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Chapter 25: Truce

"How I might react to what, woman?"

At the sound of Inuyasha's voice, Kagome whirled towards the doorway, eyes widening.

And Inuyasha distinctly heard her softly breathed kuso just as Miroku stepped into the house behind him, making his way over to sit beside Sango.

Something was definitely going on. "Wench…?"

"Noth– Nothing, Inuyasha. It's nothing." Her eyes darted around evasively.

Inuyasha crossed his arms over his chest, hands stuffed into the opposite sleeves. "Weeeeennnnnchhhhh?" He questioned again, more insistently this time.

Kagome cringed at his tone before sighing in resignation. "Inuyasha, Sango and I were just talking about what's been going on in the village…you know…their reaction to us getting married? And, well, I'm just trying to make a plan for how best to deal with it, that's all."

Inuyasha's eyes narrowed at her words. He had yet to move away from the doorway or uncross his arms. "Yeah, you mentioned something about a plan back at Kaede's and you didn't want to tell me about it then either… And it's for damn sure that you're no less reckless now than you were three years ago, so you're gonna tell me exactly what you're scheming up in that sneaky head of yours, woman."

Kagome averted her eyes. She had no intention of telling him what she was planning because, frankly, she wasn't even sure if she could actually do the thing she was hoping to be able to do. That and the fact that she was sure he wouldn't like it either way. He'd most definitely try to talk her out of it no matter how sure she was that it was their best chance for dealing with…well…everything.

Sighing heavily, she folded her hands in her lap and looked up into Inuyasha eyes… Eyes that were still aggressively glaring at her. Finally, she spoke in a soft voice.

"Inuyasha, do you trust me?"

His glare faltered. He hadn't been expecting that. Some of the tension he'd been holding in his body melted at her words. "You know I do, Kagome, but–"

Her voice was firm as she cut him off. "No buts, Inuyasha. Do. You. Trust. Me?"

"Of course!" He all but shouted in frustration.

"Then trust me now and don't ask me to tell you what it is I'm thinking of doing. Just… Just let me try, and trust that I would never do anything that I thought would put you or myself in danger. Trust that I love you and that I want to fix this for us… for you."

"For me? What do you mean for me?"

Kagome rose, walking over to where Inuyasha still stood in the doorway. She could hear the sounds of the girls and Rin playing out in the yard, could feel the eyes of Miroku and Sango on her back, but right then none of it mattered.

Inuyasha watched her approach, eyes wary as she reached out a hand to cup his cheek. She felt it when he unconsciously leaned into her touch and doubted very much that he even realized he was doing something so intimate with an audience.

This stubborn man that she loved so much, she needed to make him understand. Softly, she began. "You've worked so hard, koi, to make a place for yourself here in this village. The people here respect you… Or at least they did before I came back."

He started to sputter out a retort but she stopped him by moving the hand on his cheek, to settle her fingers over his lips instead. "Do you forget that I heard that woman call you Ōji-sama the other day? You can't deny it, Inuyasha, you hold a very important place in this village, and yet now…" She trailed off, sighing heavily before continuing. "The last thing I ever wanted when I came back was to cause you to become an outcast all over again!"

Inuyasha sighed as well, suddenly seeming to realize where they were: standing in the doorway, their friends watching them carefully, trying not to intrude. He reached up to remove Kagome's fingers from his lips. Squeezing her hand gently, he held it within his much larger one as he pulled her along with him, stepping up onto the raised wooden floor.

Once he had Kagome resettled in her place by the fire, Inuyasha spoke softly. "Do you really think I care about any of that? Do you think I give a fuck what these people think of me?"

She stared into the fire, answering him just as quietly. "Yes, I do."

He looked at her with shock in his eyes. She continued, her voice low but fierce. "Inuyasha, all I've ever wanted is for you to be happy. For you to live and be happy. And I'm so glad that I get to be a part of that, but I also want this village to be a part of that, too. I want us to be accepted in the same way that you already had been before I returned. And if I can do something to make that happen, then I am going to do it…whether you like it or not. It's my right as your mate to protect you, Inuyasha. You would do no less for me."

Once finished, Kagome refused to meet his eyes. Inuyasha could only stare long and hard at this girl-become-woman who had so completely captured his heart. What could he say to that impassioned speech? She was right; he would do no less for her. And the very fact that she was so adamantly putting his well-being above everything else…? But hadn't that always been her way, even during the shard hunt?

Not for the first time, Inuyasha wondered what he possibly could have ever done to deserve her love and devotion.

"Kagome…" He exhaled, the rest of the fight leaving his body.

At her name, Kagome finally looked up into the apologetic eyes of her mate. She waited to hear what he would say.

"I'm sorry. I do trust you, you know. With my life." He all but whispered.

"I know. And I'm sorry, too. I swear I'm not keeping it a secret to hurt you."

He reached over to squeeze her hand again. "I know." He gave her a small smile and knew he was forgiven when she returned it, scooting closer to lean against his shoulder.

After what felt like an appropriate amount of time, it was Miroku who finally cleared his throat, causing the couple across from him to sheepishly reawaken to their surroundings.

Cringing a bit, Kagome spoke. "Sorry about that, you two… Though, honestly, I can't say that it was the first of our arguments that you've ever been forced to witness and I doubt it'll be the last."

She cast them both a wry but apologetic look and Sango chuckled quietly at it, shaking her head as she spoke. "Well, at least you didn't sit him through my floor! As for the rest, don't give it another thought. We're pack, remember?"

She handed the drowsy-but-now-awake Ichiro over to his father before stretching out the cramped muscles caused by sitting immobile under her son for so long. Finally, reaching over, she moved the kettle onto the fire. "I'm making some tea. I think we could all use it."

Miroku nodded his agreement. "Indeed, especially considering we still have much to discuss."

"What's there to discuss? I already told the wench that I trust her to do whatever the hell she wants." Inuyasha huffed indignantly.

Miroku shook his head. "You misunderstand, my friend. I am glad the two of you have resolved your quarrel, but there are things regarding the upcoming celebration that we have been waiting until you…ahem…emerged in order to discuss with you."

This piqued Kagome's curiosity. "Like…?"

"Well, for one, we've been managing any questions that have come up regarding your preferences for the wedding feast."

Sango chimed in. "Oh, and Myōga turned up yesterday."

"He did?!" Inuyasha seemed genuinely surprised by this. He'd rarely seen the flea over the past three years, not since things between he and Sesshōmaru had settled into something of a truce.

"Hai," Sango continued. "Apparently, Tōtōsai sent him."

Inuyasha was even more surprised by that. "Tōtōsai?! What did that old windbag want?!"

Miroku spoke up then. "That was the question we had as well, though Myōga seemed unable to answer it sufficiently. Apparently, Tōtōsai had felt a strong call from Tetsusaiga a few nights ago and had sent Myōga to find out what the blade had been used for that was powerful enough to get the old smith's attention."

Kagome looked at Inuyasha. "A few nights ago… That was when we…" She trailed off, but Inuyasha continued. "Our mate bonding." He looked across at Miroku. "I used Tetsusaiga to complete the ceremony."

Miroku nodded at Inuyasha's words. "Yes, I agree. That is likely what it was, though we did not know it at the time. And since I would not allow Myōga to um, interrupt, your reunion, I instead decided to employ him for another errand."

"You sent him on an errand?" Kagome asked.

"Yes, Myōga agreed to be our messenger. I've sent him to inform our friends and allies of your return, as well as of your and Inuyasha's upcoming nuptials."

"Allies? What allies?" Inuyasha had a hard time naming many other allies that weren't already in the room with him.

"Well, Hachi of course, and my Master, Moushin. Kohaku should be present and he'll bring Kirara with him. Then there's Jinenji and his mother, as well as Ayame and Koga, after which I told Myōga to return to Tōtōsai and inform the old smith as well."

Inuyasha had stopped listening. "You invited the wolf?!" He all but roared.

Kagome was equally astonished that Miroku would do such a thing. "Miroku…" she started hesitantly. "While Koga is a friend, do you think it's wise to invite him to our wedding?" She shot her friend a look that amounted to "What the hell were you thinking?!" in direct opposition to her deceptively mild tone.

For her part, Kagome was trying very hard not to envision all the worst possible reactions that Koga might have to the news that she had chosen Inuyasha over him.

Sango seemed to sense her friend's unease. "Fear not, Kagome-chan. Koga and Ayame are now happily mated and have been for over two years now. And while I'm sure he will be glad to hear of your return, I do not believe that Koga will cause a scene if they were to attend."

Kagome exhaled in relief over what she had begun to believe would've been an unavoidable confrontation.

Inuyasha just scoffed. "Keh. Took the mangy wolf long enough to come to his senses. Spent so much time chasin' what wasn't his that he couldn't even see what was."

Kagome blinked a few times at his words before shooting Inuyasha a teasing smirk. "Why, Inuyasha, I think that's one of the most romantic things I've ever heard you say!"

Inuyasha just gave Kagome a sidelong look of disgust for even thinking of pairing "Koga" and "romantic" in the same thought.

Miroku just laughed at them both. "Yes, well, Myōga seemed quite pleased with his assigned task and assured me that he would be able to inform everyone with plenty of time for them to make the journey here for the ceremony."

Kagome clapped excitedly as the full reality of the situation dawned on her. Not only was her wedding to Inuyasha happening in a mere three days, but all of their friends would be in attendance as well!

"Oh, I'm so excited!" She squealed before doing a little happy dance in her seat that had Sango giggling, Miroku grinning, and Inuyasha trying unsuccessfully to hide the amused adoration from his gaze.

But just as suddenly as it had begun, a thought occurred to Kagome that had her stopping her celebration in its tracks. "But… more than half of them are youkai or hanyou! We're having enough trouble with the villagers as it is. What will they think when they hear we've invited them all to the village?!"

She frowned and the others were still trying to come up with a way to reassure her when Inuyasha suddenly raised his nose to the air and sniffed… Which was almost immediately followed by a sharp knock on the doorframe outside.

"Hōshi-sama? Tajiya-sama?" A voice called.

Kagome's head shot toward the doorway before turning back to look questioningly at Sango and Miroku. "Is that…Rikichi?!" She hissed.

The low growl that had begun to rumble from Inuyasha's chest was confirmation enough for Kagome, even as Sango rose from her seat to greet the headman at the door.

"Rikichi-san, good morning. Would you like to come in? We were just about to have some tea."

Rikichi stepped through the doorway and glanced around the room. His gaze was met with curiosity from the Monk, anxiety from the Miko, and downright hostility from the hanyou lord.

He swallowed thickly. Part of him was glad to find the Miko and her intended there. Things in the village were getting out of hand and he knew he was partially to blame. Regardless of his personal opinions, it was his duty as headman to ensure that peace was maintained within the village.

He cleared his throat, moving to sit with them by the fire. "Gre– Greetings, all. I came to speak with Miroku-sama and Sango-sama regarding the upcoming festivities, though I am glad to see you both here as well, Lord Inuyasha, Lady Kagome."

Inuyasha scoffed at that and shot Rikichi a look that told him exactly how little he believed the headman's words.

Then, before he could speak again, Rikichi watched in wonder as the Lady Miko reached out to place a comforting hand on the hanyou lord's knee. The two shared a look that spoke volumes with no words at all. She with worry and love in her eyes, he with protective concern and deep affection in his. It was the first time in a long time – aside from their brief encounter in the street – that Rikichi had actually seen the pair together… And even then, he thought, had he ever really looked at them?

Three years ago, the two had come and gone from the village often with little fanfare, always in the company of the rest of their troupe, or else with Lady Kaede. He had been more suspicious of them then than anything else. This was the girl that had appeared so mysteriously in Inuyasha's forest, who had power that could not be accounted for considering her lack of training, who had turned the great Lady Kikyo's sealing arrow into nothing more than dust in mere seconds. And Inuyasha, the great and terrible demon who had burned his village to the ground, who had been whispered about in secret since before he was born… Had he ever taken the time to see them for more than what they appeared to be on the outside? He didn't think so. And in that moment, as he really watched the pair, perhaps for the first time, he realized that there was much more than meets the eye about these two now-legendary warriors.

Sango handed Rikichi a steaming cups of tea then, breaking him from his reverie. He sighed deeply, allowing his headman mask to fall to the wayside in that moment. The sound drew everyone's attention as he set his cup off to the side and promptly lowered his forehead to the floor, bowing deeply.

"My Lord, My Lady. I must ask you once again for your forgiveness. Truly."

The two couples shared a look of shock amongst themselves. If they'd expected anything from Rikichi's sudden arrival, it wasn't this.

It took her a moment, but Kagome finally spoke. "Rikichi-san please, I'm the one who must ask your forgiveness! It was never my intention to use my power in such a manner!"

Rikichi rose from his bow, shaking his head. "No, Lady Kagome, you had every right to be upset with me for insulting you so thoughtlessly."

Kagome looked as though she wanted to protest, but Rikichi held up a hand to still her words. "Lady, please, I must say something, if you would permit me."

She closed her mouth and nodded for him to continue.

"When I met you in the street three days ago I saw it as my chance to gain answers to questions that had long been festering in my mind… But I did not consider your feelings, nor those of Lord Inuyasha, when I spoke so carelessly of my ill-formed opinions." He paused, sighing again. "And now I fear that our confrontation in the street is part of what is feeding the ill-will and discontent amongst my people."

The couples watched him closely but said nothing, which urged Rikichi to continue. "It is my duty as headman to know about and be prepared for anything that this village might face. And I must admit, I felt ill-prepared for the final confrontation with Naraku. Then, when the well disappeared and reappeared, I knew that there was yet more that I had not been informed about. It was a perceived slight on my part that I allowed to get the better of me when I questioned you so callously in the street. And so I must apologize. While I would rather you felt comfortable enough to tell me the things that I believe it is my duty as headman to know, I do not wish to gain that knowledge at the expense of the trust and protection that your group has so graciously bestowed upon all of us who live here in this village."

Kagome didn't know what to say to that, and she could tell that Sango and Miroku were at a loss as well… which is why she was truly astonished when it was Inuyasha who finally spoke up.

"Rikichi-san, my mate and I accept your apology. I know more than most what it's like to be burdened by the duty to protect, yet you carry yours with honour."

Kagome watched Inuyasha speak. This was a side of him that he rarely showed to others: the thoughtful, well-spoken prince that he hid under all the layers of brash and hardened outcast. She felt pride swell up in her chest and decided to keep silent, allowing him to take the lead.

Inuyasha continued. "You're wise to desire an understanding of the well, and while we can't tell you everything, we can tell you that yes, it was by the well that Lady Kagome was returned to me… But it's not something you need to worry about. Her journey here was the final one. The well no longer works."

Inuyasha paused as if considering something before he spoke again. "You should also know that my Lady retains her powers despite the fact that she's now my mate… And it's not just because she's powerful in her own right, which she is. Kagome also holds the power of the vanquished Shikon no Tama."

Sango gasped at this. "Inuyasha! Are you sure it's wise to–"

Inuyasha held up his hand. "Rikichi leads this village and deserves our respect. If I were him, I'd be furious to find out that something like this had been kept from me, even if no one thought it might ever be a source of danger."

He looked at Rikichi again before continuing. "Which it isn't. You were there that first day, Rikichi. You know that the jewel came out of my mate's body. So it shouldn't be a surprise to you to know that when she purified the evil that lived within the jewel she also purified the jewel's power, which allowed that power to safely return to her soul. And while this information is a closely guarded secret, it's still important for you to know, since Lady Kagome and I have every intention of residing in this village."

Rikichi sat in stunned silence as the hanyou lord spoke. The magnitude of this confession was not lost on him and the trust his words implied was humbling.

Catching his eye, Inuyasha fixed the headman with a hard golden stare before continuing. "And you should know, too, that if I ever find out that you have betrayed our trust, there will be no second chance for you, Rikichi. I will hunt you down and kill you."

If you had asked the headman before this moment whether he thought he knew the hanyou protector of his village, Rikichi would have answered in the affirmative… but now he wasn't so sure.

He had only ever seen the Shogun of Edo once. And only briefly as he and his entourage had passed Rikichi, travelling on the same road. Still, Rikichi remembered the Shogun's eyes as they had locked briefly with his own. Eyes that held the same look as those currently peering across the fire at him. It was a look of unquestionable strength held in check by duty and honour. The look of someone who knew that they had the power of life and death resting firmly within their hands and it was simply a choice of whether or not to ever to use it.

In that moment Rikichi understood what Kaede had always seen in the hanyou and his compatriots. Youkai or no, he finally understood just what an honour it actually was to have them all residing in his village.

Unbeknownst to Rikichi, Miroku was having similar thoughts from the corner where he sat cradling his son. It wasn't lost on the Monk that less than an hour ago he had been teasing his friend over the royal title he'd been given by the people of the village… and yet here he sat, for all intents and purposes, every inch the Lord they called him. He, like Kagome, had only ever seen this side of his friend rarely and almost not at all during the three years that Kagome had been gone. He wondered, and not for the first time, what the Kami truly had in planned for their pack, considering the troubling fate that was supposedly set to befall them in 50 years' time.

Rikichi spoke up then, returning Miroku to the events unfolding around his fire. "My Lord Inuyasha, you have honoured me with your trust, and I swear upon the souls of my ancestors that I shall never give you cause to question that decision. You and your Lady Miko are welcome here for as long as you wish to grace us with your presence. It is the people in this village who should be honoured that you have chosen our home as your protectorate and residence. I will do everything in my power to see that the animosity that has been growing amongst the villagers is stopped at once."

Sango spoke up then. "That may not be so easy, Rikichi-san. You know as well as I that the hearts of men, once set, are not always easily swayed… and I do not think that you wish for your village to become a battleground of brother against brother."

Rikichi shook his head in sad agreement. While he wished to right the wrongs done, he knew that Sango-sama was correct. He was just about to say as much when the Lady Kagome spoke up.

"Rikichi-san, I too accept your apology and thank you for your words. I know that you know that Sango-chan is correct. The problems in this village go deeper than just what's happening on the surface. For them to have so readily turned against Inuyasha even after he has devoted the last three years to their protection speaks of the prejudice that most humans still harbour toward all youkai. And before you say it, yes I know that most youkai, especially lower youkai, are dangerous predators that must be dealt with. But higher youkai and daiyoukai are not necessarily like that."

Kagome could tell that Rikichi was considering her words, which urged her to continue. "You should also know that there will be several youkai attending the wedding as invited guests. I would like you to prepare the villagers for that. Assure them that those that are coming are of no threat to them… but leave the rest to me."

Rikichi gave her a questioning look. "My lady? What do you mean?"

"Inuyasha and I will be taking Shippō and Rin to market tomorrow to hopefully help ease the tensions around the village a bit. And you must continue to do what you can to assuage their fears, speaking up in defence of Inuyasha… But leave the swaying of hearts to me, because, so help me, one way or another this problem will be resolved before the sun rises on the morning after my wedding."

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Mini Luu - Ha ha! You know Miroku's gotta get some good jabs in. I mean he's been waiting for a chance to torture Inuyasha like this for FOUR YEARS! :D

nrg92 - The relationships between Inuyasha, Kagome, Sesshomaru and Rin are some of the things I'm most looking forward to writing as we get deeper in the story. Also, so not telling about Inuyasha's "feeling." *Insert second evil laugh here*

Guesswho - Ha! I doubt there will ever come a day when Inuyasha doesn't blush and fumble about at the mention of anything hentai! (Here's hoping, at least!)

Surfy - No need to apologize! Like I said, I love hearing from readers but never expect that they have to comment on every chapter. Hopefully, you can appreciate this serious and thoughtful side of Inuyasha that he shows in this chapter as well!

Everyone Else - Thank you, as always, for your messages. I really do read every single one... pretty much as soon as I see they've popped up! So, yeah, don't be shy! I love to hear from you!

A/N – You can find me chatting about behind-the-scenes stuff over on Tumblr. My username is sarah-writes-stories

(And, of course, I do not own Inuyasha nor any of the characters created by Rumiko Takahashi.)