I know that this is a very short chapter but there is a reason for everything that I do. And thank you to all who have done reviews for this story. I know that this is an odd combination but I think that in the end, you will love what I have done! Now, on with the story! Hey! A few reviews for my odd couple! Woo hoo!
Chigirl and Sabryn: I am glad that you are finding this story interesting. I know that it is an odd couple type of story but I really think that they have passion. I adore Sesshomaru and that chapter hurt me to write, but it was needed because of what is going to happen next.
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha but I do have their words here!
They arrived in the village in the early afternoon. It took a little longer than they expected since Shippo wanted to see if Sesshomaru and Rin were home and they were here in the village. Shippo saw Rin right away in Sango's garden behind her home. He gave Sango a kiss on the cheek before leaping off her shoulder and heading to Rin. Not long did she hear the two pups laughing and screaming in joy.
Kouga looked at Sango, "I am heading to InuYasha's, I will send Kikyou to get Kagome and then come here."
He gave her a kiss on the cheek before leaving in a whirlwind of dust. She coughed and waved her hands around to clear the dust quickly, which never worked. She often wondered why she bothered. She walked up to her house and started to clean. It has been ages since she has been here. She looked out the window in the kitchen and saw Sesshomaru watching the children play in the flowers. Rin already had a huge bouquet in her hands. It was a rather interesting sight to see because Sesshomaru had a ring of flowers on her head. It was so hard for Sango to stifle her laugher behind her hand. It was not long before she was bursting with laughter. Sesshomaru saw her in the window and got up and went into the house.
"I am glad that my embarrassment amuses you Sango."
"Ha ha ha. I am sorry Sesshomaru but you know that you still have that hard-ass image to hold and to see you with a ring of flowers on your head is just too funny. So, are you too pretty to give a good friend a hug?"
Sesshomaru moved closer to her and hugged her. He breathed in her scent and closed his eyes. "I miss you at the palace. Everyone is asking if you are well. I have dispelled the rumors that were going around."
Sango broke her embrace with him, "What rumors?"
"There were demons saying that you left me because you hated me and that I would not make you mine. I had them punished for disrespecting me and you for that."
"I hope that you were lenient on them."
"Yes, they had to look after Ah Un."
Sango started to laugh again. That darn dragon hated everyone but Rin and Sesshomaru. But Sango was able to get them to stop biting her and just giving small nibbles. Sango continued to clean with Sesshomaru just sitting at the table listening to her babble about things that she wanted to know on how the palace was doing. It was not long after that, that there was a knock at the door. Sango went and answered it. Kikyou and Kagome screeched and jumped into her arms. They were all laughing and talking so loud. Poor Sesshomaru had a very annoying look on his face.
"Can't you women learn to not screech and talk so loud!" Sesshomaru growled.
Sango looked at him and waved her hand, "Sorry Sesshomaru! I forgot!"
Kagome looked at him, "You are being beckoned at my house. I guess that the guys thought that you shouldn't be subjected to us women! Ha ha."
Sesshomaru got up and started heading for the door. "Thank you Kagome. See you ladies later."
All 3 ladies went out into the gardens. Kagome's little ears on her head started twitching furiously. Ever since the blood exchange with InuYasha, she also took on a pair of cute ears like his on her head instead on the side of her head. She was even cuter now than when she was a full human!
"So, Sango what kind of plans are you going to make for your human wedding?" Kikyou asked.
"Yeah Sango, what have you done so far since he asked? I mean, it has been like 3 weeks almost since he asked you." Kagome said with question.
"Well, that is one reason why I am having you guys over and why I am in the village. I have not done anything and I need some help! Both of you are now married and I need some help on planning this whole thing!" Sango said hurriedly. Hoping that the girls did not notice her nervousness.
Both Kagome and Kikyou looked at each other in amazement.
"What kind of wedding are you looking for? Are you looking for one like mine or like Kikyou's?" Kagome asked
"I am looking for one that is in between the two. I would like to have a beautiful traditional wedding kimono like you Kikyou. But I would like to have the modern age of the vows like you Kagome. I would like to have the red ribbon ceremony connected with the continuum to the blood exchange ceremony."
Kikyou and Kagome looked at Sango with very large eyes. Both of them at the same time said, "You want to do both the red ribbon and the blood exchange ceremonies! Yay!"
All the girls then started to laugh and jump around. The children just looked at each other and laughed.
"What are they getting all excited about?" Rin asked
"Sango and Kouga are getting married and from what it sounds like, Kikyou and Kagome are going to help Sango with her plans."
"Oh. I was still hoping that Sango and Lord Sesshomaru were going to get married. I guess not now." Rin said with sadness in her voice.
Shippo went and gave Rin a large hug and did not let her go. "I know that you were hoping for a mother in Sango. But, if you think about it, we are still like best friends and we are always going to be there for one another. Do you promise me?"
"Yes Shippo! I promise you that I will always be there for you when you need me."
The girls were looking at the children this whole time. Seeing them and hearing them promise to themselves that they are always going to be there for one another almost made all 3 women cry. Just then both Shippo and Rin went back to playing and picking flowers.
While the women were talking Rin and Shippo would come and deliver flowers to each one of the beauties in the garden while they were talking of what kind of flowers and paper they were going to hang and other preparations for the wedding. By the time that Lord Sesshomaru, Muso, InuYasha and Kouga came back to the house, the women had very large bouquets in their hands.
InuYasha went to Kagome and kissed her full on the lips. She wrapped her arms around his neck kissing him back. "I missed you honey." Kagome said with love in her voice. InuYasha smiled. He was so happy.
Muso went to Kikyou and gave her a large hug. She hugged him back. "I also missed you my sweet." Kikyou said with love in her voice. Muso smiled and rubbed his nose on her nose. "Eye, I did too."
Lord Sesshomaru went and threw Rin in the air. She squealed with delight. "Did you have fun my little flower?" Rin laughed out loud. "Yes Lord Sesshomaru! I had such a wonderful time! Are we staying over night tonight?" Sesshomaru looked at Sango.
Sango was getting a kiss from Kouga on her cheek. Lord Sesshomaru looked away and at Rin. "We are going to wait and ask her later after dinner." Rin shook her head. "I would really like to." Lord Sesshomaru rubbed his nose on Rin's little one. "What are you guys staring at? I am just giving my pup some love that she deserves for being such a good girl while I was gone."
"I…I guess that we just have never seen you show affection towards another before out in public let alone at all." Kagome said.
"A lot have changed since the last time that all of you have seen me. I have decided and learned that life is short and to live life again to the fullest and to never regret my choices and my loves." Sesshomaru said as he once again hugged Rin.
Shippo ran to Sango and Kouga. "Mommy! Daddy!"
Sango opened her arms to him as he jumped in them and snuggled his head in her chest. Kouga laughed.
"What are you so worried about kit?" Kouga asked.
"I just wanted to give you guys some love since Sesshomaru is right." Shippo explained.
Kouga's eyebrows went up. He then laughed. "Yes, he was right. Life is short. I guess that is why I would like to say to you Sango my love, that we have 3 weeks until our wedding. 3 weeks from today we are going to be married and together forever."
Sango smiled. She was so happy that he finally decided on a date to hold our wedding. She hugged Kouga with such force that she forgot that Shippo was still in her arms, so he was getting squashed in between them! Now everyone was laughing since Shippo was getting smushed.
"Ok guys. Now that you know when it is going on, I was wondering something of you Kikyou, Kagome, and Rin." Sango said as she looked at each of them.
"And I was wondering something of you guys also, InuYasha, Sesshomaru, Muso and Shippo." Kouga said with arrogance in his voice.
Everyone was watching the two wondering what was going on. Sango gave Shippo to Kouga as she stood up and walked over to Kagome.
She grabbed Kagome's hands, "Kagome, you have always been more of a sister to me ever since the beginning. I was wondering if you would be my matron of honor for my wedding?" Kagome's eyes got wide and she grabbed Sango and gave her a large hug. "Of course you ninny! I would love to be since you were mine!" Sango smiled.
She then turned to Kikyou and Rin, "Kikyou I was wondering if you would be honored to be one of my bridesmaids. I know that we have had our differences but things are different now and I consider us good friends." Kikyou smiled and gave her a hug. "Yes, I would be honored. Since you were one for my wedding."
She then walked up to Rin who was still in Lord Sesshomaru's arms. She grabbed Rin out of his hands and smiled at him as she did. "Rin, you know that I hold you in my heart as my own daughter. I love you with all my heart and always will be there for you. I was wondering if you could be there for me for this one time." Rin looked at her tilting her head to the side. "What is wrong Sango? You know I will help all that I can." Sango smiled. "Good, because I was wondering if you would be my flower girl for my wedding! I would like you to walk down the isle before me laying flowers all over the place." Rin squealed for joy. "Oh! Of course I will! You know how much I love the flowers in your garden! Oh! Do I get to wear a pretty dress and everything! Oh I am so excited! Do we have to wait this long!" Sango laughed and hugged Rin so hard. "Yes my sweet we have to wait but you can come over and practice any time you want! I want you to do your best you know! And I will make sure that you have the most beautiful dress in the world! Well, next to mine anyways!"
As Sango was asking each girl if she would perform her duty for her, Kouga was going to each guy asking for him.
Kouga went up to InuYasha, "Well, mutt you think that you can behave at my wedding long enough to be my best man?"
InuYasha looked at him through slits, he had squeezed his eyes low wondering if he was lying or not. Then he started laughing and hit him on the shoulder. "You know I will you stinky ass wolf. Otherwise you never would have been a groomsman at mine! Ha ha." Kouga laughed. He remembered that, that was the night that he professed his love to Sango. While they danced on the floor.
Kouga then went to Muso, "Muso, I know that we don't know each other well but, you have been a good man to Kikyou and to everyone else with your carpentry work, would you be one of my groomsmen?' Muso smiled and shook Kouga's hand, "Yes I would be honored. You were a wonderful one for mine so I must return the favor for you."
Kouga then got up the nerve to walk up to Lord Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru was staring at him wondering if he was going to ask him considering their past with the woman that they both adored and loved. "Sesshomaru, I know that we have had our differences and our fights. I would like to put that behind us since Sango requested that we do. I know that you stay here when you visit and that is fine with me. I have no quams about it. But, that is not the point here."
"Then what is the point Lord Kouga?"
Kouga's and clenched into fists for a second by his legs. "Lord Sesshomaru I would be honored if you would be a groomsmen next to Muso in my wedding. I am not asking for Sango, I am asking for myself. I do respect you and your family. Yes, even mutt over there. But, would you be one of my groomsmen for my wedding?"
Lord Sesshomaru looked at him and smiled. Yes he actually smiled and bowed to Kouga, "Lord Kouga I would be gratefully honored to be part of your wedding to Sango."
Everyone stopped and was amazed at the show of respect that Sesshomaru showed Kouga. Sango smiled and she went to them. "Thank you Sesshomaru, I am glad that you are going to be apart of this."
"My pleasure is only to see you happy Sango."
Sango smiled and held Rin closer to her. Kouga then held out Shippo in front of him. "Well little kit, you do realize that we cannot have Rin walk down the aisle all alone right?" Shippo shook his head. "Well, then do you think that you can escort her as the ring bearer?" Shippo got so excited at the question that he grabbed Kouga around the neck and screamed, "Yes! Yes I will! I will make you and mommy proud of me!"
Rin looked at Shippo, "Yay! We can do this together!" "Yes we can Rin!"
Everyone laughed at the children.
"Well, I guess that we better get dinner on the table. Let's all go inside and prepare dinner!" Sango said feeling very happy that things turned out.
"Wait Sango, the numbers do not add up." Kagome said.
Sango stopped in her tracks. Rin was still in her arms when she turned to Kagome.
"I have one other that I have to ask and it is going to be hard but I am going to because I want to. I am going to ask Kagura to be my last bridesmaid."
Everyone just stopped and stared at her. Kouga came up to her, "Are you sure that you want to do this my sweet?" She shook her head, "Yes, I have come to know Kagura away from Miroku and I am proud to be her friend." Kagome clapped her hands together; "Well, then let's all go over there now and pay them a visit. Then we can have some dinner. If we are to go forward and move away from the past, then we must do it now before it is too late." Sango agreed and they walked to Kagura and Miroku's home. Sango knocked on the door when all of them got there. Kagura came and opened the door and her eyes got wide when she saw the whole group there.
"Um, hi guys. Can I help you with something Sango?" Kagura asked with a surprised look.
"Yes, I was wondering if we all could come in. There is some important news that we need to express to you and Miroku."
"Ok, come on in and please have a seat in the living room. I will go and get Miroku and we will meet you there." Kagura left and met everyone in the living room after she got Miroku out of the study.
Miroku came into the living room with his mate and he was amazed to see that everyone was there. InuYasha, Kagome, Muso, Kikyou, Rin, Sesshomaru, Shippo, Sango and Kouga all there in his living room. He did not know if he could trust what was going on but he trusted Kagura when she told him that they had news.
"Hi guys. What is the special occasion for all of you to come here to our home?" Miroku asked.
"Well, I think that I would like to answer some of that for you Miroku. Why don't you sit down while I talk and you can just sit there and let it sink in your thick head." Sango said. Miroku agreed and sat down with Kagura next to him.
"I know that our past was a special one. We fought together side by side for many years. I admit that I fell in love with you more and more every time you protected me. I gave myself time to get over you with Sesshomaru after you told me that you were going to mate with Kagura. Sesshomaru taught me many things on moving on and showing your feelings for the ones that you care about. I know that a sound a little off the wall but it is true and he now is such a different person, that I am honored to know him. Kouga has showed me love, affection, and protection. He is able to give me all that I was actually looking for in a mate that it scared me at first. But, as I got to know him more, he showed me that I couldn't hold grudges because he looked past his with InuYasha and learned to like Muso. I have done the same thing with Kikyou and of course, never had a problem with Kagome, but one thing that you do not know is that I have been trying to get to know Kagura more. Every time that I saw her, I wanted to know more about her and get close to her. It was not a malicious reason for me to do this; it was to get past my anger and my hate for her for her taking you away from me. I have learned that she was not the one who did that. That fate just decided that I was destined to be with another. And that other was to be with Kouga. I would not have changed things now even if I could. I am so happy right now and I know that you are with Kagura. I think that Kagura and I have gotten close behind your back. We figured that you would freak and think that I was up to something but oh well. I am here to look past my past with you two and live on with my life. So, with all that said, Kagura, would you please do me the honor of being one of my bridesmaids for my wedding to Kouga?"
Miroku and Kagura looked at each other in surprise. "So, you have been getting to know her behind my back?"
Kagura looked at her hands, "Yes, I knew that you would have been upset so I did not tell you."
"I would not have been mad! I am very happy! I was hoping that Sango would not hold a grudge over you or me for my actions that day. I am very happy!"
Kagura got happy and hugged him and then looked at Sango. "I would be very honored to be a part of your wedding Sango. Very much so. Thank you."
Sango was so happy. Everyone cheered because they were so happy.
Kagura looked at everyone, "So you guys hungry? I have dinner prepared and it would not take that long to make more to accommodate everyone."
Sango looked at everyone, "Well, we were going to ask you to my house but since you have everything prepared I am sure that all 4 of us ladies can help prepare some more in no time."
Kagura smiled and all 4 women headed for the kitchen. Pretty soon all the men in the living room could hear some clangs and clops and laughing and giggling between all 4 of them. Rin ran to go into the kitchen to see if she could help. Pretty soon the men could see her bring out more plates and cups for dinner to place on the table. Sesshomaru was so proud that he was able to show her the common life and to be able to do things by herself for survival instead of all his servants helping her all the time. Soon afterwards Kagome peeked her head around the little makeshift partition. "Dinner is ready! Why don't you guys sit down while we bring it out!"
And with that being said all the men in the living room dashed into the dining room to sit down eagerly awaiting their meals. Sango took Sesshomaru aside real quick before bringing out her part of the meal.
"Sesshomaru, with it being so late in the evening and all, I was wondering if you would like to stay at my house tonight. I hate to think of Rin traveling so late at night. Plus, it is a little chilly out. I do not need her sick."
"Ok. We usually stay for a few nights anyways. Plus, with all the commotion going on, I think that it is best that we stay anyways. I am going to go back for a bit tomorrow though to make sure that Diaga takes care of things while I am gone."
"That sounds like a plan then." Sango smiled.
She then went back into the kitchen and everyone started eating as the women brought out the food. They all ate heartily and talked of happy things. Sango sat there with Shippo and Rin in her lap. They fell asleep while they were all talking.
I am so happy that things are going so well. I hope in my heart that they stay that way.
Later that night they all dispersed to their own homes and went to bed. For the next day is going to be busy for all of them to start the preparations for the upcoming wedding that everyone is waiting for.
