Another's Name, But My Heart
By Lady of the Ink
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, but you knew that. I hope. But I do own this plot and all the twists that it takes.

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Chapter Three

Going to the Chapel

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Kagome didn't even flinch when another carelessly wielded pin pricked her shoulder. After hours of standing so seamstresses could alter Kikyo's dresses to her measurements, more than just her legs had gone numb. She felt as though she existed in a thick cloud of cotton. Everything around her was hazy and seemed to move in slow motion.

It had been this way since she had been forced to concede defeat to Kikyo's scheme. She just couldn't allow her family to suffer at the hands of the self-centered girl. Although she was frightened, she knew this was a sacrifice she was willing to make. She could only hope that everything would turn out all right in the end.

"That's enough for now. You have the sizes; you can finish the rest on your own." With that straightforward sentence from Kaede, the women gathered their things and scurried from the room. Kagome simply allowed her leg to fold under her, sinking to the floor. She didn't feel like she had enough energy to keep her head up, let alone cross the room to find a more comfortable seat.

"Are you well?"

At the gentle question, Kagome felt a giggle rise in her throat. It broke free, turning into a bout of hysterical laughter. Tears dripped from the corners of her eyes as she wrapped her arms around her waist. Though there was nothing funny about her current situation, she couldn't stop the laughter. Soon the laughs became sobs, and she had to fight for the breath to answer.

"No. No, I'm not."

There was a sigh, as if the older woman knew what she was going through and sympathized with her. Kagome honestly believed that Kikyo's aunt would help her if she could. But she had spoken the truth when she told of how little power she had against Kikyo's orders.

Maybe it was because of the will to help that she sensed that Kagome had come to almost trust Kaede. Though Kikyo had refused to allow her soon to be replacement to leave the castle, Kaede had seen to it that a letter Kagome wrote was delivered to her family. Not wanting to tell the truth and have them worry, she had phrased it carefully. She mentioned a new job that required her presence at all times, that would pay quite well when it ended in a few months. Kaede had also agreed to see that a small stipend would be delivered to the Higurashi family each week. Kagome hoped it would be enough to help them get by while she was gone.

A warm hand settling her shoulder caused Kagome to look up. Her visible eye showing compassion, Kaede urged her to her feet. "You should go to your room and rest. I'll have dinner brought to you, and then you should sleep. Tomorrow is a big day."

Blindly wandering towards her room, Kagome mentally snorted. Of course she should rest up for tomorrow. After all, it was her wedding day.

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Inuyasha glowered futilely at the castle that rose in the distance. It was almost finished; come this time tomorrow, the castle and all its lands would belong to his family.

"And all I had to do to get it was completely ruin my life," he thought. Shaking his head at himself, he turned away from the sight. As he made his way through the army of demons that had fought by his side for the past several days, he tried to figure out how he'd gotten himself into this mess.

He'd been all for the attack; in fact, it had been his idea. The lands weren't as vast as the ones his family already held, but they were prosperous. There was but a single ruler, and no army to speak of. All in all, he'd thought it would be over in less than a day.

Then his father had gotten involved.

"You can't just slaughter the whole town."

Inuyasha had rolled his eyes. "Of course not. I need the people to work the land. Only those who foolishly oppose me will die."

His father sighed. "That's exactly what I'm talking about. You know as well as I do that demons and humans do not get along well. If you just massacre the people, others will come to try and fight your claim. When they are defeated, still more will come. Though you will hold the land, you will never be at peace."

"What other way is there to do things? Should I just ask them to give up?" He scoffed, showing clearly that he didn't expect even the weak humans to go along with that one.

"It would be a place to start."

"Wha- what!?"

"You don't always have to jump to the most violent means to get what you want. Try a little diplomacy. Send messages, lie out your demands. Give them options. They may not like you, but once they come under your rule, their knowing you were willing to settle things peacefully may make a lot of difference. A little understanding can make things run much more smoothly down the line. Think ahead, and you'll see that I'm right."

Well, he had listened to his father, and look where it got him. Engaged to marry some little twit of a human girl who couldn't even make up her mind. First, she'd been strongly opposed. She'd sent soldiers, or what he assumed were supposed to be soldiers, out to attack the small group of demons he'd brought with him. Of course, they had been easily defeated.

For almost a week afterward, more men came each day, and each time he sent them off with their tails between their legs. But he didn't lose his temper. The town was still standing, no one had actually died by his hands or those of his men, and they'd never gone past the invisible line he'd drawn the day he'd arrived. And still she had resisted.

Now, without warning, she was agreeing to his terms. She'd marry him, so long as it happened soon. Within the next two days. After that, the castle and its lands would be his, no questions asked.

He still thought his original plan would have been simpler. Now he'd be saddled with a human wife for the rest of her life. Not that that was such a long time to him, but still. What did he want with any wife, especially a human one? She'd probably cry and beg, and do everything she could to make him regret coming.

Like he didn't already.

Sighing heavily, he pushed his thoughts aside. There was nothing that could be done about it now. Come morning, he and a small group of his best fighters would head to the castle. Once the wedding was over and done with, the rest of the army would arrive inside, and stay until the change of rule was accepted.

Finding a deserted spot where he could be alone, Inuyasha dropped to the ground to savor his last night of freedom.

The church bells had been ringing steadily for the last half hour, calling everyone within the range of their sound to the church. A continuous stream of curious people had come and taken their seats, wondering what was going on. Time passed and the last few stragglers arrived, and still there was nothing.

Just as the people were getting anxious, a door at the front of the church creaked open. Stepping inside was a young man. His dark hair was drawn back in a ponytail at the nape of his neck. He wore the black robes of the priesthood with a deep purple sash around his neck. In one hand, he carried a thick book.

When he noticed the questioning faces, he gifted the crowd with a small, bland smile. Nodding once, he then moved to stand at the end of the aisle running the length of the church. Training his eyes on the doorway at the other end, he folded his hands and waited.

Inuyasha watched all of this from his position a few dozen paces from the church. Even though he was hardly looking forward to the coming event, he was rather pleased at how everything was going. Since his arrival that morning, he had been plagued by setback after setback.

First, his soon-to-be bride had refused to see him, sending word that she would meet him at the church for the ceremony, and not a moment sooner. That had made him angry, but it was an anger that quickly passed as he reasoned that she was as uncertain about this marriage as he was. Deciding that he could allow her the time she sought, he left the castle, feeling generous.

That had lasted until he was informed that there was no member of the clergy currently in residence there. The last priest had been quite old, and hadn't made it through the rough winter. A new one had yet to be appointed. Sending out his fastest men, Inuyasha had told them to find the closest person able to perform a wedding, and bring them back by whatever means necessary. Luckily for him, there had been a traveling cleric not far away who was most willing to return with them.

In an act that was more for his benefit than the villagers, Inuyasha had ordered the bells to be rung for the hour prior to the nuptials. It wasn't because he thought they would enjoy it; it was more a matter of having witnesses who would help cement the validity of his claim. They would see for themselves that he was to become their new lord, and that it was all done in a way that couldn't be disputed.

His sensitive ears heard a sound from behind, and he turned. A small line of women was making their way towards the church. The group was bunched around one woman in particular. Assuming that this was the Lady Kikyo, Inuyasha smirked to himself and entered the church.

He had given no thought to his attire that morning, and wore the same red firerat's fur robe he always did, with his sword at his side in easy reach. It was only when the stifled gasps of the crowd hit him that he realized what he must look like to them. From what his intelligence had gathered, no demon had even set foot in this area for decades. It was no surprise that the people were frightened.

Knowing that there was nothing he could say that would calm them, he merely continued on his way. He did his best to ignore the mothers who pulled their children into their arms and everyone who inched away from the aisle as he headed up it.

"You're the priest?" he asked in a clear voice, making sure that it carried through the room. The holy man nodded, apparently unaffected by the demon status of his questioner. "You have everything you need?" Another nod. "Good. I want to get this over with as quickly as possible."

He strode back the way he had come, only to return seconds later accompanied by four demon men. Two remained at the rear entrance, flanking it. The other two followed him to the front of the church. As Inuyasha turned, he again noticed the frightened expressions on the crowd's faces. Smiling grimly, he whispered a warning to be on guard to one of his men before assuming a stance similar to the priest's.

If the villagers were wondering what was going on, all questions were answered with the next arrival. An older woman with an eye patch scurried down the aisle, taking one of the few empty seats at the front. A young woman in a flowing green gown soon followed her. The girl wore a veil over her face, hiding her expression, but it was still very clear that she was frightened. The small bouquet of flowers clutched in her hands trembled and her steps were dragging as she slowly made her way to the front of the church.

Not wanting to waste any more time, Inuyasha motioned to the priest to begin. As the man recited the usual human vows, Inuyasha stole a quick glance at the girl by his side. There wasn't much visible through the veil, so he didn't even bother with her face. A long tendril of black hair was draped over her shoulder, catching some of the light from the room. She was taller than he had expected, since the top of her head reached about to his nose. Other than that, all that he could tell was that she was on the young side, and that she was very nervous.

Shaking off any feelings of regret, Inuyasha obediently repeated the lines in the right place. When it came to Kikyo's turn, she had to be prompted several times before she began. Even then, her voice was a weak thread of sound, trembling with each word.

But soon enough the act was done, and Inuyasha stood beside his new bride. Smirking a bit, he turned to face her just in time to watch as her knees folded beneath her. Only his quick reflexes kept her from landing on the floor as she collapsed in a dead faint.