Hitori ni Sasenai
By Lady Mac
A/N: Okay, huge apologies. My old computer completely crashed, so I didn't have anything for a week and a half. But we got a new PC, and I'm online again! Yayness! But you just want a story, so I"ll get off my soap box
Disclaimer: So not mine. Thanx.
Chapter Twelve
One Hand, One Heart
"Kagome!"
She jumped off the floor of the hut and rushed outside. She knew this voice. "Inuyasha!"
He ran to her and swept her up in his strong arms, swinging her around a little before setting her down again.
"I'm so happy to see you!" she gushed. "You've been gone for, like, a month!"
"It was only a week," he said, blushing slightly as a few heads poked out of huts to see what all the excitement was about.
"I know, but, oh! I've been just so excited about the wedding, and I missed you so much!"
He chuckled and kissed her on the forehead. "Well, we've still got two days, don't we?"
She smiled. "But there's a lot of work to be done. Come on." She took his hand as they walked together back to Kaede's hut. "So, how did things go with your brother?"
He grunted. "As well as I'd have expected. We got everything under control, but as soon as we were done the ungrateful bastard sends me away without so much as an 'arigatou'."
"That's rough."
"Tell me about it." He sighed. "But I guess there will be more chances."
#-
Inuyasha's hands were shaking as Miroku helped him into his new haori, the final layer of his elaborate wedding attire. "Finally," he groused as he shrugged it on, then tugged at it a little.
"Geez, will you stop fidgeting?" the monk said. "It's fine. Here, get your fan."
He took it and tucked it carefully into his obi, right next to Tetsusaiga. "How do I look?"
Miroku smirked. "Uncomfortable but attractive."
"That better not be a come-on."
"Oh, no, never," laughed the monk. "I wish I looked as good as this. Sango would totally go for it."
"You think Kagome will like it?" he asked, turning around and watching as the silk swished against itself.
"How could she not? You're, like, the ideal man in that." He nodded thoughtfully. "I am sure you will get great sex tonight."
Bonk.
The hanyou's fist collided with the monk's skull. "What are you insinuating? I may look like the ideal man, but I'm still half demon. Kagome can't keep herself off of me, because sex with a hanyou is always great sex."
"How could I forget," he said sarcastically.
"Inuyasha-sama!"
He spun around and looked at the boy in the doorway. "What is it?"
"There's a man here to see you, sir."
Inuyasha raised an eyebrow. "A man, eh? We'll see what he wants." He pushed the reed door aside, and his face froze in astonishment. "O – Onii-san." He stepped slowly out of the hut.
"Inuyasha." The youkai spoke slowly and deliberately, watching his younger brother closely. For a long moment he was silent, and when he finally spoke, his tone was uncharacteristically gentle. "Arigatou gozaimasu, otouto. I and the peoples of the Western Lands are grateful for your kind assistance in putting down the rebellion."
"Dou itashimashite," he said politely, bowing low but watching Sesshoumaru the whole time.
The taiyoukai seemed almost to roll his eyes for a moment. "Rin and Jaken, there is no need to hide." Slowly, the girl poked out from behind her master's empty sleeve, and the toad-thing crept from behind his right leg. "Why are you afraid of my brother? Even he would not harm you needlessly."
"How comforting," Inuyasha snorted, folding his arms but smiling despite himself.
Sesshoumaru looked him over carefully, one slim eyebrow arched in surprise. "You're quite well-dressed today."
"Of course," he said, turning to go back into the hut. "It is my wedding day, after all."
"Ah, then we weren't too late." He turned to the two small figures that clung to his legs. "Come, Rin, Jaken. We must go to the shrine before the ceremony starts."
-##-
Kagome fidgeted nervously with her sleeves as she stood waiting to enter the shrine grounds. Miroku was supposed to come walk her in as soon as Inuyasha was in place, but it seemed like ages since Sango had brought her here and then gone into the grounds to send Miroku out. An image of the two of them making out in front of everyone came to her, and she grinned. As if that would ever happen. They were far too private about their relationship – they rarely ever even held hands, and most of the village had no idea they were a couple, though they had been engaged for several weeks.
"Kagome-sama?" Miroku rounded the corner. "Ready to go?"
She nodded. "Sou da ne! If I don't go now, I might chicken out."
He smiled as she took his arm. "It is an honor to stand in for your father."
"I'm honored to have a friend like you who would do it, houshi-sama."
The climbed the stairs and entered the shrine courtyard where a small crowd had gathered. Kagome would have been very surprised to see Sesshoumaru there, after Inuyasha's recollection of their encounter. But she didn't see him. She didn't see any of the other guests, either. Her complete attention was focused on the silver-haired vision of elegance that waited for her at the other end of the courtyard.
Inuyasha was dressed in blue and white silk, and his father's crest was patterned in silver on his haori. Underneath he wore a crisp white shirt and deep blue hakama pants, and his Tetsusaiga and ceremonial fan were tucked gently into a simple obi that matched perfectly with the rest of the outfit. She almost laughed when she realized he was still barefoot, but then she looked up at his face. His hair had been brushed until it shone brightly, then pulled back from his face with a strip of dark blue silk, leaving only his forelocks hanging around his face.
She stepped forward slowly, hardly believing that this distinguished gentleman was actually her charmingly rough Inuyasha. But then he smiled at her, and the toothy, lopsided grin was all his own.
Inuyasha himself was spellbound the moment Kagome appeared. She was shrouded in white – her kimono, her obi, her delicate veil. The only thing that was not white was the ceremonial fan in her obi – it was dark blue, matching his. Her jet-black hair stood out in sharp contrast to all this white, and her brown eyes looked up in wonder at him, though she kept her head respectfully bowed.
He barely listened as Kaede performed the ceremony, preferring to simply watch Kagome as she went through the motions with him. After what seemed like hours of repeating after the Miko, she finally pronounced them husband and wife.
Swiftly, urgently, Inuyasha pulled Kagome to him and planted a deep kiss on her rosy lips. The small gathering burst into applause as she kissed him back, reveling in the bliss they finally could feel.
He finally pulled away and gazed at her, delirious from joy. "We're actually married!" he whispered. "We're actually a family now!"
"I know," she said. "I can hardly believe it!"
He took her by the hand and they walked down the stairs and out of the shrine. Kagome looked back and smiled. "They're following us."
Inuyasha grinned. "Let's see 'em follow this!" He scooped her suddenly up in his arms and leapt into the air. She squealed as the air rushed past, and moments later they landed at the front door of their new house. "Come on!" he urged, sliding the door open.
She hurried in after him, and looked around in wonder at the beautiful room she was in. "Inuyasha! This is ... this is wonderful!"
"This is just the beginning," he said, pulling on her arm. "You've gotta see the bedroom."
She followed him through another shoji door off the main room, into a cozy chamber with a large, soft futon in the center. "It's lovely," she breathed.
"Not as lovely as you," he said, drawing her to him for another deep kiss. He purred as she rubbed his ears, and pushed her onto the bed.
"I - Inuyasha, wait." She crawled out from under him and stood up. "You're going to wrinkle the clothes. We need them nice for tomorrow, too."
He rolled his eyes. "Oh, so keeping the clothes nice is more important than consummating our marriage."
She unfastened her obi and removed it carefully. "Yes. And you can wait an extra two minutes."
He quickly shed his clothing, and by the time he had folded it - at Kagome's prodding - and set it in a neat pile, she was relaxing under the comforter. "Well?" she said, stretching and letting her hair pool around her head.
"Oh, you awful tease ..." he moaned, and descended upon her with all the passion that had welled up inside him during the long day.
-##-
They reemerged an hour later for the party that Sango and Miroku had insisted on throwing in their honor. Kagome wore a pink and orange goldfish-print yukata, and Inuyasha ... well, she had tried to convince him to wear something nice, but ended up compromising and letting him wear his red pants and white shirt, though the fire-rat and Tetsusaiga stayed inside the house.
"Kagome-chan!" Sango gushed, running to her and giving her a huge hug with Miroku close on her heels. "Congratulations!" She held her at arm's length. "Oh, you look so radiant and beautiful!"
Kagome smiled. "Had a little nap. That helps a lot."
Miroku laughed through his nose, and Inuyasha socked his shoulder, then pulled him aside while the girls kept talking. "Okay, bouzu. When are you and the taijiya gonna go public?"
Miroku sighed. "Kagome keeps asking us that, too."
"And? Are you scared or something?"
"No ... we just want to wait a little while. Let you guys have the spotlight for a bit."
Inuyasha rolled his eyes and strolled back to his bride. He hugged her from behind, caressing her belly, and kissed her neck softly.
"Inuyasha," she protested, though she leaned into him. "Stop it."
He whimpered, but it turned into a breathless moan when she ground her rear into his crotch.
"I'm hungry," she quipped, ignoring his arousal and addressing Sango. "What are we going to have for dinner?"
"Lots," she said eagerly. "Kaede's baking fish, and ..."
-##-
When they finally got home, the crescent moon had long since set, and Kagome was so tired that she fell asleep almost immediately. Inuyasha followed shortly thereafter, and was awake and packed by the time she woke the next morning.
"Ohayou," he said, poking his head in the door. "Sleep well?"
She nodded, stretching. "Yeah. How about you? Did you sleep at all?"
"Of course I did. I'm not that fabulous."
"You're not?" she said in mock horror, sitting up. "Why didn't you tell me before I married you?"
"Har de har har. Why aren't you up yet? Your mom's expecting us."
"Chill out, I'm working on it." She stood slowly and walked to the shallow wardrobe in the wall, then leaned against it for a moment with her eyes closed.
"Kagome?" He rushed to her side. "Are you okay?"
"I ..." Her breathing was shallow and labored, and her skin was cold. "I think I need ... to sit down."
He helped her quickly to the floor, and laid her on her back. "Kagome, what's wrong?" This didn't look good.
"I'm just ... just feeling a little sick to my stomach. It'll pass."
"Morning sickness again? I thought you were over it."
"So did I." She breathed deeply for a few long minutes. "Being pregnant sure does feel strange."
"I suppose you'll get used to it."
Kagome smiled. "What's that supposed to mean?" She laughed a little as he kissed her forehead. "I think I can get up now."
"Here." He helped her to sit up, then slowly to her feet. "Feeling okay now?"
She touched the wall. "Yes. Thank you. I think maybe I stood up too fast, or something."
Inuyasha didn't believe her, but he said nothing and watched the opposite wall as she changed her clothes. It surprised him that even after all this she was still uncomfortable with him watching her, but he also knew that if he saw much of her right now they would be very late to his in-laws'.