Disclaimer: Darn you Bisco Hatori and Rumiko Takahashi....darn you.....

A/N: Le Gasp! Did i really update this early? Why yes, yes, i did. Trust me, even i'm amazed.

•••

Audible silence reigned throughout the church as the last echoes of Kaoru's words died out.

They could only stare as Kaoru Hitachiin remained standing, unwavering against all the penetrating stares that were sent his way.

No one. Not a single person would've thought that someone would deny Kagome and Hikaru the right to be happily married. And definitely not Kaoru.

Especially not Kaoru.

It was the groom's brother. His brother for god's sake. Why would he, of all people, object?

But Kaoru stared straight into the eyes of his brother's bride and knew that he couldn't take back his words now.

But he meant every word that he said and damn it all if she didn't believe him.

Because he loved her.

He loved Kagome Higurashi.

And he had to do something about it.

So for the first time in his lifetime, he wouldn't let his brother have Kagome. Not her.

Anybody but her.

Questions ran through everyone's mind that day. But no one was more confused than the bride that stood on the altar.

She stared into these beautiful, beautiful, amber eyes that looked oh so similar but were so very different. He had left so suddenly that Kagome didn't even get a chance to say goodbye. After three years, he finally showed up.

He's here…

She missed him. For the first year that he left, he was all that she could think about. How was he? Where was he living? How come he didn't call? Didn't he miss her? But now, he was back. He was finally back.

But even as he stood there, a mere memory until now, all Kagome could think about was what he had just said.

He doesn't love me?

She turned slowly towards Hikaru and found him staring at Kaoru with the same shell-shocked expression she had moments earlier. But there was something else.

There was sadness.

Inwardly, Kagome choked, but she went ahead and whispered his name.

"Hikaru?"

He started and looked at her with a solemn expression.

Something inside of Kagome breaks.

"Hikaru, is it true?"

He didn't say a word and instead looked away, unable to stand her searching gaze.

"Hikaru, look at me," she said pleadingly. "Is it true?" She almost choked on the tears that have been building up for a while now.

He looked up at her tentatively, his expression sad and apologetic.

"I'm sorry, Kagome." She muffles a sob. "I'm so so sorry."

Kagome realized that by now, the burning of the tears had streaked down her cheeks and even though they probably ruined her ridiculously expensive makeover, she didn't move a hand to stop them from sliding freely down her face.

Really, she should've known better.

After all, wasn't she destined for heartbreak? Hadn't she already learned from her mistakes three years ago? Or was this scenario supposed to be repeated over and over again?

She was such a fool letting herself fall in love like that again.

How many times would it take for her to realize that falling in love so unabashedly would just lead to her being heartbroken again?

And she found that even as she stood on the altar, surrounded by people, she had never felt so alone.

Hikaru made a move towards her, reaching out to touch her because she hasn't said anything in a while now, but she flinched and drew away from him. Kagome looked up at Hikaru with wide eyes and he started to worry.

"Kagome?"

She backed away from him and reached up to grasp the front of her chest.

"I'm sorry too." And with that, she grabbed her dress and fled.

Kagome ran down the aisle blindly, tears blurring her vision until all the nameless faces had also become undistinguishable. But as she ran, once face remained clear in her mind, and that was the face of the very man that had ruined her dream wedding. And because his face had become firmly imprinted in her despair, she couldn't bring herself to look at Kaoru even as she passed him on her way out. Even if he gave her one of the most longing stares.

---

Hikaru could only watch as Kagome ran towards the door.

And for some reason, he wasn't surprised. Maybe it was because he knew she's find out the truth eventually, he just never thought that it'd be so soon.

Of course, he had his brother to thank for that.

Even though it was Kaoru that left them, even though it was he that had just ruined his wedding, even though it was he that had made Kagome run away, he couldn't help but feel as if he was the villain.

He watched as Kaoru stared at the door, long after Kagome had left, long after everyone had left actually. What had happened had been too much for the guests to take and they, in turn had left.

It was just him and Kaoru in the church.

Hikaru looked around the church. The wedding had cost him a couple millions of dollars, nothing less than extravagant for his Kagome after all.

But she wasn't his, she never was.

Hikaru heard the shuffling of cloth and looked up to see Kaoru making his way towards him. He stepped down from the altar and met him halfway. They stood there amidst the pews, not saying a word. The silence was strained but neither was willing to break it. It was hard to believe that they had once been so close.

Neither of them could look the other in the eye and whether it was from shame or something else, neither knew. It was like meeting a stranger that they should've known.

Hikaru took a breath and decided to talk first. "Why'd you do it?"

Kaoru ignored him and opted to look around the church, observing the expensive decorations, no doubt imported.

Hikaru huffed angrily and asked again. "Oi, Kaoru, why'd you do it?"

His twin finally turned to look at him and gave him a cold glare. Hikaru was struck.

But then everything that happened, the fight that they had, what he had said and how Kaoru had reacted came rushing back.

"Oh. Sorry."

He stared at his brother before him. He didn't change at all, he noted. Or maybe he did, he just didn't notice. After all, it was his face he was looking at and how can you see change in a face that you see every day?

But it was like staring at a mirror and hating yourself. Sure you hated your reflection but you really hated the person standing in front of the mirror.

Everything that he did, everything that he said had torn them apart and in the end, he'd basically screwed himself over because he had just lost a marriage to the kindest and most beautiful woman in the world.

And hell, Hikaru couldn't even blame her anymore. She'd been gone for six years.

But he just had to know.

"Why?"

Kaoru gave him a knowing glance before he turned to stare at the decorations again.

"Because you didn't love her," he said, "And Kagome deserves better than that."

And with that, he turned away and began to leave but Hikaru stopped him.

"Hey wait!"

Kaoru paused and looked back questioningly.

"Can you tell her I'm sorry?"

Kaoru turned and left through the double doors and did not deign to give Hikaru an answer.

•••

Just goes to show that the quicker the update, the less interesting the chapter is.

My bad.

:D