"Father, Sesshoumaru has already taken up his seat at the elder's council. Do you just expect me to sit back and let this offense to your legacy stand? It should be you in that chair, not that flea bitten mongrel." Ichiro snarled, banging his fist down on the table top like a petulant child.

"And start a war within the council? We may have a few allies, but I doubt they would remain loyal for long if a clan war broke out. We can not win with sheer brute force. " His sister hissed disapprovingly.

"Calm yourself my son. Aratani is correct in this. We must not act rashly. The dog has yet to officially take his seat with the elders. He merely occupies the chair- he has no true power among the elders as of yet. There is still time. There are others among the council ranks that dispise Sesshoumaru and his ilk as much as we do. However, with the inu brothers newly aligned with that miko, they may prove more difficult to take down than I anticipated."

"Father, I would love nothing more than to see the Taishio brothers crushed under our feet, but the miko has given birth to a child. As much as I hate those dogs for your taking our land, I will not condone the practice of slaughtering children. We are not mindless beasts."

"Such sentiment will cost you this war before it's even begun." Came a silken voice from the shadows. The panthers jumped, claws poised, ready to defend themselves from the intruder.

"Who are you, and how did you get in here?" Isamu demanded.

"Call me Naraku." The shadowy figure emerged from his hiding spot adorned in the pelt of a white baboon. "And if you wish to dethrone the dog, I say why wait? Now is the perfect time to strike."

"What would you know of it?" Aratani speat, still brandishing her claws.

"Let him speak, sister." Ichiro snapped, his interest piqued.

" I know quite a lot, actually. And that miko, Kagome, is not only the Inu Taishio's greatest weapon, but his greatest weakness." Naraku purred.

"I do not know you. Why should I trust your information?" Isamu questioned. "Remove yourself from my sight before I end your life."

"Wait father, l would like to hear what he has to say. " Ichiro pleaded.

"Very well." The ancient panther yokai agreed.

Naraku smirked under his hood. "As I was saying, Kagome is their greatest weakness. The Inu Taishio and the half breed will do anything to protect her, so she is physically unreachable. However, that does not mean she is untouchable."

"Explain." Isamu demanded.

"Her family are the caretakers a shrine near the heart of the city... it has such flimsy security. My demon hordes would have no trouble reducing it to rubble if ..." Naraku's voice trailed off.

"If what?" Ichiro repeated.

"If you provided me with a few provisions." Naraku said with a slight tilt of his head. "I wish to move about the city unhindered. I have not been able to do so since entering this cesspool of humanity. Allow me to roam your territory to do as I please, and I will help you dethrone the Inu Taishio."

"Father, I say this is the opportunity we've been waiting for. Let's take the deal!" Ichiro hissed in his father's ear.

"Let us consider our options." Isamu said.

"Father, what other options do we have? This yokai is providing us with the key to unlocking Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha's demise, and yet you hestate. We must strike while the iron is hot!"

Isamu sat silently for a moment, weighing the pros and cons. Finally he raised his wrinkled hand in the air and nodded. "You have a deal Naraku. But be warned. If you fall short on your end of the bargain, I will end you."

"Of course." Naraku grinned, brandishing his teeth.

"How soon can you have your forces ready?" Ichiro asked.

"As soon as possible. However, this would only be the first attack of many. Not only must you weaken your opponent, you must undermine his every move. Attack him from every angle, as it were. Are you prepared for such an undertaking?"

"We would need at least a few days to prepare." Ichiro admitted. "But I believe we are ready."

"Then I shall begin my preparations. It has been a pleasure doing business with you." Naraku cackled before disappearing in a puff of thick smoke.

"I don't trust him father." Aratani huffed, brushing her ebony hair over her shoulder.

"A wise decision, my dearest. However, he does offer an opportunity that night not have presented itself to us otherwise."

"Do what you must father. I must retire for the evening." Aratani leaned low and kissed her elderly father on the cheek before excusing herself.

0000

Sango stared bleary eyed at the stack of wedding magazines, and color swatches and receipts for the deposits on the cake, the venue, the flowers, the DJ, and the catering staff. It was all so overwhelming she felt like she had lost her mind. She didn't even recognize herself anymore.

The guest list for the wedding was tipping the scales near one hundred and fifty. Sango didn't even know half of the people on the list. Most of them were either distant relatives, or people that her step mother wanted to impress.

Everything from Sango's dress to the color of the napkins had been selected by her step mother. It was all much too opulent for Sango's taste. But when someone offers to pay for your entire wedding and reception you don't say no, even if you disagree with every choice they make.

In the solitude of her own imagination, Sango had always pictured being married in a small ceremony, somewhere in the country, joined only by her closest friends and family.

Sango let out a loud yell and pushed the stack of papers off of the table, sending it fluttering to the floor like autumn leaves. The racket caught Miroku's attention from down the hall. He appeared, looking at the mess of papers scattered about the floor, his eyebrows raised in confused astonishment. Sango sat with her head in her hands, completely unaware of his presence.

"Is everything alright?" He asked curiously, jerking Sango from her thoughts.

"Have you ever thought that this is a bit much?" She asked out of the blue. Miroku moved closer and pulled up a chair by her side.

"The thought had crossed my mind." He admitted. "But you deserve the wedding of your dreams."

Sango snorted. "They're someone's dreams alright. Just not mine." And she sighed, indicating the mess on the floor. "I don't want to do this anymore."

Miroku blanched, feeling the bottom of his stomach drop out. "You want to call the wedding off?" He asked, unable to conceal the disappointment in his voice.

"Call the wedding off...?" Sango looked at him quizzically, then realized how her admission must have sounded. "Of course I don't want to call the wedding off." She amended quickly.

"I don't understand." Miroku admitted.

"Let's just forget the big wedding. Why don't you and I ditch all of this stuffy formal wedding bullshit and have a small wedding somewhere in the country? I want to get married under the trees."

Miroku smiled as he watched his beloved's face light up for the first time in months. He could see the spark in her reignite, and it made his heart skip a beat. "Is that what you really want?" He asked.

"Yes."

"And what about your step mother? She's been planning this wedding from the beginning."

"Honestly, I think this was just another way for her to show off. It's not me. I don't need doves, and ten brides maids. I want simple, and honest. I just want you." Sango sighed, leaning her head against Moriku's shoulder.

"Then me you shall have." He said, kissing her temple lovingly.

"Do you think this Saturday is too soon?" She asked softly.

"Not at all." He said. It gave them less than two days to get everything in order, but why not? Sango was worth it.

"Where should we have it then?"

"We could always go to the summer home my parents left me." He suggested. "It's out in the country. It's also large enough for a few other people to stay with us if we wanted. Should we invite anyone?"

Sango thought for a moment, then nodded. "Kagome and Inuyasha. My brother. Asami and Sota. Do you think Mushin would officiate?" She asked.

"I think my uncle could be persuaded." Miroku chuckled. "Maybe if I offered him a few bottles of top shelf sake."

Sango rolled her eyes. "As long as he isn't drunk during the ceremony."

Miroku snorted back a laugh. "I'll do my best, but I can't make any promises."

"Perhaps he'd be willing to compromise for his favorite nephew?" Sango suggested.

"His only nephew." Miroku corrected, earning a laugh from Sango, and he watched her, reveling in the way she seemed to glow with happiness.

"What?" she asked.

"I just love you so."

0000

Hello my lovely readers! I just love reading the sweet reviews you leave for me! They're so encouraging, and it makes me so darn happy that you're enjoying this. I know that this chapter nis short, but after going over it again and again. It just felt right. Besides, Sango and Miroku needed some love, ne? Thank you, and until next time!