01 After The Battle

Kagome returned to the Western palace with Sesshoumaru along with Prince Kagewaki and Princess Kikyou. Sango decided that she needed to take some time to rediscover herself and took up Legolas on his invitation to stay in Mirkwood for a while. Drizzt had to attend to personal affairs in Ice Wind Dale so he gracefully departed. Inuyasha and Miroku left with Captain Jack.

Kagome's father was waiting for the two to see him at his palace so he could officially announce their engagement. Kouga was already at his side anxious to see his best friend and to wish her happiness.

Kagome and her sister traveled to the palace with their fiancés in tow. Kikyou was absolutely ecstatic to be in the proximity of Kagewaki. Kagome and Sesshoumaru were able to contain their own mirth. However, the glances that they discretely shared with one another were enough evidence of their mutual devotion.

Upon reaching the palace of King Dae the four royal youths climbed out of their escorting carriage. Sesshoumaru could not restrain himself any longer and wrapped up his love in his tail and pulled her close to his chest.

"Sesshoumaru, what are you doing?" Kagome panted near his ear. Their closeness was exciting to say the least. "My father will see us!"

"After all the hell I went through worrying about your welfare do not think for a moment I will not be rewarded now that I have found my prize." He flashed his seductive grin that promised many things in the future.

No one could resist a Sesshoumaru seductive grin. Kagome least of all could resist such a grin. She wrapped her arms around his neck and nuzzled him with her nose. If it was possible Sesshoumaru's smooth step became even more graceful and confident.

When the ensemble arrived outside the throne room Sesshoumaru released his prize. However she wouldn't detach herself so easily. Apparently she had knotted her fingers in the lush strands of his silky silver hair. Gently he helped her pry them out, more so for his own benefit. He didn't want to accidentally have half his hair ripped out. It wasn't that he was arrogant, but he did have the best hair in the land. 'Even better than that Drizzt,' he thought haughtily to himself.

"My children, all four of you welcome home!" King Dae rose from his throne to approach his daughters and future sons-in-law.

"Father there is a great deal to explain about what went on. I had to go. I know I was forbidden to perform any more Ranger acts but if I didn't then Sesshoumaru's daughter could have been killed!" Kagome was quick to defend herself even before the condescension of her father rained down upon her.

King Dae only looked at her in wonderment. "Kagome, I am not angry. I understand. Sesshoumaru and Kouga explained it all to me. I only worry for your safety. Many people depend upon you." He embraced her into a fatherly hug then stretched out his left arm to include his daughter Kikyou. He was truly happy right now. For the first time in his life he felt like part of a complete family with both his daughters and their husbands-to-be.

"Your highness, would you like to tell them about the next order of business or should I?" Kouga emerged from the shadows. Immediately Kagome rushed out of her father's arms to hug him. Kouga smiled at the woman in his arms. Sure she didn't end up with him, or Inuyasha for that matter, but as long as she was happy. That is all he cared about in the end.

"I'll do it. Sesshoumaru and Kagome, you two need to be married before the next cycle of the moon. As soon as the marriage is consecrated, I will step down as king and you Kagome shall rule. You and your husband will rule the Northern Lands."

"I don't understand. Why would you step down?" Kagome was confused. Kouga and Sesshoumaru exchanged glances. Kikyou glanced at her father expectantly. Apparently they all knew what was about to be revealed.

"Kagome, I am not the king. I am the king's steward. Your father was the true king. Not only was he the king, but he was my brother. We are blood after all and you are royalty after all. Therefore your argument of a not- so-distant past was wrong. That is the reason why you are the next ruler."

"Oh." Kagome was speechless. She searched the faces of all those in attendance. She thought she would be met with faces shocked such as hers. However, everyone else seemed to already be aware. "Did you know?"

All the guilty party nodded their heads in ascension. "It was not our place to tell you," Kouga replied.

Kagome nodded in understanding. Then she beamed at them all with a smile that was contageiously giddy. She grabbed Kikyou's hands and started jumping up and down. "We should have a double ceremony! And we should have lilies and tulips! This is going to be so great! Oh I can't wait to get fitted for our dresses!"

Kikyou was actually excited too and jumped up down with her rambunctious cousin.

All the men looked at each other with worry and fear. Two women planning a wedding in less than a month; this could get messy.

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(Scene: Mirkwood Forest)

"Sango are you okay?" Legolas approached the demon exterminator who had been staring at the waterfall for the past hour without moving.

She looked up at him and smiled. 'Kuso, he was beautiful. But, he wasn't Miroku.'

"I know you aren't okay. It was a rhetorical question." He sat down beside her and enjoyed the view of the waterfall. A soft wind tossed his golden hair about his head sending some strands to tickle Sango's cheeks.

Sango sighed revealing her sorrow laden heart. "It's just it hurt so much. Why would he do that? I thought he loved me."

"You know, I think he does love you. He simply is not mature enough. You can either give him the time to grow up. Or you can move on. It is your decision."

"Thanks for being so understanding Legolas. You know at first I thought you wanted me here so you could have a fling with me. Isn't that funny?"

The elf looked at her seriously for a moment. Then he let out a soft chuckle. "Can you picture me trying to seduce someone? I've walked these woods for half a millennium. A simple fling would not cut it for me. I saw that you were in pain. These woods are known for healing a heart of sorrow."

"Thank you again." Sango looked at him with her serious brown eyes.

Legolas gave her a brief hug then stood up. "Take your time to heal, Sango. You have many friends that wish to have you return to them."

"Do you know something I don't know?"

Legolas pretended to be thinking really hard. "It's on the edge of my tongue. What was it? Perhaps it will come to me later." He flashed a playful grin. "Or you could try to beat it out of me. Are you up to a spar?"

Ever ready for battle Sango pulled herself off the soft ground. "I accept your challenge and shall wipe that cocky grin off your face!"

The two proceeded to spar with one another. Legolas had taught Sango many new hand-to-hand combat moves. He said that they were important because one could never fight long distance all the time.

He allowed Sango to find openings that he would never have in reality. The confidence a simply victory instilled upon her did wonders for her well- being. Finally she had him on the ground and was straddling his waist with a knife to his throat.

"Do you yield your information elf?"

"Ah, demon slayer once again you seem to have bested me. Let me see if I can recall what it was that I once knew."

Then Legolas used his inhuman speed and agility and knocked off Sango. He towered over her and smirked down.

"OH! I remember now! Kagome has requested you to be her maid of honor. She is being married in two weeks. She said it would mean the world to her if you were there."

The annoyed look of defeat vanished from Sango's face as she quickly rose to her feet. "She's getting married in two weeks!" Her excited squeal damaged the elf's sensitive ears.

Once again, another male made the simple mistake of exciting a woman about a wedding.

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Three months had passed and still, Miroku saw no improvements in his best friend's disposition. He wasn't fairing too well himself. But at least he wasn't antisocial. They had both loved and had both lost. Taking Captain Jack up on his offer to join his crew should have been the new beginning they both needed. However, the nagging feeling that one is shirking responsibilities seemed to haunt both young men.

"Inuyasha, she's looking at you again."

"Why doesn't she get the message? I'm obviously NOT interested." Inuyasha glanced over Miroku's shoulder. He gave an annoyed growl. 'Why couldn't that woman leave him alone? How many times did he have to say NO?'

"I don't understand why you won't give her a chance. She joined the crew when we did and the whole time she's always staring at you. She really seems to like you. Can't you at least be nice?" Miroku didn't really want to set up his best friend with Kagura. It's just that he was tired of seeing him so depressed. He knew that Kagome and Sesshoumaru being together was internally tearing him up.

"She wants to ask me to go into town with her. There's a festival."

"How do you know that?"

"Festivals equal rum. Jack is obsessed with rum. Hence the reason the Black Pearl made berth."

"So then, Inuyasha, why don't you go with her then? It could be fun."

"She should go with Hiten. He likes her not me."

"Then you go with her and show her how charming you can be. After spending some time with you she'll run to Hiten with open arms and never bother you again." Miroku smiled at his own cunning. He was quite the clever fellow. Clever except when it came to dealing with his own love issues.

"So have you heard anything new about Sango?" The crestfallen expression on Miroku's face was answer enough for Inuyasha.

"Apparently, she left with him after the fight."

"Him? Who is him?"

"Don't be naïve. I am speaking of Legolas of course." Miroku felt the urge to curse like the bloody sailor he was becoming.

"He's the elf that taught Kagome archery? Man, I didn't realize how greatly you fouled up."

Miroku nodded his head in regret. He truly had fouled up. He would have to undertake drastic measures to prove himself worthy to Sango. He stared at his offending left hand that had betrayed him and cost him his love. If only there was some miracle cure for his lechery.