Chapter 8: Birthday Day
Kagome awoke as the sun intruded into her dreamworld. She sat up to see a sleeping Inuyasha next to her, holding her close.
"EEK!" she squealed as she jumped and stood on the bed.
Inuyasha was reluctantly pulled out of his sleep and looked groggily at the schueling Kagome. "What the Hell are you doing?" he asked grumpily. Then, as if a thought had just fallen on him, his smiled ather and pulled her down into his lap. "Happy Birthday Kagome." he whispered into her ear.
She giggled as he did so. "Thank you." she said, seemingly triumphant.
"Here. Lay down. Don't come out. I've got everything planned out ok? Don't move. I'll be back in a moment." With that Inuyasha walked out of the room, closing the door and leaving a confused Kagome sitting on the bed.
'What is he up to?' she thought. She heard him banging around with pots and pans in the kitchen. Later she could smell food. It smelled good, surprisingly. 'I didn't know Inuyasha could cook.' she thought.
He later walked in with food set up beautifully on a tray, along with a single white rose. "Happy birthday Kagome." he said, smiling proudly at his accomplishment. He set the tray down across her knees and sat at the end of her bed. "Go on. Dig in." he said.
Kagome smiled sweetly and picked up her fork and began eating. "Oh Inuyasha this is really good!" she said surprisedly. "Do you want some?" she asked, holding a fork full of food out to him.
"No. That's your food. I made it for you. So eat up 'cuz when you finish I wnat to give you my presents." he said smiling.
Kagome nearly dropped her food into her lap. "Presents?As in plural? Inuyasha I didn't want you to go..."
"No Kagome. I wanted to and...you deserve it. You deserve more, but I couldn't afford more." he said, smiling.
She gave him a guilty but sweet smile and continued eating.
After she'd cleaned her plate, Inuyasha took it and then went to the back of her closet, pulling out two wrapped gifts. He handed the first to Kagome.
She opened it, and a confused smile came across her face.
After laughing a moment at her cuteness, Inuyasha said, "That's a piece of bark from the Sacred Tree, from the spot where I was pinned. So, now, when you look at it you can remember our first day of meeting, and the day you freed me from all my traps and prisons."
Kagome smiled and gently kissed Inuyasha. "Thank you. I love it." she said.
"You love me. Of course you love it!" Inuyasha siad sarcastically.
Kagome smiled and stuck her tongue out at the hanyou boy sitting in front of her as she recieved her second gift. She opened it to reveal a silver, chain linked bracelett with a silver heart with an arrow going through it as an attachment. "It's beautiful." Kagome said as she fingered the silver.
"The arrow is yours. It represents how many times you've saved my heart as well as me."
Kagome looked at him with tears in her eyes, and a sad sweet smile. "Kagome what is it? Did I do something wrong? You hate the..."
"No Inuyasha. The gifts are perfect. I'm not crying because I'm sad. I love you so much. Thank you. No one's ever done all this for me for my birthday, or any day for that matter." she said as she shivered remembering birthdays from when she was younger.
FLASHBACK
"Happy birthday honey." she heard her mom whisper into her sleeping ear.
It was Kagome's 3rd birthday and she was very excited. "Thank you mom." she said, giving her mom a big, sleepy smile.
"Come downstairs. We have presents and a cake waiting for you." her mom said gently as she pulled her young daughter out of her bed and downstairs to reveal balloons and her grampa sitting next to a beautiful pink cake and four presents. She smiled and ran over to wake her grandfather.
After opening all of her presents he rmother began to cut the cake. She heard her front door slam closed and heavy footseps making their way towards the kitchen. Fear broke onto her mother's face as she quickly put away the knife and walked into the front room of the house.
Kagome could hear yelling and it was coming closer. She then heard the yelling stop momentarily and heard her mother's body being pushed hard against the hallway wall and her mother shriek. She heard some bad words and then her father came storming into the kitchen.
Her mother and father were still arguing and pushing each other. "Do not do this on her birthday! I'm begging you!" her mother screamed in desparation as she pointed to Kagome.
"Fuck birthdays! I don't give a damn!" he screamed back, shoving Kagome's cake off of the counter to his the floor and crumble.
Kagome looked with tears in her eyes at her ruined cake. 'I didn't even get to eat any.' she thought as her tears slowly began to fall.
"Stop crying you little brat! Stop CRYING! Babies cry! Are you a baby? Grow up!" her father said and he gripped her arms tightly, causing her to wince in pain and only cry harder. "Stop CRYING!" he screamed as he threw her to the ground hard.
"Stop it! It's her birthday! Leave her alone!" her mother screamed as she stood protectively in front of her young daughter.
"You want me to leave her alone? Fine." he said as he looked evilly at her mother.
"No. Don't please. Not now. Please!" she screamed before he took her by the arm and yanked her out of the room.
Kagome could hear them. Her mother's screams of pain as her father abused her in every way possible. He raped her.
END FLASHBACK
Kagome shuddered and a lone tear of sadness fell.
Inuyasha sensed her sadness and fear and put a comforting hand on hers and looked into her eyes. 'I can smell her fear. What is she thinking about that's got her so worked up on such a happy day?' he thought. "Kagome?"
"Hmm?" she said sweetly as if nothing was wrong.
"Are...you alright?" he asked, concern filling his features as he took her hand into his.
Kagome nodded and smiled sweetly and fakely. "Yes Inuyasha. I'm fine. Don't worry. Nothing could spoil this day now." she said, trailing off at the last word.
Inuyasha gave a weak and uncertain smile and then said, "Kagome, I have one last present for you, ok?"
"Oh Inuyasha. I don't need all this." she said.
Inuyasha turned her body so that she was sitting on the side of the bed. He moved in front of her, knealing on his right knee and holding her left hand in his. He smiled as he could feel Kagome's breath pattern and heartrate change. She knew.
'Oh my God!' she thought.
"Kagome...I love you so much." he said.
'Oh my God!'
"We're mates and I know we haven't got everything that you've ever dreamed of, and to be a mate you don't need to do everything your time does but...I want to make your dreams come true. So...Kagome..."
'Oh my God!'
"Will you..."
'Oh my GOD!'
"...be my wife?"
A large smile came to Kagome's faceand she began to nod her head. "Yes Inuyasha! Of course! But...you don't have to do this. Why.."
"Because I love you and this is what you said you've always wanted. I love you." he said as he slipped the small ring onto Kagome's fragile left ring finger. It fit perfectly.
Kagome threw herself onto Inuyasha, causing him to fall over at her sudden weight. "I love you too Inuyasha! So much!" she said as tears of joy began to fall from her chocolate, sparkling brown eyes. "Thank you for doing this. You don't know how much it means to me." she whispered.
Inuyasha just smiled up at Kagome. It seemed as if a wave of energy passed between the two and they both knew what was going to happen next. Inuyasha picked Kagome up bridal style and gently sat her on the bed as his body followed ontop of hers. "I love you Kagome." he said before sweetly and lovingly kissing her lips.
Kagome smiled and pulled him into a deeper, more passionate kiss. She slowly removed his haori and then his shirt, leaving him barechested. She wrapped her legs around his hips as he slowly began to remove her shirt as well. Now they were both barechested(with the exception of Kagome's bra).
"Kagome...are you sure you want to do this? I don't want to make you do anything you're not ready for. I'll understand." he said between their lips.
Kagome had already begun to breathe heavy in anxiety. Inuyasha could sense her extreme nervousness and uncertainty. He knew she was not ready.
"Inuyasha...I don't think...I'm not sure if I'm ready for this or not. I mean...I want to...so badly...but...I just...I can't. I'm not ready. I'm sorry." she whispered, looking away, afraid of what he would say. 'Please don't hate me.'
"Kagome. Don't apologize. You've got nothing to be sorry about. Why would you apologize for such a thing?" Inuyasha could see her shame in her eyes. He could tell she was remembering something else. 'I wish she would just tell me about her past. It would make all this so much easier.' he thought. Inuyasha sat up off of Kagome and handed her her shirt.
"I'm s..." Kagome began before stopping at Inuyasha's look of reminding.
"It's just..."
"Kagome, you don't have to explain yourself to me. I'll love you no matter what. I promise. You don't have to worry about apologizing or explaining yourself, ever." he said with understanding filling his eyes and tone.
"No, I want to say this. It's just that...before, we were mates, and I know mates don't go through with weddings like we do. But now that we're engaged, I want to wait. That's why. I'm sorry." Kagome said, trailing off.
Inuyasha gave her another look. "Don't apologize. Please?" he said. After a moment of hesitation and thought, he spoke again. "Kagome?...Now that we're engaged and mates, will you tell me about your past. I know you've been thinking about it a lot lately. I can see it in your eyes. I can feel it. I just wish I knew. You know mine, but I don't know yours. Please tell me." he said softly as he gently touched her hand.
Kagome looked at the floor for what seemed like an eternity before she spoke. "Inuyasha..I..."
"You don't have to if you don't want to. I don't want you to feel like you have to." he said.
"I...can't. Not today. I don't want to ruin the happiness that you've worked so hard to create. But..I promise. I will tell you soon. You deserve to know my past."
Inuyasha gave her a smile of understanding and kissed her gently. "Thank you for understanding. I love you." she whispered.
"I'll always be here for you if you need me."
Kagome smiled weakly and kissed Inuyasha back. She pulled him back onto the bed and rolled over ontop of him, putting her hands in his and pinning him so where he couldnt move unless she allowed it.
He was much stronger than her of course and if he really wanted to but he thought he'd play along. "How come you get to be the dominant one all the time? I'm the male. I'm supposed to be dominant." he muttered in pretend and playful anger.
"You want to be dominant?" she asked huskly, smirking at his cuteness and frustration.
"Yes." he pouted.
"Then do it." she said simply, smirking all the while.
Inuyasha smirked back and quickly snatched his hands from hers and grabbed her by the waist and sat up, her now straddling him. She squealed in play as he grabbed her by the wrists with one hand and placed them behind her back. "Ha." he said smuggly.
"Inuyasha I don't want to have to hurt you. Let me go." she said laughing and wiggling as he kissed her mate mark.
"Ha! Hurt me? You?"
Kagome smirked once more before clenching her thighs on his hip as hard as she could.
Inuyasha yelped before releasing her wrists and flipping her over and beneath him. "Is this what it's gonna be like when we actually do it?" he asked laughing.
Kagome smiled and pulled him into a deep, passionate and loving kiss as she absently ran her fingers through his long silver hair. He did the same as he tangled his hand into her midnight hair.
"Oh Inuyasha. I can't wait until our wedding. It'll be so beautiful!You don't know how much it means to me that you're willing to go through with this for me. I've dreamt about it since I was a little girl. I've known exactly how I'll have everything since I was young. Of course my groom-to-be back then was Brad Pitt but...things change."
Inuyasha growled slightly in jealousy at the thought of Kagome belonging to another. But was pulled into another kiss by kagome.
"I never had a chance with him Inuyasha. So no jealousy needed. He was just a famous 26 year old actor when I was only 11." Kagome smiled at what she thought would reassure him.
A look of disgust came to his face. "Never had a chance with him? Any guy that thinks that is nowhere near deserving you." he stated.
Kagome laughed at his protection. "Inuyasha it's ok. Really. He didn't even know me. I didn't even know him. I just liked his movies and I thought he was handsome. But you...I love you. And there's no one in the entire world I'd rather have at the alter with me than you." Kagome said, her eyes sparkling with love for the hanyou boy sitting in front of her. She admired the ring on her finger for a moment and then took it off to examine something on it. "Inuyasha, this ring is beautiful. It must've cost a lot." she said guiltily.
Inuyasha just brushed it off and looked into her eyes. "You're worth all of it and more. Look on the inside." he said softly.
Kagome tilted the ring so the light would shine on the inside of the band and found something engraved.
You are my sacred angel that will always save me. I love you with all of my heart and soul.
Kagome smiled and paced the dainty ring back onto her finger. "I love you too. And yes, I will always be there to save you." she said, laughing, as she once again kissed her new fience.
"When shall we set the date?" she asked in excitement.
"Here's a better question. Where should we take our honeymoon?" Inuyasha said, a wide and mischevous grin plastered on his face.
"INUYASHA!" Kagome squealed in between giggles as Inuyasha tickled her.
"What?" he asked. "Can you blame me?"
"Yes." she said matter-of-factly.
"Aww come on Kagome." he said as his hands began to wander. She just laughed and tried to wriggle free. "Alright alright. I guess I'll have to wait."
Kagome nodded and smiled triumphantly. "I want us to marry in June. That's only a month away."
"If that's what you want...then that's what we'll do." he replied.
"I've gotta start planning! And I've got to write to my family. Oh, there's so much to do! Eek!" she said in excitement.
Inuyasha just huffed and walked downstairs to play with Buyo since he obviously wasn't going to get any attention from Kagome. "Buyo...you're lucky you're not getting married. Girls go crazy about this stuff. But...Kagome's worth it." After he was tired of playing with Buyo, as well as the other way around, Inuyasha walked back up to Kagome's room to watch her in action. What he saw left him in awe.
Kagome was standing in front of her long mirror with a floor length, white dress on. It was lowcut and slid just off of the top of her shoulders and had 2 inches of cloth for the sleeves. it was tight like a corsett and tied in the back and then slowly became flowy. She was standing, experimenting with her hair when he walked in. She smiled sweetly at him as a lone piece of hair fell, barely touching her neck.
"You look...gorgious." he said. He was so stunned that he could barely speak. Kagome smile before hovering just close enough to Inuyasha to make him nervous. His breathing became fast and his smile became quick.
"You really think so?" she asked smiling shyly.
Inuyasha nodded quickly as he felt Kagome's hands slip around his neck. His eyes went wide and his face turned the color of his haori as Kagome whispered something into his ears.
Kagome giggled at his reaction and then kissed his cheek. "Do you want to help me plan?" she asked.
Inuyasha huffed and agreed, knowing how badly she wanted him to be a part of it. And so, they began to plan. Everything was to Kagome's liking of course, but Inuyasha enjoyed the happiness it brought her for him to just be there.
Kagome got a sudden look of sadness that overwhelmed her.
"Kagome? What's wrong?" he asked as concern filled his voice.
"It's just...when I was little, I pictured my father walking me down the aisle. I don't even know where he is now. I wish he could see my wedding day and give me away." she said as a lone tear made its way down her cheek. "Not that he'd want to be there anyways." she muttered, just low enough for Inuyasha to catch but not hear.
"What Kagome?" he asked.
"Nothing Inuyasha. It's fine. I'll just walk down the aisle alone. It's alright." she said, smiling sweetly at Inuyasha.
He could tell it was fake but decided not to push the issue about her past. She qould tell him in her own time.
'I'm so sorry you were hurt when you were younger Kagome. If there was anything I could've done to protect you...I hope you know I would have. I won't let anything harm you as long as I'm near. I promise.'