A/N: Before reading please please please understand that the particular scene with grammatical and spelling errors was intended to be that way! Do not review me about it because it was meant to be that way. Kudos for those who understand what I'm trying to do there!
"Kagome!" Sango called out as she saw her friend. Kagome wasn't a big fan of airports but she nonetheless found herself in one. She was attending Ayame's wedding which was going to be held on July 20th in the English countryside at Hojo's infamous Aunt Cathérine's residence. Being a good friend of the family, she was travelling with Sango's family and would arrive there with ten days to spare for the wedding. They were going to spend two days in London getting fitted for their bridesmaid dresses before leaving for Rouane Hall- the home of the infamous Aunt Cathérine.
"Hey Sango, Mr. and Mrs. Tanaka." The married couple greeted her warmly, she was considered to be their goddaughter and they were glad she could make it to Ayame's wedding. Sango, too eager to bother about anything else yanked Kagome towards the large window where their plane was stationed and would be ready for boarding soon.
"I can't wait Kagome! London and then the English countryside- do you realize how awesome this is going to be? Derbyshire is so pretty from what I've heard!" Kagome could only nod not too sure of what else to say in the face of her overexcited friend. Sango, seeing the lack of response from her friend, turned to see her and noticed the rather apprehensive manner in which Kagome was looking at the airplane. When Kagome was little, she had been on a plane and it had overshot the runway crashing into a nearby woodsy area. Luckily, only a few people were seriously injured but the incident had left her friend scarred.
"Hey cheer up will you Kagome? It's Ayame's wedding." Kagome turned her view away from the window to instead look out at the crowd of people waiting to board the plane. There were a mix of European and Japanese tourists and she wondered how many were going home to London and how many were visiting like her.
"I am happy, just promise to hold my hand when I get nervous."
"Promise." Sango stated watching one of the air hostesses approach the speaker. Moments later both girls found themselves joining the line that would let them into the plane since they were fortunate enough to be in one of the zones that was being seated earlier.
Kagome boarded the plane placing her carry on duffle in the overhead compartment as instructed before taking a seat- the one further away from the window. She still had yet to get rid of her fear of airplanes and had gladly given her window seat up to Sango; the less she could see outside, the better it would be for her. The two girls settled into their seats, Mr. and Mrs. Tanaka being behind them, and watched as the rest of the passengers filed on. When all the passengers were on the aircraft and seated, the air hostess demonstrated the safety procedures while the plane taxied on the runway. Finally, even they had to sit down and Kagome gripped the arm rest of her seat tightly as the plane took off towards London. Kagome-who had stayed up most of the night panicking about the trip soon fell asleep and was gladly spared from reliving her fear of plane rides. All she knew was that the next time she woke up, it was five hours into the flight and they were flying over Russia.
"Are you hungry Kagome? They came by with lunch earlier but you were asleep and the air hostess said she would bring you your lunch later if you still wanted it." Kagome nodded her head. Food sounded good right now, in fact she was sure that it was her hunger that had woken her up. Sango smiled, pressing the button to call an air hostess and explained the situation when one arrived. Within minutes a meal was set in front of Kagome, one which she ate most of. The meal remained on her tray for about an hour until another airhostess who was passing by noticed the meal and took it away to be cleared.
"Want to watch a movie?" Sango asked noting Kagome's boredom. Kagome shook her head pulling out her abused version of Mansfield Park and Pride and Prejudice.
"I think Mr. Darcy and Colonel Brandon are awaiting me Sango dear. You surely don't want me to keep them waiting do you?" Sango rolled her eyes at her friends antics and giggled. Kagome's fixation on two prominent male characters of Jane Austen was quite known to anyone Kagome interacted with. Kagome swore that there was something about Mr. Darcy that was just "sexy and charming."
"Now, now Sango. You know that both men are honorable and might I add charming gentleman, why would I ever want to leave them be?" Sango just shook her head and it was Kagome's turn to giggle as she began to read the novels.
The next time Kagome was interrupted she was near the end of Pride and Prejudice. She had finished the first two parts (or books) and was just about to begin the third book when she was informed that it was dinner time. She briefly looked at the onscreen map that was on the screen in front of her and noticed that they were now flying over western Russia and were going to go over Scandinavia soon. That meant that they had about three and a half hours left into the trip left as the monitor indicated. It was now nearing eight pm in Tokyo and Kagome was hungry and was glad that the cabin crew were serving meals. The sudden thought of it being eight p.m. made her think about what she would be doing in Tokyo right now if she was still at home- cleaning up the kitchen with her mother while Inuyasha and Souta cleaned up the shrine area and locked it up. Kikyo in the meantime would be finishing up the homework she was given over the break.
"Are you okay Kagome?" Sango asked carefully noticing Kagome's distant expression. Kagome smiled and nodded.
"I'm just thinking of what I'd be doing right now in Tokyo. I hope Kikyo's helping mama while I'm away."
"Knowing your mother- as much as she lets Kikyo get away with things- she's roped her into helping with the kitchen." Kagome laughed at the truth of the statement. While Kagome's mother was lenient on some things she was quite adamant about chores around the house. Every child had to have their laundry sorted and ready for laundry day, help out with chores such as vacuuming, cleaning up the shrine and kitchen, etc. It was one of the things that Kagome was grateful for because it was something that she took to college.
"You know next fall I'm going to hold you on this right?" Kagome asked with an eyebrow raised referencing the fact that she and Sango would be sharing the same apartment she'd shared with Ayame. Sango nodded her head rolling her eyes before diverting her attention to a member of the cabin crew who was passing out dinners.
"Would you like chicken or fish?" The air hostess asked. Both girls ordered chicken- they both felt it was the safer bet- and the air hostess nodded before handing them their dinners.
Three hours later Kagome stretched and stared at the line in front of the lavatory. Deciding that she'd rather wait she cracked her neck once before looking at Sango who was fast asleep. Having already slept a little at the beginning of the plane ride Kagome had been able to use the time most of the other passengers were sleeping to finish one book and begin the other. The airplane's announcement system came on and announced that they were beginning their descent into London. Hearing that Kagome turned to her friend and gently roused her. She knew that it took Sango a good ten to fifteen minutes to wake up from a good nap and by then the plane would be descending into London's Gatwick airport not still be flying towards it.
Sure enough, a scant fifteen minutes later Sango was awake and peering out the window at the dotted green patchwork fields below. They reminded her of a giant quilt. She pulled Kagome's sleeve and directed her friend's attention to the view. Kagome, though apprehensive had to admit that the view was interesting- the green fields and later the view of cars, people, and buildings. It was at this point that she turned away from the window and took deep breaths trying to calm herself as the plane began to land into Gatwick. Sango gently grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze reassuring her somewhat. Luckily for Kagome, the pilots of the plane were seasoned veterans and had made numerous trips to Gatwick in their career so the normally slightly bumpy landing was instead smooth.
"Are we at the gate yet?" An impatient Kagome as she began packing her books away in the purse she had placed by her feet.
"Almost," Sango answered craning her head to look out, "Here we go. We still have to wait a few minutes though for the plane to dock." Fortunately, for both girls and a tired Mr. and Mrs. Tanaka the plane deboarded quickly and they left walking towards immigration. After filing through customs with no trouble, they headed towards baggage claim and grabbed their bags when they arrived. Soon, they found themselves at the entrance of Gatwick looking for a familiar face.
"Mom, dad!" An excited voice yelled causing them to all look towards Ayame. She was happy and jumping up and down while waving her hand. Next to her was a rather handsome looking man. He had his black hair pulled into a ponytail that reached his shoulders and was quite built.
"Ayame!" Mrs. Tanaka exclaimed hugging her daughter while momentarily forgetting her tiredness.
"How was the flight?" Ayame asked pulling away from her mother and leading her towards two cabs that were waiting for them.
"Good." Her mother answered looking at the two cabs.
"I hope you don't mind but we have to take two cabs to the hotel. I figured Kouga could take Kagome and Sango in one while I took you in the other. Is that okay?" There were murmured agreements and soon the six found themselves travelling towards the hotel.
"So, Kagome and Sango right?" Kouga asked from his seat. The interior of the cab was designed in such a way that he was sitting across from them with Sango and Kagome's check in being his neighbors. "I'm Kouga- Lady Cathérine's nephew- well one of them." Seeing their winces at his aunt's name, he laughed.
"I'm guessing from your expressions that Hojo has told you about her?" Both girls nodded and he smirked wolfishly.
"Don't worry, she's not too much of a batty old lady. But then if there's any problems you can always hide behind me and Sesshomaru." Kagome who was paying only half an attention up till now perked to attention. She had yet to tell Sango about her suspicions regarding Miroku and glanced quickly at her friend to see what her friend was feeling. It seemed Sango wasn't too affected by the news.
"Sesshomaru?" She asked carefully wondering if it was the same one she knew. She supposed it was- that was a rare name and she'd never met anyone else with it before.
"Yes, Sesshomaru Wentworth. His mother was Aunt Cathérine's sister and my aunt. She married a wealthy Japanese man and had Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru took her last name because he and his father did not necessarily see eye to eye." Kagome scoffed at that. She knew what they didn't see eye to eye on- the treatment of Inuyasha. Whereas Inutaisho Takahashi had felt it was okay to accept Inuyasha as a son and own up to his mistake of infidelity, Sesshomaru saw it as a scorn to his family. And he never even took his father's name! Sango shot her a look of curiosity wondering about Kagome's reaction to Kouga's statement.
"Of course, my mom followed her sister's example." Kouga stated grinning and continuing as though Kagome hadn't suddenly created tension. "My dad's from Okinawa as well! And I'm in the RAF." Sango raised her eyebrows as she sought to remember what that meant- wasn't it something elite in the British military.
"I'm sorry but my memory seems to escape me- what does RAF stand for again?" Sango asked politely. Kouga shook his head telling her it was okay and silently happy that Sango had asked that question in Japanese. He was sure that the cabbie- an elder Englishman- might be offended by her words.
"Royal Air Force." He stated in accented English catching the attention of the cabbie. "That's how you pronounce it." He continued in English before switching back to Japanese.
"What position do you hold?" Kagome asked curious. She knew that it wasn't easy to retain a position in the RAF and wondered what level Kouga was in.
"I'm a Flight Lieutenant." Kouga stated proudly. "I just got back two weeks ago actually from my last deployment- I was at Mount Pleasant at the Falklands." Both girls were impressed- they knew that Kouga was quite brave to serve his country. That, and there was a reputation regarding the royal air force- it was the oldest and one of the largest in the world after the United States. Plus, the Falklands was an important area of combat and ongoing crisis so it was quite notable that Kouga served there. The cabbie seemed to think so as well because he spoke for a few minutes with Kouga- too fast for the girls to keep up with the conversation.
Soon thereafter, the car pulled up in front of the hotel they were staying in and the trio left the cab after paying the driver. Ayame and the elder Tanaka's were waiting for them by the entrance. When everyone was assembled, Ayame led the way in and proceeded to head to the reception desk where she promptly got two keys and handed them to the guests- one to her mother, the other to her sister. She instructed them about where the rooms were located and told them to get a nap and a shower in. She and Kouga would come by later with Hojo and Sesshomaru for dinner at seven.
"I claim that bed." Sango stated once they walked into the room. The room was a nice size with two double beds placed across from a nice double window and a bathroom on the left side. Since Sango had taken the bed on the left side, Kagome took the one closer to the wall and decided to let her friend take a shower first. Compared to Sango, Kagome was in less of a tired state and she could wait a little before she took her shower and slipped into the comfy bed she was sitting on. Sango got the cue and went into the shower first. Forty minutes later, both girls were settled into bed and fast asleep waiting for the phone call that would call them to wake them up for dinner.
Kagome groaned and buried her head into her covers trying to block out the annoying noise she kept hearing. Finally, she reached for it and picked it up off the receiver mumbling a tired and groggy hello. She was informed by the chirpy voice on the other end that Kouga and company were waiting for her downstairs. With a grumble and a curse towards the voice on the other end, she woke Sango up and the two got ready arriving downstairs around thirty minutes after the phone call. It seemed that Kouga knew that they were going to be slightly slower than normal because of the remaining jetlag.
Kouga was waiting for them by the reception desk with Hojo, Sesshomaru, and a teenage girl next to him. Whatever Kouga had just said made the girl laugh and caused Sesshomaru to roll his eyes. Of course he would, Kagome thought, he probably wouldn't know humor if it hit him in the face. They approached the four, Hojo being a little annoyed at something. Kagome just rolled her eyes at him- she was going to be civil because he was marrying Ayame- beyond that she could care less. Kouga noticed them approaching and reached out to them with an arm indicating that he wanted to bring them closer.
"Ah! Kagome, Sango- this is Sesshomaru, who I have been told you already know. And this lovely young lady here is Rin- his little sister and by far the most conniving girl on the planet!"
"Hey!" Rin defended punching her cousin on the shoulder. "Take that back Kouga before I tell them any of your stories." Kouga laughed and held up his hands in surrender apologizing while Sesshomaru merely pulled Rin closer and acted as a buffer. Kagome and Sango watched all this with confusion. They had never seen Sesshomaru so relaxed before. He was actually cracking a small smile and while he was acting as the mediator it was obvious that he didn't really care since he knew Kouga and Rin were playing in jest.
"It's nice to meet you Rin." Sango interrupted before turning her attention to her soon to be brother-in law who looked like he was feeling a bit miffed from having been left out of the conversation. "Where's Ayame, Hojo?" Hojo beamed at having finally been addressed.
"She said something about having to bring your parents down herself. I think she wanted to discuss something with your mother." Sango merely nodded watching Kagome interact with the trio of cousins. Kagome had introduced herself to Rin and the two of them were happily chatting about something while Kouga pitched in occasionally and Sesshomaru merely looked on. He was looking more at Kagome than anyone else though reminding Sango of the fact that she believed Sesshomaru to have a crush on her friend. Now if only Kagome would actually talk to him!
"Sango!" Kagome exclaimed. "Did you know Rin is a music major! She apparently got accepted to Imperial College's Music Program!" Sango, being friends with Kagome, knew all about English Universities. There was a time in Kagome's life when she wanted to do nothing more than study in London. Due to financial issues Kagome hadn't been able to go study abroad for all four years like she wanted but she was going to be able to go study one semester hopefully if she got accepted into the London School of Economics Exchange Program.
"Congratulations Rin." Sango stated. "I know that is a very prestigious program. What are you deciding to focus on?"
"I play the Pianoforte." Rin stated in a perfect British accent. The accent surprised both girls. While Sesshomaru did have a much better grasp on the language compared to his peers, he wasn't nearly as accented as she was. Kagome thought that was surprising and amazing.
"I know a little of piano." Kagome stated trying to keep the conversation going. She had dabbled in it, taking lessons from her again grandfather until he had died in her third year of high school. She didn't like it so much then but she appreciated all his attempts at trying to teach her now.
"I didn't know you played." Sesshomaru stated suddenly catching her attention. "You'll have to play with Rin sometime." Kagome was about to be object but before anything could leave her mouth she was interrupted by Ayame who had finally come down with Mr. and Mrs. Tanaka. Seeing the rest of the party arrive, Kouga led them outside to the waiting cars and then dinner.
Dinner was at a fusion restaurant that blended Italian, Indian, and Chinese dishes into interesting combinations. The group was led to a large table in a separate room and seated. Kagome was placed next to Sesshomaru when they got to the restaurant. She decided to not say anything and instead focused her attention on enjoying dinner. Kagome had to admit that she liked some parts of the Sesshomaru she saw at dinner. She was in the middle of taking a bite of her dessert when Sesshomaru finally addressed something to her.
"You are applying for the LSE program?" He asked raising and eyebrow. She must be quite studious and intelligent he mused knowing that only the best students were even allowed to think of applying to the program.
"Yes, do you know about it?"
"Well, I know that they mostly focus on International political economics for the program and that they incorporate tours of London and the English countryside for students involved in the program."
"Oh, I didn't know about the visits. Thank you for telling me." Kagome stated wanting to not really care. Sango made a face to her and Kagome rolled her eyes as she controlled her frustration. She wasn't sure what to make of Sesshomaru. One moment it seemed as if he was actually considering being nice to her and reverse his actions from the past year. Other times, she noticed his rather arrogant attitude still present. He made a face at the wine- a two hundred dollar bottle- and she was appalled when he seemed to think of sending it back. It showed his rather rich upper class upbringing and she thought it was rude of him to just assume the wine was bad when it was obvious that Sango and Ayame liked it after having already tasted it. A sudden movement caught her attention and she noticed Sango stand up and take her coat. Was it time to leave already? Taking her coat, she pulled it on and left the restaurant with the others.
"What did you think?" Sango asked when they got back to the room. "Was it just me or did Sesshomaru seem nicer?" Kagome grumbled under her breath as she climbed into her bed.
"I don't know Sango. He seemed so different, and I don't know who to believe after Inuyasha told me about Sesshomaru. I'm so confused." Sango climbed into her own room and thought about how to answer her friend's question.
"Kagome, I don't want to take sides but I just have to say isn't it weird that Inuyasha told you about Sesshomaru's actions so soon after you met him? Most people don't say things like that within a week of meeting someone. I'm not saying that he's evil or untrustworthy but maybe you should just be a little careful okay?"
"I guess Sango, I guess."
Six days into the trip, Kagome was tapping her foot impatiently as she stared at Lady Cathérine from across the room at Rouane Hall. Ever since they had arrived at the country estate of Hojo's aunt she had been nothing but demanding and annoying. And frankly put Kagome had no idea how Ayame could handle it. If Lady Cathérine said one more thing along the lines of 'Kagome dear, why don't you try to put your hair into a bun?' Kagome swore she was going to tell the old lady to buy a wig if she wanted to play with hair so much. Sango noticed her expression and nudged her friend in the side.
"Stop your glower before you get caught!" She hissed moving away to help direct the florists towards a corner where Mrs. Tanaka was taking care of the flower arrangements. Kagome watched her friend move away and then sighed before doing what she was told. Lady Cathérine called her over and Kagome grimaced quietly before walking towards her.
"Yes Lady Cathérine?" She asked when she arrived. The lady gave her a once-over before scoffing and then motioning to the dresses held up by a young maid. Kagome was a bridesmaid with Rin, Lady Cathérine's daughter Anna, and Sango, and the dress she had to wear was making her want to groan. It was a beautiful English rose/peach colored dress that flew down to her knees and was sleeveless with a cardigan to go over it. Kagome thought the dress was wonderful but secretly she wished it was in a different color. On both her and Sango's coloring the dress looked okay, but on Rin, the color washed out her lovely features.
"Try that on Kagome. The wedding is two days away and I have to make sure it fits you." Kagome rolled her eyes before she walked over to the nearest changing room behind Rin and Anna who both had their dresses with them as well. When they arrived, the girls quickly changed and walked out. It was a perfect fit for Rin, but on Anna the dress was a little tight and on Kagome the dress was a little loose. Considering that they were both approximately the same size, Kagome asked the young woman if she wanted to switch. Anna seemed to want to hesitate but upon Rin's urging did as Kagome asked. When Kagome walked back out a second time she had to suppress a squeal- she was right- the switching of the dresses was the perfect idea! With that cleared and out of the way, the trio made their way back to the main room.
"Well?" Lady Cathérine stated when they came back to the room.
"They fit perfectly Aunt Cathérine." Rin answered before Anna gave away the tiny secret they shared. Her aunt was a little bit of a control freak and as much as Rin loved her there was only so much she could take of it. She also knew Kagome and her aunt weren't on the best of terms so she attempted to steer the conversation into a better direction.
"Good. Well, I think everything is ready here then. Tomorrow we will take you on a tour of the Rouane Vineyards- they are, after all, the best in all of Derbyshire. And then the day after is the wedding so we must retire early. Anna, let's go rest dear." Anna looked on meekly at the two girls before following her mother. As soon as the Lady had left Kagome scoffed and rolled her eyes. She failed to see Kouga and Sesshomaru arrive behind her as she was caught up yelling at the lady in her head.
"And just what are you scoffing at Kagome?" Sesshomaru's voice caused Kagome to panic and swirl around. Luckily, she didn't lose her balance and fall flat on her face as she did so.
"Oh Sesshomaru," Rin began, "You know how much of a stiff Aunt Cathérine can be! Let her go! Plus, we have to take Kagome out on the trip of the vineyard tomorrow." Sesshomaru nodded and extended an arm out. Not sure what he was doing Kagome looked to Rin for a clue. Rin took her cousin's arm leaving Kagome alone.
"We are due to appear inside for dinner soon, it is better you have an escort."
"And what about Sango? Who will be her escort?" Sesshomaru pointed to the young man who was busy helping Sango. He was Kouga's younger brother and a lovely teenager of sixteen named Ginta. Aunt Cathérine hated the name and strongly disliked his rather Japanese upbringing. She wished he was more like Kouga, more true to his English roots. Shaking her head, Kagome took Sesshomaru's arm- it wasn't like she had much of a choice at the moment anyway, and allowed him to lead her to dinner.
The next morning all Kagome could really think was that the trip to the vineyard was a workout. She eyed her best friend who was climbing the trail with ease next to Koga and Sesshomaru. She and Rin were stuck at the back of the group and both of them looked at each other exasperatedly. They had no idea how the rest of them were so far ahead. As if sensing that he was being made fun of, Sesshomaru turned around and saw the distance between them. He stopped, waited for the two to catch up to him and pointed to a large building a few hundred yards away.
"That's the winery." He explained leading them forward to join Kouga and Sango. "And don't worry- it's much cooler in there." Kagome and Rin followed him and marveled at the inside- it was cooler and felt nicer since the sun wasn't beating on their back but it was also beautifully designed. It was set up so that when one entered they were first at the bar. Behind an opening on the right Kagome saw a glass door which showcased a large room with huge silver cylinders. Behind the bar on the left was a door leading to a staircase.
"The room over there is the distillery." Koga explained pointing it out. "I'd let you go in there but you have to wear a helmet and I'm not sure where to find them. You might want to go down here though." He pointed to the stairs Kagome was looking at previously. "It's a little cool down there but that's where the wine cellar is. Do you want to have a look?" Kagome nodded and Koga smiled before leading the way. He took a step into the staircase and turned a switch on immediately filling the stone passageway with light. The staircase wound down in a rather dizzying spiral and more than once Kagome wasn't happy she looked down. When they finally landed, they were in a large room that was filled with rows upon rows of barrels.
"The barrels are split." Sesshomaru stated when they arrived. He'd spoken in a low voice but the room's hollowness made his voice seem louder. "To the left are all of our white wines and to the right are our red wines. It really is less of an even split than I make it out to be- we produce more white than red."
"What kinds?" Kagome asked curious. She hated to admit it but Sesshomaru was kind of intelligent on the subject apparently.
"Our whites are generally made from either Pinot Meunier or Ortega. We use the Meunier for our Champagne and the Ortega for our White Muscat. We use the Pinot Noir for our red grapes." Kagome didn't know what to say. She lost him somewhere; she thought it was when he mentioned "Ortega". She knew that different grapes produced different wines but she had never heard of a white Muscat wine before. Koga noticed the confusion on her and at this point Sango's faces and explained things to the girls.
"As you probably already know, different grapes and different aging processes enhance the flavor of wines. For some things however, only certain grapes can be used and only certain fermentation processes in certain climate conditions can produce the best wine. In Derbyshire we can grow Ortega and pinot Meunier grapes quite easily. The Pinot Noir grow here too but they are more susceptible to the climate here than they are in Kent. Anyway, these grapes are used only for particular wines. For example, the Pinot Meunier is one of only three grapes allowed to go into champagne. Hence, we use it for that. The Ortega on the other hand produces a lovely fruity taste that pairs well with most English fowl and is quite suited to the English climate. The red wine grapes are harder to grow in England- it is less sunny here but we have managed to grow a little of Pinot Noir during the summer months and so we make a Pinot Noir with them."
Kagome and Sango were still confused but were glad that Koga explained things to them. Rin, who had noticed that a few wine bottles were set out upstairs went to uncork them and pour them into glasses for tasting while Koga answered any questions Sango had regarding the explanation he had given. Sesshomaru eyed Kagome before asking her if she had any questions.
"So, does this mean because you grow the Pinot Muniye you make champagne?" Kagome asked grimacing at her pronunciation of the name.
"No, we use the Pinot Meunier grape because it grows in this climate. Red wines usually are made from grapes that require a high degree of sunlight which England does not have. Instead, the soil and climate of England is much more suited for blends of grapes that produce white wine. That is why we have the Ortega here as well but why we grow so few of the Pinot Noir."
"Oh!" And then Kagome understood. She'd often wondered why certain regions of the world produced more red or white wine compared to others. Of course, she never expected this impromptu wine trivia lesson to come from Sesshomaru.
"The wine is ready for tasting!" Rin yelled down the stairs causing the other four to climb back up towards where she was. Once there, they all assembled around the bar area that they had seen when they first walked in.
"I trust you know how to taste wine?" Sesshomaru asked casually as he handed Kagome her wine glass and noticed her correct grip on it.
"Of course!" She answered back as she swirled her wine around and took a tentative sip. The white wine was fruity and had distinct tones of peach. She liked it, especially since peach was her favorite fruit. Giggling she turned to Sango who was looking at the wine glass she'd just taken a sip from in slight horror.
"It tastes like peach and I like it!" She exclaimed looking at Kagome. "I hate peaches!" The other three in the room understanding what sparked Kagome's earlier amusement laughed along with her. Sesshomaru quieted first but it was Koga who spoke before him.
"As much as I would love to see your reactions to the different selections today, I'm afraid we're going to have to take you out to the grape orchards soon. There are a set of heavy rain showers headed this way and I don't think we want to be stuck in them."
"No we don't." Kagome amended as she finished her glass. Rin informed them that she would put the stemware away and that the men should go take the girls on a tour. Sesshomaru seemed to object and Koga knowing that neither sibling was willing to give up their position soon offered to stay back and help Rin. He assured Kagome and Sango that it would be okay to leave them behind; plus Sesshomaru knew more about the vineyard anyway he amended.
Kagome and Sango stepped out of the winery behind Sesshomaru and watched him walk a few steps towards the edge of the top of the rather large hill. They followed him and looked down to see what he did- rows upon rows of grape trellises spread out in a "Y" formation. When they reached him Sesshomaru pointed out the sides- the left edge was the Pinot Meunier, the bottom and half the right edge were the Ortega, and the remaining bit of trellises were the Pinot Noir- since that edge received the maximum sunlight all day. The two girls followed him down the hill as he led them to the center portion of the formation where there was a small triangle clearing. There Kagome noticed a large wooden tub and stacks of baskets.
"Normally, we have farm hands picking the grapes to make the wine." Sesshomaru announced. "However, Aunt Cathérine didn't want them here when the wedding was taking place." Kagome wanted to roll her eyes at the statement but couldn't. The amount of caustic sarcasm that Sesshomaru had put in his last sentence already did the job for her. She watched him move and pluck a few grapes from every area and place them in a basket he had snagged before he made his way back over to them.
"Guess which grape is which."
Kagome eyed the basket and then glanced back up at his face. He had a genuine smile on his face and was looking amusedly at her and Sango. The look surprised Kagome who had never seen him so happy about something. He must really like the vineyard Kagome thought as she and Sango stared at the basket. She pointed to a white grape and asked him if it was the Ortega.
"Correct, now which of the other two is Pinot Noir?" At this both Kagome and Sango pursed their lips. Sango looked at Kagome and pointed to the grape that looked the blacker of the two. Both girls obviously knew that noir meant black and so it was silently conferred that this must be the Pinot Noir.
"The purple one is the Pinot Meunier and the darker nearly black grape is the Pinot Noir." Sango announced with a proud flourish. Seeing Sesshomaru's grin widen though both girls were suddenly apprehensive. Did they get the question wrong?
"A common mistake," Sesshomaru answered picking up the darker grape, "is to think that a darker a wine grape, the closer it is to becoming a Pinot Noir. However, in this case, the Pinot Noir is the lighter of the two. The Meunier is darker because it was cultivated at different locations compared to the Noir." Kagome huffed obviously a little upset that they had lost but not too angry. It was fun and she had to admit that maybe, just maybe, Sesshomaru wasn't so bad after all. A sudden shadow fell across her face and Kagome glanced up to see a steadily cloudier sky.
"We should head back soon before we get caught in the rainstorms." Sesshomaru stated placing the basket down and starting to head up the hill. Sango and Kagome looked at it with disdain, one more so than the other, and followed him. Good thing they did so for if they had waited just a few more minutes they wouldn't have made it to Rouane Hall before the rain began to pour.
The next day Kagome walked into the breakfast room with a slight grimace. She had to admit that since the holidays had started she never really had gone out and walked instead preferring to stay in her room and read or help her mother around the shrine. She ventured down the shrine stairs perhaps once a week to grab some groceries but usually it was with Souta so she'd never had to trudge up with piles of groceries. Plus she was used to the steps having grown up with them all her life. She wasn't however used to the stupid hill they had climbed yesterday- a hill she had nicknamed Mount Sore Legs- nor the slightly rocky terrain that accompanied it. As a result, her legs were killing her and she couldn't wait to eat breakfast so that after it she could take the Ibuprofen she had stashed away in her room.
"Good morning Kagome, I trust your trip yesterday was eventful?"
"It was Lady Cathérine." Kagome answered taking a seat. Rin saw her grimace and gave her a silent smile. She herself was feeling the effects of the climb yesterday on her feet.
"Lovely. Today, we have planned a rehearsal in the chapel. Why we need one is beyond me, but Hojo and the wedding planner insist so we must do as they bid. Make sure you are free in the afternoon dear, we cannot have one of the bridesmaids missing for the rehearsal now can we?"
"Of course not." Kagome answered resisting the urge to roll her eyes at the elder woman. "May I ask what time it would be? I plan on reading in the library in the morning and I will leave it when it is time for the rehearsal."
"Oh you needn't worry with that!" Lady Cathérine stated. "Sesshomaru here will come fetch you when it is time."
This time, Sesshomaru scoffed but quickly pretended to cough when his aunt turned her head in his direction. All the young people at the table, save Hojo had to stifle their smiles at this. Mr. and Mrs. Tanaka who had seen the exchange said nothing. While they were happy for their daughter, they had to admit that her in-laws, specifically a certain elderly lady, was vexing at times.
"If you say so Lady Cathérine." Kagome finally responded after a short silence. Hearing that, the lady nodded and the rest of breakfast passed in relative peace.
Later that evening, as Kagome was making a mental list of all the items she had to place out on her dresser to get ready for tomorrow, Sango walked in with Rin and Ayame in tow. Kagome eyed the four of them warily. She had to admit that she was still half hoping that Ayame was going to cancel the wedding but realized that might be a lost cause, especially after the rehearsal today. Ayame was adamant about the rehearsal being done exactly right, so much so that Kagome was tempted to call her friend a small bridezilla. Instead, she had granted her friend one excuse- after all poor Ayame was finally able to control at least one aspect of her wedding and take it away from Lady Cathérine's hands. Kagome watched the girls sit down on the bed and waited to see what they had to say. After the vineyard trip the day before and the amount of walking she had to do in her heels- why had Ayame made her practice walking in them again- she was more than ready to crash.
"We need to talk Kagome." Ayame stated suddenly causing Kagome to pause in her task.
"About what?" Kagome asked curiously turning around and giving her friend a questioning look. Ayame rolled her eyes as she spoke.
"That Inuyasha guy." Ayame continued failing to see Rin's tensing up at the name. None of the girls in the room noticed this expect for Kagome who brushed it off. She was probably remembering how close Inuyasha had been to her, the poor girl.
"Look Kagome, he may be sweet but something just tells me you might not want to deal with him." Kagome sighed and rolled her eyes. She honestly trusted her friends and loved their opinion but sometimes she wished they would just butt out of some things- this being one of them. Why was everyone suddenly so against Inuyasha? And if they were so against him, why were they talking now instead of over the course of the semester?
"Look Ayame, I will be careful about him but honestly can we talk about it later? I'm dead tired and you should be too. Let's all call it a night and meet each other tomorrow okay? After all, we all need to rest for the wedding tomorrow." Ayame was reluctant to let go of the issue but let her best friend loose. Giving Kagome a hug, she left the room with Rin and Sango in tow. It was her last night as a single woman after all and she was going to enjoy it by watching her favorite chick flick.
As a bridesmaid, Kagome was expected to do many things. One of them, not surprisingly, was to dance with a male counterpart. Sango-the maid of honor- was dancing with Kouga- the best man, and Rin was twirling around the dance floor with Ginta. That left Kagome, Sesshomaru, and Anna. Anna had chosen to sit down earlier claiming fatigue- a lie- and Kagome wanting to escape being in such close proximity to Sesshomaru, left the room to head out to the tiny garden nearby. She heard a sound from behind her and groaned when she saw that Sesshomaru had followed her outside. What did he want now?
"Is there something you need Sesshomaru?" Kagome asked politely. Sesshomaru seemed to hesitate for a moment before he crossed the length separating them in three quick strides and took her hands in his. Kagome wanted to pull away but there was something mesmerizing about his eyes and his grip was rather strong.
"Kagome," Sesshomaru began giving her hands a little squeeze, "would you care to dance with me tonight and perhaps spend the evening taking a stroll with me by the vineyard?" Kagome was baffled- she had no idea why he wanted to do that. As if she wanted to be alone with him in a desolate space at night.
"Why?" She asked unable to help herself. At this, Sesshomaru let go of her hands and began pacing back and forth. She watched him curiously as he settled on his thoughts.
"I love you Kagome. I love you despite all your faults. Yes, you come from a rather middle-class family and are out of bounds for me class-wise. Yes, you are wonderfully infuriating and yes, your family could use some lessons in courtesy, especially that sister of yours if what I heard from Ayame is true. But still I love you! I love you so much that my heart aches for you everyday and I can't help but suffer when we are far away. So I ask you, will you give me the pleasure of accepting my suit?"
Kagome gaped at him with her mouth open; it was all she could do to not look like a fool in front of him anymore than she already was. She eyed Sesshomaru and grimaced inwardly when she saw the anxiousness in his eyes. He was serious about this- about loving her- and she was going to have to turn him down. Kagome hated breaking hearts but as she thought about things again she realized that she didn't care about breaking Sesshomaru's. He was a rude, egotistical jerk who had tormented her friend and chased Inuyasha out of his inheritance. Taking a deep breath, she gave her short clear response.
"I can't accept your suit Sesshomaru."
To say the man was shocked was an understatement. As she regarded Sesshomaru's visage Kagome rolled her eyes. It was as though he'd never expected this. When had she ever even hinted at going out with him or even liking him in any manner? Sesshomaru, having gotten over enough of the shock to speak, did so.
"May I ask," he began slowly and with a voice that was slightly hollow, "why you choose to reject me?"
"Well, let's see, for one you are an egotistical jerk who cares more about your wealth and status than interaction with people around you- I mean really- all you could say was that I was vapid the first time you saw me. You hadn't even talked to me then! And my family; what kind of person would think that I wanted to be with him after he insulted my family in so open a manner? You have never met my sister and if you ever dare approach her, I will physically remove you! Then there's Sango- your stupid advice is what caused Miroku to break up with her and break her heart! So really Sesshomaru, what makes you think I would consider anyone who did things such as this?" Sesshomaru blinked before he ground his teeth and bit his next few words out.
"Anything else you wish to add to my list of faults?"
"Yes- Inuyasha. Oh, don't act so surprised. I mean why should you when you are the reason he was chased out of his inheritance? I can't believe you would go so far Sesshomaru! I really can't." Sesshomaru's anger was growing stronger by the second and he clenched his fists in an effort to redirect some of his anger. Finally, he looked back up at Kagome and spoke slowly.
"If those are all the grievances that you hold against me then I have to inform you that I will have to tell you they are unjustly placed. I know you will not listen to me today and so all I can say now is good night Kagome. I will not hold you here any longer when it is obvious that my sentiments will only be thrown back in my face. If at any time you wish to ascertain any truths about these claims then you know where to contact Koga and Rin."
His words said, Sesshomaru turned around and walked back inside. Left alone, Kagome thought about what had just happened with Sesshomaru. He loved her, and as much as she hated him, she had to admit that the thought of him falling for her flattered her a little. Yet, at the same time, she was shocked by the honesty in his explanation and the honest manner in which she had delivered her rejection. His last few words were actually what caught her attention the most. What truth was he talking about? She assumed it had to do with Inuyasha and not Miroku which led her to begin thinking about all the warnings that Sango and Ayame had given her. Was Inuyasha really truthful? Shaking her head, she decided to head inside and tell Sango she wanted to skip out on the rest of the reception until it was time for Ayame to say goodbye before she left on the honeymoon. She needed some time to think.
When she walked inside, it wasn't that hard to spot Sango. She was talking with Koga and Rin in hushed tones making Kagome wonder if she had missed something. Had Sesshomaru already been by to see them? Had he said anything about what had occurred in the garden? She hurriedly made her way over to them and waited to be noticed. It wasn't long before Rin noticed her.
"Kagome!" She yelled out. "Do you know what's wrong with my brother? He was there a few minutes ago but then he just left after telling Ayame and Hojo goodbye. He's so angry too!" Kagome didn't say anything but her tight lipped grimace must have indicated something to Koga and Sango who both looked at her skeptically.
"Are you all right Kagome?" Sango asked carefully. She knew that whatever had Sesshomaru storming out earlier had to do with Kagome. And she knew that whatever had happened had upset Kagome.
"Yeah, I just, I need to um go back to the room okay. I'm fine really I just think I'm tired from all the running around today. Sango wasn't buying it and Kagome knew that. Nonetheless, she felt like pushing Kagome to answer her wasn't going to get her any results so she let it slide.
"It's fine." Sango stated. "Do you want me to come get you when it's time for Ayame and Hojo to leave?"
"Yes please." Sango answered with a nod watching her friend walk away. As she did so Koga let loose a silent sigh.
"Why do I have the feeling that whatever happened, happened because the two of them fought about something?" He asked once he was sure he once again had Sango's attention. The two females next to him responded quickly; one with a muted gasp, the other with a sigh.
"I don't know Koga, I honestly don't." Sango answered him. "I thought something was going to change this time and that Kagome might actually be friends with him but she just seems to never try." Rin laid a gentle arm on her friend.
"It's not just her fault Sango, let's face it my brother could use a few clues her and there about how to act around people." Rin knew that while she idolized and admire her brother, he was only that perfect in her eyes and to others he was still an unsociable being. She wished that they saw what she and Koga got to see; a fun entertaining brother who cared for her and was really just trying to look out for her in the ways he knew best even if those ways could sometimes use some work. Sighing, the trio decided to make the best of their time at the reception and hope that things would get better later.
They did get better in a way though it would take both parties involved in the conflict months to admit it. Interestingly enough, the good times actually started with the letter. Kagome had packed and repacked her suitcase as she avoided Rin and Kouga like the plague. Sango had tried to weasel out what was wrong but considering it was less than twenty-four hours since the incident, Kagome was still trying to figure things out in her own way before she approached her friend. So it came as a total surprise to her when she opened the book she'd packed for the plan ride and out popped an envelope. The book was Harry Potter so she could see how someone might have been able to stash it inside but she was intensely surprised. Expect for the two minutes her bags had been with Koga, she had never let them out of her sight and so she assumed it was from him. When she picked up the letter though, she noticed there was a series of post-it notes on the back and she quickly read them.
Kagome,
Now normally, I wouldn't help my cousin but I think this time it's a special case. This letter was found on Sesshomaru's dresser. I saw that he had addressed it to you & assumed that he was too shy to give the letter to you. I do not know why he wrote the letter nor what is in it. I know you want to throw this away but really, should you when you know that he obviously cared enough about you to write a letter? Come on Kagome, I know you'll make the right choice. Do not regret things in the future.
Koga
Kagome looked at the letter and the post-it notes as she debated what to do. Koga was right, she realized after a few minutes of deliberation as she opened the letter. The letter was made up of two sheets of notebook paper and written hastily in pen. She knew it was hastily written as she noticed all the scratch-out marks dotting the mistakes that Sesshomaru has made in his writing. Considering his meticulousness in nearly all aspects of his life, she knew that whatever was in the letter was special and offered her a rare glimpse into a Sesshomaru she didn't know. Checking to make sure Sango was still asleep she began reading it.
Dear Ms. Hi Kagome,
I do Fear not, this isn't is not isn't another declaration of my love to you; it is instead an offering of explanations for perhaps my what you had unjustly accused me of yesterday.
Firstly, I would like to say that I am sorry for any heartbreak I caused to Sango- it was not my intention to do so and if Miroku told me had I known what Miroku's plans were the day he spoke to me I would have advised given him a different response. He approached me on New Year's Eve asking me what to do regarding Sango. I tod him that whatever actions he took he had to make sure that they were done in a manner that meant he wouldn't hurt Sango. Miroku has never isn't known to be a faithful man or someone who continuously dates a girl. I feared that during his study abroad in Paris, he would cheat on Sango. Perhaps I was mistaken in this assumption. If I was mistaken, it seems that both Sango and Miroku were indeed faithful to each other and I should have never planted the seed of doubt in his head. For this, I do apologize, for beang being the cause of Sango's heartbreak I do not, though I do sympathize with her. It was Miroku's decision to break up with her, not mine.
I do apologize for mentioning those harsh words about your sister. While Ayame did tell me she was different from you, I should not have assumed that it made her automatically like the majority of the erstwhile money and power hungry side of the female population. I have never met your family and I insulted them. I know that this was a rather harsh criticism I laid at your feet but please believe me when I say that I did not mean for it to come out that way that I did not mean it. The latter part of my adult years I spent my company with Lady Cathérine and as such I have found myself constantly bombarded with her lessons on etiquette and high class upbringing. I meant to tell you that no matter the class that I was for once going contradictory to what my Aunt said and wanted in deciding to pursue you. In trying to say that however I butchered my words. I am sorry Kagome, keenly sorry for this and I hope that you will accept this apology on behalf of your family.
Now the third crime that I have committed in your opinion deals with Inuyasha. HE is a name not to be spoken of in the presence of Rin. Before you say anything, If you do not believe me please seek out Koga and Rin for confirmation- this is a story that remains hidden we hide for Rin's sake. Inuyasha is the son of my father's mistress whom my father took in when his mother died. For this, I lamented him for a little of my youth but soon saw in him someone who I could play with. Inuyasha and I were quite close growing up, there were even times when the two of us excluded Rin from our "boys-only" games and got in vast amounts of trouble together. However, things changed when Inuyasha was old enough to begin dating. He started had a reputation as a player and often times the two of us fought about it when I confronted him. One of these"girls" them was an older woman who introduced him to drugs. When my father found out, he was furious and ordered Inuyasha to stop interacting with her. It was shortly after all, during my senior year of high school that my father passed away. My grandparents came down to spend some time with us but after my grandfather experienced a sudden bout of sickness they returned to England. At this time, I was busy trying to gain acceptance into universities and instead of being there for Rin during our time of grief I poured myself into my studies. One weekend, Miroku invited me to go with him to visit the Kyoto School of Architecture- my top choice. I went there, trusting Rin in the hands of Inuyasha who I assumed was the best would only care for her best interests.
You can only imagine my surprise when less than twenty-four hours into my trip I got a call from the local police department back home asking me to pick up my sister who had been caught trying to sell my family's precious heirloom- the Testsaiga- for drug money. I immediately returned home and when all was said and done I learned that the older woman whom Inuyasha had had had previous dealings with was the one supplying both Rin and Inuyasha with the drugs. Inuyasha was there for her in her time of need but he manipulated my sisters emotions in a way that to me was unforgivable. I was furious that he would ever try to sell off these precious heriloooms and so had the will rewritten so that he would only get the items if he received a college and married. I am not so heartless but I felt it was the best things to do since I still did believe that he will change. As for Rin, I did not want her to be somewhere she might be influcned influenced once again by Inuyasha My maternal grandparents who are really the only family that Rin and I have left- agreed to take her in until she was ready to go to college. That is why Rin grew up in England for the latter part of her schooling and why she cringes whenever his name is mentioned. IT is a period of her life she wishes to foregt and in order to honor that all of us try to not make her remember it.
Please understand that the contents of this letter are yours to do with as you wish. I only ask that you please keep private those words in the latter part of the letter. Rin is too kind of an individual to be tainted by scandal. I do sincerely hope that this letter has offered you an insight into some of my actiosn Kagome. I know that while you may not forgive me and our paths will likely never cross again I still owe you a response. I also hope that you will remember that I will never and have never lied to you Kagome.
Sincerely,
Sesshomaru Wentworth
Kagome looked at the letter she had just finished and hastily glanced over it again and again. It felt like she had been doing it for hours because the next time she was aware of her surroundings was when Sango poked her in the shoulder. She looked at her friend as she tried to process what she had just read. It was true, she couldn't recall a time where he had lied to her, he had made hasty judgments yes but so had she right? And no one would make up such a sordid story about their sister, especially one whom it was obvious the person loved very much. She thought about the things she'd seen of Sesshomaru and the things she knew about him. It was true, his upbringing probably did turn him into the man she was today but he had apologized for it. And yes, Miroku was the one at fault really- how was Sesshomaru to know what his friend was thinking at the time?
"Kagome, earth to Kagome?!"
"I'm sorry Sango, were you saying something?"
"Are you okay? You were looking at that letter and zoning out for a while." Kagome blinked back tears as her friend's face reflected worry. What was she supposed to say, what was she to do? And so she finally said the only thing she could as a few tears leaked out.
"I think I just really messed shit up Sango."
When school started again, things had changed. For one, Kagome was more wary about Inuyasha and as a result had warned both her mother and sister about it. Her mother agreed to keep an eye out on Inuyasha but Kikyo had just pushed Kagome away and accused her of being jealous. As if that wasn't the only thing, Kagome found out that Miroku was back. She wasn't sure what to make of it but found that she didn't have the time to worry with the LSE application deadline. Her free time was spent studying to make sure she made the right grades in her economics classes and passing the interviews needed to get her acceptance into the program. So it came as a surprise when she got a text from a fellow LSE applicant about a fight going on between Miroku and Sango in the main quad. Quickly packing up her materials in the library she ran out, not caring about the rather nasty looks she was receiving for the loud noises, and arrived at the quad moments later. Sango had her back turned to Miroku and was crying while said man was taking slow but measured steps towards her.
"I'm so sorry Sango." He finally stated sinking to his knees. "I know I should not deserve it but I'm asking, begging you for a second chance. The entire time I was in Paris all I could think of was you. What would you do if I kissed you on the Tour Eiffel? What would you say when I took you out on a boat cruise on the Seine? I made a grave mistake and I am repenting for it. All I ask is that maybe you try to give me a second chance?" When she didn't turn around Kagome was about to intervene on her friend's behalf but Miroku spoke again.
"Tell me you don't care Sango and I will leave now, I will pack up my bags and leave immediately. You will never see me again and I will let you live your life in peace." At that, Sango finally rounded on him.
"Don't you dare Miroku Kanazawa! You left me alone to pick up the pieces when you left last time and I will be damned if you do it again!"
Miroku stood and pulled her close into an embrace. He held her, soothing her and murmuring things into her ear as her tears and sobs quieted. Most of the students left now that the problem was over and there was no more drama to be seen. Kagome however slowly approached the couple. Hearing her, Miroku turned and flushed sheepishly as he gently pulled away from Sango. Sango soon noticed Kagome too and both girls shared a knowing look.
"I have an exam in the afternoon and then I go home. He's more than welcome to join us for dinner and things if you are okay with it."
"Thanks Kagome."
"No problem, now I'm going to finish studying- you do your thing okay?" And with that, the trio parted ways.
After that incident, it wasn't uncommon to see Miroku and Sango together nearly all the time. In fact, it became so common that Kagome and Sango had not only cleared out a space on the bathroom counter for Miroku's things (an extra toothbrush/ shaving kit that he left over at their place) but had also recently rechristened their couch to make it "Miroku's couch." The incident on the quad had been talked about and thoroughly explained and both parties while still wary of what had happened last year were now after a month more in tune and trust with each other.
"Hey Kagome," Miroku asked looking up from his place on the couch as she walked into the apartment, "have you heard back from the program yet?" Kagome shook her head as she collapsed onto the nearby armchair.
"No, we'll know by Halloween but that's still a week away!"
"Relax, I'm sure it will be fine." Miroku answered back standing up. "Do you want anything to eat or drink?"
"No, but where's Sango?" Kagome asked beginning to toe her boots off.
"She went to do laundry, she was also going to wash that coat of yours after that incident at the party yesterday." Kagome grimaced remembering that. Miroku, Sango, and her had gone to a campus party and it wasn't the best idea. Some drunk idiot had come up to her and sloshed his drink all over her dress. To say she was pissed was an understatement. And that was the jacket whose hidden pocket had Sesshomaru's letter too. At that, Kagome bolted out of her chair and quickly shoved her feet back into the shoes. Before Miroku could even begin to ask about her abrupt actions, she was out the door, praying that Sango hadn't gotten to the letter yet!
"Kagome!" Sango exclaimed watching her friend come barreling into the room. "Are you okay?" The flustered girl didn't say anything instead she walked up to Sango and turned frightened eyes to her.
"Please Sango, please tell me you were obsessed with checking pockets again and emptied them before you put things in the washer! Please!" Sango eyed Kagome before she reached behind her and grabbed an envelope off a nearby washer.
"Are you talking about this letter?" She asked waving it in front of her friend's face. Kagome made a move to snatch it and Sango willingly gave it back.
"I didn't read it, I just saw that it was from Sesshomaru and assumed that it was important. As far as I know you would never keep something of his." Kagome paled and then felt guilty; it was obvious that Sango was hurt that she had chosen to hide this letter for nearly three months.
"I help you with laundry and we discuss this later in my room?" She offered as a way of apology. Sango let out a small smile.
"Yeah, we can do that."
A good twenty minutes later Miroku watched as his girlfriend and Kagome walked back into the apartment. He was ignored and vaguely heard Sango say something about girl talk before the door to Kagome's room was shut. Shrugging it off, he continued with his homework hoping that Sango might tell him about it later. Both girls once inside Kagome's room were found sitting on the bed- one was collapsed by the head of it while the other sat halfway down looking down at the collapsed female.
"So when did you get this letter?" Sango asked carefully. She had a suspicion that this was the same letter that had driven her friend to tears on the flight home from London but she was holding her guess for now. After all, if Kagome was keeping this letter something had changed drastically in her relationship with Sesshomaru.
"I got it in England." Kagome began slowly. "Sesshomaru wrote it to me but he obviously didn't want me to see it. Koga found it and he was the one who gave it to me- slipped it into my carry-on is more like it." Sango nodded encouraging her friend to continue.
"Well, let's start by saying, that three months ago on the night of Ayame's wedding Sesshomaru told me he loved me." Pieces began falling together in Sango's mind- the behavior of both Sesshomaru and Kagome at the reception, the rather unsociable nature of both parties for the following days. "Anyway, I told him I couldn't love him back and he asked me why. That's when I- I uh told him that I couldn't love an unsociable jerk who insulted my family to my face and that he'd basically been the reason you and Miroku broke up."
"That's not true though. Well at least the part about us breaking up because of him." Kagome nodded flushing as she recalled all her previous errors.
"I might have also accused him of stripping Inuyasha of his inheritance." Sango narrowed her eyes and adjusted her position on the bed giving Kagome a clear sign to continue. "Um so this letter, he uh gave it to me after that fight and it explains a lot. He apologized for insulting my family, he said he was sorry for planting the idea of the break-up in Miroku's head but that he wouldn't apologize for Miroku and um, he also told me the truth about Inuyasha."
"The truth about Inuyasha?" Sango asked slowly when a few moments passed in silence. Kagome nodded wondering whether or not it would be a breach of privacy to tell Sango. She figured the least she could do was tell her the half-truth- the part about Inuyasha's dealings with drugs and leave out the information regarding Rin."
"Inuyasha has been known to experiment with drugs- he uh played around with them twice and the second time might have nearly tried to sell an heirloom off to get it. So, Sesshomaru might have written him out of the will for a while."
"Oh!" Sango wondered if there was anything more she could say and decided there really wasn't. But she was curious, had Kagome told her mother and Kikyo about this news?
"No, I haven't." Kagome answered when she asked. "I really don't know what to do with the information so I figured I'd give him a chance to redeem himself. I did tell mother to be on the lookout though."
"That's probably a good idea. We don't want to suddenly scare everyone do we?" Kagome shook her head and the two friends smiled glad that there really weren't anymore secrets out in the open anymore.
A few days later as Kagome checked her e-mail she noticed that she received something from the head of the Economics Department. The subject read "London School of Economics Program- Spring 2013" and Kagome automatically knew what it was. The e-mail was her make it or break it moment; it told her whether or not her hard work was enough to get her into the spring program. As she moved to click on it to open it she suddenly chickened out and instead turned to Miroku on his customary couch. Sango was sitting next to him and both of them were engrossed in their homework but Kagome figured they could use a small distraction such as this.
"Um guys?" The couple looked up and Kagome continued. "Can you read the LSE e-mail to me?" Miroku was a tad confused but at his girlfriend's nudge realized what Kagome was talking about. Standing up, he crossed the room and took Kagome's laptop back to his den on the couch. Looking at Sango for confirmation, he opened the e-mail and both of them quickly scanned the contents. Sango was the first to react and she did so with a loud squeal.
"What is it, what is it?" Kagome asked coming over to take a look at the letter.
"You did it Kagome! You did it! You get to spend the spring semester in London on an all expense paid study-abroad trip to the London School of Economics."
More squeals suddenly sounded as the two girls began to jump up and down while hugging each other. Miroku watched them with amusement but did move a little- their screams were reaching decibels that were beginning to hurt his ears. He slowly walked towards the kitchen and the celebratory champagne that he had bought earlier that week. Both he and Sango agreed that no matter the outcome they would celebrate this little moment with Kagome either by getting drunk happily or sadly. He was secretly thrilled that in this case it was getting drunk happily. Grabbing the champagne and three glasses he walked back out to the living room and uncorked the bottle carefully.
"To Kagome's success!" Sango toasted holding her glass up. Laughing Kagome and Miroku toasted back and the trio clinked their glasses together before drinking. Finally, it seemed everything was starting to click into place for Kagome.
A/N: And part II done, if you all know what's coming up in Part III, then you will be happy that this will end soon!
Also I now know way more about English wine than I ever thougth I would. And once again- if you figured out the scene with erros kudos to you!