Notes:
Sailor-Knight Shadowstar: Yeah, I got that information from a friend about six hours before I read your review. Funny coincidence, huh? I may go back and make some alterations to the story later…
VTlarry: SHH! You're going to give away the ending without realizing it! Hee hee
I dedicate this and the next chapter to my parents since I used some events from their own wedding to create Inuyasha and Kagome's. Their twenty-seventh anniversary is this coming Monday, too.
My source for Japanese wedding ceremonies:
http: // www . e-lopers.com / marriage-shinto . htm
There were others, but I couldn't find them when I wrote this author's note. I'll add them in later if I do.
Chapter Fourteen
BANG, BANG, BANG!
"I said five more minutes, Mama," Kagome sleepily shouted, her eyes closed against the sunlight streaming through the window as she pulled the covers over her head. Odd, since her window was beside her bed she never had the sun streaming directly on her face.
So why was it in her eyes now?
She shot up into a sitting position, wide awake. That's right. She wasn't home.
"Kagome-chan, I'm coming in whether you like it or not."
The miko barely had enough time to fold her blanket around her chest before Sango burst into the room, followed by two servant women and young Rin. "We've been trying to get you up for an hour, Kagome-chan! No more time for sleeping, we've too much to do."
She wasn't home. And it was her wedding day. Kagome smiled.
Swinging her legs over the edge of the futon and standing up, she stretched her arms high above her head and then wiped the sleepiness from her eyes. "Gomen, minna. I was too excited to sleep last night, I only fell asleep when the sun started rising."
Sango pulled the young woman from beside the futon and pushed her in front of her dressing table. "It's already mid-morning, which means we only have a few hours to get you dressed and to the temple. So no more talking!" Pointing to the drab white bathing kimono on the table before her, Sango started to tug lightly on Kagome's blanket. "Rin-chan is helping Akana-chan and Sadayo-san draw your bath, so change into that and while you're being cleaned I'll lay out your kimono and obi. If we hurry I might have enough time for that talk we never got around to yesterday."
Kagome blushed at the teasing censure in Sango's voice. Yes, she had weasled out of that one, but with good cause. After all, when your fiance comes up behind you at lunch and starts nipping at your neck, it's a little hard to remember your prior engagements.
A light shove toward the bathroom sent Kagome stumbling. "Okay, okay! I'm going!"
Once inside the bathroom, Kagome was hoisted up into the tub, already filled with warm, lavender-scented water. The girls and older woman took turns emptying buckets of water over Kagome's hair before lathering it up with a primitive but enticingly perfumed soap. At first she felt odd sitting there, doing nothing, while these strangers pampered her so completely, but she finally relaxed into their ministrations and began picturing the ceremony.
Sesshoumaru had explained it to her, with the help of Miroku. Most demons didn't go to the effort of elaborate ritual. To the average forest dwelling youkai it was sufficient to mate and impregnate the female to seal their bond. Some youaki, such as the inu, included a bite mark as an outward proof of their connection.
The rules were a little different for demon lords. After all, they had reputations to maintain and examples to set. Their matings were formalized with ceremonies resembling those of their human counterparts, giving those bonds a higher status. The ancient Shinto practices were joined with demon rituals to create what sounded to Kagome like a truly moving ceremony.
"Kagome-sama, Sango-chan is waiting for you," Rin broke her mistress from her reverie, shaking her lightly. Kagome spared the girl a soft smile and stepped out of the bath, allowing Sadayo to wrap her in a warm towel.
Back inside the room, Kagome recognized the deep crimson kimono laid out on her futon as one of Inuyasha's mother's. Fingering the regal dog-shaped embroidery, Kagome wondered if Sesshoumaru had planned for her to wear this gown all along.
"Iyazoi-sama wore this kimono for her own mating ceremony." Sadayo came up behind the young woman, lifting the gown off the futon and preparing to dress Kagome in it. "It was her desire that the young lord's bride wear it on his wedding day." Noticing Kagome's hand lingering on the embroidery, she smiled. "That is the crest of the Inu family, Kagome-sama. It will be yours as well, after tonight."
Kagome slipped out of the towel, making sure to rub off any remaining moisture from her skin before straightening up and allowing Sadayo to drape the kimono over her shoulders. Sango appeared from her closet, carrying the obi she would tie about her waist and helped the old woman straighten the kimono on Kagome's arms.
After several minutes the women stepped back, satisfied that Kagome was properly and neatly dressed. Sango led her friend to the dressing table again so that she could see herself in the mirror. Kagome's breath caught in her throat and tears came to her eyes. The person staring back at her wasn't the same giddy sixteen-year-old who'd gone in for a bath only half an hour before. This glowing apparition was so much more mature. A true woman.
"You look beautiful, Kagome-chan," Sango whispered. She reached down for a brush and began to comb through the tangles in her friend's hair. Kagome continued to stare in silence at her own reflection, almost failing to believe it was herself in the mirror.
A comfortable silence permeated the room as the three servants quietly excused themselves. Sango finished brushing Kagome's hair, setting down the brush again and turning the miko to face her. She took a deep, calming breath and sat down before her.
"About demon mating rituals…"
Kagome blushed. "So it's going to be THAT kind of talk."
Nodding, Sango developed an answering blush. "I don't want to embarrass you, Kagome-chan, but there are some things you should know about, just in case Inuyasha is more youkai than human tonight."
The younger woman felt her stomach clench nervously. Just what was she getting herself into?
"Like?"
"This is Inuyasha's first heat," she began hesitantly. "Youkai normally have an intense first heat, because they are still young when this occurs. The later mating urges -- and these only happen once a year -- are more calm. Eventually they're little more than an itch that wants scratching. This is planned by nature; since even youkai lose some of their stamina with age, there is no need for a demon to continue fathering children after his first few offspring have been birthed."
"What exactly is it that I need to know about Inuyasha's … heat?" Kagome unconsciously leaned forward to take in the demon exterminator's expert advice. Her own mother had barely given her any information about human sexual intercourse. Most of what she knew came from movies and schoolyard gossip, along with overly scientific lectures in sexual education courses in class.
"It can be violent," Sango reluctantly answered, not wanting to scare her friend. "Bear in mind, I am speaking of the practices of full youkai, and in more primal matings. Inuyasha is hanyou, and I'm sure he will take care not to hurt you. Still, he may forget his own strength. You should be careful not to tease him too much. At least not the first time."
"Sango!" Kagome's blush was back in full force.
"I'm just trying to help, Kagome-chan. You're like a sister to me, I don't want to see you get hurt."
Kagome slid from her chair to wrap Sango in a big, warm bear hug. "Arigato, Sango-chan. I think of you as a sister as well." An impish grin spread across the miko's face. "Don't worry. If Inu-chan doesn't behave himself, I can always say the s-word."
At this, Sango laughed. "Yes, I suppose you could," she agreed. Sobering again, she glanced out the window to see the sun sitting high in the sky.
"Are you ready?"
* * * * *
Inuyasha was pacing.
To the left.
"Where is that baka? He was supposed to be here an hour ago!"
Sesshoumaru growled quietly at the hanyou's impatience from his chair.
To the right.
"How hard is it to get a damn tear stitched up?"
"It takes as long as it takes," the inuyoukai answered sedately. If the monk knew what was good for him he'd appear before them right now…
Back to the left.
"I'm going to be late and Kagome will think I've stood her up."
Sesshoumaru quirked an eyebrow. "That volatile, is she?"
And back to the right.
"Keh."
"That's what I thought."
Inuyasha was seconds from strangling his annoyingly calm half-brother when the door to his room opened to admit a panting Miroku. "Gomen, Inuyasha, all the stores were closed again today, I had to track down --"
"Nevermind that, I'm late!" He all but ripped the black kimono from the houshi's hands and stalked off to his dressing room. Moments later, a string of expletives issued from the room, followed by a half-dressed inu-hanyou. "Well? Is someone going to help me with this fucking thing? I swear this would be so much easier if I could wear my own clothes…"
Sesshoumaru motioned for a servant boy to attend to his brother. "If you would learn patience, Inuyasha, these kinds of situations wouldn't occur."
Inuyasha growled in response, but allowed the servant boy to settle the black silk over his body and make the appropriate ties.
"Well?"
Miroku waited for the boy to step away before giving his comrade an appraising stare. "Kagome-sama will be pleased," he answered.
Inuyasha puffed up in pride, a smug grin spreading over his face. "Damn well better be pleased. I'm only agreeing to this for her."
The houshi rolled his eyes at the blatant lie. He knew Inuyasha wanted this ceremony every bit as much as Kagome did, even if his masculine pride made him hide it.
"Enough of this," Sesshoumaru announced standing from his chair. "We must leave now if we are to arrive at the temple before your wench, Inuyasha."
Nodding curtly, Inuyasha tossed a warning look at Miroku. "Hey, Bouzu! Keep your hands to yourself at the reception. I don't want my mate running off to console Sango all night."
"You hurt me with your distrust," Miroku replied with a wounded sigh. "I am perfectly capable of behaving myself."
"Keh!" Reaching the door, Inuyasha waited for Sesshoumaru to catch up. "Let's go, I'm ready."
* * * * *
Even with their superior speed Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru made it to the jinja just before Kagome did, escorted by Sango and Shippou.
Kagome's face broke out into a wide grin when she saw Inuyasha in his formal black kimono, tied back silver hair, and --
Shoes! He was actually wearing geta!
Inuyasha, on the other hand, was just stunned. She was wearing his mother's kimono, and looking every bit as lovely as she ever had. The red and white combination had always looked good on her, but this… this was just … he had no words.
Sango bowed to Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha before giving Kagome one last hug. "When I see you next you'll be a married woman," she tearfully noted. She took Shippou from her shoulders to hug him in her arms and turned away, walking back toward the castle. There were reception preparations to be made.
Inuyasha and Kagome entered the jinja, followed by Sesshoumaru. Each took their turn washing their hands in the holy water, cleansing themselves for the ritual. A shrine miko directed Kagome to her seat in the center of the room while another set Inuyasha opposite her. Sesshoumaru found himself a place in the back, slumping into the darkness with fatigue.
Kagome jumped a bit at the sudden beating of the taiko as the priest summoned the spirit witnesses into the jinja. She reached out with her miko powers, eager to know if the ceremony rituals were just for show or if indeed spirits of good and evil swam about them. She could only feel them faintly, and this alarmed her. A small movement beside the priest caught her attention. The miko was staring at her with a sad but knowing expression.
She was going to lose her miko powers tonight.
The young woman hadn't considered this but indeed, miko were shrine MAIDENS. After tonight, she'd be married to a hanyou. Already she felt as though a thick fog were wrapping around her senses. She snuck a quick glance at Inuyasha who was sitting, head bowed, in solemn silence. His eyes were closed and peaceful. Did he know?
The drumming had ceased, prompting Kagome to lower her head and mimic Inuyasha's own supplicant pose. She heard the priest walk about the room, chanting and waving wards to banish the evil spirits who'd made their way into the room. She had to stifle a giggle when Sesshoumaru growled quietly. Through the dense fog Kagome was relieved she could sense faint evil leaving the room, leaving only benign spirits surrounding them in an aura of warmth and love.
Silence fell again and the priest began making his food offerings to the gods, asking for their blessing on the marriage. Kagome felt the acceptance in the room and sent a silent arigato to the spirits who would hear her.
Bidding them to stand, the priest motioned for his miko to come to him. He filled a small sake bowl with the rice wine and sent the girl to Inuyasha. Kagome recognized this as the san-san-kudo, or the three-three-nine ritual. It was a harmless enough procedure in human weddings, but she wasn't being married to a human. The demon additions to this particular sacrament had been unnerving Kagome since they were first described to her.
Sesshoumaru joined the miko, taking a blade from the priestess and offering it to Inuyasha. He made a small cut into his left forearm, then turned it to the bowl and allowed three drops of blood to fall. Straightening, he took the cup and sipped from it in three distinct motions before returning the cup to the miko. Kagome felt her pulse increase when Sesshoumaru and the miko came to stand before her, offering the cup to her. She took her three sips, amazed she could taste the tang of Inuyasha's blood through the pungent aroma of sake.
As the miko returned the bowl to the ceremonial table and retrieved the next one, Sesshoumaru held out the dagger to Kagome, giving her an almost sympathetic look. She steeled her nerves and made the necessary cut into her own forearm, careful not to hit too deep into a major artery. When she'd completed the cut, she let three small drops fall from her own arm into the new bowl presented before the miko brought the mixture to Inuyasha for his three sips. She returned it to Kagome, and the young woman copied her hanyou's actions.
It was time for the third and final sake bowl. This bowl remained free of blood and was again brought to Inuyasha for the first turn. In the same tranquil formality he'd displayed with the first two he finished his portion of the rite, coming to gaze at Kagome as the priestess brought the bowl to her. He watched Kagome take the last three sips and felt a piece of his heart he hadn't known was missing snap into place.
Kagome was thoroughly relieved. Already her small wrist wound was clotting and the intensity of the moment had dulled the pain of cutting herself to almost nothing.
The priest asked kami-sama to allow his young worshippers to approach the altar, motioning to the pair when he'd finished. They came to stand side-by-side for the first time since entering the shrine and began reading their vows from the sacred scroll. Kagome stumbled a bit over the ancient text, but managed to speak each word clearly with some gentle assistance from Inuyasha.
Having completed the vows Kagome and Inuyasha were returned to their seats, now permitted by the gods to sit together. The priest took up his chanting again, giving them the final blessings on their marriage as his miko supplied the pair and Sesshoumaru with cups of sake. They drank together to the health of the marriage.
Only one thing left to do, and it too frightened Kagome. The marking.
The priest and miko took positions on the far end of the jinja. This was a strictly demon ritual and had no place for them. Inuyasha gave his bride a soft smile, seeking to calm her racing pulse. The look had the opposite effect, sending Kagome's heart pounding. He gently swiped her hair away from her neck, baring it to his view and leaned in to bite down on the pulse there. Kagome kept her eyes open, feeling awkward at experiencing such intimate sensations in such a holy place. Inuyasha hovered over the new wound, discreetly lapping up the blood that issued forth to help her relax.
He leaned back again, replacing the hair and covering the mark before sending her one last reassuring smile.
The ceremony was complete.
Without breaking the serenity in the jinja, Inuyasha and Kagome rose and bowed again to the altar before them. Sesshoumaru left the room first, making an offering to the gods in the name of their family. Kagome and Inuyasha followed, Inuyasha taking Kagome's hand and squeezing it as they reached the doorway. With one final deep breath, they emerged into the sunlight outside the temple.