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: I know I say this every time, but thank you so much for your wonderful reviews! I can't believe the response this story is receiving, and am even more stunned (in a good way) when some of you tell me that I am one of your favorite authors! Thank you so much for that incredible honor!
So, in honor of all of you, I have decided to respond to a few of your comments. I promise I won't do this every time, but since you're all being so wonderful in letting me know what you think, I feel that you all deserve some feedback as well.
This chapter is not exactly full of drama or serious meaning, though I feel it does fill in a few holes and resolve one aspect of the story. But more then anything, it just serves as a nice filler, or the calm before the storm.
In this (rather short) chapter, Kagome and the others are back in the feudal era, and we meet up again with Kouga and see how he's doing, as several of you have asked what happened to him after the last story. I really do like him, and if Inuyasha weren't in the story I would want Kagome with him, so I couldn't just leave him out forever. Hop you enjoy!
FrameofMind: You're right, that is kind of an odd phrase now that I think about it. I just had to let you know I agree.
Lady Kouga: No, I'm not interested in law, I actually want to be a doctor like my father. But one of our good family friends is a lawyer, and I hear stuff from her for this story. It's still not as accurate as it could be, like, say, if I took the time to do a bunch of research, but I'm too busy to do that. So this will have to do.
Catsblackgate: Happy Birthday!
Dennisud: First, I want to thank you for always reviewing, I really appreciate it. I think I'm going to leave the names as they are at this point, just because it isn't THAT bit of a deal. But thanks for being willing to help me out, and for future stories I think I'll take you up on your offer if you don't mind. And you're right, the court system is a lot like America, rather then Japan, but I don't have a clue how they do things over ther so, for the sake of the story, we'll just keep it as is.
Miyu6: Okay, so as far as ages so far in this story, Kagome is eighteen and about ready to graduate from high school. Since I don't know when her birthday is in the series, I'm debating whether or not she'll turn nineteen during this story or not. Shippou is going to turn twelve (so he's currently eleven), since I heard from one of my reviewers that he was eight when the show started. And as for the others, I'm not sure how old Sango is now, but let's assume about twenty, and Miroku a little older. And as for Inuyasha, well…he's in his seventies now, right? I mean, he was on that tree for fifty years, after all!
Title: The Realistic Happily Ever After
Author: dolphingirl0113
Chapter: Seven
Rating: PG-13 (rated for violence, language, and implied sexual situations)
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.
Shippou was chasing a child from the village around in an innocent game of tag when he caught a familiar scent, and stopped just short of grabbing his young playmate around the waist. The brown-haired boy noticed his lack of concentration, and stopped laughing, turning to look at the kitsune curiously. "Shippou, what is it?"
"It's…Kagome!" He grinned, and just as he said the words, saw the group of four friends appeared from the forest into the clearing by Kaede's hut. Miroku had his arm around Sango, and Kagome was on Inuyasha's back, but she stepped down to the ground just in time to catch the Shippou in her arms, his little playmate quickly making a retreat when he saw the hanyou who frightened him. "Kagome!"
She smiled and pulled him closer. "Shippou, have you been a good boy for Kaede?" She nuzzled him as she spoke, and he blushed, giggling happily to have his surrogate mother back as he nodded fervently against her shoulder. Kagome smiled tenderly and set him down again just as Kaede appeared through the flap of her hut.
The old miko smiled, her wrinkled eyes lighting up warmly. "You have returned," She commented, "Is everything alright in your time, child? I thought you weren't coming home for weeks…"
Kagome returned the woman's smile and nodded her head respectfully. "Everything is just fine, Lady Kaede. We just decided it would be nice to come back here and relax for a while before the actual trial starts and turns my life into total chaos."
Kaede furrowed her brow, giving Kagome a puzzled look as she still didn't quite understand what this trial was that everyone kept talking about, but eventually she just ended up shrugging her shoulders in resignation. That was the only way she'd stayed sane through the past three years, dealing with a sister who had been brought back from the dead and her sister's reincarnation arriving from five hundred years in the future.
"Ah," Miroku stretched his arms over his head lavishly, "It's so good to be home." He looked around at the green trees and smelled the fresh air of his time. It truly was another world in the future that was Kagome's other life, but while it was a fun adventure with new and modern conveniences, he still preferred the peace and quiet of the Feudal Era.
Keeping his arm around Sango's waist, he pulled her closer and noted that she had returned to wearing her traditional clothes. That was one thing he missed about Kagome's time; he'd grown rather used to seeing his wife walking around in pants and short skirts like Kagome.
"Did you bring anything for me Kagome? You said you would!" Shippou danced around her excitedly, still acting so young despite the fact that he was growing bigger every day. Kagome just smiled tolerantly and pulled a lollipop form her yellow bag, along with a bag of chocolate covered gummi bears. The kitsune snatched them from her eagerly and scampered off to enjoy his treasure.
"Keh, you spoil him too much, you know that?" Inuyasha's voice was gruff as he walked up and stood beside her with his arms crossed.
Kagome smiled in patience. "He's still just a boy Inuyasha, and I think after all that he's been through in his life he deserves to be spoiled a little bit. After all, a little candy never hurt anyone."
"Hn. He's not just a boy anymore, Kagome. He's almost twelve years old, and should be learning about becoming a man, not still nipping at your heels for candy like some pup."
Kagome grinned knowingly at the serious note in his voice, and folded her arms over her chest thoughtfully. It was true that Shippou had grown a lot since the journey had begun almost four years ago, just like all children did. While back home, Kagome had found a small photo album she had put together the first year the group had been together, and now, as the pictures forced her to look back, she could see that the kitsune was much taller, and he had begun to lose the baby-like roundness to his face and body. His torso was beginning to lengthen and flatten out like that of a grown man, and his facial features were more defined then they once were.
With a secret smile, Kagome knew that no matter how much Shippou changed, to her mother-like eyes he would always be the little kitsune who had so fearsomely attacked predators and then turned right around to come crying to her in the dark of a thunderstorm. He would always be the little fluff ball who curled up against her chest at night, his soft breath soothing her to sleep.
"So," She finally commented," Will you be the one to teach him about being a man then, Inuyasha?"
The hanyou blinked and stammered, seeming quite flustered. "I…uh…that is, well…" He couldn't seem to manage a simple sentence, when usually he wouldn't shut up, and Kagome started laughing outright at his reaction, having to hold her sides for control. Inuyasha glared at her. "And just what's so funny wench?"
"You," she replied simply.
"Keh, I'm not the one laughing like a fool!" There was a blush on his face as he spoke, and she knew he was embarrassed.
That only made her laugh more. "And I'm not the one who is terrified of getting close to a little boy."
"I…I am not!" But Kagome just kept laughing as the image came to her head of the mighty Inuyasha running from Shippou as the kitsune chased him with a crayon. That only made the hanyou more flustered. "Stop laughing at me, wench!"
She put on a sympathetic face. "But you're just so funny," she finally began to get control of her giggles as she spoke, but then smiled coyly as she stroked one of his ears to placate his temper. "And you're just so cute when you're angry."
Her touch sent a shock of pleasure through his body, causing something severe to pool within the hanyou's belly, and Inuyasha had to actually resist the urge to start purring. It would do no good to show such approval for what Kagome was doing when he was trying to be angry.
Damn it all, why did she have to touch his damn ears anyway? Or, better yet, why did he have to have ridiculous puppy ears to begin with? "Don't make fun of me, and don't mock me," he pouted, turning away from her and crossing his arms like a pouting child.
Kagome smiled and protruded her lip, moving around so that she was facing him. "Oh Inuyasha," she giggled, "So you do have a weakness after all! You don't want people to make fun of you!"
"Keh, like I care what you say to me woman," the hanyou replied hotly, trying desperately to stay angry…and failing miserably. Ever since she touched his ears, she had triggered a response that caused his instincts to want to grab her and kiss her.
"Yes Inuyasha," she patted his shoulder fondly, "Sticks and stones. I know how it is."
He raised an eyebrow in question at that. "Sticks and stones?"
"Yeah, you know how the saying goes: sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." Kagome did a cute little dance as she spoke, and Inuyasha, watching her hips swaying, could resist no longer and pulled her against him, crushing his lips to hers forcefully.
Fire instantly replaced playfulness, and Kagome wrapped her arms around his neck, twining her fingers through his long silver hair as she pulled him closer to deepen the kiss. Without realizing what was happening, she growled slightly in desire, and Inuyasha smiled against her lips.
"Did you just…growl?"
His breath against her cheeks caused her to shiver, and she smirked right back. "Maybe…but if I did it's entirely your fault. You're a bad influence, after all."
He laughed at that, a free sound that she rarely got to hear, and Kagome relished the sound, torn between pulling away to see his amber eyes dance with joy and continuing to kiss him.
But all playfulness was forgotten as, after a few moments of his hands running over her body, her body literally began to quake. Inuyasha sensed this, and pulled back instantly, knowing he couldn't take any more…not if Kagome truly wanted to wait until after they were married before going down that road again.
Breathing heavily, they gazed at one another, and Kagome finally giggled and leaned against his chest, trying to regain her senses. "This is harder then I thought it would be…"
"What is?"
She smacked him. "You know what I'm talking about."
He smirked, but before he could say anything they were interrupted. "Sheesh, get a room you two."
Kagome pulled away and blushed instantly as they glanced over to find Miroku smirking at them from where he was standing in Kaede's doorway.
"Keh, as if you're ever subtle…monk." Inuyasha's reply was terse as he released Kagome completely, partly because he was now feeling self-conscious, but also partly because he had to do something to put out the fire in his belly. Since when had Kagome begun to look like such a seductive siren, anyway?
But just as he began to puzzle through this new problem, a familiar scent came to his nose on the wind, and he looked up suddenly, his eyes narrowing as he growled in warning. Kagome gave him a puzzled stare, and Miroku stood up straighter. "Inuyasha, what's wrong?"
Before he could reply, a familiar whirlwind blazed through the trees to appear in the clearing, and Kouga appeared, standing tall and proud as ever, his black hair as usual pulled back into a tight ponytail, his blue eyes sparkling in the sun.
"Kouga!" Kagome was surprised, to be sure, but also pleased to see the wolf man again. She hadn't seen him since just after Naraku's death, when she'd told him that she was Inuyasha's mate.
Now, she watched as he returned her smile kindly, though she had to admit the gesture lacked its usual luster. "Kagome…I smelled you when you returned through the well." He seemed slightly unsure of himself now, and flicked his gaze over to Inuyasha, telling Kagome that the wolf man wasn't quite sure of his place now that she was another's mate. "I wanted to ask how you are…is dog face still treating you well?"
Kagome rolled her eyes as she watched Inuyasha instinctively reach for the hilt of his sword, scowling forcefully. "You'd better watch yourself wolf."
At that, surprisingly, Kouga just laughed. "Relax, Inuyasha. I'm not here to steal your mate…that would go against the honor of a demon." He looked back at Kagome with a tender look in his eyes. "But I am here to inquire after a good friend, which I don't think is inappropriate."
Kagome returned the gesture with a warm smile of her own, feeling her eyes soften as her cheeks turned a slight pink. Even after all this time she still felt a slight flutter in her gut when she saw the handsome wolf man, and she supposed that, in some way, she did love him…though not in the way he wanted. Perhaps, in another time and place, she could have. But not here, and not now. Her heart would always love Inuyasha, and somehow, she sensed that it wouldn't have mattered who she met first.
"I thank you for that, Kouga, I'm doing just fine. It's so good to see you again." She took his hands in hers. "But how are you? You disappeared so suddenly last time, after…after I told you about Inuyasha and I. I was worried."
"You worried for me Kagome?" He squeezed her hands in return and started to say more, but seemed to stop himself as he remembered Inuyasha. "Do you think we could talk alone for a little while?"
"Hell no!" Inuyasha's reaction was no surprise, but Kagome found herself rolling her eyes anyway as she watched him unsheathe tetsusaiga. And even Kouga seemed unaffected, gazing at his longtime rival as though he were doing nothing more then summersaults on the ground.
"Inuyasha, don't…" Kagome commanded, and the hanyou instantly checked himself at the warning in her voice, clearing thinking of the many times before when she had sent him crashing to the ground for the sake of the wolf.
Seeing that he was at least restraining himself, Kagome returned her attention to Kouga with a smile. "Of course we can talk. In fact, I think that's a good idea."
Marveling at her ability to be so bipolar in her personality, Kouga smiled gratefully and nodded. "Thank you, Kagome. You have always been kind to me, even though things didn't work out between us."
They turned to move into the forest, and Kagome blushed a deeper red. "I try to be." She giggled, but then stopped as she heard Inuyasha making to follow behind them. She winked at Kouga and glanced over her shoulder. "Inuyasha, sit!"
The sound of a painful thud reached their ears, followed by several muffled curses as the poor hanyou kissed the dirt, and Kagome shook her head, turning her back on the image of her mate doing a face plant on the grass. She'd warned him…
The pair walked for a long time in silence, though there was no strain or tension between them…simply a comfortable feeling of companionship. Kouga had grown up a lot, she realized, to have come back like this to talk to her and set things right.
As the main stream near the village came into view they stopped walking, and Kagome seated herself on a large rock, her legs dangling, while Kouga remained standing at her side, his leg propped up on the stone. Again they remained silent, and Kagome found herself sighing in contentment. She'd missed his presence like she would miss Sango and Miroku, and now that he was here she felt complete…truly surrounded by all the friends who were dear to her heart.
Finally, after several minutes, she heard the wolf demon take a deep, nervous breath and begin to speak. "Kagome, I…I just want you to know that, well, despite everything that's happened between us, I still want us to be friends."
She blinked and stared at him steadily. "Kouga…"
"I know you love Inuyasha, and I know that won't ever change." He spoke quickly, as though afraid of losing the courage to say what he wanted if he stopped. "He has marked you as his mate, and that is a bond that can never be broken by anyone or anything. I respect that, and I will honor your decision. But…" He gazed at her meaningfully, once more taking her hands in his, "Since I've gotten to know you, Kagome, including your kindness and your courage, I've come to value your friendship and want your approval more then anything else. I don't want to lose that. Please…" He squeezed her fingers. "Please say you'll still be my friend."
Kagome stared at the man before her in stunned silence for several seconds before swallowing and putting a smile on her face. "Kouga," she honestly couldn't believe that he thought she would say no. "Of course I will still be your friend. I want nothing more in the world then that." She looked down. "I hated the idea that I caused you pain in any way…and I hated even more the thought that I had lost such a good friend simply because I couldn't love you the way you wanted."
She felt strong fingers under her chin, and then her head was lifted up so that she met a glittering, honest blue gaze. "Kagome…" Kouga gave her a warm smile and touched her cheek, causing her to feel warm. She didn't pull away from his touch, deciding so far it was still within the boundaries of friends, but was prepared to back off if he went too far.
He looked away again, though he didn't break the physical contact. "I will always love you, Kagome, no matter what you say or do, and no matter how many people tell me to just forget. I can't forget…" He smiled sadly. "You've always been too good for me, I know that, but then again you're too good for that hanyou too." He chuckled.
Kagome looked at him steadily and took his hand away from her cheek, squeezing it tightly. "Kouga, you deserve happiness as much as anyone else in this world. Don't you think you can find love somewhere else, with someone else you can give you the kind of affection that you deserve…and should have?"
He smiled warmly at that. "I already have, Kagome."
"You…have?" She couldn't hide the surprise in her voice.
"Yes. You remember Ayame?" Kagome cocked her head slightly, recalling vaguely the fiery, beautiful redheaded wolf demon who had claimed Kouga was promised to her, and nodded. He chuckled again. "Well, it turns out she still wanted to be my mate, even though she knew I loved another…"
"Oh Kouga, that's wonderful!" Kagome felt a huge weight lift from her chest knowing he had someone else to return home to.
Kouga nodded and smiled, his face taking on a warm, peaceful look. "Yes, it is…though sometimes, I admit, I feel somewhat guilty because I can't give her the full love she deserves."
"You will in time."
"Perhaps…I hope so…"
Kagome couldn't stop smiling at this new knowledge. It was wonderful that he had found someone else, because now he could truly begin to heal. A thought occurred to her then, and she gave him a serious look. "Kouga…would you like to be in my wedding?"
The wolf's face turned into one giant question mark. "What?"
Kagome laughed and tried to explain. "You know how I'm from a different time, right?"
"Yes…Kaede explained that to me once while you were gone."
She nodded. "Well, in my time, instead of just marking someone as your mate, we have what are called weddings. A wedding is a ceremony where two people pledge their lives to each other in front of witnesses. Inuyasha agreed to have one for my sake and the sake and honor of my family, and I was wondering if, well, you would want to be a part of the ceremony."
"But…I don't understand Kagome. Could I even go through the well to get to your time?"
"Yes, I can take you. I've already taken Sango and Miroku."
Kouga blushed suddenly, as though nervous about accepting such an offer, and Kagome thought perhaps he was again trying to decide where the boundary was now that she was marked as another's mate. "What…um…what would I have to do?"
"Well," it was her turn to blush, "Usually it's the groom who asks other men to be his groomsmen…but seeing how Inuyasha only has Miroku so far, I figure I'd better help out a little. All you would have to do is get dressed up and stand at his side when we're married."
At that Kouga grimaced and looked away. "Honestly Kagome, the thought of standing next to Inuyasha while he marries you isn't exactly appealing. Besides, I don't think he'd want me at his side. This sounds like an honor reserved for friends only."
Kagome nodded, but refused to back down. "I know, but Kouga, even though you two disagree a lot, you've both saved each other several times. And besides," She winked, "I'm going to have at least three brides' maids and a maid of honor, so at this point Inuyasha's going to have to just suck it up and take who he can get."
They both chuckled at that, and Kouga finally nodded. "Very well, if it will make you happy, I guess I can stand it." He stood up straight and nodded. "I would be honored to be in your…um…wedding thing."
Kagome felt a beaming smile break out across her face, and she threw her arms around the wolf man's neck in a generous embrace. "Thank you so much, Kouga! It really does mean the world to me…and besides, Ayame could come too if she wants!"
That thought caused the man to perk up slightly, and he nodded, hugging the woman he loved back tenderly, savoring the feeling, knowing it would probably be the last time he would ever be alone with her and get the chance. "I thank you for that, Kagome…I'm sure Ayame would be happy to come." He pulled away reluctantly. "She really does like you, despite everything that's happened between us."
Nodding, Kagome pulled back as well and moved to touch his hand one last time, but stopped, her instincts suddenly telling her that they were being watched. Glancing to her left, she saw a few wisps of silvery white hair in one of the trees, and frowned. "Inuyasha…"
Her eyes narrowed dangerously, and the hanyou fearfully jumped out of the tree. "Wait Kagome, let me explain! I was just worried about…"
"Sit! Sit! SIT!"
"ARGH!"
