New Author's Notes: In honor of the one year anniversary of the 'Confessions Trilogy', I'm performing a massive editing session on all three stories. As you know by now, I've already finished editing the first, and am now posting this one, and will eventually be getting to the third as well, time permitting. I'm immensely proud of all three of these stories, and am contemplating turning this into a yearly tradition so that they can always be improving. The only thing that hasn't changed are the original author's notes, which I didn't have the heart to part with. I hope you enjoy!


Though not described in detail, this story does deal with rape, so be forewarned if that sort of topic bothers you.
Original Author's Notes: Here's the next chapter…sorry it's taken a while to get this one out, but man has my life been absolutely crazy. Every night this past week I've had a singing engagement, either as a soloist or with a choir, I've had swim practice every day, and I've had tons of homework since Christmas break is coming up. But maybe this all means that the worst will be over soon.

The next update won't come until the end of this week, so I hope this chapter can carry you all over until then. Thanks for all the reviews, everyone, I really appreciate you all sticking with me, and I hope the prom scene in this chapter isn't too boring for you all. It will get more interesting, I promise, I just have to set the stage first. Enjoy!


Title: The Realistic Happily Ever After

Author: dolphingirl0113

Chapter: Two

Rating: PG-13 (for language, violence, and implied sexual situations)

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.


A deadly silence had fallen on the group as everyone glanced from one man to the other, trying to decide what would happen next. Hojo was gawking at Inuyasha as though he was still in his usual hanyou form, and Inuyasha was giving Hojo a death glare that could shake mountains. And, of course, right in the middle of the silent battle, unable to escape, was Kagome with a deep frown in place.

"Kagome…who is this?" Hojo asked, sounding more like a puzzled little boy then a threatening young man. Unfortunately, his eyes told a different story as they narrowed into a glare. He was obviously not happy to be finally meeting the man Kagome had chosen over him.

With a sigh, Kagome walked up and placed a hand on the young man's arm. "Hojo, this is Inuyasha." Her eyes softened. "He's my…"

"I'm her mate," Inuyasha interrupted without thinking, his voice a low, feral growl. His demon side did not approve of Kagome being so near another man.

Kagome simply blushed a bright crimson and sighed.

"Your…mate?" Hojo also blushed at the crude terminology, but also, in the end, started laughing outright, pointing a finger at the disgruntled hanyou, who only frowned even more. "What kind of possessive, crazy comment is that?"

Kagome felt herself panic slightly, knowing Inuyasha would take the gesture the wrong way, even though she couldn't really blame Hojo for reacting the way he did. After all, what would she have done if she were in his place? Nonetheless, she turned a pleading gaze on him, and clutched his arm tighter. "Please Hojo, don't laugh. You must understand that Inuyasha's family is just..well…different, and as such they use different terms then we do some of the time."

Hojo continued to chuckle. "Kagome, the guy called you his mate." He rolled his eyes and gave her an imploring gaze. "He's obviously got problems."

She frowned and felt herself panic, very aware of the seething man standing a few feet away. "Hojo, please, you don't understand…"

But before she could say another word, Inuyasha was lunging at Hojo with his hands outstretched as he, for a moment, forget he was without claws that evening. It was a pity, he thought to himself, for he would have enjoyed taking a swipe at that Hobo's belly. Instead, he settled for an insult. "I'll get you for that, bastard!"

To his disappointment, he never got the chance. "Inuyasha, sit!"

The hanyou instantly kissed the ground.

They had gathered a small crowd, and everyone was now staring at the three people causing all the commotion. Clearly, they were all trying to comprehend how it was possible that Kagome's date had just suddenly collapsed and was now face first against the cement, making no effort to move. For his part, Inuyasha was oblivious from his position, and wouldn't have cared anyway, but Kagome was quickly putting the brightest beet in the world to shame.

Trying desperately to suppress her temper, and also to ignore the prying eyes, she put her fingers over the bridge of her nose and exhaled in a long, loud sigh, searching for the patience that had kept her sane throughout everything she had already been through with her beloved hanyou over the past three years.

Still, a part of her couldn't help but feel somewhat resentful towards Inuyasha for yet again ruining something important to her. Why couldn't he have put aside his jealousy just this once? She had already promised to be his mate, and they had even consummated it! She blushed at the thought, but also felt her shoulders slump. It was just the same as it had always been with Kouga, with the hanyou being possessive and not trusting her to remain faithful, and her in the middle of the fight with no one listening to what she had to say.

"Keh, why the hell did you do that, wench?" Inuyasha grumbled as he rose slowly to his feet, wiping some stray bits of rock off his tuxedo jacket and swishing his hair back over his shoulders.

While Kagome just rolled her eyes at the usual insult, Hojo jumped to attention immediately, and rushed in front of her to jab his finger into Inuyasha's chest. "Don't you dare call Kagome a wench, you…you…you jerk!"

It was all Kagome could do to suppress her laughter, and she nearly choked with the effort. But seriously…jerk? Clearly Hojo was not nearly as skilled at casting insults at Inuyasha as Kouga had always been.

But her amusement instantly faded when she saw her fiancé's rage return. "Hojo, really, it's okay, he was just upset that he fell down, that's all," She implored, putting a gentle hand on his arm.

"I won't let him talk to you that way, Kagome," the kind hearted young man stated simply, even in the heat of battle showing his naiveté, clearly not seeing the danger he was putting himself in by insulting Inuyasha the very possessive hanyou.

"Honestly Hojo, it's fine…" She squeezed his arm, but that only made matters worse.

"Get your hands off of my mate, Hobo!"

Hojo's muscles tensed once more, and any progress Kagome had made was now lost completely. "Hobo!"

Now both men were shooting daggers at one another, though Hojo was clearly somewhat less experienced than Inuyasha, and Kagome realized, with a sigh that she would yet again have to step between them in order to prevent a third world war. Doing so, she placed a hand on each man's chest, just like in the Feudal Era whenever Kouga was around, and both men stopped to look at her, responding to her touch in the same way as their eyes softened slightly.

"Would you both stop fighting, please?" She stared straight at the ground as she spoke, feeling the energy leave her. Her bangs covered her eyes, and she felt suddenly very tired, tears threatening to water the corners of her eyes. "I…I just wanted to enjoy my senior prom, but you're both managing to ruin it before the night's even begun. Thanks a lot."

When Kagome had first stepped in between the two men, she'd had every intention of ridiculing them both for fighting, but in the end she had suddenly lost the will to argue back, or even play the peacemaker yet again. Instead she had felt an immense amount of disappointment when she'd noticed how everyone was staring at them, and so, instead of giving them a piece of her mind, she simply walked away.

Inuyasha watched her move away from him, her warm hand leaving his chest, and felt his heart break. Damn it all, he'd done it again! He had completely ruined her evening because of his stupid, insecure jealousy, and now she probably wouldn't speak to him again for the rest of the night. And what was worse, he didn't even understand why he was so jealous in the first place. She was his mate! What more did he want as proof of her devotion to him? She had bound herself to his very heart and soul, so that he could never lose her…and he needed to start trusting her more then he had thus far.

"Kagome…wait!" He caught her around the waist before she could join her friends and walk on into the ballroom, and pulled her against his chest, resting his chin gently atop her head, breathing in the scent of spices that was his Kagome. He felt her sigh and lean into his muscled chest, wrapping her arms around his waist to return the embrace, and Inuyasha felt himself relax slightly as he realized she didn't hate him for what he'd done.

As he clutched her to him, the rest of the world melted away, and he couldn't help but smile slightly. "Kagome, I'm really sorry," he muttered, and she pulled back to stare at him with a smile. Damn it all, even though he deserved it, she could never stay mad at him for long.

"I know, Inuyasha." Her smile broadened.

God he loved this woman! Ignoring the fact that several other people, including Hojo and Kagome's friends, were currently staring at them, Inuyasha pulled her into a passionate kiss, searing her lips, and to his surprise, Kagome, normally so modest, responded by wrapping her arms around his neck and deepening the kiss without restraint.

Inuyasha felt as though his entire being was alight with a fire he knew would always be exciting and new, no matter how many times he experienced it when he kissed Kagome, and as she sighed slightly against his lips, he felt the rest of the world melt away.

It was the sound of muffled giggles that finally caused them to pull apart, and Kagome had a slight blush of pleasure on her cheeks while Inuyasha felt flushed from the prolonged close contact. Hand in hand, and still smiling at one another, they turned and walked back to their group of friends, completely ignoring the shocked stares of everyone else, including Hojo.

"That was so romantic," Ayumi sighed with a dreamy gaze as she turned to her own date, who blushed profusely and looked away.

"Don't, um…" He coughed nervously. "Don't be getting any ideas, Ayumi, we aren't that familiar yet." His voice was soft and embarrassed, and everyone laughed, immediately smoothing over the tension in the air, the only person left not looking happy being Hojo.

Frankly he looked like his entire world had collapsed around his ears, and he didn't even seem to notice the blonde sophomore he had brought as his date put her hand on his shoulder and start pulling him towards the entrance to the ballroom. "Come on Hojo," she whined, frustrated that he was so blatantly ignoring her.

But the brown haired, dark eyed man just continued to stare at Kagome as though she herself was now the strange looking hanyou with ears on her head and claws on her fingers…as though she had been the one to do something as unexpected as attack him out of nowhere and call him Hobo.

Shaking off his date, who huffed in exasperation and turned to walk into the ballroom alone, Hojo walked slowly up to Kagome and took her soft hand in his, causing her to open her eyes wide in surprise. At her side, Inuyasha fought desperately not to growl, trying not to embarrass Kagome again, but still kept an arm around her waist just in case.

"Kagome…I thought that," he blushed. "I mean…with the play and all…I thought we were…" He was unable to finish anything he started to say, and each time he failed to complete a sentence he clutched her hand tighter so that when he finally gave up and went silent, her Kagome's fingers were turning white from lack of circulation.

But he didn't have to finish anything, because Kagome understood exactly what he was trying to say, and for once, rather then feeling annoyed, she just felt sorry for her longtime friend who had been in love with her for so long. "I'm sorry Hojo," she said gently, "I just don't like you that way. I do like you as a friend…as a very, very good friend…but not as a boyfriend. And in fact," she managed to free her hand and looked up at Inuyasha with a soft smile, "I'd like to take this moment to present to you my fiancé…Inuyasha."

Her smile as she said the words turned into an absolute ray of sunshine, but for once its warmth had no affect on Hojo whatsoever. He was a beaten man, and hearing Kagome speak of her engagement only secured that fact more, placing the final nail in the coffin of his hopes, which had been to bring another date to the prom, make Kagome jealous, and win her back…not that he'd ever really had her in the first place.

Finally, looking up once more, he nodded once to show that he accepted what she said, mumbled a swift goodbye, and took his now furious date's arm and disappeared into the crowd of people, who had, at last, begun to break up and head inside.

"Keh…good riddance," Inuyasha huffed, pulling Kagome closer to him possessively.

She just rolled her eyes. "Do you really have to be so hard on him, Inuyasha? I mean, it's not like he's ever done anything to you."

"He tried to take you away from me."

"Not really…he just didn't understand that I wasn't in love with him, and that I never had been; at least, not in that way. And he didn't know just how serious you and I are, either." As she spoke, images of that day in the forest came to mind, and Kagome put a hand to her cheek, feeling it burn hot with desire. Glancing up at Inuyasha, she could tell that he was thinking about the same thing, and both were wishing suddenly that they were somewhere more private.

"Hello…? Earth to Kagome!" Eri was waving her hand in front of Kagome's face, breaking her out of her trance.

"Oh! Sorry about that, you guys!" Her friends and their dates all shook their heads and shrugged their shoulders, muttering not to worry about it, and Kagome smiled, grabbing Inuyasha's arm. "Good, then let's go dance!"

She pulled the stunned hanyou through the doorway and into the somewhat crowded ballroom, which was filled with loud music and decorated with white lights, purple and white velvet banners hanging from the walls, with matching streamers hanging across the ceiling and connecting the seven chandeliers on the ceiling together.

Inuyasha was suddenly very thankful to be in his human form that night, recognizing that, had he been in his hanyou form, the speakers would have been excruciatingly painful on his sensitive ears. Even his nose would have probably been overwhelmed, because with only his human nose the scent of perfumes and colognes was absolutely nauseating.

His first instinct was to turn and run out the way he'd come in, but he had promised Kagome he would come, and he had no intention of ruining her evening again. With that thought in mind, he squeezed her hand and she returned the gesture by smiling brightly, practically seeming to glow.

"Let's go get our picture taken!" She said excitedly, pulling him in the direction of a rather long line of people, at the end of which stood couples before a scene of roses wrapped around a white archway, surrounded by green hedges.

"O-kay…" Inuyasha replied as he tried to remember exactly what a picture was. Kagome had taken one of him before, but unfortunately all he could remember was being blinded for several minutes by the thing she called a flash bulb. The thought caused him to grow extremely nervous when he noticed that this camera had a flash bulb that was at least ten times larger than Kagome's. He hoped and prayed it wouldn't hurt too much, and found himself gathering his courage for the ordeal ahead, prepared to withstand pain if it would make Kagome happy.

Her friends joined them in the line after a few minutes, managing to cut in front of several other couples, but no one besides Inuyasha seemed to notice, so he ignored the glares sent in their direction. The three girls continued to chatter at Kagome nonstop about this and that, and Inuyasha tried modeling the woman in his arms by standing patiently and listening quietly, making no comments one way or the other, and in the end decided that they needed a friend like Kagome who would simply listen since they all seemed to be so noisy.

As they moved closer in the line, a woman handed Inuyasha a form to fill out, including their names, but since Inuyasha didn't know how to use the pen, Kagome ended up writing it out for the both of them and handing the papers back to the woman when they were only two couples away from their turn with the camera.

The thought caused Inuyasha to wince again slightly, and he glanced at Kagome nervously. "Kagome, this…won't hurt, will it?"

Kagome looked back at him in surprise. "No, why would it hurt?" She looked cute as a puzzled expression came to her face. "You've had your picture taken before, Inuyasha. You know what it's like."

He blushed profusely and rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "I know, but, well, it's just that last time…"

Suddenly Kagome understood, and gave him a comforting hug. "Don't worry, Inuyasha, the light won't hurt your eyes while you're in your human form, because your eyes aren't as sensitive as they usually are."

"Okay…if you're sure…" He personally was still a little unsure, but chose to trust Kagome's judgment, considering the fact that she had more experience as a human then he did anyway.

The woman behind the camera, with red hair pulled back into a clumsy bun at the nape of her neck, stared at the handsome couple as they walked into the frame of her lens before smiling kindly. "And how are you two this evening?"

"Fine," they both muttered at the same time, and the photographer's green eyes twinkled, used to such behavior from embarrassed teenage couples, and pushed her thick framed glasses up the bridge of her nose slightly as she peered through the camera to see if they were in the right place.

"So," She commented, making a few minor adjustments, "Do you two have any sort of pose you want for the picture, or would you prefer the traditional way?"

Inuyasha glanced down at Kagome, silently asking for the answer with his eyes, and Kagome blushed slightly as she returned his gaze. "She means do you want to stand a certain way, or have her arrange us the same way the other couples have been standing?"

"Keh," He grunted, "I can stand on my own."

"Okay then," Kagome replied with a smile, and put a hand on his shoulder.

The woman behind the camera thought the pair didn't look very intimate at the moment, which struck her as odd considering how comfortable they'd looked with one another while waiting in line. Shrugging, she moved to snap the picture, but just before her finger hit the button Inuyasha suddenly swept Kagome up into his arms bridal style, causing the girl to gasp.

"Inuyasha, what are you doing?"

He looked at her intently. "Isn't this what you meant by choosing the way I wanted to pose?"

Kagome blushed, but found herself looking at him with such adoration that the hanyou thought he would completely melt into the ground from the warmth. "Yeah," she giggled, "Something like that."

Before they even had a chance to turn and smile, however, the photographer snapped the picture, causing the couple to turn in unison to give the redhead a surprised look. She just smiled in reply. "Don't worry, it will come out perfectly. Trust me."

"Okay…" Kagome replied, feeling somewhat unsure but figuring the woman probably knew more about taking pictures then she would ever know in a lifetime. "Let's go then, Inuyasha."

Leading the hanyou out towards the dance floor, the crowd around them grew thicker and the music increased in volume as they drew near the speakers. Kagome felt her body being to unconsciously sway to the distinct beat, and a smile of pleasure crossed her face. She loved to dance.

"Let's dance, Inuyasha!" She gasped excitedly, pulling the reluctant hanyou out into the middle of the dance floor. Several couples parted to give them room and stare for a moment at Inuyasha with his shockingly long hair and deep violet eyes as he moved somewhat robotically, unsure of himself. But Kagome didn't seem to notice, only caring about the fact that the beat of the music was consuming her entire body and soul, relishing in how wonderful it felt to just kick back and enjoy her life once again without worrying or being afraid of what would happen tomorrow.

Inuyasha pulled back and simply stared at the gyrating woman before him for several minutes, unsure of what to do or how to move the way she was. She did look beautiful though, he thought to himself with a smile.

Seeing that he was just standing and looking like a petrified idiot, Kagome smiled and grabbed his hand. "Just move to the beat with your body, Inuyasha. Don't even think about it…just do what feels right to you at the moment."

The hanyou nodded and tried to move, but looked like a robot…a very bad robot. Kagome couldn't help but laugh as she noticed the look of harsh concentration on his face, the lines on his forehead scrunched together as he worked desperately to get it right and so, in the end, just took his hands in hers and put them on her hips, causing him to instantly freeze, a blush creeping up his face at the realization that he was touching her that way in public.

Seeing his embarrassment, she smiled encouragingly and kept her hands over his. "Just follow my body," she commanded gently, moving her waist to the bead, and slowly Inuyasha felt his own form begin to sway back and forth in time with the music so that, with each song, he drew nearer to her body. Finally they were so close during one hard rock song that their hips were actually touching as they moved, but both were too relaxed and happy to care.

A slow song instantly replaced the string of faced paced music, and as her body started swaying to the easy beat, Kagome wrapped her arms around Inuyasha's neck and buried her head in his shoulder. He rested his chin on top of her head…his favorite position…and together they sighed.

"Mmm…" Kagome cuddled against his chest blissfully, her voice a whisper as she spoke. "It's been so long since I danced like I am tonight…and it's been so long since I could just live."

Inuyasha smiled, though the woman in his arms couldn't see it. "I know what you mean."

"You do?"

"Yeah…" He gave off a sigh of his own and glanced up at the ceiling and the intricate crystal chandeliers. "It's nice not having to worry about where we'll end up tomorrow, or if we'll even be alive. I like knowing that there has finally been a resolution to the conflict that has plagued my life for so long. And," he grinned playfully, "I'm glad I have a place to stay in that doesn't involve Miroku having to con some innocent villagers."

Kagome giggled at all the memories of the times when that had happened, but then her expression turned serious once more and she turned to look up at him. "I'm glad you have resolution in your life too, Inuyasha. All I've ever wanted was for you to be happy. Even…" She looked away briefly, gathering her thoughts. "Even if that had meant you would go with Kikyou in the end."

He blinked in sudden awe, his entire face going soft with love. "You really mean that…don't you, Kagome?"

"Yes, with all my heart," she replied, somewhat surprised that he would even clarify something like that. "I mean," she blushed slightly, "I'm not saying it would have been easy…nor am I saying that I would have been happy about it. But if it would have meant your happiness in the end, I…I would have made the sacrifice."

Inuyasha pulled her tighter to him, and their bodies swayed less as they pressed closer together. "I could never leave you," he whispered intensely, rubbing his nose along her neck and down to her collarbone, where the small scare that marked her as his mate showed. "I know that now."

Kagome smiled and leaned her cheek against his head, savoring the feel of his breath against her skin. "I know, Inuyasha, and I love you so much for that…and I love you for so many other reasons too…" Unfortunately, she was having a hard time concentrating on keeping her feet whenever he exhaled and his breath brushed the skin of her neck, causing a delicate shiver to run down her spin. She sighed as he pressed his lips against the side of her neck. "I…wouldn't do that here if I were you."

He smiled against her skin. "Why not? You're my mate…" he kissed her again, feeling her shudder in response, "And I can do whatever I want with you now."

Kagome giggled. "So what? That doesn't mean that I think this is the right time or the right place."

Growling in frustration, Inuyasha finally pulled away, reluctantly, as the song ended and transitioned into a faster beat. "Fine," he mumbled with a fake pout, and Kagome laughed, throwing her arms around his neck and pulling him close.

Finally, after nearly two hours of dancing the night away, Kagome was beginning to feel her eyes start to droop with exhaustion even with all the energy of the dancers surrounding her…not to mention the fact that her feet were killing her every time she took a step. Taking that as a sign that she needed a break, she led Inuyasha off the dance floor and towards the refreshments table, where they each took a glass of red punch and drank greedily, their lips and tongues turning pink in the process.

After downing his cup in a single gulp, Kagome watched as Inuyasha smacked his lips together at the sugary taste, grimacing slightly. "What's the matter? You don't like it?"

Shaking his head, he replied honestly. "It's too sweet." Unfortunately, since it was the only refreshment available, he continued to drink it anyway, causing Kagome to smile and finish her own glass as well, tossing her cup in the garbage when she was finished and taking his hand.

"Let's go and see if the pictures are ready yet."

"Okay."

Hand in hand, they approached the table where the redheaded photographer was now organizing the pictures she had taken earlier that evening, seeming to be putting them into alphabetical order according to the guy's name. She seemed to recognize Kagome and Inuyasha immediately as they approached, because she smiled and reached for a manila envelope. "I know what you're looking for. You'll love it."

Kagome took the envelope, which was labeled with a number and Inuyasha's name in the left corner, and stepped away from the table to make room for other couples as she pulled out a white folder with the cover reading Prom 2003 in beautiful purple cursive matching the theme of the room. Opening the folder, she gasped.

Kagome found herself gazing into a picture of Inuyasha holding her in his arms as they stared at one another with an overwhelming amount of love in their eyes, her arms around his neck and his at her knees and waist securely. On the opposite side of the picture it read Inuyasha and Kagome in the same purple cursive, and Kagome thought it was so beautiful she nearly started to cry.

"They say a picture's worth a thousand words," Kagome whispered to herself, for once finally understanding the saying as she closed the folder once more and placed it back in the envelope as she turned to Inuyasha. "Well have to make sure we show this one to Miroku and Sango when we return to the past."

"Keh, no way," The hanyou blushed slightly. "The monk will just make fun of me."

Kagome smiled. "And since when did my brave warrior, Inuyasha, ever allow what others thought bother him?"

He blushed even brighter as he looked at her. "It doesn't bother me…I just…don't need the grief, that's all."

Kagome giggled and stood on tiptoe to rub her nose against his fondly. "You're funny, Inuyasha."

"Keh, I am not."

"Are too."

"Am not."

"Are too."

"Hey Kagome, why did you sit me earlier this evening?"

The sudden change of topic caught Kagome off guard, and she found herself trying to regain a sense of balance in the conversation before replying. "Because you were going to hurt Hojo, and, frankly, in this time that's not really allowed." Her eyes turned serious. "You could have gotten yourself into big trouble."

Inuyasha pouted slightly. "But he deserved it after insulting me like that and acting so possessive of you."

Rather then argue, Kagome just rolled her eyes indulgently and gave him a warning look. "Maybe so, but that doesn't mean you can just do whatever you want to whoever you want. Or, at least, you can't in my time."

"Fine, whatever," Inuyasha waved her comment aside with his usual arrogant attitude, just like he always did whenever someone bordered on telling him what to do, but Kagome knew that he had heard her, had noted her warning, and that was all that really mattered. Besides, she was in far too good of a mood to argue with him anyway.

Eventually, after several more glasses of punch and a long conversation with Kagome's friends, they all moved as a group back out onto the dance floor, somehow managing to form a small circle of eight moving to the beat of the music and smiling at one another, joking and laughing and generally keeping the mood light and joyful.

Several times, Kagome would see her engagement ring catch the light from the chandeliers and sparkle like a star, reminding Kagome of her promise to Inuyasha, and she would smile brightly as she glanced over at his handsome face as he smiled and even sometimes laughed at what someone else said or did, and the realization that she loved him more then life itself, and that he would be with her forever, was better then anything else the night could have offered…though she had to admit that it was awfully fun just dancing with her friends until two in the morning.