Reaching for the Stars

Chapter 6

Reaching for the Stars

Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha

This chapter is dedicated to chakitattyla2h8...may your days always have something unexpected lift your mood!

Thank you to all my reviewers over the chapters! I love you guys!


Kikyou looked at Inu, who hadn't been listening to her. She knew his mind was on Kagome and she sighed. She had always been envious of the younger girl, who didn't seem to care what people thought about her.

Kagome had always been a dreamer, and didn't seem to mind the condemnation that came with it. People fell in love with her for her gentle ways, and even though she hadn't noticed, she always had a fair share of male suitors. Kikyou couldn't compete with her, so she hated her.

They might have continued to be friends, if she hadn't messed it up. Kagome had only ever wanted one man, and Kikyou made all the others hate her. She pretended to be her friend, but they both knew what it was.

Kagome, however, had been nothing but nice to her, and Kikyou had made her life a living hell. She used to think that if she found Inu and turned him against her, that she would be happy. Then, by an odd coincidence, she met InuYasha. And when she couldn't sway his attention, she realized what Kagome had said was true.

Away from the girl, she was able to think more kindly of her. Kikyou moved in next-door when Kagome was seven. Without a mother of her own, she loved Lady Higurashi. Kagome wasn't resentful, and then they were the best of friends. When Lady Higurashi became ill, however, she felt as bad as Kagome had.

Kikyou blamed Kagome when she died two years later. She began to hate her because she had a mother longer than she had, and for other small and unimportant reasons. Her own mother died when she was six, and she needed a maternal figure.

Kikyou had seen Kagome's life fall apart at home, saw how her father changed. Maybe that's why Kagome dreamed so much. Kikyou had made her life at school fall apart, and her home life had long ago become shambles.

She moved out when she was nineteen, right after Kag's father died. She realized what she had done wrong. And now, Kikyou had gone and done it again. What was becoming of her? She sighed, stopped talking, and stared out the window, thinking.

When Kikyou stopped talking, Inu didn't question it, just accepted the peaceful silence. Soon after, a nurse came in and told her that visiting hours were over. She thanked her, said she'd be back tomorrow to check him out, and left. Inu was left alone for the first time in three days, and he felt empty. He still couldn't come up with a plan, so he decided he just had to take it as it came. That night, he went to bed with a weary heart.

They didn't want a big ceremony, just Kouga's family. Kagome wanted it over with as soon as possible so that she would be safe from InuYasha. They set the date for the next day.

That night, Kagome convinced the family to leave her alone. Kouga gave her a quick chaste kiss and she made her way upstairs. She walked towards the attic.

Kouga had explained that Kagome was actually the Higurashi's daughter, and Ayame thought their marriage was a good way to make up for killing her father. She just smiled, unsure if anybody could make up for her past.

When she was in the attic, she stopped in front of the trunk in the far back corner. She kneeled and opened it. The first thing she saw was her mother's wedding dress. She picked it up, delicately rustling the fabric. She glanced back at the trunk and saw a picture of her and InuYasha, smiling happily. Underneath it were the clothes she wore to her wedding with InuYasha.

Kagome buried her face in her mother's gown and began to cry. "I've never needed you more than I do right now, mom." It was a long time before she moved, but before she went downstairs, she snapped the trunk shut with a finality that startled her, clutching her mother's dress.

The next morning, as soon as visiting hours began, Kikyou burst into InuYasha's room, waking him up.

"What?"

"She's getting married to some guy. I think Kato Ohayashi or something like that…"

"Who?"

"Oh, of all the… Kagome! Or did you forget about her already?"

"What? She's getting married? To whom?" She sighed, exasperated.

"I told you! Kori Okada or something."

"Kouga Ookami?"

"That's it! Now are we gonna sit here and chat or are we gonna stop her?"

"What are we waiting for?" he roared. She smacked her forehead and dragged him out of the bed, dislodging many tubes. She stopped at the reception desk to politely get him out of there without seeming overly hasty.

When they were on the way to the ceremony, InuYasha looked at Kikyou.

"Why are you doing this?" She said nothing for a minute, just stared at the road and sped up the rental car. Finally, she spoke at length.

"I owe her," she stated simply. He just nodded and waited anxiously, his heart pounding harder than he ever thought possible while his shoulder burned slightly.

She couldn't bring herself to walk down the aisle. Try as she might, she couldn't marry Kouga. He was sweet, and changed for the better, but her heart would always belong to InuYasha. Seeing the picture had made her realize it.

Ayame came into the small room where Kagome was getting ready. Maybe she'd never have InuYasha, and maybe she'd never even see him, but she was still married to him, and she would never break that bond. She looked up and Ayame then told her calmly that she couldn't marry her step-son.

When Kikyou and InuYasha arrived at the Ookami house, the guests were there, but the bride and groom weren't to be seen.

"Damn it!" InuYasha punched his fist into a wall, unaware that he had just broken quite a few fingers. "Were we too late?"

He was heart-broken. The one and only girl he would love- could love- had just gotten married to another man. Seeing that man come out of a doorway, he rushed over to him and was about to murder him in a jealous rage. Kouga saw him.

"InuYasha, I'm so sorry I shot you."

"How could you?" he asked, his heart breaking. "I…where's Kagome?" Kouga's eyes widened in astonishment.

"She broke off the wedding and headed towards the woods." Before anything else could be said, he took off, knowing exactly where she was. Kouga and Kikyou were left together, and Kouga slowly approached her, telling her how he felt about the wedding. "Actually…I don't think I could have gone with it either. She'd always remind me of one stupid night where I made the biggest mistake of my life."

InuYasha was so happy that he wasn't aware of his surroundings. His feet knew automatically where to take him. If she called it off, that must mean she still loved him, or that he at least had a chance. When he thought he had lost her forever, he felt like a part of him had died, but now…

Inu was breathless when he arrived at the clearing. He saw her standing there, looking beautiful in her mother's wedding dress. She was crying, and he would die to save her from pain. She looked up and their eyes locked as he walked over to her. He spoke softly.

"Run away with me. We can be happy. You and me, together, with no one in our way." She looked at him, tears leaking from the corners of her eyes.

"It's not that easy. I kept my promise as well as I could. You…you're getting married to Kikyou." He walked over to her and cupped her face in his large hands.

"No, Kagome. She was after me. I thought about it, before I came back. But even after sixteen years, I can't stay away from you. You'll kill me if you reject me. I love you so much."

"So then, you and her never…"

"No. I was never going to marry her, either." He got down on one knee and pulled a ring out of his pocket.

"Kagome, will you marry me?" She smiled.

"I love you too much to do anything else." He slipped the ring onto her finger. It was silver, and carved into the inside of the band was the inscription 'Till the end of time.' He pulled her close and kissed her, happy beyond his wildest dreams.

When they returned to the house, InuYasha and Kagome were inseparable. And by the looks of things, so were Kikyou and Kouga. Kikyou walked over to Kagome and hugged her. Kagome was shocked for a second, and then hugged the older girl back.

"I'm so sorry, Kag. I never realized…just how much you loved him. I hope I have the same…" She gave a pointed look at Kouga and he blushed. "Can you ever forgive me for all the trouble I've caused?" Kagome was too kind to ignore her plea.

"Of course, Kikyou."

Epilogue (6 months later)

Kagome and InuYasha were at the alter, renewing their wedding vows. After they were finished he kissed the bride and he didn't disappoint. Then Kouga and Kikyou said their vows. The couple were deeply in love, and Kouga realized that he and Kagome weren't right for each other. Now Kagome and Kikyou were best friends again, and wanted to have a double wedding. They were going to hold the wedding off until later, but at Kagome's urging, they decided to set the date. After all, a little while longer and she would have been too far along in her pregnancy to fit in her mother's gown.

That night, InuYasha found Kagome outside.

"What are you doing?"

"Looking at the stars. For so long, they were my only company. Have you ever thought it was possible to reach the stars?"

"No," he answered honestly. She smiled, reached up, and kissed him.

"I've already reached the stars," she whispered. He grinned and cradled her body against his. They watched the stars together, and they shone merrily down at the couple that would last as long as the stars themselves: until the end of time.


Review Responses:

SlummyRedDragon: Thank you! Last chapter, that makes me sad.

billysgotagun: Hm…so you think it's not a very good chapter? Ah well, everyone's entitled to their own opinion. Here's your happy ending.

Priestess of Nottingham: Hah, yeah, for the most part, I think that she's pretty evil too…:coughs: Although I decided to make her okay at the end of this one. Why? Who knows? Thank you!

chakitattyla2h8: Yay! The movies are the best! Yeah…why indeed? My characters take on a life of their own…:hugs: Aww, people like you make me feel warm and fluffy inside…I dedicate this chapter to you! And it's the happy one, too.

Yana5:nods, then pulls out pom poms: We need cheerleaders for InuYasha…wanna volunteer?

inu-dog-dem: Thank you! Soon! This is soon!

ILOVEInuyasha07: Aiee, that wasn't meant to be offensive… :dies: But I did update. Romantic? Possibly…

InuYashas-writer-and-lover: …I'm going to die again…that sounds painful. They got back together. It is wrong, Kikyou is dumped, Kag and Inu got married. I'm glad for your vacation going well! Thank you! I do hope that mine goes well also. Thanks once again!

inu-hanyou2: Sorry, but I have a feeling if I make it any longer I just might be killed first. I've gotten plenty of death threats as is… Thank you! I updated soon! Yeah, I understand what you're saying about the feeling people thing. Whelp, he didn't actually stop them…but a happy ending IS a happy ending…right?

Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed, it really meant a lot for me. Well, this is the end of this story, but what a HAPPY ending it is! Once again, thanks, you guys who read and those who reviewed are great! I'll be cheesy here. :rolls eyes: Go for your dreams, and it's never impossible to reach for the stars! Yeehaw! Bye everyone!

Kaa-san