Chapter Forty-Eight: Not Quite Traditional

"The real act of marriage takes place in the heart, not in the ballroom or church or synagogue. It's a choice you make - not just on your wedding day, but over and over again - and that choice is reflected in the way you treat your husband or wife."

-Barbara De Angelis

Everything was set and things had fallen into place better than Kagome had expected. She wouldn't be able to see Byakuya until the actual ceremony. Her friends were laughing with her and Rukia and the girls were having a time of getting ready together in the basement of the church.

Above the church had been decorated with lines of flowers in a lovely pale teal color along with white and black. The three colors of the Kuchiki house were tastefully settled along the backs of pews and around pillars. A larger selection of floral was at the front of the church where they would stand when they took their vows. Kagome's dress was bell-like at the skirt though she didn't like that it didn't have straps at the top that issue was remedied when Rukia presented her a scarf similar to the one Byakuya always wore with his uniform.

"It's a sign of being one of the heads of the Kuchiki household." Rukia explained while she helped Kagome get the long scarf on correctly. It was so smooth she was afraid it would unravel no matter what they did but Rukia managed to get it where it was staying put. Kagome just supposed she'd had practice helping her brother. It wasn't warm as she expected it would be, the opposite in fact, it helped to cool her off in the well heated church.

"It's beautiful." Kagome observed, the fabric was even smooth and cool under her touch. It reminded her of the scarf Byakuya had given her for the holiday, though this was obviously less of a gift in that area she knew she had to wear it proudly.

She was less nervous than she expected she would be, she was more excited, and the light banter of her friends as they helped each other prepare helped to keep the mood light. She was happy, it was good to have her friends there even if they weren't fully aware of what Byakuya really was. It made everything more real instead of surreal to have her friends and family around her. Her mother wandered through and helped with bits of make up before disappearing to attend anything else she could help with and she nodded to herself as the time came to go and line up to walk down the isle. She couldn't see the people yet but she could hear the tiny roar of whispers from the room she'd be heading into soon.

"Deep breaths." She reminded herself, glad her mom never had a really long train, one more thing she didn't have to worry about tripping over.

The music started and she watched Rukia round the corner with one of the rather odd groomsmen. Abarai Renji had his hair down but the tattoo's instead of eyebrows likely would have her grandfather ranting before the night was through. Kagome liked it though, the groomsmen managed to break up the monotony. An older gentlemen whose name she couldn't remember escorted Yuka. The orange haired kid from their high school class, Ichigo she thought, escorted Eri. Then finally Ayumi was being walked by a white haired fellow that she remembered as Ukitake...another captain like Byakuya.

They had elected not to have a flower girl and ring bearer after Kagome had brought it up and Byakuya refused to give any candidates for the positions. Souta would have complained a lot so it was better to go without on such short notice in Kagome's opinion.

It would be her turn to walk soon, she about jumped out of her dress though when an arm settled around hers and she looked up at Sesshomaru settled next to her. He'd been on the invite list she was sure but she didn't think he would make it.

"Sesshomaru..." She blinked in surprise at the demon lord holding her arm. "What are you? I have to..."

"You need someone to give you away correct? I discussed it with your mother two days ago." He commented cooly, not even looking back at her. "We should go, unless you've changed your mind."

"No...just surprised I guess." She answered. It was almost touching that he would come and do so for her. Though she hoped it wouldn't cause any other issues. "I'm glad you came Sesshomaru."

"We missed our cue." He commented neutrally and she realized they had started to play 'Here comes the Bride' but she'd missed it and they were starting over. She tugged him along and just knew he was smug somewhere about the small incident, all the men in her life were smug when she made mistakes.

She couldn't help but smile after she rounded the corner. It had been a while sense she'd seen Byakuya in a suit but she had to admit she liked him in it. He was his usual pillar standing there, proud and aloof but Kagome knew she cared about him. She had to do this, she was going to protect him this time. She gave him a brilliant smile as they reached the front of the church and the audience quieted.

The priest spoke for a time but Kagome continued to watch Byakuya, she couldn't help but admire him, in a way she was lucky even if she didn't like the way things had gone she felt like she could be happy this way.

There was a short tense moment when Sesshomaru 'gave her away' but it passed and once Byakuya's hands were around hers it seemed like the rest of the people watching didn't matter anymore. She repeated the vows and nearly cried out of joy when he actually smiled at her during the ceremony. It was traditional but also beautiful, her family being there, it being more of her own world she was comfortable and she knew that as odd as things were that she was loved. If she had that then somehow the rest would work itself out.

The kiss was strange, it was both exciting and nerve wracking but also too quick for her tastes. Maybe him being super proper wasn't always nice.

It passed much faster than she expected it to and they were walking back up the isle together. She was grinning most of the day and for once didn't feel the need to be embarrassed about anything. It was a lovely spell that had fell over her and once they got into the limo after the vows were complete to drive about the city she feared that it was over and the event wouldn't really change anything.

He was quiet as they waited and she started to feel that her fears were well founded but he reached out and took her hand. It wasn't anything grand, but it was still very much lovely as far as she was concerned. Watching him she began to pick out more than most would be able to given his usual lack of expression.

"What is wrong?" She squeezed his hand gently, it seemed like she needed to react in a whole new way. "Byakuya?"

He shook his head negatively and his mask returned more fully. She knew there was something but he definitely didn't want to speak of it. "Nothing Kagome. It was warm inside."

Kagome chuckled a bit, she knew it was an excuse but him talking at all was better than nothing. She fiddled with the air and turned it up more. "I guess I should thank you for another lovely scarf."

He smiled a bit at her cheerfulness, squeezing her hand in return. He never had spoken too much so she could live with the hand holding. She giggled when he complained about everyone honking horns at them.

Later...

The reception looked like what you might expect out of a ball for an official instead of a party for a wedding. The tables were all expensively decorated, lighting was hung from all of the several tents set up in case of rain. Including the one that housed a rather large dance floor. It wasn't at Byakuya's mansion but it was almost as big as his. The yard at least was taken almost completely by the guests. The place was far enough out of the city that the forest and fireflies made a lovely background to the rich decor.

The food was delivered by the people working for the catering service and it was all very good, Kagome giggled a little when she discovered that the Prince had apparently added Yakisoba to the list of things being served. Though among the ranks of soul society members it was fairly popular. She noted that the Prince was there but was seated well away from most of the group but a large number of people she recognized as other ranking members in the army that Byakuya was a captain of were staying close to him.

It was the first time she'd remembered her nightmare but things weren't the same. In her nightmare the Prince didn't directly attend and that was how he was attacked. She figured she wouldn't be able to dance at all but with the lessons yesterday didn't feel it would be quite as bad as she originally feared. Souta and Grandpa weren't arguing and no one was hitting on mom...nothing was wrong...it was just a dream.

She took a deep breath and finished her dinner trying not to worry about some horrible attack on the party. It was her day after all, she needed to relax and enjoy it. She had to smile a little when the person with the band called them out to dance together first. Taking his hand and following him out to the floor. It was a waltz, which Kagome secretly cheered for, that was one of the ones that was easy.

Byakuya was of course amazingly graceful, she almost wished she could have watched him from the sides just to observe. She kept up easier than she thought she would, her short lessons the day before had done wonders to help her learn her placement better.

"I thought you were fearing the dance part." Byakuya whispered to her once a slower song started and others were allowed to the floor. She was surprised he chose to keep dancing but didn't protest the way he held her a little closer even if it made her blush. He was her husband now, it seemed silly to keep being embarrassed about things like that. Sadly her cheeks disagreed with that sentiment.

"Sestran helped me with it." Kagome answered. "He insisted."

Byakuya gave her a more prudent glance though didn't press his distaste just then.

"I know you don't like it but I couldn't really refuse and I think I'm doing much better than I would have otherwise." Kagome tried to alleviate his concerns. "He was very gentlemanly and he's not a bad teacher I suppose."

"It does make sense." Byakuya agreed, still swaying with her.

"Besides, now I get to enjoy dancing with you as opposed to stepping all over your feet." She smiled at him and then grinned wider when he offered a short smile back to her and held her tighter for a moment.

Things definitely didn't seem as if they were going to be bad, she enjoyed being near him and could ignore the anxiety that often came with the knowledge of so many eyes on her. Today all the various people watching didn't matter nearly as much as she worried they would.

She giggled when he twirled her at the end of the song and walked with him toward the exit of the dance floor again. Mingling was a part of the whole process and they had a lot of people to say hello to.

It was while they were still mingling and Kagome was whispering thoughts on one of the largest snobs people they'd seen at the event when it came over her. A distant spiritual pressure edged into the side of her senses and made her gasp as she saw many of the people at the event that were standing stumble or fall over outright.

The members of the soul reaper squads had pulled weaponry she hadn't noticed them wearing before and their physical selves vanished as the fake bodies they used joined a few of the mortals on the ground. In a moment the lovely comfort of her beautiful wedding had been shattered.

Several of the soul reapers vanished, two of the people she recognized as captains were still standing near the prince and Byakuya had tugged her closer while pulling his own weapon. Sesshomaru wasn't too far away standing from his seat with a ease Kagome was sure not even most of the soul reapers would have been able to muster.

She picked up flashes of spiritual energy further away and figured that the captains that had vanished had moved to intercept whatever was there. Ichigo and Rukia were amongst the many of the wedding party that had just passed out. She noted Eri and Ayumi were freaking out trying to revive the various other passed out members. Yuka had fainted (should be the right one) and thankfully her grandfather seemed to have passed out in his chair.

It took her a moment to note her mother and brother but both were currently sleeping. It seemed like most of the mortals just weren't able to take the change in spiritual energy...a sign that was frightening in and of itself.

"Aizen..." Byakuya commented, though he wasn't looking at anyone it was a fair guess as to who would cause such a thing. "Kagome get inside, his sword allows him to show illusions to people around him. He'll be after the Prince, I can't protect him while also looking after you."

Then blood burst from the chest and mouth of the white haired captain standing near the Prince. A brunette man with his hair slicked back sent Kagome a dark smile that made her spine shiver, she knew instantly he was just as bad as Naraku had been. It wasn't until he'd settled his blade through the short kid she didn't like (but didn't want to see dead) that she realized they couldn't see him.

"Sestran! Move!"

It was too late though, the sword slid through the royal members chest just as it had in her dream.

End Chapter

Ahahahahahaha. I give you the wedding! Aaaand another cliffy. I had to. It's big important stuff here. Aizen is such a prick. All using his blade to attack people without their knowledge. Yes I know I never involved most of the vizard and arrancar but thats on purpose.

-Aura

To my reviewers:

Sugar0o - Wow you give such awesome reviews. You are why I stayed up and worked out this chapter to post. After such great feedback I wanted to do a little more. I hope you continue to enjoy this.