Love beyond the Western Lands

Chapter 21: Wedding Day!

Kikyou awoke from her futon. She looked next to her: Sesshoumaru, sleeping peacefully. She got up and looked for Riko. "Riko?" Kikyou said when she saw Riko in the fabric room, weaving a beautiful wedding kimono. "Kikyou!" Riko said cheerfully. "Good morning! I'm just finishing up your wedding kimono." She pulled off a white cloth off the dummy. A beautiful red and blue kimono with red sakura lined on the bottom. "Well, let's get you dressed!" Riko said. "Huh? All right."

Kikyou took off her sleeping gown while Riko helped her put on a corset. "EEGH!" Kikyou groaned: Riko had pulled on the strings too tight. "Ooh, I'm sorry!" Riko said.

Riko then helped her put on the kimono. After that was makeup. Kikyou masked her face with the white powder while Riko wiped off some around her eyes and put on some red. Red rogue was slicked on her lips. Then, Riko had two waiting ladies to bind up Kikyou's hair.

"Where is the wedding going to be held?" Kikyou asked as she put on sapphire studs. "It will be on the hilltop!" Riko said. "And make sure the snow will not ruin anything." Kikyou smiled. "Of course! It's a wedding after all."

The wedding procession began when all of the youkai of the west were there. Snow fell, but disappeared when it felt the touch of a hand. Rin skipped down the aisle, tossing petals of flowers in the air. Soon, a bowl of rice wine was prepared. Sesshoumaru and Kikyou knelt down. Riko sat diagonally left from Kikyou and a mysterious youkai sat diagonally right of Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru took 3 sips of the rice wine and then wiped the rim with a piece of white tissue paper, which was formally soaked with the oil of sakura petals. Kikyou then took the last 3 sips, finishing the bowl of wine.

Kikyou and Sesshoumaru arose and stood before each other. A houshi (No, it's not Miroku!) said prayers for the couple. "Join hands!" the houshi said. Kikyou and Sesshoumaru held each other's hand, left to right and right to left. A small jug of holy water was poured down their wrists. "You may now kiss the bride," the houshi declared. Fire works exploded in the sky as Kikyou and Sesshoumaru's lips met. After Kikyou and Sesshoumaru's kiss parted, a velvet cushion was held above Jaken's squat head. On the cushion were two rings; A white gold band with a decent-sized sapphire on it with two aquamarines on both sides. Inside the ring was a kanji inscription which said, "Sesshoumaru… Our love to each other will be eternity". The other one was a golden band with kanji signs that said "Forever love to my Miko Kikyou".

Kikyou and Sesshoumaru picked up the rings. Sesshoumaru reached out for Kikyou's hand and slipped the sapphire ring on, shining like fire. Kikyou slid the ring on Sesshoumaru's finger. "I now pronounce you husband and wife!" the houshi cried. Kikyou and Sesshoumaru smiled at each other. Cheering was howled into the air by the youkai.

After the ceremony, light music was played. It was soft enough not to override conversations. A dance floor was paved with ice, but it was not slippery. Tables of food were lined next to a waterfall as well as the grand wedding cake. Kikyou and Sesshoumaru decided to walk around the field for a time of leisure. As Kikyou walked, having brief conversations with some youkai, she saw a group of people who she had never thought of to come: Inuyasha and the tachi! She was so surprised that many thought she was light-headed due to her face.

"Inuyasha…" Kikyou thought. "What are you doing here?" Inuyasha soon caught sight of Kikyou and began to walk towards her at a fast pace. Kikyou began to walk. Soon, she broke into a swift run. She ran to the waterfall and pretended to have a chat with the bartender. Inuyasha caught up to Kikyou. "Kikyou?" Inuyasha said shyly. Kikyou spun around, "surprised". "I-Inuyasha!" Kikyou exclaimed. "What are you doing here!" "Kikyou," Inuyasha said. "I would like to have a talk with you." "All right."

Kikyou and Inuyasha walked down to a hill, over-looking the party area. Inuyasha spun around and grasped Kikyou's shoulders. "Kikyou, I love you!" He began to lean in for a kiss. "Inuyasha," Kikyou said softly, closing her eyes, "you should know that I am married to Sesshoumaru…and that I love him…" Inuyasha leaned back and slowly relinquished (I think this means, like, loosened or let go…) his grip from Kikyou.

Inuyasha raised his head, eyes filled with sadness. "Kikyou…" he began softly. "I'm sorry… I can never make you love me, can't I?" "Wha…" Kikyou began. "It's fine," Inuyasha said. "C'mon, let's get back to the party… Sesshoumaru must be looking for you." Inuyasha headed back. Kikyou stood there for a moment. "He looked really sad," Kikyou thought. "Well, he should choose Kagome instead… she suits him very well." Kikyou began to return to the party area and saw Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru talking! She watched them from a distance to make sure they don't fight. After a minute or so, Inuyasha and the gang decided to leave.

Shippou wolfed down another slice of cake as they walked down the road. "That was one good party!" he said out loud. The others were so busy munching on their treats they didn't even hear him. Inuyasha was still lagging behind. Suddenly, a frozen ice treat was set in front of his eyes. He looked to the left. Kagome was offering him one. He smiled and accepted it. "Sometimes…" Inuyasha thought. "…when the world is dark, I feel so alone and isolated… but when Kagome is near, she always seems to lighten your mood…"

The end… for now…