Love is in the Air by Ai Roku

Engagement

I apologize that I took so long to post this chapter!

This will be the final chapter of Love is in the Air, so it's longer than the other chapters.

I may do a sequel a little later, but for now this is it.

This will be my first completed story, and I want to thank everyone who has been reading.

I appreciate your support and I hope you'll enjoy this chapter.

Dedicated to: Kneazles, supermangageek23, Caera, and TKE

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Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha

Prompt: Engagement

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Kagome was suspicious.

While it was true that she wanted her best friend and her future mate to get along, they were family after all, she found their new-found camaraderie unnerving.

Those two had barely tolerated each other last month, and now they were having private discussions, civil private discussions!

It wasn't like she was unhappy about this new development between Inuyasha and Sesshomaru, but it was just so sudden that it raised red flags. Something wasn't right, she just knew it!

It didn't help her paranoia when Sango and Miroku suddenly became a part of these private discussions, while she was still excluded.

They always had good excuses for why she wasn't involved in their little talks, of course; she was asleep and they hadn't wanted to disturb her, She was cooking and looked far too busy to bother, she was bathing and they knew how much she hated having her relaxation time interupted, she had been playing with the kids and they didn't want to ruin the fun; the list went on and on.

And everytime she asked what they had been talking about she always got the same answer, battle strategy; though they never elaborated simply saying 'Just boring stuff, nothing for you to worry about.'

Nothing for her to worry about? But wasn't she a part of the strategy as well? Didn't they think she was good enough to fight with them, or did they just see her as dead weight?

These distrssing thoughts were further compounded by the fact that in the past month her friends had spent more time with Sesshomaru than she had.

Ever since they had begun courting he had always made certain that they had time alone together, just the two of them. Romantic walks, picnics, once he'd even taken her flying, but now he didn't even snuggle up with by the camp fire at night. Had he grown tired of her already, or had he decided that mating with a human really was more trouble than it was worth?  

Maybe she was just being too clingly and he'd wanted some time apart; yes that must be it.....She hoped!

She had finally concluded that she was being overly sensitive and decide to just ignore all of her negative thoughts from now on. But then last night she'd returned from gathering firewood to find Rin-chan and Shippo in a huddle with the other four conspirators, and that had been the last straw! She wasn't going to stand for this anymore!

The time had come to face her friends, they were obviously up to something, something that they didn't want her to know about!

After coming to this conclusion, Kagome had gone for a walk to clear her head and try to think about how she was going to confront them.

Imagine her surprise when she returned to find the camp empty.

Searching around frantically for any sign of her friend's whereabouts, Kagome came across some flower petals on the ground that trailed off into the woods.

Curious as to what her friends were up to she starts out on the path she was apparently meant to follow.

Surprisingly the path was clear of the usual debris, low hanging branches, and protruding tree roots.

The path of petals abruptly branched out encircling a small semi enclosed clearing.

Kagome froze as she took in the sight before her, and filled with awe says in a breathless whisper,

“Oh, wow!”

In addition to the petals carpeting the ground, the small clearing is softly lit with small glowing orbs, seemingly suspended in the air around her.

Some were small white globes that look to be lit from within, while others were a pale blue that ungulated and writhed like a candle’s flame, and seemed somehow familiar to her.

She would even swear that she heared the soft strains of a reed flute gliding on the air around her. Concentrating on finding the source of the phantom melody, she failed to hear the sounds of someone approaching her from behind.

“Beloved.”

Kagome jumps slightly in surprise and whirls around to face the owner of that well known baritone.

“S-sesshomaru, you scared me half to death! W-what’s going on, what is all of this?”

The taiyoukai gently threads his claw-tipped, sword calloused fingers through her own, and leads her toward a luminescent shaft of moonlight that illuminates the center of the clearing.

“Kagome, I realize that courting rites are somewhat different in your era, just as the courting rites of youkai, while similar in many ways are ultimately very different from the courting rites of humans. While I know that you would never complain, I feared that one day you may regret being deprived of such things and I resolved to seek Inuyasha’s assistance in understanding the traditions of your time.”

Sesshomaru carefully studied his miko’s face, so far it still held confusion but soon she would understand his intentions.

“He traveled to your home and sought the help of your family on my behalf. When he returned he relayed to me all that he had learned. Admittedly some of the things that he told me of were quite perplexing, but nonetheless together we began to plan. Fearful that I may overlook something important, I also sought the advice of the slayer and monk, even the pups. I refused to allow this moment to be anything but perfect for you, my Kagome.”

Kagome felt her heart stop and then start again, racing so furiously that she was surprised it didn’t fly right out of her chest, as her proud inu kneeled down before her on bended knee.

“To my everlasting joy you have agreed to be my mate, but I wish to ask for your hand in the way of your people as well. This Sesshomaru has never once humbled himself before another, but now I kneel at your feet in supplication my Tenshi.”

Sesshomaru stared up into his love’s eyes as they began to tear up, the mingled scents of shock, and happiness radiating around her.

 “Kagome Higarashi, miko of the shikon no tama; I surrender my pride, my heart, and my very soul to you. I lay them at your feet and pledge my eternal devotion to you; to the woman who brings warmth to my coldness, and lights up my darkness. I desire to stay by your side for all time. Will you walk beside me, live your life with me, bear my pups, and gift me with your undying love? Will you do This Sesshomaru the honor of becoming my Lady, my mate, and my wife?

He reaches into the sleeve of his haori for his token, pulling it free of its concealment and holding it out to his Kagome.

The brilliant polished silver shines, as the moonlight caresses the graceful curves of the band. The moonstone prominently displayed in the center seems to absorb the light and send it back in flashes of dazzling rainbow sparks; off-setting the tiny white seed pearls dotted along the silver swirls of the setting, that wrapped around it in a bypass design. Two small silver crescent moons adorned the ends of the biggest swirls their tips touching the moonstone.

It was the most beautiful ring Kagome had ever seen! But not even it could compare to the beautiful sound of the words rolling off of Sesshomaru’s tongue; words she had thought she’d never get to hear.

“Will you marry me, koi?”

Throwing herself at her taiyoukai, tears of happiness streaming down her cheeks; she exuberantly kisses him all over his face.

“Yes, yes, yes!!! I love you so much Sesshomaru!”

“As I love you Kagome.”

He slips the ring on the third finger of her left hand with a sense of pride and possession. Leaning into her, he takes her lips in a kiss, sealing the promise made between them.

“Thank you so much for doing all of this for me!”

“I did not do it alone. We all worked together to rid the path and clearing of debris. Rin picked and spread the flowers, and the slayer suggested that hanging lights would be romantic, so the monk’s tanuki friend cast an illusion producing the white orbs, and the kit added his fox-fire as well.”

“Ah ha! That’s why those blue lights looked familiar!”

“Indeed. The monk advised that music would set an even more romantic atmosphere, and it is he that is playing the flute you hear. Inuyasha learned of your custom of engagement, and offered to lend me whatever assistance he could, because and I quote 'Listen bastard, since I haveta put up with Kagome mating with you anyway, the least I can do is make sure she's happy and you don't screw it up' Together he, your family, and I designed and had the ring especially crafted.”

“I’ll have to thank them all, everything is so incredably amazing! I feel silly for being so worried over your secrecy, when this is what you were planning all along.”

“My apologies for causing you worry; we merely wished to surprise you.”

“Well you certainly did!”

A laughing and radiantly happy Kagome is pulled into the arms of her fiancé.

Nothing is said as they snuggle into each other, sharing their warmth with one another and silently communicating their love while they dreamed of their future together.

Suddenly a terrible thought intrudes upon Kagome’s blissful daydreams.

‘Oh, Kami!’ She thought to herself, ‘I still have to meet his mother!!!!’

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Thanks for reading!