in girls, I immediately noticed what type Sesshomaru was attracted to."

He glanced to his best friend, " Anyone that would stand up to him. But they didn't and who can blame them. Son of the Great Inu No Tashio then Lord of the West, girls bowed before he even came in the room. So I always knew the only way he would ever fall in love is when a girl came along and kicked his ass."

Everyone laughed, Hampton just grinned, " Then the Gods sent Kagome and sure enough, love and her fist hit him hard."

Everyone again laughed, Hampton continued, " Sesshomaru is my brother and I can not be more pride to call this little brat my sister." he raised his glass, " To Lord Sesshomaru and Lady Kagome."

Everyone cheered, taking the toast. Kagome smiled, leaning over to her mate, " You think I'm a brat too?"

Sesshomaru smirked, " Among other things."

She grinned, " Like.."

" Besides wife, mate and lover, anything you want."

Kagome smiled, leaning closer, " I love you." she whispered.

He leaned in as well, " You better." Kissing her lips. She giggled at the comment, staring at her mate, her husband, her lover, the father of her children. This is what her mother felt, she thought, this was love. Her Sōrumeito Her soul mate. He was her happiness. And she will fight for him until the day she died.

The End

Epilogue next! tell me what you think!