The Heart of the Nile: Sun and Moon
As Sesshomaru and Kagome were walking on the way to the dinning hall they began discussing on how they were going to tell Rin of their upcoming marriage and how she would take the news. Rin was very young when her mother had died but they had been incredibly close. Sesshomaru wasn't sure how she was going to take the news so they both came to an agreement that they would sit her down privately and talk with her about it before telling anyone else. Lucky for them when they arrived at the dinning hall Rin and her nannie had just sat down at the table and Inuhotep and Kikyo had not arrived yet.
Rin looked up from her plate she had been eating from and saw her father walk through the door. She then saw closely following behind him the pretty lady who had saved her Aunt and baby niece. Sesshomaru sat next to Rin and took hold of one of her hands as the pretty lady sat on the other side of her. He then looked her in the eye with the "we need to talk and you're going to listen" look on his face as the pretty lady just sat there quietly and smiled. Her father surprised her by pulled her into his lap and saying,
"Rin, we have something very important to tell you and this one wants you to listen very carefully. This one loved Lady Kagome very much and has decided to marry her." He then looked over to Kagome for encouragement.
"Rin, I know I can never replace your mother nor do I want to take that away from you. I know she was very special to you but I would love to get to know you and possibly be your friend. Would that be ok?" Kagome asked.
Kagome looked to Sesshomaru with worried eyes as they both waited patiently for Rin's answer. Rin just sat there looking at the pretty lady named Kagome. Since coming to know her she had decided that she had liked her right away. She was pretty, sweet and smelled nice. Plus she had saved her family, loves her daddy and she wanted to become friends? How could she say no? Taking a big breath Rin looked into her daddy's eyes and then back into Kagome's then smiled.
"Id like that." Rin said.
Sesshomaru and Kagome both let out a breath they didn't realize they had been holding and smile down at Rin. Sesshomaru leaned down and kissed her on the head before helping her back into her seat. They then begin eating when his brother and Kikyo made their way into the dinning hall. They frooze in the doorway when they saw Kagome sitting at the table between Rin and Sesshomaru in the seat saved for the queen.
"Kikyo… please tell me I'm not seeing things and that there is not a dead woman sitting at our dinning table…" Inuyasha said to his wife. He had paled slightly, body stiff as a board and his eyes were large, unblinking.
"You are not seeing things Prince Inuhotep. I am very much alive and well," Kagome chuckled.
"But… but how? I saw you disappear with my own eyes?" he asked with a confused look on his face.
"If your remember little brother part of her curse was that she had to have a pure wish made and then be kissed by her true love to break it. This one did both of these requirements just before the first rays broke over the horizon." Sesshomaru said before taking a bite of his food.
"Then why did you disappear?" Kikyo asked as they took their seats at the table across from Kagome and Rin.
"My old body was attached to the stone and once the wish was made to heal the land of Egypt my body became just as much a part of it as the river Nile. My body had to be reborn without the curse making what you see now," as she said gesturing to herself before continuing. "If you remember when I first awoke from my slumber it was in the little pond in your brother's bedchamber. This morning I again awoke by rising from its waters with the rising sun instead of the rising moon."
Kagome smiled as she thought back to that moment she first saw Sesshomaru while coming out of the waters. He looked so tired and she could see from his slumped posture and lack of self-care that he had not been taking her passing well. As she walked up the stairs she wanted to run to him but her new legs wouldn't take her fast enough. When they finally kissed she thought she was in heaven once more from the warmth and tenderness of his touch. She turned her face and looked towards Sesshomaru who was sitting next to her at the table. He returned her with a soft knowing smile for he too had been thinking about the miracle that had happened early that morning.
Kikyo then reached across the table taking hold of her hand in hers as she lightly squeezed it and said, "It is so good to have you back lady Kagome. I take it with your return you and my brother have something important to tell us?"
"Yes, We have decided to marry. The servants can officially announcing our engagement," Sesshomaru said taking her hand in his.
"Finally! It's about time you get hitched," Inuyasha joked towards his brother earning an elbow lightly in the side from his teasing wife.
"Have you decided a date? If you need anything I would love to help," Kikyo asked.
"We marry in one weeks time. We do not wish to wait and you both will be heading south a few days after. It wouldn't make sense for you to go back and forth so soon if we delay." Sesshomaru said.
"Yay a wedding!" cheered Rin. "Can I help too? I can help pick flowers! We should have lots of them. Oh! And lots of cakes."
"I'm sure we can find something for you to do Rin. Thank you for offering to help" Kagome giggled earing a grin from Rin.
"We'll have to find some musicians and we can get the concubines to dance for us if you want. I'm sure they wouldn't mind being the entertainment while we eat after the ceremony." Inuyasha said missing the subtle scowl on Kikyo's face but Kagome saw it as she was taking a sip of her drink.
"I don't know if I like the idea of them entertaining on my wedding day," Kagome said. Both Inuyasha and Sesshomaru look at her with slight confusion on their faces.
"Why not? They do a great job and the crowds always enjoy watching them dance," Inuyasha said completely clueless to the growing irritation between the two women. Sesshomaru just sat back and watched. He had seen everything and didn't want to get chewed out like his brother was about to get.
"I don't think I like the idea of them entertaining my husband on my wedding day when his attention should be on me. I think I'd much rather be the entertainment than having random women do it." Kagome said as her eyes looked towards him with a mischievous, seductive look only for him catching Sesshomaru by surprise. Even if he didn't show it on his face, he did slightly with his eyes. He didn't dare move or everyone would see his tent in his pants from under the table.
"The little vixen…" he thought to himself.
"Whatever... It's your wedding." Inuyasha shrugged before stuffing food into him mouth.
"What? You don't think she can do it?" Kikyo asked she leaned resting her chin in her hand and quirking an eyebrow at him.
"Shit… what did I say now…" Inuyasha thought to himself as he swallowed his food harshly down his throat. He knew when his wife gave him that look he either said or did something stupid and there would definitely not be any sex later.
"What? No, I didn't say that! All I meant was that we enjoy them at our parties. Besides, I don't think she could come up with a dance routine in time and do it right. She would need major dancing skills and at least one or more dancers to make it look good." Inuyasha said instantly regretting the words that came out of his mouth.
"Oh really?" Kagome challenged with a smirk across her face. After earning a silent agreement that Kikyo was on her side she continued. "I say no dancing concubines at the wedding. I will be the entertainment and I will find one more dancer to accompany me to entertain my husband."
"What's the point in finding one more dancer to dance with you? Isn't that counter productive? You might as well ask one of the concubines to do it," Inuyasha scoft. He was loosing his patience with this ridiculous argument.
"It won't be counter productive because I'll be the one dancing with her," Kikyo said as she took a bite of her food earning and dropped jaw from her husband.
"What?! You can't dance! Not in your condition." Inuyasha barked.
"Actually exercise is very good for the baby so it would be a good thing." Kikyo argued before taking another sip of her drink.
"Then it's settled!" Kagome said clapping her hands together once before she continued. "Kikyo and I will be the dancers for the evening while we arrange some musicians to join in on the entertainment.
After that the rest of dinner went relatively smoothly. Sesshomaru just stared around the table from Kagome laughing with Rin and Kikyo and Inuyasha lightly bickering back and forth. They were acting like what he had always imagined a real family would act. Now it was sitting right in front of him. For the first time in a long time he felt complete and happy as he watched his small little family share in their first meal together.
"Finally… " he thought to himself.
[One Week Later: Wedding Day]
The day had finally come to claim Kagome as his wife. Since announcing their engagement Kagome wasn't allowed to sleep in the same room as him. It was against tradition and was believed to bring back luck. It was torture not having her beside him and not knowing if she was safe. He longed for her touch again. Although it's only been a week, just being near her had become painful to his throbbing member. Luckily for him Kikyo kept her busy practicing for the feast entertainment so he hadn't seen much of her on top of his other political duties.
He did miss her presence though. He couldn't wait for this day to finally begin so he could hold her once again in his arms. Walking out of the bathing chambers Sesshomaru begins dressing in his wedding attire. He wore loose fitting white cotton pants with a golden belt. Hanging down from the belt were red and blue strings of beads and golden ties down the sides. He wore a short sleeve white robe that lay open in the front exposing his chest and abs. It reached down just past his butt and had golden thread sown into it. On his wrists were the same red and blue beads sown together into one thick bracelet and golden sandals on his feet.
On his neck was an intricate neck-collar that lay down his chest. It was woven with different threads of red and blue beads, ivory, stones, jewels, and gold. Upon his head was a white tube-shape crown with a golden snake on the front, white ostrich feathers on the sides and a golden point at the top. His hair was wrapped up inside showing off his strong shoulders. Strapped to his chin was a golden chin beard making his jawline appear stronger. This was the traditional wedding attire of his people and he felt proud to wear his father's wedding crown and jewels on this special day.
After painting his kohl eye paint he looked himself over one more time before he walking out the door, to go find his brother and the priest so he can finally marry his bride. He found them at the gates of the palace welcoming guest who would be attending the ceremony. Once everyone was inside and settled Inuyasha went and told Kikyo they were ready to begin the ceremony. The court hall had a single isle up the center with flowers laid in an intricate design up its center. On each side of the isle where chairs filled with official people from all over Egypt and neighboring allied countries.
The thrones had been removed from the platform in the center and replaced with a large wooden arch covered in red, white, pink, and purple flowers. Golden ribbons were weaved into the flowers tying them to the wood. The fragrance of the flowers filled the room along with the burning incense of lavender and rose oils. Oil lamps lined the walls helping bring light into the room for the early evening ceremony. Inuyasha soon returned from speaking with Kikyo giving signal for the ceremony to officially begin. As the musicians began to play Sesshomaru, Inuyasha, and Miroku made their way to the stage.
Inuyasha was wearing the same pants and robe as his brother but had less jewelry on and he was wearing a simple white nemes headdress. Miroku wore the same pants as the brothers but looped across his chest and with his head sticking out of its mouth was the skin of a lion. His eyes were painted, wore red beads down the front of the lion skin and had his ceremony beads wrapped around his left hand. In his right hand he had a blue staff with a golden Beetle of Ra adorn the top. It was then the doors of the court hall opened revealing Kikyo holding a small bowl of incense.
When she reached the front she stood across from Sesshomaru leaving space for Kagome between them. Next came little Rin as she walked in holding a small golden box and then stood behind Kikyo on the platform. They both wore white cotton dresses with golden sandals and matching red and blue bangles on their wrists and right ankles. Then in walked the bride. Her dress was ivory in color and went all the way to the floor. It had a beaded necklace laden with blue, red, gold, and ivory beads that covered her entire upper chest. It was sleeveless and was made of white cotton and ivory chiffon.
It was a mermaid style dress and the chiffon laid in layers down the bodice. As she walked it made her look like she was floating across the ground. She had white and pink roses in her bouquets and she wore thick golden bangles on her wrists and large golden earrings. Her face was lightly dusted with makeup and she had smoky eyes with thin kohl paint around them making the blues of her eyes pop. On top of her head she wore a white tube-shaped crown that held her hair in it revealing her long slender neck. On the crown were gold, blue, red, and ivory beads and stones. She looked beautiful, confident, and strong.
She looked like an Egyptian Queen.
As she walked down the isle Sesshomaru and Kagome never tore their eyes from each other, both lost in each other's and taking in their partner's beauty. They truly did make a beautiful couple. His complexion was as bright as day as she was as dark as night. He was cold in temperament and attitude as she was warm in compassion and love. He was quiet and calm and she was hyper and bubbly. They were as the sun and the moon, one unable to be without the other. As she finally reached the platform she took Sesshomaru's hand. He held it tight as handed Kikyo her flowers.
Miroku began by praying over and blessing the couple. Miroku then sprinkled them with water from the Nile that had been prayed over by the gods. He then offered them a cup of win for them to partake in. Once he wrapped the beads around their hands tying them together he chanted over them unifying them together as one body, mind, and soul. Once the blessing was finished they exchanged vows. Miroku then took the golden box from Rin and they each placed a golden band with marching blue jade stones on their ring fingers sealing their commitment.
Miroku then pronounced them man and wife. Sesshomaru bent her backwards into a searing kiss. Kagome brought her arms around his shoulders to keep herself from falling backwards holding them closer in their first kiss as husband and wife. The people in the court hall erupted in applause and cheering as they finally broke away from their kiss. Kagome took her flowers back from Kikyo. The new Queen and her Pharaoh made their way down the middle isle as flower seeds were thrown over their heads and out of the court hall towards the banquet hall.
[End of Chapter 23]