It isn't hard to learn the day of the wedding, not when a certain idiot hanyo shows up to invite Koga and the entire pack to the event. Somehow, Koga hadn't thought InuYasha would be serious enough to actually go through with the ceremony.
Even an idiot with no eyes could see how bad the match is, but clearly, Koga thinks, InuYasha is both blind and dumb.
There's really only one thing to be done. Koga summons the pack together and lays out the plan.
.
.
InuYasha growls as Miroku helps him adjust his obi. The damn thing looks ridiculous, and he's not the least bit happy at wearing such fancy clothing. He'd rather wear his firerat clothes—or, better yet, be naked—but this is important to Kagome.
Hell. He moves to run a hand through his hair before he recalls it's already been pulled up. If he touches it now, he'll probably ruin it.
"You look great." Miroku smiles as he lightly slaps InuYasha's shoulder. "She'll love this."
InuYasha isn't entirely certain she will, but he'd wavered before with Kikyo. He doesn't want to hurt anyone else, even if he's no longer sure if he's going about things the right day. Kagome deserves so much better than that. "'Course it does," he says with a bravado he doesn't feel.
"It is surprising your brother volunteered to provide the clothing and finances for such a wedding, however." Miroku rubs one hand over his chin, a knowing look in his eyes. "How very curious."
"Whatever." InuYasha doesn't really care. Sure, Sesshomaru isn't that bad now, but he's still an ass even on his best days. But Kagome seems to like Sesshomaru, he thinks, resigned. His brother often seeks her out when InuYasha is away.
It should probably bother him, but all InuYasha has ever felt is relief that Sesshomaru comes to visit Kagome.
"I'll tell them you're ready." Miroku smiles as he pats InuYasha's shoulder. "Or...do you not want me to?"
"Nah." InuYasha waves a hand. "Go do it. I'll be here."
Where else would he be?
Miroku hesitates for a moment, but then nods as he heads out of the hut InuYasha will soon share with Kagone. It's only after the monk is gone that InuYasha lets out a huge sigh. Not for the first time, he wonders about his future with Kagome.
A sudden whirlwind blows into the hut—one that's a little too familiar.
"The wedding guests are on the other side of the village, idiot." InuYasha rolls his eyes as Koga appears before him. The damned wolf never has any sense of direction.
Koga grins. "I know."
InuYasha stares at him just as Hakkaku and Ginta step into the hut after him. They're all grinning a little too widely, and he wonders if they're about to pull some stupid prank because Koga is put out that InuYasha is the one marrying Kagome. "The ceremony is about to start, you fucking furball."
"I know." Koga takes a step closer as his grin turns into a smirk. "That's the point."
Before InuYasha has a clue about his intentions, Koga grabs InuYasha and tosses him over his shoulder. "Tell the pack we're leaving!" Koga bellows as Ginta and Hakkaku quickly bind InuYasha's arms and feet with some sturdy bindings so InuYasha cannot easily escape.
"Put me down, you fucking—" InuYasha struggles to free himself, not at all amused by Koga's prank.
"Now!" Koga steps out of the hut and, before anyone has a chance to realize what he's done, let alone stop him, Koga is fleeing the village with InuYasha draped fully across his back. "We got 'im!"
"Oy!" InuYasha bellows as he struggles to get free. "Lemme go, you fucking idiot!"
He doesn't realize it yet, but some of the tension is already leaving him as Koga and his pack leave Kaede's and Kikyo's village further and further behind them. There's little chance of following through with the wedding now, but somehow, the notion doesn't bother him as much as he thought it would. Instead, he just hopes Kagome's not too hurt by Koga's impetuous actions.
Koga doesn't even hesitate. "No."
"What?" InuYasha pushes harder at the shoulder he's draped across, but Koga doesn't so much as budge. "I'm about to get married, you fucking idiot—"
"Shh." Koga's hand slides casually across InuYasha's rear as the hanyo turns bright red. "Don't worry. We can still have whatever ceremony yah want in my cave." Over InuYasha's roar of protest, Koga adds, "Don't worry, mutt. I'll take realgood care of you."
"The fuck you will!" InuYasha attempts to glower at Koga, suddenly understanding Koga's true intent, but it's hard to pull off when he's being jostled about as Koga races back east. "I'm gonna destroy your ass when this is all over—"
"Oh." Koga shudders as he sighs. "I can't wait."
InuYasha gives up. There's just no winning with idiots, he decides, but the first chance he gets, he's going teach Koga a lesson the wolf won't forget.
.
.
Kagome stares at the trail of dust, not entirely certain how she's supposed to feel as Koga runs off with her would-be husband draped over his shoulder. She should probably be angry, or at the very let hurt, but instead, all she can feel is relief.
The relationship, she realizes then, was one she and InuYasha should have allowed to die out, rather than assume that a marriage would fix their underlying issues.
Still, she's not sure what she's supposed to do. They were supposed to get married today, and all their friends and guests have already arrived. She's dressed in her traditional clothing, and, well, it's a little embarrassing to face everyone alone and announce the obvious.
There will be no wedding today.
"Miko."
She turns at the familiar voice. "Hello, Sesshomaru." He's been a constant as of late, showing up to keep her company when InuYasha is off hunting or helping out in their own or the neighboring villages. She's never wanted to ask why he'd started seeking her out, afraid of what the answer might be.
But his friendship means far more than she'd ever dare say aloud.
"It does not seem probable that InuYasha will return." Sesshomaru's gaze does not once glance towards the direction InuYasha and Koga have departed.
"No." She exhales, but there's a small smile at her lips as she thinks of the turn of events. Not once, not in a hundred years, did she ever think this would be the outcome of a wedding with InuYasha. "It doesn't."
Sesshomaru is silent for a moment. "You do not seem to be irate."
"I'm not." She shrugs as her smile grows. "I guess I sort of expected something would happen." Koga had done them both a favor without either of them even realizing it, she decides, as she watches the dust cloud dissipate.
"Hmm." He eyes her for a moment. "There is a custom for circumstances like these."
Her eyes widen as she glances back over at him. "Your people have a custom for when a groom is abducted?" It's so absurd laughter bubbles up within her, dissolving the last of her tension.
"Hnn." A small smile appears at his lips, softening his features. He looks almost boyish. "The next eligible male must stand in."
Her mouth falls open. Was he seriously offering to—
"If you find him suitable," he adds, his jaw tightening as though he's offended at the very idea that she might not.
It's on the tip of her tongue to refuse, but then she shrugs. Hell, she thinks, why not? She'd planned to get married to someone she hadn't been sure she romantically loved, anyway, but she already feels a lot more comfortable with the idea of marrying Sesshomaru than InuYasha. What's the worst that can happen? "I find him suitable."
His eyes widen, but he recovers quickly. "Very well." He inclines his head. "Then we will be wed today in his stead, Kagome."
It's the craziest turn of events possible, she thinks, as she steps up to walk with Sesshomaru to the ceremony instead of InuYasha, but who knows?
It just might work out for the better.
.
.
Back in the cave, InuYasha glowers at the male slumbering beside him. "Fucking hell," he grouses. He's still not even sure how it happened, but somehow, something snapped inside him when Koga had all but dumped InuYasha onto the cave floor. The ensuing tussle had turned into a brawl, which had then turned into—
"Shut up," Koga mumbles, half-asleep. "You're gonna ruin the mood, mutt." He arches his back on the pile of furs beneath him. "Or were three times not enough for you?"
"If you don't shut up," InuYasha growled back, low in his throat, "I'm gonna make it so you can't say a fucking word for a week."
"Yeah?" Koga shudders as he brushes his bangs back from his face. "Solid plan." He yawns. "But later, 'k? I ain't as young as you. Cut an old man some slack."
InuYasha mutters under his breath, but when Koga moves to drape his naked body atop InuYasha's own, he feels contentment thrum through him, and slowly closes his arms around the other male. Maybe Koga isn't all bad, he decides then, thinking of their recent, pleasurable activities. Living with the wolf at least has its perks.
But the cave thing has got to go, he decides, eying the dirty, dusty cave around them, and the rest of the clan rutting or snuggling a short distance away. Yeah, there's no fucking way he's doing it again in a cave—
Koga's hand brushes InuYasha's cock then, and he feels his resolve waver as the wolf slowly teases him. Maybe once more won't hurt.
But that's it.