Day Seven
Prompt: Redamany. Noun. An act of loving one who loves you; a love returned in full.
Universe: AU
Genre: Fluff, Romance.
665 Words
With a bow, Kagome accepted the flat sake dish from the priest. She tried to appear as graceful as she could, but that was easier said than done. She was on the clumsier side to begin with, and she had never worn this many layers of kimono before. The way the heavy uchikake draped on her felt awkward and the headdress didn't help either. Really, she was lucky she hadn't tripped over her feet during the procession.
She held the sake dish her husband-to-be's lips had touched only moments before and stood still as the miko stepped forward to pour the clear liquid into the dish. She raised it to her lips, tilting it twice and feigning a sip, and then on the third time drank the liquor, the dryness of the sake hitting her tongue. She had never particularly cared for the drink, but to her, it had never so sweet as it did right now in this moment.
She handed the dish back to the priest with another bow, and allowed a small smile touch her lips. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Inuyasha give her the thumbs-up, and she had to bite her tongue in order to keep a straight face.
The miko retreated and the priest tucked the sake dishes into a box and took it away.
Sesshoumaru shifted by Kagome's side, pulling out a letter and carefully unfolded it. Then he read their wedding vow, his deep steady voice filling the room as he spoke of love, respect and prosperity of the family. It made her heart skip a beat, to hear him say the words witch such conviction.
He had always been a man of his word, and she trusted him completely.
The miko returned, handing both of them sakaki branches. Kagome and Sesshoumaru placed them on the altar as an offering to the kami, and then bowed and clapped twice as in prayer, the sharp sound echoing in the shrine.
After the offering, the priest walked over to the couple with another box and set it onto the altar with a bow. Kagome returned the bow and watched as the priest opened the box to reveal two golden rings. Then, finally, she turned to face her husband.
She had seen him before the procession, and had cast furtive glances to his direction all through the ceremony, but it still struck her how handsome he looked. The striped hakama and the formal black kimono and crested haori were very becoming on him. Really, he ought to wear kimono more often.
His hands warm and steady grasped hers and held it as he gently pushed the plain golden band onto her ring finger. She looked up from the ring and smiled at him, her heart swelling in her chest.
His heart was in his eyes, their gaze so tender and sincere as he stared at her. She loved the way his stern face would soften whenever he looked at her.
Reluctantly she turned slightly away from him, to accept the other ring from the priest.
She willed her hands not to shake as she held the ring and slipped it onto Sesshoumaru's finger.
Their eyes met again, speaking all those words of love and devotion they could not voice.
With the rings exchanged, they turned once again to face the priest. Standing side by side, the couple bowed in unison, and Kagome heard a quiet sniffle from behind her back.
The only thing left now was the celebratory cup of sake. The guests raised their cups, and the priest offered them congratulations in a booming voice. The guests joined their voices to his in a chorus, and Kagome beamed as she drank the alcohol.
The ceremony had come to its end.
Kagome gathered the draping hem of her kimono as she and Sesshoumaru left the altar and accompanied by the steady beat of the drum, walked out of the shrine side by side, as husband and wife.