[Hey guys! It's finally her birthday! That means they're gonna get married soon! Yay! Please review, enjoy, and check out the poll on my profile!]
Kagome woke at dawn on the day of her birthday. Sitting up in bed, she blinked a few times, trying to decide if being eighteen felt any different, until she realised with a start what today meant. Only three days to go. Three days until she married Sesshomaru.
Grinning to herself, she sprung out of bed, meeting Suzuhara at the door and quickly getting dressed with her help. She nearly skipped down the hall as she walked to breakfast with Miroku.
"It's too bad Sango-chan's taken a break from working. It's so quiet around," she pointed out.
Miroku smiled, "She'd be with you if she could. She's still working, you know. But her work is more... safe for her."
Kagome sighed, but nodded, "Come on Miroku-kun. We'll be late."
He laughed, "Alright, we're going."
When she reached breakfast, she was greeted by a chorus of "Happy Birthday"s. Grinning, she thanked everyone, and took her usual seat, taking Sesshomaru's hand under the table.
She tapped it twice, their code for "Meet me in the gardens," then released it, folding both hands in her lap and facing Izayoi, joining in the conversation belatedly.
"Any plans for today?"
"No, not really I'm afraid. I have so much work to do planning the wedding, and I just..."
"Nonsense. No girl should be working on her birthday for goodness' sake. You do whatever you want today, and we'll have a party later in the day. I'll help you tomorrow if need be."
"Oh, thank you so much milady!"
The older woman laughed, "Anything for you, my dear."
They met by the pond that they had declared their's, and kissed briefly before Kagome pulled away.
"I'm not sure I can wait three days," she confessed.
"You have no idea," he agreed.
He bent to her again, their lips meeting, her hands moving to his hair, but then she pulled away again.
"Don't tempt me," she said, a wry smile spreading across her features.
"Lady Kagome!" they heard suddenly, and Sango rounded the corner just in time to see them pull apart hurriedly.
The older girl laughed, "I was wondering if you wanted to keep me company at the house, but if you're too busy..."
"No, it's quite alright. I'll see you in a bit, Sesshomaru."
Her eyes flicked quickly to her friend's rounded stomach, the cause of her nine-month absence, though her symptoms had only begun a fortnight before.
"How is the baby?" she asked.
"Fine. Same as yesterday and the day before."
"And you?"
Sango grimaced, "Morning sickness... the only word that can properly describe it is 'bleugh'. "
Kagome laughed at this, "How about Miroku?"
"Fussing, as always. He would have walked me over here if he wasn't on duty."
Kagome nodded, "I'm sure Sesshomaru would do the same if I ever got pregnant."
"You mean 'when'," Sango said, and Kagome blushed, muttering something not very ladylike.
Sango just laughed.
They walked through the palace, reaching the other end of it and slipping out a small wooden door. They reached a large pavilion, with houses circling it and a small fountain in the center. There was nothing posh, nothing fancy, but there was so much joy in one small place. Though this was the servant's area, where the lowliest of servants stayed, all was clean, and well kept. Children played, watched by the members of the small community who couldn't work anymore. They were given safe places to live, and had everything they needed in exchange for work.
"Why can't everyone else rule like Toga-sama?" Sango often said, and Kagome couldn't agree more.
They reached a small house on the other side of the pavilion, and Sango and Kagome went inside. When Sango and Miroku had been married, the entire community had built their house, and furnished it for them, and the two lived in blissful peace. The house itself was only two rooms, one for sleeping, the other for almost everything else, but it was a roomy space inside, and the furnishings were expertly created.
"So," Sango began, taking up the sewing she had abandoned to meet Kagome, "What has been happening with you?"
After talking for hours, the two walked back toward the palace. Kagome had no idea how Sango knew, but they arrived just in time for the party. It was in the great room, and everyone was dressed formally. Inuyasha was even there, though she was almost positive he'd been forced to attend. She met her friends in the middle of the room, hugging each and lingering on Sesshomaru.
"Who decorated?" she asked, "It looks amazing."
"Bankotsu," everyone answered, while the male in question blushed and muttered a quiet, "They were all terrible at it..."
Kagome laughed and hugged her friend again, and she grinned when the band in the corner, whom she recognized as the group who would play at the wedding, started to play.
"How-?" she began.
"They got here early," Sesshomaru said, appearing beside her suddenly, and offering his hand. She giggled and took it, and the two moved to the dance floor. They were joined by Sango, Miroku, Toga, and Izayoi, and Sesshomaru's mother, who had remained silent before, forced Koga to dance with her, laughing aloud at the expression on his face. Suzuhara danced with someone she didn't recognize, probably her boy from home, who she had invited for the wedding, and Shippo and Hojo danced together in play, proving if anyone wasn't completely convinced, that both were excruciatingly clumsy.
Bankotsu and Inuyasha hung around the edges of the room, seeming to enjoy themselves, though they tried their hardest to sulk.
She laughed as they twirled, her short hair whirling about her in an ebony hurricane, and all was well.
[Important: There will only be one more chapter and an epilogue. Please review and check out my poll guys!]