InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Lemonade, Too ❯ Or Would You Prefer Something in a Nose Ring? ( Chapter 2 )

Lemonade, Too

By Fujifunmum

Chapter 2: Or would you prefer something in a nose ring?

Yash, Kagome, and Souta were all up early the next morning. Souta for school, and Yash and Kagome thought getting up before her mother would be the easiest way to avoid any inopportune discoveries. Gramps was sleeping in a little, so it was just the four of them on this beautiful sunny Monday morning. Kagome offered her Mom more juice and Souta was just finishing up his breakfast when their Mother politely inquired, "So, did you and Yash sleep well last night, Souta?"

It sounded innocent enough to Yash, who opened his mouth to answer when he felt the atmosphere in the kitchen suddenly drop about twenty degrees. Souta and Kagome exchanged the knowing looks of two siblings caught with their hands in the cookie jar. Kagome cast a quick glance at Yash and immediately thought that his mother must have died when he was very young if he didn't understand that Mom had just announced that she knew very well where Yash had spent the night.

Souta hemmed and hawed a little, trying to come up with something he could say that wouldn't exactly be a lie, yet might satisfy her. Finally he gave up and took off like a shot. "Gotta go, Mom! I'll be late for the bus. You guys have a good day, see ya later."

Then it was just the three of them in the kitchen. A calm looking Mother, an embarrassed and blushing daughter and a very mystified hanyou. He looked between the two of them several times, but couldn't figure out for the life of him what was going on. None of the actual spoken words had given him the clues that living life in a loving family would have provided.

Kagome's Mother sat down across from both of them and began her Mother speech du jour. "I was sad to hear that you have no close family, Yash. It's hard being on your own, even as an adult. I certainly hope that you will come to consider the Higurashi family as your own."

Yash opened his mouth as if to respond, but Kagome kicked him under the table and her Mother gave him a clear "Mom look". Even Yash knew he'd better shut it in the face of "the look". When she was satisfied she had their undivided attention, she continued.

"Perhaps you will recall that I have suffered from bouts of insomnia from time to time, Kagome. Lately has been one of those times. And perhaps you may recall who had your lovely choir loft room before you did."

Kagome gasped! She knew her mother had heard them last night. Yash shot a few more glances at the tension between the two of them, but again was not at all clear on what was going on.

"Ah, yes, I thought you might remember that I had your room before your father and I were married." Leaving that sensitive topic, she turned to look directly at Yash.

He still didn't really know where this was headed, but her direct stare made him slightly uneasy, just as she intended. "Yash, the one guiding principal value we have fostered in our family is honesty. You may have noticed that my bright and sweet adolescent son just blew out this door without his lunch money, his backpack, or his jacket rather than choose to lie to me about you spending the night in his room. That was a wise choice on his part.

"Whatever `deal' you have cooked up with Souta to cover your tracks is worthless within this house Inu Yasha. I would prefer that you and Kagome not occupy the same bedroom before marriage. As you are clearly unable to abide by that wish and your wedding is scheduled to take place tomorrow, I will choose to ignore your after-hours, um, discussions, as long as you are completely discrete and keep your activities away from Souta and Gramps. One is too young and the other too traditional for you to be more open with them. Understood?

"Finally, please don't bother to try to lie to me about anything." She paused significantly, and then she reached over and took their hands in hers. "You don't need to. You have my complete love and trust as members of my immediate family."

"Thank you, Mom." Kagome's voice was barely above a whisper and she was near tears. Yash just kept looking between them, wondering what the fuck was happening here. But he was very happy that Kagome's Mother was comfortable enough with him to take his clawed hand. Could he really be part of a family? The tension was broken when Gramps came into the room and poured himself some juice and coffee.

"Got some news for you `Gome. Are you two willing to drive back to Madison today?"

"We could, why?" Kagome kicked Yash under the table again, as he turned to mouth "'Gome?" at her with a huge shit-eating grin.

"I talked to Frank Weston, you remember Frank, don't you?"

"'Uncle' Frank? He's a sweetie, but I haven't seen him since my high school graduation. Oh, right he owns a jewelry store in Madison."

"Not just any jewelry store, Kagome. I bought your Grandmother her wedding rings from Frank, and your Dad, God rest his soul, bought your Mom's rings there, too. I just got off the phone with Frank and he'll meet you two at the store later this morning if you want to take a look for your rings there."

"Sounds like we have a drive ahead of us, `Gome. How long will it take you to get ready? Wear something nice, this is serious business."

"Give me 10 minutes, Yash."

"Make it 15, I have something I need to check on my computer."

Kagome stopped to give Gramps a big hug before she went up stairs to get ready. "Thanks a bunch, Gramps! And Mom, can we still go shopping for a dress when I get home?"

"That will work, Kagome. Just give me a call before you get back so I'll know when to expect you. And Yash, why don't you drop off Souta's backpack, jacket and lunch money at his school on your way out of town."

"No problem."

Yash and Kagome left for Madison right after they stopped at Souta's school. Yash was glad to be able to spend some time alone with Kagome. He felt she was safe here in Prairie du Chien. It was a small town where he could feel any ominous or demon presence easily, and so far he had felt none.

Once they were on the road, she tentatively raised the issue of their impending marriage. "Are you really OK with this, Inu Yasha? I know my family would give us a hard time if we didn't get married, but we only see them once in a while and we need to live our lives for our own happiness."

"Let me turn that question back around, bitch. Am I marrying you to make you happy, or your Mother?"

"Both." Kagome paused, and bit her lip as she considered the question more carefully. Then she added. "But mostly for me."

"Why? You know that I am completely committed to you as my mate. What will this marriage ceremony give you that you don't already have?"

Kagome was silent for a moment, watching the places of her childhood go by. "Maybe it's being here at home, but marriage has been a very positive thing in my family. My parents' marriage was a happy one, so was my grandparents', according to Mom and Gramps. I know there will be problems and challenges in our future, but I want that tie for us, for our child. I guess it really represents security and lifelong commitment to me in the same way that mating represents it for you. It may not be instinctual, as I believe it is for you, but it is certainly cultural and ingrained in me."

Yash raked his claws over her hand and arm, intertwining her arm with his so she was leaning in as close as they could get in the Corvette. "Fair enough." Giving her a sly grin, he asked, "So why the fuck couldn't you tell me this before? I would have married you in L.A., you know."

She ducked her head and gave him her truth, just as her Mom had brought her up to do with family. "I'm not really sure where I stand with you sometimes, Inu Yasha."

"Well, we don't often `stand' if I can get you horizontal, bitch."

"That's not what I mean. You never mentioned marriage or commitment, so I assumed you didn't want it."

"I'll tell you what I didn't want. I didn't want the human `marriage' I saw time after time as I sat in my old Toyota behind my zoom lens waiting for the curtains to part enough to reveal yet another infidelity. And I didn't want to have a human `marriage' where my children ran away to escape the abuse, emotional or physical, that I saw in nearly every runaway's eyes. It was almost like a guarantee of return business. They'd run away, I'd find them and return them to their tearful parents, and they'd be gone again within a week. These `marriage' partners would rather pay me to find their kids than take the time to love them. Mates would never do that. I'll marry you Kagome, but I don't want a wife, I want a mate. Do you understand?"

"I don't know. Kaede has tried to explain it to me, Inu Yasha, but it is all still very new. I can tell you that I want it, too. You'll have to help me understand. And talking to you like this helps. Can you try to do it more often?"

"No way. I'll just keep knocking you up until you give in and stay at the beach with me and the pups full time."

"Yeah, you wish." She rubbed her check against his arm and sat back against her own seat to look at him. "You really owned a Toyota? Hard to believe."

"It took a lot of runaway and divorce investigations to get my business started, you know. And it was a beat up Toyota, too. Would you have married me then, Kagome?"

"I think I was still cheerleading at Prairie du Chien High….Oh my God, I can't believe I just told you that!"

"My `Gome? A cheerleader? That's it, I'm asking your Mom for pictures as soon as we get back. Maybe I can get some copies made before we go home."

"No chance! I left here for the big city for a reason, you know. I want our life in L.A., not the one I left behind here."

"And if I decided to go back to Montana?"

"I'm your mate, Inu Yasha. My home will always be with you." She flicked his closest ear with her thumb and forefinger. "But you have to discuss it with me first you big jerk! No more decisions that effect me without discussing them with me. You got that?"

"Does that mean I can eat what I want now?"

"Forget it. Until this baby is born you are stuck eating exactly what I eat. Period. End of discussion."

Yash just laughed at her. He was so happy to hear her openly saying she was his mate without any hesitation, he would have agreed to about anything she wanted. If she wanted to be his mate and his wife, he could live with that.

The trip to Madison seemed short to them as Kagome told him about the friends she was planning to invite to their wedding. They had nearly reached the outskirts of town before Yash thought to ask her about another `wedding' issue.

"Miroku said I needed to get a license. How do we do that?"

"I thought that was Miroku you called when you got off the plane! He told you to marry me, didn't he?"

"Keh." His usual arrogance was slightly undercut by the faint pink on his cheeks as he hid from her behind his hair. His hair was loose for the drive to town, the way he preferred it. He only tied it back when he needed to look as "human" as possible for business or pleasure.

"Yash, do you have a Birth Certificate or Passport?"

"I doubt it. Wait, I got a Birth Certificate done in order to get my driver's license and my P.I. License. Kaede helped me with the paperwork, testified she was the midwife at my birth, or some other fable. No passport. You know that's not how I like to travel. The border hasn't been set up that I can't get around."

"Give me your cell, I'd better call Kaede. Geez, what time is it in L.A. She'll probably be at the beach, but I'll leave a message."

"So I take it I need a Birth Certificate to marry you?"

"Well, you'll need it to get the marriage license. I'm going to have Kaede fax and express yours out here and I'll get a copy of mine from Mom."

Kagome had already speed-dialed Kaede and was leaving her a detailed message to fax and express the birth certificate out to her Mother's place by the fastest means possible, with the earliest delivery time. Then she called Miroku and Sango. She told them the upcoming good news about their wedding and asked them to go see Kaede and get Yash's birth certificate in transit. Both Miroku and Sango extended their well wishes to them and agreed to take care of it for her.

When she finished, Yash asked, "Aren't you over-reacting?"

"If we don't get it tomorrow, we won't be able to get married tomorrow. I know the church is available Thursday, but Wednesday is out. And Mom may not be too thrilled about our sleeping arrangements if the wedding is put off…"

"She'll be fine. We'll just have to be a lot quieter. How about a little bondage action later, bitch?"

"You better get me a big rock if you want my agreement to that …"

"Big rock? What the fuck are you talking about now? We need to get you a wedding ring, right?"

"You've never noticed Sango's ring?" Yash played dumb (quite a stretch). "Oh, well, OK, a wedding ring is fine. Do you want one, too?"

"You're kidding, right?"

"Yeah, forget I asked."

Yash and Kagome found Weston Jewelers easily with Gramps' directions (supplemented by MapQuest), and parked out front on the street. They were in Madison near the campus of the University of Wisconsin, not far from Lake Mendota. They decided they would go over to the campus for lunch once they'd gotten Kagome's ring and then head back to Prairie du Chien.

`Uncle' Frank met them at the door and gave Kagome a big hug, shaking Yash's gloved hand enthusiastically. "Come in children! Tell me what you're looking for and I'm sure we'll be able to find just the perfect ring for you. I couldn't be happier to see you, Kagome. Three generations of the Higurashi family buying their wedding rings from us. And not an unhappy marriage or divorce amongst them. I'm sure you will be just as happy. What can I show you to mark this happy occasion?"

Kagome started to speak, as Uncle Frank led them over towards the glassed cases that held the engagement and wedding rings. Yash stopped her with a touch on her arm and she gave him a quizzical look as he took her hand and took the lead. Uncle Frank took them into his office and made them comfortable, offering them something to drink, all the while giving them his patented spiel about the clarity, cut and carat values of diamonds.

Yash could see that Kagome was again anxious to cut him off, so he gave her his "leave this to me, bitch" glare, and she desisted.

Once they had their identical glasses of soda (caffeine-free, of course) and Uncle Frank's diamond talk had run down, he finally turned and asked them what sort of wedding rings they would like to see.

Yash reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded sheet of paper and handed it to Frank without letting Kagome see the picture or printing. "This is the ring I want for Kagome, with a matching wedding ring, of course. Do you think you'll be able to do that on such short notice? I'm sure Kagome's Grandfather must have mentioned that we don't have much time. We expect to be married tomorrow."

Kagome looked very surprised and curious, while Uncle Frank looked downright shocked. "I hadn't realized that you had reviewed our website, Yash. You're sure this is the ring you want?" Yash could tell that Uncle Frank was dying to ask about his price range, but was completely stopped by the Armani. Yep, put on the damn Armani suit and he could rule the world. Or at least Wisconsin.

"Is there a problem with my choice?"

"No, No, of course not. I'll arrange to have it removed from the safe immediately and brought here for your approval. I'll see to it personally and pick out an appropriate matching wedding ring, now. Please make yourselves comfortable."

Kagome was giving him one of her more quizzical looks, but she didn't voice her questions when Yash raised a claw to her lips to silence her. "Patience, mate. Not all my surprises are like the last one." He glanced pointedly at her soon to be rounding stomach, and she blushed, but smiled at him, wondering what he was up to.

Uncle Frank returned within a few minutes, beaming so broadly Kagome really began to wonder just what was going on. He came over to Yash's side, offering him a view of what must have been the rings, although they were totally hidden from her view. It then occurred to Kagome that Uncle Frank's office was set up for just such an occasion. She might have been surprised, but Yash was clearly not the first groom-to-be to pick out a ring wishing to surprise his bride.

"Your selection Yash. I took the liberty of selecting a complimentary ring which I find particularly suitable, I do hope you approve."

"You read my mind, Uncle Frank."

"Excellent. Unfortunately I have a phone call I must attend to, perhaps you two would like to discuss your choice. I'll be back shortly." Another ruse, but a welcome one.

Yash took the rings in his clawed hands and turned to his mate. "Why do you want to marry me, Kagome? Tell me."

It was crystal clear that he was asking her for her feelings, something she had given him in actions, but not in words. He had brought her home, he had agreed to marry her without any question, he had protected her and as much as her vanity wanted to hear the words from him first, she couldn't deny him her feelings, no matter what he held in his hands.

"I love you, Inu Yasha," she whispered, as tears escaped her lashes and made their way down her cheeks.

He wiped away her tears with one hand as he placed the rings on her left hand.

Then he held her hand out so they both could admire the rings, and Kagome's gasp turned into a huge gulp. There on her left hand was a brilliant cut yellow diamond the exact same color as Inu Yasha's eyes - and the same size, too. It was set in gold and beneath it was a narrow gold band lined with diamonds. They were small, but only in comparison with the yellow diamond.

"It's…It's…breathtaking. And beautiful. But it's too much, Inu Yasha. It's too big, too expensive, too extravagant…how could I wear it to the precinct?"

"You'll be at the beach with the pups, remember? You can build sand castles with it. You can wear it to visit Kaede."

"Hell, I can bowl with it."

"Yep, that too. Besides it's smaller than the other jewel you wear and not nearly as valuable."

"You won't be upset if I don't wear it all the time? Or to work, or Badgers?"

"Me? Upset?"

"Yeah right, I forgot who I was talking to. You're Mr. Reasonable."

"Wear it, Kagome. It's not an engagement ring to me; it's a gift to my pregnant mate. Consider it encouragement to let me take good care of you. See what happens when you let me make decisions for you?"

"Don't press your luck."

"Can we do lunch now? I'm hungry so you must be starved. I thought I just heard the pup say he was hungry, too."

"What do you mean, `he'? You can't tell, can you?"

"Maybe."

"You're not serious, are you?"

"Keh. No. I'm not. Stay here and I'll go take care of business. Be right back, bitch."

Kagome's head was spinning. She didn't know a lot about Yash's finances, but since he owned not one but two beach houses in the L.A. area, she had to figure this ring was not too extravagant for their "family". Maybe she should make up a list of topics like finances and child rearing that they should discuss before the wedding. Naw, too dangerous. They could fight about them one at a time afterwards just like everybody else.

Uncle Frank and Yash were back in a few minutes, Uncle Frank insisting that he had made arrangements for them to lunch at his favorite place in Madison, and they should consider it an early wedding present.

It was smiles all around as they got up to leave Uncle Frank's office. Frank had arranged for the rings to be sized while they were at lunch, and they could pick them up before they went back to Prairie du Chien. Kagome had the rings in her hand as they heard a commotion out front. They walked out of the office and smack into a robbery in progress.

Two men with ski masks had taken the three employees and two customers out front over to the store safe and were holding them at gunpoint. One of them held a gun to the hostages. The other was busy emptying the cases of the more expensive pieces.

At the emergence of Uncle Frank, Yash and Kagome, the robbers turned their attention on them. Yash and Kagome were ordered over to the hostages, while the other robber twisted Uncle Frank's arm behind his back and dragged him to the safe door, demanding that he open it immediately. Yash kept Kagome behind him as they went over to join the other hostages, obeying the gun-welder's orders to kneel.

They crouched down instead, and Kagome knew immediately that Yash was not about to watch this happen without taking a role. She watched as he discretely removed his gloves. She hissed at him. "What the fuck are you doing?"

"What the fuck are you talking about?" He hissed back.

"Kaede told me about your Claws of Blood, or was it your Claws of Steel? Whatever. You can't do that shit here. It's Wisconsin."

"Shit! I don't have to use demon strength on weak humans. Get a grip bitch. And it's Buns of Steel, Kagome, which I also happen to have. But maybe we should go to the video store and get you a copy? I don't think you quite measure up to Tamilee." Yash reached over and pinched her on the behind to emphasize his point.

"Back off Yash, or you're not getting anywhere near my buns tonight. So why are you taking off your gloves? Why do you need your claws?"

"What is your problem Kagome? Are you afraid these guys are going to like my claws as much as you do? I'm not into that, you know."

"You are such an idiot! Why are you doing this? You know we should be waiting for the police to arrive."

"You're already here, doesn't that count? Now stay quiet, and stay down here when I move. I want you and the pup completely safe, you hear me!"

"Not likely asshole. I'm an L.A. detective trained for this situation, you can follow my fucking lead for a change."

"No chance…" Yash was interrupted as the gun-welding robber held the muzzle of his piece directly to Yash's head.

"Do you two mind? We're trying to do a hold up here. Could you keep it down?" Spotting the engagement and wedding rings still in Kagome's hand, he added, "And I'll take those off your hands little lady. Too big for you to wear around town anyway. Geez, you two losers are arguing like this over engagement rings? Give it up, you might as well go directly to divorce court. Do not pass go. Do not collect alimony."

As he reached for the rings, Yash made his move.

The robber reached across to try to take the rings from Kagome's hand, but he never got that far. Yash grabbed the gun and wrested it completely out of the robbers hand in one fell swoop, while his other clawed hand pushed the already off-balance thief to the floor. He handed the gun to Kagome and barked, "Stay down and watch him, bitch. Don't let him up and keep the rest of these people out of my way."

"Yes, my Lord Inu Yasha. Whatever you say, Lord Inu Yasha. Bite me, Lord Inu Yasha."

"Later, bitch."

With that, he leapt towards the vaulted ceiling of the store, catching a bullet through the side of his thigh in the process. But he had leaped to keep the robber aiming high, far away from his Kagome and his baby. Now he could deal with the jerk without worrying about them. He landed behind the asshole and reached around to grab the gun and the guy's wrist with his large clawed hand.

"You ruined my Armani suit, asshole. I was going to get married in this suit. Do you know how pissed off that makes me?" He swept the guy with one leg, knocking him flat on his ass and probably breaking his wrist. But the gun ended up in Yash's hand, and he took full control of the situation, as always.

"Stay down asshole, or you'll be giving me an excuse to hurt you. Kagome, bring the other one over here where I can watch them both. But don't get too close. I don't want so much as that bastard's breath touching you."

"Yes, my Lord Inu Yasha, anything you say my Lord Inu Yasha." Kagome dripped her sarcasm all over the floor as she prodded the perp with the gun to make him join his idiot partner in crime on the floor at Inu Yash's feet. "Is this close enough oh Lord Inu Yasha? Has this lowly mate done your bidding well enough, oh most idiot Inu Yasha? Did I stay far enough away from his perpness, your most supreme pompass assness?"

"Shut up, bitch. Do you still have the rings?"

"Right here oh Lord Inu Yasha, supreme mate of my dreams. Are you hurt asshole?"

"Not much, but maybe enough for a little more sympathy bitch. Do the mate thing."

"Uncle Frank? Oh, Uncle Frank? Yash seems to have fallen in the path of a stray bullet. You know how pesky they can be. Do you have something I could use as a Band-Aid? A tourniquet? A noose?"

Uncle Frank managed to close his mouth and gulp in air long enough to bark out orders to the employees to call the police and get something for Kagome to bind up Yash's wound.

The customers were fussed over, given something to drink and a comfortable chair. The employees were stalwart, rising to the occasion and making sure no one disturbed the evidence until the police arrived. Yash continued to stand guard over the perps, refusing to let Kagome anywhere near them. She focused her attention on binding up his wound, although both of them were well aware that it was all for show. If the police didn't arrive promptly, the wound might be closed and healed before they finally were able to go get some lunch.

But they didn't wait long. The Madison police arrived very promptly. And the officer in charge was an old friend of Kagome's.

"Jim! How are you? And Melody? You two have any kids yet?" Yash's scowl eased at this last question, although he was not at all pleased that Kagome had given this `Jim' a hug and was holding his hands. She knew he hated other men touching her. What was she thinking? He couldn't help letting her hear the low growl he was barely keeping in check.

Jim sent two other officers over to secure the perps and relieved Kagome and Yash of their captured weapons. Then Kagome turned and made the introductions.

"Yash, this is a friend of mine from college who also went into police work, Jim Ward. He married one of my college roommates, Melody. He was just telling me that they now have two little girls. Jim, this is Yash. He and I were here getting rings for our wedding and we would be very pleased if you, Melody and the girls could come down for it. It will be in Prairie du Chien, tomorrow, we hope."

Yash and Jim shook hands. Fortunately, Yash had retrieved his gloves and put them back on. Fewer questions that way.

"Jim, maybe you can help us. Do you know anyone in the Madison County Building? Yash and I need to get a marriage license. I have a copy of my Birth Certificate here at Mom's, but Yash's copy is back in California and we'd really like to get married tomorrow. Any chance you can get anyone over there to take a fax?"

"Let me make a few calls, and I'll let you know. Will you be in town for a while? We need to get your statements, but then you can get back to your plans."

Uncle Frank came over and told Jim what restaurant Yash and Kagome were going to, and slipped Yash the sales slip for purchasing Kagome's rings. He shook his hand and said, "Least I can do, boy. You saved my merchandise, my employees and customers, my favorite `niece', and maybe even my life." Turning to Kagome, he added, "You're in good hands with this one, sweetie. You be a good wife, just like your Mom."

As soon as his attention was turned to giving Jim a report on the specifics, Kagome muttered, "How the fuck do you pull this shit off all the time? We have to get out of here before they give you the keys to the city and want to make you mayor."

Yash put his arm around her and kissed her temple before he said, "You just worry about keeping you and the pup safe, bitch. The only repayment I'm interested in is from you later tonight. Bondage, right?" She elbowed him, but he only laughed at her.

They gave their statements to the officers, Yash refused medical treatment, and they finally left for the restaurant. As they settled at their table and perused the menu, Kagome leaned over and patted Inu Yasha's gloved hand. "I finally figured out how to thank you for today, mate. You're in Wisconsin, have a beer. In fact, have whatever you want. But don't get any ideas, it's only for this lunch, so enjoy yourself."

Inu Yasha just reached his ungloved hand beneath the table and ran his claws up her thigh. "Beer now, you later."