Short and simple – I don't own Inuyasha.
Kagome's mouth dropped open. "Wait, I think I heard wrong. You want to WHAT?"
Her mother chuckled. "Well dear, you ran off to the Feudal Era and didn't bother to tell me. And then you mated with a nice, respectable man. And now you're pregnant." Kagome flushed a deep red, but her mother just went on. "I did want to see you get married, you know."
The girl sighed, giving in. "I can't stop you can I?" The older woman shook her head gleefully. "Fine. But can it at least be a Western style wedding? It's what I'd dreamed of, when I was still here."
She nodded again with a big grin on her face. "We'll need some help from Old Lady Shima, not to mention all her daughters. Ooh, and Mr..." She began to list off people, supplies, and places as she walked away from Kagome.
Kagome's mother threw herself into the wedding plans immediately. Within ten minutes she had a church booked, caterers called, and florists on standby. Kagome and Inuyasha merely stood nearby, shock still going through them both. "Um….Mom?" She held up a finger until she was finished talking to Shima.
"What is it dear?" The notepad in front of her mother was filled with prices, orders, and other such nonsense.
"I don't want a big wedding…."
Her words stopped her mother. "But Kagome, you said I could plan it!"
Unfreezing enough to walk to her mother's side, she picked up the guest list and read off a few of the names. "Mr. and Mrs. Watanabe. Miss Suzuki and her three children. Mr. Yamamoto." The list went on and on. "I don't know any of these people!"
This earned a laugh from her mother. "Of course not, Kagome. You left us. You've been gone for years. Things have changed. But I suppose, if it means that much to you, we can make it a smaller affair. Have it here, with just your friends and our family."
Kagome hugged her mom and thanked her profusely. "I love you Mom."
"Well, this certainly changes things. But I want you to go into town and pick out a dress. I'd always wanted you to wear my kimono, but I know you want a Western wedding." She turned to Inuyasha, who was still standing motionless. "Would you mind escorting her into town? I'd ask Sesshomaru, seeing as he's her mate, but he doesn't know how to act here. And make sure she gets the works."
He nodded and grabbed Kagome's hand and the hat that was on the table. "C'mon. We have work to do."
Once they were out the door, Sesshomaru jumped out the second story window with Sota kicking and screaming in his grasp. "Sis! Tell him to let me go!"
She ignored her little brother's cry for help. He hadn't told her Inuyasha was there, and he deserved to suffer for a while. "Inuyasha and I are going into town. My mom decided to throw us a human wedding."
Inuyasha was surprised at how easily she made the distinction. She knew she wasn't human anymore, and she'd come to terms with it. It impressed him, and made him more than a little sad. The girl in his memories wasn't the same as the strong, independent demoness before him. He didn't even really know her anymore. But she wasn't the only one who'd changed.
"And I am to stay here? I suppose it would be for the best, for I am unaccustomed to this modern era." Kagome nodded and put her arms around her mate. "It won't be for very long, will it? I don't want you to be put into danger."
"She won't be. I'll take care of her." Inuyasha pulled Kagome away from his brother and down the many steps to the street. He didn't let go of her hand.
A car whizzed by them, and Kagome jumped behind a bush, baring her fangs. Inuyasha began to laugh, and a bit of the boy she'd met in the Feudal Era showed through. "Kagome, it's just a car. I know you've been gone a while, but really? You'll draw attention to yourself if you keep this up!"
Kagome brought herself out of the shrubbery and brushed her clothes off. "Lead the way." She tactfully refrained from saying what was going through her mind.
The young man shrugged and kept going until they reached downtown Tokyo. The first store they entered was a beauty parlor. "And why are we here?"
Inuyasha smirked. "Your mom told me to make sure you got the works. So here we are." He approached the lady behind the counter. The middle-aged woman smiled and giggled like a schoolgirl. It was nauseating.
"Right this way, Ms. Higurashi. And would you be so kind as to remove your hat?"
She reached up to her head, unsure of what to do, but Inuyasha jumped in. "We're just here for her nails. Mrs. Higurashi wishes to do her hair. You know how demanding mothers can be!" The woman giggled again and Kagome rolled her eyes.
Kagome walked out of the beauty parlor feeling cleaner and more refreshed than she had in a long time. Inuyasha once again grabbed her hand and led her further down the street to a small café. The old man behind the counter, complete with a four and a half foot stature and a gray top knot, greeted Inuyasha and told them to take a seat anywhere. It was pretty generous of the man, but she sank into one of the chairs without complaint.
"We'd like two green teas and two of today's special, please."
"No problem, my boy. But what happened to that Ayumi you brought by. You haven't broken her heart, have you? She was such a nice girl."
She sat in shock. Inuyasha was fitting in better in her time than she ever had. All the people here loved him. Instead of feeling happy for him, she felt jealous. He was living her life better than she had. But she had Sesshomaru. That's all that mattered.
"No, we're still together. This is actually Kagome."
The old man looked at him in shock. "THE Kagome? The one you told me about? Boy, you are dumber than I thought, letting a pretty young thing like her get away!"
Inuyasha nodded with a grin on his face. "The one and only. But I got over her a long time ago. I'm happy with Ayumi now. And Kagome's marrying my brother soon. I actually came with her today to buy her dress and get her nails done. Plus, I wanted to show her this café. She hasn't been to Tokyo in years and I wanted to show her how well I've been getting on."
He ruffled Inuyasha's hair and handed him two cakes. "I'll bring the tea over to you two in a moment."
Inuyasha sat across from her and she smiled. "You seem happy here. Happier than you ever were when we were traveling together."
"Yeah. I really am. People don't judge me here for being what I am. They don't know, and can't tell just by looking at me. I'm just like everyone else. Well, except for the ears. But my friends know, and they're okay with it. Like Old Man Tanaka here. He heard stories from his grandfather when he was a boy, but he wasn't scared of me when he found out. And now he's one of my friends here in Tokyo."
They ate their cakes and talked for hours, catching up and just having a good time in general. But that stopped when a cell phone went off. Inuyasha pulled it out, grew pale, and quickly paid for their snack. "I'm really sorry Kagome, but I forgot I had a date with Ayumi tonight. That was her, and I'm really late. Can you find a dress on your own and get home alright?" He didn't wait for a response, but instead just ran out the door.
Kagome just sat at the table and didn't say anything. After a few minutes, Tanaka came over and took Inuyasha's vacated seat. "Give the boy a break. He really cares about you." She didn't say anything, and the old man continued. "You're his best friend. There isn't a day that he doesn't come in here and talk about the adventures the two of you had. Even if it's only for a minute or two while he grabs a cup of tea. It really hurt him when he found out about you and his brother."
"I know. And I don't blame him. For anything."
"Then why do you look so upset?"
"I wish he left me instructions on how to get home. Or the money to buy my wedding dress."
The old man began to laugh. "Why don't you wait here? I'll call the shrine and let them know you'll be later than you expected. And then I'll call Inuyasha and ask him to stop by after his date. I won't let you starve either."
Kagome thanked him and stood. "At least let me help out a bit. I may not be very experienced, but I can at least serve people."
"That would be lovely. Thank you."
Inuyasha sat across from Ayumi, having a nice night that he was glad he hadn't missed. Sure, she had been less than thrilled when he eventually showed up, but armed with flowers and chocolates, she forgave him.
His phone went off as he brought a mouthful of ramen to his lips, and Ayumi gave him a look. They had a strict no phones on a date policy, so Inuyasha silenced it without looking at the number.
But just a few seconds later it went off again. Ayumi sighed. "I guess it's really important, if the person called you right back. Go ahead and answer it." She waved him off, but Inuyasha just silenced it again.
When it rang a third time, she gave him another look. He sighed and went outside to answer it. The old man's voice came through, and Inuyasha's face lost its color. "I'll be right there."
So, this was totally going to be the last chapter. I had also planned on it being a nice little fluff piece with their wedding. Obviously that didn't happen. What can I say? The characters just want me to keep messing with Inuyasha. So yes, this is entirely his fault. Blame him. Not me.
Anyway, I'm really going to try for the next chapter to be the end. It feels like it keeps dragging on, even to me! Everything will be resolved, but this chapter would've been nearly 3 or 4 thousand words if I kept it all in one chapter.
Please review. Lack of reviews caused this chapter to be really late. (Not really. It was Inuyasha's fault. But that's the story I'm sticking with.) I will also love you forever.