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

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Author's Notes: I just got back from a choir rehearsal, and it was so moving. Not only will I be getting a solo for a beautiful Spanish romance, but also we are singing an incredible piece called "Lamentations of Jeremiah", and I feel so touched right now, I can hardly believe it. It puts me in the perfect mood to update this wonderful story. You wonderful, wonderful reviewers! Thank you so much for your compliments! And to those of you who don't like the court scenes, this is the last of them, I promise! We finally get the verdict!
I can't believe how many of you are already asking about a third story. All I can say is WOW! Thank you for the wonderful support. And, like before, if you can give me some ideas, I would be happy to write a third one. But again, like before, I need your help! So, start brainstorming you guys!
You all wanted one final conflict between Inuyasha and Ted so, you get one! And if it seems a little out of control for an actual courtroom, that's because it probably is, but hey, I'm just doing as you readers asked. I hope you like this chapter, and thanks again so very much!

InuKatie: your advice has been duly noted, and I just want to warn you not to be surprised if your idea shows up in the next few chapters. Thanks!

Inu-guyver: you're so wonderful for saying that! Thank you so much, it really made my day. I won't get too mushy or anything, because I know how much guys like you hate that sort of thing, after all I have a brother who I love dearly (cough, cough) but I just wanted to say thank you. And wow, amateur body builder, eh? That's impressive, I'm always into guys who hit the gym. It puts me to shame, I just hit the weights three times a week (smiles).

Laura: sorry, I didn't even realize that my email wasn't on display in my profile. My address is dolphingirl0113@aol.com (I know, I know, real original). Feel free to email me any time.

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Title: The Realistic Happily Ever After

Author: dolphingirl0113

Chapter: Seventeen

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.

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She felt like dancing. She felt like singing. But more then anything, Kagome felt like crying tears of joy at the prospect that this was the last time she would ever have to walk into that courtroom.

The night before Ms. White, in a celebratory mood, had taken everyone out to dinner before taking Kagome on a private shopping trip, treating her to an incredible new business suit, which she was now modeling for the world to see.

It was completely white, from the knee-length skirt to the matching coat. But underneath she was wearing a deep red blouse, which she had chosen because it was the same color as Inuyasha's fire rat coat. She liked the idea that she was wearing his favorite color.

Her matching white heels clicked on the floor in time with Ms. White's quick pace, and together the two women looked like the victors they were, parading before the currently empty courtroom like ancient soldiers after heroic victories in battle.

Miroku let his mouth fall shamefully low as he watched Kagome approach, to which she just shook her head and blushed before sitting down in the all too familiar prosecution chair.

"I like that color on you Kagome," Sango said kindly, sporting her own, slightly longer, black skirt and dark pink blouse. Mrs. Higurashi had been kind enough to share her wardrobe with the two visiting girls from the past, so that now they no longer looked quite so out of place.

"Thanks," Kagome replied, feeling overjoyed. Ms. White winked at her playfully.

"After what she's been through, this girl deserves to cut loose a little."

"I agree," Kouga said, admiring Kagome with care. The desire that had always been in his eyes while looking at her was still there, and Kagome was reminded of the fact that he had admitted he would always love her first, but that he could learn to love Ayame and be happy.

"Thanks you guys," Kagome said, giving everyone a beaming smile, before frowning as she noticed something. "Where's mama and Inuyasha?"

The group looked at each other and grinned mischievously, to which Kagome grew uneasy. What had they done?

"Don't worry, the mutt should be here soon," Kouga said with a sly tone, and Ayame rolled her eyes, slapping his arm playfully before looking at Kagome.

"For heavens sake," she said seriously, "You're making the girl think we murdered her mate." Kouga grunted, muttering something about how that wasn't such a bad idea, which this time received a fist to the head.

Voices could be heard outside the courtroom, and Kagome distinctly heard Inuyasha yelling about something. She sighed, relieved that at least he hadn't been marred enough to take away his temper.

The doors flew open and Inuyasha stomped in furiously, turning to yell at a very passive looking Mrs. Higurashi. "I tell you woman, I don't want to wear this! It is so stupid! This whole idea is stupid!"

But the hanyou went silent when he realized that they were not the only ones in the courtroom, and a huge blush crept over his cheeks when his eyes met with Kagome's. She had to try desperately not to laugh.

He was standing there, incredibly nervous, wearing gray slacks and a blue sports coat, complete with a very red tie. He was looking down, nervous about something, and in his hands was a beautiful bouquet of red roses. At that moment, save for the hair, he could have been Hojo preparing to ask her out on a date.

"Inuyasha, what's going on?" Kagome finally managed to say, trying to hold back her laugh at his comical appearance. He just looked so incredibly adorable at that moment.

He walked up with his gaze lowered to the floor, muttering something inaudible, until he was standing before her. "Here," he shoved the flowers in her direction, and Kagome accepted them before giving him a quizzical look, but he just ignored her and sat down.

"Your mother insisted that he look nice for you today, so she went and found one of your father's old suits that was hanging in the closet," Miroku finally explained, to which Inuyasha blushed even more. "She then insisted he should give you flowers, like a gentleman."

Understanding dawned, and Kagome nodded her head, as she smelled the beautiful flowers in her hands. Inuyasha was firstly not one to wear outfits like that willingly, and he probably, to be blunt, felt like something of a pansy at the moment, and on top of that he was not one who liked or was good at giving gifts to people. And he was forced to do both today.

"Poor Inuyasha," she said consolingly, walking over and reaching under the out-of-place baseball cap and rubbing one of his ears affectionately. He couldn't hide his purr of pleasure at the gesture, and Kagome smiled as he raised his eyes to meet hers. "Thank you for the flowers. And you look very handsome in my father's old business suit."

Her smile finally won him over, and Inuyasha relaxed somewhat as he nodded gruffly. "Your welcome."

But before they could say any more the courtroom began to fill with the usual people, and the jury filed into their seats. Kagome sighed and turned around so she was once more facing the judge's stand, and waited.

Mr. Cromwell appeared, walking up to the table and setting down his bag. But, unlike usual, Ted Wilkins was no where in sight.

"Where's your client today Bruce? Not ill, I hope." Ms. White had a casual gloat to her voice, which Kagome couldn't help but notice with a smile.

"He should be along," was all the man said in reply, his voice as cold and downtrodden as the day before. Ms. White scrunched her face momentarily in puzzlement.

"Is he okay?" Kagome leaned over and whispered.

"I don't know, I've never seen him act this way before." Ms. White continued to watch her colleague curiously, which meant she failed to notice the appearance of another man, but Kagome smiled.

Sesshoumaru was just as stoic as ever as he moved to take his usual seat, receiving the expected stares from the other visitors who couldn't believe his long hair and tattooed face, not to mention the empty sleeve on his shirt. He sat down with a small grunt, and stared at the back of Ms. White's blonde head.

"Don't look now, but I think you have an admirer," Kagome whispered, to which Ms. White cocked an eyebrow quizzically before turning around. Her face lit up, and Kagome wished she had a camera to capture the moment as the two stared at one another, breaking apart only when the judge entered the courtroom.

"The jury will now hear closing statements, first from the prosecution and then from the defense." He turned his head to regard Kagome and Ms. White, to which the blonde woman nodded in understanding and rose to her feet.

"Picture this in your minds for me," she began, pacing back and forth and looking at each individual member of the jury one at a time. "You are all an eighteen year old girl walking home at night, after a long, hard day at school, fantasizing about the love of your life, when suddenly you is attacked from behind and drug over to a van with a knife to your throat." Ms. White paused for effect. "Just imagine the fear running through you at that moment, wondering if you are going to die or live to see the next morning. There is no reason for this attack, save the lust and sick desires of a man you don't even know. And what does this man do?" She paused again. "He violates you in the most grievous way, taking from you, without permission not only your virginity, but your innocence and your virtue, all things you have been saving for that special man in your life."

Kagome blushed, thinking about her time with Inuyasha, and the fear she had once held that he wouldn't want her any more because she was damaged goods. She turned around, and he smiled at her lovingly, assuring her that was not true.

"And then, after everything he does, this man dumps you on the street, beaten and in pain both mentally and physically, until you are found by a caring friend the next morning. How does that make you feel?" The jury responded with silence, but Ms. White continued, her voice filling the room more and more as she grew more passionate. "I'll tell you how it made my client, Kagome Higurashi, feel. Bitter, angry, and empty. It made her feel unwanted and unloved. And it made her feel dirty." She accented the word dirty as though it was a vile poison, and even Kagome winced.

Ms. White leaned against the wooden railing separating her from the twelve members of the jury, and her posture relaxed, as though she were completely changing subjects. "Let me tell you all a story. There was this girl, with everything going for her. She was beautiful and intelligent, but shy enough that she didn't have an ego. She had dreams for her life, including a husband and children. But that all changed one night, when she was raped."

Kagome knew that Ms. White was talking about her sister, and it amazed Kagome how this woman, who was near tears when talking about it with her, could stand there and so calmly tell the same story to the jury. She was, truly, one of the strongest people Kagome had ever met.

"This woman, after being pushed by her family, finally charged the man, and the case went to court. But, when the time came for her to testify against her rapist, she froze, letting her fear get in the way. And, as a result, the man got off." Ms. White took a deep breath. "The woman moved away, too afraid to live anywhere near where he could be, breaking the hearts of her family as she did so. And now, her then seventeen-year-old sister stands before you to say that there is no reason that should happen again. Kagome Higurashi found the strength to not only accuse this man," She pointed at Ted Wilkins, "Despite his threatening her life in those letters, but then say, to his face, that he was guilty. Don't reward her by letting him be found innocent. Ted Wilkins deserves to be put away for life for what he has done. And, as intelligent people, I know that's exactly what you will do to him. Thank you."

The court was silent, even the jury looking amazed as Ms. White walked back to her seat, her back straight as a pole and her chin high in the air. She glanced, for an instant, at Mr. Cromwell, before sitting down and folding her hands primly in her lap, waiting for what would come.

No one moved to speak or do anything, and suddenly the silence became tense as everyone turned his or her eyes on Mr. Cromwell, sitting in his seat looking very disturbed by something.

"May I approach the bench, your honor?" he finally said, his voice cracking. The judge looked surprised, but nodded, motioning for Ms. White to follow.

"What is it, Mr. Cromwell?" he asked once they were standing before him and talking in hushed voices.

"I-I have no closing statement, your honor."

"What?" Neither Ms. White nor the judge could hide their surprise.

"My client is as guilty as Nancy says, and I cannot, in good conscience, finish the angle I have been following this entire trial."

"And why is that, Mr. Cromwell?"

"Because," the man's voice cracked again, "I believed what he told me in the beginning, your honor. I trusted him to be honest in his testimony, and he was not. He lied, and I cannot defend a man who would do such a thing."

"Bruce," Ms. White felt her heart go out to her colleague, realizing the man had truly believed, somehow, that Ted Wilkins had not raped Kagome at all, and that he had been defending an innocent man.

"Very well, Mr. Cromwell," the judge finally said, "You may both take your seats."

They nodded and walked back to their tables as the judge turned to the main courtroom. He noticed Mr. Cromwell whispering something in Ted Wilkin's ear, and the younger man didn't look at all happy about it.

"The jury will now be dismissed to determine the verdict. The court is in recess until they return."

"What?" Ted Wilkins shot out of his chair and glared at Mr. Cromwell. "You bastard, get up there and say something! You can't just let them go without defending me!"

"The jury will ignore anything the defendant is saying," the judge called before glaring at the young man in question. "Sit down, Mr. Wilkins."

But he seemed oblivious to the command, continuing to scream at Mr. Cromwell, who remained stationary in his chair, refusing to budge or show any sign of remorse for what he had done.

Suddenly, he looked over at Kagome, and his glare turned deadly. "You bitch, you did this, didn't you? You talked to him and got him to do this to me! I'll never forgive you for that!"

For an instant it looked like he would lunge for Kagome, but Inuyasha quickly leapt over the railing and in front of Kagome, his arms spread out as though to create a barrier. "Touch her, you bastard, and you'll know the meaning of pain."

His voice was a deadly whisper, and Ted Wilkins stopped in his tracks, obviously remembering the beating from that night when he had threatened Kagome with a gun. By then the security guards were grabbing hold of his arms anyway.

"You bitch! I'll kill you if I have the chance, I swear!" he screamed. "This is all your fault!"

Kagome flinched every time he opened his mouth, trying to let his threats bounce off of her like flimsy rubber. But it was hard, and that part of her that still remembered what he had already done wanted to sink down to her chair in shame.

"Shut up, you bastard!" Inuyasha yelled back, and Kagome saw his form standing in front of her, reminding her she was safe.

"I will have order in this courtroom!" The judge called over everyone as they talked loudly, watching the fight with interest. But no one seemed to hear him.

"I'll kill her, and you too!" Ted Wilkins continued to wail, as though he lost his mind, pointing at Mr. Cromwell. "I'll kill all of you! You stupid bitches, and you bastard of a lawyer! I paid good money for you!"

"Sit down, Mr. Wilkins," the judge commanded again, but was, again, ignored.

"What did she do to make you do this, huh?" Ted Wilkins really sounded crazy now. "What did she do? Did she offer you some favors? I'll bet that's it. She gave you a little taste of what I got that night!"

And that's when it happened. Ted Wilkins was on the floor in only two seconds, a seething Inuyasha standing over him, Kouga at his side. The security guards stepped back in shock at the speed in which both men had attacked. No one had seen it coming.

"I said shut up, you fucking bastard," Inuyasha hissed, and Kouga, to accent the point, kicked the moaning body on the ground.

"Don't you ever threaten Kagome again," the wolf man growled, picking Ted Wilkins up by the collar and holding him in the air.

Seeing that Ted Wilkins was about to be turned into a punching bag, Kagome scrambled into the situation to prevent an all out disaster. "Kouga-kun, stop! Don't, you'll get in big trouble if you beat him up here!"

As always, her voice calmed him down, and Kouga dropped the man in his hands casually before turning around and lowering his head, slightly embarrassed for doing something wrong. "Forgive me, Kagome, I don't know what came over me."

Kagome smiled and threw her arms around his neck. "You were just protecting me, like you and Inuyasha always do. How could I be mad? I just don't want to see you get hurt."

He took a deep breath, inhaling her scent, and laughed. "That weak bastard couldn't lay a hand on me."

A low growl emanated from behind them, and Kagome blushed, realizing how this must look to Inuyasha.

"Get your hands off my mate, wolf breath," the hanyou hissed, and Kouga pulled back, but kept his hand around her waist.

"She hugged me, dog-turd, so just back off."

"She did not hug you, she was probably going for me!" Inuyasha yelled, lunging for the wolf demon, but Kouga sidestepped, laughing.

"You still don't get it, do you? You can't beat me!"

"Shut up, bastard!"

"Dog-turd!"

They faced off, and what a moment before had been two men united with the purpose of hurting Ted Wilkins were now rivals once more, squaring off, of all places, in a courtroom.

"Kouga stop!" Ayame commanded, running to her mate and pulling at his arm, but he ignored her, charging Inuyasha.

"SIT!"

The poor hanyou was sent crashing to the hardwood floor, leaving a hideous imprint, and Kouga, unable to stop himself, went barreling over the fallen Inuyasha, sliding on his rear until ramming into one of the benches.

If ever there had been a moment in her life when Kagome wanted to sink into the floor, now was the time. Everyone in the courtroom, including the judge, was staring with wide eyes at everything that had taken place. What had been a peaceful, professional scene only moments before had turned into an absolute circus. And Kagome, as always, would have to fabricate a few stories to explain everything.

"Um," she laughed, trying to sound casual, "I guess I'm just popular with the guys."

Ms. White raised an eyebrow, obviously wanting an explanation as much as anyone else, when, as the icing on the ultimate cake, a loud, bellowing laughter filled the silence, and everyone turned to stare at, who would have thought, Sesshoumaru.

"You're all fools," he said casually, still laughing, and Inuyasha growled from where he was still plastered to the floor.

Kagome, in a last ditch effort, turned to the judge, who was still looking as shocked as everyone else. "Um, judge, your honor sir? Would it be wrong of me to ask that you not punish them for acting that way? They were just trying to protect me, um, sir."

It was probably the lamest thing she had ever said, but Kagome was at a loss for what to do. Her fiancé and former suitor had just not only hit Ted Wilkins, but then turned on each other for an all out brawl. What else was there to say?

The judge, looking more exhausted then ever, just sighed and put his head in his hands. "This trial has certainly pushed me to my limits. I don't care, just don't let it happen again."

Kagome smiled in thanks and turned back to Inuyasha and Kouga, who were both just now clambering to their feet. They winced at the look of death in her eyes that said she would be talking to them later.

And then, as though fate wanted to hurry up and be done with everything, the jury reentered the room, to which Ms. White looked very surprised. "That was quick."

Everyone took their seats again, even Ted Wilkins, though he was being held in his chair by four security guards. An envelope was passed to the judge, and he opened it, read the contents inside, and closed it once more, handing it back over to the jury.

"Would the defense please rise?" Ted Wilkins stood, still surrounded by guards, as did Mr. Cromwell, who stared intently at his briefcase. "Has the jury reached a verdict?" he asked, and an elderly woman stood up.

"We have, your honor."

"And what say you?"

"On the charge and specifications of rape, we find the defendant, Ted Wilkins, guilty"

The words rang through her head like church bells, and Kagome sat for an instant in silence, letting it sink in. It was over. She had won.

Then the courtroom erupted into chatter, and Kagome found herself being lifted out of her seat and into the arms of an ecstatic Inuyasha, who kissed her passionately before setting her down. She slapped his arm playfully.

"You're still in trouble," she commented, and she could almost see his ears drooping beneath the hat.

"Kagome-chan, I'm so happy for you!" Sango called excitedly, and all her friends jumped over the fence to give her hugs. Kagome felt like she was floating on cloud nine.

"Congratulations," a female voice said, breaking the string of laughter, and everyone turned to see Ms. White standing there with a huge grin on her face. Kagome beamed, and practically knocked the woman to the ground with her huge bear hug.

"Thank you," she whispered, feeling tears in her eyes as she pulled back. "I never could have done any of this without you."

Ms. White looked like she could almost cry as well, and the two women just stared at each other.

"I hope we can still be friends?" she finally said, and Kagome beamed.

"Of course, after all you're coming to my wedding." She turned to Sesshoumaru. "And he's one of the groomsmen, in case you were interested."

Ms. White blushed, as did the stoic demon lord, and Kagome shook her head and laughed, turning back to her friends. This was a day, to be sure, that she would always remember.