A few days had gone by since her parent's funeral, and Inunori was preparing for her wedding. Though Inutaisho still felt that she needed more time to mourn, she had decided to officially become part of their family. Inunori believed strongly that it was what her parent's would have wanted.
There were so many preparations to go through. The most important, however was her wedding kimono. It needed to be special something that no one had ever seen before. Inunori decided that she would wear a melding of the two family colors, red, white, turquoise, and black. Her kimono would be pure white embroidered with turquoise, red, and black swirls, and the obi would be white as well. The over robe would be turquoise with large red flowers outlined in black. Long white toe socks would cover her legs and sandals would be on her feet. Her hair would be pulled up on top of her head and a single red flower would be tucked in as decoration. A golden coronet wreathed her head with an onyx stone embedded with a ruby touching her forehead.
The day of her wedding arrived. Saurina and a few others helped her to dress in her wedding attire. When she was dressed and ready, they escorted her to the main hall where the wedding would be held. Inunori closed her eyes and took a deep breath before stepping into the room. Hundreds of demons, both dogs and allies, sat in the room, but Inunori's eyes only saw one.
Sesshoumaru was dressed in a simple grey hakama over a lighter grey kimono; his white pelt was slung over his shoulder. His hair, which was usually flowing loose, was tied back giving full view of his handsome face. His eyes seemed to glow at the sight of her.
As leader of the tribe Inutaisho should have been leading the ceremony, but since he was the father of the groom he delegated that duty to one of his generals. Inunori and Sesshoumaru knelt on the silk cushions in front of a low wooden table. On the table were three sake cups and two vases with flowers on either end. Each of the cups was a different size and was set lined up largest to smallest. The general led them through their vows and gestured to Saurina to pour the sake into each of the cups. While the vows were being exchanged other servants were pouring sake for the guests. First Sesshoumaru then Inunori took three sips from each of the cups.
When the ceremony was over the guests cheered and the couple bowed to them. Inutaisho came forward and gestured to a servant.
"I have a gift for you Inunori." He smiled as the servant rushed over holding a silk wrapped bundle. Inutaisho picked it up and held it out to Inunori. When she untied it he said, "For you a symbol of your new status as my daughter." Sesshoumaru took the long white pelt and wrapped it around her shoulders. Inutaisho handed the silk back to the servant and leaned towards Inunori kissing her on either cheek. The guests cheered again and everyone moved out to the garden for dinner.
"Sesshoumaru?" Inunori said stopping him before they entered the garden. He turned to her and took her hand. She paused a moment making sure they were alone. "I want you to kiss me." After saying it she bowed her head to hide her blush.
"You don't need to ask me," he said tipping her chin up to look in her eyes. A small smile crossed his lips as he bent slightly to reach her. He stroked a finger down her nose and pressed a soft kiss on the tip. He grinned at the face she made. "I know that wasn't what you meant." He brushed a finger over her lips and they parted slightly. Then he dipped down and kissed her running the tip of his tongue across her lower lip. Inunori wrapped her arms around his neck as she kissed him back.
After a short while Sesshoumaru gripped her wrists and pulled them gently from his neck. "We will continue this later." He pressed a kiss to the inside of one wrist and entwined his fingers with hers. "Come. They are waiting for us."
They went to enter the garden, but Saurina stopped them. Inunori bent to hear what Saurina had to say and then turned to Sesshoumaru. "I'll be just a moment." She moved off a little way with Saurina. "How will we change this?"
"I have a perfect idea," Saurina said so excited that the wreath of flowers she wore nearly fell off. She reached up and pulled off the fur pelt. "Take off the outer robe."
Saurina's idea was to take off the outer robe and obi, then put the outer robe back on loosely so that the kimono could still be seen. She then tied one end of the pelt under the obi and let the other end hang over Inunori's right shoulder.
Sesshoumaru approved greatly of the adjustment to her clothing. "You look perfect," he said smiling at her. He took her hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. He slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow and escorted her into the garden.
The garden was decorated with ribbons in both of the family colors. They were tied to trees and woven in an arc over the trestle tables where their guests sat. He took her to the head table where Inutaisho and his mother already sat. As soon as they sat one of the surviving members of Inunori's tribe shot to his feet raising his sake cup high and toasting the couple.
Several more toasts were made, dinner was served, and the moon had risen high in the sky. Sesshoumaru cupped Inunori's hand and squeezed it gently.
"Come," he said close to her ear. "It's time."