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: Thanks for the reviews everyone, I love getting them. The names I'm coming up with are very American, just to warn you all. I'm sorry, I'm just not that creative in the area of names. If it really bothers you all that much, then feel free to send me name suggestions, and I'll seriously consider them. Otherwise, this is a fanfic, so I'm not going to stress about it.

This is a nice long chapter to get you all through Christmas and probably the day after, as I would like to play with whatever new toys I get. I hoe you like it, and happy holidays to all!


Title: The Realistic Happily Ever After

Author: dolphingirl0113

Chapter: Four

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

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.


"Kagome, are you sure about this?" Sango had an extremely hesitant look on her normally passive face…not that anyone watching could blame her. She was currently perched on the rim of the Bone Eater's Well, which was old enough to wobble under even her slight weight, a few slivers of wood falling down and landing in the dark below.

At her side, still standing on the ground, Kagome couldn't help but blush slightly as she glanced at her friend. "Well…" She swallowed, wishing she had a better answer to calm Sango's nerves. "I'm, um…not exactly sure this will work." As the exterminator's face paled a few more shades, she rushed to explain. "But the worst thing that can happen is that I'll go through and you'll just hit the ground."

Sango rolled her eyes. "That's supposed to make me feel better?"

Kagome rubbed the back of her neck and chuckled nervously. "Well, it's better then getting stuck in some alternate dimension or something. I mean…you'd just have a few bruises. That's all."

"And that sounds so appealing…" The exterminator shuddered slightly as she groaned. Rather then help, Kagome was only managing to disintegrate what few raw strings of courage she had left.

"Oh come on Sango," Kagome pressed, seeing that she was only managing to make matters worse. She decided to try a different approach, and appeal to the exterminator's ego instead. "I mean, you've faced down the worst monsters in the world, including Naraku," She winked, "This can't be that bad in comparison."

Sango couldn't help but smile at that, shaking her head as she did so. "Demons I can handle, but this…" She sighed. "Honestly, Kagome, this is far more terrifying. I mean, we're talking about traveling through time here…that's no simple matter."

"But I do it all the time!"

"And as such you know what to expect! Try to remember what it was like in the beginning for you, and maybe you'll know how I'm feeling right now."

Kagome giggled. "Actually, Sango, I didn't have time to feel nervous. I was pulled down the well by a giant centipede before I even knew what was happening, and the next thing you know, I'm waltzing about leading a double life five hundred years in the past with an annoying, brazen hanyou."

"Hey!" Inuyasha huffed indignantly from where he stood a few feet away.

That gave Kagome an idea, and she winked at Sango playfully. "That reminds me! Inuyasha travels through time a lot…and if he can do it, then anyone can do it, don't you agree?"

The hanyou's ears stood up straight at that and swiveled over towards Kagome in annoyance. "I heard that too, woman," he growled, his eyes sparking as he crossed his arms.

Kagome turned and gave him a teasing smile. "Why do you think I said it if not for you to hear it?"

"Keh!" He rolled his eyes and looked away, trying to maintain his dignity, though in reality he was doing nothing more then making a fool out of himself. In that pose, with his arms crossed and his mouth pressed into a grimace, Inuyasha resembled something akin to a pouting child.

Sango remained at the top of the well, showing no sign of moving forward…but not of moving backward either, which was a somewhat good sign. And she now had a smile on her face too in response to Kagome's attempts to cheer her up.

"Kagome! Kagome I come too?" Shippou ran up and pulled on her skirt, looking up with excited eyes.

Smiling indulgently, Kagome bent over and scooped him up, nuzzling his cheek with her nose, trying not to heave too much at his ever-growing weight. "If this works, Shippou, then yes you can come. But not this time. This time I have to take Sango out to get fit for her dress, and get her and Miroku used to my time since they'll both be in my wedding." She kissed his forehead. "But I do promise that next time you can come."

Pouting, looking just like Inuyasha with his crossed arms, Shippou allowed his lower lip to protrude pathetically as he replied. "Okay…"

Putting him down on the ground once more, Kagome placed her hands on her hips in a stern pose, wagging her finger at him. "Is this any way for a boy who is almost twelve to behave?" A twinkle came to her eyes despite her firm tone. "If you keep this up, then I won't take you to my time for your birthday like I'd been planning."

That did it.

At the mention of his approaching birthday, and the possibility of a trip to the future with Kagome, the kitsune brightened up instantly and smiled. "Really Kagome? You'll take me there for my birthday?"

"Of course I will…but only if you're good."

"I will be. I'll be good Kagome, I promise!"

"Good," Kagome pat him on the head. "Then I'll see you when we get back." She turned her attention once more to Sango, whose face had once more become pale at the mention of them leaving. "Are you ready?"

The normally brave exterminator gulped. "Are…are you sure this is going to work Kagome?"

"Sango!" She could have strangled her for being so ridiculous!

"What?" Sango placed her hands on her hips, wobbling precariously. "I'm just nervous! The idea of time travel is just…well…bizarre." She threw her hands in the air to emphasize her point.

"Be that as it may, I want you to be in my wedding Sango, and this is the only way." Kagome allowed her voice to turn somewhat pathetic, mimicking Shippou. "It will be fine…I promise."

The two women regarded one another for another minute of silence, seeming to communicate telepathically, before Sango finally sighed and gave in…against her better judgment. "Fine! I never like it when you get that look…but I just know I'll regret this."

Kagome perked up instantly. "I'm not so sure about that." She stepped up beside her friend. "Now take my hand, and we'll be off."

Sango put her hand in Kagome's, and the younger woman was instantly aware of how nervous the exterminator was by the feel of her sweaty palm. She had to fight the urge to wipe her hand against her skirt.

With a final sigh and a shake of her head, she smiled brightly. "Alright, on the count of three we'll jump. Got it?"

"Sure…" Sango's voice had been reduced to a mere squeak.

Ignoring her, Kagome proceeded. "One! Two! Three!"

Together the women jumped and immediately disappeared down into the darkness of the well. The ancient structure was momentarily illuminated by a pink halo of light, telling those still standing that at least one person had traveled through time, before it returned to normal and all went silent once more, save for a few rogue birds calling out to one another from nearby trees.

Peering down into the well, Miroku squinted to try and discern if there was an unconscious body lying on the ground…specifically, the unconscious body of his wife. A gentle breeze rustled his black hair, but otherwise he remained perfectly still, feeling desperate to know if the plan had worked or, worse, if his precious Sango was now suffering from a massive concussion. He didn't much like the second possibility.

"Sango!" He heard his voice echo once, but other then that there was no response. Miroku turned worried eyes on Inuyasha. "Can you jump down and tell me if she's at the bottom?"

"What?"

"Please Inuyasha," He grabbed the hanyou's red jacket. "I have to know if my precious Sango is alright. She's the only woman I could ever love…my life is over if she's been mortally wounded."

Inuyasha snorted and shrugged himself free. "Will you stop being so dramatic, you fool? Sango's not going to die by simply falling on the ground…she's survived an attack from her own Hiraikotsu, for god's sake!"

"I know, but…"

"Besides," The hanyou huffed arrogantly, "If I jump down there I'll just go through to Kagome's time. I wouldn't get a chance to see if she was alright."

"Oh…right…" Miroku blushed at his mistake, but then brightened as he grabbed Inuyasha's shirt again, much to the hanyou's annoyance. "That's right, you can go through the well too! Let's go then! I want to get to the other side too!"

"Will you get off monk?"

"But I have to be touching you if I'm going to travel to Kagome's time."

"You don't have to be touching me at all, because I'm not the one who will be taking you!"

"Why not? Can't you help a friend after all I've done for you?"

Inuyasha snorted again. "As I recall, I'm the one who always seems to be saving your hide by not telling Sango about all your run-ins with the village women."

Miroku didn't seem phased in the least. "I've still saved you before too. So lets go! You'll be going there eventually, so it's not like this is an inconvenience…"

Now Inuyasha was getting seriously concerned as he realized how serious Miroku was. "Um…but Miroku…I don't think I can take you…"

The monk wasn't listening, instead putting his energy into climbing onto the rim of the well, where Sango had been a moment before, and motioning for Inuyasha to join him once he'd gained his balance. Deciding that the man would get the point soon enough, when he was face first in the dirt, the hanyou finally decided to just do as he was told. After all…this way no one could accuse him of being an ungrateful or selfish friend, could they?

"Okay…" Miroku took Inuyasha's hand, which the hanyou didn't like in the least, but knew that it was necessary. "We'll do this just like Sango and Kagome. On the count of three, we'll jump, alright?"

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say…monk."

"Alright, here we go then! One! Two! Three!" And with that, they leaped into the well.

The last thing Inuyasha was able to hear was Miroku speculating about something stupid like whether or not women would be beautiful in Kagome's time. The hanyou just rolled his eyes, knowing his friend would regret having his mouth open the moment he hit the...

"Oof!" Miroku hit the dirt and Inuyasha couldn't help but smirk as he continued on, passing through the well and five hundred years into the future.


The warmth radiating from the furnace was relaxing, and everyone within the Higurashi living room could feel their very bones melt under the heat as Mrs. Higurashi appeared with a cold ice pack, handing it over to her daughter, who was tending to their patient on the couch.

"I can't believe you were so stupid Miroku." Kagome clucked her tongue in disapproval as she held the ice pack to the monk's bruised head. He winced at the sudden cold on his skin, but couldn't help marveling at the ice cubes. Besides, the cold was a small price to pay considering the fact that his head was in Sango's lap, her fingers running through his hair sympathetically.

Kagome just chuckled again and shook her head. "I said I would be coming back for you."

"And I told you," the monk replied, "I was worried about my dear Sango being hurt at the bottom of the well. I knew that you would have passed through, and have no way of telling me right away if she was okay…so I decided to see for myself."

Sango rolled her eyes, but couldn't resist the look of love on her face. "Miroku, if you had really been worried about me then you would have come down by yourself. Assuming Inuyasha would take you with him meant you had no intention of looking for me at the bottom of the well."

"But…"

"She has a point, monk," Inuyasha muttered from where he was perched lazily on a small recliner.

"But…" The monk actually blushed. "But why couldn't Inuyasha just take me through?"

Kagome rolled her eyes. "We've been over this before. It's because I'm the only one who holds the old power of the jewel. Kaede explained it to all of us the other day…I hold the power of the jewel, even though the actual object has been destroyed, whereas Inuyasha does not. Since he has a tie to me, he can travel through the well alone, but he can't transfer the jewel's power to anyone else like I can." She winked. "Kaede explained this to all of us…but clearly you had your mind on other things."

"I did not…"

"Then why did you do something so stupid, Miroku?" Sango was giving him an indulgently annoyed look.

"Because…" He gave his wife a pitiful look. "I just wanted to make sure you were okay, my dear Sango. You know how much I love you."

Smiling wryly, the exterminator smiled and slapped her husband playfully on the shoulder, shaking her head. "You're just stupid sometimes."

He grunted and nestled into her lap. "Everyone's against me today," he pouted, looking away.

"Well I know of something that can cheer you up!" Everyone turned to see Mrs. Higurashi entering the living room with a large white plate. "I made something for all of you to eat…I hope you like chocolate."

"Chocolate?" Sango and Miroku gave Kagome a questioning look, to which the girl smiled in response.

"You'll love mama's brownies, trust me." She winked and took one of the warm, brown squares off the plate and taking a bite. "They're delicious!"

Mrs. Higurashi smiled. "They're also Kagome's favorite dessert."

Sighing, Sango moved Miroku out of her lap, to which he pouted in protest, before sighing and seeming to gather her courage as she stared at the plate of brownies. Picking one up and taking a bite, her eyes instantly lit up. "Wow! This is amazing!" She hastily grabbed two more and everyone in the room blinked a few times in surprise.

Mrs. Higurashi smiled again and turned to Kagome after setting the plate down on the couch in reach of Miroku's hand. "There's someone on the phone for you, sweetheart."

The look on her face told Kagome that it was Ms. White, her lawyer, and gathered her courage as she walked into the kitchen, feeling as though her blanket of security faded as she moved away from her friends.

The receiver felt cold and heavy in her hands. "Ms. White? This is Kagome…" She spoke softly, not wanting to cause any suspicion from the occupants of the other room, and Ms. White's light voice replied instantly from the other end.

"Hey Kagome! I'm so sorry to bother you like this, but…I was wondering if we could possibly meet today rather than tomorrow?"

Kagome blinked in surprise. "Um…I guess. But why? Is everything okay?"

"Yes, everything's just fine…but the judge has moved up your hearing date to Monday, so I wanted to have a few extra days to prepare for court." There was a pause. "I hope that's not too much of an inconvenience for you."

Kagome swallowed. "No, that's fine." She shrugged her shoulders, even though the woman couldn't see the gesture, and leaned back against the wall. "I suppose the sooner this is all over, the better it will be…I guess…"

"That's the idea," Ms. White replied cheerfully, clearly choosing to ignore Kagome's less then enthusiastic attitude. "And are you still okay with meeting Mr. Wilkins and his lawyer?"

At that Kagome couldn't help but stiffen as she was reminded of the one thing she had been dreading the most. And now it was all happening a day earlier then expected…swallowing again, she chose not to answer to that, fearing her voice would give too much of her fear away. Her hand had already started trembling, rattling the receiver against her ear, as she remembered his cold eyes…a lot like Naraku's…and the way those eyes had regarded her with such hate. He'd said he would kill her if he had the chance…

And he'd meant it.

"Kagome?"

Blinking, she brought herself back to reality by realizing that she had not said a word for several silent minutes. No doubt Ms. White now thought her the biggest coward in the world. "Yes…I'm here. Sorry…" She blushed a bright shade of pink.

"Are you still okay with this Kagome? I mean, we can still meet with him tomorrow, or…I could go alone I suppose…"

"No!" Kagome started at her outburst, and instantly reverted back to a softer tone. "I mean yes, I'll be fine." And I'll be damned if this man keeps me locked away like a scared rabbit, she added silently. "But…I can still bring Inuyasha with me, right?"

"Inuyasha?"

"My fiancé."

"Oh! Of course…that will be just fine. In fact, I'd encourage you to bring someone along for moral support."

"Very well," Kagome sighed and tried to force herself to relax. "So…what time do I need to be at your office?"

"Um…" There was the sound of shuffling papers coming from the other end of the phone line, along with what sounded like the tap of a pen against a desk. Kagome certainly did that often enough herself, when she was thinking, to recognize the sound. "How does 3:30 sound?"

Kagome glanced down at the watch on her left wrist, noting that it was already noon, and sighed again. "Alright, we'll be there."

"Excellent, I'll see you then." There was a brief pause, and when she spoke again Ms. White's tone had changed from business-like to friendly. "And Kagome, don't worry about a thing…I promise that this will all be over soon."

"Thanks," Kagome replied, though she honestly didn't feel much hope as she said so. Everyone was always trying so hard to cheer her up when it came to the matter of her rape, and subsequent trial…sometimes she grew so tired of it all. It wasn't that she necessarily wanted people to stop being supportive, but…well…she just didn't know what she wanted any more.

As she hung up the phone, Kagome felt a pair of strong eyes boring into her back, and knew even before she turned around who the owner of those eyes were.

Inuyasha was regarding her steadily, and raised an eyebrow questioningly as she met his gaze. "I heard my name…is everything alright?"

"Yes…" Kagome sighed, deciding not to lie, or hide any of the emotions roiling through her mind at that moment. He'd know soon enough anyway. "But I guess Sango and I don't get to go shopping for my wedding today…or pick out brides maids dresses." She rubbed her temples in slow, gentle circles as she realized just how much she had to do with a wedding coming up in two months, not even taking into consideration the upcoming trial.

With her head buried in her hands, she didn't see Inuyasha approach, but felt his strong arms encircle her after a few moments of silence, and Kagome sighed as she snuggled into his chest, putting her arms around his neck. "It'll be alright Kagome, you'll see," he whispered, resting his chin atop her head.

"I know…" She replied. "I know everything will work out in the end. I just wish I could plan my wedding without all this other nonsense. Without having to deal with him any more…"

Inuyasha held her close, wishing he could pull all her pain into his body, even for just a few moments. "We could postpone the wedding date…"

"No!" She pulled back and shook her head. "It was hard enough to find a night with a new moon on a Saturday night…we do not need to go through that again. It might be another year before that works out again." She smirked. "Besides, mama would have a fit. She's already started mailing invitations."

"But what about the trial?" He touched her cheek in a rare moment of tenderness. "Maybe you need to just focus on one thing at the time."

She just shook her head stubbornly again. "No…I want to marry you, Inuyasha, and I'm tired of waiting to do so. I'll be damned if Ted Wilkins ruins my wedding day. Just," She hugged him again, "Promise that you'll be there for me when I need you. That's all I ask."

He pulled her closer again. "I'm always there for you…you know that."

Kagome smiled. "I know. And that's why I love you so much." She sealed that fact with a firm kiss.


The office boasted of housing a very successful lawyer, one wall dedicated solely to several large, framed diplomas indicating a high education…and nearly eight bar exam certificates which announced that Nancy White could practice law in nearly every corner of Japan.

But while it was professional, it was still obviously decorated by a woman, with elegant mahogany bookcases on opposite walls, and an impressive watercolor painting behind a matching mahogany desk. The desk sat in front of a large window that went from floor to ceiling, at least twenty floors in the air, revealing a spectacular view of the bustling city of Tokyo. A plush leather chair with a high back was behind the desk, and before it were two plush seats.

"Wow…" Kagome could barely mutter that single syllable as she and Inuyasha were ushered into the impressive office by a short, stout woman who claimed to be Ms. White's secretary.

"She'll be right with you," the woman instructed in a quiet voice before pushing thick frames further up her nose and closing the door behind her, leaving the pair very alone in the intimidating office. What kind of woman worked in a place like that?

"What an incredible view," Inuyasha commented in awe as he walked over to the window behind the desk. Putting his hands right on the glass in a very childlike action, he stared at downtown Tokyo, with all its skyscrapers, traffic, flashing lights and bustling people. "I still have a hard time believing that this is the same place as my home. It changes so much in five hundred years."

Kagome blushed. "Do you…not like it this way?"

The hanyou didn't turn as he replied, leaving his body outlined in the sun of the afternoon streaming through the window. "To be honest, I do prefer the forests and mountains of my time. I mean, all these tall structures make it impossible to see anything. And I like the sense of peace in my time too…here everything is always so busy."

It was a very naïve way of putting it, but at the same time Kagome thought it was also the most honest opinion, and she smiled as she walked over and put a hand on his arm. "I feel that way sometimes too, now that I've been in the past and have seen first hand how much mankind has changed the world." She leaned her head on his shoulder thoughtfully, and together they gazed out the window silently.

After hearing that they would both be going to see Ms. White, Mrs. Higurashi had made an emergency trip to the local mall, buying Inuyasha a casual pair of cargo pants and a red t-shirt, along with a new black baseball cap. It was nothing fancy, in fact it was almost too casual for a meeting with Kagome's lawyer, but at least it was less obvious then his fire-rat jacket and red pants.

Besides, Kagome couldn't figure out how to dress up her hanyou without removing his baseball cap, so casual was currently the only way to go. It would have to do.

On the other hand, Kagome was anything but casual, wearing an old outfit of her mother's which consisted of a knee-length navy blue skirt and delicate white blouse with a slightly revealing neckline. Her hair was pulled back behind her head in a high ponytail, and she had even gone so far as to apply a small amount of makeup to hide the tired circles under her eyes.

She wanted to make a good impression with Nancy White, who seemed so admirable in everything she did…even before Kagome had met her face to face.

"Does my view impress you then?"

The couple whirled around in surprise at the sound of a female voice, to find themselves gazing at a rather attractive young woman who started laughing at their reaction.

She was dressed in a short black skirt and matching jacket, which hugged her body to reveal a slim waist without appearing gaudy or inappropriate. A yellow blouse showed through the v-neck of the jacket, accenting her blonde hair, which was pulled back into a tight bun, and her shockingly clear blue eyes twinkled kindly behind a pair of rectangular, thick rimmed glasses.

Her posture was relaxed but proud, and both Inuyasha and Kagome stared, unsure of what to say, fearing that perhaps they had done something wrong by walking over behind Ms. White's desk. But the woman seemed unaffected by where they were as she walked up to stand directly before Kagome, extending her hand. The girl took it hesitantly, noting instantly the firm grip.

"Kagome, I presume?" Kagome nodded. "Nice to meet you finally. I'm Nancy White, and as you know I'll be representing you in your case against Ted Wilkins." She smiled, and Kagome felt herself relax. "I know we've already talked on the phone several times, but as we've never formally met, I'd like to say that it's nice to finally meet you."

"L-likewise," Kagome stammered, feeling herself instantly relax in the older woman's confident presence. She fit the office decoration to a tee: elegant, but professional. Turning to the hanyou beside her, Kagome smiled. "This is my fiancé, Inuyasha, who I've mentioned before."

Ms. White extended her hand to him as well, which he took as he'd seen Kagome do, and regarded the woman carefully for a few moments as she moved his hand up and down. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Inuyasha." She winked. "When I get to know you better, I'll have to ask about the meaning behind your name."

"What?" He was stunned by what she said, but after receiving a warning glance from Kagome, chose not to pursue the matter, reminding himself instead that he did carry a name that was over five hundred years old.

Ms. White just shook her head absentmindedly. "Never mind…just forget I said anything. I must say though that you two make a very handsome couple."

Both blushed in response. "Thank you," Kagome answered for both of them.

Ms. White just smiled again and indicated the two chairs before her desk. "Why don't you two take a seat, and we can get started."

They obeyed silently, sinking into the soft cushions, and Inuyasha observed silently as Kagome crossed her legs, right over left, eventually trying to imitate her with little success. He nearly caused the chair to fall backward in his attempt, causing Kagome to giggle softly.

"I want you to know that I really appreciate you making time to come in today," Ms. White began, her tone instantly changing from friendly to serious as she folded her hands on the flat desk top before her. The leather chair that extended at least a foot above her caused the blonde to appear even more intimidating. "Though I see no trouble in winning your case, I would still like to be as prepared as possible for the approaching trial."

Kagome nodded. "I understand. But…" She looked down at her hands briefly, rubbing her nails against her cuticles to give herself something to do. "Do you really think this case will go to court?"

"Oh, most definitely," the blonde replied without hesitation. "Even though all the evidence is stacked in your favor at this point, judges still tend to always send rape cases to court since, if the accused is found guilty, there is a heavy sentence that follows. That is especially true with your case, since the accused has allegedly raped three women, including yourself."

Kagome found herself nodding in response to everything Ms. White was saying, feeling her body relax and having no trouble at all hearing words such as rape or rapist like she had feared she would. Perhaps it was because Ms. White was so forward and to the point. Kagome liked that.

For his part, Inuyasha just found himself pretending to understand everything that was being said, nodding his head whenever Kagome did, and mimicking her serious, thoughtful expression. Unfortunately, in truth, he hadn't the faintest idea what the blonde woman sitting across from him was talking about, but he somehow managed to keep himself still and patient, one question revolving around in his mind as he waited for the appropriate time to voice his thoughts.

"Does Kagome really have to meet with Ted Wilkins?" He finally asked bluntly, figuring that he would never know the best time to interrupt and that there was no time like the present.

Both women turned to look at him, halting their conversation, and Kagome's cheeks tinted slightly pink in embarrassment. But Ms. White didn't seem at all phased by the question as she replied. "I can understand your concern, Mr…?"

"Just call me Inuyasha," the hanyou grumbled, crossing his arms and watching her intently.

"Very well, Inuyasha," She sighed. "Like I was saying, I can understand our concern, but I think that it really is necessary for Kagome to meet with Mr. Wilkins before the actual hearing on Monday. I don't want her distressed then, as that will leave a bad impression with the judge, and then, during the actual trial, she will have to sit through his entire testimony. So, instead, I want her to get all her nerves out of the way now, when there is no pressure to be composed and calm."

Inuyasha narrowed his eyes. "But what if the bastard says or does something to hurt Kagome? What if she's not safe with him around?" That was the real matter that concerned him…not that he'd allow any harm to come to her. Ted Wilkins would die first.

Ms. White just smiled and smoothed her hands over her desk. "I assure you, Inuyasha, that Kagome will be in no danger whatsoever during this meeting. It will take place at the jail, and will be attended by both you and I, Mr. Wilkins' Lawyer, and several guards who will be stationed just outside the door. You have nothing to fear."

"Keh…" He supposed it would have to do. For now.

Kagome, though having remained silent, found herself inwardly seething with fury at the way the two were rambling on as though she wasn't even there. Somehow, though, she managed to bite her tongue, afraid as she was that she would sit Inuyasha again in public, like she had at her prom, and send him crashing through about twenty floors to hit the concrete foundation of the building. No doubt that would cause the entire structure to collapse, knowing her luck…and then how would she explain that?

"For what it's worth," she finally managed to grind out between her clenched teeth, "I'm ready to meet with him." It was a bit of a lie, but still, she was willing to say anything to get them to remember she was actually in the room.

Ms. White nodded and smiled kindly at Kagome, pushing her glasses further up the bridge of her nose. "I knew you would feel that way," she complimented kindly. "I could tell from the moment I heard your voice over the phone that you're a strong woman, Kagome. I know you won't go down without a fight." She rested her chin on her hand thoughtfully. "A lot like me, actually."

Kagome blushed at that, feeling elated at being compared to such a successful woman. Inuyasha just looked away and muttered something about how anyone with two eyes and half a brain could see that Kagome was a strong person.

Ms. White offered to take them to the prison in her car, and, seeing that there was no other way of getting there since Inuyasha had brought her there on his back, Kagome accepted; and so the three of them spent fifteen very silent minutes in a little black convertible, headed towards the jail house.

The jail house was a very intimidating building, to be sure, surrounded as it was by wire, even the parking lot protected by guards. Squad cars were everywhere, and police officers were more prevalent then they had been even at the police station.

Kagome felt herself shrink back slightly, intimidated, and leaned against Inuyasha for support, sighing as he put a strong arm around her waist in comfort.

The hallways inside were crowded with people, many of whom looked to be lawyers as they all wore suits and carried briefcases similar to Ms. White, and had similar expressions on their faces; expressions that said they had a purpose…that they had specific people they came to see.

Ms. White stopped briefly at the front desk, where a woman gave them yellow visitor badges and pointed down a hallway containing several doors. "You'll be in room twenty one," she instructed briefly before returning to several papers on her desk, shuffling through them without any apparent thought.

"Are Mr. Wilkins and his lawyer already there?" Ms. White asked, all business, though her tone remained casual. Kagome admired that.

The woman stopped what she was doing. "Um, let me check," she reached over and picked up a phone, pushing a red button and waiting for several seconds before finally aksing, "Yes, is room twenty one already occupied?" She paused. "Thank you." She looked back to Ms. White. "No ma'am, you're the first to arrive."

Ms. White nodded. "Thanks," she turned to Kagome and Inuyasha. "Come with me, you two." They followed the lawyer down the hallway and into one of the side doors, within which was a table and four chairs, two on either side.

"Well, all we can do now is wait," Ms. White stated simply after a few silent moments, placing her leather briefcase onto the table with a thud and leaning against the wall, crossing her arms as she did so. "You two can sit together," She indicated the chairs.

"But what about you?" Kagome asked, hesitant to sit down.

Ms. White just smirked. "I prefer to stand when around my prey."

Kagome couldn't help but smile back, liking the woman more and more as the minutes passed. Everything she said and did oozed calm and a unique confidence, but also a playfulness that created a light atmosphere above all the tension. It was a rare quality, to be able to make people feel so at ease, and Kagome was beginning to think that she might want to go to law school some day…

Several minutes ticked away on the nearby wall clock, in which time nothing could be heard save for the occasional breath from one of the three occupants of the room, which, to Inuyasha's sensitive ears, caused the noise of the clock to sound like the beating of a very loud drum. He hated the smell of the room too, full of sweat, fear, and anger.

Thankfully, just as he thought he couldn't take it any more, a second door, across from the one they'd used, opened, and a man appeared wearing a brown sport coat and black slacks, carrying a black leather briefcase, which he also set down on the table with an unceremonious thud. It must have been a lawyer thing, Inuyasha decided with a grunt.

The man in the suit was followed by a second man clothed in bright, gaudy orange, and Kagome instantly stiffened, realizing who it was by his flaming red hair and cold eyes as he looked up to meet her gaze. He smirked cruelly, and she shuddered involuntarily.

Inuyasha instantly tightened his hold on his mate, comforting her with his presence, before sending a death glare over towards Ted Wilkins, the man who was responsible for causing Kagome so much pain. He smirked in satisfaction when the rapist seemed to remember the beating he'd taken that night on the street, because he immediately looked away and took a seat.

"Ah, Bruce, it's nice to see you again," Ms. White commented casually as she shook the other lawyer's hand, her voice cutting through the tension like a knife through soft butter. The other man shook her hand with a smile in response.

He looked to be middle aged, his black hair tinged on the ends with gray, but otherwise looking fit, his waist trim and his shoulders broad from obvious weight lifting. Kagome found his very presence to be imposing and powerful…though in a good way…and realized that, to be a good lawyer, you obviously needed a stage presence of some sort from the start.

"Always a pleasure to work with you, Nancy," the man, called Bruce, replied warmly before turning his gaze on Kagome and Inuyasha. "And I take it this is your client?"

Inuyasha immediately turned his glare on the lawyer not that he was looking at Kagome and making her uncomfortable, and the elder man backed off with a surprised chuckle. "And you must be the fiancé." He rubbed the back of his neck momentarily, the only sign that he was nervous, before coughing lightly and sitting down next to Ted Wilkins, who was still gazing at Kagome whenever he thought Inuyasha wasn't looking.

She tried desperately to ignore him.

"So tell me Nancy," he began, "Are you here to make a deal?"

Ms. White chuckled. "Not on your life Bruce, you should know me better then that by now. I just thought it would be good to have a meeting before the hearing."

"Meaning if there's no deal, you're prepared to go to trial?"

"Of course…aren't you?"

"Of course." They continued to banter back and forth for several minutes, in which time Kagome managed to find several interesting details on Inuyasha's rather plain red shirt. Anything to keep her eyes from drifting over to a particularly cruel green gaze.

For his part, the hanyou noticed her fidgeting, and took her hand in his, squeezing it under the table in reassurance, causing her to smile back at him gratefully. This was going to be harder then she had first thought.

Finally, Ms. White turned back to Kagome and smiled. "Kagome, is there anything you would like to ask Mr. Cromwell before we go?"

Blinking stupidly, Kagome glanced first at Ms. White, and then over to Mr. Cromwell, trying to decide if she had anything she wanted to say. She hadn't exactly been expecting to be asked that question. "Um…no…I'm alright…" She finally managed to whisper, at which point a cruel chuckle came from Mr. Wilkins.

"Do you find something funny, baka?" Inuyasha hissed as Kagome tensed. But the redhead didn't even seem phased, as though he were lost in his own little world.

"Oh, I just thought that she would be more talkative, that's all," he commented casually, and Kagome felt her eyes inexplicably drawn to his. "You were certainly vocal the night we met."

After that, everything happened in a blur of red and silver as Inuyasha leapt across the table and took Ted Wilkins by the throat, strangling the living daylights out of him without a second thought. Ms. White desperately tried to pull him back, and Mr. Cromwell was working at prying his clawed fingers away from Ted Wilkins' neck.

"Inuyasha…don't…" The blonde lawyer panted through clenched teeth. "It will do no good." But it was no use. The enraged hanyou was determined to hold on until the damned bastard turned purple.

Kagome found herself simply watching the scene for a few moments before what was happening actually registered in her mind. And even then, at first all she could think about was the fact that she didn't mind if he killed her rapist…after all, wasn't that what he deserved?

But then, as she came fully back to reality, Kagome shrieked in horror and moved forward. "Inuyasha, no, let go of him!" She latched onto his shoulder, praying that he heard her. "Inuyasha, stop! You'll kill him at this rate!"

The desperation in her voice reached him through the haze of rage that had covered his sense of reason, and slowly, as he felt the tempest within his breast calm, Inuyasha backed off slowly, releasing his fingers, leaving behind two very obvious red handprints around Ted Wilkins' neck.

"That was kind of the idea," he hissed softly, menacingly, and Kagome looked up in surprise at his tone, only to find, to her horror, that his eyes had turned red.

"Oh, Inuyasha!" Realizing that he didn't have the tetsusaiga with him, and reacing on instinct, she immediately pulled him into a brief, but passionate, kiss, feeling as his body slowly relaxed against hers, his arms wrapping around her body to pull her close.

The room was deathly silent as the two lawyers and the convict stared in shock at what appeared to be an extreme amount of public affection, especially considering the fact that Inuyasha had just tried to kill Ted Wilkins, but then, when they finally did break apart, Ms. White simply smiled and applauded. "Way to go! If I wasn't a lawyer and bound by the law, I would have strangled him myself." She winked. "I want to kiss you too!"

Inuyasha and Kagome both blushed, but Ms. White's colleague turned and stared at her in shock and displeasure. She simply regarded him coolly, raising an eyebrow haughtily, as though she couldn't understand why he was so surprised. "I suggest that ou keep your client's mouth under better control from now on, Bruce," she warned flatly, collecting her briefcase from the table and turning to Kagome and Inuyasha. "Let's go, you guys…I think we're finished here. See you in court, Bruce!"

The blonde flipped her head haughtily, and Kagome imagined how seductive the motion could have been if only Ms. White was wearing her hair down rather than in that tight bun. She truly was incredible, and suddenly Kagome was feeling very confident that they could win the case without any problems.

And if not, Inuyasha could always kill Ted Wilkins for her anyway.

Mrs. Higurashi was waiting for them at the front door when they finally returned to the shrine, the sun low in the sky, indicating how late it had become. Her hands were clasped in front of her apron, and Miroku and Sango were sitting expectantly on the stiars behind her, the bruise on the monk's head finally starting to go away.

"Well sweetheart, how did it go?"

Kagome gave her mother a bright, genuine smile. "Ms. White is an incredible lawyer, mama! I think everything is going to be just fine."

Mother and daughter embraced, and as such didn't noticed Inuyasha huff in annoyance as he leaned, rather forcefully, against one of the hallway walls, crossing his arms and recalling a certain incident that did not go as well as that smile on Kagome's face was leading people to believe.

He would have killed Ted Wilkins. That was not even a question.

If it hadn't been for Kagome…

Inuyasha shook his head, shuddering as he recalled the way his demon blood had roared to life without the presence of the tetsusaiga at his fingertips the moment his instincts had felt his mate to be in danger. He had been blinded by fury…consumed by blood lust…and only her kiss had brought him back.

He glanced over at the happy scene before him, which Miroku and Sango had joined, and sighed. "Kagome, I'm going out for some air…I'll be back in a little bit."

She looked up from where she was sandwiched between Miroku and Sango, and gave him a puzzled look. He could tell that she wanted to ask what was wrong, but, as usual, chose to leave him to his own thoughts. It was one of the things he loved so much about her…the fact that she respected his privacy. "Okay," she finally replied, "But dinner will be ready soon so don't go far."

He nodded and left.

The courtyard, which had been swept clean of dirt and leaves by Kagome's grandfather earlier in the day, was turning pink with the settling in of dusk, and Inuyasha tilted his head back slightly as a gentle breeze combed through his long silver-white hair, his fiery amber eyes piercing the sky.

He sighed.

What was he going to do when the time came for the trial? Ms. White had already made such a big issue out of the fact that it would be hard for Kagome that he couldn't help but think about the impact it would have on him. How would he react if Ted Wilkins insulted her again? Threatened her again?

"I can't exactly take tetsusaiga with me into this thing called a courtroom," he spoke aloud to the breeze, no creature save for the birds in the surrounding trees hearing what he had to say. Not that he minded. "But…if Kagome is attacked, and I can't help her, I know my demon blood with take control again. What if she can't stop me next time?"

And therein lay the problem.

He shuddered at the thought of him ripping Ted Wilkins to pieces with his claws as dozens of people, including Kagome, watched. He could picture the horror that would be written all over her face as, above him, the sky turned blood red.