** This story deals with rape, so if this sort of topic bothers you then be forewarned. **

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Author's Notes: I'm so sorry for taking so long to update! My life has just been absolutely crazy lately! Please don't be mad at me, I will try extra hard from now on to get an update out more often!
I would like to justify myself to all you Sesshoumaru/Rin lovers out there. This is the way I view their relationship: a father/daughter sort of thing. I think she gives him the innocent happiness he has always lacked, and he gives her the father figure she needs. I don't think it's bad when people have them as a couple, I think it's really cute actually, but for the sake of this story I want Sesshoumaru to be with someone else. I hope you all aren't too mad at me for that.
Also, this chapter might seem a little less realistic when it comes to the court system, but it needs to be this way for the sake of the story, so don't feel too confused. There is also some seriously good old- fashioned fluff, so all you cavity people are forewarned. Other then that, enjoy!

Sara: Wow! Thank you so much for your wonderful review, it was a wonderful thing to read on my birthday. I hope you continue to enjoy the story.

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Title: The Realistic Happily Ever After

Author: dolphingirl0113

Chapter: Fourteen

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.

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It was a day of tension for Kagome, and there was no way to avoid it. Today was the day Ted Wilkins might take the stand and, time permitting she would too.

They were now sitting at the table, as usual the only ones in the courtroom in the usual ritual of arriving thirty minutes early, and Kagome was unable to stop twisting the fabric of her black dress, short sleeved and falling to just past her knees, in her tight fists. Ms. White, who was sitting beside her, noticed and covered the girl's hands with one of her own, smiling as she did so.

She was back into her professional mode once more, and Kagome found herself again wondering if the woman she had seen on Saturday night was just a dream. "Don't worry Kagome, everything will be fine I promise."

"I know that, I just can't help but be nervous."

"Well, the reality is that, even though I said it might happen, you probably won't take the stand today because there are just too many other witnesses Bruce wants to call."

"And tell me again, why is he calling all my friends and teachers to the stand?"

Ms. White sighed. "He's trying to establish the idea that you are irresponsible and flirtatious, because, like I said before, that is his only possible defense for a client who is so obviously guilty."

Kagome nodded and looked straight ahead, toward the judge's bench, then at the witness stand, before slowly drifting toward the jury's box. It was all so quiet with no one in the courtroom.

"But you don't think you'll have a problem countering any points he makes?"

"Absolutely not. It's so obvious that you're not that kind of person, and like I said before, you just have to ask the right questions."

They were interrupted when the door to the large courtroom opened, and Mrs. Higurashi, Souta, her grandfather, Miroku, Sango, Kouga, and Ayame appeared, all being led in by what looked like a very impatient Inuyasha. Obviously, the group had argued about something in the hallway.

But his look instantly softened when he saw Kagome, and he quickened his pace so that he was soon on the other side of the gate, lifting Kagome out of her chair and gently pulling her into his arms. Kagome blinked in surprise for an instant, but then smiled and relaxed against his chest.

"Inuyasha."

"They explained to me why you are so nervous today," he hastened to explain. "And I just want you to know that if you have to, um, testify, I will be right here to protect you."

Kagome smiled, hearing the familiar promise, and knowing it was true. He would never let anything bad happen to her.

She looked up into his amber eyes, the baseball cap once more in place since he had informed Miroku he would not be taping his ears again, causing his bangs to fall into his eyes. Brushing a stray lock of silver hair aside with her hand, Kagome raised up on her toes and gave him a sweet, gentle kiss.

Inuyasha tightened his hold on her, pulling her closer and deepening the kiss with a hand to the back of her neck. Kagome felt herself growing dizzy, as she always did, at such an intimate embrace, and was thankful his other arm was around her waist, holding her securely against his firm body.

A gasp broke the moment, and Kagome pulled away from Inuyasha to see what was the matter.

Ms. White was staring, wide eyed toward the door, and it was the first time Kagome had seen the woman lacking all the poise in the world while in her lawyer's uniform. But Kagome quickly understood why when she too let out a gasp as she saw who was standing at the door to the courtroom.

He was dressed in khakis and a white shirt, his silver hair in it's usual style, catching the morning sun, an empty sleeve accenting the fact that he was missing his left arm. But he still looked as intimidating as ever.

"Sesshoumaru," Kagome whispered, Ms. White continuing to stare. The demon lord heard what she said, even though he was at the other end of the courtroom, and his sharp eyes could no doubt see the shocked looks on their faces. He chose to ignore it all, merely grunting and walking up to take a seat beside Ayame, who looked suddenly nervous.

"Sesshoumaru, what are you doing here?" Kagome finally managed to formulate a complete sentence, or rather, a question. But Ms. White was still staring, and his eyes somehow managed to lock with hers once more.

As a result, he didn't respond to her question, but suddenly Kagome realized he didn't need to. She understood perfectly.

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"State your name for the record."

"Eri."

"And what is your relationship with Ms. Higurashi?"

"I'm one of her friends from school."

The whole ritual had begun again, like something out of a nightmare for Kagome as she watched Mr. Cromwell do his pacing back and forth, her fingers growing white where she was, once again, bunching her dress. Absentmindedly she couldn't help but note mentally that her mother would have a hard time ironing out the wrinkles later.

Unlike Hojo or any of the other witnesses so far, Eri was the first to look visibly nervous on the stand, dressed in her yellow blouse and black skirt. She kept looking at her hands, or anywhere but Mr. Cromwell, and he was obviously having a difficult time holding his patience.

"Would you describe for me Ms. Higurashi's personality?"

"Oh, um, Kagome's really nice."

There was silence, and everyone leaned forward, waiting for more, but Eri obviously didn't think she needed to say anything else. Kagome couldn't help but grin. It was the first time she had ever heard Eri say only one sentence at a time.

"Okay, so she's nice. What else? What do all the kids at school think of her?"

Eri perked up at this, because it involved gossip, a talent she had a knack for. "Oh, all the kids at school like her a lot. She's nice to everyone, and helps people when she can. All the boys would give anything to go out with her too."

The last statement caused everyone to focus, and Mr. Cromwell stopped his pacing, as he looked Eri straight in the face. Kagome visibly paled.

"All the boys want to go out with her?"

"Yeah, but they know they don't have a chance."

"Why is that?"

"Because she already has a fiancé, who they all have seen walking her to school every day."

"But have they always known about this fiancé?"

"No, it's only been in the last few months that she actually introduced him to us. We met him for the first time at our prom."

"And what is your opinion of Ms. Higurashi's fiancé?"

Eri looked down at her hands, obviously finding something in her lap incredibly interesting, before looking back up again, having decided what to say. "He's really handsome, and really sweet to Kagome, but very overprotective of her and who she's with."

Kagome relaxed. Mr. Cromwell couldn't possibly use that statement against her, could he? What was so bad about an overprotective boyfriend?

"And why exactly is he overprotective?" Kagome deflated. Okay, so maybe he could.

"Um, I don't know, he just is, it's his personality."

"Could it be because Kagome is always flirting with other men, and he feels the need to keep her all to himself?"

"Um, no, I don't think so."

"You don't think so?"

"I mean, I know that's not how it is."

"And why is that?"

"Because, um, because she doesn't flirt with guys. They flirt with her, but she never flirts back."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Y-yes," Eri stammered, and Kagome felt her heart go out to the girl who was trying so hard to say the right thing.

Mr. Cromwell nodded and started pacing again, which Kagome knew was a signal that he was about to change his line of questioning. She braced herself.

"Miss Eri, could you verify for me exactly how long it was before you actually met Ms. Higurashi's fiancé?"

"I, um, don't know what you mean."

"Well you said that you didn't meet him until only a few months ago, and by then they were already engaged. Surely you must have at least heard about him before."

"Oh," Eri blushed, and Kagome's heart fell. She could tell the girl was remembering all the times she had come back to her time through the well, heartbroken, and ranted about how unfaithful Inuyasha was.

"Miss Eri?"

"Well, I had been hearing about Inuyasha for about three years."

"That seems like an awfully long time to go without meeting him, don't you think?"

"Not really, because I think their relationship was on and off a lot since he was still kind of interested in his old girlfriend."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I mean, when she wasn't sick and came back to school, Kagome would often be depressed about something that happened with her boyfriend, who we nicknamed the two-timer because she was always saying that he had cheated on her again with his old girlfriend."

Mr. Cromwell nodded, obviously hearing something he liked, and looked at Eri. "Did she ever flirt with her school mate named Hojo?"

Eri tensed, looking down and obviously remembering what Mr. Cromwell had asked Hojo while he was on the stand. She blushed furiously for some reason before looking up.

"They were into each other for a while, but it all stopped on Kagome's part when she met Inuyasha."

"But I thought Hojo said they still went out sometimes. Is that true?"

"Well, um, we never liked the idea of Kagome being with someone so easily jealous and angry, so we were constantly pushing her in the direction of Hojo, hoping she would forget about Inuyasha."

The hanyou growled at that. It was so hard to hear about exactly what Kagome would do whenever she came back, angry with him for doing something with Kikyou. From the sound of things, it looked like all she did was pine for him all day, and that thought alone broke his heart more then anything.

"So you're telling me Kagome wasn't interested at all in Hojo?"

"Um, no, I don't think so."

"You don't think so?"

"I mean, no, she wasn't."

But the answer seemed hesitant, and Mr. Cromwell nodded, walking back to his seat, the signal for Ms. White to rise. She approached Eri.

"You were just trying to help her, is that correct, when you would set her up with Hojo?"

"That's right. I hated hearing her cry all the time over Inuyasha. It wasn't like Kagome at all to be so dependent on someone, and to miss him so much. If I had been smart enough, I would have realized that meant she loved him, but I refused to see it."

"Then tell me Eri, did Kagome ever express an interest in Hojo on her own, without you and her other friends helping?"

"No."

"Thank you, no further questions."

The judge told Eri she could step down, and she quickly ran back to her seat, ignoring Kagome as she went, a huge blush on her face. Mr. Cromwell rose to his feet.

"Your honor, the defense would like to change the order of witnesses slightly."

Ms. White tensed, looking over at Mr. Cromwell. "Bruce, what are you up to?" Kagome turned her head as well, looking over at the lawyer.

The judge nodded. "Explain, Mr. Cromwell."

"The defense would like to call Ms. Higurashi's fiancé, Inuyasha, to the stand."

The whole courtroom tensed, and Ms. White shot out of her chair. "Objection, your honor. The prosecution was not aware of this before this moment, and have not had time to prepare for questioning."

"Your honor, I am doing this because we have heard so much about Inuyasha's personality in this courtroom that I think we should witness it for ourselves."

"And I object strongly, as neither he, nor I, nor my client were consulted about this."

Mr. Cromwell smirked slightly. "That's the idea."

Ms. White tensed and glared at her colleague before looking back at the judge with a pleading look. "Your honor, please."

But he was shaking his head. "There is no reason you cannot call Inuyasha to the stand, but for the sake of the prosecution, this court will take a fifteen minute recess."

The moment the gavel hit the desk Kagome whirled around to see Inuyasha's stunned face, and reached across the fence to take his hand. Ms. White turned around as well, so uptight that she didn't even notice Sesshoumaru watching her.

"You don't have to testify," she said softly, looking at Inuyasha, "Unless you want to. In a court of law, they cannot make you do anything against your will."

But Inuyasha had seemed to wake from his trance, because he was adamantly shaking his head. "I want to testify. I want to have a chance to defend myself, and Kagome's honor."

Kagome blushed and her eyes filled with love, but she was also very afraid for this man that she loved so much. "Inuyasha, we cannot control what Mr. Cromwell will ask. And you don't know what will trigger your, um, temper."

She glanced down at the gym bag Mrs. Higurashi brought with her to court every day, containing the tetsusaiga. Inuyasha understood her meaning, and simply squeezed her hand. "I can do this Kagome, because I have to do it for you."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Kagome sighed and laid her head on his hand while he absentmindedly stroked her soft hair, trying to figure out what exactly would be a smart thing to say when the time came.

"Are you sure this is such a good idea?"

Everyone turned, in shock, to look at Sesshoumaru, who up until now had been absolutely silent. Ms. White blushed once more. "What do you mean?"

"My little brother has never been good with words. He always says something that a moment later he regrets."

The hanyou growled and glared at his brother. "I can say the right thing, Sesshoumaru."

The demon lord cocked an eyebrow arrogantly. "If that's true, then why does Kagome always seem to be running off in tears?"

Inuyasha deflated and looked straight ahead. "I won't screw up this
time."

"Whatever Inuyasha, just don't say something stupid that you and everyone else will regret."

A long silence ensued, and Kagome felt the knot in the pit of her stomach churn even more. Gods above, she prayed, let this come out all right.

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"State your name for the record."

"Inuyasha."

"And what is your relationship with Ms. Higurashi?"

"She is my ma-um, I mean my fiancée."

"And how long have you known her?"

"For at least three years."

"And how did you two happen to meet? You seem a lot older then she is."

"Um," Inuyasha tried to recall the story he had told those men that night at the prom over dinner, "I was at the, um, park, sleeping under a tree, and Kagome was looking for something when she woke me up."

Kagome smiled at Inuyasha, relaxing slightly. Maybe everything would be okay after all.

"And that's it?

"Yes."

"So you two started dating after that?"

Inuyasha blushed, recalling how he had tried to kill her that first day. "Um, yeah, sort of."

"What do you mean sort of?"

"Well, we didn't start dating right away but, we got to know each other, and she had a friend that I knew, so we saw each other that way." He was trying to explain everything without giving it all away. But it was really hard, and he suddenly had a great admiration for Kagome having not let the truth slip for over three years.

"I see," Mr. Cromwell paced again, and Inuyasha narrowed his eyes. He didn't like it, his instinct thought it was like a predator circling its prey. "According to Eri, you had another girl you were interested in, is that true?"

Kikyou's face flashed before him, and Inuyasha felt himself sadden, like he always did, at the thought of the miko who he had once loved. "Yes, that's true."

"And are you still interested in her?"

"No."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Yes."

"Because according to Eri you were unfaithful for a long time, and Kagome was always coming home crying. Is that true?"

"I, um, I guess," he said with a blush. This was harder then he thought it would be.

"But you're not interested in her anymore," Mr. Cromwell stated, rather then asked.

"No, I said that already," Inuyasha snapped, feeling his temper rise. He glanced at Kagome, meeting her deep, doe like eyes and feeling himself calm down slightly as she smiled at him with trust.

"Then why were you so unfaithful before and now you're not?"

"The woman I was with before, her name was Kikyou, well, our relationship was ended because someone tricked us into believing we were deceiving one another. She got really depressed because of the whole thing, and I felt really guilty after learning the truth. So, I guess I just couldn't let go because I was worried about her."

"And why is now any different?"

"Because she finally found someone else who loves her, and I was allowed to love Kagome without feeling guilty." Mr. Cromwell nodded.

"Tell me Inuyasha, do you get jealous easily?" The hanyou blushed at the statement.

"Um, I just don't like it when other guys flirt with Kagome after she tells them she's not interested."

"Like my client over here?" Mr. Cromwell pointed to Ted Wilkins, and Inuyasha growled as he glared at the man, smiling in satisfaction when the man visibly cowered a little, remembering the night Inuyash had beaten him up.

"He didn't flirt with Kagome, he forced her to be with him when she didn't want it."

"I didn't ask you if you believed Ms. Higurashi's story about being raped Inuyasha," Mr. Cromwell said coldly, "I asked if you got jealous of the attention my client gave her."

"No, why would I be jealous of that monster?" Inuyasha exploded. "And of course I believe Kagome! She was hurt, and I will never forgive that man for what he did!"

Everyone was looking at Inuyasha, who was seething, glaring at Mr. Cromwell with rage in his eyes, fighting to control the instinct that told him to defend himself against this threat, this enemy.

"So, you will never forgive him? Is that why you felt justified in beating him up that night?"

"He was holding a, um," Inuyasha searched for the word, "A gun, and pointing it at Kagome. He would have hurt her if I hadn't done something."

"It's not illegal to carry a gun," Mr. Cromwell commented casually, "How can you be sure he was going to shoot Ms. Higurashi?"

"He was pointing it right at her, damn it!"

"Are you sure about that?"

"Yes I'm sure!"

"So you have no doubt that you were justified in hitting my client that evening?"

"None whatsoever."

"Was there any chance that my client was just flirting with Ms. Higurashi, and you got jealous?"

Inuyasha growled long and low, and everyone, including Mr. Cromwell, did a double take, trying to make sure they had heard correctly. But Inuyasha ignored the stares, glaring at the man who would dare suggest Kagome had anything other then hatred for the man who raped her, and that he had anything but her protection on his mind that night.

"He was not flirting, and he would have killed her if I hadn't stopped him."

Mr. Cromwell smirked, and Inuyasha felt his temper rise even more. Obviously, the lawyer wanted this sort of reaction, because he suddenly moved in for the kill.

"Do you hate me?"

"What?"

"Do you hate me, Inuyasha, for what I'm doing right now?"

Inuyasha chose not to answer, instead looking away from the older man and staring at the ceiling. "Keh."

"Are you a violent person Inuyasha?"

"I do what I must to protect those I care about." Mr. Cromwell turned and faced the jury with a smile.

"I think that's a pretty fancy way of saying yes." He laughed, as though he had said something funny, and then turned back to the fuming hanyou. "Isn't it possible that Kagome is stifled by all your attention, and flirts with other men to get a break and relax?"

Inuyasha grit his teeth, trying to hold back another growl. "No."

"Not even once in a while? Flirting is very natural for a girl her age."

"Not with him." Inuyasha seemed to spit venom as he glared at Ted Wilkins. Kagome felt her heart go out to him as he did so. He didn't deserve this treatment after everything he had done for her, and she wanted to slap Mr. Cromwell.

Even Ms. White seemed enraged at what was going on, muttering to herself, and Kagome barely managed to hear one sentence: "What the hell are you doing Bruce?"

But Mr. Cromwell seemed absolutely oblivious to the daggers piercing his back from the two women at the table, the smile on his face still in place, unwavering. "You don't know what happened that night any more then I do, Inuyasha. For all we know, Kagome was feeling sad after you two had a fight, and flirted with my client, leading to something more."

"I believe Kagome," Inuyasha hissed, and Mr. Cromwell shrugged his shoulders as though to say 'who cares what you think' before facing the judge.

"I have no further questions."

He took his seat, and Ms. White rose from her chair, controlling her raging temper by rather forcefully pushing her seat back, causing it to slam into the fence behind her, and startling several people. But when she raised her head to walk forward, she was calm and composed once more.

"Inuyasha, tell me what happened that night when you and Kagome met Mr. Wilkins."

Inuyasha took a deep breath, trying to regain control, looking deeply into Kagome's eyes. She nodded and smiled at him, her face beaming with love, and he felt his confidence return. Who the hell cared what anyone else thought? She loved him, and that was all that mattered.

"We were walking back from her play practice when we looked up and found him standing there, pointing a gun at Kagome."

"And did he say anything?"

"He said he warned her not to file a report with the police."

Kagome gasped, and everyone turned to look at her. She blushed, and looked down with the plan of talking to Ms. White as soon as all this was over, for she had just realized something that could put this entire debate to rest.

"And then what did he do?"

"He prepared to shoot her, and that's when I jumped in and tackled him to the ground."

"So, in other words, you did beat him up?"

"Yes, but he deserved it. He wanted to hurt Kagome again, and I couldn't let that happen."

Ms. White nodded and looked at the jury, still as stony-faced as ever, though this time Kagome thought she actually saw one or two nod their heads in agreement. Maybe that was a good sign.

"Inuyasha," Ms. White finally began, her voice gentle, almost more like the woman Kagome had seen that night at Miguel's, rather then the fierce lawyer, "Do you love Kagome?"

There was a long silence in the room, and Kagome found herself locked in Inuyasha's gaze, caught up in the swirl of his amber-golden eyes and the emotions roiling within his heart at that moment. There was no doubt, at least in her mind, what his answer was.

He swallowed, and stared right back, losing himself in the one woman he ever wanted to be with, the one woman who made everything else in the world seem okay. Her voice rang in his ears, her laughter danced through his mind, and her smile warmed his soul.

Everyone was staring at the hanyou, waiting for his answer, when something unexpected happened. A solitary tear rolled down his otherwise stoic face.

"I love her more then anything else in this entire world." His voice cracked slightly, and Kagome's vision clouded over as her own tears fell down her cheeks. He never broke his gaze with her as he spoke.

"I want her to be happy, and to laugh, and to share her joy with the world. All I want is for her to smile at me every day and give me playful hugs and pull my hair when I say something she thinks is cute." He paused and swallowed again.

"After she was raped, it was like her soul was gone, and as a result, mine was too. I hadn't realized before I saw those doll-like eyes for the first time how much a part of me she was, because when she was sick at heart, my own heart wanted to break. And I never want to see her that way again." He blinked and looked at Kagome, smiling gently. "I love that woman more then anyone has ever loved anything in their entire life, and I would give my life at this moment if it meant she would never stop smiling."

A long silence followed, in which time Kagome heard several sniffles from the women around her, even the men looking slightly overcome by the deep, sentimental declaration. But she didn't care. All that mattered was that wonderful man, that wonderful hanyou, who was sitting and looking at her and meaning every word he had just said.

Ms. White coughed slightly, a beaming smile on her face, and nodded to Inuyasha. "Thank you, no further questions."

She walked back to her seat, and the judge sighed, looking about the courtroom. "This court will recess until tomorrow at one."

Kagome blinked back to reality as everyone got up to move around, and turned to Ms. White. "I have something I need to share with you, about Ted Wilkins, something I completely forgot about until just now."

"What's that?"

"He sent me several notes, threatening my life if I were to report the rape to the police."

Ms. White tensed, but more out of excitement. "And do you still have those notes?"

"Yes, and I'm sorry I forgot about them until this moment."

"Oh Kagome, this is perfect! All we have to do is match his handwriting to the ones on the notes and there will be no doubt of whom is innocent and who is guilty. Bring the notes in tomorrow before court, and we will present them as evidence before Mr. Wilkins is questioned."

"Okay," Kagome replied, catching the woman's excitement for a moment. Ms. White turned to pick up her coat, and in the process found herself staring at Sesshoumaru.

"I don't know much about these customs," he said with a deep voice that caused your chest to vibrate, "But you certainly seem to know what you're doing."

Ms. White blushed, and Kagome gaped at the thought that Sesshoumaru, the stoic lord of the western lands, had just given someone, a human woman no less, a compliment.

"Thank you," Ms. White replied kindly. She blushed and looked at him. "Will I be seeing you again tomorrow?"

"Perhaps," he replied, but Kagome could have sworn there was a hint of a smile on his face.

"Kagome?" She turned around to see Inuyasha standing before her, and all thoughts of other people faded as their eyes met.

"Inuyasha," she sighed, just wanting to stare at him, to lose herself in his eyes, which were the doorways to his soul. Suddenly, she threw her arms around him and wrapped her legs around his waist as he hoisted her into his arms, ignoring the onlookers and the fact that she was wearing a dress. "I love you so much!"

He buried his nose into her hair, her scent surrounding him, and smiled. He had meant every word he said up there. "I love you too."

Pulling back to look at him, Kagome put her hands on his cheeks and lowered her head for a kiss, to which he responded hungrily, holding her tighter against him as she ran her fingers through his hair.

"Geez you guys, find a room," Miroku commented sarcastically, but Inuyasha merely pulled away and glared.

"Shut up, monk," he replied before returning to what he had been doing. Miroku smirked and turned to Sango, who saw his intention in his eyes.

"Don't even think about it."

But before she could say any more, he was bending her over nearly backwards, holding her neck with one hand and supporting her waist with the other as he kissed the woman who was his wife passionately. Souta made a face.

"Why is everyone kissing all of a sudden?" He asked as though it was the most repulsive thing he had ever seen in his life. But Mrs. Higurashi just smiled and took her son's hand to lead him down the aisle.

"One day you will understand sweet heart," she said kindly, leading the way out of the courtroom.