One hour before the wedding…

Inuyasha tugged at his tie, wanting to remove it from his neck. 'Stupid thing feels like it's choking me,' he thought.

"Don't worry Inuyasha, you look great," Sota said, putting on his jacket. He had helped Inuyasha get dressed, constantly reassuring him that Kagome wouldn't glimpse his tattoo. It was impossible for Kagome to see it at this point, which was exactly what Inuyasha wanted. "I'm gonna make sure everything is going okay outside," he said, leaving his room. The florist had arrived a few minutes before, dropping off the flower arrangements that would line the aisles and decorate the table at the ceremony. The guests would be arriving soon and it was Sota's job to make sure everyone was seated in their proper place.

Inuyasha sat on Sota's bed, his hand gripping the Tetsaiga. He was glad Kagome's wedding theme allowed him to keep his sword at his side. And he didn't have to cover his ears, which he considered the best part. 'One more hour,' he thought as he looked up at the clock on Sota's wall. He tugged nervously at sleeve of his jacket, his ears twitching quickly.

"Mom, I need your help outside," he heard Sota yell. Kagome's door opened and closed quickly, followed by footsteps down the stairs. 'If she's downstairs, then Kagome is alone,' he thought, getting to his feet. He stuck his head through the doorway, listening for any sounds. Mrs. Higurashi was still outside with Sota, while Grandpa was in his room, humming a song. Inuyasha smirked before walking down the hallways quickly, his feet barely making a sound. He reached for the door knob, pausing as he gripped it. 'What if she's getting dressed?' he thought. The last thing he wanted was to be "sat" on his wedding day. He knocked quietly on Kagome's room door instead, listening for her answer.

Kagome turned toward the door, pulling her robe closed over her dress. 'Who would be knocking on my door?' she wondered. "Who is it?" she asked, going to the door.

"It's me wench, can I come in?"

"Inuyasha! Of course you can't come in; you can't see me in my wedding dress until the wedding starts," she replied, her hand resting against the door. She honestly wanted to open the door, but wasn't willing to risk the bad luck before the wedding.

"I hate this stupid rule," Inuyasha muttered, leaning his forehead against the door.

"I do too Inuyasha," Kagome sighed. "But are you willing to risk the bad luck right before the wedding?"

"No." After everything he and Kagome had gone through together, the near deaths, Kikyo's resurrection, Naraku constantly trying to kill them, Koga trying to court her, the last thing Inuyasha wanted was more bad luck for them. If he had to wait to see her, he would. "I just don't like being told I can't see you or talk to you; I don't like being separated from you."

Kagome leaned her back against the door, willing herself not to open it. Her heart ached at Inuyasha's words, knowing exactly how he felt. Even if they had only been apart for a few hours, the fact that Inuyasha wasn't allowed to see her made her miss him all the more. When he wasn't with her she always had the hope that he would show up at any moment; but today she knew he couldn't show up randomly at her window or throw open her door without knocking. She longed for him even if he was still under the same roof.

Inuyasha looked up as he heard Kagome's door creak, opening only a few inches. "Inuyasha," Kagome said, her voice reaching his ears much easier. Her slim porcelain skinned hand slipped through the space, reaching out to him.

Inuyasha gripped her hand gently, once again struck by how small and delicate it was. He couldn't remember the first time he had noticed how fragile her hands were; maybe it was the first time he saw them as she pulled the sacred arrow out of his chest. But he knew these were the hands that he wanted to spend his entire life protecting. These hands that were gentle and kind to everyone, that loved and protected fiercely with the hidden strength that they possessed, the hands that were always outstretched toward him. These hands meant the entire world to him. "Yeah Kagome."

"I love you Inuyasha," she said, squeezing his hand gently.

"I love you too wench," he replied, his thumb gently stroking her hand.

"Are you ready?"

"Keh I've been ready since the day I asked your mom if I could marry you. Are you ready?"

"Yes, I'm so excited," she squealed. The couple fell into a comfortable silence, happy to have each other's presence close to them, even if it was through a door.

Inuyasha's ears twitched as he hear Mrs. Higurashi entered the house, her heels clicking across the kitchen floor. "Your mom's coming back, I have to go," Inuyasha said quickly, worried Mrs. Higurashi would catch him.

"I'll see you at the altar in twenty minutes," Kagome said with a smile.

"I'll be waiting," he replied, kissing her hand quickly before he ran back to Sota's room.

Kagome smiled, leaning against her closed bedroom door. 'I'm getting married,' she thought happily. "I'm getting married!" Kagome squealed, jumping up and down.

Inuyasha smirked as he heard Kagome's voice shouting with happiness. 'Twenty minutes,' he thought. 'Twenty minutes until you're mine Kagome.'

Next chapter, the wedding! Will everything go off without a hitch or will disaster strike their wedding day?