Seven Months Later...
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I stared at myself in the mirror, taking deep even breaths. I could do this...I could do this. I mean millions of people did it before the outbreak & the few hundred people who hadn't been killed off or bitten did it (I guess) so why was I so damn nervous? My hands were literally shaking!
Even my youki was stirring restlessly but it was more excited & nervous. It was finally about to get something that it had been begging for for well over a year now. Don't get me wrong, it's not like I didn't want it (well maybe at first I didn't...), I just honestly don't know how I was going to make it through today.
Kagura came up behind me, straightening my already crisp suit & brushing off imaginary dust. "You're fidgeting a lot. Need something to chill you out?"
I raised an eyebrow at her reflection. "Whatever you're thinking about would probably put me to sleep quicker than a drunk horse"
She smiled. "No, I was just talking about like talking it out with me or something. Not a drug"
"You were definitely refering to a drug"
"Yeah well, that option is out now"
I chuckled then took another deep breath. "Yeah I'm nervous. As hell, really"
"But you've done this before, Naraku"
"I know but...you know it wasn't for the right reason. Tsubaki deserved much better than me; she was the one who loved me unconditionally"
"You loved her too"
"But as a friend"
Kagura sighed. "Yeah, well, it's not the same case now. Even a blind person could see what you & Sesshomaru have is really special"
I nodded, mostly to myself. Yeah, she was right. Sesshomaru & I had a strong bond & everyday it grew stronger (especially when he joined the Ninja Unit & would leave with them about two weeks out of the month). Tsubaki & I were too young to love when we got married. While I feel we should've never gotten married I don't regret it. She was my best friend & motivater. I'd never redo that moment in our lives but I wish she could be here.
Kagura brought me back when she began running her hands over my hair & smoothing it down into a low poinytail. "Now enough of this reminising & stalling. Go wait for your man at the end of the alter"
I faced her & grinned, pulling her into a tight hug. "Thank you, Rah. I love you"
"I love you too, ya big lug. Now go, I can hear the music starting"
I let her go & took another deep breath as I left the living room & slowly walked out the front door, down the few steps & into the expansive yard. There weren't many people attending; a few politians, reporters, city folk that I'd befriended as I regularly bought their produce, Bankotsu, Momiji (I saw Kagura slipping into her spot by the preacher, smiling at me) & of course, Musou who was sitting in the front & wagging his tail enthusiastically. I nodded at each & gave Musou a pat on the head as I made my way to the front of the alter where the preacher stood.
He nodded at me, grinning. "Are you ready, young man?"
I faced the way I'd come & laced my fingers together behind my back, smiling knowingly. "I've been ready"
I looked over at Inuyasha who stepped up close beside me. "If you break his heart, I'm gunna break your jaw" he murmured loud enough for only me to hear.
I chuckled, eye focusing up the aisle as the music changed into something sweeter & slower. "I don't expect anything less"
The audience stood & warmth spread throughout my body as the front door opened & Sesshomaru stepped out. I had tried persuading him to wear a dress (I thought it'd look lovely on him) but he absolutely, downright refused (even went so far as cursing me out) but he looked perfect in his white suit, his silver hair cascading over one shoulder in deep waves. A thin viel covered his face but I could still see his eyes shining brightly & fixed onto me.
I smirked when he blushed, causing a few members of audience to gush & "aww". I could not believe that in less than ten minutes this beautiful creature was going to be my husband.
I hadn't noticed my face had been wet until he reached me & swiped his thumb under my eye. "You big crybaby" he whispered, smiling.
I chuckled & turned to face the pastor who beamed. "Ladies & gentlemen...we are gathered here today..."
I zoned out on most of it. It's not that I was bored or anything, excitment was just making me a little restless. I smirked when I noticed Sesshomaru shifting his weight every few minutes out the corner of my eye. Good thing we decided to have the wedding in the evening instead of morning like he originally wanted; I'd hate for him to get sick during our wedding ceremony.
"Do you, Naraku, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have & to hold? To love & to cherish? In good times & in the bad? In sickness & in health until death or undead do you part?"
"I most certainly do" I replied, squeezing Sesshomaru's hand.
"& do you, Sesshomaru, take Naraku to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have & to hold, to love & to cherish, in good times & in bad, in sickness & in health until death or undead do you part?"
"Of course I do" he replied & warmth spread up my arms & into my eyes.
"By the powers invested in me I declared you both married. You may now kiss your husband"
The audience cheered as I leaned him down at a forty five degree angle & kissed him. I heard Inuyasha murmuring behind me, something about, "Was all that necessary?" but I didn't care. I was married to the first man I've ever & ever will love.
I straightened & cupped his face. "I love you so much" I whispered, not caring about the few tears that landed on my wrist.
"I love you too" he responded & our lips met for another short but passionate kiss.
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Naraku slipped into the space beside me in the booth & set down a tall, black & gold hookah, situating the burning coal on top of it before screwing the hose on. "So tell me, Rah, how it all went down"
Kagura, along with Bankotsu & Momiji sitting across from us, shifted in her seat, glancing over at Bankotsu briefly. "Well, it wasn't anything...spectacular & it happened so quickly I-"
"Oh please" Bankotsu interrupted with a laugh, "When those zombies finally broke through the gate you were waiting on them, out in front of the black hotel with guns blazing"
I chuckled as she blushed, frowning at Naraku when he held the end of the hose to his mouth to inhale the smoke. He glanced at me & pouted, passing it to Inuyasha. He'd worked this hard quitting cigarettes, he wasn't going to pick up smoking hookahs.
"You make it sound like I wasn't scared as shit" Kagura said, smirking.
"It was so cool" Bankotsu said, accepting the hose from Inuyasha & taking a deep inhale of the sweet smoke, "She & I were just taking those undead bastards out left & right while the rest of the people in the city ran for their lives, those cowardly bastards. I can't believe Suikotsu was the first to high tail it out of there"
"He wasn't fooling anybody with that 'I'm head dude in charge' bullshit" Naraku growled.
"But the fact that just a few days before the zombies took over the city, he was telling everyone how he was going to lead us to safety & everyone was going to get out ok & all this other shit, just made karma that much sweeter" Kagura grumbled, accepting the hose from Bankotsu.
"So what happened to him?" Inuyasha asked.
"His dumbass was trying to drive out of the city through the gate even though the gate had collasped & the zombies broke into his car & ripped him apart" Bankotsu replied with a faint smile on his face.
"& Dr. Totosai?" Naraku asked.
Kagura & Bankotsu both looked away & down at the table.
"He wanted to go down with his ship, so to speak" the human male said quietly.
"He felt there was nothing for him to do anymore & his time was up" Kagura whispered.
I looked over at Naraku whose eyes dulled. I wonder what he was thinking? Did he regret the last words he spoke to the doctor? Did he wish he hadn't been so rough with him? I reached under the table & squeezed his hand. He squeezed back, a very small smile lifting the corner of his mouth.
"So how did you two manage to escape?" I said, trying to change the subject a little.
Bankotsu took the hose from Inuyasha. "Once we ran out of bullets, we took off in hopes of finding more weapons & almost quite literally ran into a van that was still running. Whoever had turned the car on had gotten out, or dragged out by the zombies, since there was a trail of blood on the ground leading from the driver's side, so Kagura & I jumped in & took off without looking back"
"How did you get picked up by the Ninja Unit?" Naraku questioned.
"Well we'd run out of gas & were starving a few days after escaping the city. We broke down pretty close to this cave that someone had made into a little home-"
I noticed Naraku's head jerk up to look at his sister then at Momiji who grinned. Did he recognize the home she'd just mentioned? Had he been the one who'd lived there?
"-& there were like thousands upon thousands of zombies just walking in one direction so we followed them but then this sandstorm kicked up &...yeah, I don't really remember the rest very well" she admitted.
Momiji swallowed hard. "Did...did you see anyone?"
Kagura pursed her lips in thought. "Well...I kinda remember something...something like shadows darting around & killing the zombies, making them drop like flies. I couldn't see & could barely hear but I do remember the shadows"
"The Ninja Unit" Naraku whispered.
"Yeah" Bankotsu said with a nod, "The sandstorm ended about a day & a half later & we were just standing in a fuckin' zombie graveyard or something. Bodies just surrounded us. A few hours of walking & this Hummer just comes out of nowhere & the Unit saved us & brought us here"
"Wow..." Momiji whispered.
After a moment of silent pondering from everyone, Naraku yawned. "Well guys it's been a long day & I have to be back here early in the am"
"You really love being the manager of a hookah bar don't you?" Kagura asked suspiciously.
He only winked at her.
"It's only ten though" Inuyasha commented.
"My baby's gatta get his sleep, not to mention this smoke is not good for his health at the moment" my husband replied, helping me stand. His hand dropped to my belly & rubbed affectionately.
"Aww I bet you two are gunna go snuggle huh?" Momji asked with a smile.
I shrugged. "Probably"
"You guys have to get going anyway. Bankotsu & Inuyasha, I just had the water & electricity turned on in your house & Kagura, your house is still being worked on" Naraku said, gathering his coat.
"Why couldn't I have my own house?" Momiji asked with a pout but no one answered for obvious reason. We still thought of her as a little sister & to be honest, I thought of her as almost a daughter.
"Come, Naraku. The baby's trying to lodge my rib in my lungs" I grumbled & waved at everyone.
"You two were kinda fun when y'all were just dating" Inuyasha mumbled, "When y'all got married, it was ok. But now that you two are about to have a kid you're both borin'"
I chuckled. "When you & Bankotsu get married & have kids, you'll know why we are the way we are"
Naraku laughed as Bankotsu's face turned beet red & Inuyasha spluttered, swearing & yelling. Yeah...life was good.