InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Dark Past ❯ Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner ( Chapter 44 )

Disclaimer: Nihihihihihihi. Yes. I have finally gotten to speak to Rumiko-sensei's lawyers. They said that “they have viewed my plea to be one of the most unusual ever and after a long consideration decided that it would be in the public's best interest if they complied with my wishes and that I could have a nice chat with Rumiko-sensei over a hot cup of tea so long as I'm in my proper rubber room and wearing my special visitor's-only white jacket complete with buckles, straps, and restraints.” Nihihihihihihihihi… I can't wait!

 

A/N: Before we begin the last walk on the journey (ho' hell yeah! This bitch is almost OVER!), I just want to WARN you:

 

I'm not going into detail on the funeral. I don't want to hear anything about how “the funeral seemed rushed/the details were wrong/you don't do that at a funeral.” Honestly, I probably know more about funerals than any of you. I've literally been to over a hundred funerals in my short life, including that of my own parents. A long, lengthy, and boring funeral wouldn't benefit either of us, so just enjoy, ne? This is a light-hearted fic for a reason. ;)

 

There are a few more notes at the bottom. Read please, they are a mite important. :)

 

 

AGE:

InuYasha: 19
Kagome: 18
Kouga: 19
Naraku: 19
Miroku: 19
Sango: 18
Kaede: 65

A Dark Past

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Chapter Forty-Four: Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner

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Once again, Christmas had rolled around and I was bouncing around from store to store, taking in each colorful device and scrutinizing every toy with careful eyes, treating everything like a specimen. This one too small; that one not right.

 

After a long and arduous search, my eyes locked in on the perfect prize and my legs went into auto-mode and scurried me over. I reached out to claim what was now rightfully mine. For some reason, I had grown an unnatural addiction to card games from the first time I had seen my father playing a casual game with some colleagues. The box of The Complete Blackjack Game (accessories included) completely held me spell bound and I wanted it more than anything- - -

 

My hands had barely grasped the package when another latched on to my reward. My eyes narrowed as I looked over to see another boy standing there, expectant look on his face. When he saw I had no intention on relinquishing what was now mine, a childish determination that could not be beaten down overtook him and he tugged on the toy. I tugged back. He tugged harder. I used my bodyweight against him as I retaliated. He dug his heels in the ground and leaned back, using my strategy against me and then some.

 

My fingers started slipping on the waxy covering of the box and before I knew it—

 

We were both on the floor.

 

However, rather than give the other the time of day and admit defeat, we started rolling around, clumsily wrestling. Punches and kicks were delivered to everything in sight, all aimed at the protagonist in our mind. Bites and fingernail-induced scratches soon found themselves in our brawl. But of course, like all fights, it was broken up by two very disappointed mothers.

 

Mum took a hold of me and easily pulled me away, a chagrined frown marring her face.

 

“What are you doing?” she murmured to me, disappointment heavy in her voice. “You're going to be seven soon. You know better. Besides, there were more on the shelf. Did you ever stop to think about that?”

 

Glowering, I shrugged. In the background, I could see the boy getting the same lecture from his own mother and I smiled on the inside at the thought that he was also being reprimanded for his “unacceptable behavior.”

 

“Now. You're going to walk over to that other boy and hand him the racing set and you're going to smile and say you're sorry,” my mother instructed.

 

Displeased at the turn in events, I sulkily trudged over to the discarded toy and picked it up.

 

“Here,” I muttered to him, completely cutting off his mother, who was still in the middle of a lecture. “I dun want it anymore now that you touched it.”

 

Mum sighed at me and, seeing that I was a lost cause, turned to the other mother and assured her that I didn't mean any harm. The other boy, however, continued to stare darkly at me before turning his nose up.

 

“I don't want it either,” he proclaimed. A smirk twitched at his lips and the expression was so confident, so relaxed, so superior, so cocky, I found myself falling head over heels with it.

 

Thinking back to blackjack, when you win, it's common to say “winner, winner, chicken dinner.” In a way, at that moment, I had definitely won something, though just what was yet to be determined.

 

“You're not so bad,” I told him suddenly after a small pause. “Name's Inuyasha. Pleased to meet'ch'ya, you bastard.”

 

(I could only thank some Higher Power that my mother was too busy to hear my colorful language.)

 

The kid looked back at me for a second dumbly before his smirk spread into an amused smile. “Right back at'ch'ya, asshole. I'm MenouMaru.”

 

Beginnings aren't perfect and endings should never come. There are a lot of things that I regret. There are a lot of things that I would like to redo. But now…

 

It's time for goodbye. As easily as we said hello, the very opposite must be said. I hate you; you were my best. I adored you; you were my biggest rival. You annoyed me to no end; I couldn't go a day without you.

 

I'll miss you.

 

I'll never forget you.

 

I forgive you.

 

I'm sorry.

 

*

 

The words faded and the entire site was left in silence. Inuyasha stepped back from the small podium that was neatly placed on the wooden platform in the small pavilion at the cemetery. Once he stepped down, everyone started filtering out, only close family and friends staying behind for one last moment with the closed casket.

 

Inuyasha didn't follow the steady stream of mourners out, nor did he stay behind. Instead, he headed in the direction of a thick grove of tombstones and meandered aimlessly amongst them.

 

“He was your best friend. It's okay for you to be sad,” a gently voice murmured from behind him.

 

Inuyasha's eyes settled on a tombstone that held the birth and death date of a young child. “Everything is so screwed up.” His voice was barely above a whisper. “I know that, and I accept it. Life is a circle - someone dies and someone is born. It's almost like the reason for death is to control the population.”

 

Small arms wrapped around him from behind and a cheek was placed on his back. “There are many ways to view death, and that's true in a loose sense, but death is more a part of life. It's not as trivial as that. Things will continue on once you die, yes, but you've left part of yourself in everyone you knew. MenouMaru affected you, didn't he?”

 

“Kagome,” Inuyasha sighed. The one word was all he could think to say, even though it didn't say anything at all. And yet, in some way, it summed everything up.

 

Kagome. Kagome. Kagome. Kagome. Everything was Kagome. His emotions were Kagome. His life was Kagome. His death was Kagome.

His mate was Kagome.

 

She smiled at him. “I liked your story.”

 

“Keh.” He crossed his arms in gentle mock-annoyance. “It's called a eulogy, wench. Even I know that much.”

 

“I prefer to call it a story,” Kagome responded after a pregnant pause. “Because, in essence, that's all it was. That's all everything is, you know - a story. From life to death. . . it's all just a long story. MenouMaru's chapter is complete. Now it's time for a new one to start- - -”

 

The intoxication of Inuyasha's scent had always been a mystery to her. She often wondered if he wore some sort of cologne. Since his sensitive nose wouldn't allow him such luxuries, she often pondered about it. Now, having their position flipped and being encircled in his arms - drowning in the smell that was simply Inuyasha - she once again couldn't help but wonder how his scent seemed to inebriate her so effortlessly.

 

“I want it to start with you,” Inuyasha breathed into her hair. Kagome's heart skipped a beat and a pleasant red hue warmed her cheeks.

 

“It will,” she assured. “I'll always be here. That's a promise. No matter what happens, you won't be able to get rid of me - because I love you.”

 

Inuyasha's grip tightened around her and she felt him plant a kiss on the top of her head. “It's time to start the new chapter,” he murmured (very cryptically in Kagome's perspective, might one add). And then, he pulled back.

 

Kagome deflated when she saw just why he had pulled back. . .

 

“Kikyou?” Inuyasha said by way of greeting. “Mmhmm, yeah. Actually, yeah, I wanted to tell you something.”

 

Kagome crossed her arms across her midsection, feeling oddly dejected. She tried to meet Inuyasha's eyes and quietly portray how she felt- - -

 

“Nah, this should take too long. There's something quick I wanted to tell you anyway.”

 

- - -but he was too consumed with his conversation to make eye contact.

 

“Did you know that Kaede is going to take the best of care for you? Even if I can't be there to help you stand up again, that's okay. I get it now. Really, I do. It's better for both of us to start over again, ne? It's the fairest thing in the world. You're part of the past, and even though my past is a dark past, it's mine nonetheless.”

 

What the- - -?

 

Kagome was no longer looking at Inuyasha with all her feeling of hurt laid out for all to see but in complete and utter confusion. What he was he talking about? Was he- - -? Kagome's heart fluttered in her chest at the thought, but was he actually letting go of Kikyou. . .?

 

“But now I'm ready to make a future,” he continued, oblivious to the inner battle Kagome was waging with her overactive imagination. “And. . . you can't be part of it. I'm sorry. You're my best friend. Truly, you are. With MenouMaru gone, you're one of my only friends. And as your friend, it's my duty to protect you. And this is the best way to protect you. Just like I want my happily ever after, you're going to get one, too. A life away from me is just what can make that come true.”

 

Kagome was stunned into silence as she watched Inuyasha. He still refused to make eye contact with her, instead focusing his eyes on a small tombstone that was nearby. Why was he saying such cruel things about himself? She looked at the headstone he was looking at, almost as if for answers. It was a child's tombstone, but that didn't tell her anything. Still perturbed, she looked back at Inuyasha as he continued.

 

“I'm confident I've found my own happily ever after and. . . you are my best friend, so you're the first I'm going to tell this to. Kikyou, I've decided that I'm going to take Kagome to marry me.”

 

And Kagome's world turned upside down. Heat flooded her cheeks and she choked on her spit, trying to remember how to freaking breathe. He was serious. He was serious! He hadn't been joking when he said that. He. . . Kagome's giddy mind went back to trying to remember how to breathe - in out in out whoa hang on there too fast take it easy in out in out thata girl you can do this it's as easy as breathing - and- and- and- and. . .

 

Inuyasha was going to marry- - -!!

 

“Kagome, not Sango,” Inuyasha quickly corrected the phone. “Kagome.” Pause. “Yeah, Kagome.” Another pause. “No, no, no. That's Sango. My other friend is dating her. This is Kagome.” Three seconds. “Yeah, the pretty girl from the dinner. Kagome.” Another pause. “Yes, marry. Also known as matrimony.” A pause. And then an exasperated sigh. “It's a longer word for `marriage.' I'm marrying Ka- - - What?” Pause. Sigh. “Yes, Kikyou. The type with cooties.” Pause. “Cooties can't kill people.” Four more seconds of silence. “No, cooties can't hurt- - -” Pause. Another small sigh. “Well I'll be sure to get my cootie shot then? What? Yeah.” Pause. “Kikyou. . . I am not singing.” Another pause. A grumbled whine. “Kikyou. . .” More silence. Another sigh. More annoyed than exasperated this time. “Fine.” And then a chant: “Circle, circle, dot, dot, now I got my cootie shot. Happy? What? No- - - I so made the hand motions!” A growl. “I'm not doing it again. Oh, look at that. I gotta go.”

 

And then Inuyasha was serious once more.

 

Kagome had relearned the art of breathing way before and was, by that point, staring in slight amusement as Inuyasha talked to the girl that had the mind of a five year old. However, the breath was zapped right out of her when those amber eyes that were currently full of intensity turned to look at her. Before, she had been dying for the eye contact, but now. . .

 

`Breathe! Breathe! We just went through this! Breathe - in, out, in, out, in, out, in, out. Keep going, keep going. You're doing good. Don't make me go doctor on your ass!' the small part of her mind that had labeled itself as `conscience' a long time before lectured her as her lungs collapsed in on themselves.

 

“Kagome,” Inuyasha murmured, falling down onto one knee. “This is something I should've asked a long time ago. But I suppose I'm just an idiot who takes forever to realize things. But. . . better late than never, right?” A shy grin tugged at his lips as he continued, “So. Are you ready to start that new chapter with me. . . together as husband and wife and mates for all eternity?”

 

`Doctor! Hurry! The patient has stopped breathing! What do you mean what do I mean? I mean there's no air going in or out of her lungs. What? Yes, I've tried to convince her to breathe on her own! What do you think I am - an imbecile? . . .Ouch, that hurts, Doc.' The annoying voice sniffed in mock hurt before sighing and changing tactics. `If you don't inhale, you won't be able to accept his proposal. . .'

 

Kagome's throat was raw at the sudden onslaught of air that was forced down to her trachea. Inuyasha's brow crinkled with worry at the sound and he opened his mouth to ask something - most probably if she was alright or something along those lines - but Kagome cut him off before he could even speak.

 

“Yes,” she breathed, face once again hot with a wild blush. She couldn't care less at that point - she was getting married, dammit! “Yes,” she repeated again, more forcefully. “Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes yes yesyesyesyesYES - god, why are you even bothering asking yes!”

 

A smirk - sinfully slow in appearing - upturned Inuyasha's lips. “Keh, wench. Just wanted to make sure. Geez. You act like- - -oomph.”

 

Kagome slammed into the kneeling hanyou, completely destroying his sense of equilibrium and sending them both to the ground. The miko's arms wrapped around his neck in a vice-like death grip and she didn't plan on letting go. Her salty, wet happiness seeped into his shirt and he panicked.

 

“H- hey. I thought you were happy. What happened to the smile?” Anxiously, he adjusted himself so he could try to lift her chin to meet her eyes. Try being a key word there. Kagome still refused to let go of his neck and her face was still securely tucked into the crook of his neck.

 

She sniffled. “You. . . you idiot,” she blubbered. “I'm crying because I'm happy. Geez.” She sniffled again.

 

Inuyasha felt something inside him melt completely at the words and his breath suddenly left him in a whoosh leaving him vulnerable and winded. “I love you,” he barely managed to breathe out, awed by the entire thing. He kissed the top of her head before awkwardly getting to his feet, Kagome-leech still firmly clinging to his neck.

 

“Wench,” he murmured, “you need to let go now.”

 

She shook her head stubbornly and tightened her grip.

 

Inuyasha chuckled, gently grabbing her face and stroking her cheeks. “But if you don't, I won't be able to kiss you,” he teased lightly.

 

Kagome hesitated and then craned her neck up at an odd angle so that her lips could reach his whilst still glomping his neck.

 

Inuyasha rolled his eyes, but despite that, there was a smile teasing his features. His beautiful golden eyes started to drift shut as his head lowered down and Kagome felt her own eyelids grow heavy. His warm breath fanned her face- - -

 

“PG, PG, PG!” squealed a sudden certain girl as she literally sent them flying apart. “There are children here, you brutes!” Rin glared at both of them, putting her hands on her hips. “Besides, it's not like you're going to get married or some- - -”

 

`For being so hyper and overactive,' Kagome thought to herself, `the girl is unusually perceptive.' Her eyes narrowed thoughtfully. `Wouldn't put it past her to be ESP. . .'

 

But whatever it was - ESP or some superpower that had the word `hyperactive' in it - Rin's `there's-a-lesson-to-be-learned-here' look suddenly froze, only to be replaced with a devilish smile.

 

“You. Are. Getting. Maaaarried,” the girl sang, cocky expression still firmly planted on her face.

 

Acting quickly before Rin had time to explode, Inuyasha opened his mouth to calm the girl down some - `Like that's possible! The girl is a demon in disguise!' the youkai in his head cackled and Inuyasha throttled the beast as best as he could - but the countdown ended and the bomb inside his sister-in-law exploded. With a loud boom. And a bang. And maybe even a hee-haw.

 

“Maaaa-yaaaaa-reeeeeeeeeeed!” she squealed and wailed at the same time, stars forming in her eyes. “Oh-em-geeeee! Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa- - -”

 

“Oh, shit,” Inuyasha moaned, leaning and placing his forehead on Kagome's forehead. “We've added fuel to that thing's fire of energy.”

 

Kagome wasn't given time to respond before:

 

“Hey, guys! C'mere! You'll never guess what just happened! Come here, I said! No, you're going the wrong way! Come. Here! You! Fluffy! You're pink butt better get over here now. FLUFFY! I know you hear me, you demon, you!”

 

“Oh, wait, Rin- - -” Kagome tried when the girl had paused for half a second.

 

“Oh, don't worry,” Rin comforted the miko. “Everyone will know about this wonderful development in no time.” She grinned at the couple. “You can count on that.”

 

Kagome groaned and slapped her forehead. Inuyasha shook his head pathetically, covering his eyes as though the act would help make his brother's mate disappear from the world entirely.

 

And speaking of the bastard. . .

 

“Rin. Do you mind explaining why you are causing such a fuss in a graveyard? You need to express your respect for the- - -”

 

“Oh-em-geeee, Fluffy!” Rin squealed, completely ignoring the start of a lecture. “You're never going to guess what's going on!”

 

Sesshoumaru stared at her blandly, deciding not to waste his breath with continuing his speech. He remained silent, however, and Rin soon grew impatient.

 

“Weeeell?” she crooned. “Are you going to guess or what?”

 

“You took a bath,” her mate responded monotonously. Scary thing was, he was quite serious as he said it.

 

“Oh, silly,” Rin giggled. “No, no. Try again. Do you give up? Well, okay, whatever. Inu-chan and Kaggy-chan are getting maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa- - -”

 

“Rin, breathe and finish the word,” Sesshoumaru ordered in deadpan.

 

“- - -aaaaaaaaaaarried! M-A-R-Y-E-D! That's spells married!”

 

Cold, golden eyes flicked over to Inuyasha and Kagome. “Does the deranged one speak the truth?” he inquired, lifting a brow.

 

Kagome flushed slightly and glance at Inuyasha a little uneasily. He smirked at her before turning his attention to the bastard. “Yeah, it is. What of it?”

 

Sesshoumaru smirked in response, a slow and methodical movement. Kagome found herself shuddering at the sight of it. It was. . . creepy, for lack of a better word. She wouldn't put it passed him to have been some sort of assassin in a past life. “So I see that it turns out that you did go into a loony bin and picked up a mate. I always knew it was going to happen.”

 

Rin thwacked him. “Hey, hey, hey. If Kagome's a whack-job, that makes me a koala!”

 

Sesshoumaru sighed gently and patted Rin's head. Inuyasha shook his head and once again hid his face behind his hand, hoping that somehow when he looked up again, she would be gone. Kagome gave the other girl an awkward `um. . . okay, wtf?' stare.

 

Rin remained oblivious of the sudden attention and grinned up at her mate. “Oi, oi. We should tell everyone else!” she chirped.

 

Sesshoumaru frowned down at her and, like a parent would to a stubborn child, started, “It's neither your place or mine- - -”

 

“Hey!” Rin called, hand cupped around her mouth as she bellowed, once again completely disregarding her Fluffinator.

 

Sesshoumaru - bless his patient soul - continued on, “- - -to delve into and make public such personal matters as these. If my idiot brother wants to tell- - -”

 

“HEY!”

 

“- - -about how he miraculously managed to get such a perfect mate like Kagome- - -”

 

Rin growled low in her throat savagely, stomping her foot and letting out a few. . . creative swears- - -

 

“Chips and dip thrown across for a sea monkey where did they go? They better get their sharpie marker rears over here if they know what's good for their sweet tea!”

 

- - -before whirling and beaming at Inuyasha and Kagome. “No worries!” she chirped. “I'll be right back. I'm just going to go over and drag `em over. Be-are-be; gee-too-gee!” And she skipped away merrily.

 

“- - -than it is completely up to them. We have no say in this matter and, as such, we need to respect their decision on whom they wish and wish not to tell,” Sesshoumaru finished, completely ignoring that fact that the target of his lecture was half way across the graveyard and didn't have a chance of hearing him.

 

“Sesshoumaru, I'm not going to lie. She scares the shit out of me. She fits you perfectly. Better you than me, anyway. If I was stuck with her for all eternity. . .” Inuyasha drifted off and closed his eyes briefly in horror, unable to resist the shudder that spread down his spine. “Let's just say, I'm happy for you.”

 

Inuyasha received a cold stare from his brother. “I wouldn't trade her for the world,” the bastard drawled in monotone.

 

Inuyasha snorted. And that was all the time for reaction he was allowed before Rin zipped back over to where they were stand, half carrying and half dragging the Takahashi couple in her enthusiasm.

 

She deposited them and then took her place next to Sesshoumaru, nearly trembling with her excitement.

 

“Rin, whatever is the matter, dear?” Izayoi questioned, not sure if the cause for girl's sudden burst in energy was from something bad or good.

 

“Yes,” Inutaisho joined. “I'm slightly confused as to the sudden attack on us, but would you mind- - -”

 

“Oh-em-geee!” Rin squealed, completely cutting off the older Takahasha and earning a sigh from her mate in doing so. However, she gave him no chance in starting a lecture on proper etiquette before plunging on, “So you'll never guess what just happened!”

 

Izayoi and Inutaisho exchanged a glance before Izayoi murmured, “You took a bath. . . ?”

 

Rin crossed her arms testily and huffed. “No!” she sulked. “Why does everyone assume that? Rin hates baths! Except when she takes them with Fluffy-kins!” She beamed at her mate - who was once again ready to give her a lecture on the proper time and proper place to say certain things. Inuyasha screwed his eyes shut, brutally slaughtering any and all thoughts that came along with the girl's proclamation. Kagome catalogued it in the `a wee bit too much info' pocket of her brain. The Takahasha couple merely smiled tightly at their daughter-in-law and made no other reaction.

 

“My apologies,” Izayoi assured. “I shouldn't have assumed anything. Why don't you tell us what's going- - -”

 

Sesshoumaru cut in to give his mate an early warning. “Rin. Remember what I told you about- - -”

 

“Inuyasha and Kagome,” Rin started, pausing for a dramatic pause. She waited a full second - she had to build the suspense, after all! - and then continued, “are getting maaaarried! Oh, that's right! Sound the wedding bells and- - -”

 

“Married?” Izayoi echoed. She looked over at the couple who were on the discussion board curiously. “Is it true?”

 

“And why does everyone ask that after I tell them?” Rin asked no one in particularly semi-crossly, slightly peeved at being interrupted. “Of course it's- - -”

 

“Yep.” This time it was Kagome that affirmed it. She beamed at her mother-in-law-to-be and the older woman mirrored the expression.

 

“Well, this most certainly is a pleasant turn in events!” she stated, turning towards her mate. “Don't you think so?”

 

Inutaisho looked at Inuyasha before smirking - `What is up with the males in this family and smirking?!' Kagome thought in mild frustration - and nodding. “I couldn't have chosen a better mate if I had to pick one out myself.”

 

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. “Oh, give me a break. You couldn't have picked out a better mate if you created the perfect girl. Kagome's just that damn special.”

 

The girl in question blinked and stared at her mate-to-be through her lashes, once again flushing a fiery red. “Well, I'm glad someone actually thinks so,” she murmured.

 

Inuyasha looked semi-embarrassed at his declaration but smirked - once again irking Kagome, but she kept her comments silent that time.

 

“Okay, okay,” Rin chimed in, after staying silent for a blissfully long time. “Everyone join hands and get in a circle!”

 

Everyone craned their neck to stare at the girl like she had grown a red tentacle made of jell-o. Except Sesshoumaru. He remained unmoved, too used to his mate's deranged behavior. She was slightly mentally disturbed after all.

 

“Wha? Don't look at me - do it,” she instructed.

 

Confused, everyone continued to just gawk blankly at her.

 

She sighed and mumbled things to herself before grabbing a hold of Sesshoumaru's and Inuyasha's hand - the latter cringing from the sudden contact with the not-right-in-the-head girl. “Now. Fluffy. Grab onto tou-san's hand. Do it. Now.”

 

Fluffy flicked an annoyed gaze her way before complying and took a hold of his father's hand, albeit it being slightly awkward.

 

“Good, now- - -”

 

She didn't have to finish the next instruction. Instead, Inutaisho took Izayoi's hand in his and Izayoi took Kagome's. Kagome decided to play along and took Inuyasha's.

 

“Very good,” Rin praised them, pleased.

 

All Inuyasha could think was, `Should we be encouraging her by listening to what she instructs us to do. . .?'

 

“Now. Know what we're going to do? Of course you know what we're going to do. How silly of me to even ask. I expect you all to join in. `Kay? `Kay. Now- - -” And, just like that, no warning, bada-bing bada-boom, Rin broke out into song.

 

“We are family!
I got all my sisters and me!
We are family-hee-hee-hee!”

 

Sesshoumaru snatched his hand from his father's uncertain grip to slap it across Rin's mouth.

 

Everyone remained unmoved by the sudden song. They had been expecting worse, quite honestly.

 

But for some reason, the act - the atmosphere - the happiness - was absolutely perfect. And he leaned down, his nose nuzzling Kagome's hair, and murmured in her ear, “Winner, winnder, chicken dinner. . .”

 

“Rin,” her Fluffy-kins reprimanded at the same time in the background, “we are not to sing in the middle of a graveyard in the middle of a funeral. Do you understand?”

 

Rin merely nodded and when Sesshoumaru removed his hand, she pouted at him. “What's wrong with my singing?” she demanded.

 

Kagome broke out into a joyous smile and looked up at Inuyasha. “Winner, winner, chicken dinner,” she echoed, the words doubling as an agreement and a promise.

 

“There's nothing wrong with it,” Sesshoumaru lectured from far away - or at least, from far away for Inuyasha and Kagome. “But like I said before, there is a time and a place- - -”

 

“You're just jealous that you can't sing as good as I can,” Rin deadpanned.

 

“Rin,” her mate started after a pause. “I hate to break this to you, but you're singing ability is the same as that of a gnat- - -”

 

“Jealous!” Rin squawked.

 

Inuyasha lowered his head, fully intent on kissing Kagome senseless- - -

 

“I LOVE YOU!
YOU LOVE ME!”

 

Rin popped out of no where and leapt between them, an arm braced around either of their necks.

 

“WE'RE BEST FRIENDS LIKE FRIENDS SHOULD BE!”

 

Inuyasha gave the structure between him and his Kagome a glower - completely. . . well, mostly playful.

 

Kagome gave a tight-lipped smile when she made eye contact with Rin.

 

“WITH A GREAT BIG HUG!”

 

Sesshoumaru sighed, rubbing his temples.

 

“AND A KISS FROM ME TO YOU!”

 

What the fuck had he been thinking when he had mated with such a hyperactive ditz?

 

“WON'T YOU SAY YOU LOVE ME, TOO?”

----------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------

 

That's it. It's… OVER. o.O

 

Now. These are IMPORTANT announcements, so listen up.

 

FIRSTLY: omg, I absolutely adore you, sistersgrimm! After I got over the fact that part of the snippet of how you thought this whole journey wrapped seemed to be exactly what was going through my mind (you'll see what I mean in the epilogue… (see THIRDLY for more details…)), it gave me endless entertainment. Thanks a ton for writing it. I LOVED IT. XD

 

SECONDLY: thank you one and all for bothering to read this to begin with. It took three years to tell my tale and it was extremely painful for you poor guys the first thirty or so chapters since I was such a bad author… sankyuu for having patience with me! Run on sentences, plot holes, painful grammar, cheese, corn, and ALL! :)

 

THIRDLY: … well, shit, there's going to be an epilogue. T-T This thing refuses to DIE! T-T But yes, I have an epilogue planned. It's short (extremely so; planned only to be four pages maximum) but it wraps up one or two loose ends that I have. If you want me to post it, tell me. Or if you REALLY want, I'll let it go as is. I know how it is for a reader to think a fic is being drawn out.

 

So. Do you want the epilogue or no?

 

FOURTHLY: I'll be completely rewriting the beginning of this, since I can't stand it, the moment I completely finish this. (COUGHafter-you-decided-whether-you-want-an-epilogue-or-notCOUGH) So I suggest you take this fic out of your story alerts or something cuz I'll be deleting chapter and replacing them left and right soon. It's gonna be all purty and not so hate-hated from me.

 

Now…

 

Please.

 

Review.

 

My first-ever Fic has just come to a close. Please drop me a comment and tell me what you thought?