Disclaimer: Hello, everyone! Since the reviews asked for it, here it is, the Epilogue to Always There But Never Noticed! Absolutely the final chapter. I hope you all enjoy it! Thank you, again, to all my reviewers for sticking with the story until the end. It fills my heart with joy when people like my work and over 100 reviews makes me absolutely overwhelmed. Thank you all so much! You have no idea how thankful I really am.
Here I go again, talking my life away. Enough talking and on with the story!
Oops, one more thing. I'd like to congratulate all the nominees at the MTV awards Sunday the 6th of June, 2010. Kristen Stewart is truly talented and I'm glad she won but I am also very happy for the other nominees, especially Emma Watson =) I always liked her acting. She's awesome =D . Sandra Bullock has been through a rough time this year but she always stays strong and remains on top. She's an excellent role model and I worship her, haha. There were many other nominees but I can't remember them at the moment. I'm glad theyall made it though, but I was very excited for the people I mentioned, I have to admit.
As for the guys, Robert Pattinson, he rocks, love his accent. He's one of the many people that help make Twilight as awesome on the big screen as it was in the book. I congratulate him. Taylor Lautner, haha, well everyone knows that he's very good looking, no need for a bunch of screaming girls to pop out and say how good looking he is are. He's also another great actor that gives the Twilight Saga that certain edge that makes a good movie. And, of course, Daniel Radcliffe, whom I was also happy that he had been nominated. Who could possibly forget Harry Potter, afterall? He makes the fun magical world of wizards and witches come to life with every movie he makes. Harry Potter wouldn't be Harry Potter without Daniel Radcliffe =)
Okay, now I'm done. That was completely meaningless but, I wanted to get it out so there. It's out. . . On with the story now. . .
"Inuyasha," The familiar voice I recognized as my best friend, Miroku, called from behind me. "It's almost time. Come on, you have to get outside." He reminded me before closing the door quietly and letting me continue dressing myself. All I had to do was tie my bow tie. Only problem was is that I could never get it to look perfect. I huffed in frustration and let the black strip fall loose around the collar of my shirt. I looked at myself in the large mirror and laughed. I looked extremely nervous and yet I was smiling like an idiot. The small flashback had calmed my nerves a bit. I loved remembering my past with Kagome. It always gave me hope. I don't know why, but it always seemed to help me through my roughest times. Today isn't the worst day ever, but, I have to admit, I'm more nervous than one of those people hired to disarm bombs.
It's been many years since I graduated from high school. And everyone had seemed to move in a different direction. I graduated from college about 3 years ago and majored in literature. Strange, huh? I never took myself as the "Writer" type but it seems that when I write, I float off into my own world of imagination. Where there are no rights or wrongs and I can create whatever I want. I knew just the thing to start off my writing career, too. Everyone's moved on, and now it's my turn to do the same.
A soft knock came at the door. I turned around and let out a sigh of annoyance.
"Miroku, just give me a second, I'll be right out." I said in more of a growl than a message.
"It's not Miroku." A soft voice came from behind the door. I recognized it immediately and let out another sigh, this time of relief.
"Come on in." My voice was much calmer than before and the frustration seemed to fade away even more when the figure of my mother came into the room. She gave me a smile that assured me that everything was going to be fine.
"The ceremony will be starting soon. You should start getting out there." She reminded me just as Miroku did, except her voice wasn't on edge like Miroku's had been.
"I know, I know." I grumbled, looking back at my reflection in the mirror. "I just can't seem to get this bow tie on right." I pulled at the sides of the black strip and sighed, my frustration starting to build again. My mother came up behind me and comfortably smiled at the reflection in the mirror. She turned to me and took the two ends of strip. She began two twist the bow tie a lot before, as if magically done, it looked exactly how it was supposed to look. She gave it a small tug and ran her hands along my tuxedo, wiping off any lint that was visible. I gave me a warm smile.
"Thanks, Mom. I don't know what I would have done without you." I thanked her, gratitude clearly visible in my voice. I looked back at the mirror and let out another puff of air, this one of the nervousness that was building up inside of me. This was it. All I had left to do was go outside and get ready for the ceremony. I looked back at my mom and gave her a grin, just as I used to do when I was a little boy. I saw a tear in her eye before she enveloped me in a hug.
"You remind me so much of how your father was." She whispered as she pulled away. "He would have been so proud at everything that you've done." I honestly didn't know how to respond to that. I never met my father. He died when I was very young. But something tells me that he was a really great guy if my mom were so happy by how much I look and act like him.
"I know. I would've like to meet him, too." I murmured. "I bet he was a great guy, Mom. If you loved him so much, than he must have been." My mother gave me a smile that I had never seen before but recognized very well. It was the same smile that was on my face every time I thought of Kagome. At least now I know where I get it from.
"He was, indeed. "She whispered, the smile still very much visible on her face. My mom must have loved my father very much. No. . . She still does. Even after death. I never thought that love like my mother's existed after death. My father is a lucky man. And, today, so am I.
"Come on, it's going to start any minute now." My mother's voice brought me back to my reality. The love-struck smile was gone and had been replaced with the one I recognized and had gotten to know very well while I was growing up. I gave her a nod and we both exited the dressing room.
My mom and I went our separate ways. She sat down in her seat in the front row while I made my way up the aisle to take my place next to the reverend. I looked around for Miroku. He was nagging me about being late and now he's nowhere to be found. Perfect. When I did find him, though, I excused him and sort of had to smile. He was over by Sango, who had married him a little over two years ago. Last year, they had their first child and I had never seen Miroku happier than the day he got married. They had a boy, and though he was only a year old, I could see that he was going to look exactly like Miroku. Except for his eyes. His eyes were definitely Sango's eyes. Maybe he would turn out to be a little more like his mother than his father. At least, I hope so.
I watched Miroku give a kiss to his wife and ruffle his son's hair softly before jogging over to my side.
"Sorry about that," Miroku said as he approached my side. "Sango wanted to say something to me. You know how she is." I gave him a friendly smile.
"You seem happy." I said, remembering the moment that had just occurred.
"Of course I am." Miroku assured, looking over at Sango and his little baby. "The two of them together complete me. I don't know what I'd do without them." I looked over to my good friend and saw the love that reflected in his eyes as he watched his family. Maybe someday I'll know what it feels like to have a family and to feel the love that Miroku now feels.
The large room soon began to calm down and everyone took their assigned seats. I looked over to my mom in her front row seat. She grinned over at me and gave me a wink. I chuckled to myself. I think my mom is more childish then I am. The doors suddenly opened slowly. Everyone began to stand as the familiar song, the Wedding March, began to be played by the talented musicians and sung by the Choir, whom together sounded like angels descending down from above. My breath became uneven as I watched the door anxiously.
"You'll do fine, my boy." I heard the old reverend whisper over to me. I gave him a nervous smile but he wasn't smiling back at me. He was looking at something behind me. I turned to look, and instantaneously, all my doubts had disappeared. My legs turned a little weaker and mt breaths continued to be uneven but I couldn't help but grin. There, walking slowly towards the front of the aisle, was my bride to be. She wore a long, white wedding dress that made her seem like she stepped right out of heaven. Next to her was her good old grandfather in a baige tuxedo. He was walking a bit hunched over, since age had done a great impact on his body. And, yet, he seemed more cheerful than ever.
As they reached the end of the aisle, she leaned over to kiss her grandfather on the cheek. Her grandfather then sat down in his assigned seat next to her mother and brother.
"I could've been the reverend." I heard the old man whisper and I chuckled as Kagome's mother nugded him to be quiet. Then, Kagome came up beside me and I smiled down at her. She looked absolutely gorgeous. No, more than gorgeous. No words could descrobe how beautiful she looked right now, in front of me, in her lengthy, angel-like dress.
"You look beautiful." I whispered over to her. It was all I could say. I was at a loss of words by her extraordinary beauty. Through her veil, I saw her blush a shade of crimson.
"You don't look so bad yourself." She whispered. I would've kissed her right there if it weren't for the fact that I had to wait after we were pronounced man and wife. . . Man and wife. . . Kagome was going to be my wife. . . Kagome, my wife. . . I could get used to the sound of that.
With that last thought, I turned to the reverend so he could begin.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today. . ." The reverend had begun but my mind had drifted off to where I had left it at. After this, Kagome would be mine, now and forever. It was still pretty unbelieveable to me. The fact that I actually have the girl of my dreams by my side for the rest of my life is. . . Unbelieveable. I just never thought that it would happen. I've always been just 'Inuyasha' to her, or so I thought a few years ago. But, now. . . She's finally going to be mine. Mine for the rest of my life.
A smile spread across my face as I continued listening to the reverend's words. Until, of course, something else crossed my mind. The wedding vows.
Those were coming up any minute now and I was feeling my stomach drop to my feet. My pulse was increasing by each minute passing. What if I drop the ring or stutter during the vow? How embarrasing would that be?
Relax. My mind said in a strange and unrecognizeable voice. Today's your day. Just look at the woman next to you. I did what my head told me to do and turned. My smile came back when I watched my lovely and amazing future wife remain as calm as I should be. She's not nervous and you shouldn't be either. You're both here for one reason and one reason only: You both lovee each other deeply. Now, stop fussing and get married. The weird pep talk in my head worked, for some strange reason.
"Now, we shall proceed with the wedding vows." The reverend instructed Kagome and I to face each other before he began reciting the wedding vow that we had wanted for the wedding. I loved this vow. It described a lot of our relationship and I don't think I'll ever forget the words.
Miroku handed the reverend the rings and the reverend held them for us to put on each other after we had said our vows. I grabbed one of the rings first and took a deep breath.
"I, Inuyasha, choose you Kagome, as my best friend and my love for life. I promise you my deepest love, my fullest devotion, my tenderest care, through the pressures of the present and the uncertainties of the future, I promise to be faithful to you. I promise to love you, to commit to you, and support you. I pledge to respect your unique talents and abilities, to lend you strength for all of your dreams." I stopped for a second and slipped the ring on to her finger with a smile before continuing.
"You have shown me what love feels like and for that I thank you. You are everything I need and at this moment I know all of my prayers have been answered and that all of my dreams have come true. I praise Kami for you, Kagome: for all of your love and constant friendship. I know that our love is heaven sent and I promise to be here forever and always. From this day forward, you shall not walk alone. My heart will be your shelter and my arms will be your home. As I have given you my hand to hold, I give you my life to keep."
When I finished, I looked to Kagome, only to feel a little guilty. She was crying. Crying tears of happiness, I'm sure, but she was still crying. She looked back at me and gave me a smile that reassured me of all the troubling thoughts I just had.
Now it was her turn. She grabbed the other ring and recited the same vow. My heart swelled with happiness hearing those words directed to me. What was a little silly was when she put the ring on my finger. My hands are a lot larger, being a man and all, and the it just looked plain silly watching a woman slip a ring on to a man's finger. It's like the woman proposed instead of the man proposing. Not that I'm saying that's wrong. . .
Kagome and I both turned to the reverend. He closed his book and gave a small smile to the two of us before looking to the entire church.
"I know pronounce you man and wife. You may finally kiss your bride." I turned back to Kagome and gave her a grin. Slowly, I lifted her veil back. Her tears were all gone and now she waited, with a blush on her face, for the kiss that would unite us forever. I leaned down and planted a kiss on her lips before the entire church erupted in cheers and applause.
My mom and Mrs. Higurashi were probably the two people clapping the loudest, for their two children had just gotten married. Kagome's younger brother, Sota, was cheering too, for now he had a big brother. Even Kagome's old grandfather was cheering in his worn out voice because his only grand-daughter had just gotten married.
But, I couldn't hear any of them. All I could focus on was the girl in my arms who was smiling against my lips as I kissed her and crying ever so softly.
And this is where this book closes. But, we all know from experience that where one book closes, another opens. Where one adventure ends, another begins. Life is a never ending journey, and I'm ready to spend living every day to its fullest with the love of my life by my side, now. . . And forever.
A/N: And there it is! The epilouge! I'm sorry it took so long but some things happened recently. I just suffered the loss of a family member, whom I will always love and never forget. I took some time from writing to try and relax after the day they died.
But, it's all better now! They wouldn't have wanted me to be so sad, anyways. Again, I'd like to thank everyone for reviewing to this story. I enjoyed writing it, as I mentioned so many times before, not only because it was fun but because it actually explains how some people feel in a one-sided love story. They are, as some might say, Always There But Never Noticed.
I hope to hear from you all soon in my next installment, More Than Friends? The classic tale of two friends finding out that what they've always wanted has always been right in front of them. They've just been too blind to see it.
Thank you all so much! Enjoy your Summer Vacation(I know I will)! For all you readers out there, Keep on reading! And as for all you authors, Keep on writing!