Chapter Twenty-Eight: Preparations

Marriage is an alliance entered into by a man who can't sleep with the window shut, and a woman who can't sleep with the window open.

-George Bernard Shaw

Kagome looked at the dress with a small shake of her head, it was odd to think it'd been nine months sense she had last worn it, she hadn't expected to wear it again that was for certain. It seemed like years by now that it'd been sense that time. So much had happened, some of it she still wasn't even sure about, or that she would ever know the explanations for. Still, she was happy, despite all the troubles and fights it was the happiest she could remember being.

Invites had gone out according to plan, and while because it was in soul society she couldn't have her mortal friends and family attend they were allowing Sesshomaru, Rin, and Miroku to come. She was expecting them to get there anytime though it was still another day until the ceremony.

A lot of the soul reapers seemed intent on pitching in, at least for the reception, she was glad for the help. It was as if the party would double as a celebration of recovering from the wars that had taken over their lives so completely in recent times. Sure they were a people forged in battle, but even Kenpachi liked a break now and again.

The tenth squad captain had finally woken up after his battle with Sesshomaru and he was still in bed as too much of the drug that knocked him out had been used and his system was still flushing it. His lieutenant had talked him into helping with the creation of colorful paper centerpieces for the tables and much of the upper ranking group in squad thirteen was dutifully aiding him in that pursuit.

Ukitake was too sick to be of much help but his lieutenants were often arguing over who came up with ideas for the event in hopes to aid in his place.

Kyoraku was often around with his angry seeming underling that was always carrying a clipboard and papers. She reminded Kagome of the lady that worked at the library back when she was a girl, that would get very mad whenever a book was turned in late. Kyoraku seemed to enjoy annoying her though and apparently had changed her order of booze to make it triple the original amount.

Many captains still had their own work to do but there were volunteers from nearly every squad, it looked as if it was going to be quite the gathering. She was both looking forward to it and apprehensive about it, with all of the nobles around to watch her again she was afraid she'd make a fool of herself.

Nonetheless, she knew it didn't really matter, Byakuya cared for her and she for him, and whatever else the soul society would throw at them they would be perfectly fine. She grinned and nodded to the tailor as she looked over the gorgeous kimono she'd wear for the ceremony. "I still love it."

"Good." The old lady nodded. "I'll make the needed adjustments, you go off and make sure no one is destroying anything miss."

Kagome nodded and slipped away, grinning at the disturbed looking tenth squad sitting at the tables in the immense courtyard where things had been set for the party tomorrow. Sestran had just better not get sad in the meantime or it'd ruin the carefully made centerpieces, Kenpachi was surprisingly good in the arts and crafts department. Though all of them kept sending dirty looks at Yumichika, who was making the most detailed and lovely of them. Yachiru continued to place his at the tables closest to where she and Byakuya would be sitting.

Kagome had to smile at it, it was such a funny site. None of the underlings that were with them seemed to know what to do other than try to help. An amusing past time for the battle squad.

She paused as hands settled on her shoulders and stopped her from bumping into Byakuya as she rounded a corner. He raised a brow at her after glancing down from there the tenth squad was working.

"Yachiru wanted to help and I think the rest just sort of got pulled in." Kagome explained with a chuckle. "I hope you don't mind."

"Not in particular." He replied, offering an arm before turning back the way he came. It was surprising to see him break protocol in that way but she smiled and accepted his arm. "People are beginning to arrive. We need to greet them as tomorrow will likely be much to hectic to do so properly."

"Do we have to?" Kagome deflated a little, she was hoping to get time to see Miroku and get a story as to what happened after she was kicked out the past. It wasn't something she could easily ask about at the reception and the whole day tomorrow she'd be too busy. She figured she'd get the chance today.

"It will only be for a while." He replied, patting her hand once. He didn't seem as put off by it, she figured a large part of him actually liked all the rules and protocol. It would have been cute if he wasn't intent on dragging her along.

"I suppose." She consented aloud, though she knew he'd of pulled her anyway. She didn't want to offend anyone, she realized that she had a certain duty as the wife of such a high noble. She also realized that most of the time he kept her out of the need to act in such a way, if he thought about her feelings she would be a awful person if she didn't try to do the same.

It was all so business like with him though that it was amusing. He would occasionally return a bow or even more rarely a hug, but usually it was all nods and words of appreciation that were so robotic she was certain he'd make a very sexy sounding phone voice. She was picturing him saying 'If you would like to hear this message in japanese, press one now' when she was enveloped in a hug.

She smiled and returned it as she realized it was Rin, she had arrived with a nervous looking Miroku and a eternally poker-faced Sesshomaru. Byakuya was very polite, if colder than he'd been with other guests, to them; particularly Sesshomaru.

It made Kagome giggle when they exchanged short, cool, but greetings of perfect etiquette. She figured Byakuya was still just a bit jealous and that was adorable as far as she was concerned. She turned her attention to Miroku, hugging him and whispering when she did. "Well, you're still alive."

"For now." He whispered back, he sounded tired, nervous, but happy for her. "Congratulations Kagome."

"Thanks Miroku." She beamed as she leaned back and looked at him. "We need to talk while your here, later tonight if I can find the time."

"That'd be great." He nodded to her. "A lot's happened sense we last saw each other."

"Yeah, seems so." Kagome agreed, looking after where Rin was commenting on how pretty parts of the place was and Sesshomaru was silently listening to her banter. "Good luck."

"I'll need it." He replied with a sigh before patting her shoulder and moving on. She realized he didn't feel her up and figured it had to have been force of will, or a desire not to be killed.

The time passed quickly enough, she was nice and polite though she was sure some of the people that came she'd not even met at the other party for the engagement. Not as many of them gave her withering glares as she expected, and most were quite nice in return. When she commented on it Byakuya explained to her that her part in rescuing soul society had been released in communications to the higher ups. She didn't think she'd done that much, no more than anyone else would have, but she was glad that at least folks were beginning to accept her.

Eventually they finished, and she was ready to eat dinner as she doubted she'd eat much tomorrow until the reception. Byakuya even agreed to join her with her friends from the mortal world, though a part of her still thought part of that was jealousy, it was quite cute.

She was finally able to ask about things she'd been thinking about, and they were able to do the same.

"Sango and I were together when I was still alive. Rin actually later married Kohaku. We lived mostly separate lives when we were in the mortal realm." Miroku explained to Kagome's question as to what had happened. "We each had kids and lives of our own. When I died I was trapped in Hueco Mundo and thankfully before much time had passed found by Kaede and her group. Even then people were following the movement to put vengeance on soul society. There was no way for us to leave that place then however. Sango's soul never joined us. I can only hope she's happy wherever she happens to be now."

"It wasn't long later that I showed up. I was killed in an attack on the village." Rin stated joining in the explanation where Miroku paused. "It was a while before I was found by Kaede's group but I knew immediately I had to join them, it was foolish to think creating more death by vengeance would solve anything."

Sesshomaru was quiet, but Kagome saw the moment of anger and possibly regret when Rin mentioned her death. She kept quiet about it though.

"Well, we found for a long time before finally one day Miroku and I realized we were in love." Rin stated with starry-eyes before glancing to the young man. "Regardless of what else had happened, it had been many mortal lifetimes by then."

"We thought if Sango and Kohaku knew they'd want us to be happy." Miroku added, reaching out when Rin offered her hand to hold it a moment and give it a squeeze. "Now we're here, but you know about that part. Do you know what's happened to the others?"

"Right." Kagome nodded, it was strange. "I guess that makes sense, I'm glad you two are happy. I suppose it's just odd. I'm not totally certain on the others, Byakuya explained it to me a little."

"All were judged based on their actions, some were taken to hell, some were allowed to live mortal lives again like yourselves, others souls were reborn into the cycle to try again." The sixth squad captain stated seriously, though he made it seem like a simple enough explanation. "All the laws were followed as needed and I was not personally made aware of what happened to whom so I could not tell you where specific individuals ended up."

Everyone nodded, it was a sober subject so the table was quiet for a time before Rin started talking about how she knew all along Sesshomaru would save them and she'd get to see him again. Eventually the topic turned away, Rin asked Kagome how she had met Byakuya and ended up here and that tale took much of the rest of the evening.

Kagome sighed as she laid down that night.

On tradition they were not allowed to lay with one another and each felt the lack of the other as a sort of piece of themselves missing. Both of them had grown so accustomed to the other helping to keep them warm and comfortable that it left them a little cold. They both went to sleep with a smile however, knowing that it would be the last night they'd ever have to choose to be alone.

ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo

The next morning she felt her heart sink a bit as she stretched, she heard the honeyed tones of the Prince and just knew something had to be going wrong.

"I can't let you get married just yet my dear." She wanted to hate him as she heard the words. "There's still something I require from you."

End Chapter

Whew, that was sweet and sorta fun to write. Not sure what I think of it. Oh Sestran, always causing problems tsk tsk, bad Prince.

-Aura

Thanks to everyone thats offered me reviews :) They really float my boat and keep me interested.