Kagome sipped her champagne and took in the merriment around her. She was forever grateful to Sango for letting her pick out her own bridesmaid dress, specifying only "if it's black and you don't look like a dominatrix, I'm happy."
Kagome still remembered the text message from Sango on the day Miroku proposed.
He asked me, and I said yes!
She remembered squealing when she saw it, feeling palpable joy for her friends. She also remembered the arms that encircled her and looked at her phone from over her shoulder.
"So he finally got up the nerve to ask. Took him long enough…"
Miroku proposed to Sango on a memorable night. For it was the first time Kagome experienced human Inuyasha. That night had been a fun night, a really fun night. And it'd been repeated exactly 8 times since.
A lot had happened in those 8 months. She'd been recruited to help plan Miroku and Sango's wedding, which she took to immediately. She'd finally been given the go-ahead to start her thesis research, having decided to study the sociological effects of demon assimilation into human society. There had been a substantial change to living arrangements. Sango and Inuyasha traded places, Sango moving in with Miroku and Inuyasha moving in with Kagome. Indeed, Inuyasha had gotten rid of his bed, as he had not slept apart from her since their first night together. Her apartment was truly destined to be her nest.
But the biggest change for Kagome was being with Inuyasha. She loved that every time she thought she'd figured him out, he threw another curveball at her. Sometimes it was something simple, like recalling the time he saved a child from a river - thrown casually into a conversation about how Kagome liked to swim. Sometimes it was recounting some incredible cruelty that had happened to him as if it were routine, like a story about hiding in a barn amongst animals after having spoken to a headman's kid and being threatened with death. I've fallen in love with a self-loathing superhero was now her mantra.
And she had fallen in love. Completely. When she had a shit day, he was her rock, curling her into him and purring while she vented. He seemed preternaturally attuned to her moods, knowing when to give her space, give her comfort, or give her… other things. (The sex was another thing that never disappointed, even as the "first time" excitement wore off and it became practiced and routine). He was now a part of her family - helping Mama with chores, joking around with Gramps about the "good ol' days", and playing video games with Souta, as promised. That Souta was also now one of his students at the dojo added to that feeling in her heart that he had been destined to become a part of her family, and to change her life as much as she now understood that she changed his.
She gazed up at him now, looking so debonair in his suit that she had to resist secreting away with him somewhere for a quickie. There he was, surrounded by Miroku's family, chasing after one of Miroku's nieces, looking completely natural. He will make a wonderful father. The thought came to her without prompting, and rather than scaring her, it invigorated her. With a small exchanged glance, she knew that he was thinking about it too.
"Hey…" a tap on the shoulder, gentle, tender. Kagome recognized that voice anywhere. "Is this seat taken?"
No bitterness welled up - no anger or resentment. No feeling like a piece of her soul was missing. Instead, it felt like the return of an old friend. One she missed. Kagome smiled, turned her head toward her ex girlfriend, and simply tapped the chair to her left. Kikyo beamed, then settled herself in next to Kagome.
"Wonderful reception - those two were made for each other," Kikyo offered.
"That they were," Kagome replied, "Miroku's patience tempers Sango's fire."
Kikyo laughed. It felt good to hear Kikyo laugh again. Kagome then saw a sparkle coming from Kikyo's hand.
"Ah!" Kagome couldn't help herself as she grabbed Kikyo's hand, staring at the beautiful engagement ring that now adorned it. She could feel Kikyo tense under her touch.
She thought she was going to be angry, but nothing except happiness welled up inside her. Kikyo found happiness. That was the thought, the only thought, that occurred to her.
"Kikyo!" Kagome pulled her ex in for a hug, which startled them both, "I'm so happy for you."
"...Really?.." Kikyo looked into Kagome's face, not quite believing.
"Yes." Kagome could see now. Kikyo's light. Brighter and warmer than any time they were together. Suikotsu was the one who brought out Kikyo's light.
Kagome wouldn't say anything in that moment, but certain text messages she'd received from Mama gave her a good idea that she would likely be saying yes and wearing a ring herself soon. At the thought of her Demon Hunk, she looked over at him, seeing his ears very clearly pointing in her direction.
"Yash, stop eavesdropping!" Kagome called, watching him flinch, pin his ears back, then look guiltily at her, "Man has superhuman hearing, and I can always tell."
Kikyo laughed again and Kagome rolled her eyes. He was lucky she loved him so much.
"We're such goddamned clichés" Kikyo took a gulp of her champagne, "Two bi girls settling down with men."
"I mean, yes and no," Kagome retorted, "We're two bi girls who found the right person. I don't know about you, but being with Inuyasha never made me feel less bi. It never made me think my relationship with you was any less valid."
Kikyo looked at her, then took her hand and squeezed it.
"You always know the right things to say." Kikyo gazed lovingly at Suikotsu, who Kagome had to admit, also looked great in a suit (but nowhere near as good as her Demon Hunk).
"Hey… did you know that I met Inuyasha at my housewarming party?" Kagome remembered it all too well, "I don't think I'd be here with him… if it weren't for you."
"Hmmm," Kikyo looked thoughtful, "I don't think that's entirely true. You two would've found your way to one another… But I am happy to take credit for getting you together sooner rather than later."
Kagome laughed, thinking of the bonsai tree still in their apartment, still with that yellow ribbon. Inuyasha had taken it upon himself to look after it, and it still sat in their front entrance, thriving.
"I'm so happy that you're happy Kagome," Kikyo said in a whisper.
"I'm really happy you're happy too," Kagome replied.
"So… does that mean… maybe…" Kikyo's voice got smaller, "Maybe we can be friends?"
Kagome almost laughed, but she felt a little ashamed. It shouldn't have taken a wedding for her to finally reconnect with Kikyo. But she wasn't going to let the opportunity go.
"Yes. Definitely." Kagome replied, certainty in her voice.
"I'm so glad." with that, Kikyo stood up, then leaned down and gave Kagome one more tight hug.
Kagome watched as Kikyo made her way back to Suikotsu, looking absolutely luminous. She had to admit, looking at them together made her heart swell. Kikyo positively radiated happiness, and so did he.
"Yo wench, let me know if you need to fuck me in a bathroom again," a gruff voice purred directly into Kagome's ear, taking her by surprise.
Kagome jumped, then let out a laugh so loud she could tell she'd made his ears ring.
"Serves you right for sneaking up on me!" she purred, then gave his ears a little caress.
"I just got a very drunk, very horny set of newlyweds into a limo. I think that means the party's over," Inuyasha quietly said, but Kagome could hear the pleading in his voice.
"Then let's go home Yash," Kagome answered his plea.
And so they did. That night, Kagome and Inuyasha found their way back to the bathroom, and he fucked her against the wall.
2 months later, when a wedding invitation arrived in the mail, Kagome could not help but smile. She looked down at the beautiful ring that now adorned her own left hand, and caressed it with the same tenderness she used on his ears.
"Hey Yash, is September 22 a human night?" Kagome asked quietly, knowing he was the only one who would hear.
"Nah, 3 days off, why?" Inuyasha came into the front entrance, reading the invitation over Kagome's shoulder.
"Just making sure we can celebrate an old friend's happiness," Kagome replied, grabbing Inuyasha's hand and kissing it.
Kagome then turned over the RSVP card, and checked the "yes" box. She hoped she'd receive the same RSVP from Kikyo and Suikotsu when the time came, and it was her turn to send out those invitations.