'You look beautiful, darling. Absolutely luminous. C:'
"You look beautiful, darling!"
Both Kagura's message and Miroku's verbal compliments made me smile, igniting a warmth in my chest to match the blush on my cheeks. I looked to Miroku in the mirror. He sat on the chair behind me, looking quite dashing himself in his brown three-piece suit and orange tie. I wore a matching dress—crème-colored with orange accents. Ayame and Koga went for a fall theme for their month-early shotgun wedding.
They kept it a hell of a secret. Miroku didn't even know.
And now we were all getting ready for their wedding, nearly forty-five minutes away from my place, in Ueno Park. Kagome was the maid of honor and Inuyasha was the best man. Ginta, Hakkaku, Jakotsu, Miroku, Shippo, and I were also in the wedding party, which was fun. However, I was unable to secure my preferred date in time, as she was coming back from her family vacation tonight.
So, I took Miroku instead.
We took the bullet train from nearest our land of suburbia, closer to Miroku's neck of the woods than mine. We planned ahead, fully prepared to be shitfaced before the reception was even over. Well, Miroku would be shitfaced by then, at least. I had to maintain some semblance of self-control until at least the first dance was over. Inuyasha and I were performing the song—an acoustic rendition of "If It Means a Lot to You" by A Day to Remember. I was a little nervous, as both Koga and Ayame had rather large, extended families who would be in attendance; but I was not completely afraid.
I had my best friends and a standardized shit-ton of alcohol to calm my nerves.
And a steady stream of encouraging texts from Kagura.
Turns out, she was actually quite saddened by not being home to make it to the wedding in time. I had to admit, my mood was initially dampened, as well. I secretly looked forward to the prospect of dancing with her, for just a moment. Plus, it seemed like almost everyone had someone—even Shippo was lucky enough to finally ask out his long-time crush, Satsuki, a girl from his high school. Even Sesshomaru and Rin were there, as guests.
My loneliness was soon washed away by the antics and controlled chaos that came with rushing around at the last minute to perfect everyone's hair, clothes, and general setup for the event. Then came the photos. Lots of photos. My disdain for having my own picture taken was immediately overrode by the joy of seeing the stars in Ayame's eyes and the look of pure love and adoration on Koga's face when he first saw her in the wedding dress. I think the boy was near tears.
I walked down the aisle with Miroku, my arm looped into his. I was shocked he didn't try anything perverted as we walked through the crowd. Today was going so well, though, I would have welcomed his antics just for the comedic value we would provide. But alas, this was not the day or time or place. Once we all took our positions at the altar, I watched Ayame's grandfather walk her down the aisle. I stifled tears myself, feeling so genuinely happy for this girl who had barely known me a few years, and had asked me to be one of her bridesmaids. Kagome was already crying. And I saw a tear finally escape Koga's eye as he watched the love of his life walk down the aisle, eyes only for him.
They gave me hope.
I listened to their vows, unable to contain my smile. I watched Inuyasha and Kagome glance at one another a few times, smiling in their own rights. I glimpsed Kagome fidget with her own wedding ring once or twice. Miroku caught my gaze once and winked at me before offering his most genuine smile. The groom kissed the bride, Ayame's mother cried, Hakkaku and Ginta burst into tears, and we made our way back up the stairs and behind the scenes, where Inuyasha popped the cork out of the first of many champagne bottles.
Koga and Ayame were the last to join us in the backroom of the nature center's amphitheater. He literally carried her through the doorway and spun her around in a dramatic, romantic style before lowering her to the ground and holding her in a low embrace and accompanying kiss. We all cheered and whooped for our friends, extremely happy for their union. I had to stop Miroku from showering them with champagne, lest he ruin Ayame's dress and invoke the fury of a woman scorned on her wedding day. Koga probably would have punched his lights out, as well.
Before too long, Inuyasha, Miroku, and I wandered off to set up the music equipment in the reception hall.
"Our boy finally got hitched!" stated Miroku as he leapt onto the stage and busied himself with adjusting the microphone stand.
"Indeed, he did," said Inuyasha. "Didn't think the mangy fucker had it in him!" The silver-haired boy laughed as he began perfecting our already-crafted set up. We brought the amp, mic, and guitar up far earlier this morning, but in our haste, left it as is until nearer to the reception. I expected Sesshomaru to be joining shortly, as he was DJ for the event, as well.
Miroku helped me up on the stage. "M'lady!" I couldn't help but giggle at his exaggerated chivalry.
"Thank you, kind sir," I replied, rolling my eyes.
"Anything for you, dollface!" Miroku smiled and then followed me as I went to plug in the guitar and test it.
Miroku's hand soon found my ass and then his own ass soon found the floor, after I shoved him off the stage.
Inuyasha and I had a good laugh at that, as we began our own makeshift soundcheck.
"Well, I never!" Exclaimed Miroku in mock hurt.
"Shut up and go get the second mic from my gear bag in the closet," commanded Inuyasha.
"Right away, sir!" Miroku scrambled to his feet and bowed. He spun on his heel and blew a raspberry at Inuyasha as he departed. I rolled my eyes at his shenanigans once more.
Inuyasha finished tuning the guitar and gently strummed the strings. He looked to me, warmth and a spark of excitement evident in his amber eyes. "You nervous?" We both looked ahead, at the fifty plus round tables before us, each surrounded by six chairs and decorated with a beautiful floral centerpiece in a carved-out pumpkin.
"Eh…" I felt my mouth dry a little and swallowed. "Maybe a little?" I nervously rubbed my arm.
"Don't be!" Inuyasha put his hand on my shoulder. "We'll show 'em all what we're made of! We're the voices of Second Heartbeat, after all!"
Miroku came back, right on cue. He tossed the microphone up to Inuyasha, who caught it effortlessly. "You'll knock 'em dead!" My best friend winked at me.
Miroku took his assigned seat at one of the front tables, reserved for the wedding party and their plus ones, if applicable. Soon after, our friends joined, along with dozens more pouring into the room.
It was almost hard for me to finish the song. It really was.
It was an honor to watch Koga and Ayame dance together, for the first time, as husband and wife. And to provide my own vocal talents alongside of one of my closest friends for such an important occasion.
Of course, I watched them and didn't miss a single note, despite feeling super nervous the whole time. I saw Inuyasha make eye contact with Kagome a few times, out of my peripheral vision. I knew he was thinking of her during specific lines as he sang. I may or may not have thought of Kagura a few times.
The crowd cheered and clapped; and Koga took the spotlight and the main microphone. "Give it up for the vocal talents of Inuyasha Taisho and Sango Taijiya—my bandmates and amazing friends!" He came between us and put his arms around our shoulders. I blushed and felt my body growing hot, unsure if it was nerves, the stage lighting, or both. We then left the stage to Sesshomaru to set up the rest of the night's music.
"Sangooooooo!" Miroku pulled me into a hug and spun me around. I clung to him and shrieked as my feet left the floor.
"Miroku!" I laughed. "Put me down!"
"You were awesome!" He complied. "As usual!"
I smiled and took my seat beside him at the table. Koga and Ayame soon joined us as well.
"I got a good one of you, Koga, and Inuyasha!" Miroku leaned next to me and showed me the photograph on his phone, taken when Koga came to hug us both on stage at the conclusion of our short act. I smiled; it was a good picture.
"I want a copy of that one, please. Send it to me," I said as Miroku flipped through more photos he had taken. He paused at a video. "Hey, Miroku, can I see my phone?"
"Sure." He reached into his pocket and handed me the small device.
I had a few messages from Kagura. The first was a picture message containing a selfie of her in front of a coastal sunset. Another picture message of her and her father. Damn, she looks a lot like him… And the third message…
'You were so amazing! Miroku just sent me the video! You have such a beautiful voice, Sango c:'
I was elated. And also madder than hell.
"You took a video?!" I turned to Miroku and grabbed him by the lapels of his suit jacket.
Miroku grinned sheepishly. "I thought it would be a good memento of such a fine performance on this blessed day!"
"And you sent it to Kagura?!" I pulled Miroku down closer to my level. Even in these damned high heels, I was still nowhere near his height.
"Well, she said you have a beautiful voice!"
"And you read my texts?!"
I shoved him away, took my seat, and readily grabbed my awaiting glass of champagne.
Kagome scooted closer to me to initially take a picture together. I smiled for the photo and then scowled at Miroku once more. "Well, going through your texts was a bit dickish," said Kagome, "but, you did earn a compliment from Kagura for the song."
"True…" I sipped my beverage and gazed past the crowds and out a lovely stained-glass window across the room.
"How's that going, anyway?" Kagome asked cautiously and quietly.
"Hmm?" I raised an eyebrow at her. Then it hit me like the gulp of champagne I almost choked on. "Oh… Kagura… right…"
"Well?" asked Kagome.
"Eh… good," I answered, pouring myself another glass.
"Does she still have that boyfriend?"
We're going to need a bigger bottle… "I don't know, Kagome. I honestly don't know."
Kagome rested her hand on mine and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Just be careful, Sango. I know how quickly you can fall for people, sometimes…" She glanced at Miroku, who was turned away from us in his chair, leaning forward and happily bullshitting with Inuyasha, Koga, and Ayame. My eyes followed hers and rested on the boy in question. He's no Valentine… but once upon a time, he said he would be mine…
My friend grabbed my other hand and guided me to turn back toward her. Our eyes met. "I just don't want to see you get hurt, Sango."
"I know…" I managed a soft smile, which Kagome returned in full. I appreciated her friendship, I really did.
"Hey," said Kagome. The younger girl stood up and offered me her hand. "Let's go for a walk, shall we?"
"Okay…" I was sure to grab my champagne glass before we took off.
Kagome led me out of the reception hall and down the empty hallway to the empty children's museum wing, where it was calm and quiet, aside from the muffled sounds of the wedding reception.
"Everything okay?" I asked Kagome, following her to the railing, where she was leaning. We glanced ahead and then down at the seemingly deserted play structures below.
"Yes," answered Kagome. "Just wanted to check in with you." She smiled at me.
I was quiet for a moment, unbeckoned nervousness tugging at my insides. "I appreciate that, Kagome."
"You're welcome. You're one of my best friends."
I'd known her for years now, and I still did not know how to respond to her kindness. Kagome had the biggest heart. She really was the glue that held our college friend group together, especially post-graduation. And she was always there for all of us, no matter what.
I just felt bad sometimes. I knew she longed for closeness and disclosure in our friendship. And I knew she would always be more than happy to offer a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on. But that was just simply not the way I was built, to respond to such kindness in the socially acceptable way. I would be here for her as a best friend turned sister should always be; however, I had trouble allowing her to reciprocate.
After my crush on Miroku fizzled out, he had become my confidant moreso than Kagome or anyone else, aside from Kohaku. And then Kohaku left for the military…
"I miss my little brother…" I decided to voice my thoughts aloud for once.
"I'm sorry, Sango." Kagome put her arm around my shoulders.
"It's okay." Silence fell between us once more, in an unexpectedly comfortable fashion.
"How are you doing?" Kagome asked quietly. "Like, how are you really doing?"
I wasn't sure how to respond. I mean, really, I was fine for the time being. It wasn't until I was alone, and alone with my thoughts, that everything tried to attack all at once. Grief, loneliness, the stress, and fear of the future…
But, I realized, I was feeling better overall. Since Kagura had entered my life.
"I'm alright, Kagome," I finally answered. "How have you been?"
"Good; I'm glad to hear that." A genuine, contagious smile crept over her young features and I couldn't help my own grin in response. "And I've been good, also. Just not looking forward to fall semester. It's like we can't catch a break!"
I chuckled. "Yeah…" More comforting silence.
"Well, random…" started Kagome. I turned to look at her and raised an eyebrow. "What are you going to do?"
"With what?'
"Well… have you heard from Jou lately?"
Oh, shit. Nope… "Um…"
Kagome gave me a knowing smile. "Say no more…"
I deadpanned with guilt. Jou is a nice boy…
"I know where your heart lies, Sango." I looked away from my friend and nervously wrung my hands together. "I support you, either way. I see the way your face lights up when you talk about Kagura and when she texts you."
"She makes me feel beautiful," I said quietly, slightly abashed at how soft and true my words were. "I feel like I can be myself with her… and she hasn't run yet..."
"Sango," Kagome began again, "just be careful. And know that if she ever hurts you, I'll kick her ass into next year!"
I laughed. "Duly noted, Kagome."
Kagome pulled me into an embrace. We held one another for a moment; and I allowed myself to enjoy the small comfort.
"You should probably tell Jou, though… let him down gently."
"Yeah…"
I chased Ayame and Kagome through the play structures in the children's museum. We were happily drunk by now. I was pretty sure Ayame alone was on her third bottle of champagne.
I still couldn't believe she did it…
About twenty minutes ago, Koga and Ayame cut the cake. And Ayame shoved her first slice right into her lawfully wedded husband's face. I was lucky enough to take a photo of the scene for us to cherish forever. It was now Koga's contact photo in my phone.
And I couldn't believe us right now.
We were running from the boys, through all the colorful tunnels, slides and ball pits of a children's museum that was currently rented out for the wedding. Inuyasha still had nerf guns in his trunk, apparently. This was a war zone now. He would probably never see his ammunition ever again after this adventure, though.
Kagome, Ayame, and I were armed with nerf swords, also from Inuyasha's trunk. We currently sat at the top of the treehouse-themed play structure. Kagome was guarding the stairway entrance and I was guarding the slide. I could hear clumsy, somewhat anguished movement echoing up through the tunnel. At the same time, a foam bullet flew up from the stairway and whizzed between me and Ayame.
"Oh, ladies!" Koga called from the stairs. His words were followed by another pop-pop and accompanying foam projectiles.
"Oh, shit! It's our Y-chromosomes!" yelled Ayame in mock concern. She held up her sword and impressively deflected another bullet.
Inuyasha and Koga soon came charging into the tower and chased us around. They were setting their sights mostly on Ayame and Kagome. I was growing wary of Miroku's whereabouts, seeing as he was not in the stairs with the other two…
The slide!
As if on cue, Miroku had just crawled to the top of our hideout from the tunnel slide.
"Sup, bitches?!" Miroku shouted as he shot at us all with several nerf bullets. I deflected a few with my sword and then got the bright idea to head in his direction.
"Not today, Satan!"
"Sango, what are you doing?!"
I pushed Miroku back down the slide and hit him with my nerf sword as he began his descent and related string of curses.
"Shit! Shit! SHIT!" I laughed maniacally as I heard him hitting his elbows and knees on the plastic tunnel as he slid back to the bottom. "Fuck you all!" Miroku's curses echoed up through the slide, along with the sounds of a few misplaced gunshots.
"Oh fuck! Miroku down!" exclaimed Koga. He and Inuyasha cocked their weapons and aimed at me. "Revenge!" Ayame and Kagome ran for the stairs, pushing past the boys.
"Oh, hell no!" I threw my sword at Inuyasha, who dramatically feigned injury. I then dived headfirst into the tunnel slide, not giving a single fuck that I was still wearing my bridesmaid dress.
I knocked Miroku down once more at the end of the ride and we proceeded to lay on the ground, laughing until our ribs hurt.
"What… the fuck…?"
I groaned and sat up, stretching my aching limbs.
Where the fuck am I?
I glanced around, narrowing my eyes and holding my hand to my forehead. The smallest slivers of light pouring in from the windows was still enough to offend my tired eyes and throbbing head.
I appeared to be sitting in the middle of a ball pit.
What… did we do…?
The colorful balls beside me stirred and I scrambled to my feet, alarmed. Disoriented and still a wee bit drunk from the previous night, I fell back to the plastic floor. Before panic mode could fully set in, Miroku's distinctive laughter erupted from behind me. I quickly turned to face him.
"Good morning, beautiful!"
He was far too lively for this morning. I threw a ball at his head.
"Ow!"
"Morning, Miroku."
How this man didn't get hangovers, I would never know…
'Hey, Jou'
'Yea, what's up?'
'Hey, I need to tell you something.'
I sighed and leaned my head back against the surprisingly comfortable seat as I rode the bullet train back to Miroku's car and real life.
"You tell him yet?" asked Miroku.
"I'm getting there… he hasn't replied."
"Ah…"
My hangover was finally subsiding. Miroku and I were the last ones to leave the museum, apparently. The cleanup crew was more than happy to chase us out. One of them was nice enough to offer us each a bottle of water and a snack from the vending machine, though.
"That's another party to remember," wistfully stated Miroku.
He was not wrong. It was finally coming back to me—how we ended up passing out in the ball pit, at least…
Buzz.
'what's up?'
I didn't want to hurt Jou. I really didn't…
But my heart is set on Kagura…
Just the thought of her smile made me weak…
And then there's last night…
I seriously doubted Jou would have survived Koga and Ayame's wedding reception. The alcohol, the dancing, the drugs, the nerf guns… the ball pits…
He needed someone mature. Someone ready to surrender drunken debauchery and rock shows for a 9 to 5 and a decent salary.
'Jou, you're a really nice guy and you're smart and talented and you're going to do amazing things one day. Unfortunately, I am not anywhere near where you need a potential girlfriend to be. I am also still stuck on someone else, which is not fair to you at all. I do like you, though, as a friend. I don't want that to change, but I understand if you don't ever want to talk to me again.'
Send.
"Miroku," I leaned against my best friend's shoulder. I yawned and closed my eyes. "I did the deed."
"Good." He put his arm around me and yawned himself. "Fuck that guy..."
I laughed, "Word…"
Once more, as exhaustion from my recent adventures swept over me, I thought of my youth, my friends, my love… I thought of music and champagne and foam swords and fake bullets. The last thing to cross my foggy mind was that song stuck in my head since we covered it at the wedding, accompanied by the memory of walking through the park with Kagura that one day…