Taste Of Love
Kagome ran away from her demanding family and found herself right in the arms of Takahashi Inuyasha. Caught up in his world, it's getting hard for her to leave, for she has had her first taste of love.
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. Rights are reserved fully to Rumiko Takahashi. This plot too isn't as original, so to those who have attempted before I have, they have full rights to this plot too. Anything else that is mentioned that isn't a figment of my imagination, I also disclaim.
Age Brackets: Kagome – 20, Sango – 22, Miroku – 25, Inuyasha – 26
-x-
Court I
Kagome blinked repeatedly at the plate of something sitting in front of her. She couldn't tell if it was the squid she ordered or some next butchered up seafood gourmet thing. It was a day before the trial and Inuyasha decided to take his wonderfully pregnant wife out to dinner. He made a mental promise to himself that after this entire situation was done and did with, he would take Kagome on a one month vacation, before they had to start shooting for Miko Takahashi's baby line.
"Inuyasha," She hissed and her husband looked over at her, "what is this?"
Inuyasha looked at the bubbling goop on Kagome's plate and made the gagging motion. "Seafood shit galore." He murmured cutely, causing his wife to glare at him dangerously.
"What if it kills me?"
"It won't."
"What if?"
"Damn woman," Inuyasha shook his head, "if it kills you, I'll make sure to sue these guys and make a lot of money off your case."
Kagome merely snorted as she took a bite out of the wriggly tail squid thing. Closing her eyes and preparing for the worst—she loved it! Inuyasha snickered from where he sat, he knew she was going to like it, hell, it was his personal favourite.
"Mademoiselle?" He cooed. Kagome looked up at him.
"Hmm?"
"Like?"
"I love!!"
-x-
"What ever happened to Kikyo?" Sango was sitting in Inuyasha's living room, a few documents scattered around her. Ai was sleeping on the sofa while Miroku sipped tea from a large mug. Kouga and Ayame were sitting opposite of Sango, with Hikari sitting cutely in Kouga's lap.
"Good question," Ayame frowned, "last time I saw her was at the wedding—like a month and a half ago?"
"Where'd that thing disappear off to?" Miroku asked silently, not wanting to curse in front of a wide awake Hikari. Kouga shrugged, obviously not at all that interested in the topic of Kikyo and her whereabouts.
"All I care about is the fact that she hasn't bothered Kagome or Inuyasha for the longest time…" Kouga stated, "As long as she stays out of the picture and the court case goes smoothly, I'd say we're set for the next four to seven years. Get that Takahashi brat to grow up with our brats and—yeah," Kouga trailed off as he received awkward glances from his friends. He blushed in embarrassment.
"What?! A man can't have dreams?"
"They can," Miroku nodded, "not queer ones about Takahashi and his wife."
"Still, though…" Sango murmured, "Just the fact that I haven't seen or heard of Kikyo when she was steady with Inuyasha is—weird. So one day this man is dating Hiromi, the next day he marries Higurashi, gets her pregnant and commits the works and the ex-girlfriend does nothing but… disappear?"
Ayame nodded. "It does seem fishy, if you think about it."
"As long as she ain't here and she ain't bugging us," Kouga shrugged, "who am I to complain?"
Miroku frowned though, his wife's logic sinking in. So Kikyo was dating Inuyasha for a steady while when all of a sudden, as in one day Inuyasha is hugging and loving her and the next morning he's married to Kagome with a kid on the way, and Kikyo just disappears. Something about the entire thing did not add up, at least not to the Lin's. Sango seemed troubled about the entire thing and the fact that her best friend was four months pregnant didn't help the stress much.
"Kagome is well into her pregnancy." Sango murmured. "She's just into her second trimester and I don't want her stressing… and I don't want any of you bringing up this Kikyo thing, understood?"
The other three nodded. Kouga stroked Hikari's hair lightly as Miroku wrapped a blanket around his daughter—tomorrow was the big day for all of them and they were nervous, butterflies fluttering about their stomachs, especially that of Sango's.
"Do you have your documents?" Miroku touched Sango's shoulder. She nodded.
"Yeah, I have my notes, my documents and everything else I need." Sango murmured. Ayame tilted her head to the left.
"Is it a judge trial or a jury trial?"
"Judge," Sango stated, "Kagome and Inuyasha didn't want a jury and somehow the Higurashi's accepted. Just the lawyers, the Judge and select family and friends would be present at the time of the hearing."
"Who did the Takahashi's pick to attend the hearing?" Kouga inquired.
"Miroku, obviously I'm the lawyer so I have to be present, Inutaisho and Sesshomaru." Sango stated. "Inuyasha didn't want to crowd the place so he only picked three of us to attend. I have no idea who the Higurashi's are taking though."
Kouga smiled sympathetically. "Good luck Sango."
She nodded. "Thanks Lang," She said in adoration, "I'm gonna need it."
-x-
Kagome lay horizontally on the bed, her hands lying on her plump stomach. Inuyasha lay beside her, channel surfing on their large HD television that was propped up on the wall. Kagome was lost in her thoughts, her toes wriggling in anticipation as her hair lay around her head, like a large halo. Glancing over, Inuyasha studied Kagome's glowing profile, drinking in her milky complexion.
"Mademoiselle?" He whispered as Kagome glanced over at him.
"Hmm?"
Inuyasha turned off the television set and scooted closer to his wife. He propped up onto his right arm as his left trailed lightly over her enlarged belly.
"What's on your mind?"
Kagome shrugged. "Everything?"
Inuyasha brought his lips close to her face and lightly kissed her temple. "Everything's going to be okay."
Lost eyes searched his. "Promise?" Her voice was hardly audible. Inuyasha's heart shattered seeing his wife so helpless. This entire situation was getting to her and he didn't want to overwork her or the baby. His false promise was what kept her holding onto sanity and he felt that, despite him lying to her (in a sense), this was what she needed.
"I promise. Now get some sleep…"
Kagome nodded and kissed Inuyasha's jaw before cuddling into his arms. Inuyasha smiled weakly as he saw Kagome close her eyes, trying to fall asleep.
I promise, he thought to himself, maybe I can't promise you a win tomorrow—but I promise you that regardless of the ruling tomorrow, I will be here for you and our baby. I promise that nobody, not even God can tear us apart…
Feeling his wife's breathing even, Inuyasha tucked a strand of her hair away, his lips millimeters away from her lips.
"I promise, Mademoiselle Miko," he purred, "that I will, forever, love you…"
-x-
"So tomorrow is the case," Akira spoke quietly into his cell phone close to midnight. Inutaisho had called Akira to discuss last-minute matters about the case that would be held, Higurashi v Takahashi, charges of fraud and kidnapping.
"Yes," Inutaisho affirmed, "Inuyasha and Kagome are prepared. Miroku, Sesshomaru and I are to be present at the hearing. Naraku is coming, right?"
Akira was flipping through a few papers, holding the phone between his ear and shoulder. "Yes he is, did Sesshomaru manage to contact your witnesses?"
"Aiko is coming, if that's what you mean." Inutaisho murmured. Akira chuckled.
"Yeah, that's exactly what I meant."
Inutaisho was silent for a few moments before he cleared his throat. "So—ah… after this entire ostentatious event is settled and done with, do you wish to throw Kagome a surprise baby shower? She just started her second trimester and I think it would be very… surprising if her family should arrive at a surprise shower."
"I'd love that," Akira said warmly, "only if that husband of hers agrees. I doubt you son likes me much."
Inutaisho chuckled. "You're the father-in-law, my friend. If Inuyasha likes you—then there is something wrong!"
"That, Takahashi, is mere stereotyping the situation."
Inutaisho laughed. "It may be, but Inuyasha doesn't hate you."
"You say that now. Watch when that boy throws me off his property for showing up with a baby cradle."
Inutaisho tapped his chin. "Inuyasha probably would do something like that."
Akira snorted in sarcasm. "Back to the issue at hand; let's just concentrate on tomorrow's case and then plan baby showers and father-in-law/son-in-law picnics, shall we? Nobody knows of what I am to do tomorrow?"
"Nope," Inutaisho confirmed, "its evidence that none of the lawyers know. I will present it personally to the judge prior to the hearing."
"Perfect. I suppose we should sleep—big day for us in less than six hours."
Inutaisho laughed. "Very well." and they hung up.
-x-
Quiz: Is it Love?
Kagome grinned at the open magazine in her lap. They were riding in Inuyasha's limo to the designated hearing location. Miroku rode with them as Sango took a separate vehicle with Sesshomaru and Inutaisho. Whilst Miroku discussed final minute matters with her husband, Kagome indulged in a quiz that was found in a magazine that was found in the pile that rested in the Limo.
Do you think that the particular person is attractive?
Kagome giggled, circling yes.
Are you excited and eager when you see the particular person?
Yes.
Does the thought of being together with the particular person alone provides you with warmth and comfort?
Yes.
Do you feel a bit strange and uncomfortable when that particular person is very friendly with members of the opposite sex other than you?
Kagome blushed, Okay yes, I do get tiny jealous… Yes.
Do you act abnormally around that particular person? (egs include abnormally nice, abnormally fierce, abnormally eager to show off)
Kagome frowned as she glanced at her husband talking with Miroku, Do I? She asked herself as she, slowly, circled No.
When you wake up in the morning, do you think of a special guy/girl whom you think highly of?
She smirked, Ahh, I wake up beside him. And, unhesitant to do so, circled yes.
Do you feel like hugging that particular person and feel that it to be nice doing that?
Yes.
Do you accept the particular person for who he/she is, flaws and all, and make you feel loved just the same?
Yes
Have you thought of getting into a serious relationship with that particular person?
Kagome rolled her eyes. Err, I'm married to him? And circled Yes.
Does the particular person have the power to give you never seen before happiness and yet unbearable agony which you have never known?
Kagome stared at the question before circling Yes. That question was definitely true. Noting that she finished the quiz, Kagome tallied up her points, faintly aware of the incoherent buzz that was being produced by Miroku and Inuyasha.
Mentally tallying up her points, Kagome flipped to the results page:
L O V E :
Someone has just been struck by cupid's arrow and it is none other than YOU! You're already in love with him/her and this test is only a reaffirmation of what you already know. He/She runs through your thoughts constantly and he/she alone can cause you life to be erupted with happiness or dark periods of sadness. If you're in a relationship, cherish this love and treasure all its happy moments. If you're still not in a relationship, do try to go for him/her as nothing is more unbearable than suppressed feelings. It's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.
Well call me sore and kick me stupid, Kagome rolled her eyes, I already knew everything this quiz told me…
"Kagome?" Inuyasha nudged her and she broke out of her reverie. Blinking a few times to clear her mind, she looked up at Inuyasha.
"Yeah?"
"We're here…"
Slamming the magazine shut, Kagome gulped, searching her husband's eyes for reassurance. Smiling, he took her hand. "I promised you, didn't I?"
And that was all Kagome needed…
-x-
"He," a finger was pointed to Inuyasha, "abducted Higurashi Kagome, has forced himself upon her and blackmailed her into a marriage that was out of her consent."
"OBJECTION!!" Sango shrieked, her blood pressure rising, "The councilor is assuming facts not in evidence."
The judge glanced at Sango before nodding. "Objection sustained—councilor, you have no evidence that Takahashi Inuyasha abducted his, now, wife and forced himself upon her."
The lawyer glared blankly at the judge. "Then explain to me why she would so willingly go off with him without even knowing him for a proper enough time?!"
"That is their personal business," Sango snarled, "and you are not in question to inquire about their personal lives. Sasaki-san, we are here to clear the case that is Higurashi versus Takahashi in the act of polygamy, fraud and abduction, not why Mrs. Takahashi married Mr. Takahashi and why they conceived after two months of knowing each other."
Sasaki Kenya, a part Japanese lawyer, frowned, her perfectly arched eyebrows rising. "Lin-san," Kenya spoke in a dangerous tone, "perhaps the reason as to why Mrs. Takahashi chose Mr. Takahashi could prove to be sufficient evidence as to why they had to fake their marriage."
"And how can you prove that their marriage is fake?" The judge intervened. "I have not received any evidence that proved that they had falsely conducted the marriage. In fact," The judge went through a myriad of papers, "I have seen the actual wedding certificate."
Kenya growled. "A witness of ours stated that Mister Takahashi had disclosed the fact that he was to wed Missus Takahashi but soon thereafter, Mister Higurashi was informed that his daughter had married Mister Takahashi and was pregnant. The facts don't add up."
The judge pushed his glasses up. "Sasaki, you are using assumed facts to defend your arguments and it is not working to your favour. Why Mister and Missus Takahashi married and under what grounds is not the point of the case today. You are here to prove fraud against them…"
"Which is what I'm doing!" Sasaki roared. "My witness proves that they had falsified their first marriage certificates just so that Takahashi could abduct Higurashi Kagome from her household." Smirking, Sasaki held up the fake marriage certificates that Sango had signed oh so long ago.
Kagome's eyes widened, "How'd they get that?" She whispered to her husband who did not reply and merely remained calm.
The bailiff advanced forward, took the certificate and handed it to the judge. Just then, Sango spoke—"The signature, your honour."
The judge glanced at Sango before trying to match the signature on the fake certificate to that of his copy of the real certificate—
"They don't match."
Sasaki's eyes widened as Sango smirked.
Even if I tried to forge that signature, I can't copy Kagome's to the exact penstroke. Thank god for mistakes.
"False evidence."
-x-
"Akira! The course is trying for the fraud and abduction that Inuyasha, apparently, did. How do we suddenly bring the entire gang raping into this?" Inutaisho demanded, minutes prior to the hearing.
Akira only had smirked, "You'll see…"
-x-
My apologies for the wait.