A/N: :Ducks angry readers: Ok, I'm SORRY! I'll never pull off such a stunt again! I solemnly swear to update soon! Well, this is kinda my last chapter...

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Chapter 24: Wedding

"Where's Kagome?" asked Kaede, running a comb through Sango's hair. "The ceremony starts in a few hours!"

"It's ok," Sango said, looking unconcerned. "I can get dressed myself. She needs breaks, too."

"But it's so unlike Kagome to be late."

Sango rolled her eyes. "Seeing as she disappeared after 'bringing Sesshoumaru dinner' last night, it is doubtful she'll be back, especially so early, when it's only sunrise."

"Tradition says you should've been up before dawn. I was nice, and let you sleep late," Kaede snorted.

"And I bet Miroku isn't even up yet," grumbled Sango. "Can you imagine? He's not even concerned.

"Of course he is. But he's not required to wake up early."

"That's so unfair – Oww… can you go easy on my hair? It's my wedding day, not the day I shave my head and become a nun."

"Sorry," Kaede said somewhat sheepishly, working her way through a knot.

A silence fell on them. Sango broke it.

"I'm nervous," she confessed.

The older woman smiled knowingly. "Who wouldn't be?"

Nothing felt better than waking up in the arms of someone who loved you. Except maybe, waking up in the arms of that someone while the sun bathed your skin in a warm light and the birds sang wake-up calls to you.

And thank god for those arms. Kagome, as she did always, rolled to her side, be it rolling off her bed onto the floor at home, or off a futon onto sweet-smelling tatami mats. If she'd rolled off today, she would've fallen off the top of a very, very high tree.

But instead, those arms pulled her closer.

"Remind me how we got up here," Kagome said.

"There's dew in the mornings – I hate getting soaked."

"I always wanted to sleep in a tree," grinned Kagome. She reached out for a leafy branch above her head, and noticed her silk-covered arms.

"It gets cold," Sesshoumaru explained. "I couldn't put your clothes on you."

She let out a giggle, tugging his outer kimono top tighter around herself.

"You can't do zippers?"

"Zip… pers?"

"Didn't you read the book I asked you to last night?"

"Oh." The foreign clothing sections had been too childish for him to read, in his opinion. He'd skipped the parts…

"Oh my god," Kagome said, remembering.

"What?"

"Sango's getting married today! What time is it?"

"Mid morning."

"Oh, shit…"

"If we don't have it now, the lucky hour will pass," declared Kaede.

"We'll wait for Kagome," Sango said.

The door flew open. "Sorry I'm late," Kagome said, flying in.

"The miko isn't supposed to be late," Kaede said reproachfully, handing her a folded miko's garb. "And what are you doing in Sesshoumaru's haori?"

"We couldn't find my clothes," Kagome explained, taking the clothes from Kaede.

"Your skirt is on the wrong way," Kaede said.

"So what am I supposed to do?"

"Well, technically, you have to perform a series of ceremonies, but I'll do that. You just be there and bring good luck."

"Damned hakama…" Kagome cursed, fighting with the red ties. She finally got the bow in place, after nearly tearing the material.

"Special occasions require special clothing," Kaede said, handing her a heavy silk translucent haori. "That goes over your kimono."

"I swear, I never want to look at silk again," Sango panted, starting to sweat under the layers of red and white silk she wore.

"She refused to put makeup on," Kaede said, casting Sango a dirty look.

"I'd scare the groom off," snorted Sango. "What, paint my face white and make my lips all bloody?"

"Red is the color of new beginnings and fertility," Kaede said. "White symbolizes purity."

"I hate to break it to you, Kaede, but brides aren't always pure," grinned Kagome.

"Look who's talking," Sango said, rolling her eyes.

"Scandalous…" Kaede shook her head.

"Ok, I think we have to start now," Kagome said. "Good luck, Sango."

"Thanks, Kagome." Sango looked helplessly as her kimono. "It's impossible to hug in these things…"

"Sango…" To Kaede's horror, the two moved in together for a hug.

"That's very bad luck to touch the bride before the ceremony," Kaede said, wringing her hands at these young people who knew nothing of tradition or culture.

"This isn't the last time we're seeing each other, you know," Sango said, her voice unnaturally tight.

"I know… Good luck, Sango…"

"I wish you the same…"

"We're late," Kaede said kindly, breaking the silence.

"Of course," whispered Kagome smilingly, turning slightly to hide her tears.

"Finally," snorted Inuyasha.

"What would you know of ceremony and getting ready?" argued Kaede.

"We were beginning to think you weren't coming," Shippou said, eyes wide.

"Of course we were coming," Kagome said.

"Can we just start?" asked Miroku impatiently.

"Why the impatience? You have a lifetime to be impatient," countered Kaede. "Just wait a bit, can't you?"

"Umm… give us two seconds," Miroku said, grabbing Kagome and steering her off, away from the group.

"Yeah?" Kagome asked, glancing over her shoulder at their bewildered-looking friends.

"You have to swear you can't tell anyone…" began Miroku. "Well, you see… Inuyasha and I decided last night to have a last free night alone to ourselves to drink…"

"Like a bachelor's party," nodded Kagome.

"Right. Well, the problem is," Miroku eyed Inuyasha, making sure the hanyou wasn't picking up on the conversation. "Well, this morning, I woke up with a headache."

"Hangover," Kagome said sympathetically.

"I knew you'd understand. Anyways, it wouldn't look good to come all drunk and red, would it? So I took some green tea specially meant for clearing dizzy heads."

"And the problem is…"

"Umm.. the problem is, I took a little too much tea," Miroku said. "And I absolutely couldn't tell Inuyasha; he'd laugh his head off."

"I see…" Kagome said, understanding. "You want me to speed the ceremony up so you can disappear for a few minutes.

"Well… kind of," Miroku said. "I'm a priest – I know how long these weddings can take."

"Fine," sighed Kagome. "I'll help you this once, but you owe me."

"Thank you so much," he said in relief, reaching out to hug her.

"Thank me later, Kaede looks ready to burst from being kept waiting," Kagome said, returning towards the rest.

"Yes?" Sango asked.

"Can we just talk later and start?" Kaede said. "God knows, the lucky hour has passed three hours ago!"

"Well, Sango," Kagome said, "Miroku was wondering… Would it be alright if we conducted the ceremony in a style similar to one of my time?"

"Huh?" Inuyasha looked confused, and glared suspiciously at the priest.

"Umm… I guess…" Sango said. "What do we do?"

"Ok, it's fine then," smiled Kagome. "I'll say a standard speech, short," she added for Miroku's benefit, "and you just say 'I do'. Alright?"

"Ok…" sighed Sango. She could grill Miroku later.

"Great. Now, let's go in," Kagome said, sliding open the doors to the village headman's main reception room.

"Do you, Miroku, take Sango to be your lawful wedded wife; to love and cherish her, in sickness and in health, and wealth and poverty, and to not grope other women, nor be a pervert?"

He looked puzzled. "I do…"

"Ok… Do you, Sango, take Miroku to be your lawful wedded husband; to love and cherish him, to love and cherish him, in sickness and in health, and wealth and poverty, even though he's a pervert, and promise not to hit him with your boomerang too often?"

She looked equally confused. "I do."

"Well, excellent. Miroku, you may kiss the bride."

"What!" exclaimed the couple, flaming red.

"Umm… I guess not," Kagome said nervously. "Well, you may be excused to mingle among the guests, then."

"Thank you very much, Kagome," Miroku said, grabbing Sango and pushing her towards a group of villagers full of congratulations. Soon, Kagome lost sight of him in the crowd.

Kaede was busy holding court with several other elderly villagers, who looked completely scandalized at the lack of tradition. Their tongues flew faster and faster as another corner of the room grew rowdier and rowdier.

Pushing her way through the sea of loud young men, Kagome poked her head through two men to see what the ruckus was about.

"Oi, Inuyasha!" Kagome said in irritation.

"That's the third jar already," one of the men told her admiringly.

"Ha! I bet you can't beat me!" scoffed Inuyasha, wiping his mouth on his sleeve.

"Ka… go… me…" groaned Shippou, his eyes all dazed.

"Hey, little guy," Kagome said, scooping him up affectionately.

"Ka… go… me…"

Kagome held him closer, her eyes narrowing. "Inuyasha, what did you give Shippou?"

"Nothing," Inuyasha said dismissively.

"Well, how come he's so drunk?" asked Kagome sharply.

"He fell in a sake jar," someone said, guffawing.

"I didn't put him there," Inuyasha said quickly.

"Oh, for god's sakes," Kagome sighed. She gave Shippou to one of the younger guys. "Dunk him in cold water, will you? Inuyasha, that's enough drink you've had."

"Keh," Inuyasha said, allowing Kagome to lead him outside. "Those idiots. I could drink way more than just three jars. But what do you expect from weak little human bast-"

"Just breathe," Kagome said, cutting him off, inhaling deeply. "Can't you feel the breeze, washing up on your skin? Isn't it way better than getting stoned in the middle of a crowd of loud peasant boys?"

He stared at her. "Don't be stupid, you'll catch your death of cold. Come inside before you start sneezing."

"I said ten minutes ago to go inside," Inuyasha complained.

"Feel free," snorted Kagome. "I'll enjoy the fresh air, thank you."

"Whatever," said Inuyasha, making no move to go inside.

"Where did Rin go?" wondered Kagome.

"Staying with some of the village children. They're probably busy stuffing themselves on food."

"Like you never did when you were small," Kagome huffed.

"I was never small," Inuyasha said.

"Liar," said Kagome.

"Well, I certainly wasn't weak or anything," said Inuyasha.

"Yes, of course you weren't," Kagome said, her voice laced with amusement.

"Obviously! Do I look like I was ever a weak human baby?"

"I saw for myself," Sesshoumaru said dismissively. "You were two hours old and damned annoying too."

"Where did you come from?" Kagome asked in amazement.

"I thought the villagers wouldn't take too kindly to a youkai in their midst. Anyways, where were we… You were saying how you were never an annoying human brat?"

"Damned right!" shot Inuyasha.

Sesshoumaru looked bored. "Ok, I'm busy minding my own business, studying like the perfect boy. Then dad says to come. So I come. And there's this silver-haired creation on a futon, deafening me with his shrieks. That creation, by the way, dad decided to call Inuyasha."

"Oh, so I supposed you were never weak!" Inuyasha said sarcastically.

"Certainly stronger that you."

"Whatever! Just shut up, already, can you?"

"This is entertainment," Kagome said, wide-eyed.

"Verbal sparring? I merely deign to correct Inuyasha."

"You damned idiot…" Inuyasha said, as it dawned on him. "You have fun arguing!"

"You have my assurance I do not."

"Do too. You love winning the argument."

"On the contrary. I only state the truth, and because it is the truth, I always make my point."

"Score one for Sesshoumaru," Kagome said, refereeing.

"So what about just arguing your opinion? Not the truth? Can you do it, then?" challenged Inuyasha.

"But that would be a fruitless waste of time. No matter how long you argue the sky is red, no matter how long I say the sky is purple, it will always be blue. No matter how much you like apple, no matter how much I like pear, Kagome might like peach and we'd all get nowhere."

"Score two," Kagome said.

"So what if I like apple and you like pear and Kagome likes peach? The fact of the matter is, I like apple, and I'm trying to convince you that it's better than pear."

"That's one for Inuyasha," counted Kagome.

"But in the end, I might still end up liking pear. All that arguing, and I still don't agree with you."

"Score," sighed Kagome.

"But what if I do succeed? And you get swayed to liking apple?"

"Score for Inu," said Kagome, yawning.

"And what if we reach upon an agreement in the course of arguing? Like, both apple and pear are good."

"Inu scores again!"

"Well, that would be called a successful negotiation. With a little diplomacy and tact, both sides will think they are coming off as winners when in reality both have compromised a little of their ideas. For example, I could think I was clever to trick you into accepting pear. But the fact is, you've conned me into accepting apple as well."

"Ok, score again," Kagome said. "Can you both stop now? Honestly, I haven't a clue what you're talking about with apples and pears."

"Oh, nothing special," Inuyasha said quickly.

"I will go find Jaken," announced Sesshoumaru, disappearing quickly.

"I don't think I can survive with both of you acting completely immature around each other," stated Kagome.

"Well, it's fun to argue."

"Right… I wonder what you classify as 'super-fun'."

"That's when we whip our swords out and I blast him far, far away."

Kagome remembered something; "So what are you going to do without Tetsusaiga?"

"I don't know…" Inuyasha looked thoughtful. "I could use my claws, always. Maybe I'll get a new blade made sometime."

"That's an idea," smiled Kagome.

Inuyasha paused for awhile. "Kagome… can I hold you one last time?"

"It would've worked between us, it really would've," Kagome said, feeling Inuyasha's arms around her and reliving the familiar touch.

"I guess…" Inuyasha pulled her tighter.

"Listen… you can always hug me, alright? I'm serious, I don't mind. I only wouldn't recommend you try it around Sesshoumaru."

Inuyasha smiled slightly. "Aren't you both mates? Wouldn't he go ballistic?"

"Well… we're not exactly mates…"

"Excuse me?" demanded Inuyasha releasing her for a second to look her in the eye. "You slept with him, and he won't take responsibility? I knew he was a useless goddamned mother-"

"It's not like that… I just don't think I'm old enough yet. But maybe sometime we will."

"Uh huh…"

"Well, I guess I'm free for hugging if I'm not actually his mate," Kagome said. "But you do know -"

"Yeah. You'll still love him unconditionally."

"Well, that. But also… Inuyasha, you're like my best guy friend. Think about it. I'll admit, it's a weird situation to be in, being Sesshoumaru's brother and all… The thing is, best friends are always there for each other."

The corners of his mouth turned upwards slowly. With a start, Kagome realized it was the first time she'd seen him smile. Sure, Inuyasha laughed before chopping up various demons, and his eyes would soften… But in every aspect he was more alike to Sesshoumaru than she'd realize.

"You promise?"

"Of course. And we'll find Shikon shards, and then Sango and Miroku will get little children we can spoil, then we'll kill Naraku, settle down…"

"I've got nowhere to go," Inuyasha said quietly. "After my mother's death I wandered around with little purpose, until I heard about the Shikon no Tama. And then you know the rest of the story."

"You can stay with Sesshoumaru," Kagome said. "You are brothers, you know."

"No way!" Inuyasha said loudly.

"It's not like I was going to invite you, anyways," Sesshoumaru said mildly.

"Must you keep appearing without telling us?" Kagome asked.

"Keh! I wasn't going to stay!"

"Pity… Kagome seems to have invited you…"

And then Kagome looked at them both, one her past crush, another her lover, and started to smile. There was hope for both brothers to reunite. There was hope for new beginnings with Sango and Miroku, so oddly paired yet so perfect together. There was hope that with everyone's strengthening friendships, Naraku could be defeated…

And there was hope in every smile they shared. Hope that no matter what, they could relive the good old times, cherish the present and, together, carry on discovering the unknown.

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A/N:

Well, a note about why kissing was not openly done by any of the Inuyasha cast…

In feudal Japan, and probably sometimes now too, kissing was considered an extremely erotic and private bedroom act, certainly not one to be publicly displayed. Even behind the privacy of closed doors, couples rarely did more than brush lips together.

I made an exception for Sesshoumaru and Kagome. After all, he is a youkai, and she is from the modern era. ;)

Well, that's that. The last chapter. Maybe I'll do an epilogue…