Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.
REVISED: format - 10/15/2006

Replaced Bride – Part VII
Hello, Mrs. Jaken?

Bored. Bored, bored, bored.

Bored, bored, bored, bored, bored.

Bored, bored, bored… I lost count again.

Kagome growled and slammed the papers onto her (Sesshoumaru's, actually) desk. "First it's this, now it's that, then it's that and finally it's this. What is going through that thick head of his? Assuming any thoughts make it past his hair." She pouted and crossed her arms in a childishly defiant manner, tilting her chair back grumpily.

Yesterday it had been a makeover—which she'd protested over to no avail, ending up having her hair cut to a fashionable bob, her eyebrows painfully waxed, her bikini line even more painfully waxed, light frosting added to her naturally black hair (it made no sense to her), and a whole new wardrobe (in jewel tones) bought. Normally, she would have loved all the fuss and bother, but only when the choices were hers.

Not his.

Her too-arrogant, know-it-all, too-good-of-fashion-sense fiancé who wasn't even keeping her company.

"Arrgh!"

She slapped the palm of her hand onto the desk, wincing slightly at the jarring pain. Of course, it didn't distract her from pushing herself into a rather stupendously fine state of fury.

"Does he really think I'm supposed to go along with his… his… preposterous proposal if all I can do to keep myself occupied is to see how many times he uses 'I' in his reports?"

"I think so." The second voice floated in from a side door. Kagome frowned at the new arrival.

"Sango, that was shorter than normal. Only fifteen minutes?"

The older girl shrugged with a laugh. "Inuyasha had a business meeting. Why, should I feel used and abused?"

"Something like that…" Her mood darkened immediately. "He left me again this morning without a single word! Does he really think I'm going to keep letting him do this!"

"Probably. It's not like you've been standing up to him about it. Everything else on the face of this planet, including your hair, but not this."

At that nasty little grain of truth, Kagome growled. "Sango…" the warning in her voice was clear.

"All right, all right. I'll let up on the hair."

"…Sango…"

"Fine, fine. How about we change the subject entirely—like, to dinner?"

"Di—oh, no!" She jumped to her feet. "I forgot to call the main house!"

"What are you talking about?" Sango tilted her head curiously.

"The cook! He fired her yesterday, and I was supposed to call the main house to get a replacement. Oh, why does he do this to me?" she groaned, jumping to her feet and dashing out the door to find a phone. It didn't occur to her to use the one that was right on the desk—after all, she was still new to the desk-business.

"Ah…" The older girl sighed as she trudged along behind her energetic companion. "So this late in the evening, that means we have to cook?"

"No, I'm sure we can get something from there. Or order out." Kagome grabbed the portable and hit "1"—the speed dial of the kitchens. Her foot began tapping at the third ring and no answer.

"Is anyone even there?"

"Doesn't look like it…" she tucked the receiver more firmly between her ear and shoulder, reaching into her back pocket for a small black book and flipping through the pages. "Guess we're ordering out. Um… pizza?"

"The boys will like that." Sango snagged the phone, hanging it up. "There's only one problem."

"What?"

"Them." She jerked her head slightly in the direction of the window. Kagome turned to look, blinking slightly at the unfamiliar figures walking up the driveway. One was obviously a very well dressed youkai, and the other…

After a moment of silence, she did a quick check of her clothes. Slim black skirt, white blouse. Plain, but fine. Sango, on the other hand, was still dressed in a robe—probably because Inuyasha had a tendency to take her out of clothes before she was even in them…

"Hurry! Go get dressed!" she hissed, pushing her best friend toward the stairs.

- - -

"You have never designed a line for women's clothing before, dear. Are you sure you are up to it?"

"If Kirishima Sesshoumaru wants something, I am up to it," Jaken replied calmly. "And as I hear it, his wife will be a good specimen."

"Oh?" the woman asked, sounding slightly piqued.

"Not as wonderful as you, of course, my love." He lifted her hand to kiss the back of it gently. She smiled, appeased.

The door opened just as they reached it, spilling light much brighter than that of the evening sky. A young girl stood before them, smiling sheepishly. "Good evening!"

"Good evening." Jaken frowned, addressing her in Japanese, rather affronted by her crass English. "I am here to see Sesshoumaru-sama."

"He's at a business meeting. I'm sorry—you could come in, if you like…" She stepped back to wave them through rather nervously. "I'm not, um, sure when he'll be back. Oh! I'm sorry—I'm Higurashi Kagome."

Good Japanese. A very slight accent, but that is to be expected.

"This is my wife, Nanda." Jaken introduced her somewhat pompously. He always did so—showing off his pride of her as openly as he could. "And I—I am Jaken."

"Kagome?" his wife interjected. "Is it not Kirishima Kagome?"

"Er—no. Not yet, anyway." She waved them in again, closing the door behind them as they entered the much warmer atmosphere of the building. "The wedding isn't for another week… or so. Um, may I ask why you're here?"

Nervous. Odd—I would have expected him to marry a more sophisticated woman. Though… she looks much like Kikyou. Hmm, well, it isn't my place to worry about it. "My husband is to take measurements for your wedding dress, dear." She spoke kindly, trying to put this 'Kagome' at ease. So young…

"M-my wedding dress?" she stuttered. "Oh. Um. I… that is…"

"Hmph. I think a traditional kimono would work. You are Japanese, yes?" Jaken looked her over calmly, circling.

"Well—yes. Mama and Daddy were…"

"Very good, very good. Then a kimono it shall be. Though Sesshoumaru-sama shall wear a tux, yes? One of mine, in fact." He laughed. "The best of the best for Sesshoumaru-sama. Hmm, a mix of traditional and modern for the wedding plans, then—keep that in mind. It all revolves around the bride and groom, which in turn takes into account their dress. So any old plans—change them. Hmm. Nanda, what think you?"

"Of course, dear," she agreed complacently, gifting him with a loving smile.

To be quite perfectly, bluntly, and horribly honest—Kagome really didn't see what Nanda had for the tall toad-like man. And he had an amazing resemblance to an old portrait of Sesshoumaru (in droolworthy ancient armor) being followed by… well, a miniature Jaken with a staff, completely with buggy yellow eyes and beak.

Perhaps she should… no. It would be rude.

But his wife seemed to understand her faintly appalled/somewhat curious look.

"While he goes off on his creative spree, we should talk." She patted the couch next to her, eyes warm and welcoming. It was no wonder that Jaken held such love and pride of the woman—she had a great heart.

"Mm," Kagome agreed nervously, sitting beside her.

"You are wondering how we became a couple?"

"Well…" she fidgeted. "Not exactly… uh… I see you two love each other very much," she added lamely, feeling horribly… horrible.

"Ah, no worries." She laughed. "Many see his outward appearance and wonder. It is normal human nature. However!" She raised a finger. "It is not the nature of youkai. You should know that."

Kagome lowered her head slightly. "You—you're a youkai?"

"No, no. Perfectly human, dear." She chuckled. "Much to his dismay, of course." Her husband was standing with a far off look on his face, mumbling to himself. "The age difference, you understand." Her voice lowered slightly to speak that phrase, then rose again. "To be honest, I met him when I was trying to get into my car. I had locked my keys inside!" She shook her head. "And he came and broke my window to get at them. And paid for the bill to fix it…"

Her eyes glistened as she recalled that moment. "He was so gallant and sweet!"

Tears came to Kagome's eyes as she heard the deep, abiding respect and love in the older woman's words. "That's so romantic."

"Yes. Yes, it was. Not more romantic than our first date, though. A picnic by the pond he grew up near as a child. Why, you wouldn't believe the stories he had about various fish youkai in the vicinity." She chuckled. "And he knew the perfect place to sit… and watch the stars…"

"Stars!" Jaken snapped his fingers. "Perfect idea, my love. Yes, a crescent moon shall be tattooed to her forehead—to mark her coming to the family, of course—and stars shall embroider her sleeves…"

Completely oblivious to what he was saying (being too caught up in the youkai's wife's memories), Kagome leaned closer. "When did you two decide to marry?"

"Oh!" Nanda laughed brightly. "He proposed to me, if you would believe it, when we were on our way to his first fashion show. He got on one knee in the limo, and there! 'Nanda, my love. You are what allows me to show my warts with pride.' Well, right there, I was completely enthralled. I was so happy…"

"Oh!" Kagome clapped her hands together. "That is so sweet…" she sighed.

"No, no, warts won't do…" Jaken mumbled.

"Would you like to stay over for dinner? We don't have much…" she flushed slightly. "That is, our cook, ah, couldn't make it tonight. I was thinking of ordering pizza—the boys love it so much, you see…"

"Jaken loves pizza," Nanda replied happily. "You have children? I do too—so many, in fact, that…"

"No, no! My little brother. I don't think I'll have children for quite a while yet…"

"Oh, not if I know Sesshoumaru," the older woman said slyly, arching a brow. "I wouldn't be surprised if you were pregnant right now, in fact. He would want you to be."

"Eh—ah—wh-what!"

"You know, to keep you living as long as possible. Their researchers have yet to find the Fountain of Life, so there's only one other way to have longevity as a human. To have youkai blood in you." Nanda sighed. "Well, we've tried blood transfusions, but… the youkai blood burns itself up and disappears. The only other way we've found out is to stay pregnant—our children would be half youkai then, you see, and as they are connected to us… we do not age normally when such occurs." She smiled. "I should tell you about our first couple years with children—oh, how nervous Jaken was…"

Pregnant… you mean…

Ohhh, no. I really don't think so.

She tried to force her mind back onto track of listening to Nanda speak of their (very, very, very many) children. But…

PREGNANT!

I REALLY DON'T THINK SO, SESSHOUMARU!

You and I are having a TALK when you get back from that meeting.

Oh yes…

Definitely a 'talk'.