This is it. The chapter we've all been waiting for. It's so shocking, I don't even know how it's going to end. I guess we'll have to wait and see ;)

Disclaimer-I've been thru 12 damn chapters of this. NO!!!!!

Chapter 12: I Hate This Part

Geez, is it morning already?

Sango awoke slowly. Dang it, what was today? Tuesday? Was Kilala about to go into heat? No wait, the wedding was today. The slayer rolled over and came face to face with a fuzzy cream-colored pillow.

'Kilala.'

The little kitten mewed softly and curled tighter into herself, oblivious to all movement around her. Sango sighed silently to herself; she was not ready for this. Even though the wedding wasn't really out of love, this nagging feeling of guilt would not leaver her alone. Was she really betraying Inuyasha?

Wait a minute; scratch that.

How could she be betraying him when they weren't even official; hell, they weren't even together.

-Sigh- Same difference.

How could she be cheating on a guy she didn't even go with? That makes no sense. Was this like….unofficial infidelity? Gasp!

That's the worst kind!

Maybe so, but Sango doesn't even like being in the same wing as Tygeru. Ever since she got here, Sango and Tygeru have bumped heads a few times. And it's not like Inuyasha can take rejection well either.

'But how will he act at the wedding?' Sango pondered, getting up from her futon. She maneuvered her way into her personal washroom and returned to her thoughts.

'Will he look at me the same way he did before we got into this mess, or will it be different? I don't want things to be bad between us. Will he engage Tygeru into a fight before we start The Plan? I don't think he would. Or maybe that's just what I'm hoping for.'

"Hey Miroku. It's time to get up. The wedding is today."

"Now, now ladies. No need to rush at me all at once. There's enough of me to go around." Shippo crossed his arms. Perched on Miroku's chest, the little kitsune sighed audibly. Why was this so hard?

But it wasn't, because Shippo had a trump card ;)

"Miroku, get up. There's a beautiful woman at the door asking for you."

The monk's eyes flew open and he shot up off his futon. Poor little Shippo didn't know what hit him as he flew across the room. He impacted face-first with the wall and slid down slowly.

"It's so early but I think I can manage. Come in sweet lady." BLAM! A fuzzy fox foot came crashing into the monk's 'holy' face.

"It's time for you to get up Miroku. The wedding is today and Kagome is outside waiting for us." The monk rubbed his abused face and glanced to the kitsune.

"Today is the date for the wedding?"

"Yes! And The Plan is today as well, so we have to get ready Miroku!" The monk rose from his futon and rushed to the washroom.

"Where is Inuyasha?"

"He got up early and left. He said he had some things to sort out. And he told me to tell you to shut up after I told you when he left. Or something like that." Miroku smiled lowly.

"He must've already known what I was going to say."

After the monk washed himself up and got dressed, he re-entered the sleeping area. The indigo yukata draped over his muscular frame with ease, stopping just above his ankles. His short hair was pulled back into its perpetual ponytail and his earrings hung securely from his ears.

The two males cleaned up their sleeping area, re-folding their futons and stacking them in neat piles in a corner of the room. Their blankets were stacked on top, followed by their pillows. Shippo bounded towards the door, leaping into waiting arms as Miroku slid the door open.

"Took you guys long enough." The miko that stood there before them was radiating warmth. The soft pink hue of her kimono contrasted with the ruby red of her lips. She smiled at her friends as they exited their shared room. Miroku joined her on the right and the trio began their journey to the West Wing of the palace.

"I apologize for keeping you waiting Kagome. I slept in longer than expected."

"That's alright. Say, it looks like we're missing someone. Where's Inuyasha?" Shippo took this opportunity to hop onto Kagome's right shoulder, so he was in between the monk and miko.

"I think he went for a walk somewhere. He got up early this morning and left."

A short silence falls over the traveling trio, the sound of their echoing footsteps touching their ears.

"Miroku?"

"Yes Kagome?"

"I'm worried about Inuyasha."

"So am I."

"He's been acting so downcast lately about the wedding and he wont talk to me about it. I don't blame him though." The trio rounded a corner and entered another never-ending corridor.

"Well, I can see where he's coming from. All this time, he's harbored these feelings about Sango, not knowing when or how to act on them. They've been brooding deep within him, no one really knowing what was going on. He pushes her away from him so abruptly, fearing her rejection. He's trying to spare himself another heartbreak."

After speaking, the monk directed his attention back to the corridor ahead of him. Shippo stared up at the monk in awe and Kagome turned her head to him.

"You figured all that out in the few weeks that we've been here?"

"I've been around Inuyasha long enough to learn his personality."

Now my friends, we find ourselves in a corridor way on the east side of the palace. East Side.

The background is dim, considering the only light sources are candles and torches lined up on the walls. On the floor, next to a flickering torch is none other than our favorite hanyou, Inuyasha. A troubled look was upon his face as his eyes stared down at the floor. Goodness, I've never seen Inuyasha so downtrodden before; it makes me feel a bit sad for him. I wonder what he's thinking about…

'That damn wedding's today. Damn it. How the hell do I get myself into these things? I don't want to go, but if I don't, Kagome won't let me hear the end of it. What do I do when I see Sango? What do I do if I don't see her? Wait. Why am I thinking about this, there's nothing between us. I mean, if this wedding between them isn't out of love, why can't I stand seeing her with him?'

"Inuyasha?"

The hanyou snapped out of his thoughts at the sound of an intruding voice. He broke his eyes from the ground and slowly moved his head up. There, in front of him, was Higurashi Kagome, accompanied by Miroku and Shippo. The futuristic miko scrutinized the hanyou with a look he knows all too well:

She was worried about him. He locked his eyes with hers and gave her a straight look.

"I wont ask you why you're brooding in this hallway-" Miroku interrupting, receiving all attention, "but I will ask you one question. Will you accompany us to the wedding of Tygeru and Sango?"

Miroku held out his arm, a helping arm to let Inuyasha know that he would help him up. The only pair of golden-yellow eyes in the hall looked up at the owner of the arm. Those sapphire colored eyes calm, inviting. A hint of knowing was in those azure eyes, but Inuyasha wasn't concerned about that now. He reached for the outstretched arm and stood upright.

His feelings could wait a while longer; after he kicks Tygeru's ass.

"Hold still."

"I can't. My foot is itching."

"Well, use the floor to scratch it. You're not messing up this bun."

Sango sighed. This was becoming more than it should've been. How did she manage to get herself into these situations? It was like she was the Kagome of bad karma.

Now don't get me wrong, Sango and Kagome are like sisters from different misters (and eras), but you know how the show is. And you can't even deny the fact that Kagome gets kidnapped in almost every season. Denial is a river in Egypt you know.

But alas, I digress.

Currently, Sango was being primped and pampered for her union to her, and I use this term loosely, 'loving fiancé.' I can't believe I just wrote that. Even though Karina was helping Sango get ready for the wedding by doing her make-up and whatnot, but she was lacking in the emotional support department. In fact, she was the exact opposite.

"This isn't really how I pictured my prince's wedding day." Sango looked up from scratching her foot.

"How did you picture his wedding day?" A look of longing overcame Karina's face.

"I pictured him trying to sneak glances at his blushing bride as she was getting ready. The king would be congratulating the prince on finally finding a woman he truly loved. Then the royal family would all gather at the door of the west dining hall and enter one by one.

They would smile and wave to their loyal subjects, not knowing what would become their fate. The only princes of the palace would be the last to enter, keeping her eyes low to the ground. She knew that she would never have the same opportunities as her four brothers because she was different from them. Even though she was next in line to become queen, something was not right."

Karina finished adding accessories to Sango's hair and moved to the makeup. The slayer noticed that the atmosphere went from happy and cheerful to sad and angsty in less than sixty seconds. A new record.

Beat that, Sasuke.

Karina didn't make eye contact with Sango as she applied the eye shadow, but the taijiya did notice how the servant's amethyst eyes were clouded over and the far away look in her eyes.

"Karina, are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

A knock on the door caught both of the women's attention. Karina ran over to the screen and revealed it to be her new gang of friends. Kagome was the first to enter, her eyes absorbing the room with every step she took.

"Wow. This room is so beautiful! Everything in here is perfectly placed! Wow Sango, Tygeru really went all the way for you."

Miroku followed the miko, Shippo seated quietly on his left shoulder. The last person to walk in was Inuyasha. His eyes never met Sango's; he couldn't bring himself to look her in the eye. Instead he just entered the room and stood next to the door, arms crossed over his chest and supporting the wall.

Karina added the last touches to Sango's make-up and took a step back. Kagome found a spot next to Karina and observed her best friend.

"Wow Karina. I didn't know you were so skilled with the make-up brush."

"I've had plenty of practiced over the years with all of my prince's previous 'betrothed'." Kagome reached over to Sango and returned an obscure hair behind her ear.

The room held a stagnant silence, so many things left unsaid in the air. What could any of them say at a time like this? It wasn't as if this union between Sango and Tygeru was one out of love; more like convenience. This was a chance for the servants of the palace to rid their throne of its curse and let the true successor step forward.

Translation: Some ish was about to go down in the next few chapters and the crew needed to get in as much depressing and anti-climatic silences as possible.

"Hey."

A lone voice spoke! All eyes in the room glided towards the source. Inuyasha had pushed himself off the wall and stood erect. The air grew tense, not out of hostility but from anticipation. What was about to happen?

"Inuyasha-" The hanyou felt his heart speed up a few paces. The sound of his name rolling off of those full lips of Sango's…no. This was not the time for mushy references. He had an image to obtain.

"That make-up looks good on you."

The door slid open and the hanyou made his getaway. The rest of his friends watched his retreating form, Sango at the forefront. Was that a compliment?

"Are all the guards in place?"

"Yes my lord, they are. I personally placed them in our most familiar positions."

"I'm glad to see someone on their job."

Tygeru stood in the middle of his parlor, admiring himself in his full-body mirror. Servants were jotting back and forth from the room to the hall, making sure everything was right on the money. The prince was busy being briefed on the safety measures of this day by his two most trustworthy guards: Darrius and Alejandro.

"What about the guests my lord? Will there be food for all of them?" Tygeru outstretched his arms as a servant brought his robes. They slid over his broad shoulders and draped to his knees.

"Of course there will be. I live to serve my people Alejandro, or have you forgotten that?" The Spanish shark averted his eyes to the floor. With his eyes low, Alejandro missed the smirk that graced Tygeru's features; but Darrius didn't.

'He still believes he has control over us.'

A knock at the door caught everyone's attention. Tygeru sent a maid to get it and quickly regretted it. The sliding door opened and in stepped Kagome, pink kimono and all. Kilala was settled across her shoulders, her twin tails tickling the miko's left cheek. She gracefully entered the room and bowed deeply to the prince.

"Must we go down this road once again girl?" Kagome's eyes rolled over to the monarch.

"I'm not here to argue your Highness. I'm just here to wish you congratulations."

"Congratulations?" Kagome nodded.

"Yes. In my era, a friend of the bride goes to the groom and wishes him congratulations. That way, good fortune is spread to the couple and their happy years together."

A thoughtful look came over the prince's face. This girl believed he loved her friend? The same girl who confronted him and questioned his feeling on his most faithful servant? She was a brave fool, he concluded.

He met her eyes directly and with a soft smile, "I accept." The miko returned the smile with even more softness and turned to the two sharks.

"Are you two ready for today?" The two looked to each other. What did she mean by that? Did she really think that they were happy about-?

"Actually, we're borderline ecstatic about the wedding." Darrius stated. Oh Kagome, you smart one you. "I'm glad my prince could find a woman that suited him."

"Are your friends ready for today? You all seemed restless last night." Alejandro adds. Kagome placed a hand atop the fire-cat's head. The kitten mewed, jumped from atop the Higurashi's shoulders, looked back at said Higurashi and left.

"Where did she go?" Darrius asks, watching the door slide shut. The miko shrugged, "I have no idea."

"Do you know where you'll be standing Kagome?"

"Yes. I'm behind Sango, aren't I?"

Tygeru listened in on the conversation. He continued to primp and prep himself in his mirror while catching bits and pieces of the discussion before him. He could've sworn that they went over rehearsal 87 times a few days ago. But then again, she was a human, so maybe she couldn't retain such simple information.

"You don't remember where you stand girl?" He caught Kagome's eyes in the mirror. She blinked a couple of times before turning away.

"I've just had a lot of things on my mind. I guess I forgot." 'Dodged a bullet there.'

"Where are Miroku and Shippo?" Kagome directed herself back to the conversation. "They already went on ahead to the west wing. I just came from Sango's room and she's almost ready. Karina's adding the finishing touches."

Kagome proceeded to the door, "I'll see you guys at the wedding." And with that, she bowed and left, slipping silently out the door.

"There's something about that girl that bothers me so." Tygeru states, doing a final check in his mirror. He did a quick check with a spin and faced his top two men and Alejandro grew brave.

"¿No te gusta esa chica a mi príncipe?" (1)

"She's a brave fool, that girl. I have to commend her for confronting me on my relationship with Karina."

Darrius felt confused. "She confronted you about Karina? What was her reasoning behind that?"

"She believes that I don't know my servants; as if I don't communicate with you all on a regular basis." A female servant, a touch past twenty made her way to the prince. Her flimsy hands fumbled with a palate brush, slipping and falling.

She gripped the brush (after hundreds of failed attempts) and brushed it gently across Tygeru's face. She finished quickly, bowed and left the room. The prince watched the girl leave, letting his orange eyes linger on her a little bit longer than necessary.

"My prince. It is time for the ceremony." Darrius and Alejandro exchanged looks. It was game time.

"Once."

"You're kidding."

"Okay twice."

"No way."

"Okay three times and I kissed her."

"Now you're really lying to me." "Oh come on. How long have you known me?" A sigh.

"Too long for me to care."

"Exactly." His eyes slid over to the other, "Just what exactly is your point?"

"My point is that, as your noble and best friend, I would never lie to you." A sigh escapes his lips again. "You just did."

"But I just said-" "Quiet, here they come."

Inuyasha and his crew were walking down the corridor-wait, let me revise that. Kagome, Miroku and Shippo were walking and our favorite hanyou was stalking down the lane. There, that's much better.

Kagome risked a glance at Inuyasha. Right now he was way too quiet by her standards, which she set extremely high, mind you. She hated these kinds of situations, she really did. This silence was killing her and she was wonder how she didn't just drop dead from all of the deafening silences she's been in throughout the story; thus breaking the fourth wall.

Kagome fought herself: should she speak words of encouragement to her half-demon friend, or keep to herself and continue on this soulless journey?

The decision was hard, the poll was close. The votes were counted once, twice, and thrice just to be on the safe side; that's when it happened. Kagome doesn't know how it happened or why it did, but she was grateful for it. So she wouldn't ask questions about it now, that would ruin the moment.

She spared a look at the monk beside her. Those reflective blue eyes, they seem to know what turmoil she was putting herself thru. The hand that had made its way to her shoulder was of no lecherous intent. Instead it squeezed in compassion, knowing exactly what she was going thru.

"Are you the 'Houshi-sama' that is here for the princess?" His eyes shifted to Kagome. "And are you the princess' best friend that we've heard so much about?"

Aforementioned Houshi-sama and best friend both exchanged glances before answering their addressers. The addressers looked to the addressees in front of them, as did the addressees to their addressers. Did that make any sense?

"Yes I am." Miroku stated as he stepped forward. The guard to the left of the door gave our Houshi-sama a once over. This one looks like he could be a part of the rumored coup d'état that was spreading amongst the peons.

When I say peons, I mean all the unnamed servants that have been popping up throughout the story; including this guard. But he doesn't believe that he is a peon, oh no. This guard is a special one, he believes. He's one of the two assigned to peacekeeping at the door, but what he didn't know was that he was a peon himself, no name and all.

A nameless, subservient peon.

Kagome stepped up with Miroku, eyes to both guards, "And I am the best friend, Kagome and so are my friend Inuyasha and Shippo here."

The Nameless Peon (as he shall now be known) seemed wary of the four at the door, but he let them pass anyway. If they were troublemakers, Lord Tygeru would handle them.

"Finally! You guys took forever to arrive."

Inuyasha, Kagome, Shippo and Miroku stopped in their tracks. Behind them stood their newest ally; an old friend of Karina's. The quartet turned in unison to find gleaming emerald eyes staring at them thru shaggy blonde hair. The face behind the shaggy blonde hair smiled and graciously offered his hand.

"Ohayo! I am Yuuhi. I believe Karina-chan already told you about me, yes?" Miroku grasped hard and shook.

"Yes she has. I'm Miroku and these are my friends; the lovely lady Kagome, the young Shippo and the dog demon Inuyasha." Yuuhi's eyes gleamed a bit more; it was like his eyes were remote controlled.

"Now that we got our pleasantries out of the way, I can tell you all the breakdown, yes. Come with me."

And the blonde led them to the front of the hall where the altar was. The quintet stood under the altar with everyone facing Yuuhi. The only people who were in the room with them were nameless peons, skittering around and fretting with the decorations.

"Since you're one of Karina's friends" Inuyasha spoke, catching Kagome way off guard, "you should know what we're doing, right?"

Yuuhi nodded. "But we've made a slight adjustment."

"What kind of adjustment?" Yuuhi shifted a little.

"Well, we decided to store Inuyasha-san's sword with the others' weapons, yes. That way, the less hostile Inuyasha-san looks, the more relaxed Tygeru-dono becomes. He'll see you as less of a threat, or so Karina-chan says." Inuyasha gaped at Yuuhi.

Part with his beloved Tetsusaiga?

He couldn't, he wouldn't!

This sword was his lifeline to reality; figuratively and literally. How would he be able to handle himself if he transformed when The Plan begun? Surely his anger towards Tygeru would fuel his demon blood and the process would begin.

His claws would grow sharper and more ragged. His fangs would extend past his closed mouth, his blood would run faster. His eyes would bleed a crimson color while his pupils morph to blue.

Yes, he could see it now.

Inuyasha mentally slapped himself, and then was mentally slapped again by someone else. A blue haired, white clad, sexy, sexta espada someone else.

"Quit moping around like a bitch and get tough. You got some ass to kick, so grow a pair and handle it!"

Grimmjow was right, the hanyou decided. He couldn't just wallow in his bottomless pool of angst right now; there was no lifeguard on duty. He had some things to take care of.

Yuuhi looked to the hilt of Tetsusaiga, then to its owner. Inuyasha looked as if he was in deep thought; must've been a first. After a few moments debilitating silence, Inuyasha spoke.

"Fine. But you'd better be careful with it. Don't be playing with it." He pulled Tetsusaiga from his side and stared at the sword. He couldn't believe he was doing this, but it was for Sango so…

The doors to the West Wing burst open and let forth a savior of the people, spilling truth whenever she went and dripping with righteousness. No wait, it's just Karina. The double-edged servant entered the hall and looked around. Yep, all the decorations were in place and looking good.

The servant directed her attention to the group under the altar and strode towards them. She stopped next to Yuuhi and looked down in his hands; and instantly

Karina felt bad for Inuyasha. Sango had told her how the hanyou needed that sword to stay 'sane' and how close Inuyasha was with his weapon of choice. But they needed The Plan to succeed and in order to succeed, her hanyou friend had to--sadly--part with his sword.

"Have you all been briefed on the change of circumstances?" The servant asked, her purple eyes growing melancholy once more. Kagome eyed the servant, noticing her ever-changing behavior, yet staying her tongue. Karina took the silence as a yes and removed the sword from the blonde.

"The princess is ready for the beginning of the end."

"You're sitting on the wrong side."

"The wrong side? Nonsense! I'm sitting here so I can get a good view of our prince." A sigh.

"Mother, please. You can see the prince just fine from the other side of the room. Or you can sit back there, whatever you like. Just don't sit up here." The mother glared at her son.

"Oh I get it. You have a little woman coming up here to sit with you, is that it?" The son rolled his brown eyes. "You feel embarrassed by me? Fine then Ryunosuke. I'll leave you alone."

And with that, the woman rose from her seat in an angry huff and went to sit on the right side of the room. Ryunosuke watched his mother leave and sighed to himself. She was always the dramatic.

"Ryunosuke? That's your real name Roddy?"Ryunosuke turned over his shoulder and met Karina's curious lilac gaze. The redhead sighed once again as Karina motioned for him to follow her.

"I told you my real name when I first met you princess. My father was the one that introduced us, remember?" Karina studied the redhead as she thought, but as soon as she came up with an answer, they reached the altar.

"We'll continue this later." Karina answered as she broke off to the right of the altar. Roddy went to the left, passing Alejandro, Miroku, Darrius and Inuyasha. He nodded to each of them before heading to the secret passageway's secret entrance.

Which was secret, mind you.

The girls gave each other a once over in their matching kimonos and contrasting make-up. Kagome gave Karina a thumbs-up when the 'royal couple' came to the hall's doorway. Tygeru was decked out in all black, except for his orange eyes peeking thru his shaggy reddish-brown hair. The guests in the hall stood to honor their prince and princess, bowing in their aisles. Our friends at the altar bowed as well, to blend in with everyone else.

Sango glided down the aisle in a graceful stride. Her embroidered kimono glittered when the light hit it and it made her glow. If you didn't know better, you'd think she was floating on air. Her eyes flew back and forth from row to row, meeting all the servants' faces.

If only they knew the truth…

It seemed like an eternity had passed before Sango reached the altar. Her heart was all a flutter as she took her place at Tygeru's side. Sure Sango knew that all of this was just a façade, but she just couldn't help her feelings. It wasn't everyday she was marrying a devilishly sexy prince. Take away his underlying motives, diabolical schemes and demeaning character and he'd be the perfect man.

In her spot behind Kagome, Karina looked around the wing. Yes, everyone was in their place. To celebrate this minute victory, she scratched her ear.

Inuyasha held in a growl. He held it in because he did not want it to be heard. He did not want it to be heard because if it was heard, he would draw attention to himself. Attention peaks curiosity and with curiosity comes questions and conclusions he thought were too far to jump to.

Yes, people loved to piss him off.

So Inuyasha just stood behind Miroku, glared at the poor atmosphere and contemplated 1001 ways to kill Tygeru; what a way to multitask. His list was getting longer by the second.

'Number 210: Shove his face up his ass to make him really talk shit.'

The minister was a ripened and decrepit elderly man; well maybe not decrepit but old all the same. His aged blue eyes rolled over the prince on his right to his princess on the left. 'My', he thought, 'these two were definitely made for each other'.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to unite our magnificent prince Tygeru and his breathtaking princess…"

Kagome shifted her weight onto her left leg; her right one was starting to fall asleep. She straightened out her kimono and returned to her regal position. She couldn't believe that she was witnessing a traditional feudal Japanese wedding this up close and personal.

Looks like someone's gonna kick ass on that test next Wednesday in world history on Japan's feudal customs.

Kobayashi-sensei, eat your heart out.

The monk across the aisle stood solemn and silent. He risked a glance at the girls, mainly Karina. The servant with the abnormal eye color did nothing but breathe and scratch her ear. The shakuhachi flute was a comfortable addition to the background ambiance, Miroku decided. All the more to get this wedding underway.

'Number 215: Call Itachi Uchiha for a double-teamed smackdown with Tetsusaiga and Amaterasu.'

"Just a little bit more now." Jyuushiro whispered as moved closer. Oh yes, he was close; so close. If he didn't get there in time, then all this planning would have been for nothing. He had to make it.

The minister finished his speech and turned to Tygeru. Those blue eyes met orange and the complementary colors clashed.

"Do you take this woman to be your loyally wedded wife?" The prince looked down at Sango. Her lips of ruby red were set in a thin line of patience and her eyes spilled mixed emotions. He had her in the bag.

"I do."

The minister then directed his attention to Sango. "And to you princess. Do you take this man to be your loyally wedded husband?" The taijiya scanned over everyone in the room and Karina scratched her ear again.

"SETH CLEARWATER!"

All attention in the room was scattered about, some wondering who had the audacity to interrupt this beautiful service, others questioning the existence of this 'Seth Clearwater' , and one wondering what the hell was up with all this unnecessary italicization.

'Yes, unnecessary.' Inuyasha thought.

Ginger eyes darted back and forth, to and fro as Tygeru tried to access the situation. He couldn't believe this. "Who in their right mind..?"

'Number 220: Jump over his head, unsheath Tetsusaiga and have Kagome sit me.'

And then, the scene faded.

AN: I actually have a legitimate reason for not updating this much sooner. Let's just say that snow and telephone wires just don't mix. Anyways, this ending came out more stupid than expected because I was too busy laughing at the Seth Clearwater part to end this properly. Next chapter: the big fight scene....

Spanish translations:

(1) ¿No te gusta esa chica a mi príncipe?- You don't like that girl my lord?