(A thousand apologies people, a little cutting and pasting problem occurred, so sorry about the double repeat!)
Winter Wonderland
Chapter Thirty-Five
Sesshoumaru stared out into the streets from where was sitting on the Higurashi shrine steps. Even though his face didn't show it, he just couldn't believe that this was how the future would turn out as in the end. The demon took a sip of his tea as the cars continued to drive by to their destination. He could hear someone slowly approaching him from behind. Sniffing the air, he relaxed.
"Trying to sneak up on your older brother?"
Inu-Yasha smirked and took a seat by his brother, holding a mug of hot chocolate, "What are you doing out here?"
"Can't one have a little privacy?"
"You've been out here for almost two hours, Rin was starting to worry,"
Sesshoumaru just nodded and sipped on his tea again, his eyes staring around the city, "So were having the wedding tomorrow around noon?"
"Yeah, Hojo and Ayumi are going to come over sometime to spend the night so they can get ready,"
"And no one else knows about it?"
"Nope, just Kagome's family, my friends, you, Ayumi and Hojo,"
The lord of the western lands still kept his eyes forward, watching the cards driving by.
Inu-Yasha's eyes glanced to his left arm . . . or at least what remained of it, "Are you ever going to get that fixed?"
Sesshoumaru followed to gaze of his brother's eyes, "Perhaps . . ."
"I take it your still pretty pissed I'm the one who cut it off," whispered Inu-Yasha, taking another sip from his mug.
"No . . . not really . . . after all I was trying to kill you . . . and you were defending yourself,"
"Plus I didn't know what the hell I was doing,"
Sesshoumaru chuckled slightly, "You said Rin was worried?"
"Yeah. I think I'm beginning to understand why you turned Rin into a demon. I wasn't sure at first, but after what you told Eri and Yuka back at the fair that you were promised to someone, it hit me like a tone of bricks,"
Sesshoumaru remained quiet.
"You plan on taking her as your mate when she gets older right?"
The lord nodded, keeping his eyes straight ahead. Inu-Yasha smiled and sipped on his mug again.
The lord nodded, keeping his eyes straight ahead. Inu-Yasha smiled and sipped on his mug again, "So, what do you think of this place?"
" . . . different I suppose . . . I didn't believe you when you told me this is how the world would turn out in five hundred years,"
"I couldn't believe it either. So after the wedding you going to head back into the west?"
"Yes, I will of course come back when your mate is about to have your child . . . my niece,"
Inu-Yasha nodded and stared up at the sky. Sesshoumaru glanced at his brother, his eyes narrowing slightly. *So much like father . . . Inu-Yasha has inherited his personality, while I have inherited his outward appearance . . .*
"Inu-Yasha!" cried a voice.
The half demon turned around to see Miroku running towards him, "What's up monk?"
"Something's wrong with Sango, she's sick or something,"
Inu-Yasha was about to stand up, but was stopped by his brother who had placed a hand on his shoulder. Sesshoumaru sniffed the air, and turned his attention back to the cars driving by, "She's bearing your child monk,"
Inu-Yasha's and Miroku's eyes widened. The half demon also smelt the air, "Yeah, he's right,"
Miroku just stared at them with wide eyes, not saying a word and took a seat by Inu-Yasha. In all honesty Miroku wanted to run back inside and tell Sango the happy news, but he had a feeling that Kagome and Mrs. Higurashi knew what was going on. The three men sat side by side on the steps, lost in their own thoughts of many things going through their minds. Their new lives . . . mates . . . and children . . . No words were spoken between the two as they stared at the starry night sky.
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Sango lay on her side on the spare bed that her and Miroku had taken. Miroku had not yet returned from outside, but then again neither had Sesshoumaru or Inu-Yasha. Kagome had called it something like 'alone time' for guys. The exterminator wrapped the blanket around her tighter. She was still feeling quite sick, but Mrs. Higurashi had assured her nothing was wrong, just that she was pregnant. Sango had been so happy that she got a hug from everybody, and wanted to run out and tell Miroku the good news, but Kagome had stopped her and pointed out the window to show her the men sitting on the steps, and that Miroku probably already knew with the help of Sesshoumaru and Inu-Yasha with their sensitive noses.
The door slowly creaked open, letting a little light into the darken room. Sango knew it was Miroku, and could hear him taking off his clothes, and crawling into the bed, laying beside her. She felt two arms creep around her waist, her back now pressed against his chest. Sango felt a pair of lips on her neck and a whisper in her ear, "We are going to have a child my love . . ."
The exterminator turned over to look at Miroku. Even though it was dark, she could still see some of him, "I know . . . why didn't you come back inside?"
Miroku kissed her forehead, "I would of, but . . . I had a nice conversation with Sesshoumaru and Inu-Yasha . . ."
Sango nodded.
"I would have stayed, but Kagome shooed me away, telling me that women were only allowed in the bathroom,"
Sango giggled and snuggled closer to the monk.
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Inu-Yasha slowly crept into Kagome's room and closed the door behind him. He, Miroku, and his brother were so busy chatting, and thinking to themselves they lost track of time. The half demons ears twitched to confirm that Kagome was still awake. Creeping to the bed, Inu-Yasha removed his clothing and crawled into bed with his mate.
"Where were you?" whispered Kagome.
"Talking to my brother and the monk,"
"So I take it you know then?"
"About Sango being pregnant? Yeah I know, I'm happy for Miroku, and it's kind of a bonus for us too,"
"Why's that?"
"Our pup will have someone to play with,"
Kagome smiled and wrapped her arms around Inu-Yasha, snuggling closer to him. Inu-Yasha closed his eyes.
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Sesshoumaru slowly crawled into his bed, which Rin was already asleep in. Glancing at the girl over his shoulder, he smiled softly before closing his eyes. Then remembering his conversation with his brother, his eyes glanced over to his left arm, which was cut off just before the shoulder. Thinking for a minute, he closed his eyes again and drifted into a peaceful sleep.
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Out of all the people in the house, Mrs. Higurashi was the first one to wake up on the wedding day morning. Creeping down stairs, she made sure that the weather was perfect for the wedding, and it was. The sun was shinning, snow covered some of the shrine grounds, and no wind was blowing. Smiling, she started to cook breakfast. She had had a big fight with Inu-Yasha and Miroku when they had come back into the house last night, saying they wouldn't be able to stay with their girls since it was tradition not to see them till the wedding. But then Inu-Yasha brought a good point of where they would sleep. Giving in, she had allowed the men to return to their rooms, with a chuckling Sesshoumaru heading downstairs. Pulling out the pancake mixtures, Mrs. Higurashi started to prepare breakfast, hoping the smell would awaken the houseguests.
Shippo was the next to awaken, and had caught Mrs. Higurashi by surprise when she turned around and the fox was suddenly sitting on the table. Due to her small scream Kaede came walking into the kitchen wondering what all the fuss was about. Soon everyone was in the kitchen trying to get a bite to eat and talking excitedly to each other.
Once everyone ate grandpa took the men downstairs in the basement with Hojo carrying the tuxedos, and Mrs. Higurashi took the girls upstairs to change.
Sesshoumaru and Inu-Yasha had to have Miroku and Hojo do the buttons on their tuxedo since their long nails were getting in the way. Sota was helping Shippo with his bow. Inu-Yasha and Miroku both made sure that they had the rings to give Shippo who was going to be the ring bearer. Since Grandpa was being the priest, he had to leave to make sure the alter was ready.
Upstairs, Kagome and Sango were being ganged up on as the girls were applying their make up, hair, and double checking to make sure none of them had pimple anywhere on their face. Mrs. Higurashi was teaching Rin how to use a camera since she would be the one taking pictures. Soon Kagome and Sango were dressed and so was everyone else. The two brides stayed in Mrs. Higurashi's room, and were told to stay put until Hojo and Sesshoumaru returned. Hojo would be walking Kagome down the aisle, and Sesshoumaru had offered to walk Sango down.
Inu-Yasha and Miroku stood side by side at the alter, with Kagome's grandpa behind them. A few chairs had been set up for Kagome's mother, Kaede, Sota, Ayumi, and Shippo. Rin remained standing so she could take pictures. Hojo and Sesshoumaru were waiting in the front door way, looking at Kagome's grandpa for the signal to go get the brides. Once grandpa was certain everything was perfect, he gave thumbs up to the two men. The half demon and monk glanced at each other, and smirked.
*This is finally happening . . . Kagome and I are going to be wed, were expecting a pup, and in two weeks we get to go on our honeymoon with Miroku and Sango* thought Inu-Yasha, but all thoughts were lost for both men as Kagome and Sango stepped out of the house. Everything surrounding him seemed to freeze or not matter, his eyes were set on Kagome, who was dressed completely in white.
Grandpa started the ceremony, but Miroku wasn't paying attention either as he held Sango's hands in his, and the same was with Inu-Yasha. Kagome and Sango had to nudge their future husbands when it was time for the vows and the rings.
When it was time to kiss the bride, Miroku had wrapped his arms around Sango and dipped her, kissing her passionately. Inu-Yasha kissed Kagome just as passionately, but he did a small twirl with her wrapped tightly in his arms. Everyone was relieved that the wedding went according to plan without anything being screwed up, but it was soon discovered without anyone noticing until Mrs. Higurashi brought it up, that Sango's ring was on the wrong hand. Since there wasn't enough food for Mrs. Higurashi to make a big buffet, they all got dressed in regular clothes and headed down town to a restaurant that could hold quite a few people. It was a feast that they would all remember.
(I know the wedding was a little short, but feh what can you do)
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Inu-Yasha stared out Kagome's bedroom window, looking up at crescent moon. Resting his head in his arms, the half demon glanced at the golden ring on his left hand and smiled. He was finally married . . . a husband. Never in all his dreams did Inu-Yasha think that this would happen to him, for he had thought he would be alone his whole entire life . . . yet here he was married to his soul mate. Kagome walked into her room to see Inu-Yasha sitting in her chair staring out the window. Smiling, she walked up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist from behind and resting her head on his shoulder.
"You tired?"
Inu-Yasha nodded. There had been a little incident at the restaurant when Yuka and Eri had shown up, insulting them as usual, however once Sesshoumaru reappeared from the restroom, they high tailed it out of there. Of course Inu-Yasha had lost his temper and had said some inappropriate words, which almost got them kicked out of the place, but with some persuading from Mrs. Higurashi, the manager had allowed them to stay.
"Why don't we just go to bed?" asked Kagome, kissing his fuzzy ear.
Inu-Yasha smiled and nodded following his wife into bed, and wrapping his arms securely around her.
"So . . . are we heading back down the well tomorrow?" yawned Kagome.
"Maybe, it depends when the others want to go home,"
Kagome nodded, and closed her eyes. Inu-Yasha however had a smirk on his face, and leaned his head down to kiss her lips.
"You know I was waiting for you to do that . . . after all it is our wedding night . . ."
Inu-Yasha growled lovingly down at her, pulling the blankets over top of them.
TBC . . .