Prompt: SessKag/KimiKagu, Wedding Planner/Actor, Gold/Silver
Sequel to Chapter 4 (SessKag, Engagement Ring Designer, Iridescent)
Kagome breathed a sigh of relief as Sango leaned in, kissing Miroku thoroughly as the officiant declared them husband and wife. Even after all the drama with the caterer, everything seemed to have gone well on the day of—though they all probably had Kagura to thank for that.
The three of them had grown up together, but Kagura had always been the one to walk into situations with guns blazing, ready to take on any challenge she was faced with.
It made sense that her job as a wedding planner allowed her to boss people around all day.
Sango had wanted her as a bridesmaid, but Kagura had been adamant that with how overbearing Miroku's family was, she would need someone 'on the outside' to keep them all in line. And considering the first argument had been with Miroku's mother about the style of Sango's dress, Kagura had been dead on the money.
The woman had even gone as far as to book a simultaneous appointment just so she could pull out her own choices—all of which included a ballgown large enough to house a circus or enough sequins to be seen from outer space.
Kagura had threatened to bar her from the event if she continued her antics. And she wasn't allowed at any of the dress fittings from then on. Sango had caved and allowed her to come to the final fitting for the dress before not-so-politely asking her to leave when she insisted the entire wedding party fast for a week in order to look their best in the photos.
Kagome had been ready to throw punches.
Luckily, Sango's now mother-in-law was behaving herself, with no snide comments about the dress or even the food. And she'd been one of the first people to compliment Kagura on a job well done after the ceremony.
Weddings made people crazy.
The bride and groom made their way back down the aisle, Kagome handing Sango back her bouquet before following behind.
The first set of photos was taken, the wedding party switching between poised elegance and relaxed smiles, and by the time Kagome was able to step away, she had to blink several times to clear the spots from her eyes.
She returned to the main hall, knowing it would be at least an hour before the new couple made their grand entrance. Hopefully, she could sneak by the snack bar—she hadn't eaten since that morning, and dinner wouldn't be served until after the speeches.
Soft music played in the background as she waved at Kagura, noting the pinched expression on her face. She gave her a questioning glance, to which the wedding planning held up a finger, then beckoned her closer.
"I don't care how important she thinks she is—well, then he should've brought his own date." She rolled her eyes, and Kagome stifled her laughter. "Uh huh. Right. Let me see what I can do."
"I thought you'd be able to hold Sango's mother off until at least cake time," Kagome mused, patting her on the shoulder.
Kagura clicked her earpiece off. "Wrong entitled queen. One of the bride's guests is some hot-shot celebrity and demands her son be provided with a dance partner."
"Hence the 'he should've brought his own date' thing."
Kagura clicked her tongue. "Apparently, he's just as picky as his mother."
A dark eyebrow rose. "And yet not picky enough to ask someone himself. What, is he a two-foot toad youkai who likes to scream at people?"
"Who knows?" the wedding planner griped. "All I know is that she will throw a tantrum if she doesn't get her way. Sango's got enough to worry about, and—"
"I'll do it." Kagome shrugged at her skeptical expression. "If it stops some arrogant, self-centred twit from ruining Sango's day, it's not that big of a deal. Besides, it's not like I came with anyone."
Kagura's shoulders sagged. "You're a lifesaver." She clicked her earpiece back on and started barking orders, telling her assistant where they were standing.
Kagome brushed off her dress, trying to make herself as presentable as possible. Hopefully, she'd be able to impress this man long enough that he wouldn't go crying back to his—
"How wonderful to see you again, darling." The lyrical voice was oddly familiar, and Kagome felt the bottom drop out of her stomach when she looked up. A female inuyoukai glided towards them, silver hair trailing behind her and contrasting against the indigo silk of her dress. The crescent moon on her forehead had a striking resemblance to—
"I take it back," Kagome hissed.
Kagura finished kissing either side of the woman's cheeks, then stared at her friend. "What?"
"I take it back. I'm not dancing with—"
"And you must be the charming young woman who agreed to dance with my son." The demoness grabbed Kagome's hands, brushing a kiss against each of her cheeks as well. "I am so sorry to force this on you last minute, but I refuse to allow him to hide in the shadows while everyone else is having fun."
"I am not hiding in the shadows, Mother. I am simply—" Kagome's worst nightmare was confirmed as Sesshoumaru sidled up beside the demoness, golden eyes widening before the corner of his mouth pulled up into a smirk. "Perhaps I was too hasty in my refusal."
His mother flashed him a smile. "That is more like it." She placed Kagome's hands in his, then ushered them towards the dance floor. "You two go have fun."
Kagome was unable to escape, heat quickly creeping into her cheeks as she kept her eyes on his tie. She could stave off dying of embarrassment if they never made eye contact, right?
"I should have made the connection, considering you were the one who picked up the bride's rings."
She managed a single nod, still refusing to look at him. She'd had no reason to return, yet the number of times she'd ended up in the jewellery store in the last couple of weeks couldn't be counted on one hand.
And she hadn't gone to look at the jewellery.
Oh, she'd pretended, making sure to ask the right questions and even going so far as to research common lingo that jewellers used, but it wasn't the gold of the bands and pendants that had caught her attention.
"You still wear it."
Kagome frowned, unable to discern what he was talking about, finally lifting her gaze. "Wear what?"
He released her waist for a moment, delicate claws trailing along the line of the chain around her neck before curling around the crescent moon pendant.
"Oh, yes. I've had it since I was a teenager." This was safe ground. She could do this.
"I had thought perhaps you sought to replace it," he mused, hand returning to her waist as he spun her around. "Considering how many times you have visited my shop as of late."
Her entire face grew hot, and Kagome kept hoping the floor would open up and swallow her whole. "Well, you see, the thing about that is—" Someone bumped into them, Sesshoumaru's grip on her waist tightening as he kept them from falling, his hand splayed wide on the small of her back.
The scent of winter wafted off his clothes, and Kagome bit back a whimper. This was why she'd only ever spoken to his employees.
He spun them around, each step as graceful as the next, and she tried to pull back to where they'd been before. To put some distance between them.
No such luck.
She made the mistake of looking up at him, sucking in a sharp breath at the intense expression on his face. "Sesshoumaru—"
"Will you allow me to kiss you?"
The words failed to compute in her brain, and she gave him a confused look. "Why would you want to do that?"
Perfectly sculpted lips curved up into a smirk. "Grant me the favour, and you will find out."
She swallowed thickly, then nodded, Sesshoumaru pulling her further out of the way of other guests in a calculated dance before pulling her close.
He tasted sweet, decadent, and she quickly found herself addicted. He cupped the back of her head, careful not to dislodge any of the pins for her elaborate up-do. If she wasn't already leaning against him, she might have swooned.
Kagome's cheeks were flushed when he pulled away. "Can I… Can I kiss you back?"
Golden eyes lit up. "I wish you would."
She smiled at him, grabbing onto his tie as she went up on tiptoe, pressing her mouth against his, uncaring of the guests around them, though she'd have to remember to reapply her lipstick later.
If she remembered her own name.
"Did it work?"
Kimiko barely looked up from her nails. "Of course it did. Do you doubt my abilities?"
Kagura rolled her eyes. "You were the one who came up with this elaborate plan to get them together. I voted for locking them in a closet."
The starlet chuckled. "He needed time to woo her, my love. He has been lovestruck for far too long to do anything else."
Kagura shook her head, grinning when she saw the pair go in for another kiss. "How long has it been?"
"A lifetime," she said dramatically. "Imagine my horror when he came home from that silly farmer's market, proclaiming he'd marry no other than the one person who'd bought something from him that day."
Her son had shown signs of creativity early on, weaving silver and gemstones together with the intent of making a name for himself. Kimiko had offered to help set him up with various prestigious colleagues, knowing they'd never refuse a request from her. Instead, he'd started small, setting up a booth at a human festival in order to gauge their interest.
The hours had ticked by; many patrons skimming his products but never partaking, her son's frustration growing at every failed sale. His text messages had ranged from anger to disappointment until the responses had stopped altogether.
She had scoffed when he'd returned, suddenly determined to become world-renowned. And all based on the fact that a single human female had given him some pointers about how to arrange his collection before purchasing a pendant for herself.
The same pendant she still wore around her neck.
"It is lucky she returns his affections," she mused, watching them share an intimate laugh before returning to the dance floor, the woman much more relaxed than before.
Kagura snorted. "Like anyone could resist him."
Kimiko slid the back of a claw down Kagura's arm before intertwining their fingers. "You did."
Kagura brought their hands to her mouth, placing a kiss on the back of her girlfriend's hand. "I have better taste."
Golden eyes gleamed at her, full of affection and heated promise. "I will be sure to inform my dear son of that the next time he needs to be taken down a notch."
Kagura winked, then sighed, tapping her earpiece. "Keep an eye on them. We don't want them disappearing before the speeches. Kagome still has to make hers."
Kimiko nodded, giving her hand one last squeeze before Kagura disappeared into the throng to defuse another potentially explosive incident.
Content to be an observer, she watched her son swirl his chosen mate around, their conversation relaxed and carefree—until he lifted the pendant she wore, murmuring something softly before bringing it to his lips.
The woman's face immediately turned scarlet, and Kimiko burst into knowing laughter.
How wonderfully entertaining weddings were.