Disclaimer: Nope still don't own, but sure wish I did. At least I get to borrow.
A/N: Hey, guys! Sorry for the wait. I was out of town. Happy late birthday to me! Hehehe Then my server wouldn't work when I came home, so its taken me a while to upload. I've already started on the next chap, so it won't be very long before my update. Anyways, I hope you enjoy this chap. I know I enjoyed writing it. Lots of love to all my great reviews! You guys make me laugh, cry, smile, and just generally feel warm and gooy on the inside like a chocolate Easter egg. A special thank you to Mekachikiku-the-miko, previously Ace-the-miko, for your own inspirational reviews. –BIG GIANT HUG-
Chapter 24 – Promises
Kagome woke to the feeling of extreme comfort. She opened her eyes lazily and smiled at the sight before her. Once again she was amazed at how peaceful and soft her beloved's face was when he slept, so different than it normally was, free of the stress and strain of its constant tough-guy image. She ran a finger gently down his check and around his chiseled jaw. 'He has no idea how beautiful he is.' She traced his lips lightly and the sudden urge to taste them came over her. With no further thought she pressed hers firmly to his. She was surprised as she was suddenly rolled and pinned to the bed, the kiss going instantly from warm to hungry. Kagome gasped as his tongue darted into her mouth, searching out her very soul.
When he finally broke away to let her breath, he leaned over her with a fanged grin. "Morning."
She couldn't help the little giggle that escaped her. "And just how long have you been awake?"
"Since well before you started seducing me." He chuckled as her face went bright red.
"I was not!"
His chuckle increased and he leaned closer, rubbing his nose against hers. "Not that I'm complaining or anything. I like it when you seduce me."
"I told you, I was not!"
"You know, you'd better come up with a better retort, if you want me to believe you." He began to trail butterfly kisses along her jaw and down her neck. Kagome shivered as he found his mark and nipped it tenderly.
Kagome moaned softly. "Inu Yasha…" She didn't know if she was begging him to continue or begging him to stop. She didn't have much of a chance to ponder her conundrum as a voice broke through the suite.
"Kagome! Inu Yasha! Breakfast is ready!"
Kagome groaned and Inu Yasha growled in frustration. "And I thought the monk had bad timing."
Kagome chuckled and kissed his forehead. "Later, okay?"
"Yeah, yeah." He pouted as he rolled off her to sit on the side of the bed.
Kagome crawled up behind him and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Hey, why don't we go swimming today? It'll be our last chance."
He pulled her around him into his lap. "Can we sneak off to our little hideaway again?"
Kagome smiled. "Maybe…"
He plopped her back on the bed beside him. "What are we waiting for? Let's go!" Kagome laughed as he strode determinedly across the room to find his swim trunks that were hanging in the bathroom to dry. She flopped back on the bed and continued to chuckle, until her mate bellowed from the bathroom. "What are you dawdling for, wench! Get up!" Kagome rolled her eyes, but crawled out of bed nonetheless to find her own bathing-suit.
When they finally emerged from the bedroom, they found the others already seated around the small table. Sota was the first to notice their attire. "Hey, sis, are you guys going to the beach? I want to come!"
Kagome began to shake her head and Inu Yasha opened his mouth to protest, but before either could make a sound Iki spoke. "I think that's a wonderful idea." Again Kagome began to shake her head. "Now, Kagome, you did promise to take him while we were here."
"But I've already taken him several times and-"
"And this is his last chance to swim before we return home." Iki interjected.
"But-"
"No, buts. He's your brother, it can't be that bad."
Kagome frowned and opened her mouth again, but paused at the narrowed eyed gaze her mother shot her. Beside her, Inu Yasha let out a frustrated snort. 'That blows my plans to sneak Kagome off.'
His mate gave him a questioning look and then let out a sigh of her own. "Fine, but you better hurry up 'cause we're not waiting on you."
She had barely finished her statement when Sota jumped to his feet and began cheering as he ran off into his bedroom. Kagome gave her beloved a sideways smile before planting herself beside the coffee table to eat. He followed suit and they ate silently for a while.
"Kagome, you should take your dress out so if there're any wrinkles they'll fall out during the day." Iki commented as she began to clean up breakfast.
"I checked on it last night, it's fine. Besides," she turned to narrow her eyes at her hanyou, "we wouldn't want anyone peeking at it."
Inu Yasha snorted. "I haven't been the one trying to sneak a peek. Sneaky wench." He tweaked her nose playfully. He chuckled as her eyes crossed to look at the tip of her offended nose.
She stuck her tongue out at him. "Hah! Yeah, right! I've caught you trying to peek too!"
Sota emerged from the bedroom in time to see the childish display. "You know, you two sure are immature for grown teenagers."
Kagome's eyes narrowed. "What was that, you little brat!" Sota shrieked and took off with Kagome in hot pursuit. Inu Yasha rolled his eyes and then locked them greedily on his mate's unfinished plate. He quickly cleaned both his and hers, while Kagome taught Sota the finer points of a sibling head-lock.
It took Iki's intervention to save poor Sota from a tenth nuggie. Once the siblings were separated, Kagome ran off to gather several towels and Tetsusaiga, before the three finally left for the beach.
&&&&
Kagome laid out the towels and sprawled out on hers for a good sun bathing. She was just getting comfortable when a shadow loomed over her. "Hey, Kagome, is that a tattoo? Mom's going to kill you if she sees that!"
She blinked up at the shadow that was Sota. "What are you talking…Oh, this!" She placed a hand over her mate-mark. She'd forgotten it would show in such a small outfit with so much skin showing. "You mean, mom hasn't told you?" Kagome sighed. 'She probably thought he was too young to understand. Sota's not that stupid though.'
"No, what are you talking about?"
Kagome struggled for a simple way to put it. She hadn't planned on explaining 'the birds and the bees' to her little brother. Not that he really needed that to be explained considering that kids in this time understood far more about sex, er mating, than even she did at his age. Luckily, she had a tactless hanyou mate that answered for her. "I don't know what a tattoo is, but that's not what it is. It's my mark."
Sota blinked up at his hero. "Your mark?"
Inu Yasha squatted down before the boy. He eyed him critically for a moment, judging his level of understanding. "It means your sister is my mate."
"Mate?"
"It's kind of like human marriage, only a lot more permanent."
"So, you're like married to her?" Sota turned to gawk at his sister and then a broad grin broke across his features. "That's so cool!"
Inu Yasha smirked as he stood up and pulled off the thin t-shirt, he'd been wearing. He smiled at his koi. "It sure is."
Sota's attention, however, was focused on the mark on Inu Yasha's chest just above his heart. "Hey, you've got one too! You match!"
Inu Yasha ruffled the boy's hair. "That's the idea, kid."
"Hey, you guys!" They turned to see a boy approaching. It took a moment for them to recognize him. Jake smiled at them. "Inu Yasha and Kagome, right?" Kagome nodded. "I haven't seen your friends around here lately…"
"Well, they've gone home already. We'll be leaving tomorrow." Kagome informed him.
"Oh, really, too bad." He smirked at Inu Yasha. "I thought I'd get another chance to make you eat surf."
Inu Yasha snorted. "Not likely."
Sota stepped up between the two teens. "Yeah, you were in the tournament and you lost too." The boy laughed, then ducked behind Inu Yasha when Jake let out an indignant snort himself.
"I was having an off day."
"Sure." Inu Yasha said dryly.
"Jake, where is your surf board?" Kagome questioned from her place on the towel.
He turned to her and his eyes roamed for a moment. A sharp growl brought him back to the present quickly and he blushed. "Um, over there." He pointed to a place not too far away where his board stood straight up in the sand.
"Would you mind if we borrowed it?" She stood and dusted off a little.
"Huh, well, I guess not." He grinned. "Are you taking up surfing now?"
Kagome rolled her eyes. "No." She turned to her mate. "Inu Yasha, why don't you take Sota out? I'm sure he'd love it." Kagome hadn't forgotten her promise to herself to let Sota go out with Inu Yasha, if the chance came.
"Huh?" Inu Yasha blinked at her. "Why would I do that?"
"Oh, come on, Inu Yasha. I didn't want him to go out there with Kitto. But I know you'd take care of him." Kagome made big puppy-dog eyes at him.
He sighed and grumbled as Sota began tugging on his arm, chanting. "Please, please, oh please, please, Inu Yasha please!"
Inu Yasha gave off an annoyed grunt. "Fine, fine, stop with the eyes already!"
Kagome grinned and threw her arms around him. "Thank you." She whispered, her breath tickling his skin.
Inu Yasha growled possessively and snaked an arm around her small waist pulling her against him. "Keep that up and I won't be going anywhere, as a matter of fact the squirt will have to find his own way back to the hotel."
His voice was low enough that only she could hear, but that didn't prevent the little pink that stole into her checks. She smiled and patted his chest. "Inu Yasha, behave yourself."
He shrugged as if saying,. 'I'm a demon, what else should you expect?'
Kagome turned to look for Sota, who had suddenly gone quiet. Nope, that wasn't it. He was still rambling but he was far enough down the beach that he was hard to hear. He was presently pulling Jake's board from the sand and dragging it back to them.
"Hey, watch it with that, kid!" Jake sputtered, though he made no attempt to help the young boy carry the large and bulky board back to them.
Inu Yasha, however, did make a move to help, but Kagome stopped him. "Let him do it." She told him softly. He nodded and allowed her brother to drag the board nearly to his feet before stopping and dropping it in the sand. He grinned up at his hero with a satisfied and proud smile.
Inu Yasha nodded his approval of a job well done. He was about to pick up the board when he stopped and turned to look at Kagome with troubled eyes. Concern quickly filled her own chocolate pools. "What's wrong?"
"I can't leave you here by yourself, what if…." Anger flashed in his eyes and she understood.
"Inu Yasha, I seriously doubt anything will happen to me. Taro is in the hospital and Gyou and Chi are not likely to even set foot out here while you're around." The sight of Gyou and Chi at the rehearsal dinner was still etched in her mind. The two had looked like a pair of scared rabbits. They had even shrunk away from them when they'd past them to get to their seats. Of course, Inu Yasha's growl had certainly had something to do with that too. Still, Kagome didn't have any fear of them anymore, not since the festival.
Inu Yasha frowned. "I don't know. I don't like leaving you unprotected. Look what happened the last time."
"Unprotected?" The couple turned to stare at Jake. For an instant they'd forgotten they weren't alone.
Sota came to their rescue. "Yeah, our cousins have been bullying Kagome. They've even tried to hurt her."
Jake blinked. "That's terrible. Well, don't worry, I'll stay with her. Besides, you've got to bring back my board."
Inu Yasha's frown deepened as he folded his arms and turned to scrutinize the young blonde haired man. 'They called him an a-may-ri-kan, whatever that is.' Truthfully, the guy didn't look like he could hold his own in a fight. He was tall and rather gangly. The night on the beach had been proof enough that he was not fit for such things. And Inu Yasha simply hated the way his blue eyes kept darting to Kagome and back again.
Kagome's soft hand on his arm drew his gaze to hers. "I'll be fine. Go on. There's not even that many people out today."
Slowly he nodded. "All right." He kissed her forehead. "Call me if you need me."
"Always," she promised.
Inu Yasha took up the board and stepped close to Jake with a deadly serious expression. "If anything happens to her, I'll kill you."
Jake gulped. "Got it." He watched as the silver haired man and the young boy splashed out into the water.
Kagome too watched intently as she settled back down on her towel. When the water began to get deep for Sota, Inu Yasha made him climb onto the board. Kagome watched in an almost mother-hen fashion as the two paddled into deeper water.
Jake sat down beside her on the towels. "You're boyfriend is really protective, isn't he? Not to mention possessive."
"Hum, oh yeah, I guess so." Kagome distractedly answered as she kept an eye on her brother. She wasn't really worried that anything would happen to him. She knew Inu Yasha would take care of him. It was just instinct to worry.
"That's a strange tattoo. I don't think you had that last time I saw you."
Kagome finally shot him a quick glance. "Huh? Oh, yes, my tattoo. It's very unique and very important to me."
"You and him must be pretty serious if you got matching tattoos."
He now had her full attention. "Yes, of course we are, he's my ma-my husband." Kagome fidgeted as he stared at her.
"Your husband?" He blinked once, twice, three times. "But I thought…Aren't you kind of young?"
"It only happened recently and we're keeping it quiet for now." She turned back to watching the now surfing pair in the water. Actually, Inu Yasha was one doing all the surfing. Sota merely sat on the end of the board on his knees and every once and a while swinging an arm in the air.
As she watched the spectacle, she missed the rather disappointed expression flash through Jake's eyes. The rest of the time he was rather quiet, waiting for the pair to return with his board.
Inu Yasha returned with Sota after one more round of catching waves. When they returned, Jake stood to greet them. Sota ran straight to Kagome. "Did you see, Kagome! That was awesome! Now I can go to school and tell my friends that I surfed!"
Kagome smiled. "Yep, you sure can. And I can be a witness too."
Inu Yasha handed Jake his board. "Thanks for watching over Kagome for me and for the loan."
Jake nodded, his energetic expression from before lost. "You're welcome. I should be going. See ya." He waved at Kagome and Sota before strolling off to where the rest of his things had been left.
Inu Yasha stared after him. "What's with him?"
Kagome stood and walked to his side. "Oh, I think I disappointed him."
"Huh?" He looked down at her curiously.
Kagome chuckled. "Oh, come on, Inu Yasha. Do you think I didn't notice?"
"What, you mean you knew he was trying to flirt with you?" He stared at her in shock for a moment.
Kagome rolled her eyes. "Of course, I think I've spent enough time around Miroku to know when someone's giving me a lecherous look."
A small smirk began to grow on his lips. "So what'd you tell him?"
"The truth." Inu Yasha blanched and Kagome chuckled. "Not that truth. I told him you were my husband, which you are as far as I'm concerned." She leaned up and brushed his lips lightly with hers. He frowned when she pulled away so quickly. He made a grab for her but Kagome ducked out of range. She smirked and dashed for the water.
Inu Yasha grinned and gave chase. He loved it when she was being playful. Too bad they weren't alone, he could put that energy to work for better purposes. He caught up with her with little effort, scooping her into his arms. "And just what was that about?"
"I was hot, so I thought I'd take a dip." Kagome informed him, matter-of-factly.
"Oh, really. Well, let me help you out with that." She squealed as he tossed her into the deeper water. The two frolicked for a while, until Sota joined them. Then Inu Yasha took turns dunking the siblings. It took both of them to overpower the hanyou and drag him down into the water as well. They played in the surf for a few more hours, until Kagome's stomach began to growl.
When Inu Yasha heard it, he chuckled but took her hand and began to pull her from the water. "Come on. I'm kind of hungry myself." Sota followed after them, proclaiming his own hunger.
Kagome dried off and glanced at her watch. "Wow, it's after 3:30. No wonder we're all hungry. Plus, we need to get back to start getting ready for the wedding."
Inu Yasha snorted. "Typical woman, you need three hours to dress?"
"Yes, it takes girls a lot longer to dress than guys and besides it takes longer to dress for something like this than just getting up and running around chasing demons, you know?"
Inu Yasha just shook his head as he scooped up Kagome's beach bag in one hand and wrapped the other around her waist. "Come on, let's get my koi something to eat first. Then we'll discuss your grooming habits."
Kagome pouted playfully as they headed back to the suite. Iki was already helping Gramps on with his tux by the time they arrived. She was dressed in her robe and her hair was already fixed. She gave them a relieved smile. "Oh, there you are. I was beginning to wonder if I'd have to come get you."
"Sorry, mom, we lost track of time." Kagome explained.
"Okay, fine, but we'll have to hurry if we want to fix your hair." Iki clapped her hands. "Alright, Sota, shower now, hop to it!"
Sota took off like a bolt towards his room. Kagome hurried towards her own room. "I'll shower first, so I can have longer to dress." Her voice began to fade into the other room.
"Hey, wait a minute! You were hungry! You need to eat something!" Inu Yasha began to stomp after her.
"I'll get something when I get out!" Inu Yasha was about to protest again but the bathroom door shut.
Inu Yasha stomped back into the living room and flopped into one of the kitchen chairs. Iki smiled at him. "What's wrong, Inu Yasha?"
"If she's hungry, she should eat, not put it off." He grumbled.
Iki could hear the underlying concern in his voice. "Inu Yasha, things are different in this time. We know there's food available whenever we want it, so it's not so urgent that we eat right when we're hungry. We don't have to go out and hunt down a meal, its just there."
Inu Yasha still frowned. "She should still eat when she's hungry."
Iki smiled tolerantly. "If it makes you feel any better, we can make her something and when she gets out I'll make sure she eats it."
He frowned but nodded. "Fine."
When Kagome emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a robe and drying her hair, she found a cup of steaming ramen shoved into her hand. "Eat." She blinked up at her hanyou. He stared right back until she finally relented and sat down to devour the cup. Once Inu Yasha was satisfied that his mate was eating, he disappeared into the bathroom to shower. While Kagome ate, Iki slipped into the bedroom to pull out Kagome's dress. When she crossed the living room with it, Kagome lifted an eyebrow.
"What are you doing?"
"I just thought I'd see what hair clips I have to match this." Iki took the dress and spread it over her bed. She pulled Kagome's shoes out of the bottom of the garment bag and set them on the floor beside her. Then she proceeded to dump her bag of hair clips onto the bed and dig through them. Kagome joined her in the room a little later and the two women began to dress.
When Inu Yasha stepped out of the shower, he found Sota sitting at the foot of their bed flipping through channels. "What are you doing in here, squirt? Where's Kagome?"
"She and Mom are getting dressed in the other room. They kicked me out. Mom told me to see if you need any help with your tux." Sota was already dressed in a miniature tux with his hair combed.
Inu Yasha just grunted. He remembered mostly how the tux went. He pulled it from the closet and examined it for a moment, before he began to dress. It didn't take long before he was fully dressed, jacket and all. The only problem seemed to be the bowtie, but even Sota was at a loss for that. "We'll, have to let Mom tie it. Mine's a clip-on." Sota demonstrated by pulling his bowtie off and reattaching it.
Inu Yasha scowled. "Why couldn't I have one of those clip-on things?" He fiddled with the bowtie again and then gave up completely.
"They usually only make them for kids." Sota held out the pair of glossy black shoes.
Inu Yasha's scowl darkened to a glower. 'Maybe I could talk Kagome out of making me wear those things.' He decided it was worth a chance. He took the shoes from Sota but didn't put them on, instead he carried them into the living room.
Iki appeared from the other bedroom about that moment and she smiled broadly. "Oh, Inu Yasha, you look simply wonderful!" Then her eyes traveled up to the cute pair of ears that always twitched when he was nervous. "Hmm, we'll have to do something about those." She took a step towards him and the hanyou took one in retreat.
"What are you talking about? I'll just wear my bandana like I have been."
Iki shook her head. "No, Inu Yasha, bandanas are inappropriate for weddings. We can fix your hair so it'll cover them." She took another step towards him. Inu Yasha blushed and took two more steps back. Iki was puzzled. She'd seen her daughter play with his ears often enough. Why was he acting so standoffish about them now? "What's wrong?"
"I only let Kagome touch my ears." He confessed, his cheeks turning a little redder.
Iki glanced at her watch. "Alright, let me go see if she's done dressing yet." Iki disappeared into the other room for a moment and then the door opened again this time to reveal Kagome.
Inu Yasha stared slack jawed, wide eyed, heart stopped, and room spinning at his beloved. Kagome was dressed in a red satin dress that fell to just above her ankles with a split that rose well above her right knee. The material clung to her curves and accented the taunt muscles beneath. The top of the dress was strapless, revealing quite openly her mate-mark. The top was also trimmed in stiff golden embroidery that made a low V in the front and then carried on around to her back where it criss-crossed as golden cords over her bare skin all the way to the small of her back. Her shoes were red with straps that climbed up her calves in an elegant cross pattern. Her hair was pulled up into a half bun, with many ringlets curling around to frame her porcelain face. Inu Yasha had to fight down the demon's terrible and wonderful urge to rip the offending clothing off her and carry her away right then.
Kagome stood staring at her hanyou decked in the modern tux, his golden eyes a wide as full moons, shimmering with an inner light. Her eyes traveled up his body, taking in every delicious inch. 'It's true. Even the best looking men look even better in tuxes.' The pants hugged his hips just tight enough that she knew the view from behind would be well worth the wait. The undershirt had little pinstripes of silver and when he shifted she could see his muscles ripple beneath it. The suit jacket showed off his strong shoulders in a way that took her breath away. She smiled as her eyes landed on the red untied bowtie and it only grew as they continued upward over his chiseled jaw and round lips to meet molten pools of amber.
Like a force of nature as their eyes locked the world melted and they were drawn to one another. In three unsteady steps they met each other half way. "Kagome…" Inu Yasha twisted a clawed finger in one of the long curls that framed her glowing face. "You're…you're beautiful…"
Kagome smiled up at him as she cupped his cheeks in her hands. "And you are more handsome than words can express." His smile grew as he dipped his head to capture her lips in a hunger filled kiss. His arm snaked around her, crushing her to him. Her arms slipped around his neck as she returned the kiss with the same hunger. Before she could suppress it a moan slipped from her throat which caused an equally expressive rumble to come from her mate.
Someone cleared their throat nearby and the two jumped. Iki stood in her bedroom door with several pins, bands and combs. "Are you two finished? We haven't got all night." Her face tinted pink at walking in on such an intimate interaction.
Kagome blushed and Inu Yasha cleared his throat several times before speaking. "Uh, yeah."
Sota wasn't quite so tactful. He made a face from where he stood in the other bedroom doorway. "I'll say! Are you two trying to give me a complex or something? I'm still a kid, you know!" Inu Yasha turned and growled at the boy, who immediately darted back into the other room to avoid his impending doom at the hands of his 'brother-in-law'.
Kagome meanwhile was composing herself enough for coherent thought again. She slowly looked back up at Inu Yasha. "Mom said she wanted me to fix your hair to cover your ears." He looked back down at her and nodded. She smiled as she reached for one of his fuzzy appendages. "It's a real shame to have to hide these. I really miss them."
Her beloved's eyes began to slide shut as she rubbed. "Then leave them out."
She stopped and he let out a groan of protest. She patted his cheek. "Once we leave here, I'll give them a thorough massage for all the torment we've caused them."
His eyes lit up. "Promise?"
She grinned. "I promise." He smiled and pulled out a chair to sit in while Kagome began the task of pulling back his hair to cover his ears. After fixing his hair and tying his bowtie, a brief argument ensued about wearing the hated shoes. Which, of course, Kagome won in the end. After everyone was again assembled, Sota from the bedroom and Gramps from the balcony, they all headed downstairs.
The wedding itself was to be held on the hotels patio, which faced the glimmering ocean waves of the late afternoon. The main hall was to be used as the reception area and was already prepared for such. Iki, Gramps, and Sota led the way while Kagome followed with Inu Yasha grumbling beside her about the uncomfortable footwear. He soon forgot about them though as they grew nearer the main assemblage where not only family but non-family were gathering.
Many heads turned to ogle over the handsome couple as they came onto the patio. Inu Yasha's human half swelled with pride to see the men looking enviously at his mate, while his demon half wanted to snap those same heads right off for even looking at her. In the end he settled for a smirk and a possessive arm wrapped around Kagome's waist.
Iki, Gramps and Sota found seats on the bride's side of the isle. Kagome had other ideas. She found two seats on the very back row of the groom's side. Shina would understand the insult quite well when she entered.
A little while later the crowd began to settle and quiet as Fushigi took his place near the arch of fresh green vines and roses. He glanced their way and lifted an eyebrow at them. Otherwise he didn't seem to care one way or another. The six violins, two violas, three cellos and one bass began to play as a slow progression of bridesmaids and groomsmen made their entrance. Then the music shifted and everyone turned to watch as the bride entered on the arm of her father.
Shina glanced around the room briefly as they paused in the doorway, her very sparkly and flashy dress gleaming in the sunlight. For a moment her gaze lingered on Kagome and narrowed sharply, before it returned to a bright fake smile as she and her father continued their waltz up the isle. When she finally stopped at the arch, her train nearly reached the third row of seats. The wedding was very westernized though it still contained the traditional sharing of sake. They exchanged vows and there was the traditional kissing of the bride before the two rather regally made their exit.
Kagome leaned close to Inu Yasha. "You know, if Shina wasn't such a jerk and those two weren't just marrying for money, this wedding could have passed for romantic."
Inu Yasha frowned. "Kagome, are you sure you don't want a human wedding like that too?"
Kagome pulled herself into his lap and leaned her head on his shoulder. "Maybe later, right now I'm happy with the way things are. And I've already told you, as far as I'm concerned we're already married."
His arms tightened around her and he pressed a soft kiss to her brow. They were alone now on the patio and the sun was beginning to set. They watched it settle over the western horizon and the many shades of the rainbow appeared to shower the sky with layers of pink, purple, orange, red, yellow, and blue.
Kagome giggled as she heard a low rumble come from Inu Yasha's stomach, effectively ending the rather peaceful moment. She stood up and pulled him up with her. "Come on, they'll be serving dinner soon. You're hungry and we might as well get a free meal out of this deal."
Inu Yasha just smirked as he allowed her to lead him back inside and to the main hall. They found their seats just in time to receive their first course. Kagome chattered away with her grandmother, who happened to be sitting near her; while Iki and Gramps debated something in the news. Inu Yasha was cursed with the million-question kid to his right, who was apparently some relative of Fushigi's. Inu Yasha, however, had silently dubbed him 'the-mouth-that-never-stops'. The boy was currently asking him why he'd died his hair white and why his bowtie was red and why Kagome had some strange bruise on her shoulder and….and….and…. The hanyou tuned the boy out and continued to clean his plate of food.
After dinner, the newlyweds cut their cake, drank their Champaign, and took their first dance near the bandstand. More couples slowly filled the floor beside them. Iki smiled mischievously as she turned to her 'son-in-law'. "Inu Yasha, would you mind taking an old woman for a spin on the floor?"
Inu Yasha's eyebrows shot into his hairline and one eye twitched. Kagome giggled at her mate's rather hilarious look. He glanced questioningly at her. "Go on, Inu Yasha, it's just Mom. I won't get jealous, I promise." She continued to snicker as he shifted uncomfortably for a moment.
Iki rose and patted him on the shoulder. "See, Inu Yasha? Kagome doesn't mind."
Before he could protest, he was being drug out onto the dance floor. Kagome continued to laugh as Iki positioned herself a good arm's length away from him, while coaxing the hanyou into moving his feet. He blushed furiously when she placed his left hand on her waist and took his right in hers. He spared Kagome another nervous glance, in which she had enough sense to hold her composure long enough to smile and wave at him. Iki tortured him through the rest of that song and through the next before she took pity on him and started back towards their table. They had ended up on the far side of the dance floor away from the others, and had to cross through the crowd to get back.
Iki smiled at him. "Now, that wasn't so bad was it?"
Inu Yasha blushed again and shrugged. At that moment all he wanted was to get back to Kagome's side where it was safe and he knew his place. The fates it seemed were working against him though, as a figure in white stepped into his path, separating him from Iki who was walking ahead of him several paces.
Shina smiled broadly up at him. "Say, handsome, don't you owe me a dance?"
Inu Yasha snorted and folded his arms. "No."
Shina put on a fake pout. "Ah, but you promised."
His eyes narrowed. "I did not!"
She smiled her seductive smile. "Oh, come on, you know you want to." She reached out to run her fingers down his arm. "I'm the bride. You can't refuse me on my wedding day."
The sound of flesh contacting with flesh echoed through the hall, which fell into an eerie silence.
&&&&&
A/N: Hahaha, another cliff hanger! Evil captwulf, bad girl, no biscuit! Hahahaha! –runs for cover, while angry crowd searches for her- Much love! TTFN! R&R! MIA! LOL! And what ever else acronyms you can think of….
