The It Couple
Chapter Sixty-Two
Three weeks into Inuyasha's self-imposed retreat into the confines of his giant Hollywood mansion with his beautiful girlfriend.
Avoiding the press, avoiding all the tabloid attention, living in a small bubble where they spent their days getting into Nerf gun fights and sliding down the stair banisters. Kagome showed him all of her Amsterdam portfolio, and he promised her they'd visit again soon. Once everything had cooled down and they were able to be themselves again in public.
Two weeks until the Oscars.
Around the house, there was a lot of remodeling to be done. For a very interesting reason.
There was a little twelve-year-old weirdo in his house all the goddamn time. Kagome had her looking at paint swatches and picking out an insanely large bathroom with fixtures he'd never even heard of.
And it was all just fine.
Everything was perfect.
Of course, once in a while, Inuyasha would look at a bill provided by a contractor and silently retreat to the balcony for a smoke, until Kagome followed him, insisting that she'd saved her own money, and that none of this would be out of Inuyasha's pocket, that this was her decision…
And then he'd just joyfully take Kagome in his arms and say that whatever the two of them, he and Kagome, did from this point on was a joint decision, right? And she should trust him, right? And he'd help her pay for it.
She'd always hesitate and fight it, insisting that it had been her decision to bring Kanna into the household because she felt like, quote, an asshole, unquote, but he'd realized very early on just how much Kagome's heart was actually into the whole thing and volunteered whatever was left over.
"We owe her so much," Kagome said to him at night, when they were curled up together in bed, "You have no fucking idea. Also, she's fucking great."
He just shrugged and believed Kagome. He was starting to like the kid too.
Especially when Kanna had the most brilliant idea to screw with the paps, who were camping in tents outside the gate to the house and snapping photos like crazy whenever the front doorknob even turned.
They'd been taking photos of her every time she took a cab to the house, and she'd clearly grown a little perturbed (well, as outwardly perturbed as someone like Kanna could get, anyhow).
So she'd started showing up day by day, in the exact...same...dress. Made the photos impossible to sell to tabloids because the paps had no way to prove they were from different days, and the gossip rags didn't want the same fifty photos of the same skinny, pale kid in a black lace gown waving at them with a deadpan expression as her ride got past the front gate. When Miroku heard about it, he'd lamented that the idea was so great he wished he'd thought of it.
Yeah, Inuyasha was certain. He liked the kid. A lot.
"Is it time yet?"
Miroku had been holding onto this intel for the better part of a couple weeks, which was longer than he'd ever held onto anything without destroying someone's life. It felt somewhat hollow, just sitting there and living his life, while he had an atomic bomb at his fingertips and he was itching to use it.
Sango looked up, her long dark hair fanned around her on the bed like a halo, and just smiled. She clearly knew what was going through his head. That was the whole point. That was the reason he'd decided to just up and marry her.
"No," she said softly, leaning back into the pillows, her fingers playing with her engagement ring absently, as she was wont to do lately, "Not just yet."
He sighed and leaned into her, a satisfied smile fixing itself across his face. "Ugh. Well, just tell me when, babe."
"Don't you worry," she said, linking her arms around his neck and pulling him close, "Soon enough. And you can pull the trigger. I know you want to. Plus, I have to keep my hands clean. Studio employee and all that. I still answer to Warner, unfortunately."
"Don't remind me," Miroku grumbled into her collarbone.
"Holy shit," Inuyasha said, pretty sure his eyes were bugging right out of his head.
"Congratulations, Jerkface," Kagome said laughingly, as she stepped into the living room in a stunning cream-colored off-the-shoulder Vivienne Westwood, with her hair around her shoulders, the purple streak since dyed a silvery blonde one afternoon when she'd been bored. "Or should I say, Oscar nominee."
"Are you the prize?" He grinned and took her around the waist, pulling her close.
"If it were the actual Oscars, I'd probably say yes," she grinned, "but unfortunately, this is just a party. Poor you, right?"
"Poor me," he agreed, leaning in for a kiss
"If it makes you feel better," she said, stepping back to adjust his tie, "This is the night. You know, the night."
"Oh shit, you're right!" he exclaimed, "This is going to be fucking awesome."
Kagome just chuckled under her breath and nodded in agreement.
"Sango," Miroku strode up to where she stood next to the Warners, overlooking the red carpet entrance to the party ballroom and no doubt directing traffic in every which direction, "Can I have a word?" He kept his tone formal, kept himself from saying in a loud voice "HELLO FUTURE WIFE HAVE I MENTIONED YOU ARE MY FUTURE WIFE WARNER HAVE YOU MET SANGO SHE'S GOING TO BE MY WIFE HAHAHA EAT A DICK -". He was quite proud of himself for his restraint. And by Sango's knowing smirk and her raised eyebrow, so was she.
"Get out of here, Houshi," Warner growled, "She's busy."
"I don't doubt that," Miroku said smoothly, "I just have a quick question. Regarding tonight's main entertainment."
Warner scoffed, narrowing his eyes and looking at Sango expectantly. No doubt waiting for her to blow Miroku off.
"Hmmm," Sango said, feigning a look of concern, all-business, "Well, if it can't wait, I guess I'll go take care of this. Please excuse me, sir." She gathered the train of her glittering red gown and let Miroku lead her down the carpet.
"Please for the love of god, put me out of my misery," Miroku mumbled under his breath, careful to keep his hand at her elbow and not rub it all over her bum like his instincts were telling him to do. I am so very self-disciplined. Be proud of me, Sango. "Tell me I can pull the trigger now. I'm dying."
She checked her phone for the time, and sent Kagome a text Miroku couldn't read, then waited a second for the reply.
Looking back up at him, she gave him a gleeful smile. "Okay, they're en route. That means you're on, hot stuff. Drop the bomb."
Miroku only had to bring his own phone out of his pocket and hit a single button on a mass text message saved in his drafts folder.
Send.
The crowd of reporters and photographers were of course camped out in front of the ballroom that was to host the Sunrise Studios pre-Oscar bash. And they seemed even more rabid than usual, if that was possible. The announcement that Inuyasha and Kagome would be attending together, in official capacity, surely had a lot to do with that. The tabloids were foaming at the mouth for shots of them together, and they'd been very coy about staying cooped up in their little love nest.
"You ready?" Inuyasha linked his hand with Kagome's and turned to face her before opening the limo door.
She put her free hand over their linked fingers and smiled at him. There was none of that hesitation or fright that used to be all over her face at these events. No fear of the unknown crowds, the bloodsucking reporters. Just an excited energy and an expression so, so full of love and happiness.
It made him feel pretty damn good to know it was all directed at him.
"Inuyasha! Kagome! Over here!" Shouts of the same thing from all different directions as they exited the car and stood arm in arm. As a couple. In public. For the first time. It was almost therapeutic.
They were, purposely, one of the first cars to arrive. They'd planned on being early. Which left most of the red carpet correspondents completely without ongoing interviews just as the two of them hit the carpet.
Just like clockwork.
Inuyasha seemed to spot Yura Kaminoke just as Kagome did the same, and they smiled at each other brightly. She was looking as ravenous and vicious as usual, trying to motion them over with her giant microphone, and the smug, satisfied look on her face surely meant she had nothing nice to say.
It sure was nice to wipe that smirk off her face as he and Kagome walked smilingly past her and landed at the interviewer right next to her.
"Hello, Inuyasha, Kagome! You both look fantastic tonight!" The interviewer was a very, ahem, flashy man with a tux that could have been mistaken for a sign in Times Square. "Give me one second for the intro here...Hello, moviegoers and fashion lovers! This is Jakotsu Subarashi, coming to you from the Sunrise Studios Pre-Oscar Extravaganza! I'm standing here with the wonderful Inuyasha Takahashi, who just looks good enough to eat tonight! As well as the beautiful, the luminous Miss Kagome Higurashi!"
Out of the corner of his eye, Inuyasha was pretty sure he saw Yura's jaw drop to the floor. Weren't expecting such a warm welcome for us, huh Yura? Too bad you didn't check your phone about thirty minutes ago. He tightened his grip around Kagome, pretty sure that the two of them were having an equally hard time holding back their laughter.
A few fluffy questions about fashion, as was tradition, and then Jakotsu's face grew even more excited as he leaned in.
"I just have to ask this," he said, almost conspiratorially, like they weren't being recorded to be shown to thousands of people, "Do you two have a comment on our exclusive story tonight?"
"Depends on what that is," Kagome said, laughingly. She squeezed Inuyasha's hand a little tighter. Here we go.
"Some video footage taken during the shooting of your last film, the one you're nominated for tonight," Jakotsu obligingly pulled up his phone to allow them to view it on camera, "It appears to show, well, shall we say, a different side to the whole drama between you two and Kikyou Higurashi in the last few weeks."
And BOOM goes the dynamite!
"Does it?" Inuyasha said, keeping his tone bemused when he really wanted to laugh.
Jakotsu nodded eagerly. "This footage, well, it led me to believe that either you and Kikyou broke up very early into the film shoot, or that she's got some explaining to do!" He giggled nervously, clearly unsure of the reaction he'd provoke.
"Huh," Inuyasha said, peering at the footage and then turning to Kagome, "It looks like she's getting a little handsy with Naraku there in the corner while my back is turned, doesn't it?"
"It sure does," Kagome said, biting her lower lip as her face turned pink with clear effort to keep from screaming with laughter.
"So weird," Inuyasha said, "I could have sworn she was still engaged to me at that point, right?"
"Very weird," Kagome agreed.
Jakotsu nodded, his face a mask of clear concern for Inuyasha. "Are you saying that this is, in fact, proof that she was cheating on you the entire time?"
There was a clatter as Yura dropped her microphone to the floor, looking absolutely flabbergasted.
Inuyasha smiled softly, shrugged, and leaned in toward Jakotsu like he was giving him the scoop of the century. Which I guess I am.
"Sure looks that way, don't it?"
After the interview was finished (and Jakotsu looked like the happiest person on planet earth), Inuyasha and Kagome continued down the red carpet.
Yura, having since checked her phone and realized what was going on, was desperately calling both their names and trying to wave them over, her voice getting higher and higher and starting to crack.
They ignored her and bypassed the rest of the interviewers to enter the ballroom.
"You just made that guy very happy," Kagome said with a grin.
"Hey," Inuyasha chuckled, "Right now, it's contagious."
That whole take-the-high-ground bullshit? Maybe it's great for monks, but personally? A little revenge feels sweet.
To her credit, Kikyou had arrived at the party about half an hour later and looked only slightly shell-shocked as she smilingly, haltingly walked through the tables in the ballroom. But then again, she was an actress. Trying to hold it together. Sango could spot her coming apart at the seams, though.
Poor dear. Arrive all ready for everyone to fawn all over you in sympathy only to realize that the word's out and you've been exposed as the lying sack you are.
She allowed herself a small smirk as she scrolled through her subscribed gossip sites. Right on schedule, the video was everywhere. And the comments ranged from disbelieving to vicious. Perfection.
"Ah, Kikyou! My darling, you look radiant tonight," Warner said, standing up from the table to say hello. Sango realized that Kikyou must be standing right behind her and immediately put her phone in her lap, fighting back a spasm of nervous laughter.
"Mr. Warner," Kikyou said, taking his hand, "This is just devastating!" Her voice was a shaky whisper. "Do you even know what's going on out there right under your nose?"
Warner blinked in confusion. "I beg your pardon?" He was certainly not used to being barked at like this. Sango just fingered the engagement ring hidden on a chain under her dress and kept silent.
"That bastard Inuyasha's people have ruined me! Destroyed me! And you're allowing it to happen!"
Warner's ruddy face grew redder with outrage, which he immediately saw fit to pass on to Sango. "Sango," he said, "What on earth is going on?"
Blink in surprise. Look absolutely adorable. Sell it, girl. Sell it. From the way his face softened slightly and turned into the hint of a leer, it was working. "I - I have no idea." She turned to Kikyou, keeping the same babe-in-the-woods expression. "What's happening?"
Kikyou practically snarled at her. "Like you don't know," she hissed, "Like you all haven't conspired against me from day one! When I've been nothing but nice to you, considering you don't know how to even do your job -"
Now wait just a goddamn minute, you little - shhhh, easy girl. She's down for the count and she knows it.
Sango just feigned shock and hurt and said quietly, "I can assure you, sir," she looked at Warner, "Whatever's going on is news to me."
He looked angry. "Find out what's going on and deal with it. Kikyou, my dear, please, come have a seat and we'll get it taken care of."
Kikyou flung away his outstretched hand. "You just don't get it! That Miroku Houshi has sent the entire press a video that makes me look like a fool! He did it at Inuyasha's request, I just know it! Or maybe it's the work of that treacherous snake of a sister of mine. And she knew about it!" She pointed an accusing finger at Sango, who just shot Warner her best look of confusion.
"Sango," Warner said, looking like he just wanted to calm the situation down, "Go find out how much damage this is doing. Now."
"Right away, sir," she said, scurrying off. Warner believed her. She knew he did. Perfection.
She kept out of sight for a few minutes and then returned to the table with the video pulled up on her phone and let slip that the footage was, by now, everywhere.
She let Warner watch it. His face grew purpler by the minute.
"Well?" Kikyou demanded once it was finished. "What are you going to do about this?"
Warner turned to Sango, his lips in a tight line. "Get me Kagome and Inuyasha. Now."
"So how mad is she?" Kagome asked as Sango broke up their conversation and led them back toward the head table, where Warner's face was nowhere near as red as Kikyou's was right now. Miroku remained at their table with the understanding that the sight of his face would do nothing to win Warner to their side right now.
"Ohhh boy," Sango said, fighting to keep the satisfied grin off her face, "Shitting bricks."
And indeed she was.
At the sight of the two of them approaching hand-in-hand, Kikyou looked about ready to upend the table and try to claw Kagome's eyes out. But before she could speak, Warner cut in.
"Inuyasha, Kagome," he said, his voice stern, "Do you two know about this?"
Inuyasha shrugged. "Not really," he said, oh-so-casually.
"You don't know where this footage was procured from?"
"It's from an old camera of mine," Kagome volunteered, her voice sounding much calmer than she felt, "But that camera was thrown away. It got broken. You can ask Hojo about it. He told me a lot of my stuff got broken. Some sort of accident." She leveled her gaze at Kikyou, who looked away furiously.
"Who the hell is Hojo?" Warner snapped at Sango.
"Kikyou's assistant," Sango supplied quickly, "Kagome's replacement. You remember, sir. Someone must have gone through the trash at Kikyou's house."
He took in the information and nodded. "I don't like surprises like this," he said, glaring at the three of them.
Kikyou's face twisted into an almost insane, triumphant smile.
"But then again," Warner said, reaching for his wine glass, "We couldn't ask for better publicity right now."
Kikyou very nearly fell over. "Wh-what?" she squealed indignantly, "Mr. Warner, you can't let these - these liars -"
"Kikyou, darling," he gave her what he surely thought was a very reassuring smile as he patted the back of her hand, "It's just a week and a half til the Oscars, and voting is about to close. Trust me, you want your name in everyone's mind. And with this, it certainly will be."
For once in her life, Kikyou Higurashi had nothing to say. Her mouth opened, closed, opened again. No sound came out.
"Oh, there is one thing we should do," Warner said, looking at Sango again. Kikyou seemed ready to pounce on it, take whatever she could get and try to exact some form of payback.
"Yes sir?" Sango said, looking across the table at Inuyasha and Kagome with just a little uncertainty.
"We can't have a couples photoshoot of these two now," he grumbled, motioning first to Kikyou and then to Inuyasha, who immediately grinned with realization, "You're going to have to hire someone else to take the photos of Inuyasha and Kagome. She can't very well photograph herself getting ready, now can she?"
Kikyou stood up from the table, her chair crashing to the floor behind her, and she fled from the scene, no doubt towards the restrooms to lock herself in a stall and hide for a while.
Kagome felt Inuyasha's hand squeeze her waist, and she turned towards him and finally, finally, let herself be kissed by him in full view of a ballroom full of famous people.
"Yes, exactly," Warner said, seemingly nonplussed at Kikyou's violent exit, "Stuff like that. The world loves a romance, don't they? Oh, Sango, when you get a moment, go check on Kikyou. I'm sure she'll be fine. She'll see I'm right eventually. But now, what to do with that Naraku fellow..."
"I wish you could come with us," Kagome said apologetically, holding as still as possible while the hair and makeup people worked their magic, "But the Oscars are notoriously stingy with seats. We can't bring any extra people with us. Hell, even Miroku and Sango get stuck way up in the balcony."
From the couch on the other end of the living room, Kanna didn't look up from her book. "Are the Oscars longer than the Golden Globes?"
"Yeah, quite a bit, actually."
"Then I'm glad I'm not coming."
Kagome smiled to herself. "Are you going to try and watch it on TV?"
"No. But I'm sure Nazuna will. She promised to make me snacks if I sit with her so I'll try to look up once in a while. If I'm not too bored."
"Fair enough," Kagome said. She stood up, folding her white satin robe around herself, and went to get help changing into her dress.
She'd chosen to go back to her signature blue, but this shade was different. Lighter, airier. More serene. It was off-the-shoulder, mermaid-cut, covered in aquamarine stones. Of course, Kagome being Kagome, she'd found a set of silver jewelry with very subtle stud patterning, not so much that it was obvious to the naked eye, but enough to where she'd feel free to raise the devil horns to herself in the mirror if the need arose.
Click, click, click. The studio-hired photographer was being most attentive. It was weird, Kagome thought, being on this end of the camera. She fought to keep from making a face.
"How's it coming along for you?" Inuyasha's head appeared around the bedroom doorway. His eyes went wide and his face went pink as he seemed to exhale with shock and awe at the sheer glimpse of her. "Holy shit," he whispered, his face breaking into that smile she so adored.
It may be weird, but oh god, for this man, is it ever worth it. Kagome hoped the cameras wouldn't catch her drooling like a moron at the sight of him.
Click, click, click.
"You've got to be joking," Sango said, nearly falling off of her makeup chair at the sight of him.
"What?" Miroku feigned ignorance, turning around in a circle to show her his tux. "Don't like Armani?"
"What on earth is that?" She pointed to the front of his chest.
"Oh, this old thing?" Miroku said, lifting his elbow slightly to show off his new sling. "Ain't it grand?"
"Where the hell did you find a black sling with sequins?"
"It's LA, babe," Miroku said, smirking and turning to admire himself in the mirror, "You can get anything for the right price. And it's the Oscars. Gotta look fancy, right?"
He didn't turn to look at her, but he knew she was likely pinching the bridge of her nose in sheer disbelief.
"Here," Inuyasha passed Kagome a flute of champagne, "A little liquid courage?"
She smiled gratefully and took it, leaning back carefully in her seat in the limo to avoid wrinkling her dress.
"You nervous?" she whispered, linking her left hand with his right one.
"Nah."
Kagome giggled. "Liar."
Inuyasha shrugged a little sheepishly.
"However it goes tonight," she said, touching her forehead to the side of his jaw and closing her eyes, "You've got a hell of a career to look forward to. This is just part one, right?"
"What would I do without you and your pep talks," he said, letting his own eyes shut and leaning his head back against the wall.
"Hey, buddy, they don't come free. You owe me a lifetime of happiness in return."
Inuyasha grinned. "I'll do my damnedest, Kiddo."
They got through the red carpet without incident, though they did note several interviewers looking solidly disappointed that they had arrived much, much later than Kikyou and there was no chance of seeing any interesting confrontations or looks.
For some strange reason, Kikyou had apparently been one of the first to arrive, and had apparently scooted through interviews much, much quicker than usual. According to the whispers, she was wearing a very sexy, vamp-like red gown (seemingly taking Warner's advice and owning the scandal, playing the role of nymphette to a tee) and had arrived with that little orphan girl Shiori in tow, parading her before the cameras and then promptly exiling the poor kid to the rafters as soon as they reached the auditorium.
Inuyasha caught sight of her only briefly as he and Kagome entered the auditorium and took their seats. She was in the same section, of course, representing 'The Red Robe' and Sunrise Studios, but was seated on the very opposite side, right between the Warners, and, to her obvious mortification, good old Best-Supporting-Actor-Nominee himself, Naraku.
"Awkward," Kagome whispered, squeezing his hand just as the warning bell rang announcing five minutes to broadcast.
The world was ending. That had to be the answer.
A category where the other nominees included Sir Anthony Hopkins and Tommy Lee Jones, and it was Naraku taking the stage to accept the award for Best Supporting Actor.
Sango shot a disbelieving glance over her shoulder at Miroku, who was two rows back and had a program pressed over his mouth to no doubt hide cackles of laughter.
She pressed her own hand over her face and turned back around, leaning forward on her elbows to listen to what would surely be the greatest acceptance speech of all time.
Especially after how I got through to him, she thought.
"I owe this award to one person, and one person only," Naraku said, his face and tone deathly serious as he stared at the statuette in his hands, "And that's the woman I love."
Oh. My. God. Sango sank down a little further in her seat, shaking with silent laughter. God, I wish I could see Kikyou's face right now.
And then she got her wish, as the large screen showing the live broadcast in full view for the audience showed the Grand High Bitch herself, looking like she'd just been fried by an electric socket. Her eyes were wide with what could only be called sheer mortification, and she sat stock still for a moment before remembering herself and trying to awkwardly laugh it off.
Naraku wasn't laughing, though. He continued. "Kikyou, these few months we've been apart have been agony. You know, while I was filming 'Conan the Demonslayer.' Even though I was thrilled to be the new star of a movie, I couldn't stop thinking about you."
Holy shit, Sango thought, He's plugging his new movie in an acceptance speech. This is a new level of horrifying.
"Kikyou," and suddenly Naraku's voice was louder, more declarative, as he stared straight down at her in the audience, "I've been in love with you since I first saw you. And I knew you felt the same. And I can't possibly let myself stand on this stage without telling the rest of the world what we mean to each other."
Kikyou just smiled weakly, looking about ready to scream.
And oh, those clever cameramen, cutting to Inuyasha's face for half a moment. He just turned to the camera, giving a fourth-wall-breaking shrug of bemusement, his arm firmly linked with Kagome's.
It was the perfect moment of unplanned comedy. There were titters and a few actual laughs from the rest of the audience as the camera cut back to Kikyou, who looked white as a ghost and ready to bolt out of the room.
"Kikyou Higurashi," Naraku said, "Can you come up here for a moment?"
Kikyou's eyes showed sheer terror as she tried to giggle demurely, tried to wave him off like he was just kidding, surely.
Naraku, bless him, wouldn't be fazed. "If you won't come up here," he said huskily, "then I'll come to you."
In a flash, he'd descended the stairs and prostrated himself on one knee in the aisle in front of Kikyou's seat. "Will you marry me?" he said, now without the aid of a microphone but loudly enough for the rest of the crowd to hear. He pulled a ring the size of a small skating rink from his suit pocket.
Kikyou froze. There were a few whistles and cheers from the crowd, and not a small amount of chuckles.
Sango had both hands pressed to the side of her face, unable to believe what she was witnessing. This is amazing. This is abso-fucking-lutely amazing. I couldn't have written a more awkward moment if I tried. Whatcha gonna do, Kikyou? If you refuse him in front of everyone you look like a cold-hearted bitch! But weren't you just trying to pine for Inuyasha a few weeks ago? Oh god, this is better than sex. Well, almost.
Kikyou seemed to realize she had no choice, and she awkwardly swallowed, then let herself smile and nod. The ballroom erupted in cheers, and Sango choked on her own breath of air as she watched Inuyasha stand and give a very accomodating ovation towards the two of them. Naraku, looking positively elated, put the ring on her finger and took the seat next to her, making sure to give her what he surely meant as a romantic smooch for the cameras.
The host retook the stage, obviously amused and a little shaken up by the unorthodox way that entire scene had gone, and they went to commercial break. Only then did Sango allow herself to look back over her shoulder again at Miroku, who was nearly blue in the face from holding in the laughs.
"Forget the rest of the damn show," Inuyasha whispered, still shaking with laughter, "That was the highlight of the evening."
"Oh hush," Kagome said, her hand over her mouth, "You gotta know the best is yet to come."
More awards, more performances, more comedy bits, quite a few at the expense of that dramatic love declaration a few moments ago.
And then…
"May I have the envelope, please?"
It was as if the sudden roar of the crowd had deafened him.
It was as if he was underwater.
He didn't move for a second, just sat there.
It was the gentle shake Kagome gave his hand that snapped him out of it, and he leapt to his feet, pulling her up with him. All around them, the rest of the crowd stood to congratulate him, backslaps and handshakes and cheers of approval.
All he saw was her, standing there with her hand in his, the other hand over her mouth, tears of joy spilling from both of those beautiful, crystal-blue eyes.
He released her hand and threw both arms around her shoulders, gripping her so tightly he felt her sigh with surprise, and pressed a kiss to her cheek before quickly claiming her lips at the last second.
"You did it," he thought he heard her whisper but wasn't sure, and he could only look at her, dazed, before he remembered that he still had to go up onstage and give a damn speech.
Does my brain even work anymore?
He got to the podium and the award was placed in his hand.
Weirdly, he didn't feel any different. Maybe it hadn't sunk in yet.
He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and began to speak.
"...Wow." Another deep breath, come on you idiot get yourself together here. "This is just...wow. I'd like to thank the Academy, and of course Sunrise Studios for believing in me thus far. And of course, my agent, Miroku Houshi, for being the one who got me past a really hard time in my life and knocking some sense into me. I owe you one, pal. And thanks to Sango Ryoshi for putting up with him through this whole rollercoaster ride."
He grinned up at the balcony, where he saw Sango laughing and giving him a salute of acknowledgment, while Miroku just playfully waved him off with the hand that wasn't currently decked out in a sparkly sling.
"My thanks to the cast and crew for being the troupers they were, in a climate that wasn't always very, shall we say, forgiving." A few laughs and cheers from the audience.
"I think my greatest thanks, though, have to go to Kikyou Higurashi..."
There was marked confusion at this. Kikyou frowned at him for a moment, and then the cameras switched to her reaction and her face changed to a serene curiosity.
"...because if it weren't for her, I would never have met the woman of my dreams."
Cheers all around. Kikyou's mouth opened a little, shut, and she just forced a smile on her face.
He took another deep breath, held the award aloft in his hand, and looked right at Kagome. She had her hands clutched in her lap, and the tearful smile she was beaming at him was dazzling, even from this distance. "To Kagome," he said, a little softer than before, "who always saw the best in me, even when I never saw it in myself. Who is amazing and brilliant and funny and wonderful. Who I can only hope to someday deserve to have in my life. You're my best friend, Kiddo. You always have been, from the beginning. It was always you. Always. Even when I didn't know up from down, all roads have always led me to you."
Feeling himself choke up ever so slightly, he finished quickly with, "I love you all. Thank you so much, once again."
And was ushered offstage.
Oscar in hand.
Holy shit, Miroku thought, sinking back in his chair with an easygoing smile plastered across his face, now that's a speech.
They cut to commercial again, and he watched Kagome down below spring from her seat and rush toward the outer hallway at breakneck speed.
Go get him, kid.
He chuckled under his breath, and, meeting Sango's elated gaze, sent her a wink.
It seemed like this place was nothing but endless hallways, Kagome thought with a slight inward grumble as she jumped around and through countless huddled crowds of backstage and behind-the-scenes people. Hope I don't trip and fall and break my neck. That would be such a bummer ending to this whole thing, wouldn't it?
She finally spotted Inuyasha, standing at the end of yet another long hallway, and he spotted her.
They raced for each other, colliding in an almost violent embrace. She was dimly aware that she was sobbing into his shoulder, and from the choked noises he was making, she was pretty sure that he was shedding a tear as well.
Before either of them could say anything, they were interrupted by two large hands enveloping both sides of them.
"My two stars of the evening!" Warner's excited voice boomed, his giant face twisted in a grin that looked both satisfied and strangely hungry, "Congratulations are due to both of you, I'm sure. We did it. Yet another Oscar for Sunrise tonight. Perhaps we'll beat 2015's record."
Inuyasha's hand came up to gently push Warner back off the both of them. "Thanks very much, Mr. Warner," he said cordially, but his smile didn't reach his eyes.
Warner turned to face Kagome, and she immediately, instinctively took a step back toward Inuyasha. "I think I owe the biggest debt of gratitude to this little angel right here," he said, his grin still splitting his face in two, "Just to think what a news story you've been this awards season! I really must get you to sign another contract. Are you interested in acting at all, dear?"
"No," Kagome said firmly, but he didn't seem phased, laughing her off and returning his attentions to Inuyasha.
"Hahaha, we'll see, we'll see. My dear boy!" he said, "I can't wait to get you back in the studio again. You name your project and we'll do it. Sango did send you that contract to sign, correct?"
"All due respect, Mr. Warner," Inuyasha said, "I think I'd like to take some time off for a bit."
"Nonsense! We have to strike while the iron is hot!"
Inuyasha shrugged noncommittally and turned to lead Kagome away. "Please excuse us," he said, "We have to get back to our seats."
Warner looked a little miffed. "You seriously can't be considering a hiatus. I won't have it."
"Tell you what," Inuyasha said with a smirk that he obviously couldn't help, "I'll have my agent call you, how's that?"
They didn't wait for Warner's reaction, but they were snickering like schoolkids as they went back to their seats.
"...And the Oscar for Best Actress goes to...Maggie Smith!"
Ouch. Now Naraku's the Oscar winner in the relationship.
Miroku felt like throwing a parade.
"So, I'll coordinate back-door transportation to the afterparty," Sango said as they all gathered in the quickly deserting auditorium after the broadcast finally, mercifully ended (with 'The Red Robe' winning the goddamn Best Picture award, what a joke). She clapped Inuyasha on the shoulder. "This one here has to go do the press meet-and-greet real quick. Why don't the two of you go on ahead?"
"I have a better idea," Kagome said, brushing that stray curl out of her face again, seemingly unaware how that one small gesture could drive Inuyasha wild, "When you guys get done, meet us at the Takahashi palace."
With a small wink and a peck on his cheek, Kagome turned and looped her arm through Miroku's. Inuyasha waved as they disappeared behind the corner.
Sango blinked and frowned. "I guess maybe she wants you to change your tux before we go to the afterparties? We've probably got at least three to hit."
Inuyasha just smiled, more to himself than anything. "Heh. Maybe."
"Surprise!"
Inuyasha blinked, then started laughing.
Nazuna, Kanna, Kouga, Ayame, Miroku, several dozen others, and of course Kagome, all gathered in one place, complete with balloons and streamers. Kagome, in the corner like the consummate photographer she was, snapped pictures furiously as Inuyasha and Sango stumbled into the living room, eyes adjusting from what had been pitch-black darkness to sudden blinding light.
Kagome finished getting the shots she wanted and then raced up to him. She had already changed out of her fancy-pants Oscar dress into shorts and a Judas Priest shirt. Of course she had. That was his Kagome. He folded her in his arms and held her close.
"Lemme see that thing," Kouga grumbled, lunging for the Oscar in Inuyasha's hand and inspecting its sheen and weight very closely. He sniffed grumpily, then smirked. "Looks real enough to me. I guess congratulations are in order, then."
"Oh, Kouga," Ayame chided him playfully, lifting the Oscar up in her own hand. "Ooh, it is heavy."
"You know," Inuyasha said into her ear a few hours later, amidst the furious drunken exclamations of Kouga across the room (where Ayame was solidly whipping his ass at arm-wrestling), amidst the loud protestations of Sango that she just didn't dance, period, as Miroku handily ignored her and twirled her around to some Marvin Gaye playing on the stereo, amidst the spectacle of Kanna sitting cross-legged under a couch fort that she'd silently constructed with Inuyasha's expensive Egyptian linen sheets, "This is the greatest afterparty I could have ever hoped for. How did you know?"
Kagome just smiled mysteriously. "I have my ways."
Inuyasha nuzzled at the nape of her neck. "Sorry to get all mushy on you again," he said, "But I really meant what I said up there on that stage tonight. Kikyou was only a thought. Just a shadow. A stepping stone to get to you. And it sure took me long enough to realize that the girl for me was staring me in the face the whole time. I'm sorry for making you wait."
"Oh, that's okay," Kagome said, pressing a kiss to his temple and snuggling in closer, "You have the rest of your life to make it up to me."
"Speaking of which," Inuyasha said, feeling a small knot in his stomach as he struggled to get the words out in the right order, "Do we have to wait for that?"
"For what?"
"For the rest of our lives to start."
"What?"
"All I mean is, why wait?"
"Inuyasha, what the hell are you talking about?"
"Oh, no, no, no," he said, holding up a hand to stop her, sure that his face was as red as a tomato, "I am not gonna let mine sound as ridiculous as Miroku's did. Let's just go pack some bags and hop on the next flight for Vegas. Like, tomorrow."
"Holy shit. You serious?"
"Only if you want to," he stammered.
She paused for just a moment, then leaned in and kissed him so hard he practically felt himself sway on his feet. "Hell. Yes," she whispered when their lips parted.
Before he could say anything else, the doorbell rang and Nazuna sprang up to answer it out of habit.
In walked...Hojo?
Kagome was immediately out of Inuyasha's arms so fast he could swear he felt the beginnings of whiplash. "You're here!" Kagome said delightedly, sprinting toward Hojo with almost a skip in her step.
The hell is this? Inuyasha grumbled inwardly.
"Hello, Miss Kagome," Hojo said haltingly, still obviously unsure of himself. In his arms he held a large cardboard box.
"Oh, you did it! Thank you so much. You'll never know how much this means to me," Kagome said, throwing her arms around Hojo's neck. The kid blushed from head to toe, and Inuyasha felt a growl rumble low in his throat.
Hojo handed the box over to Kagome. "Are you sure I won't get in trouble for this?"
Kagome placed the box on the floor and hovered over it. "Like she'll even notice it's gone. And you can always just say it ran away. I promise this won't come back on you. It'll be our secret."
"Kagome," Inuyasha snapped, crossing the room toward her, "What the hell is going on?"
The head of a pomeranian poked out of the top of the box and yapped at him.
"Wait a second," Inuyasha said, "You stole the dog?"
Kagome turned and smiled. "I may have slipped our friend Hojo here a couple hundred bucks to give me a hand. But I just want him to have a better home! Besides, this dog loves me. See?" She picked up the tiny, fluffy ball and cradled him in her arms. The dog yapped and wagged what little tail it had.
Inuyasha just rolled his eyes and chuckled to himself. "Hojo, thanks," he said, offering his hand to shake, "Go on in and join the party. Have a drink. Have several."
Hojo stammered out some awkward, star-struck thanks and disappeared, and Inuyasha was left with the girl of his dreams, who was snuggling the dog and laughing with complete abandon.
He wondered if Kagome would ever stop bringing home strays who needed love.
He hoped she never did.
He'd been the ultimate stray before she'd come along and shown him what home really was.
Kagome looked up, ducking the dog's excited leaps of joy and giving Inuyasha the sweetest smile, then a wink.
She stood and beckoned to the dog with a whistle, turning to head down the bedroom hallway.
"Come on, Shippo," she called, "It's time to pack for Vegas!"
THE END.
Holy crap. I just...wow. I can't believe it's over. Very nearly TEN months of my life, and it's over. I cried writing this. Saying goodbye to these characters (at least in THIS incarnation) is like letting a kid go off to college for the first time. I molded their little minds and I love them so dearly, but now it's time to let them be free!
THERE WILL BE AN EPILOGUE, BUT I AM MARKING THIS STORY COMPLETE AS OF NOW.
Thank you guys so, so much for sticking with me through all of this. I've come to look forward to each and every one of your reviews, even the ones that said how much this story made them want to tear their hair out in frustration at times. Yes, you too! ;) I hope the ending made it all worth it for you.
ONE VERY LAST SONG, WHICH SUMS UP THE WHOLE FEEL OF THIS STORY FOR ME:
"LA Devotee" by Panic! At the Disco
Once again, thank you all so much. Look for something new from me soon! Not sure quite what it will be, but it will likely be set in the feudal era this time, just for kicks.
*sniffle* I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!
Love, Love, LOVE,
meggz0rz